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STUPID: Nebraska Man Charged For Making Baby Announcement
Posted at 9:22 am on January 24, 2017 by Bob Owens
A father-to-be in Nebraska has been charged for using a binary explosive target mixture and colored chalk to announce that he and his wife are expecting a baby boy.
Ashley and Jon Sterkel just wanted to announce with a bang the news that their first child will be a boy.
But the exploding target they set off with a rifle shot on Saturday, complete with blue smoke to signal a male, provided a bigger blast than they expected.
And on Monday it also resulted in a ticket from the local sheriff.
Jon Sterkel, 26, the owner of a tree-care service, said he has shot off exploding targets on his acreage west of Scottsbluff in the past without problems.
On Saturday, Sterkel used an exploding target and a bunch of blue chalk powder to signal that the expectant couple are having a boy. A video of the explosion was posted on Facebook for friends and family, with Jon shouting out, “It’s a boy!”
Three miles away in Scottsbluff though, some residents thought a house had exploded or a car had blown an engine. The Scotts Bluff County Sheriff’s Office got several calls.
Hearing reports on the local radio station, KNEB, and seeing the reaction on Facebook, Sterkel called the Sheriff’s Office to explain. He also posted an apology on Facebook.
“I would like to apologize for all of the confusion,” he wrote. “This was just our way of announcing what gender our baby was.”
By Monday, Scotts Bluff County Sheriff Mark Overman had completed an investigation of the blast and had issued a ticket to Jon Sterkel for setting off an explosive without a required state permit. The violation is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail and a fine of $1,000.
Using binary explosive targets and colored chalk to announce whether you’re expecting a boy or a girl is not uncommon in the shooting sports community. A friend of mine just announced that he and his wife are expecting their first child, a boy, in a very similar manner. Videos are typically taken of these reveals, and the videos are then posted to Facebook and Twitter and other social media for family members and friends.
Here’s pair of example of reveals of this type we grabbed off YouTube.
It’s a very cute practice, but in Nebraska it’s a violation of a silly state law to use binary targets without a state-issued explosives permit.
The Nebraska Explosive Control Act is written in such a way that the binary components themselves are readily available for purchase at any gun store, online, or from retail sporting good stores, but the moment the two components are mixed you’re in violation of state law. Because these binary target mixtures are commonly, openly, and lawfully sold, citizens assume that using them as they are designed to be used is lawful, when it is not without a permit.
If a person wants to use a binary target mixture in Nebraska for any purpose, they must first be fingerprinted, photographed, and have a background check run. All to use a simple, safe, and common target mixture commonly used across the nation.
It’s a poorly-conceived law that now has a new father facing the possibility of up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine when he should be saving up for diapers and baby clothes.
Boo, Nebraska.
Tags: binary targetsNebraska
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The Battle For Oklahoma’s Heart.
By: Walter Agnitsch
If you were wondering if Oklahoma City was big enough for two lower level professional soccer teams I think you got your answer last night. Last night was the first meeting between Rayo OKC and Energy FC in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
The game was played in Miller stadium in Yukon, Oklahoma. The game was really a tale of two halves, in the beginning it was the defense of the Energy that kept them in the game. They were hustling to every loose ball and playing really good man to man defense. In my opinion, the man of the match was Energy goalie Cody Laurendi having save after save keeping the Energy in the match.
In the 43rd minute it was just too much of an attack and Rayo OKC went up 1 to nil on a put back by Billy Forbes. That didn’t get the Energy down as Sebastian Dalgaard put in the equalizer in stoppage time of the first half.
The second half the Energy came out ready to play having more intensity than RAYO, having multiple shots on goal the Energy were just not able to get the go ahead goal and it went into extra time. In the 17th minute of the second half of extra time it was Kyle Hyland that put in a beautiful header to go up 2-1. That ended up being the dagger and Rayo just fell apart.
Two players were ejected, including Derek Boateng, who many of you know from his battles with the USMNT in the World Cup playing for the Ghana National team. The Energy grind it out and get the 2-1 victory over Rayo OKC. The Energy FC will play on June 15 against Dallas FC. In their previous match against FC Dallas in February, the Energy lost 2-1.
When the game first started I looked into the crowd of almost 5,000 people to see what the divide was between Energy and Rayo fans. I felt the divide was probably around 3,000 Rayo fans to 2,000 Energy fans.
That didn’t matter though as the you could feel the Energy fans passion and love for their team, everyone was dressed in green and the atmosphere just felt more of a home game for the Energy then for the Rayo.
This game made up in my mind that there is only room for one team in Oklahoma and that belongs to the Energy. Rayo in their first season has seen a decline in ticket sales, in the first game sell out, but after that it just keeps dropping and dropping besides the game last night.
The Energy are in a better location playing close to a very popular soccer area and still being a 15-minute drive from Edmond which is a very popular soccer area as well. I feel this city is ready for a MLS team and the Energy should be given that opportunity. The average attendance at MLS games is around 21,000 fans if you combine the Rayo fans and Energy fans you will have more than enough fans.
The next question is can you add the 13,000 extra seats to Taft stadium, is that a real possibility? I think so but it will take another 13-20 million dollars to be invested into Taft Stadium. Oklahoma City is tired of watching tier 2 professional teams which is why teams like the Blazers, Yardawgs, and Redhawks didn’t work.
The Thunder have made such a huge impact on the city and a MLS team would only add to it. The Energy have proven that soccer in Oklahoma City was a fantastic idea and we have witnessed some of the most loyal soccer fans in OKC, attendance for Energy FC averaged over 4,000 people per game,last season. It’s time to show that Oklahoma City is now a big market and ready for bigger and better sports teams.
Bedlam Brother June 3, 2016 June 3, 2016
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AZAL and Boeing signed agreement on purchase of new modern aircrafts
Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) and Boeing Corporation have today agreed to purchase five B787-8 Dreamliner and two B747-8F (or B777F) aircrafts, AZAL’s Press service told Trend on Nov. 12.
The agreement was signed by Jahangir Askerov, president of CJSC Azerbaijan Airlines and Kevin McAllister, president and Chief Executive Officer of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. The cost of the agreement is estimated at $1.9 billion. Delivery of aircrafts is scheduled for 2019-2020.
The agreement was signed within the framework of the largest international aerospace exhibition Dubai Airshow 2017.
“The decision to place an order for additional 787 Dreamliner aircrafts will significantly expand the capabilities of our airline – the purchase of new aircrafts will help us expand the geography of flights and handle increasing passenger traffic. We are satisfied with the expansion of cooperation with Boeing Corporation, which is Azerbaijan’s reliable partner in supply, operation and maintenance of modern passenger aircrafts,” AZAL president Jahangir Askerov said.
“We highly appreciate the constant trust of the Azerbaijan Airlines to the Dreamliner aircrafts,” Kevin McAllister, president and Chief Executive Officer of Boeing Commercial Airplanes said. “The highest level of efficiency and comfort provided by the new 787 Dreamliner aircrafts is in line with the airline’s fleet modernization plans and will help to open new routes, securing their long-term success for many years to come.”
“Azerbaijan Airlines” (AZAL) is one of the leaders of the aviation community of the CIS countries. Total route network of the airline is 40 destinations in 25 countries. “Azerbaijan Airlines” transported more than 2 million people in 2016.
AZAL has one of the newest airplane fleet. The airline has a long history of cooperation with Boeing Corporation and currently operates Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Boeing 767 and Boeing 757 aircrafts. Azerbaijani national air carrier’s fleet will also include modern Boeing-737 MAX aircrafts from next year.
“Azerbaijan Airlines” also successfully continues to operate Airbus 340, Airbus 320, Airbus 319 and Embraer 190 aircrafts.
AzerNews
AZAL
AZAL Azerbaijan Airlines
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‘The Dam in the Woods’ plays important role
Courtesy of Rick Denico
An aerial view of Telos Dam.
By matthew laroche • October 30, 2013 6:56 am
Updated: October 30, 2013 6:57 am
In 1840, William Parrot and Zebulon Bradley were engaged by the owners of T6 R11 WELS to explore the feasibility of redirecting the flow of water on the Allagash headwater lakes. They determined that if a dam was constructed at the natural outlet of Chamberlain Lake — now called Lock Dam — and a short canal was dug at the south end of Telos Lake, water could be diverted into Webster Lake and down the East Branch of the Penobscot River.
Lock Dam was constructed the next year. A canal was dug — Telos Cut — and Telos dam was built at the outlet of the lake to control the flow of water that had been diverted from flowing down the Allagash. With the raising of the waters the task of changing the flow from north to south was accomplished. Allagash Pine logs could now be driven to the lucrative lumber market in Bangor!
Lock Dam washed out the first spring, lowering the water in Telos and Chamberlain Lake by some 11 feet, rendering Telos Dam useless. Hence the name, “The Dam in the Woods” was given to the structure.
Lock Dam was rebuilt the following year raising the water level in Chamberlain and Telos Lakes to the current level.Telos Dam has been rebuilt several times over the last 170 years. The first dams were crude log structures with wooden gates. The current timber crib dam was rebuilt in 1981 using pressure treated timbers; it has an expected lifespan of at least 40 years.
Timber crib dams were once a common sight in the north woods of Maine. The primary purpose of these dams was to control the flow of water for the spring log drives. Remnants of these dams can still be seen at the outlet of most of the lakes in the North Maine Woods.
When I first started on the Allagash Wilderness Waterway there were timber crib dams at: Kokadjo, Harrington, Caucomgomoc, and Churchill. The only ones I know of — that are still operable — are at Telos and Millinocket Lake. The rest have been replaced by concrete and steel structures or allowed to fall into disrepair.
Telos Dam enabled the owners to control the flow of water down Telos Cut and thus collect a toll per 1,000 board feet of lumber from any upstream landowner who wanted to drive logs to the Bangor lumber market. Human nature being what it is, the toll was soon raised to the unreasonable amount of fifty cents per 1,000 board feet. Upstream landowners screamed highway robbery! Tensions grew and armed guards were hired to enforce the toll. Eventually, the Maine Legislature settled the dispute and set the toll at twenty cents per 1,000 board feet.
Bangor Hydroelectric Company eventually gained control of the dams at Telos and Chamberlain and managed the water resources of the lakes for downstream power generation. In the year 2000, these dams were donated to the State of Maine and then became managed by the Allagash Wilderness Waterway.
When the dams started to show signs of deterioration in 2008, the Bureau of Parks and Lands developed a plan for needed repairs. Some concerned citizens and businesses formed a nonprofit group to help maintain these important water control structures; Lock Dam Preservation Ltd. was born. The group has been instrumental in supporting the waterway with engineering expertise, labor, equipment and money for maintaining these two dams. Without their help, I doubt that we could have accomplished what we have over the last few years. This help has included the replacement of the four primary gates in Telos Dam.
Last month, the waterway completed a clean-up of the Telos Dam lot. We demolished all the buildings that were on site, put to bed 3,200 feet of access road that went along the shore of Telos Lake, and constructed 1,600 feet of new access road that connects with the land management road network just east of the dam.
Now that the area around Telos Dam has been returned to a more natural environment, I can’t help but think of the time — not too long ago — when dam keeper Jim Drake lived on site and kept a watchful eye on all that happened on his little piece of the earth. Jim was always good for a cup of coffee and a story about how things were when the waterway was just getting started in the 1960’s.
The recent changes at the dam are just another chapter in the long colorful history of the, “Dam in the Woods”.
Telos Dam is one of several culturally important historical sites in the AWW. It is important to canoeists and sportsmen that use the AWW. It maintains water levels that provide for a deep water channel between Telos and Chamberlain Lakes, and water frontage for campsites and Nugent’s sporting camps on Chamberlain Lake.
It also serves as a barrier to non-native fish species should they become established above Grand Pitch on Webster Stream, and it enhances the fisheries in the East Branch of the Penobscot drainage.
Telos and Lock Dams are managed by the AWW for recreational and fisheries management purposes.
The Allagash Wilderness Waterway is managed by the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry’s Division of Parks and Public Lands.
For general information on the Allagash Wilderness Waterway, go to: http://www.maine.gov/doc/parks/; call 207-941-4014; email heidi.j.johnson@maine.gov; or write to the Division of Parks and Public Lands, 106 Hogan Road, Bangor, 04401.
Matthew LaRoche is superintendent of the Allagash Wilderness Waterway.
Watch Maine forest rangers rescue hurt Appalachian Trail hiker
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© Brian Sullivan
Least Bittern Great Egret
Ardea herodias
Version: 2.0 — Published April 28, 2011
Ross G. Vennesland and Robert W. Butler
Figure 1. Breeding, nonbreeding, and year-round ranges of the Great Blue Heron.
The species (A. herodias) is rare in winter in the northern parts of its range.
Adult Great Blue Heron, Everglades NP, FL, January.
Adult Great Blue Herons have clean white crowns, whereas juveniles and immatures are duskier gray, becoming progressively whiter with age. ; photographer Marie Reed
Adult Great Blue Heron (white-morph), Captiva Is., FL.
The 'Great White Heron' is generally considered a color-morph of the Great Blue (A. h. occidentalis), though some authorities suggest it is a distinct species. Where the dark and white forms overlap in Florida, intermediate birds known as 'Wurdemann's Herons' can be found; they have the grayish bodies of a Great Blue Heron, but the white head and neck of the Great White Heron.; photographer William L. Newton
The Great Blue Heron is one of the most widespread and adaptable wading birds in North America.
Up to nine subspecies have been recognized by past researchers, based on differences in plumage color and morphology. Researchers have agreed that Florida's Great White Heron (A. h. occidentalis), the subspecies most distinctive in color (entirely white), and the Pacific Great Blue Heron (A. h. fannini) are distinct subspecies. Recent reviews (see Systematics) have suggested that the remaining Great Blue Herons in North America are composed of either one (A. h. herodias), or two (A. h. herodias, A. h. wardi) subspecies. Owing to this controversy, this account primarily considers 'blue group' Great Blue Herons (A. h. herodias, A. h. wardi, A. h. fannini), usually referred to as the Herodias (or blue) group, and 'white group' Great Blue Herons - the Great White Heron (A. h. occidentalis), referred to here as the Occidentalis (white) group Great Blue Herons.
Equally at home in coastal (marine) environments and in fresh water habitats, the Great Blue Heron nests mostly in colonies, commonly large ones of several hundred pairs. Such colonies are often located on islands or in wooded swamps, isolated locations that discourage predation by snakes and mammals and disturbance from humans. Although the species is primarily a fish eater, wading (often belly deep) along the shoreline of oceans, marshes, lakes, and rivers, it also stalks upland areas for rodents and other animals, especially in winter. It has been known to eat most animals that come within striking range. Its well-studied, elaborate courtship displays have correlates on the foraging grounds, where this species can be strongly territorial.
The Great Blue Heron weathered the impacts of 20th century North Americans relatively successfully. Although it was hunted heavily for its plumes and some of its wetland habitats were drained or otherwise degraded, many populations have recovered well. Nevertheless, breeding colonies remain vulnerable to disturbance and habitat loss, and climate change and increasing predator populations may bring new challenges.
See Butler (1997) for a review of breeding behavior, reproductive success, foraging behavior, and the energetics of growth and reproduction. Foraging ecology and behavior have been covered by Kushlan (1976, 1978), Butler (1995), Gawlik (2002) and Kelly et al. (2003). The effects of contaminants on reproduction are discussed by Harris et al. (2003), Elliott et al. (2005) and Champoux et al. (2006). For discussions of the effects of human and predator disturbance, see Parnell et al. (1988), Vennesland and Butler (2004) and Vennesland (2010).
Vennesland, R. G. and R. W. Butler (2011). Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias), version 2.0. In The Birds of North America (A. F. Poole, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bna.25
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Will Smith’s school insists it’s not Scientologist
June 30, 2008 at 10:48 pm | Posted in Jada Pinkett Smith, will smith | 1 Comment
Tags: Jada Pinkett Smith, New Village Academy, private school, scientology, will smith
Will Smith ‘s soon-to-open private school is not a Scientology facility, as some reports have suggested, the academy’s director said.
Smith and his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, have founded the New Village Academy, scheduled to open in September.
The school will use instructional methods developed by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard called study technology. And a few teachers belong to the church.
But the couple say they are not Scientologists, and the academy’s director insists the facility has no religious affiliation.
“We are a secular school, and just like all nonreligious independent schools, faculty and staff do not promote their own religions at school or pass on the beliefs of their particular faith to children,” New Village Academy director Jacqueline Olivier told the Los Angeles Times.
Oliver said some of the school’s staffers are Scientologists, Muslim, Christian or Jewish.
In addition to reading and math, the school offers classes on yoga, robotics and etiquette.
2008 MTV Movie Awards
June 2, 2008 at 4:26 pm | Posted in Chris Brown, diddy, MTV, Paris Hilton, will smith | 1 Comment
Tags: 2008, Chris Brown, Coldplay, I am Legend, lindsey lohan, Mike Myers, MTV, MTV Movie Awards, Paris Hilton, Rihanna, Tila, Transformers, Will Ferrel, will smith
Who watched the MTV Movie Awards?? I did! If you missed it, trust me, you didn’t missed much. But if you still want to watch, MTV will play reruns of the show probably till the end of the month. It’s the policy to make show EVERYONE sees the show and knows it front and back, line for line.
So here’s the highlights you’ve missed or want to see again.
H ere’s Chris Brown looking so FINE. I love his Mohawk; seems to be the style for young black men.
Chris and host Mike duel it out at the beginning of the awards.
Continue Reading 2008 MTV Movie Awards…
Bow Wow- ‘The Next Will Smith’
May 24, 2008 at 5:14 pm | Posted in bow wow, will smith | Leave a comment
Tags: bow wow, will smith
Although music has been the main focus of his career thus far, Bow Wow is determined to get his acting chops up to rival Will Smith.
According to Reuters, the 21-year-old rapper made the decision recently, and has joined the upcoming fifth season of HBO’s “Entourage” in a recurring role as a stand-up comic named Charlie.
Like Bow Wow, Will Smith became as a rapper, but parlayed his popularity into acting, which has certainly paid off.
“After 16 years in the music industry and six successful albums, I’ve decided to shift my energy to something else I’m passionate about, acting,” said Bow Wow. “I’m going to try to be the next Will Smith.”
Bow Wow is currently shooting in New Orleans for a film called “Patriots,” a sports drama about a high school basketball team in post-Katrina Louisiana. The film also stars Forest Whitaker and Isaiah Washington.
The young rapper has already begun to build an impressive acting resume, boasting roles in past films such as “Roll Bounce,” “The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift,” “Johnson Family Vacation” and “All About the Benjamins.” And has recently wrapped the indie “Driving Lessons.”
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Tag Archives: journalism
Reflections on covering war and crime
April 5, 2017 Lee Smithey Leave a comment
“From the streets of Kabul to the streets of New York: Reflections on covering war and crime”
A conversation with New York Times reporter, Joseph Goldstein
Friday, April 7th @ 4:30 PM
Science Center 105
Joseph Goldstein’s first newspaper job was at the 6,000-circulation Daily Citizen in Searcy, Ark, where he wrote, among other things, a feature story about how meth-fueled treasure hunters in rural Arkansas were creating an underground economy for arrowheads and other Native American artifacts. He soon moved to New York City, where he worked at The New York Sun, until its demise, and later at The New York Post. He joined The New York Times in 2011 and writes mainly about the criminal justice system in New York. He has reported on the N.Y.P.D.’s over-reliance on stop-and-frisk tactics and about a secretive police unit that combs the city’s jails for Muslim prisoners in the hopes of pressuring them into becoming informants. He has covered Ferguson, the emergence of the alt-right, and Afghanistan, where he was based for a year.
This event is part of “Reflections From The Field”, a new speaker series at Swarthmore, which brings people working on the front lines of conflict and social change to campus to reflect upon *what* they do, *why* they do it and *how* they came to do it.
Sponsored by the Department of Political Science, Global Affairs Program at the Lang Center for Civic and Social Responsibility, Media Studies, Career Services, and Peace and Conflict Studies.
crimejournalismwar
Three “Reflections From the Field” events
March 4, 2017 Lee Smithey Leave a comment
We are thrilled to announce three upcoming events in “Reflections From The Field”, a new speaker series at Swarthmore College, which brings people working on the front lines of conflict and social change to campus to reflect upon *what* they do, *why* they do it and how *they* came to do it.
1. “These Birds Walk”, a film screening and conversation with director and cinematographer Omar Mullick.
Monday, March 13th @ 7:30PM
In Karachi, Pakistan, a runaway boy’s life hangs on one critical question: where is home? The streets, an orphanage, or with the family he fled in the first place? Simultaneously heart- wrenching and life-affirming, THESE BIRDS WALK documents the struggles of these wayward street children and the humanitarians looking out for them in an ethereal and inspirational story of resilience. Listed by The New Yorker as one of the best foreign films of the 21st century, this is a must see!
Omar Mullick is a film director and cinematographer known for his work on the 2013 feature film THESE BIRDS WALK. A 2016 Sundance Institute fellow, his most recent work can be seen on VICE’s HBO series, Black Markets, and the Gloria Steinem hosted show Woman on VICELAND. Current clients as a director and cinematographer include CNN, PBS, HBO, VICE, Discovery and The Gates Foundation. Trained as a photographer, his work has been published in The New York Times, Foreign Policy Magazine, National Geographic and TIME. He has received awards from the Doris Duke Foundation, the Western Knight Center for Journalism, Annenberg and Kodak.
2. “Closing the gap between the world we have and the world most people everywhere want”, a virtual conversation with Ricken Patel, Founding President and Executive Director of Avaaz.org, the world’s largest online activist community.
Monday, March 27th @ 4:30 PM
Ricken is the founding President and Executive Director of Avaaz, the world’s largest online activist community with 44 million subscribers in every country of the world.
Ricken has been voted the “ultimate game changer in politics” (Huffington Post), listed in the world’s top 100 thinkers (Foreign Policy magazine) and described as “the global leader of online protest” with a “vaunting sense of optimism” (The Guardian). Prior to starting Avaaz.org, Ricken was the founding Executive Director of ResPublica, a global public entrepreneurship group that worked to end genocide in Darfur and build progressive globalism in US politics, among other projects. Ricken has also lived and worked in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Sudan and Afghanistan, consulting for organizations including the International Crisis Group, the United Nations, the Rockefeller Foundation, the Gates Foundation, Harvard University, CARE International and the International Center for Transitional Justice. Born in Canada, Ricken has a B.A. from Oxford University and a Master’s in Public Policy from Harvard.
3. “From the streets of Kabul to the streets of New York: Reflections on covering war and crime”, a conversation with New York Times reporter,
Joseph Goldstein.
Joseph Goldstein’s first newspaper job was at the 6,000-circulation Daily Citizen in Searcy, Ark, where he wrote, among other things, a feature story about how meth-fueled treasure hunters in rural Arkansas were creating an underground economy for arrowheads and other Native American artifacts.
He soon moved to New York City, where he worked at The New York Sun, until its demise, and later at The New York Post. He joined The New York Times in 2011 and writes mainly about the criminal justice system in New York. He has reported on the N.Y.P.D.’s over-reliance on stop-and-frisk tactics and about a secretive police unit that combs the city’s jails for Muslim prisoners in the hopes of pressuring them into becoming informants. He has covered Ferguson, the emergence of the alt-right, and Afghanistan, where he was based for a year.
activismAfghanistanconflictcrimeFergusonfilmjournalismPakistanpovertypracticesocial changewar
Ben Taub, foreign correspondent to speak on Syria and Isis
October 6, 2016 Lee Smithey Leave a comment
The Daily Gazette presents Ben Taub, a highly successful foreign correspondent with numerous articles published in The New Yorker.
A little over 2 years ago, Ben Taub was a philosophy student at Princeton, and a recent contestant on “The Voice.” He has since reported extensively about ISIS recruiting and ordinary lives in war-torn Syria.
On October 17, he will speak at Swarthmore about how he got where he is, his work, and his experiences in war reporting.
Monday, Oct 17, 2016
Lang Performing Arts Center Room 301
Swarthmore College (directions)
journalismmiddle eastmusicSyriaterrorism
Black/Latin@ Identity and Solidarity in #Blacklivesmatter Organizing
February 2, 2015 Lee Smithey Leave a comment
Rosa Alicia Clemente
Grassroots Organizer, Hip-Hop Activist, Journalist
February 19, 7-8:30pm (ending time subject to change)
Location: Science Center Room 101
Rosa Alicia Clemente is a Black Puerto Rican grassroots organizer, hip-hop activist, journalist, and entrepreneur. She was the vice presidential running mate of 2008 Green Party Presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney in the 2008 U.S. Presidential election.
Clemente’s academic work has focused on research of national liberation struggles within the United States, with a specific focus on the Young Lords Party and the Black Liberation Army.While a student at SUNY Albany, she was President of the Albany State University Black Alliance (ASUBA) and Director of Multicultural Affairs for the Student Association. At Cornell she was a founding member of La Voz Boriken, a social/political organization dedicated to supporting Puerto Rican political prisoners and the independence of Puerto Rico.
[Click on the image below to see a larger image of the flyer.]
Black Studieship-hopjournalismLatin@
GunCrisis.org: Seeking Solutions to Gun Violence in Philadelphia with Digital Journalism
March 27, 2013 Lee Smithey Leave a comment
A public lecture sponsored by our friends at the Lang Center for Civic and Social Responsibility
Download a flyer
Jim MacMillan
Former Journalist-in-Residence for War News Radio and Manager of Media and Social Responsibility for the Lang Center, Founder, GunCrisis.org Current Assistant Director for the Center for Public Interest Journalism at Temple University
How do we address the epidemic of homicide by gunfire in America? What is the future and impact of journalism in response to epic changes in information delivery? How can social media be put to use for positive social change? On average, at least one person has been murdered in Philadelphia every day over the last 25 years, and more than three-quarters of them have been killed with a gun.
The Gun Crisis Reporting Project is a non-profit independent journalism organization intended to fill the gaps in gun violence reporting, and to help seek solutions.
Visit: GunCrisis.org.
Sponsored by the Lang Center for Civic and Social Responsibility.
firearmsgunsjournalismpeace journalismPhiladelphiaviolenceviolence prevention
War News Radio Interest Meeting
January 28, 2013 Lee Smithey Leave a comment
War News Radio at Swarthmore College will be holding an interest meeting this week on January 29 at 7:00 p.m. The meeting will be held in Lodge 6. See the map below. Read more about War News Radio on their website!.
journalismnewspeace journalismwar
Catch up with War News Radio
November 20, 2012 Lee Smithey Leave a comment
Been listening to War News Radio recently? If not, get back in the groove with this month’s broadcast.
This month on War News Radio, “Back to Work “. First, we examine the problem of youth unemployment in Morocco. Then, we look into the persecution of physicians in Syria. Finally, we hear about a peace activist whose surprising devotion to the cause didn’t seem to match his flat personality.
The latter piece about a peace activist refers to the recent lecture by Michael Doyle on Roy Kepler and Kepler’s bookstore.
journalismpeaceradiowar
Prof Jim MacMillan launches guncrisis.org
June 8, 2012 Lee Smithey Leave a comment
Many of you will know or will have taken “Peace and Conflict Journalism” with Visiting Assistant Professor, Jim MacMillan, who teaches Peace and Conflict Journalism and serves as the Journalist in Residence for War News Radio, Lodge6.org, and the Lang Center for Civic and Social Responsibility. Jim is turning his decades of experience as a journalist to help fight rampant gun violence in Philadelphia with a new project to shine as much journalistic light on the problem as possible. Visit guncrisis.org and follow on facebook and Twitter @guncrisisnews
Philadelphia Weekly: How Two Photojournalists Are Taking on the City’s Gun Crisis
By Tara Murtha
Midnight comes and goes. For the first time in 11 nights, the city of Philadelphia has gone a full day and night without a homicide. The relief doesn’t last long. Just before 1 a.m., the scanner resting in photojournalist Joe “Kaz” Kaczmarek’s lap crackles to life: report of shots fired at 40th Street and Girard Avenue.
Kaz has been driving around the city with journalist and fellow crime-scene vet Jim MacMillan for hours when the call comes in….
Back in the car, MacMillan is already iPhone-editing video he shot of pulling up to the scene. In a few days, he’ll post the video to GunCrisis.org, an “open-source journalism experiment” he launched last month that aims to explore the city’s homicide-by-gun epidemic and possible solutions while carefully, purposefully, avoiding slipping down the rabbit holes of the gun-policy debate.
“The gun debate has been around as long as I’ve been alive,” says MacMillan, 51. “I’m looking for new solutions. I’m not interested in the gun rights debate from either side or blaming the police, or the mayor, or city budget. I want to know what we haven’t talked about and I want to know who is doing things that work. I just want to know what’s going to work.”
MacMillan doesn’t know what solutions will curb the gunfire crisis in Philadelphia, and he doesn’t yet know how to financially sustain the independent, new-media project he envisions, either. What he does know is that murder by gun is the most important story in Philadelphia-in national newspapers, it’s the story of Philadelphia-and that it needs to be explored intensely, from every angle, with every journalistic resource in the city.
“First thing I’m trying to do is build a community of like-minded people and start to gather information on all the other individuals and organizations in the city working on it,” says MacMillan, a Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist and 17-year veteran of the Daily News. “It’s open-ended. I don’t know how it’s going to play out but I want everyone to participate.”…
After returning from Iraq, MacMillan grew increasingly interested in the intersection of journalism and trauma and new-media models. While he wasn’t sure of the exact direction of impactful, sustainable journalism, he was pretty sure it wasn’t happening at 400 N. Broad St. In 2007, he took an early buyout.
He spent the last few years studying the impact of violence on communities and exploring the impact media could have on reducing that violence. In 2007, he was an Ochberg fellow at the Dart Center. He taught classes in “Journalism and Psychological Trauma” at Temple University; “Multimedia and Social Media Journalism” at the University of Missouri; and “Peace and Conflict Journalism” at Swarthmore College, where he is currently the journalist-in-residence at the Lang Center for Civic and Social Responsibility. Meanwhile, he built his own indie-journalism following online. Today, he has more than 79,000 Twitter followers and more than 43,000 subscribers on Facebook….
Photo by Joe Kaczmarek. More: http://joekaczmarek.blogspot.com/
gunsjournalismLodge6violenceWar News Radio
War News Radio becomes Lodge6.org
We would like to share some of the latest developments with War News Radio at Swarthmore College.
Since 2005, Lodge 6 at Swarthmore College has housed the newsroom, studio and community of War News Radio, a weekly public radio program intended to fill the gaps in the media’s coverage of the conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan and beyond by providing balanced and in-depth reporting, historical perspective, and personal stories.
In late 2011, the WNR staff elected to suspend the weekly program in favor of focusing on more topics, more media platforms and more audience engagement.
In 2012, Lodge 6 is expanding to develop a media incubator, inviting more Swarthmore students and student groups interested in expanding or developing new endeavors in journalism.
During the spring semester, the students who staff War News Radio set out to raise the bar, confronted complex new challenges and eventually broke through to new levels of journalism innovation.
They chose to embrace new tools and media, and a broadened spectrum of topics — limiting themselves only to the boundaries of social responsibility and the principles of journalism. We launched Lodge6.org as a platform for new topics.
Jim MacMillan, Visiting Assistant Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies and War News Radio Journalist in Residence has compiled some of the work from the past semester into a “Best of Spring 2012” report at http://warnewsradio.org This includes an announcement that War News Radio has been honored with two 2012 Mark of Excellence awards from Region One of theSociety of Professional Journalists. And, you can view radio and multimedia reports from students in Jim’s “Peace and Conflict Journalism” course.
Other highlights include:
* Amy DiPierro, Caroline Batten and Collin Smith collaborated to produce a multimedia report, curating existing content — but also producing our first remote video interviews via Skype — starting with an activist who was arrested in Bahrain on the anniversary of the 2011 uprising. Their companion reports reports challenged the validity of a press release from the government of Bahrain — claiming there had been no injuries to protesters — and another story traced tear gas used in Bahrain back to a company in Pennsylvania.
* Klara Aizupitis produced a pair of video reports following the #KONY2012 debacle. The Philadelphia report includes her own field reporting, studio narration, remote video reporting and curation of existing video. Collin produced a companion video report on the complexity of addressing human rights issues.
* Amy produced and compiled radio reports on oil and agriculture in Kurdistan into a feature length radio program. She sent a WNR recorder to Sulaymaniyah with an American aid worked and produced an accompanying video slide show from the resulting audio diary.
* Caroline produced a radio report entitled After the War: PTSD and Veterans’ Care, and Elliana Bisgaard-Church produced another on conditions for Iraq interpreters after the war. Aaron Moser produced a report on The Rebecca Davis Dance Company and their project intended to empower children through teaching dance in Rwanda.
* Alan Zhao produced a multimedia report, combining new remote audio interviews with an Afghan rock band he had interviewed two years ago — Kabul Dreams — with their online rock videos. Aaron produced and narrated an aggregated a video news report when the US Places $10 Million Bounty on Hafiz Saeed.
* Finally, Amy found the perfect balance while pressing traditional boundaries to produce our first musical news report: Uke the Nukes.
Next year, returning seniors Aaron and Elliana are the likely leaders, while Amy and Carolina will be returning from public radio internships — at One the Media and WBUR, respectively.
Please follow warnewsradio.org and Lodge6.org !
journalismLodge 6War News Radio
Jim MacMillan’s photography: First Light, 09/12/01
Anyone who has worked with or studied with Jim MacMillan, instructor of Peace and Conflict Journalism, knows that he is a high-calibre journalist who lives and breathes his profession. You may also know that he is also a long-time professional photojournalist, whose work is recognized for its artistic quality. His photograph “First Light, 09/12/01,” is currently appearing in the exhibit “New York, New York! The 20th Century” at the Katonah Museum of Art and was covered this weekend in the New York Times. Read more and visit Jim MacMillan’s online portfolio.
Jim MacMillanjournalismphotographyphotojournalism
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Have you watched the Met Gala? 5 outfits were made with 3D printers
It took more than 1,500 hours to print two dresses and three outfits for five celebrities who attended one of the world’s most coveted parties
Every year, Met Gala, one of the most coveted costume parties in the world, is held at Metropolitan Museum of Art, in New York, attracting personalities from Hollywood and social celebrities. Created in 1948, its purpose is to raise funds for the Costume Institute, an arm of the renowned museum located on Fifth Avenue, in Manhattan.
The gala attendants’ dresses and outfits are a stunning show. This year, particularly, five outfits drew attention. They were developed by stylist Zac Posen in partnership with GE Additive (specialized in creating new materials and production of parts for aerospace, medical and automotive industries), and made with 3D printers from Protolabs, which operates in prototyping and on-demand production industry.
1,500 hours of 3D printing
Actresses Katie Holmes, Nina Dobrev and Julia Garner, model Jourdan Dunn, and Bollywood celebrity Deepika Padukone were chosen to wear the outfits that, altogether, took more than 1,500 hours of printing. According to Posen, the concept for the looks was to capture still images of moving natural objects.
Jourdan Dunn wore a dress with 21 stylized rose petals, each with a length of 50 cm and weighing 30 pounds. The petals are unique and designed to fit Dunn’s body, which was scanned before production. A titanium structure was used as foundation to fit the petals and the entire dress printing took about 1,100 hours.
Nina Dobrev wore a bustier printed in four parts using translucent plastic. Dobrev’s body was also scanned before making the outfit to ensure a perfect fitting. A clear coat was applied to give it a glass appearance. Over 200 hours of 3D printing completed the outfit.
Katie Holmes wore a neck ornament mimicking a stylized palm leaf. Made with Accura 60, a type of plastic, the object was painted purple. Smaller, the object was done in 56 hours. Julia Garner also picked an ornament and wore the outfit, mimicking a vine headpiece. It took 22 hours to print, in nylon, the stylized vineyard. Finally, Deepika Padukone wore a dress with unique embroideries printed and vacuum-metalized, a process which took 160 hours.
What about you? Do you see yourself wearing a 3D printed outfit?
Content published in June 4, 2019
What Braskem is doing about it?
Braskem sponsors the São Paulo Fashion Week (SPFW) since 2016. In the 46th edition of the event in São Paulo (2018), in partnership with fashion stylist Patrícia Bonaldi’s brand PatBo, Braskem ran a Fashion Challenge that brought plastic to the catwalk. Students in five São Paulo fashion schools had the task of creating a new collection expressing the fashion stylist’s identity through polypropylene. The winning project was awarded during the PatBo show in SPFW. The polypropylene, one of the plastics produced by Braskem, was chosen due to its characteristics: high durability, low weight, and resistance, in addition to being 100% recyclable and able to be dyed while dry, which reduces the need for water consumption.
3D print fashion Instagram
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Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (BNSSG CCG) is encouraging local people to visit their ‘pharmacy first’ for minor illnesses such as coughs and colds, hay fever and indigestion.
A fifth of GP appointments are taken up by minor illnesses which could be better dealt with in other settings, such as pharmacies or by the individual caring for themselves.
The cost to the NHS locally of the prescribing of ‘over the counter’ medicines is around £4 million, part of which could be saved to fund the treatment of other conditions.
Medicines for minor illnesses can be purchased from community pharmacies, many of which are open during evenings, weekends and bank holidays.
Dr Shaba Nabi, Clinical Lead for prescribing at BNSSG CCG said: “An important part of keeping you and your family healthy is by making sure you’re equipped to do so.
“Every home should have a medicine cabinet fully-stocked with essential medicines and products such as painkillers, indigestion tablets and a first aid kit. You can purchase all of these items from your community pharmacy.”
“Encouraging people to look after their minor ailments through self-care will reduce demand on the NHS locally and release resource to fund other health conditions and treatments.”
Local pharmacies can also offer professional, expert advice on the self-care of minor ailments and recommend medicines that can help.
Over the next 12 months, the ‘pharmacy first’ campaign will see posters, leaflets and videos on display GP surgery waiting rooms across the area supported by social media giving advice on self-care.
Earlier this year, a range of medicines that are available to buy over the counter from pharmacies and supermarkets were removed from the list of those routinely prescribed by GP surgeries.
This decision in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire follows a national consultation and NHS England guidance which recommends this change.
For advice on self-care and keeping a well-stocked medicine cabinet, visit www.bnssgccg.nhs.uk/pharmacyfirst
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A nonet of new plant species from Africa emphasizes the importance of herbaria in botany
Combining modern molecular methods, with more traditional morphological ones, a recent revision of the custard apple genus Monanthotaxis has revealed a nonet of new species.
Lying unnoticed on shelves, some of these species had to wait for many decades to be discovered with methods, unavailable at the time of their collection. Some collected 40 years ago, some as far back as a 100, the nine new species are described in the open access journal Phytokeys to showcase the importance of herbarium collections in Botany.
“Although for many of the new species good flowering material became available only recently, this does prove the importance of herbaria, and the need for exploring their collections,” explains the lead author, PhD student Paul H. Hoekstra, Naturalis Biodiversity Center and Wageningen University. “On the other hand, using DNA techniques we were able to link recently collected sterile collections to several of these poorly collected species, enabling us to improve their conservation assessment.”
Confined to tropical Africa and Madagascar, species from this genus all share similar features such as a typical climbing habit and bluish-green or glaucous leaves.
Two of the newly described species come from West Africa, four from western Central Africa, and for the remaining three Tanzania, Southern Mozambique and the Comoros host one each. This distribution comes in confirmation of a general pattern in recent revisions of both the custard apple family Annonaceae and other tropical African forest taxa, where most new species are found in western central Africa and Tanzania.
Giving important information about areas of potential botanical and ecological interest, this trend is supported by the high level of conservation concern among the newly described species. With five species classified as critically endangered, two as endangered, one as vulnerable the need of further collecting and studying those species and exploration of the relevant areas is warranted.
“Exploring those areas for new species is rather important if we want to have a real idea of their truly amazing botanical diversity,” explains Hoekstra. “Madagascar, for example, is also an area with many undescribed species, a fact also true for our group of interest,Monanthotaxis, and we anticipate for at least another seven new species to be described from this area.”
Hoekstra PH, Wieringa JJ, Chatrou LW (2016) A nonet of novel species of Monanthotaxis (Annonaceae) from around Africa. PhytoKeys 69: 71-103. doi: 10.3897/phytokeys.69.9292
Trapped in a nuclear weapon bunker wood ants survive for years in Poland
Species conservation profile of a critically endangered endemic for the Azores spider
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§068. Pub. L. 000-000 (Resources for Budget Law)
Budget Counsel Reference Directory
Public Laws (Resources for Budget Law)
The U.S. Constitution has limited guidance as to this fundamental aspect of governance. The current system, such as it is, does not indicate any comprehensive plan or succession of events beyond a general attempt by lawmakers to keep up with the massive growth of the Federal Government over time. Included here are some of the major laws, but by no means exhaustive.
Laws with Budgetary Process Implications
67th Through 116th Congresses
93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105
Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2019 (Public Law 116-5) 133 Stat. 10; February 15, 2019; H.J. Res. 28 (116th Congress) [GPO PDF (TBD)] [GPO Page View]
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019 (Public Law 116-6) 133 Stat. 13; February 15, 2019; H.J. Res. 31 (116th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View]
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (Public Law 115-31) 131 Stat. 135, 137; May 5, 2017; H.R. 244 (115th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO View] Note: Directed scoring provision related to the baseline (section 257 (BBEDCA)) at 131 Stat. 803.
Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 and Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Requirements Act, 2017 (Public Law 115-56) 131 Stat. 1129; Sept. 8, 2017 [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View]
Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Public Law 115-96) 131 Stat. 2044 ; December 22, 2017; H.R. 1370 (115th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View]
Making Further Continuing Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115-120) 132 Stat. 28; January 22, 2018; H.R. 195 (115th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View]
Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-123) 132 Stat. 64; February 9, 2018; H.R. 1892 (115th Congress) [BCR] [As Enacted PDF] [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View]
Consolidated Appropriations Act, Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115-141) 132 Stat. 348; March 23, 2018; H.R. 1625 (115th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View]
FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018(Public Law 115-254) 132 Stat. 3186; October 5, 2018; H.R. 302 (115th Congress) [As Enacted] [See section 255 (BBEDCA) FN#5) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View]
Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 (Public Law 114–74) 129 Stat. 584; November 2, 2015; H.R. 1314 (114th Congress) [BCR Link] [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View]
Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act or the FAST Act (Public Law 114–94) 129 Stat. 1312; Dec. 4, 2015; H.R. 22 (114th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View] Note: See section 32202 for Federal Reserve surplus limitation at 129 Stat. 1739.
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 (Public Law 114-113) 129 Stat. 2242; December 18, 2015; H.R. 2029 (114th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View] Note: See §§ 1001-1003 for budget provisions including a needless adjustment to S. Con. Res. 11 (114th Congress), the FY2016 budget resolution, showing that the BBA 2015 had violated its discretionary spending levels. These provisions are at 129 Stat. 3034-3035.
Continuing Appropriations and Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017, and Zika Response and Preparedness Act (Public Law 114-223) 130 Stat. 857; Sept. 29, 2016; H.R. 5325 (114th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View]
Further Continuing and Security Assistance Appropriations Act, 2017 (Public Law 114-254) 130 Stat. 1005; December 10, 2016; H.R.2028 (114th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View] Note: Provided continuing appropriations through April 28, 2017; see div. A, §184 at 130 Stat. 1017.
21st Century Cures Act (Public Law 114-255) 130 Stat. 1033; Dec. 13, 2016; H.R. 34 (114th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View] Note: See § 1001(b)(3)(B) for language directing the method by which a budget estimate is prepared for certain future appropriations at 130 Stat. 1040.
Program Management Improvement Accountability Act (Public Law 114-264) 130 Stat. 1371; December 14, 2016; S. 1550 (114th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View] Note: Pub. L. 114-264 and Pub. L. 114-328 both enacted section 1126 of title 31 (the latter came after, so it was classified in the U.S. Code).
Veterans’ Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2016 (Public Law 114-315) 130 Stat. 1536, 1569; Dec. 16, 2016; H.R. 6416 (114th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View] Note: See Title VI, §601(b) for advance appropriation provision.
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-328) 130 Stat. 2000; December 23, 2016; S. 2943 (114th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View] Note: Section 861 amends 31 U.S.C. 1126; President’s budget.
No Budget No Pay Act; Debt Limit Increase (Public Law 113-3) 127 Stat. 51; February 4, 2013; H.R. 325 (113th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View]
Consolidated Appropriations, 2014 (Public Law 113-46) 127 Stat. 558; October 17, 2013; H.R. 2775 (113th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View]
Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 (Public Law 113–67) 127 Stat. 1166; December 26, 2013; H.J. Res. 59 (113th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View] (Note: Formally known as the “Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014”)
Making Further Continuing Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2014 (Public Law 113-73) 128 Stat. 3; Jan. 17, 2014; H.J. Res. 106 (113th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View] Note: Date change extending continuing appropriations only.
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014 (Public Law 113-76) 128 Stat. 5; Jan. 17, 2014; H.R. 3547 (113th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View]
Armed Forces COLA Repeal (Public Law 113-82) 128 Stat. 1009; February 15, 2014; S. 25 (113th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View]
Medicare Protection Act (Public Law 113-93) 128 Stat. 1040; April 1, 2014; H.R. 4302 (113th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View]
Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015 (Public Law 113-235) 128 Stat. 2130; December 16, 2014; H.R. 83 (113th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View]
Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-295) 128 Stat. 4010, 4055; Dec. 19, 2014; H.R. 5771 (113th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View]
Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2011 (Public Law 112-5) 125 Stat. 14; Mar. 4, 2011; H.R. 662 (112th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View]
Budget Control Act of 2011 (Public Law 112-25) title I, §101, Aug. 2, 2011, 125 Stat. 241; S. 365 (112th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View]
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2012 (Public Law 112-74) 125 Stat. 786; December 23, 2011; H.R. 2055 (112th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View] Note: See §619 for an amendment to 31 U.S.C. 1107 (President’s Budget) at 125 Stat. 926.
Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Continuation Act of 2011 (Public Law 112–78) 125 Stat. 1280; December 23, 2011; H.R. 3765 (112th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View] Note: See §511 and §512 for budgetary provisions at 125 Stat. 1291.
American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (Public Law 112-240) 126 Stat. 2313, 2370; January 2, 2013; H.R. 8 (112th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View] Note: See title IX, §901(d)(1)) for Budget Provisions.
Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2012 (Public Law 112–199) 126 Stat. 1465; Nov. 27, 2012; S. 743 (112th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View] Note: See §116(b) reference to 31 U.S.C. 1116 at : 126 Stat. 1474.
To Permit Continued Financing Of Government Operations – Debt Limit Increase (Public Law 111-123) 123 Stat. 3483; Dec. 28, 2009; H.R. 4314 (111th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View]
Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-139) 124 Stat. 8; Feb. 12, 2010; H.J. Res. 45 (111th Congress)[GPO PDF] [GPO Page View]
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148) 124 Stat. 119; Mar. 23, 2010; H.R. 3590 (111th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View]
Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–152) 124 Stat. 1029; March 30, 2010; H.R. 4872 (111th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View]
Claims Resolution Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–291) 124 Stat. 3064; Dec. 8, 2010; H.R. 4783 (111th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View] Note: See title IV, §411(h) of the Act for the “Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act” in 31 U.S.C. 1105(a)(38) at 124 Stat. 3116.
Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–312) 124 Stat. 3296; Dec. 17, 2010; H.R. 4853 (111th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View]
GPRA Modernization Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-352; 124 Stat. 3866; January 4, 2011; H.R. 2142 (111th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View]
Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-343) 122 Stat. 3765, October 3, 2008, H.R. 1424 (110th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View]
Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2005, Part IV (Public Law 109-37) 119 Stat. 394; July 22, 2005; H.R. 3377 (109th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View]
Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act- A Legacy for Users (Public Law 109-59) 119 Stat. 1144; Aug. 10, 2005; H.R. 3 (109th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View] Note: See §8001 for (former) transportation limits in section 251(c) (BBEDCA) at 119 Stat. 1915.
Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-171) 120 Stat. 4; Feb. 8, 2006; S. 1932 (109th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View]
Jobs and Growth, Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 (Public Law 108-27) 117 Stat. 752; May 28, 2003; H.R. 2 (108th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View]
Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2003 (Public Law 108–88) 117 Stat. 1110, 1127; Sept. 30, 2003; H.R. 3087 (108th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View] Note: See §10(a), (b).
Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-202) 118 Stat. 478; H.R. 3850 (108th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View]
GAO Human Capital Reform Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-271) 118 Stat. 811; July 7, 2004; H.R. 2751 (108th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View]
Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-310) 118 Stat. 1144; Sept. 30, 2004; H.R. 5183 (108th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View]
Department of Defense and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Recovery from and Response to Terrorist Attacks on the United States Act, 2002 (Public Law 107-117) 115 Stat. 2230; Jan. 10, 2002; H.R. 3338 (107th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View]
To reduce preexisting PAYGO balances (Public Law 107-312) 116 Stat. 2456; H.R. 5708 (107th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View]
Debt Relief Lock-box Reconciliation Act for Fiscal Year 2001 (Not Enacted) H.R. 5173 (106th Congress) [GPO Report PDF]
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2000 (Public Law 106-113) 113 Stat. 1501; H.R. 3194 (106th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View]
State Flexibility Clarification Act of 1999 (Public Law 106-141) (106th Congress) 113 Stat. 1699; Dec. 7, 1999; H.R. 3257 (109th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View]
Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2001 (Public Law106-291) 114 Stat. 922; Oct. 11, 2000; H.R. 4578 (106th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View]
Foreign Operations, Export Financing and Related Appropriations, 2001 (Public Law 106–429) 114 Stat. 1900; Nov. 6, 2000; H.R. 4811 (106th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View]; Note: Enacted H.R. 5526 (text: PDF) by reference.
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2001 (Public Law 106-554) 114 Stat. 2763; Dec. 21, 2000; H.R. 4577(106th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View] Note: See § 1(a)(7) for H.R. 5662 (106th Congress), enacted by reference;, which is enacted as §310(b)], at 114 Stat. 2763A-639, relating to CBO confidentiality of records
Budget Enforcement Act of 1997 (Title X of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997) (Public Law 105-33) 111 Stat. 251, 677; H.R. 2015 (105th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View]
Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 (Public Law 105-89) 111 Stat. 2115; Nov. 19, 1997; H.R. 867 (105th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View] Note: See § 201(b) for adoption incentive payments (expired discretionary spending limit adjustment in section 251(b) (BBEDCA)) at 111 Stat. 2125.
Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (Public Law 105-178) 112 Stat. 107; June 9, 1998; H.R. 2400 (105th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View] Note: See also 112 Stat. 118, 130, 488, and 492.
Internal Revenue Service Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-206) 112 Stat. 685; July 22, 1998; H.R. 2676 (105th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View] Note: See § 3309 (c) for emergency designation applying to section 252 (BBEDCA) at 112 Stat. 745.
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Public Law 104-4) 109 Stat. 48; March. 22, 1995; S. 1 (104th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO View]
Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Additional Disaster Assistance, for Anti-terrorism Initiatives, for Assistance in the Recovery from the Tragedy that Occurred at Oklahoma City, and Rescissions Act, 1995 (Public Law 104–19) 109 Stat. 194; July 27, 1995; H.R. 1944 (104th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO View] See §§ 2003 and 2004 of the Act for directives related to treatment of reductions of spending at 109 Stat. 247.
ICC Termination Act of 1995 (Public Law 104–88) 109 Stat. 803; Dec. 29, 1995; H.R. 2539 (104th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO View]
Balanced Budget Downpayment Act (Public Law 104-99) 110 Stat. 26; Jan. 26, 1996; H.R. 2880 (104th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO View]
Contract with America Advancement Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-121) 110 Stat. 847; Mar. 29, 1996; H.R. 3136 (104th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO View]
Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-127) 110 Stat. 888; April 4, 1996; H.R. 2854 (104th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO View] Note: Also referred to as “Freedom to Farm”. Note: See§ 171 of the Act for reference in section 257(b)(2)(A)(ii) (BBEDCA) at 110 Stat. 937 for text .
Line Item Veto Act (Public Law 104-130) 110 Stat. 1200; Apr. 9, 1996; S. 4 (104th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO View]
House of Representatives Administrative Reform Technical Corrections Act (Public Law 104-186) 110 Stat. 1718; Aug. 20, 1996; H.R. 2739 (104th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO View] Note: See § 213 for amendment to CBO of section 202 (CBA) at 110 Stat. 1745.
Personal Responsibility Work Opportunity Act of 1996 – Welfare Reconciliation Act (Public Law 104-193) 110 Stat. 2105; August 22, 1996; H.R. 3734 (104th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO View] Note: See § 212 on Redeterminations and Continuing Disability Reviews at 110 Stat. 2192.
Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act, 1997 (Public Law 104–208) 110 Stat. 3009, 3009-169; Sept. 30, 1996; H.R. 3610 (104th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO View] Note: See Division A, title I, §101(c); 110 Stat. 3009–98 (§8047); 110 Stat. 3009-169 ( §577 amends section 251 (BBEDCA)); 110 Stat. 3009–489 (§2704(d)(10) amends section 255 (BBEDCA)); 110 Stat. 3009–500 (§ 4001 resets the PAYGO balance).
General Accounting Office Act of 1996 (Public Law 104–316) (110 Stat. 3826, 3828) Oct. 19, 1996; H.R. 3864 (104th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO View] Note: See §102(d)) on striking a GAO sequestration report at 110 Stat. 3828.
Balanced Budget Act of 1995; H.R. 2491 (104th Congress) [Reconciliation Bill; Not enacted – Vetoed]
103rd Congress
Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (Public Law 103-62) 107 Stat. 285; August 3, 1993; S. 20 (103rd Congress) [GPO PDF][GPO Page View] Note: See section 4(b), which added §1115 through §1117 to title 31 (U.S. Code) at 107 Stat. 287.
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 (Public Law 103-66) 107 Stat. 312, 683; August 10, 1993; H.R. 2264 (103rd Congress) [GPO PDF (Full Act)] [GPO Page View] Note: See Title XIV for budget provisions at 107 Stat. 683.
Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1994 (Public Law 103–87) 107 Stat. 971; Sept. 30, 1993, (103rd Congress) [GPO PDF][GPO Page View] Note: See title V, §571 amending section 251 (BBEDCA) at 107 Stat. 971 .
Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1995 (Public Law 103–306) 108 Stat. 1608; Aug. 23, 1994; H.R. 4426 (103rd Congress) [GPO PDF][GPO Page View] Note: See title V, §562, on year extension from 1994 to 19995 of certain guarantees in section 251(b)(2)(G) at 108 Stat. 1649.
Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-322) 108 Stat. 1796; Sept. 13, 1994; H.R. 3355 (103rd Congress) [GPO PDF][GPO Page View] Note: See title XXXI for the Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund at 108 Stat. 2102.
Federal Crop Insurance Reform and Department of Agriculture Reauthorization Act of 1994 (Public Law 103–354); 108 Stat. 3178, 3208; October 13, 1994; H.R. 4426 (103rd Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View; title I, §119(d)(1)]
Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-355) 108 Stat. 3243; Oct. 13, 1994; S. 1587 (103rd Congress) [GPO PDF][GPO Page View] Note: See § 2454 for title 31 amendments at 108 Stat. 3326.
Government Management Reform Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-356) 108 Stat. 3410; Oct. 13, 1994; S. 2170 (103rd Congress) [GPO PDF][GPO Page View]
Government Management Reform Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-356); 108 Stat. 3410; Oct. 13, 1994; S. 2170 (103rd Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View]
102nd Congress
Dire Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Consequences of Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Food Stamps, Unemployment Compensation Administration, Veterans Compensation and Pensions, and Other Urgent Needs Act of 1991 (Public Law 102-27) 105 Stat. 130; Apr. 10, 1991; H.R. 1281 (102nd Congress) [GPO PDF][GPO Page View] Note: See § 401 for rescinding sequestration ordered on November 9, 1990 at 105 Stat. 154.
101st Congress
Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 (Public Law 101-78) 103 Stat. 183; August 9, 1989; H.R. 1278 (101st Congress) [GPO PDF][GPO Page View] Note: See § 743 for amendments to section 255 (BBEDCA) at 103 Stat. 437.
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1989 (Public Law 101-239) 103 Stat. 2106, 2133; December 19, 1989; H.R. 3299 (101st Congress) [GPO PDF (Full OBRA 1989)] [GPO Page View] Note: This Act took the Postal Service off budget. See § 4001(A)(1) at 103 Stat. 2133.
Making continuing appropriations for the fiscal year 1991, supplemental appropriations for “Operation Desert Shield” for the fiscal year 1990 (Public Law 101-403) 104 Stat. 867; Oct. 1, 1990; H.J. Res. 655 (101st Congress) [GPO PDF][GPO Page View] Note: See § 113 on preventing a sequestration at 104 Stat 870.
Making further continuing appropriations for the fiscal year 1991 (Public Law 101-412) 104 Stat. 894; Oct. 9, 1990; H.J. Res. 666 (101st Congress) [GPO PDF][GPO Page View] Note: See § 113 on preventing a sequestration and § 114 increasing the public debt limit, both at 104 Stat 897.
Making further continuing appropriations for the fiscal year 1991 (Public Law 101-444) 104 Stat. 1030; Oct. 19, 1990; H.J. Res. 677 (101st Congress) [GPO PDF][GPO Page View] Note: See § 113 on preventing a sequestration and § 114 increasing the public debt limit, both at 104 Stat 1033.
Making further continuing appropriations for the fiscal year 1991 (Public Law 101-461) 104 Stat.1075; Oct. 25, 1990 [GPO PDF][GPO Page View] H.J. Res. 681 (101st Congress) Note: See § 113 on preventing a sequestration at 104 Stat 1078.
Budget Enforcement Act of 1990: Title XIII of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-508) 104 Stat 1388; November 5, 1990; H.R. 5835 (101st Congress) [GPO PDF (Full OBRA 1990] [GPO Page View] Note: Budget Enforcement Act of 1990 begins as title XIII at 104 Stat. 1388-573.
Treasury, Postal Service and General Government Appropriations Act, 1991 (Public Law 101-509) 104 Stat. 1389; Nov. 5, 1990; H.R. 5241 (101st Congress) [GPO PDF][GPO Page View] Note: The Act includes the Federal Employee Pay Comparability Act of 1990 related to GS Pay Schedule at 104 Stat. 1429.
Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Reaffirmation Act of 1987 (Public Law 100-119) 101 Stat. 754; September 29, 1987; H.J. Res. 324 (100th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View]
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987(Public Law 100–203) 101 Stat. 1330, 1330–282; Dec. 22, 1987; H.R. 3545 (100th Congress) [GPO PDF (Full OBRA 1987)] [GPO Page View] Note: See title VIII, § 8003(f).
Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 (Public Law 100-418) 102 Stat. 1107; Aug. 23, 1988; H.R. 4848 (100th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View] Note: See sections 2503, 5301, 5302, and 5303 .
Continuing Resolution for Fiscal Year 1986 (Public Law 99-190 – formal name is “Ethics in Government Act Amendments of 1985”) 99 Stat. 1185; H. J. Res 465 (99th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View] See also: H.J. Res. 476 (Pub. L. 99-179), H.J. Res. 491 (Pub. L. 99-184).
Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Public Law 99-177) 99 Stat. 1037; December 12, 1985; H.J. Res. 372 (99th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View]
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986 (Public Law 99-509) 100 Stat. 1874; October 21, 1986; H.R. 5300 (99th Congress) [GPO PDF (Full OBRA 1986)] [GPO Page View]
Tax Reform Act of 1986 (Public Law 99–514) 100 Stat. 2085; Oct. 22, 1986; H.R. 3838 (99th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View]
Deficit Reduction Act of 1984 (Public Law 98-369) 98 Stat. 494, July 18, 1984; H.R. 4170 (98th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View] Note: See 98 Stat. 1057 (§2101) and 98 Stat. 1208-1210.
Making continuing appropriations for the fiscal year 1985 (Public Law 98-473) 98 Stat. 1837; Oct. 12, 1984; H.J. Res. 648 (98th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View]
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981 (Public Law 97-35) 95 Stat. 357; Aug. 13, 1981; H.R. 1465 (97th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View]
State and Local Government Cost Estimate Act of 1981 (Public Law 97-108) 95 Stat. 1510; December 23, 1981; H.R. 1465 (97th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View] Note: Section 204 (BBEDCRA 1987) strikes section 4 of this Act (the expiration date).
Title 31 Revision and Codification Law of 1982 (Public Law 97-258) 96 Stat. 877; Sept. 13, 1982; H.R. 6128 (97th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View] Note: Long Title is “To revise, codify, and enact without substantive change certain general and permanent laws, related to money and finance, as title 31, United States Code, ‘Money and Finance’.”.
Title 31 codification law of 1983 (Public Law 97-452) 96 Stat. 2467; January 12,1983; H.R. 7378 (97th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View] Note: Long Title is “An Act To codify without substantive change recent laws related to money and finance and to improve the United States Code.”
Public Debt Limit Increase (Public Law 96–078) 93 Stat. 589; Sept. 29, 1979; H.R. 5369 (96th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View] Note: See Gephardt Rule.
An act to amend the Bretton Woods Agreements Act to authorize consent to an increase in the United States quota in the International Monetary Fund (Public Law 96–389) 94 Stat. 1551; October 7, 1980; S. 2271 (96th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View] Note: See section 3 (94 Stat. 1553): Amends 31 U.S.C. 1103 (Balanced Budget statutory “ceiling”.
Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1980 (Public Law 96-499; 94 Stat. 2599; December 5, 1980; H.R.7765 (96th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View]
To abolish the Joint Committee on Atomic Energy and to reassign certain functions and authorities thereof, and for other purposes. (Public Law 95-110) 91 Stat. 884; September 20, 1977; S. 1153 (95th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View] Note: This Act abolished the Joint Committee on Atomic Energy and amended Sec. 3. Definitions (CBA) by repealing subsection (b) and revising the section to include only paragraphs for definitions without a subsection level.
Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act of 1977 (Public Law 95-224) 92 Stat. 3; February 3, 1978; H.R. 7691 (95th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View]
Bretton Woods Agreements Act (Public Law 95-435) 92 Stat. 1051; Oct. 10, 1978; H.R. 9214 (95th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View] Section 7 (92 Stat. 1053): Amends 31 U.S.C. 1103 (Balanced Budget statutory “ceiling”); See “Sec. 7. Beginning with fiscal year 1981, the total budget outlays of the Federal Government shall not exceed its receipts.”
Full employment and Balanced Growth Act of 1978 (Public Law 95-523) 92 Stat. 1887; Oct. 27, 1978; H.R. 50 (95th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View]
Fiscal Year Transition Act (Public Law 94-274) 90 Stat. 383; April 21, 1976; S. 2444 (94th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View]
93rd Congress
Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-344) 88 Stat. 297; July 12, 1974; H.R. 7130 (93rd Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View]
92nd Congress
Federal Advisory Committee Act (Public Law 92-463) 86 Stat. 770; October 6, 1972; H. R. 4383 (92nd Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View]
91st Congress
Legislative Reorganization Act of 1970 (Public Law 91-510) 84 Stat. 1140; October 26, 1970; H.R. 17654 (91st Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View]
Intergovernmental Cooperation Act of 1968 (Public Law 90-577) 82 Stat. 1098; October 16, 1968; S. 698 (90th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View]
For the establishment of a Commission on Governmental Operations (Public Law 83-108) 67 Stat. 142; July 10, 1953; S. 106 (83rd Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View] Note: Also known as the “Second Hoover Commission”.
[GPO PDF] [GPO Page View]
Budget and Accounting Procedures Act of 1950 (Public Law 81-784) 64 Stat. 932; September 12, 1950; H. R. 9038 (81st Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View] (See also Pub. L. 93-9)
Title I, U.S. Code Enactment Codification into Positive Law of 1947 (Public Law 80-278) 61 Stat. 634; July 30, 1947; H. R.1565 (80th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View]
Public Debt Act of 1945 (Public Law 79-28) 59 Stat. 47; April 3, 1945; H. R. 2404 (79th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View]
Employment Act of 1946 (Public Law 79-304) 60 Stat. 23; February 20 1946; S. 380 (79th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View]
Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 (Public Law 79-601) 60 Stat. 812; August 2, 1946; S. 2177 (79th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View] Note: See establishment of Committee on the Legislative Budget at 60 Stat. 832.
Public Debt Act of 1943 (Public Law 78-34) 57 Stat. 63; Apr. 11, 1943; H . R . 1780 (78th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View]
Public Debt Act of 1944 (Public Law 78-333) 58 Stat. 272; June 9, 1944 (H . R. 4464) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View]
Revenue Act of 1941 (Public Law 77-250) 55 Stat. 687; September 20, 1941; H. R. 5417 (77th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View] Note: See section 601 on non-essential Federal expenditures at 55 Stat. 726.
The Reorganization Act of 1939 (Public Law 76-19) 53 Stat. 561; May 29, 1928; H . R . 1 (76th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View]
Social Security Act (Public Law 74-271) 49 Stat. 620; August 14, 1935; H.R. 7260 (74th Congress)
Internal Revenue Act of 1928 (Public Law 69-562) 45 Stat. 791; May 29, 1928; H.R. 1 (70th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View]
Internal Revenue Act of 1926 (Public Law 69-20); 44 Stat. 9, February 26, 1926; H.R. 1 (69th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View]
Budget and Accounting Act of 1921 (Public Law 67-13) 42 Stat. 20; June 10, 1921; S. 1084 (67th Congress) [GPO PDF] [GPO Page View]
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Buffalo mom makes holiday cash driving for Uber in Pennsylvania
The Uber sticker on Ayanna Lofton’s car at her home in Buffalo on Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. (Mark Mulville/Buffalo News)
By Gene Warner|Published Tue, Dec 27, 2016 |Updated Tue, Dec 27, 2016
Ayanna Lofton has two small children to feed, works three different jobs as a dental assistant and is attending Erie Community College to become a nurse.
She’s also got an entrepreneurial spirit, a quick smile and a ton of personality. She loves meeting people and could use a little extra cash.
In short, she’d be the perfect candidate to work for a ride-hailing company, such as Uber or Lyft.
But she lives in Buffalo, one of the nation’s largest cities without ride-hailing services.
Lofton, though, found a way around that obstacle.
On two weekends early this month, she drove to Erie, Pa., and Pittsburgh to earn a few dollars for her boys before Christmas.
Lofton is an Uber driver, certainly one of only a few in Western New York.
She’s since become a one-person advertisement for ride-hailing, which once again has surfaced as a hot topic in Albany.
“When they come to Buffalo, I’m going to jump right on that,” she said. “Uber would change the way people look at public transportation.”
The 22-year-old East High School graduate sees several benefits of the ride-hailing service. She believes it will take some young unemployed adults off the streets, into a more enticing job than working a cash register or flipping burgers; reduce the number of drunken people who jump into their cars after leaving bars and clubs; offer a more attractive mode of public transportation; and provide flexible, part-time hours for students and people working other jobs.
The battle over bringing Uber and Lyft to upstate New York has picked up steam recently, as the two San Francisco-based companies have waged an intense, expensive, behind-the-scenes effort, trying to build support in the state Assembly, which killed the bill last summer. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and Buffalo Bills and Sabres co-owner Kim Pegula have added their voices to the renewed effort, and the state police-chiefs association has backed ride-sharing as a way to reduce drunken driving.
On the other side, livery companies continue to argue that the ride-sharing services fail to vet drivers’ backgrounds and don’t offer proper insurance. And taxicab officials have railed at the massive lobbying effort by Uber and Lyft.
Lofton, though, remains an unabashed supporter.
While attending ECC, she had to cut back on her hours working as a dental assistant.
“I looked into Uber, found out that I could drive in other states on my own time, so I signed up,” she said. “I needed extra money.”
Nervous at first, she drove with her sister to Erie the first weekend, ferrying passengers from 11 p.m. Friday to 7 a.m. Saturday. She picked up a dozen people, hardly enough to meet her round-trip driving costs, but she had jumped into the Uber pool, and she loved the experience.
Lofton believes a ride-sharing service can dramatically reduce the amount of drunken driving, as virtually all the people she picked up from clubs and bars that first night seemed to be drunk.
“In Pennsylvania, they said they don’t use yellow cabs anymore,” she said of her customers. “One of them said to me, ‘I’d rather be in a person’s car that is taken care of by the owner than a public transportation taxi.’”
The next weekend, she worked a 14-hour shift in Erie, before heading to Pittsburgh for a four-hour Saturday afternoon shift, sandwiched around some naps in her car. That double shift earned her about $270 total after Uber took its 20 percent cut.
“It became addictive to me,” she said. “I’m going to admit I got addicted to making money so fast and so easily, just meeting different people and being nice to them.”
That included one group of six people whom she picked up in her sport utility vehicle in Erie. All had been partying, and she let them plug in their auxiliary cord, as they all sang to the music together while she drove them home.
“It’s my rules in my car,” she explained.
Lofton, though, had to stop after her two weekends in Pennsylvania, because she lacked a PennDOT inspection sticker.
Besides itching to return to Uber, she believes so many other young people in Buffalo would love to be drivers, especially the unemployed or marginally employed, some of whom just hang out on the streets.
“It would encourage more people to work because it’s more flexible [than other jobs],” she said. “Nobody wants to stand behind a cash register all day. It’s more convenient, there’s no boss hanging over your shoulder, and it’s your hours.”
Lofton just can’t understand why Buffalo and upstate New York still have no ride-hailing services.
“The fact we don’t have Uber here is almost medieval. Everybody else has it. We’re behind, and we need to catch up.”
Gene Warner – Gene Warner spent 36 years as a Buffalo News reporter.
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Sneha Home
Sneha Girap (Editor)
I Love to read n write about Interesting People
James E West (Scouting)
Updated on Apr 21, 2018
Occupation Chief Scout Executive
Known for Boy Scouts of America
Died May 15, 1948
Role Scouting
Name James West
Children Marion West Higgins
Full Name James Edward West
Born May 16, 1876 (1876-05-16) Washington, D.C.
Awards Bronze Wolf Award Silver Buffalo Award Distinguished Service Award of the Order of the Arrow Honorary Alpha Phi Omega brother
Resting place Kensico Cemetery, Valhalla
James Edward West (May 16, 1876 – May 15, 1948) was a lawyer and an advocate of children's rights, who became the first professional Executive Secretary, soon renamed Chief Scout Executive, of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), serving from 1911 to 1943. Upon his retirement from the BSA, West was given the title of Chief Scout.
Partial list of works
West's father died around the time of his birth in Washington, D.C. His mother was hospitalized with tuberculosis in 1882 and young Jimmie was placed in the Washington City Orphan Home; his mother died later that year. In 1883, he was diagnosed with tuberculosis, and by 1885 he was crippled, with one leg shorter than the other. At the orphanage, Jimmie was put to work with the girls, sewing and caning chairs. He became a voracious reader and took charge of the orphanage library. After convincing the staff that he could continue his chores (stoking the furnace and caring for chickens) he entered public school at the fifth grade. In 1895, he graduated with honors from Business High School, where he had edited the school newspaper, was business manager of the football team and had acted as a substitute math teacher.
In late 1896, West was out of the orphanage and working as a tutor and as a bicycle mechanic. He attended National Law School while working as the assistant to the general secretary of the YMCA, and during the Spanish–American War, he acted as general secretary. He later worked as a clerk in the War Office. He received his Bachelor of Laws in 1900 and Master of Laws in 1901 and was admitted to the Washington, D.C. bar. President Theodore Roosevelt appointed him to the Board of Pension Appeals in the Department of the Interior in 1902. He was instrumental in establishing the juvenile court system, pushing a bill through Congress.
West was a Mason, a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Sunday school superintendent for the Mount Pleasant Congregational Church. In the early 1900s, he was the finance chairman for the Boys' Brigade and the secretary of the Washington Playground Association, later the Playground Association of America. He later served as secretary of the National Child Rescue League, responsible for placing orphaned children into homes. West was then the secretary of the White House Conference on Dependent Children, pushing for reforms in the management of orphanages.
In 1910, West was looking to open a private law office. Meanwhile, John M. Alexander was serving as Managing Secretary from May to October, under the general auspices of Edgar M. Robinson, who had set up BSA's original one-room national office and recruited Alexander to run it. Neither Robinson nor Alexander wanted to run BSA permanently, so Colin H. Livingstone, the president of the BSA put out inquiries. Ernest Bicknell of the American Red Cross wrote to Luther Gulick, president of the Playground Association of America and recommended West for the position. After much persuasion West finally accepted the position on a temporary basis and moved to New York City, while Robinson returned to the YMCA and turned BSA's reins over to West. The Russell Sage Foundation provided the initial funding for West to become the first Chief Scout Executive of the Boy Scouts of America. He initially accepted for a six-month tenure, but he held the position for 32 years.
West married Marion Speaks on June 19, 1907. Their children were: James "Jimmie" Ellis West (December 25, 1909 – 1916), Arthur (born 1912), Marion (born 1915), Helen (born 1916), and Bob (born 1917). Jimmie died of pneumonia in 1916 while Marion West was pregnant with Helen. Their daughter Marion West Higgins would go on to serve as the first female Speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly. His great-great-grandson Tucker West is an Olympian.
The new BSA office on 5th Avenue opened in January 1911 with West at the helm and the movement began to grow at a rapid pace. Sixty local councils were organized in January and hundreds of Scoutmasters were commissioned. The office grew from six to thirty-five employees by May. One of his first tasks was the first edition of The Official Handbook for Boys. West was instrumental in expanding the third part of the Scout Oath:
To help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.
He also pushed to add three parts to the Scout Law: brave, clean, and reverent. West changed his title, and in November 1911 he became the first Chief Scout Executive. His starting salary was $4,000 per year and was raised to $6,000 per year in July (equivalent to about $140,000 in 2009).
West dealt with many early issues. Labor unions protested over wording in the original Official Handbook that had been copied from the British Scouting for Boys that was perceived as anti-union — this had already been removed from the first edition. West also dealt with those who protested against the inclusion of African Americans. West held that they should be included, but that local communities should follow the same policies that they followed in the school systems. Thus, much of the American South as well as many major northern communities had segregated programs with "colored troops" until the late 1940s, with some councils not fully desegregated until 1974. Since the BSA had early and enduring ties with the YMCA, a firmly Protestant organization, the Roman Catholic Church initially forbade their boys to join. West successfully argued that Scouting was non-sectarian and the Catholics accepted the BSA program in 1913.
As early as 1910, Daniel Carter Beard and Ernest Thompson Seton had various arguments over who was the founder of Scouting. Programs for boys had been advanced by Seton in 1902, Beard in 1905 and Baden-Powell in 1907. Since Baden-Powell had based parts of the program on Seton's work, Seton claimed to be the founder. By 1915, the conflicts between them had escalated and West attempted to defuse the situation. This led directly to the creation of Horsehoe Bend Scout Ranch.
Beard and Seton did not get along with West. Seton had different goals for the program and views of how Scouting should develop. Both Seton and Beard saw West as a city lawyer and administrator. Seton often challenged West's authority, often to his own detriment. The National Executive Board did not re-elect Seton as Chief Scout in 1915, and he soon stopped publishing in Boys' Life. By early 1916, Seton was officially out of the BSA program, and most of his contributions were removed from the 1916 edition of the handbook. West also clashed with the BSA's founder, William D. Boyce, who eventually left the BSA in January 1915 to found the Lone Scouts of America (LSA). LSA initially flourished but had to merge back into the BSA in June 1924. West even had Boyce's name erased from BSA records for years. Competition from the ABS caused West to seek a federal charter for the BSA, granted on June 15, 1916.
In the years before World War I, pacifism and patriotism often came into conflict, and the BSA was sometimes in the middle. Some thought that the BSA was too militaristic, especially as characterized by their military-style uniforms and discipline, while others felt that the BSA was unpatriotic in their stance against military training. In 1912, a member of another organization, the American Boy Scouts, shot another boy by accident. West quickly distanced the BSA from the American Boy Scout program and any military training or discipline. He refused to allow the BSA supply group to sell the Remington rifle endorsed by the ABS and de-emphasized the Marksmanship merit badge. The National Rifle Association lobbied the Executive Board to issue the badge. In 1914, Colonel Leonard Wood resigned from the board after a pacifistic article was published in Boys' Life that he considered to be "almost treasonable". After Theodore Roosevelt admonished West, he toned down the rhetoric and later began to issue the Marksmanship merit badge again.
West fiercely defended the use of the term Scout and the right to market Scouting merchandise. By 1930, West claimed to have stopped 435 groups from unauthorized use of "Scouting"; both as part of an organizational name and in the use of commercial products. When the Girl Scouts of the USA started, West discouraged the program. In 1911, West worked with Luther Gulick when the Camp Fire Girls were established and always considered them to be the sister program of the BSA. When the Girl Scouts refused to give up their name in 1918, West appealed to Baden-Powell with no results. Lou Henry Hoover became the president of the Girl Scouts in 1922 and First Lady in 1929; West then stopped his campaign to rename the Girl Scouts.
West negotiated the purchase of Boys' Life in 1912, making it the official magazine of the BSA. He began a campaign against pulp fiction and introduced a library of recommended books.
The BSA celebrated West's 25th year as Chief Scout Executive by commissioning a portrait by Albert A. Rose. The portrait was featured on the July 12, 1937 cover of Time in recognition of the first national Scout jamboree.
The highly organized national structure that West created was a key to the BSA's growth and reputation. He initially was not in favor of the Cub Scouting program for younger boys, feeling that its creation would take attention away from the main programs, Boy Scouts and Explorer Scouts for youths aged 11–17. He was convinced by the popularity of pilot programs in America that were similar to Wolf Cubs in England and Canada, and Cub Scouting was eventually introduced in 1930.
After West retired as Chief Scout Executive, Dr. Elbert K. Fretwell succeeded him. Upon retirement, West was given the title of "Chief Scout" of the BSA, the same title that Seton had held. West served on the World Scout Committee of the World Organization of the Scout Movement from 1939 until 1947. He lived in New Rochelle in Westchester County, New York and is buried in Kensico Cemetery in nearby Valhalla.
In 1993, the BSA created the James E. West Fellowship Award for individuals who contribute $1,000 or more in cash or securities to their local council endowment trust fund.
Lone Scout of the Air. (1927) A biography of Charles Lindbergh
Ellsworth, Lincoln (1931). "The First Crossing of the Polar Sea". In West, James E. The Boy Scout's Book of True Adventure, Fourteen Honorary Scouts. G. P. Putnam's Sons. LCCN 31006247.
Foreword By Theodore Roosevelt and Biographical Notes By James E. West. Published by G. P. Putnam's Sons, New York (1931) Essays include: "Scouting Against the Apache" by Frederick R. Burnham, "How I Learned to Fly" by Orville Wright, "An Arctic Mirage" by Donald B. MacMillan, "Adventurous Hunting" by Kermit Roosevelt, "In the Arctic" by Lincoln Ellsworth, "A Tobacco Trade" by George Bird Grinnell, "The Black Ghosts of the Tana River" by James L. Clark, "My Flight Over the Atlantic" by Richard E. Byrd, "In the Jungles of Cochin-China" by Theodore Roosevelt, "Shipwreck" by Robert A. Bartlett, "Written in the Air" by Charles Lindbergh, "Tiger! Tiger!" by Merian C. Cooper, "The First Crossing of the Polar Sea" by Lincoln Ellsworth, "Bandits" by Clifford H. Pope, and "Adventure" by Stewart Edward White. All 13 photo plates of the honorary Scouts are present; both Roosevelts in the same photo.
The Boy Scout's Book of Honor edited by James West, (1931)
He-who-sees-in-the-dark; the boys' story of Frederick Burnham, the American scout, by James E. West and Peter O. Lamb; illustrated by Baden-Powell. (1932)
Making the Most of Yourself (1941) Collection of his Boys' Life columns.
James E. West (Scouting) Wikipedia
Antes Que o Mundo Acabe
Plamen Panayotov
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Country Greece
Area 350.61 km2
University Technological Educational Institute of Kavala
Map of Kavala
Kavala (Greek: Καβάλα, [kaˈvala]) is a city in northern Greece, the principal seaport of eastern Macedonia and the capital of Kavala regional unit.
Kavalagreecea place to remember
Visit kavala greece attractions
Roman Era
Byzantine, Bulgarian and Crusader Era
Ottoman Era
Twin towns – Sister cities
Highway network
Ecclesiastical history
Titular see
Notable figures
It is situated on the Bay of Kavala, across from the island of Thasos and on the Egnatia motorway, a one-and-a-half-hour drive to Thessaloniki (160 kilometres (99 miles) west) and a forty-minute drive to Drama (37 km (23 miles) north) and Xanthi (56 km (35 miles) east).
Kavalagreece a place to remember
In Antiquity the name of the city was Neapolis ('new city', like many Greek colonies). During the Middle Ages, it was renamed Christoupolis ('city of Christ').
The etymology of the modern name of the city is disputed. Some mention an ancient Greek village Skavala near the town. Other proposals include either from the Italian cavallo (= horse), or from the Hebrew Kabbalah due to the city's large Jewish population in the past. Its nickname is The cyan city (Η γαλάζια πόλη).
The city was founded in the late 7th century BC by settlers from Thassos. It was one of several Thassian colonies along the coastline, all founded in order to take advantage of rich gold and silver mines, especially those located in the nearby Pangaion mountain (which were eventually exploited by Phillip II of Macedonia).
Worship of Parthenos / the Virgin, a female deity of Greek–Ionian origin associated with Athena, is archaeologically attested in the Archaic period. At the end of the 6th century BC Neapolis claimed independence from Thassos and began issuing its own silver coins with the head of Gorgo (γοργὀνειο) on one side. A few decades later a large Ionic temple made from Thassian marble replaced the Archaic one. Parts of it can now be seen in the town's archaeological museum.
In 411 BC, during the Peloponnesian War, Neapolis was besieged by the allied armies of the Spartans and the Thassians but remained faithful to Athens. Two Athenian honorary decrees in 410 and 407 BC rewarded Neapolis for its loyalty.
Neapolis was a town of Macedonia, located 14 km (9 mi) from the harbour of Philippi. It was a member of the Athenian League; a pillar found in Athens mentions the contribution of Neapolis to the alliance.
The military Roman road Via Egnatia passed through the city and helped commerce to flourish. It became a Roman civitas in 168 BC, and was a base for Brutus and Cassius in 42 BC, before their defeat in the Battle of Philippi.
The Apostle Paul landed at Kavala on his first voyage to Europe.
In the 6th century, Byzantine emperor Justinian I fortified the city in an effort to protect it from barbarian raids. In later Byzantine times the city was called Christoupolis (Χριστούπολις, "city of Christ") and belonged to the theme of Macedonia. The first surviving mention of the new name is in a taktikon of the early 9th century. The city is also mentioned in the "Life of St. Gregory of Dekapolis". In the 8th and 9th centuries, Bulgarian attacks forced the Byzantines to reorganise the defence of the area, giving great care to Christoupolis with fortifications and a notable garrison. Bulgarians also ruled it briefly. In 926 the Byzantine general (strategos) Basil Klaudon reconstructed the town's fallen walls according to an inscription now in the archaeological museum. Thanks to its location, the city experienced an economic resurgence, securing contact between Constantinople and Thessaloniki.
During a Norman raid of Macedonia in 1185, the city was captured and burned. In 1302, the Catalans failed to capture the city. In order to prevent them from coming back, the Byzantine emperor Andronikos III Palaiologos built a new long defensive wall. In 1357 two Byzantine officers and brothers, Alexios and John, controlled the city and its territory. Excavations have revealed the ruins of an early Byzantine basilica under an Ottoman mosque in the Old Town. It was used until the late Byzantine era.
The Ottoman Turks first captured the city in 1387 and completely destroyed it in 1391, as a Mount Athos chronicle testifies. Kavala was part of the Ottoman Empire from 1387 to 1912. In the middle of the 16th century, Ibrahim Pasha, Grand Vizier of Suleiman the Magnificent, contributed to the town's prosperity and growth by the construction of an aqueduct. The Ottomans also extended the Byzantine fortress on the hill of Panagia. Both landmarks are among the most recognizable symbols of the city today.
Mehmet Ali, the founder of a dynasty that ruled Egypt, was born in Kavala in 1769. His house has been preserved as a museum.
Kavala was briefly occupied by the Bulgarians during the first Balkan War in 1912, but was finally captured by Greece in 1913 during a successful landing operation by the Greek Navy that was commanded by the famous admiral Pavlos Kountouriotis.
In August 1916 rests of the IV Army Corps, stationed at Kavala under Ioannis Hatzopoulos surrendered to the advancing Bulgarian Army. These events provoked a military revolt in Thessaloniki, which led to the establishment of the Provisional Government of National Defence, and eventually Greece's formal entry into the First World War.
After the Greco-Turkish War of 1919–1922, the city entered a new era of prosperity because of the labour offered by the thousands of refugees that moved to the area from Asia Minor. The development was both industrial and agricultural. Kavala became greatly involved in the processing and trading of tobacco. Many buildings related to the storage and processing of tobacco from that era are preserved in the city.
During World War II and after the fall of Athens, the Nazis awarded Kavala to their Bulgarian allies in 1941, causing the city to suffer once again, but it finally was liberated in 1944.
In the late 1950s Kavala expanded towards the sea by reclaiming land from the area west of the port.
In 1967, King Constantine II left Athens for Kavala in an unsuccessful attempt to launch a counter-coup against the military junta.
The municipality of Kavala was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the two former municipalities, which became municipal units:
The municipality has an area of 351.35 square kilometres (135.66 square miles). The population of the new municipality is 70,501 (2011). The seat of the municipality is in Kavala. Some of the most important communities inside new municipality are:
Kavala is built amphitheatrically, with most residents enjoying superb views of the coast and sea. Some of the regions inside Kavala are:
Kavala is twinned with:
The province of Kavala (Greek: Επαρχία Καβάλας) was one of the provinces of the Kavala Prefecture. Its territory corresponded with that of the current municipality Kavala, and part of the municipal unit Eleftheroupoli. It was abolished in 2006.
Traditionally the primary occupation of the population of Kavala was the fishing. The fishermen of the town were well known all over northern Greece.
After the industrialization of the country, Kavala became also a center in northern Greece of the tobacco industry. Today exists also the building of the "Municipal Tobacco Warehouse".
In the middle of the 20th century oil deposits were found outside the city and today exists an oil rig.
Kavala has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) that borders on a semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification "BSk" or "BSh" depending on the system used) with annual average precipitation of 460 mm (18.1 in). Snowfalls are sporadic, but happen more or less every year. The humidity is always very high
The absolute maximum temperature ever recorded was 38.0 °C (100 °F), while the absolute minimum ever recorded was −5.8 °C (22 °F).
TEI of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace: The Technological Educational Institute of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace (Greek: ΤΕΙ Ανατολικής Μακεδονίας και Θράκης) is a public institute providing education at university level in the region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace. The main campus of the institute located in St. Lukas, Kavala and is approximately 132,000 m2 with buildings covering an area of 36,000 m2.The campus is home for 2 faculties (Faculty of Engineering Sciences and Faculty of Business and Economics) with totally 9 departments.
MSc in Management and Information Systems
Fisheries Research Institute: Fisheries Research Institute (F.R.I) is one of the five specialized research institutes of N.AG.RE.F, being responsible to conduct research and to promote technological development in the fishery sector. The Institute is located 17 km (11 mi) away from Kavala, in Nea Peramos, at the centre of a marine area with rich fishery grounds and high biodiversity in the surrounding lagoons, lakes and rivers.
Institute of Mohamed Ali for the Research of the Eastern Tradition (I.M.A.R.E.T.): I.M.A.R.E.T. is a registered NGO with the Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which was established several months ago by concerned citizens in Kavala, Greece. Its aims include the study of the Egyptian influence in Greece and vice versa. The intra-cultural exchange and dialogue, as well as the promotion of art as a means of intra-cultural understanding. The first major co-operation partner is Cultnat of Bibliotheca Alaxandrina with the aim of documenting and digitizing the architectural heritage of the Mohamed Ali era in Egypt and Greece. Most important event that take place every year at the institute is the International Roman Law Moot Court Competition.
Historical & Literary Archives of Kavala: It is purely a non-profiteering, public utility foundation. The foundation of the Historical & Literary Archives of Kavala is not subsidized by the Greek State, neither by any other enterprise of the private sector. Its operational cost is covered only by its founders and by infrequent aids of the local self-government.
Egnatia Aviation: It is a private training college for pilots that started training in Greece in July 2006. The facilities of Egnatia Aviation mostly located in the former passenger's terminal of the Kavala International Airport "Alexander the Great".
Kavala hosts a wide array of cultural events, which mostly take place during the summer months. The top festival is the Festival of Philippi, which lasts from July to September and includes theatrical performances and music concerts. Since 1957, it has been the city's most important cultural event and one of the most important of Greece.
Cosmopolis is an International Festival held in the Old Town of Kavala that offers an acquaintance with cultures around the world through dancing and musical groups, traditional national cuisines, cinema, and exhibits at the kiosks of the participant countries.
Giannis Papaioannou's Festival includes concerts and music seminars.
Ilios ke Petra (Sun and Stone)(July): a Festival held in "Akontisma" of Nea Karvali. The event is of folkloric character, with the participation of traditional dancing groups from all over the world.
Wood Water Wild Festival: Wood Water Wild is an outdoor activities festival, inspired by nature. It includes live bands & DJ sets, body&mind activities, a book fair, outdoor theatre, ecology, camping, and debates.
Kavala AirSea Show: An annual air show, which takes place during the last days of June
Besides, various cultural events are held in all municipalities of Kavala during the summer months.
Fish and sea food, as well as the products of the local livestock breeding and agricultural sectors are the prevailing elements of Kavala courses. In Kavala, the traditional local recipes have been influenced by the cuisine of the refugees from Pontos, Asia Minor and Kappadokia. Fresh fish and sea food, salted food, mackerel "gouna" (sun dried mackerel on the grill), sardine pantremeni, mussels with rice, herring saganaki, anchovies wrapped in grape leaves, Stuffed eggplant: these are some very renowned recipes in Kavala and the coastal settlements of the region. The grapes, wine and tsipouro produced in the area, as well as the kourabiedes (sugar-coated almond biscuits) from Nea Karvali are particularly famous.
European route E90 runs through the city and connects Kavala with the other cities. The Egnatia Motorway (A2) lies north of the city. One can enter the city from one of two Junctions; 'Kavala West' and 'Kavala East'.Kavala has regular connection with Interregional Bus Lines (KTEL) from and to Thessaloniki and Athens.
The Kavala International Airport "Alexander the Great" (27 km (17 mi) from Kavala) is connected with Athens by regularly scheduled flights and with many European cities by scheduled and charter flights.
Kavala is connected with all the islands of the Northern Aegean Sea with frequent itineraries of various ferry lines.
The city is connected with all of the large Greek cities such as Thessaloniki and Athens. All of the local villages are also connected via bus lines. The cost of tickets is very cheap. There is also a shuttle bus in Kavala with these lines : 1. Vironas – Kallithea 2. Dexameni 3. Cemetery 4. Kipoupoli – Technological Institute 5. Agios Loukas 6. Profitis Ilias 7. Stadium 8. Kalamitsa – Batis ( only in summer ) 9. Agios Konstantinos 10. Neapoli 11. Hospital – Perigiali
Kavala F.C.: AO Kavala (Greek: Athlitikos Omilos Kavala, Αθλητικός Όμιλος Καβάλα), the Athletic Club Kavala, is a professional association football club based in the city of Kavala, Greece.The club plays in the Municipal Kavala Stadium "Anthi Karagianni".
Kavala B.C.: Enosi Kalathosfairisis Kavalas (Greek: Ένωση Καλαθοσφαίρισης Καβάλας – Basketball Union of Kavala) is a Greek professional basketball club that is located in Kavala, Greece. The club is also known as E.K. Kavalas. The club's full Greek name is Ένωση Καλαθοσφαίρισης Καβάλας. Which means, Kavala Basketball Union or Kavala Basketball Association in English. The club competes in the Greek League.
Kavala '86: A women football club, founded in 1986, with panhellenic titles in Greek women football.
Kavala Chess Club: Chess is very popular in Kavala and the local chess club ranks top in Greece, enjoying plenty of success both domestically and internationally. The highlight has to be the club's annual International Open, that takes place every August in Kavala and attracts the biggest names in chess from all over the globe
Nautical Club of Kavala (1945, Ναυτικός Ομιλος Καβάλας, ΝΟΚ). Maritime sports (swimming, yachting, water-polo)
Kavala Titans (2009, Τιτάνες Καβάλας). Rugby Union/Rugby League
Christopolis was important enough in the Late Roman province of Macedonia Secunda to be a suffragan of its capital Philippi's Metropolitan Archbishopric, but the Catholic succession ended.
The diocese of Christopolis was nominally restored in 1933 as a Latin Catholic titular bishopric.
It is vacant, having had the following, far from consecutive, incumbents of the lowest (episcopal) rank, except the latest (archiepiscopal, intermediary rank):
Jean Isembert, Dominican Order (O.P.) (1450.05.11 – 1465.09.08)
Jaime Perez de Valencia, Augustinian Order (O.E.S.A.) (1468.10.01 – 1490.08.03)
Ausiás Carbonell, O.P. (1509.04.16 – 1532.12.09)
Enrique Rutil (1525.11.10 – ?)
Bishop-elect Francisco de Jaén (1530.12.05 – ?)
Francisco Estaña (1534.12.16 – 1549.06.23)
Gian Antonio Fassano (1544.06.04 – 1568.09.10)
Juan Segría (1547.11.28 – 1568.07.23) as Auxiliary Bishop of Valencia (Spain) (1547.11.28 – 1568.07.23); later Metropolitan Archbishop of Sassari (Sardinia, Italy) (1568.07.23 – death 1569.09.26), Metropolitan Archbishop of Palermo (Sicily, Italy) (1569.09.26 – 1569 not possessed)
Pedro Coderos (1570.02.20 – 1579.10.21) as Auxiliary Bishop of Valencia (Spain) (1570.02.20 – 1579.10.21); later Metropolitan Archbishop of Otranto (Italy) (1579.10.21 – 1585)
Marcin Szyszkowski (1603.11.24 – 1604.06)
Ludovico de Taragni, Benedictine Order (O.S.B.) (1612.03.21 – ?)
Michael Chumer, Friars Minor (O.F.M.) (1639.10.03 – 1651.06.30)
Maxime Tessier (1951.05.28 – 1955.05.08)
Otto Spülbeck (1955.06.28 – 1958.06.23)
Michael William Hyle (1958.07.03 – 1960.03.02)
Titular Archbishop Sante Portalupi (1961.10.14 – 1984.03.31), papal diplomat, as Apostolic Nuncio to Honduras (1959.01.29 – 1967.09.27), Apostolic Nuncio to Nicaragua (1959.01.29 – 1967.09.27), Apostolic Delegate to Libya (1967.09.27 – 1979.12.15), Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to Algeria (1972 – 1979.12.15), Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to Tunisia (1972 – 1979.12.15), Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to Morocco (1976 – 1979.12.15), Apostolic Nuncio to Portugal (1979.12.15 – 1984.03.31)
Austria opened a post office in Kavala before 1864. Between 1893 and 1903, the French post office in the city issued its own postage stamps; at first stamps of France overprinted with "Cavalle" and a value in piasters, then in 1902 the French designs inscribed "CAVALLE".
Muhammad Ali Pasha of Kavala, the Albanian Wali (governor) of Egypt between 1805 and 1848 and founder of the modern state of Egypt
Mohamed Sherif Pasha, Prime Minister of Egypt
Christos Batzios, Greek actor and filmmaker
Theodore Kavalliotis, Greek Orthodox priest, teacher and a figure of the Greek Enlightenment
Vassilis Vassilikos, Greek writer and diplomat
Konstantinos Mitroglou, Greek footballer
George Georgiadis, Greek footballer
Giorgos Chimonas (1938–2000), writer and translator
Nikos Karageorgiou, (born 9 December 1962) Manager of Greek football team Ergotelis, based in Heraklion, Crete
Anthi Karagianni, silver medalist in the Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games; the city's Municipal stadium is named after her
Vasilis Karas, Greek singer
Nikos Kourkoulis, Greek singer
Leontios Petmezas, theorist, art historian, book critic, author and journalist.
Mitsos Partsalidis, first elected communist mayor in modern Greek history, back in 1 April 1934
Antigone Valakou, actress
Despina Vandi, Greek singer
Thanasis Euthimiadis, Greek actor
Anna Verouli, 1982 Gold Medalist, European Championship, javelin thrower
Zisis Vryzas (born 9 November 1973), former footballer
Theodoros Zagorakis (born 27 October 1971), former footballer, captain of national team of Greece-European champion 2004
Anna Gerasimou, Greek tennis player
Phoebe Calazans, Greek musician
Kleon Krantonellis, architect
Michele D'Ambrogio, Marchese di Kavala, Italian architect
Kavala Wikipedia
Kavala (regional unit)
Kavala AirSea Show
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Category Oracle
Looking for the T in Theresa and the J in Janette for Thurmond- Morris 2012 Sage, Seer, Shaman, Oracle?
We are now regrouping into those who are with the TJ Morris Organization. Poverty, malnutrition, climate change and water scarcity: these are some of the big challenges facing the world and our business today. We are addressing these and other sustainability issues. We continue to innovate and enhance the nutritional quality of our foods initiatives to support healthy lifestyles. We’re constantly learning more about the links between food and well-being, helping us create foods that make a positive contribution to health. We will be happy to share yours in the future. We are creating a location for all those who have shared their desires to support our groups in the past five (5) years.
We do share that which we find makes life not only better but easier in the world of the matrix web we call the Internet Online Experience.
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By theresajmorris Posted in 2012, Oracle, sage, seer, shaman, tj, TJ Thurmond Morris, treasure, Uncategorized
Alien ET Hybrid Contactee Shares Real Life before the "TAKEN UP" 2012 | UFO Digest provides video proof of ufos, alien abduction and the paranormal. | TJ Morris Publishing
Alien ET Hybrid Contactee Shares Real Life before the “TAKEN UP” 2012 | provides video proof of ufos, alien abduction and the paranormal. | TJ Morris Publishing:
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LIGHTWORKERS GUIDE
GOLDEN AGE OF COSMOLOGY
By: Theresa J. Morris COPYRIGHT PAGE
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In an effort to better serve our readers and visitors of TJ Morris tm ACIR sm products and services of owner Theresa Janette Thurmond Morris, aka Theresamorris.com we hope to share art, culture, education, science, and technology in the ascension age of awareness.
For more information, read our Internet websites. Social or public policy is highly political and is created based upon a mixture of interest group activity, public opinion, and values held by politicians at the time of the making of public policy. Administration on the other hand is made to not be political because of the fact that bureaucratic administration is strictly the execution of laws and policy that has already been enacted. Political Science is the study of both of these areas. Introduction
I would like to introduce that expansion of our minds we may regard as outside of the ALIEN ET BOX. That which we can share as outside of this Omniverse as the ET Creator Deities also known as ALPHA and OMEGA or the Beginning and End. We have all heard of the seven (7) heavens or have we? Universe, Multiverse, Metaverse, Xenoverse, Omniverse, Alphaverse, Omegaverse. The Golden Age of Cosmology is shared with the ACE Folklife common folk of the world.
One may have noticed that the “COMMON FOLK” are those who are in the streets these days uniting for common causes. It is said that there are only 10% classed as the wealthiest in the world while the other 90% is not. Does that mean that there is no middle ground for the middle class?
We share the planet as humanoid sentient intelligent beings and we are all considered one species. Why is it that there has been allowed in the past the corporations with their investors to believe that their CEO should make 550 times that of the common employee? It is not fair and there has to be some changes made in the world of corporate power and greed.
We believe in the social entrepreneurs of the social networks. We also know that it is entrepreneurs of the world that learn to find their passion, go out to create a better world with products and services, find their teams and groups to work on their new projects to be called corporations then go out and find their investors as angels for their investment capital. This is the way it has always been since the world decided to revolve around corporations and then came the stock markets.
Now, we can share the future Ascension Age as the Golden Age of Cosmology and the NEW AGE ACE FOLKLIFE will share our cultural refinements that include the changes to be made in politics and religions. We are seeing a major change among the common folk all over the world.
We are now going to be able to assist the third world countries and many of our churches are about feeding the hungry and educating those who are unable to find education in their lives. This is a time that our fellowship organizations can step up and be counted as the good Samaritans and ask themselves for real what would Jesus do? ALPHA & OMEGA SYNERGY ENERGY
(Golden Age Cosmology)
We all are experiencing our past, present, future as the IMMORTALS of our SOULS!
Those who I am finding out on earth that are humanoids have large holes in their education about who they are, why there are here, what they are to explore, and what will happen to them when they leave earth.
Therefore, I am inclined to share what was sent to me as inspired thoughts about the ASCENSION CENTER and the symbol. For those who believe in ALIENS and ET one might believe that I am a messenger.
I believe I am based on my past life and death experiences in this lifetime and my memories of reincarnation. I share what I can as what is now referred to as a Spiritual Teacher or Spiritual Guide.
Some believe that Avatars are reincarnated spirits and I tend to agree. There are spiritual avatars and internet avatars and in some ways we are similar. Please share this article with those who believe in the Alien ET Ascension Age. Some of us don’t only believe but we know of our existence as those who are to share parts of ourselves. We know that something wonderful is happening and occurring right now today as in the PRESENT!
We who are called PSYCHICS and REMOTE VIEWERS have all learned to astral travel in a manner of speaking. We can share the various time frames and dimensions we share in space that we call the cosmos. I shall end this with a quote of Carl Sagan’s Cosmos but please take the time to read this article and copy it to your “Hidden Archive Treasure FILES”.
We are all “IMMORTAL SOULS” – Ascension Center Organization teachers the continuous process of the expansion of our souls creations. Theresa (Tara) J. Thurmond Morris – Founder of Ascension, ET Spirit, TJ
Alien to our own way of thinking is that which we call the God force also known as the God Particle or ET particle in the cosmos. We of the world that are sharing the word “FUTURISTS” as “SEERS” also enjoy knowing that we can use our “Screen of the mind” or our “PSYCHE”.
I have shared a part of me in three (3) as that which has my signature on what we call creation of websites on the Internet Online which is our cyberspace reality in the cosmos.
1. AscensionCenter.org, 2. ETSpirit.org, 3. TJMorris.org as my contribution to our future Esprit de Corps. I am choosing to share that which I would normally place on these websites as that which also should be welcomed by Dirk Vander Ploeg of UFO Digest.com.
We share our thoughts and creations on earth and welcome all others who desire to link to us and our creations as websites in cyberspace. Virtual reality is one layer of our existence.
as what is now referred to as a Spiritual Teacher or Spiritual Guide. Some believe that Avatars are reincarnated spirits and I tend to agree. There are spiritual avatars and internet avatars and in some ways we are similar. Please share this article with those who believe in the Alien ET Ascension Age. Some of us don’t only believe but we know of our existence as those who are to share parts of ourselves. We know that something wonderful is happening and occurring right now today as in the PRESENT!
We who are called PSYCHICS and REMOTE VIEWERS have all learned to astral travel in a manner of speaking. We can share the various time frames and dimensions we share in space that we call the cosmos. I shall end this with a quote of Carl Sagan’s Cosmos but please take the time to read this article and copy it to your “Hidden Archive Treasure FILES”. We are all “IMMORTAL SOULS” .
1. AscensionCenter.org, 2. ETSpirit.org, 3. TJMorris.org as my contribution to our future Esprit de Corps.
I am choosing to share that which I would normally place on these websites as that which also should be welcomed by Dirk Vander Ploeg of UFO Digest.com.
It is time we all gravitate toward our other selves as real-time Avatars in Cyberspace in the WEB online. We are all now realizing we are much more than our physical selves. We can create our thoughts into websites and blogs in space that is electronically engineered in cyberspace that we call the Web on the Internet online. Things are changing and so are we.
Please READ the FOLLOWING in it’s entirety in order to understand more about the PAST-PRESENT-FUTURE of all of us!
That which claims to be both politics and religion are changing in this world and we the people as the common folk are the reason. We can see that the world we live that includes television and the entertainment media is changing along with us. We have interests and now the Internet is recording our interests and our involvement with our Internet is now being archived not only as common groups with similar interests but as individuals. This is also done in space by those we call “ALIENS” and “ET”.
GET READY FOR THE ASCENSION AGE!
“I am that I AM” is a famous saying. We can all say and know that as the God Particle Energy in each and everyone of us. However, can we all agree that there is an outside force that flows inside of us all as that which is also called the “I AM”?
Alpha and Omega in Greek is the same as in English saying A and Z in the literal translation of thought and the way we think and surmise on earth. However, we are now learning to accept the new age we call the “ASCENSION AGE” in which we call our way of knowing and becoming awake and aware of our own “Mortality”. Just as Steven Jobs passed on or died at the young “Baby-boomer” age of 57 years, this has left us all confronting our own “Mortality” and “Immortality”. ACE FOLKLIFE – Alien Civilizations Exist as we preserve Art, Culture, Education in our own folklife, folklore, and traditions that we learned in our own families and communities. Here is a brief history of HALLOWEEN -We are all here as body-mind-spirits celebrating the birth-life-death experience before our spirits return back to our souls.
Ace Folklife is about the “Common Folk” and what makes this planet and the humanoid sentient intelligent beings on this planet great and should become awakened and aware of all that we are seeking in our past-present-future memories.
Memories are wonderful things and the only energy of our existence that we take with us in our spiritual souls essence when we die! Therefore, it is only appropriate that we pay homage to all those souls who have passed on from this earth to the other dimensions in time and space.
We all can share in the celebration of life and death on a day we call Halloween.
This seems an odd thing to say about festive occasions that is why we should all begin to appreciate the changes that have occurred over time on earth.
I was always one to celebrate Halloween since I can remember being a Fairy Princess and stepping in a mud puddle one night I was trick or treating about five years old. Many of us may remember the times we share and these memories can assist us in knowing who we are and where we were in time in our lives when the celebration of Halloween was part of our childhood or young adult lives. I ask you now to go back in time and remember those times and write them down in your journal as your own personal celebration of yourself each Halloween that you can recall. I enjoy celebrations and most of all learning about the history of our cultural traditions. This is a passion I have always had and what also influenced me to become a writer. I knew in the third grade I would become a writer someday. It was being a small child that I can now see influenced my future adult choices. I plan on sharing ACE FOLKLIFE with others and I do hope that all of you will continue to keep our history in our celebrations alive on earth. We are all here as body-mind-spirits celebrating the birth-life-death experience before our spirits return back to our souls.
We preserve our ancient traditions while creating some of our own in modern culture. Today, we shall begin creating our history of the time prior to 12-21-12 which was pre-ascension age or the golden age of cosmology…
Halloween has become one of the holidays that children and adults like to celebrate a festive occasion in costume. We also have a history to go with all this frolic and celebration. While many of us are of Baby Boomer Age born 1946-1966, and those to follow as the X, Y, Z generations we also share our Indigo, and Crystal Children in twenty year increments of years on earth. We each will have memories and times that relate to the October 31st day also known as Halloween.
Halloween is considered by most in the United States as a fun holiday, mostly for children, but it has roots in ancient religions and folklore, including paganism, ancient Roman religions, early Catholic Christianity, Irish folklore, and even British politics! Pope Gregory the First of the sixth century AD was particularly adept at this.
Still, the Christian clergy regarded the old pagan belief systems as “evil” and “demonic.”
With its focus on ghosts, witches, warlocks, goblins, skulls, horror, death, and the supernatural etc., Halloween would appear to be almost completely incompatible with the tenets of Christianity.
Children and adults alike enjoy this holiday today, with funny costumes, candy, and parties, while some countries observe this time as a remembrance of departed loved ones and religious saints. Many of the pagan holy days were arbitrarily (and conveniently) reconstituted as “Christian” holidays – with a fairly seamless transformation.
Halloween Traditions
Many traditions are observed for Halloween.
Costumes: Dressing in costumes has its roots in the Pagan Celtic roots of Samhain. One theory is they dressed as ghouls to fool evil spirits let loose on October 31, so they would not be possessed by these spirits.
Another theory is they dressed in costume just for fun, and to make mischief.
Yet another theory is that faeries would dress as beggars asking for food, which would also be the origins of the “trick or treat” practice.
After the Catholic Church replaced Samhain with All Saints Day, people would dress as dead Saints and devils for their festivities.
Trick or Treat: This practice might have had it’s start in the legend from Celtic days that faeries would dress as beggars going from door to door asking for food, and those that did not show hospitality would be harshly dealt with by these magical faeries.
On All Souls Day, the poor would beg for “Soul Cakes” (sweet pastries) in exchange for prayers for their departed loved ones, expediting their passage to heaven. Sometimes costumed groups would sing and perform in exchange for food, ale, or money. In the United Kingdom, Guy Fawkes effigies to be burned were prepared by children, going door to door, asking for a penny for Guy, on Guy Fawkes Day.
Bonfires: These have two origins.
The first is the sacred ritual of extinguishing home fires, and one sacred bonfire is lit in each town for the end of the New Year. Some say the reason home fires were extinguished is to scare away evil spirits from homes, while others say that home fires were supposed to be lit from embers from the sacred bonfire to start the New Year.
The second origin was from Guy Fawkes Day in the United Kingdom to burn effigies of the Catholic pope, and later of Guy Fawkes himself.
Apples: A seasonal fruit, and also the symbol of the Roman goddess Pomona, commonly thought at the time to possess qualities of knowledge, resurrection, and immortality. Bobbing for apples, peeling a long apple peel, and other manipulations of the fruit were thought to foretell the future, on this night of Samhain.
Jack o’lanterns: From the Irish folk tale of Jack, who tricked the devil, but was not allowed in heaven or in hell. The devil, taking pity of Jack, gave him an ember to light his way on his eternal walks on Earth, carried in a hollowed out turnip. Because of their size and availability, pumpkins were substituted for turnips in the United States. The Celtics did use a hollowed out rutabaga to carry an ember from the sacred Samhain bonfire home to light their home fires, but the significance and relation to the Irish tale of Jack is unknown.
Ghost Stories: Ghost stories probably have their roots in the original Celtic belief that the spirits of the dead (both good and bad) wandered the Earth on October 31 (Samhain).
Later, when the church replaced Samhain with All Saints Day and All Souls Day, the dead were remembered, and spoken about.
In the United States today, they are used to amuse and scare children (and some adults) to get them in the “spirit” of Halloween.
Celts History
Halloween is a holiday with ancient roots that had a much greater meaning than the boisterous, costume-filled holiday that we know today.
Around 2,000 years ago, the Celts, who lived in what is now the United Kingdom, Ireland, and northern France, had a festival commemorating the end of the year.
Celts New Year was November 1, and this festival was called Samhain, pronounced sow-en.
The end of their year signaled the end of summer, the end of the harvest season, and the beginning of a long, hard winter that often caused many deaths of animals and people. Weaker livestock were often killed and eaten during this holiday, since most likely, they would not survive the winter anyway. Because of this, and the cruel winter to come, this time of year signified death to the Pagan Celtics.
They believed the night before the New Year, that the wall between the living and the dead was open, allowing spirits of the dead, both good and bad, to mingle among the living. Some of these spirits were thought to possess living people, cause trouble, ruin crops, or to search for passage to the afterlife.
Samhain was considered a magical holiday, and there are many stories about what the Celtics practiced and believed during this festival. Some say the spirits that were unleashed were those that had died in that year, and offerings of food and drink were left to aid the spirits, or to ward them away. Other versions say the Celts dressed up in outlandish costumes and roamed the neighborhoods making noise to scare the spirits away. Many thought they could predict the future and communicate with spirits as well during this time.
Some think the heavily structured life of the Pagan Celtics was abandoned during Samhain, and people did unusual things, such as moving horses to different fields, moving gates and fences, women dressing as men, and vice versa, and other trickeries now associated with Halloween. Another belief is that the Celtics honored, celebrated, and feasted the dead during Samhain.
A sacred, central bonfire was always lit to honor the Pagan gods, and some accounts say that individual home fires were extinguished during Samhain, either to make their homes unattractive to roving spirits, or for their home fires to be lit following the festival from the sacred bonfire.
Fortunes were told, and marked stones thrown into the fire. If a person’s stone was not found after the bonfire went out, it was believed that person would die during the next year. Some Celts wore costumes of animal skulls and skins during Samhain.
Faeries were believed to roam the land during Samhain, dressed as beggars asking for food door to door. Those that gave food to the faeries were rewarded, while those that did not were punished by the faeries. This is reported to be the first origin of the modern “trick or treat” practice.
In the First century A.D., the Roman Empire had taken over most of the Celtic lands. The Romans had two festivals also celebrated at the same time of year as Samhain. One was Feralia, also in late October, was the Roman day honoring the dead. The second festival was for Pomona, the Roman goddess of trees and fruit. Pomona’s symbol was the apple. These two festivals were combined with Samhain in the Celtic lands during the four hundred years the Roman Empire ruled over the Celts. The goddess Pomona’s apple might be the root of the Halloween tradition of bobbing for apples.
Over the next several hundred years, Christianity had spread to include the lands inhabited by the Celtics and the Romans, but the festival of Samhain was still celebrated by the people. The Christian church reportedly did not like a festival with Pagan roots practiced by Christians, so a replacement was needed. Pope Boniface IV designated May 13 as All Saints Day to honor dead church saints and martyrs. Samhain continued to be celebrated, so in 835 A.D., Pope Gregory IV moved the holiday to November 1, probably to take attention away from the Pagan Samhain festival and replace it. Since All Saints Day was sanctioned by the church, and related to the dead, the church was happy, but many Pagan traditions of Samhain continued to be practiced, including bonfires, parades, and dressing up in costume. All Saints Day was also known as All Hallows, or All Hallowmas
(Hallowmas is Old English for All Saints Day).
Since Samhain was celebrated the night before November 1, the celebration was known as All Hallows Eve, and later called Halloween. In the year 1000 A.D., the church designated November 2 as All Souls Day, to honor the dead who were not saints, and they eventually became combined and celebrated as Hallowmas.
On All Souls Day in England, the poor would “go a-souling”. They would go door to door asking for food, and in return, would pray for the souls of their dead relatives. It was widely believed at the time that the souls of the dead would await passage into heaven until enough people prayed for their souls. The Christian church encouraged this practice to replace the old Pagan tradition of leaving cakes and wine out for the spirits of the dead. The poor would be given “soul cakes”, which were pastries made for those who promised to pray for their dead relatives. In some cultures, soul cakes would be given in exchange for a performance or song as well. Children eventually adopted this practice, and were given food, ale, or money.
Jack O’ Lanterns are a Halloween staple today, with at least two historical roots.
The early Pagan Celtic peoples used hollowed out turnips, gourds, or rutabagas to hold an ember from the sacred bonfire, so they could light their home fires from the sacred bonfire. Another tale from folklore gives jack o’lanterns their name.
Irish myth
In Irish myth, a man known as “Stingy Jack”, who was a swindler and a drunk, who asked the devil to have drink with him. Jack convinced the devil to change himself into a coin so he could pay for the drink, but Jack put the coin in his pocket next to a silver cross, which trapped the devil, preventing him from changing himself back. Jack agreed to free the devil on the condition that the devil would not bother Jack for a year. Next year, Jack tricks the devil into climbing a tree to fetch a piece of fruit. While the devil is up the tree, Jack carves a cross into the trunk, preventing him from climbing back down the tree. In order to get out of the tree, the devil promised Jack not to seek his soul any more. When Jack died, he was not allowed into heaven, because of his drunken and swindling ways, but he was not allowed into hell either, because the devil kept his word. Taking pity on Jack, the devil gave him an ember to light his way in the dark, putting it into a hollowed out turnip for Jack to carry on his lonely, everlasting roamings around the Earth. People from Ireland and Scotland would make “Jack o’lanterns” during this season to scare away Stingy Jack and other evil spirits wandering about.
Over the next several centuries, superstitions about witches and black cats were added to the folklore and legends of Halloween. Cats were thought of as evil, especially black cats, and were killed by the thousands in Medieval times, possibly contributing to the Black Plague, due to the shortage of the rat’s natural enemy, the cat. During this time, the church created the belief that evil witches existed.
In the 1500’s, Martin Luther created the Protestant Church, which had no saints, so no All Hallows Day was allowed.
On November 5, 1606, Guy Fawkes was executed for attempting to blow up England’s Parliament. Fawkes, along with an extremist Catholic organization he belonged to, wanted to remove the Protestant King James from his throne. The English wasted no time to have a celebration to replace All Hallows Day, so Guy Fawkes Day was celebrated from then on. Many traditions of All Hallows Day were practiced, such as bonfires, and children asking for money, but the reasons why were different. Bonfires were known as “bone fires” originally, because they were lit in order to burn an effigy of the Catholic pope, burning his “bones”. Two hundred years later, the effigy of the pope was replaced by an effigy of Guy Fawkes, prompting children to go door to door, asking for a “penny for Guy”, so they could make their effigy to burn. In the New World, the colonists celebrated Guy Fawkes Day for a while, but as the colonies became the United States of America, Guy Fawkes Day fell by the wayside.
Halloween was not a popular observance in early United States history, as most of the early settlers were Protestant. At the time, Halloween was considered mostly a Catholic, Episcopalian, and Pagan holiday, and therefore largely ignored.
In the southern colonies, such as Virginia and Maryland, there were some Halloween customs observed.
The first common events were called “play parties”.
These parties got neighborhoods together to celebrate the harvest, dance, sing, tell stories of the dead, tell fortunes, and have pageants for children in costume. By the mid 1800’s, immigration increased, and many Irish immigrants, mostly Catholics fleeing the potato famine, brought many Halloween traditions with them. Jack o’lanterns found a new face, the pumpkin, which was very plentiful in the New World.
Catholics and Episcopalians sought to preserve their traditions, so started an effort in the late 1800’s to popularize and make their holidays known to the general population.
By campaigning to put these holidays (Halloween and All Saints Day) on public calendars, magazines and newspapers started to publicize these holidays, and soon became popular in the United States more as a community and family holiday, rather than one of great religious and supernatural importance.
By the mid twentieth century, Halloween turned into a secular holiday, community centered with parties city-wide, parades, and great costumes. Halloween is mostly aimed to children, but young and old enjoy this holiday, with events and parties for both children and adults.
Charity – Non-profits
Starting in 1950, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) started a campaign for children to collect money at Halloween for underprivileged children around the world. Halloween is the United States’ second largest commercial holiday, spending approximately $6.9 billion a year.
In Other Countries
Mexico, Latin America, and Spain observe All Saints Day and All Souls Day with a three day celebration starting on the evening of October 31, through November 2. In most areas of Mexico, November 1 is set aside to honor dead children, and November 2 to honor those who died as adults. Starting in mid October, shops are filled with decorations, flowers, toys made like skeletons and other macabre shapes, sweets, pastries, and candies shaped like bones, coffins, and dead bodies in preparation for the festivities.
Called “Day of the Dead”, the spirits of relatives are supposed to visit their families homes. An area of the home is cleared away, and an altar is erected decorated with flowers, photographs of the deceased, candies and pastries shaped like skulls inscribed with their name, candles, and a selection of the deceased’s favorite foods and drinks. Even after dinner cigarettes and liquors are provided for the dear departed after dinner enjoyment. Incense is burning to help the spirits find their way home.
In preparation for November 2, the graves of the deceased are cleaned, painted, and decorated for the occasion. Families gather November 2 for a festive family reunion. Food, drinks, and tequila are brought along, along with sometimes even a mariachi band. In some areas, fireworks announce an open-air mass, the most solemn time of the Day of the Dead. Many customs vary depending on the particular city, town, or culture, but all over Mexico, Latin American, and Spain, the Day of the Dead is considered a celebration of their departed family.
Eastern Europe’s celebration of All Saints Day are usually spent by praying most of the day, praying to the Saints and thanking God. Often, they visit their departed family members at the cemeteries. Slovakia, Hungary, Lithuania, Slovenia, and Poland observe All Saints Day as a public holiday, but unlike Mexico and the United States, this day is a somber day of remembrance and reflection. France, Italy, and Germany are celebrating Halloween, American style, as does Canada. Ireland celebrates American style, but a common town bonfire, a remnant of Celtic days is still lit. England still celebrates Guy Fawkes Day on November 5 with bonfires, burning effigies of Guy Fawkes, and fireworks.
Halloween or Samhain had its beginnings in an ancient, pre-Christian Celtic festival of the dead. The Celtic peoples, who were once found all over Europe, divided the year by four major holidays. According to their calendar, the year began on a day corresponding to November 1st on our present calendar. The date marked the beginning of winter. Since they were pastoral people, it was a time when cattle and sheep had to be moved to closer pastures and all livestock had to be secured for the winter months.
Crops were harvested and stored. The date marked both an ending and a beginning in an eternal cycle.
Halloween or Samhain had its beginnings in an ancient, pre-Christian Celtic festival of the dead. The Celtic peoples, who were once found all over Europe, divided the year by four major holidays. According to their calendar, the year began on a day corresponding to November 1st on our present calendar. The date marked the beginning of winter. Since they were pastoral people, it was a time when cattle and sheep had to be moved to closer pastures and all livestock had to be secured for the winter months. Crops were harvested and stored. The date marked both an ending and a beginning in an eternal cycle.
The festival observed at this time was called Samhain (pronounced Sah-ween). It was the biggest and most significant holiday of the Celtic year. The Celts believed that at the time of Samhain, more so than any other time of the year, the ghosts of the dead were able to mingle with the living, because at Samhain the souls of those who had died during the year traveled into the otherworld. People gathered to sacrifice animals, fruits, and vegetables. They also lit bonfires in honor of the dead, to aid them on their journey, and to keep them away from the living. On that day all manner of beings were abroad: ghosts, fairies, and demons–all part of the dark and dread.
How Samhain Became Halloween
Samhain became the Halloween we are familiar with when Christian missionaries attempted to change the religious practices of the Celtic people. In the early centuries of the first millennium A.D., before missionaries such as St. Patrick and St. Columcille converted them to Christianity, the Celts practiced an elaborate religion through their priestly caste, the Druids, who were priests, poets, scientists and scholars all at once. As religious leaders, ritual specialists, and bearers of learning, the Druids were not unlike the very missionaries and monks who were to Christianize their people and brand them evil devil worshippers.
Pope Gregory the First
As a result of their efforts to wipe out “pagan” holidays, such as Samhain, the Christians succeeded in effecting major transformations in it. In 601 A.D. Pope Gregory the First issued a now famous edict to his missionaries concerning the native beliefs and customs of the peoples he hoped to convert. Rather than try to obliterate native peoples’ customs and beliefs, the pope instructed his missionaries to use them: if a group of people worshipped a tree, rather than cut it down, he advised them to consecrate it to Christ and allow its continued worship.
In terms of spreading Christianity, this was a brilliant concept and it became a basic approach used in Catholic missionary work. Church holy days were purposely set to coincide with native holy days. Christmas, for instance, was assigned the arbitrary date of December 25th because it corresponded with the mid-winter celebration of many peoples. Likewise, St. John’s Day was set on the summer solstice.
Good Vs Evil – Druids, Christians, and Samhain
Samhain, with its emphasis on the supernatural, was decidedly pagan. While missionaries identified their holy days with those observed by the Celts, they branded the earlier religion’s supernatural deities as evil, and associated them with the devil. As representatives of the rival religion, Druids were considered evil worshippers of devilish or demonic gods and spirits. The Celtic underworld inevitably became identified with the Christian Hell.
The effects of this policy were to diminish but not totally eradicate the beliefs in the traditional gods. Celtic belief in supernatural creatures persisted, while the church made deliberate attempts to define them as being not merely dangerous, but malicious. Followers of the old religion went into hiding and were branded as witches.
Feast of All Saints
The Christian feast of All Saints was assigned to November 1st. The day honored every Christian saint, especially those that did not otherwise have a special day devoted to them. This feast day was meant to substitute for Samhain, to draw the devotion of the Celtic peoples, and, finally, to replace it forever. That did not happen, but the traditional Celtic deities diminished in status, becoming fairies or leprechauns of more recent traditions.
The old beliefs associated with Samhain never died out entirely.
The powerful symbolism of the traveling dead was too strong, and perhaps too basic to the human psyche, to be satisfied with the new, more abstract Catholic feast honoring saints. Recognizing that something that would subsume the original energy of Samhain was necessary, the church tried again to supplant it with a Christian feast day in the 9th century.
This time it established November 2nd as All Souls Day -a day when the living prayed for the souls of all the dead. But, once again, the practice of retaining traditional customs while attempting to redefine them had a sustaining effect: the traditional beliefs and customs lived on, in new guises.
All Saints Day – All Hallows
All Saints Day, otherwise known as All Hallows (hallowed means sanctified or holy), continued the ancient Celtic traditions. The evening prior to the day was the time of the most intense activity, both human and supernatural. People continued to celebrate All Hallows Eve as a time of the wandering dead, but the supernatural beings were now thought to be evil. The folk continued to propitiate those spirits (and their masked impersonators) by setting out gifts of food and drink. Subsequently, All Hallows Eve became Hallow Evening, which became Hallowe’en–an ancient Celtic, pre-Christian New Year’s Day in contemporary dress.
Many supernatural creatures became associated with All Hallows.
In Ireland fairies were numbered among the legendary creatures who roamed on Halloween. An old folk ballad called “Allison Gross” tells the story of how the fairy queen saved a man from a witch’s spell on Halloween.
Allison Gross
O Allison Gross, that lives in yon tower
the ugliest witch in the North Country…
She’s turned me into an ugly worm
and gard me toddle around a tree…
But as it fell out last Hallow even
When the seely [fairy] court was riding by,
the Queen lighted down on a gowany bank
Not far from the tree where I wont to lie…
She’s change me again to my own proper shape
And I no more toddle about the tree.
In old England cakes were made for the wandering souls, and people went “a’ soulin'” for these “soul cakes.” Halloween, a time of magic, also became a day of divination, with a host of magical beliefs: for instance, if persons hold a mirror on Halloween and walk backwards down the stairs to the basement, the face that appears in the mirror will be their next lover.
Halloween – Celtic Day of the Dead
Virtually all present Halloween traditions can be traced to the ancient Celtic day of the dead. Halloween is a holiday of many mysterious customs, but each one has a history, or at least a story behind it. The wearing of costumes, for instance, and roaming from door to door demanding treats can be traced to the Celtic period and the first few centuries of the Christian era, when it was thought that the souls of the dead were out and around, along with fairies, witches, and demons. Offerings of food and drink were left out to placate them. As the centuries wore on, people began dressing like these dreadful creatures, performing antics in exchange for food and drink. This practice is called mumming, from which the practice of trick-or-treating evolved. To this day, witches, ghosts, and skeleton figures of the dead are among the favorite disguises. Halloween also retains some features that harken back to the original harvest holiday of Samhain, such as the customs of bobbing for apples and carving vegetables, as well as the fruits, nuts, and spices cider associated with the day.
Modern Halloween
Today Halloween is becoming once again and adult holiday or masquerade, like Mardi Gras. Men and women in every disguise imaginable are taking to the streets of big American cities and parading past grinningly carved, candlelit jack o’lanterns, re-enacting customs with a lengthy pedigree. Their masked antics challenge, mock, tease, and appease the dread forces of the night, of the soul, and of the otherworld that becomes our world on this night of reversible possibilities, inverted roles, and transcendency. In so doing, they are reaffirming death and its place as a part of life in an exhilarating celebration of a holy and magic evening. Brain Mysteries
When you compare the brain’s detectives, neuroscientists, to other detectives, the neuroscientists seem to fall short in solving mysteries.
After all, Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple needed only about 250 pages each to get to the bottom of their cases. Ditto for Nancy Drew.
On television, Jessica Fletcher and Kojak were all able to find their answers in an hour or less, while Veronica Mars needed only about the length of a television season. Even the pride of South Florida, Encyclopedia Brown, was able to solve his cases with little more than a casebook, his trusty sneakers and a wide variety of miscellaneous factoids. If Encyclopedia Brown only required 25 cents per day (plus expenses) to solve his cases, then what’s taking neuroscientists so long to unravel the mysteries of the brain?
The brain is a bit more complex than Encyclopedia Brown’s nemesis, Bugs Meany.
But with the brain only weighing in at 3 pounds (1.4 kg), you could be forgiven for wondering if neuroscientists are just big slackers. As it is, mysteries galore abound in those 3 pounds, and until fairly recently, scientists lacked the equipment to accurately study the brain. With the advent of brain imaging technology, it’s possible that they’ll continue to learn more.
The workings of the brain, however, determine such fundamental questions about personhood that we may never know everything about what’s going on. That doesn’t mean we can’t speculate, though. While we may not be able to solve these capers with clues that point to Colonel Mustard in the library with a revolver, we can dive into the current thinking on some of the brain’s famous unsolved mysteries. Get your casebook ready and go to the next page for our first puzzler.
Twins — when Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have them, it’s fascinating. When they appear to Jack Nicholson in the corridors of the Overlook Hotel in the film “The Shining,” it’s freaky. When Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito claim to be them, it’s comedy gold. And while multiple births represent one of the great wonders of life in their own right, they provide important clues in the mysterious case of nature versus nurture.
This case is concerned with how much of our personhood is due to what we came into the world with — our genes. Do our genes determine how smart we’ll be? Who we’ll love? What we’ll prefer to eat for dinner? Or does what happens once you’re in the world make a bigger difference? Will parents or peers or pop stars ultimately shape the person you become? One way for researchers to figure out where genes end and where environment begins is in the study of identical twins, who share the same genes. Scientists have been studying twins to figure out the impact of genes on everything from math ability to predisposition for breast cancer. Twins represent such a rich research minefield for neuroscientists that an annual festival in Twinsburg, Ohio serves as a recruitment party of sorts .
The separation of twins is when scientists may be able to really examine nature versus nurture. So far, however, only one study has ever looked at separated twins from infancy through adulthood, and we won’t know the results of that study until 2066. In the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, child psychiatrist Peter Neubauer and child psychologist Viola Bernard led a study in which twins and triplets that were given up for adoption at a certain New York adoption agency were separated and studied throughout the duration of their lives .
When the siblings were placed with their respective families, the parents were told that the child was part of an ongoing research study that would require regular interviews and evaluations. No one, however, was told that the child was a twin or triplet, or that the study involved the influence of nature versus nurture. In 1981, the state of New York began requiring that siblings be kept together in the adoption process, and Neubauer realized that the public might not be receptive to a study that used this separation method . The results were sealed and placed at Yale University until 2066.
The memoir “Identical Strangers” is the story of Paula Bernstein and Elyse Schein, who were a part of the study. The sisters were reunited when they were both 35 years old; all but four subjects of the 13-child study have found their missing sibling . In promoting the book, Bernstein and Schein may provide a sneak peek at Neubauer and Bernard’s results. Bernstein and Schein say it’s undeniable that genetics play a major role; Bernstein puts the number at more than 50 percent . The women discovered they had things in common that included a habit of sucking on the same fingers and the same major in college . As for other matters, the women report that they are, as Bernstein put it in an interview with National Public Radio, “different people with different life histories” .
For now, it seems we’re at a stalemate, so go to the next page to see if we can solve “The Puzzle of Why the Brain Stops Working.”
Why the Brain Stops Functioning
The disordered brain tells no tales.
When a killer is on the loose in novels or on the silver screen, there’s a special urgency for the detective on the case. It’s a race against time to capture the culprit before he or she strikes again. The mystery of how braincells are killed off by degenerative neurological diseases is no different. As millions of individuals and their families can attest, a brain disorder or injury can be frightening, frustrating and ultimately fatal.
One thing that makes these disorders especially fearsome is just how little is known about why they happen or what you can do about them. Take, for example, the case of Alzheimer’s. This disorder leaves behind two very important clues: amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. But what do these clues mean? Does their presence begin the process of Alzheimer’s, or do they develop as a result? And if these two features are the perps, what can be done about keeping them off the scene of the brain? As of yet, there’s no magic bullet that can restore brain function or re-grow brain cells after they’re lost.
In 1990, President George H.W. Bush declared that the last decade of the 20th century would be known as the “Decade of the Brain.” Bush’s proclamation regarding the brainy decade acknowledged the advances that had been made in understanding how the brain works while pointing out just how much more needed to be learned about what happens up there . The president cited a number of neurological disorders he hoped to understand further, including Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, schizophrenia, autism, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease and muscular dystrophy.
As you might guess, just one decade of the brain was not enough to solve all of the problems that plague the lump atop our spinal cord. To understand how the brain stops working, researchers need to do more work on how the brain actually functions. While scientists know the general function of various parts of the brain, there’s only a very basic sense of how the brain’s systems work together, especially with all of the functions a person requires of it in a single day. How does it work so fast? What other systems in the body does it use or rely upon?
All these questions might make you tired, and you’re more than welcome to take a nap, but set an alarm clock so that you don’t sleep through the next mystery on our list.
Secrets of Sleep and Dreams
Why do babies need so much sleep? Another mystery!
“Sweet dreams are made of this,” sang Annie Lennox during her stint in the Eurythmics in the 1980s. But you might notice that Lennox is suitably vague about what exactly “this” is. And really, no one knows what sweet dreams are made of, why we have them or even what we’re doing sleeping our life away anyway.
Can you believe that? Every night we carve out a few hours of shut-eye, and scientists don’t even know why! They do know that it’s extremely damaging if a person doesn’t get enough sleep, and it’s possible that sleep once served some sort of evolutionary benefit. Sleep would be an extremely beneficial distraction if early man had wanted to take a midnight stroll at the time when saber-tooth tigers were on the prowl . On the other hand, it’s not a particularly advantageous trait to carry forward in this age of electricity as the process takes up a lot of time (about a third of our life) and renders the dreamer defenseless against predators .
There are a few theories as to why we need so much sleep. One idea is that sleep is restorative to the body, giving it an opportunity to rest. But if rest is the goal, why does our brain remain hard at work? It’s possible that while we sleep, the brain is practicing and running problem-solving drills before completing actions in the real world. There are several studies that show that learning can’t take place without sleep to reinforce the knowledge .
Some of these studies may have real implications for students. One researcher claims that it would be better for students to review information until they were tired, then slept, as opposed to pulling an all-nighter . Some schools have changed the time of that first bell so that middle and high school students can get a little more snooze time .
So let’s say these students actually go to sleep, as opposed to engaging in more nefarious behaviors. What happens then? When the dreaming state of REM sleep was discovered in 1951, it was described as a “new continent in the brain” . Though scientists have tried to make inroads on this uncharted continent, mysteries remain about its topography. Like sleep, dreaming may represent some sort of personal gym time for the brain, with dreams allowing a person to work out emotional issues and solidify thoughts and memories.
Or, it’s possible that life is but a dream, as the song “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” taught us. When you’re asleep, you’re experiencing a ton of visual stimuli that the brain is somehow processing. In an awake state, there may be additional stimuli for different senses, but the brain may be doing the same thing with them. If the brain works just as hard sleeping as it is when we’re awake, then maybe life is a waking dream .
Let’s row our boat over to the next page and investigate the mysterious case of human memory.
Questions of Memory
This detective writes down all her clues so she won’t forget them.
In the 2004 film “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” the characters played by Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet undergo a process to erase all memories of their relationship from their minds. The film uses a variety of methods to show how the memories disintegrate and disappear, and it becomes a race against time when Carrey’s character decides he doesn’t want to complete the process. He tries to protect his memories about Winslet’s character by hiding them in unrelated memories.
Good luck, Jim. Not even scientists are completely sure how memories are formed, how we retrieve them or how they disappear. There are many types of memory; we humans are pack rats who file away information ranging from how to make our grandmother’s favorite pie to how to solve algebra equations. But which things does the braindecide to save? Where does it put this information, and why can’t we get to some of that information when we really want it?
Scientists have been able to pinpoint where certain types of memory are stored. They’ve also discovered how neurons fire and synapses are strengthened when storing these memories. But they don’t know exactly what goes into that neuron to store the memory, or how to dissolve that synaptic connection if you want to forget something. In September 2008, new clues about memory emerged that may eventually help us crack this cold case. In one study, researchers found that the neurons activated in the recall of a memory are likely the ones that fired when the event originally occurred . So when you talk about reliving old memories, you actually are, because the brain is doing the exact same thing it did the first time.
But what if there wasn’t a first time? One of the problems of getting to the bottom of memory is that it seems to play tricks on the brain sometimes. For example, we often create false memories. On July 7, 2005, London experienced a series of bombings. A follow-up study found that four out of 10 people have false memories of the event because they claimed to have seen nonexistent television footage . If we’re storing things that are unreliable, does memory serve any purpose at all? According to thinkers as ancient as Aristotle, we might only need memories as a way to predict and anticipate the future .
The question of what we’ve experienced and how we experienced it is leading into our next unsolved brain mystery — the age-old question of consciousness. Read more about this riddle of the brain on the next page.
Conundrum of Consciousness
Baby Sherlock Holmes tries to determine if he’s attained consciousness yet.
This section might just “blow your mind,” to use a common expression. But do you even have a mind? Scientists don’t know where the brain ends and the mind begins. Are they the same thing? What about souls? Are these located in our brains? What is responsible for all of the unique thoughts and feelings that make us who we are? Everyone from philosophers to physicists has taken up this question of consciousness and come up empty.
For a long time, the study of consciousness was considered too far out to study. How do you scientifically study something so subjective? How can what one person feels become something that another person can quantify? But now, in their relentless pursuit to understand every single thing about the world, scientists are trying to figure out what exactly is going on with consciousness.
Though deep metaphysical questions about the nature of a soul, a mind and brain leave questions as to whether this issue is in the realm of scientists, the brain is likely involved in some way with our conscious thoughts. With the help of brain imaging, scientists can watch different parts of the brain light up, and they know they can alter the brain and our consciousness with surgeries or chemicals [sources: Eagleman, Pinker]. But what scientists don’t know is at what stage of the process a firing neuron becomes a conscious thought. The things that make up consciousness may be scattered all over the brain, with different cranial parts responsible for different pieces of a person. But, as we’ve mentioned, there are tons of other brain mysteries about how these parts might work together.
Scientists are also trying to figure out the relationship between conscious and unconscious experiences. There are some things — like breathing and maintaining a regular heart beat — that we don’t have to think about. How are these unconscious actions wired differently than the conscious ones? Is there any difference at all? We like to think we make our own decisions, but one recent study shows that we may not even do that. This study found that by using brain scanners, researchers could predict how a person was going to act a full seven seconds before the person knew that a decision had been made . Our consciousness might just be an illusion.
It’s possible that something like free will could enter into the equation at the last possible moment, overriding the decision made by the brain. The researchers in the study also admitted that this test was best suited to a simple laboratory test that involved pushing a button, as opposed to a more important decision like taking a job .
Will we ever solve these brain mysteries?
Who knows — our instrument for doing so is the very one we’re trying to figure out. But you could start combing the scene for overlooked clues by reading the stories and links:
Watch Full EpisodesTurn Your Computer into a TV! Watch Full TV Episodes Online.www.TelevisionFanatic.comAlbert Einstein LawsuitHourly Hospital Employees- Not Paid for Lunch? Visit:www.alberteinsteinclassaction.comTraumatic Brain InjuryRequest free information on how to win back your walk from TBIwww.Bioness.com
Source of Article:http://health.howstuffworks.com/human-body/systems/nervous-system/5-brain-mysteries5.htm
Darren WrayThe best way to study something so subjective is to take advice from people who have had *meaningful* subjective experience instead of treating them with contempt. A subjective problem can be turned into an objective problem if the evidence is treated with respect.
Despite popular opinion you can’t observe thought processes by taking images of the brain.
The peaceful, balanced person lurking somewhere within you, just waiting to get out. Get more tips with staying healthy pictures.
When we look past matters of politics, material goods, romantic partners and other life choices, most of us share a desire to achieve a sense of wholeness, to enhance our spiritual nature and to experience personal growth. Another way of putting it is to say that, somewhere in our brainsbeyond the worries about credit card bills and looming layoffs at work, many of us want to live a more conscious life. Ideally, we’d be balanced, aware of ourselves and others, and present in each moment.
So why waste any more time? It’s not a pipe dream — there are ways that we can increase our awareness of the aspects of life that affect our actions, thoughts, contentment and values. And once you do that, you can use the awareness to make positive changes in your life.
Profile Yourself
What do you see when you put yourself under a magnifying glass?
There’s been lots of debate over the merits and shortcomings of criminal profiling. Regardless, just as a criminal task force may develop a list of traits and behaviors commonly found in perpetrators, you can develop a profile of your own life and glean useful information about yourself in doing so. By examining your habits, thoughts and actions, a picture may begin to form of the life you’re currently leading. Noting differences between the life you want to be living and the life you actually are living is one way to take a step toward living a more conscious life.
Look for self-destructive behaviors in your life, such as substance abuse. Try to identify actions that are hurtful or detrimental to others. Pinpoint what sets off your temper, and what makes you anxious.
But this isn’t just about creating a negative profile. Identify the positive things you do as well. What brings out the best in you? What life-affirming activities do you include in your life? In what ways do you help others or work to make the world a better place? Ask yourself: Am I doing what I want to be doing and, if so, is that what I should be doing? Determine the patterns of your own behaviors and you just may be able to change them and enable a more mindful life experience.
Meditate or Pray
Living Consciously in Our Relationships Not only should we seek to live more conscious lives, but in doing so, we should attempt to be more conscious in our personal and professional relationships as well. According to Lisa Oz’s book, “Us: Transforming Ourselves and the Relationships that Matter Most,” for the most mutually beneficial relationship, both partners should attempt to approach it always in a way that aligns with their personal values.
If you want to live a more conscious life, you may want to take a moment to do … nothing. Well, not exactly nothing. Meditation and prayer are excellent ways to move yourself toward conscious living, as meditation and prayer are themselves affirmations that you’ll live consciously.
No matter what you call it (“taking a moment to myself” suffices), it doesn’t have to take much time — you just need a few minutes of solitude once or twice a day.
Meditation involves breath control, focus and blocking out external stimuli in an attempt to reconnect with your most basic essence. Many people believe that it helps them be more conscious of the moment, more mindful for the rest of the day, and that it helps them “reset” themselves.
It doesn’t matter what your religious beliefs are, because all of them provide the opportunity to take a moment to express gratitude, reconnect with your spiritual beliefs, and ask for or reaffirm intentions to overcome a fault or obstacle.
Look at Your Life with New Eyes
Is your life in need of repair?
When we drive down an unfamiliar street in a foreign city, our senses detect everything and we take everything in: thecolors and shapes of homes and businesses, the darkness of each alleyway, and the sounds of urban life. But when we drive down the street we live on, we see and sense very little because we know what’s there — it’s almost like we’re seeing our memory of the street rather than the street itself.
Likewise, when we look at our own lives, it’s hard to see what’s really going on. It’s not a skill you’re lacking — think about a friend’s life for a moment and you’ll come up with all sorts of things to fix. It’s just harder to do when you turn your focus on yourself, but it’s possible. Try to consider your physical, emotional and situational surroundings for the first time all over again. What would a stranger see if they walked into your life? Does your life look like it’s going forward, or is it in a state of disrepair? Even if the conditions of your life have seemingly remained the same for some length of time, you’ve still changed and may discover that you view things differently than when you last took a “first look” around.
It’s easy to focus on the things in life that bug you, whether they’re political, professional or personal issues. Many times, we feel overwhelmed by health issues, money troubles or other crisis situations. While these problems are very real, it’s important to identify and appreciate the things in your life that are good. Fostering this sense of gratitude can keep us grounded when it seems like life is trying to sweep us away. It also takes our focus away from just the negative things in our lives, and broadens it to take in the entire picture.
Take time to appreciate the things that are good in your life. Try to take a moment each day to appreciate your loved ones, to honor your achievements and to cherish the blessings in your life. If you have children, keep in mind how quickly they grow and cherish the joys they have brought into your life (and allow yourself to forget for the moment all the other things they do).
Think about how far you’ve come in your life’s journey and the good deeds along the way that you’ve performed for others, as well as the good deeds others have performed for you. Reminding yourself of these positive things will make you more conscious of bringing more positive experiences into your life.
Change Your Game
Change is scary, but it’s vital to grow.
While all of us would like to live more consciously, the reality is that we spend most of our time living, well, somewhat mindlessly. Perhaps we made life decisions long ago that we’re still acting upon, even though we (or the conditions in and around our lives) have changed.
Also, sometimes we’ve been doing something so long that it becomes nearly impossible to objectively view the validity, effectiveness or goodness of that activity or situation. Sometimes old friends bring with them old habits or prejudices. Or maybe the traditional way you’ve spent every Saturday night for the last decade isn’t really cutting it anymore, but tradition continues to schedule your weekends.
By changing even the simple patterns and habits we’ve accumulated in life, we can re-engage with our surroundings and bring a sense of new awareness to our days.
Bring new foods, activities, music and entertainment into your life. Go somewhere you’ve never been before (this can be in your own ZIP code). Seek out opportunities to meet new people with different perspectives, cultural backgrounds or personal experiences who will bring with them the opportunity to be exposed to new ways of thinking and living.
When making a decision, remind yourself to do things differently or in a different way than you normally do them. While this in itself isn’t necessarily conscious living, the fresh perspective it brings will make us give consideration to what we’re doing while we do it.
Looking for more ways to live a more conscious life?
Reference -Resources: Links
Samhain – The History of Halloween or Samhain
inventors.about.com/od/sstartinventions/a/Samhain.htmHalloween or Samhain had its beginnings in an ancient, pre-Christian Celtic … The festival observed at this time was called Samhain (pronounced Sah-ween). …
Samhain – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SamhainThe date of Samhain was associated with the Catholic All Saints’ Day (and …. In modern Ireland and Scotland, the name by which Halloween is known in the …
Etymology – History – Related festivals – Neopaganism
Halloween – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HalloweenAccording to the Oxford Dictionary of English folk lore: “Certainly Samhain …
Show more results from wikipedia.org
Halloween or Samhain as Witches call it.
http://www.witchway.net/halloween.htmlSamhain(pronounced Sow-in, Sah-vin, or Sahm-hayn), known most popularly as Halloween, marks the end of the third and final harvest, is a day to commune …
http://www.chalicecentre.net/samhain.htmSamhain (Scots Gaelic: Samhuinn) literally means “summer’s end.” In Scotland and Ireland, Halloween is known as O che Shamhna, while in Wales it is Nos …
The Grizzly: THE HISTORY OF HALLOWEEN
Isles out of the Pagan Celtic celebration of Samhain. Origins of Halloween? – The New
:my.hsj.org – But the most plausible theory is that Halloween originated in the British Isles out of the Pagan Celtic celebration of Samhain. Origins of Halloween? – The New Age Online
Why Do Christians Celebrate Halloween?? -International Business Times
Samhain – Witchvox Article
http://www.witchvox.com/holidays/samhain.htmlINDEX: Samhain (Halloween) Author: Witchvox Central Posted: January 27th …
Samhain – Asiya’s Shadows
http://www.asiya.org/sabbats/samhain.html… of the Underworld. Samhain is also known as Halloween, All Hallow’s Eve, Hallowmas, Day of the Dead, Third Harvest, Hallowstide, and Celtic New Year. …
Samhain (Halloween) Index (The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum)
http://www.ecauldron.net › HolidaysSamhain, mundanely known as Halloween, is the Celtic New Year. It’s one of the great Wiccan sabbats, opposite Beltane in the Wiccan Wheel of the Year. …
Halloween/Samhain Special 10/28 by thevioletsanctuaryspa | Blog …
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/…/2011/10/28/halloweensamhain-specialJoin me your spiritual consultant to discuss the very celebrated day of October 31st better known as Halloween or Samhain pronounced Sow-in or Sau-in.
Samhain – Super-wiki
http://www.supernaturalwiki.com/index.php?title=SamhainOct 8, 2011 – Samhain, also known as the origin of Halloween, is a special type of demon. When he reigned on Earth on Halloween night, people kept their …
Samhain (Halloween) Celebration as presented by Church of the … events.nbc4i.com › Columbus Events › Columbus Religion EventsSat, Oct 29, 2011 – Griggs Reservoir, Columbus, OH, 43220
Following Celtic and Pagan traditions of honoring the dead and ancestors, we celebrateSamhain, known today as Halloween. Weather permitting, there will be …
Astrology on the Web: Halloween
http://www.astrologycom.com/halloween.htmlSamhain (pronounced: “so-wuhn”), now known as Halloween, began on the night of October 31, All Hallows’ Eve, because ancient days were reckoned from …
The Seasonal Hearth – Samhain
brigidshearth.org/seasonal_hearth.html – Halloween-batsml3.gif (2063 bytes) Samhain, also known as Halloween, All Hallow’s Eve, and Hallowmas, is celebrated on October 31 – November 1, and is the …
Samhain, Lord of Darkness – Holiday Insights
http://www.holidayinsights.com/halloween/samhain.htmSamhain was known in Ireland as the “Lord of Darkness”. … Certainly, Halloween took aspects of darkness , black color, evil spirits, and people rising from the …
Halloween on the Net – The History of Samhain
http://www.holidays.net/halloween/samhain.htmMost people know of October 31st as Halloween. But long before kids were dressing up as pirates and princesses, Halloween was called Samhain. Celebrated …
Showing results for Samhain known as Halloween
Search instead for the original terms: Samhein known as Halloween
Samhain/Halloween | Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150402554487975…1Also known as: Halloween, Ancestor Night, Feast of the Dead, All Hallows Eve, …Samhain (SOW-in or SAV-ayn) marked the beginning of the old Celtic new …
Samhain | Halloween
http://www.avalonvisions.com/samhain.htmlSamhain (pronounced sow-en) is the Celtic word for the time of year known as Halloween, Hallowmas, The Day of the Dead or All Souls Night, and is …
Samhain (Samain) – The Celtic roots of Halloween http://www.newgrange.com/samhain.htmThe Hindu Diwali (Divali, Deepavali) Festival known as the Festival of Lights occurs about the same time as Samhain. Diwali marks the Hindu New Year just as …
From Samhain to Halloween – Faerie Faith
http://www.faeriefaith.net/Samhain.htmlThe Halloween fires, called Samhnagan by the Scots, were still lit at dusk, although they were not for Samhain, the Celtic god, but for Halloween gaiety and a …
Hallowe’en (Halloween), Samhain, Events, Parties, Rituals and …
http://www.witchology.com/contents/october/halloween/events.phpKnown as Hallowe’en (UK spelling), Halloween (US spelling), or Samhain, the 31st of October is a traditional Pagan holy day and Witches’ Sabbath. Explore the …
Bettina Arnold — Halloween Lecture https://pantherfile.uwm.edu/barnold/www/lectures/holloween.htmlUWM Center for Celtic Studies Halloween Inaugural Celebration … So Samhain was known in some, but not all, Celtic regions as the feast of peace and …
Halloween – History – Information – Projects
halloween.whipnet.net/Halloween’s origins date back some 2000 years to the ancient Celtic festival ofSamhain. Samhain, or Halloween, is also known as All Hallow’s Eve, Hallowmas, …
Samhain, Pagan Hallowe’en (Halloween) Festival
http://www.witchology.com/contents/october/halloween/samhain.phpKnown as Hallowe’en (UK spelling), Halloween (US spelling), or Samhain, the 31st of October is a traditional Pagan holy day and Witches’ Sabbath. Explore the …
Halloween: The Pagan Festival of Samhaintaramiller.tripod.com/halloween.html Contains information of the origins of Samhain, and how today’s Pagans celebrate this Sabbat.
Celebrating Samhain
princessa.hubpages.com › … › Paganism and WitchcraftSamhain marks one of the two great doorways of the Celtic year. … so the night before became popularly known as Halloween, All Hallows Eve, or Hollantide. …
Samhain – Paranormal Encyclopedia
http://www.paranormal-encyclopedia.com › Religion & SpiritualityThey consider that the new day starts from the night. Samhain is today better known as Halloween, although some consider Halloween to be a different culture. …
What’s Samhain? | Halloween History, Celtic Traditions & Folklore …
http://www.lifeslittlemysteries.com/whats-samhain-101030-1132/Oct 30, 2010 – Halloween was originally called Samhain and marked the beginning of the Celtic New Year. Learn more about Samhain at Life’s Little …
Goddess Persephone(Greek Mythology)…What is Samhain..also known …www.cafemom.com/…/Goddess_Persephone_Greek_Mythology_Wh…Oct 7, 2007 – Cafemom Journal – Greek Mythology of Goddess Persephone…What is Samhain.. also known as Halloween? Goddess Persephone …
Halloween History — Infoplease.com
http://www.infoplease.com/spot/halloween1.htmlHalloween is known and loved today as a time to wear costumes, go door to door …Along the way, it has also picked up traditions from Samhain, a Celtic festival …
http://www.halloween-history.org/Since Samhain was celebrated the night before November 1, the celebration wasknown as All Hallows Eve, and later called Halloween. In the year 1000 A.D., …
Blessed Samhain – Medea’s Lair ( http://www.medeaslair.net/samhain.htmlThe Samhain holiday is more commonly known to us as Halloween. It originated in the Celtic lands of Northern Europe many centuries before the birth of Christ. …
The Origins of Halloween Part 1: Samhain and the Celtic Time of …
ancientweb.org/…/the_origins_of_halloween_part_1_samhain_and_t…Oct 31, 2010 – The term “Samhain” is still used as the name of November in Irish …The night before became popularly known as Halloween, All Hallows Eve. …
Whatis Halloween & Samhain? http://www.positivearticles.com/Article/What…Halloween…Samhain/31495What is Halloween & Samhain? By: Donna Oxley. If you were to ask someone just what it is we celebrate on Halloween, very few will know the exact answer and …
Samhain (Halloween) – A Celebration – Witchvox Article http://www.witchvox.com/holidays/samhain/1031_quikhistory.htmlThe Halloween Witch: Sense of Humor or Sense of Ire … The Celtic peoples called the time between Samhain (pronounced “SOW-in” in Ireland, SOW-een in …
Samhain and Halloween
http://www.starbreezes.com/11/samhain.htmlThe tradition of celebrating Halloween stems from an ancient pagan holiday called Samhain. Samhain is one of the 8 sabbats in paganism. It is a cross quarter …
SAMHAIN/HALLOWMAS/HALLOWEEN – Angelfire
http://www.angelfire.com/empire/serpentis666/Samhain.htmlThe holiday known as “Halloween” was originally called “Samhain” a Celtic word meaning “Summer’s End.” In ancient times, religions were based upon nature, …
Halloween — History.com Articles, Video, Pictures and Facts
http://www.history.com/topics/halloweenIt is thought to have originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when … The evening before was known as All Hallows’ Eve and later Halloween. …
ALPHA and OMEGA CREATOR DIETIES of the Alphaverse, and Omegaverse home to our own Omniverse I have been impressed or inspired to share that which has come to me due to questions that I have been asked about our Creator Deities and the Omniverse in which we live. The fact that I thought that I was not allowed to venture further our of my known conscious existence as that of the Omniverse has changed in the last week. I should point out to my readers that if one challenges their minds to look back in the history of my writings on UFO Digest of which I am a contributing syndicated columnist one will find a history of how I have grown in my own particles and waves flux and flows. I am very happy to report that I now have the awakened awareness that we have that of which I have known in the furthest solar core of my own soul as the Alpha and Omega. The Alphaverse and Omegaverse to show those who are only into the physical reality of science that there can be seven (7) levels and dimensions to our souls eternal source and life force we presently address as energy and essence. Our energy and essence is expressed in this lifetime as our SPIRIT! We have learned that we all share something in common besides our own physical makeup as humanoids with a head, trunk, and limbs. We have a brain that allows us to think for ourselves. Inside our brain and inside our mind also exists our own awareness of life that we call our conscious awareness of the fact that we are alive. Some of us are only thinking about that which we can see, feel, touch, taste, hear, and smell with what we are told are our five (5) senses.
We now know that our emotional state of being with our nervous system intact allows us to also understand and react to the outside stimulus we encounter on a daily basis. It has now come to the attention of this one person also known as a humanoid sentient intelligent being that we are much, much more than what we perceive.
We are all the creations that are here to explore our way back to the creator deities of both Alpha and Omega.
Alpha is the male energy and Omega is the female energy that we are all created with and sent in tachyon energy as the strongest force that is now not understood. The Alpha wraps around the Omniverse. The Omega is the entire womb of that which we call Alphaverse and Omniverse in one manner of thinking in the Physical Cosmology. In the Religious Cosmology the Alphaverse is the outer creation of the Omniverse, as well as, the Omega is the outer creation of the Omniverse.
We now are in the quandary as to which came first the chicken or the egg. We need both in order to understand the other. Therefore we are now at the crossroads in Quantum Physics and the study of Quantum Entanglement with what we call the Higgs-Boson Theory which is only one of many new theories of everything.
(The theoretical ‘God’ particle might have a mass between 120 and 140GeV – looked much less conclusive among new statistics received from the experiment. Guido Tonelli, spokesman for the Compact Muon Solenoid Detector, a huge particle detector at CERN employing 3,600 scientists, told the BBC’s Today programme this week, ‘If we exclude the existence of the Higgs this will be a major discovery – it would completely review our vision of nature.’) One of the biggest questions in science – does ‘the God particle’ exist? – is likely to be answered by the end of next year, it was claimed yesterday.
The Higgs boson, nicknamed the God particle, is theoretically responsible for mass, without which there would be no gravity and no universe. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2037722/God-particle-goes-missing-Higgs-boson-exist-say-Hadron-Collider-scientists.html#ixzz1bdNjmchW
No one being can create that which gives us the spirit and soul. We can clone animals but do they have the same soul content makeup of the humanoids? Please begin updating your information on our COMMON and PRACTICAL history of the past way we have been programmed. We will now all be able to become more as we learn to receive divine revelations from that which we call the alpha and omega forces direct.
Father Alpha and Mother Omega which is inside us all as both a male and female energy entity.
We will learn some new ways to be, do, have, think, exist, and what we thought in the past will now become history in various forms. We share our Metaphysical, Physical, and Religious Cosmology in our ACE FOLKLIFE on earth.
The Alpha and Omega allows us to now know that “ALIEN CIVILIZATIONS EXIST!”
CDM or Lambda-CDM is an abbreviation for Lambda-Cold Dark Matter, which is also known as the cold dark matter model with dark energy. It is frequently referred to as the standard model of big bang cosmology, since it attempts to explain: the existence and structure of the cosmic microwave background the large scale structure of galaxy clusters the distribution of hydrogen, helium, deuterium and lithium the accelerating expansion of the universe observed in the light from distant galaxies and supernovae.
It is the simplest model that is in general agreement with observed phenomena. Creator Deity -Metaphysical Cosmology(Physical Cosmology & Religious Cosmology)Main article: Cosmology (metaphysics)In philosophy and metaphysics, cosmology deals with the world as the totality of space, time and all phenomena. Historically, it has had quite a broad scope, and in many cases was founded in religion. The ancient Greeks did not draw a distinction between this use and their model for the cosmos.
However, in modern use it addresses questions about the Universe which are beyond the scope of science. It is distinguished from religious cosmology in that it approaches these questions using philosophical methods (e.g. dialectics). Modern metaphysical cosmology tries to address questions such as:
What is the origin of the Universe?
What is its first cause? Is its existence necessary? (see monism, pantheism, emanationism and creationism)
What are the ultimate material components of the Universe? (see mechanism, dynamism, hylomorphism, atomism)
What is the ultimate reason for the existence of the Universe? Does the cosmos have a purpose? (see teleology)Does the existence of consciousness have a purpose? How do we know what we know about the totality of the cosmos? Does cosmological reasoning reveal metaphysical truths?
A creator deity is a deity responsible for the creation of the world (or universe). In monotheism, the single God is necessarily also the creator deity, while polytheistic traditions may or may not have creator deities. A number of monolatristic traditions separate a secondary creator from a primary transcendent being, identified as a primary creator.
Cosmology is the discipline that deals with the origin, structure, and space-time relationships of the universe or a theory or doctrine describing the natural order of the universe .Cosmologists study the universe as a whole: its birth, growth, shape, size and eventual fate. Modern cosmology is dominated by the Big Bang theory, which brings together observational astronomy and particle physics.
Though the word cosmology is recent (first used in 1730 in Christian Wolff’s (Cosmologia Generalis), the study of the universe has a long history involving science, philosophy, esotericism, metaphysics, and religion. (See Cosmogony for the study of origins of the Universe and Cosmography for the features of the Universe.) Physical cosmology, as a branch of astronomy, is the study of the largest-scale structures and dynamics of the universe and is concerned with fundamental questions about its formation and evolution.
For most of human history, it was a branch of metaphysics and religion. Cosmology as a science originated with the Copernican principle, which implies that celestial bodies obey identical physical laws to those on Earth, and Newtonian mechanics, which first allowed us to understand those laws. Physical cosmology, as it is now understood, began with the twentieth century development of Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity and better astronomical observations of extremely distant objects.
These advances made it possible to speculate about the origin of the universe, and allowed scientists to establish the Big Bang Theory as the leading cosmological model. Some researchers still advocate a handful of alternative cosmologies; however, cosmologists generally agree that the Big Bang theory best explains observations.
Cosmology draws heavily on the work of many disparate areas of research in physics. Areas relevant to cosmology include particle physics experiments and theory, including string theory, astrophysics, general relativity, and plasma physics. Thus, cosmology unites the physics of the largest structures in the universe with the physics of the smallest structures in the universe.
We now are in the quandary as to which came first the chicken or the egg. We need both in order to understand the other.
Therefore we are now at the crossroads in Quantum Physics and the study of Quantum Entanglement with what we call the Higgs-Boson Theory which is only one of many new theories of everything. (The theoretical ‘God’ particle might have a mass between 120 and 140GeV – looked much less conclusive among new statistics received from the experiment. Guido Tonelli, spokesman for the Compact Muon Solenoid Detector, a huge particle detector at CERN employing 3,600 scientists, told the BBC’s Today programme this week, ‘If we exclude the existence of the Higgs this will be a major discovery – it would completely review our vision of nature.’) One of the biggest questions in science – does ‘the God particle’ exist? – is likely to be answered by the end of next year, it was claimed yesterday.
The Higgs boson, nicknamed the God particle, is theoretically responsible for mass, without which there would be no gravity and no universe. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2037722/God-particle-goes-missing-Higgs-boson-exist-say-Hadron-Collider-scientists.html#ixzz1bdNjmchW No one being can create that which gives us the spirit and soul. We can clone animals but do they have the same soul content makeup of the humanoids? Please begin updating your information on our COMMON and PRACTICAL history of the past way we have been programmed. We will now all be able to become more as we learn to receive divine revelations from that which we call the alpha and omega forces direct.
Father Alpha and Mother Omega which is inside us all as both a male and female energy entity. We will learn some new ways to be, do, have, think, exist, and what we thought in the past will now become history in various forms. We share our Metaphysical, Physical, and Religious Cosmology in our ACE FOLKLIFE on earth. The Alpha and Omega allows us to now know that “ALIEN CIVILIZATIONS EXIST!” CDM or Lambda-CDM is an abbreviation for Lambda-Cold Dark Matter, which is also known as the cold dark matter model with dark energy.
It is frequently referred to as the standard model of big bang cosmology, since it attempts to explain:
the existence and structure of the cosmic microwave
The large scale structure of galaxy clusters
The distribution of hydrogen, helium, deuterium and lithium
The accelerating expansion of the universe observed in the light from distant galaxies and supernovae
It is the simplest model that is in general agreement with observed phenomena. Creator Deity -Metaphysical Cosmology(Physical Cosmology & Religious Cosmology)Main article: Cosmology (metaphysics)In philosophy and metaphysics, cosmology deals with the world as the totality of space, time and all phenomena. Historically, it has had quite a broad scope, and in many cases was founded in religion. The ancient Greeks did not draw a distinction between this use and their model for the cosmos. However, in modern use it addresses questions about the Universe which are beyond the scope of science. It is distinguished from religious cosmology in that it approaches these questions using philosophical methods (e.g. dialectics). Modern metaphysical cosmology tries to address questions such as:
What is the origin of the Universe? What is its first cause? Is its existence necessary? (see monism, pantheism, emanationism and creationism)
What are the ultimate material components of the Universe? (see mechanism, dynamism, hylomorphism, atomism)What is the ultimate reason for the existence of the Universe? Does the cosmos have a purpose? (see teleology)Does the existence of consciousness have a purpose? How do we know what we know about the totality of the cosmos? Does cosmological reasoning reveal metaphysical truths?
Though the word cosmology is recent (first used in 1730 in Christian Wolff’s (Cosmologia Generalis), the study of the universe has a long history involving science, philosophy, esotericism, metaphysics, and religion. (See Cosmogony for the study of origins of the Universe and Cosmography for the features of the Universe.) Physical cosmology, as a branch of astronomy, is the study of the largest-scale structures and dynamics of the universe and is concerned with fundamental questions about its formation and evolution. For most of human history, it was a branch of metaphysics and religion. Cosmology as a science originated with the Copernican principle, which implies that celestial bodies obey identical physical laws to those on Earth, and Newtonian mechanics, which first allowed us to understand those laws.
Physical cosmology, as it is now understood, began with the twentieth century development of Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity and better astronomical observations of extremely distant objects. These advances made it possible to speculate about the origin of the universe, and allowed scientists to establish the Big Bang Theory as the leading cosmological model. Some researchers still advocate a handful of alternative cosmologies; however, cosmologists generally agree that the Big Bang theory best explains observations.
History of physical cosmology.(See also: Timeline of cosmology and List of cosmologists)
Modern cosmology developed along tandem tracks of theory and observation.
In 1915, Albert Einstein formulated his theory of general relativity, which provided a unified description of gravity as a geometric property of space and time. At the time, physicists believed in a perfectly static universe that had no beginning or end. Einstein added a cosmological constant to his theory in order to force it to model a static universe containing matter. This so-called Einstein universe is, however, unstable; it will eventually start expanding or contracting. The cosmological solutions of general relativity were found by Alexander Friedmann, whose equations describe the Friedmann-Lemaître-Robertson-Walker universe, which may expand or contract.
In the 1910s, Vesto Slipher (and later Carl Wilhelm Wirtz) interpreted the red shift of spiral nebulae as a Doppler shift that indicated they were receding from Earth. However, it is difficult to determine the distance to astronomical objects.
One way is to compare the physical size of an object to its angular size, but a physical size must be assumed to do this. Another method is to measure the brightness of an object and assume an intrinsic luminosity, from which the distance may be determined using the inverse square law. Due to the difficulty of using these methods, they did not realize that the nebulae were actually galaxies outside our own Milky Way, nor did they speculate about the cosmological implications.
In 1927, the Belgian Roman Catholic priest Georges Lemaître independently derived the Friedmann-Lemaître-Robertson-Walker equations and proposed, on the basis of the recession of spiral nebulae, that the universe began with the “explosion” of a “primeval atom”—which was later called the Big Bang.
In 1929, Edwin Hubble provided an observational basis for Lemaître’s theory. Hubble showed that the spiral nebulae were galaxies by determining their distances using measurements of the brightness of Cepheid variable stars. He discovered a relationship between the redshift of a galaxy and its distance. He interpreted this as evidence that the galaxies are receding from Earth in every direction at speeds directly proportional to their distance.
This fact is now known as Hubble’s law, though the numerical factor Hubble found relating recessional velocity and distance was off by a factor of ten, due to not knowing at the time about different types of Cepheid variables. Given the cosmological principle, Hubble’s law suggested that the universe was expanding. There were two primary explanations put forth for the expansion of the universe. One was Lemaître’s Big Bang theory, advocated and developed by George Gamow.
The other possibility was Fred Hoyle’s steady state model in which new matter would be created as the galaxies moved away from each other. In this model, the universe is roughly the same at any point in time.
For a number of years the support for these theories was evenly divided. However, the observational evidence began to support the idea that the universe evolved from a hot dense state.
The discovery of the cosmic microwave background in 1965 lent strong support to the Big Bang model, and since the precise measurements of the cosmic microwave background by the Cosmic Background Explorer in the early 1990s, few cosmologists have seriously proposed other theories of the origin and evolution of the cosmos. One consequence of this is that in standard general relativity, the universe began with a singularity, as demonstrated by Stephen Hawking and Roger Penrose in the 1960s.Light elements, primarily hydrogen and helium, were created in the Big Bang. These light elements were spread too fast and too thinly in the Big Bang process (see nucleosynthesis) to form the most stable medium-sized atomic nuclei, like iron and nickel.
This fact allows for later energy release, as such intermediate-sized elements are formed in our era. The formation of such atoms powers the steady energy-releasing reactions in stars, and also contributes to sudden energy releases, such as in novae. Gravitational collapse of matter into black holes is also thought to power the most energetic processes, generally seen at the centers of galaxies (see quasars and in general active galaxies).
Cosmologists are still unable to explain all cosmological phenomena purely on the basis of known conventional forms of energy, for example those related to the accelerating expansion of the universe, and therefore invoke a yet unexplored form of energy called dark energy[2] to account for certain cosmological observations. One hypothesis is that dark energy is the energy of virtual particles (which mathematically must exist in vacuum due to the uncertainty principle).
There is no unambiguous way to define the total energy of the universe in the current best theory of gravity, general relativity. As a result it remains controversial whether one can meaningfully say that total energy is conserved in an expanding universe. For instance, each photon that travels through intergalactic space loses energy due to the redshift effect.
This energy is not obviously transferred to any other system, so seems to be permanently lost. Nevertheless some cosmologists insist that energy is conserved in some sense.
Thermodynamics of the universe is a field of study to explore which form of energy dominates the cosmos – relativistic particles which are referred to as radiation, or non-relativistic particles which are referred to as matter. The former are particles whose rest mass is zero or negligible compared to their energy, and therefore move at the speed of light or very close to it; the latter are particles whose kinetic energy is much lower than their rest mass and therefore move much slower than the speed of light.
As the universe expands, both matter and radiation in it become diluted. However, the universe also cools down, meaning that the average energy per particle is getting smaller with time. Therefore the radiation becomes weaker, and dilutes faster than matter. Thus with the expansion of the universe radiation becomes less dominant than matter. In the very early universe radiation dictates the rate of deceleration of the universe’s expansion, and the universe is said to be ‘radiation dominated’. At later times, when the average energy per photon is roughly 10 eV and lower, matter dictates the rate of deceleration and the universe is said to be ‘matter dominated’.
The intermediate case is not treated well analytically. As the expansion of the universe continues, matter dilutes even further and the cosmological constant becomes dominant, leading to an acceleration in the universe’s expansion. History of the UniverseSee also: Timeline of the Big Bang Theory.
The history of the universe is a central issue in cosmology. The history of the universe is divided into different periods called epochs, according to the dominant forces and processes in each period. The standard cosmological model is known as the CDM
CDM Model. Equations of Motion
Main article: Friedmann-Lemaître-Robertson-Walker metric
The equations of motion governing the universe as a whole are derived from general relativity with a small, positive cosmological constant.
The solution is an expanding universe; due to this expansion the radiation and matter in the universe are cooled down and become diluted. At first, the expansion is slowed down by gravitation due to the radiation and matter content of the universe. However, as these become diluted, the cosmological constant becomes more dominant and the expansion of the universe starts to accelerate rather than decelerate. In our universe this has already happened, billions of years ago.
Particle physics in cosmology
Main article: Particle physics in cosmology
Particle physics is important to the behavior of the early universe, since the early universe was so hot that the average energy density was very high. Because of this, scattering processes and decay of unstable particles are important in cosmology.
As a rule of thumb, a scattering or a decay process is cosmologically important in a certain cosmological epoch if the time scale describing that process is smaller or comparable to the time scale of the expansion of the universe, which is 1 / H with H being the Hubble constant at that time. This is roughly equal to the age of the universe at that time.
Timeline of the Big Bang
Main article: Timeline of the Big Bang
Observations suggest that the universe began around 13.7 billion years ago. Since then, the evolution of the universe has passed through three phases. The very early universe, which is still poorly understood, was the split second in which the universe was so hot that particles had energies higher than those currently accessible in particle accelerators on Earth.
Therefore, while the basic features of this epoch have been worked out in the Big Bang theory, the details are largely based on educated guesses. Following this, in the early universe, the evolution of the universe proceeded according to known high energy physics.
This is when the first protons, electrons and neutrons formed, then nuclei and finally atoms. With the formation of neutral hydrogen, the cosmic microwave background was emitted. Finally, the epoch of structure formation began, when matter started to aggregate into the first stars and quasars, and ultimately galaxies, clusters of galaxies and superclusters formed.
The future of the universe is not yet firmly known, but according to the CDM model it will continue expanding forever.
Below, some of the most active areas of inquiry in cosmology are described, in roughly chronological order. This does not include all of the Big Bang cosmology, which is presented in Timeline of the Big Bang.
The very early universe
While the early, hot universe appears to be well explained by the Big Bang from roughly 10-33 seconds onwards, there are several problems. One is that there is no compelling reason, using current particle physics, to expect the universe to be flat, homogeneous and isotropic (see the cosmological principle). Moreover, grand unified theories of particle physics suggest that there should be magnetic monopoles in the universe, which have not been found.
These problems are resolved by a brief period of cosmic inflation, which drives the universe to flatness, smooths out anisotropies and in homogeneities to the observed level, and exponentially dilutes the monopoles. The physical model behind cosmic inflation is extremely simple, however it has not yet been confirmed by particle physics, and there are difficult problems reconciling inflation and quantum field theory. Some cosmologists think that string theory and brane cosmology will provide an alternative to inflation.
Another major problem in cosmology is what caused the universe to contain more particles than antiparticles. Cosmologists can observationally deduce that the universe is not split into regions of matter and antimatter. If it were, there would be X-rays and gamma rays produced as a result of annihilation, but this is not observed.
This problem is called the baryon asymmetry, and the theory to describe the resolution is called baryogenesis. The theory of baryogenesis was worked out by Andrei Sakharov in 1967, and requires a violation of the particle physics symmetry, called CP-symmetry, between matter and antimatter. Particle accelerators, however, measure too small a violation of CP-symmetry to account for the baryon asymmetry. Cosmologists and particle physicists are trying to find additional violations of the CP-symmetry in the early universe that might account for the baryon asymmetry.
Both the problems of baryogenesis and cosmic inflation are very closely related to particle physics, and their resolution might come from high energy theory and experiment, rather than through observations of the universe.
Big Bang Nucleosynthesis
Main article:
Big Bang Nucleosynthesis is the theory of the formation of the elements in the early universe. It finished when the universe was about three minutes old and its temperature dropped below that at which nuclear fusion could occur. Big Bang nucleosynthesis had a brief period during which it could operate, so only the very lightest elements were produced. Starting from hydrogen ions (protons), it principally produced deuterium, helium-4 and lithium. Other elements were produced in only trace abundances. The basic theory of nucleosynthesis was developed in 1948 by George Gamow, Ralph Asher Alpher and Robert Herman. It was used for many years as a probe of physics at the time of the Big Bang, as the theory of Big Bang nucleosynthesis connects the abundances of primordial light elements with the features of the early universe. Specifically, it can be used to test the equivalence principle, to probe dark matter, and test neutrino physics. Some cosmologists have proposed that Big Bang nucleosynthesis suggests there is a fourth “sterile” species of neutrino.
Cosmic Microwave Background
Main article: Cosmic microwave background
The cosmic microwave background is radiation left over from decoupling after the epoch of recombination when neutral atoms first formed. At this point, radiation produced in the Big Bang stopped Thomson scattering from charged ions. The radiation, first observed in 1965 by Arno Penzias and Robert Woodrow Wilson, has a perfect thermal black-body spectrum.
It has a temperature of 2.7 kelvins today and is isotropic to one part in 105. Cosmological perturbation theory, which describes the evolution of slight inhomogeneities in the early universe, has allowed cosmologists to precisely calculate the angular power spectrum of the radiation, and it has been measured by the recent satellite experiments (COBE and WMAP) and many ground and balloon-based experiments (such as Degree Angular Scale Interferometer, Cosmic Background Imager, and Boomerang). One of the goals of these efforts is to measure the basic parameters of the Lambda-CDM model with increasing accuracy, as well as to test the predictions of the Big Bang model and look for new physics. The recent measurements made by WMAP, for example, have placed limits on the neutrino masses.
Newer experiments, such as QUIET and the Atacama Cosmology Telescope, are trying to measure the polarization of the cosmic microwave background. These measurements are expected to provide further confirmation of the theory as well as information about cosmic inflation, and the so-called secondary anisotropies, such as the Sunyaev-Zel’dovich effect and Sachs-Wolfe effect, which are caused by interaction between galaxies and clusters with the cosmic microwave background. Formation and evolution of large-scale structure
Main articles:
Large-scale structure of the cosmos, Structure formation, and Galaxy formation and evolution.
Understanding the formation and evolution of the largest and earliest structures (i.e., quasars, galaxies, clusters and superclusters) is one of the largest efforts in cosmology. Cosmologists study a model of hierarchical structure formation in which structures form from the bottom up, with smaller objects forming first, while the largest objects, such as superclusters, are still assembling. One way to study structure in the universe is to survey the visible galaxies, in order to construct a three-dimensional picture of the galaxies in the universe and measure the matter power spectrum. This is the approach of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and the 2dF Galaxy Redshift Survey.
Another tool for understanding structure formation is simulations, which cosmologists use to study the gravitational aggregation of matter in the universe, as it clusters into filaments, superclusters and voids. Most simulations contain only non-baryonic cold dark matter, which should suffice to understand the universe on the largest scales, as there is much more dark matter in the universe than visible, baryonic matter. More advanced simulations are starting to include baryons and study the formation of individual galaxies. Cosmologists study these simulations to see if they agree with the galaxy surveys, and to understand any discrepancy.
Other, complementary observations to measure the distribution of matter in the distant universe and to probe reionization include:
The Lyman alpha forest, which allows cosmologists to measure the distribution of neutral atomic hydrogen gas in the early universe, by measuring the absorption of light from distant quasars by the gas.
The 21 centimeter absorption line of neutral atomic hydrogen also provides a sensitive test of cosmology.
Weak lensing, the distortion of a distant image by gravitational lensing due to dark matter.
These will help cosmologists settle the question of when and how structure formed in the universe.
Main article: Dark matter
Evidence from Big Bang nucleosynthesis, the cosmic microwave background and structure formation suggests that about 23% of the mass of the universe consists of non-baryonic dark matter, whereas only 4% consists of visible, baryonic matter.
The gravitational effects of dark matter are well understood, as it behaves like a cold, non-radiative fluid that forms haloes around galaxies. Dark matter has never been detected in the laboratory, and the particle physics nature of dark matter remains completely unknown. Without observational constraints, there are a number of candidates, such as a stable supersymmetric particle, a weakly interacting massive particle, an axion, and a massive compact halo object. Alternatives to the dark matter hypothesis include a modification of gravity at small accelerations (MOND) or an effect from brane cosmology.
Main article: Dark energy
If the universe is flat, there must be an additional component making up 73% (in addition to the 23% dark matter and 4% baryons) of the energy density of the universe. This is called dark energy. In order not to interfere with Big Bang nucleosynthesis and the cosmic microwave background, it must not cluster in haloes like baryons and dark matter. There is strong observational evidence for dark energy, as the total energy density of the universe is known through constraints on the flatness of the universe, but the amount of clustering matter is tightly measured, and is much less than this. The case for dark energy was strengthened in 1999, when measurements demonstrated that the expansion of the universe has begun to gradually accelerate.
Apart from its density and its clustering properties, nothing is known about dark energy. Quantum field theory predicts a cosmological constant much like dark energy, but 120 orders of magnitude larger than that observed. Steven Weinberg and a number of string theorists (see string landscape) have used this as evidence for the anthropic principle, which suggests that the cosmological constant is so small because life (and thus physicists, to make observations) cannot exist in a universe with a large cosmological constant, but many people find this an unsatisfying explanation.
Other possible explanations for dark energy include quintessence or a modification of gravity on the largest scales. The effect on cosmology of the dark energy that these models describe is given by the dark energy’s equation of state, which varies depending upon the theory. The nature of dark energy is one of the most challenging problems in cosmology.
A better understanding of dark energy is likely to solve the problem of the ultimate fate of the universe. In the current cosmological epoch, the accelerated expansion due to dark energy is preventing structures larger than superclusters from forming. It is not known whether the acceleration will continue indefinitely, perhaps even increasing until a big rip, or whether it will eventually reverse.
Other areas of inquiry:
Cosmologists also study:
Whether primordial black holes were formed in our universe, and what happened to them.
The GZK cutoff for high-energy cosmic rays, and whether it signals a failure of special relativity at high energies the equivalence principle, whether or not Einstein’s general theory of relativity is the correct theory of gravitation, and if the fundamental laws of physics are the same everywhere in the universe.
Physics portal String Cosmology
Physical ontology
List of cosmologists
References^ For an overview, see George FR Ellis (2006). “Issues in the Philosophy of Cosmology”. In Jeremy Butterfield & John Earman. Philosophy of Physics (Handbook of the Philosophy of Science) 3 volume set. North Holland. pp. 1183ff. arXiv:astro-ph/0602280. ISBN 0444515607.^ Science 20 June 2003:Vol. 300. no. 5627, pp. 1914 – 1918 Throwing Light on Dark Energy, Robert P. Kirshner. Accessed December 2006^ e.g. Liddle, A.. An Introduction to Modern Cosmology. Wiley. ISBN 0-470-84835-9. This argues cogently “Energy is always, always, always conserved.”^ P. Ojeda and H. Rosu (Jun 2006). “Supersymmetry of FRW barotropic cosmologies”. Internat. J. Theoret. Phys. (Springer) 45: 1191–1196.arXiv:gr-qc/0510004. Bibcode 2006IJTP…45.1152R. doi:10.1007/s10773-006-9123-2.. Polytheism
In polytheistic creation myths, the world often comes into being organically, e.g. sprouting from a primal seed, sexually, by miraculous birth(sometimes by parthenogenesis), by hierosgamos, violently, by the slaying of a primeval monster, or artificially, by a divine demiurge or “craftsman”. Sometimes, a god is involved, wittingly or unwittingly, in bringing about creation.
African contexts:
Mbombo of Bakuba mythology, who vomited out the world upon feeling a stomach ache;
Atum in Ennead, whose semen becomes the primal components of the universe.
Ptah creating the universe by speaking Unkulunkulu in Zulu mythology American contexts:
Nanabozho (Great Rabbit,) Ojibway deity, a shape-shifter and a cocreator of the world.
The goddess Coatlique in Aztec mythology; Viracocha in Inca mythology;
A trickster deity in the form of a Raven in Inuit mythology;
Asian contexts:
El or the Elohim of Canaanite mythology (see Genesis creation myth)Esege Malan in Mongolian mythology, king of the skies Kamuy in Ainu mythology, who built the world on the back of a trout; Izanagi and Izanami in Japanese mythology, who churned the ocean with a spear, creating the islands of Japan
Marduk killing Tiamat in the Babylonian Enuma Elish Vishvakarman in Vedic mythology, responsible for the creation of the universe (while in later Puranic period, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva are for creation, maintenance and destruction, respectively)European contexts:
The sons of Borr slaying the primeval giant Ymir in Norse mythology Rod in Slavic mythology.
Oceanic contexts:
Ranginui, the Sky Father, and Papatuanuku, the Earth Mother in Maori mythology
Platonic demiurge
Demiurge
Further information: Neoplatonism and Gnosticism and Great Architect of the Universe
Plato, in his dialogue Timaeus, describes a creation myth involving a being called the demiurge (“craftsman”). This concept was continued in Neoplatonism and Gnosticism. In Neoplatonism, the demiurge represents the second cause or dyad, after the monad. In Gnostic dualism, the demiurge is an imperfect spirit and possibly evil being, transcended by divine Fullness (Pleroma). Unlike the Judeo-Christian God, Plato’s demiurge is unable to create ex-nihilo.
Monolatrism
Brahma Monolatristic traditions would separate a secondary creator from the primary transcendent being, identified as a primary creator. According to Gaudiya Vaishnavas, Brahma is the secondary creator and not the supreme. Vishnu is the primary creator. According to Vaishnavabelief Vishnu creates the basic universal shell and provides all the raw materials and also places the living entities within the material world, fulfilling their own independent will. Brahma works with the materials provided by Vishnu to actually create what are believed to be planets in Puranic terminology, and he supervises the population of them.
Main article: Monism
Monism has its origin in Hellenistic philosophy as a concept of all things deriving from a single substance or being. Following a long and still current tradition H.P. Owen (1971: 65) claimed that:
“Pantheists are ‘monists’…they believe that there is only one Being, and that all other forms of reality are either modes (or appearances) of it or identical with it.” Although, like Baruch Spinoza, some pantheists may also be monists, and monism may even be essential to some versions of pantheism (like Spinoza’s), not all pantheists are monists. Some are polytheists and some are pluralists; they believe that there are many things and kinds of things and many different kinds of value.[
Not all monists are pantheists. Exclusive monists believe that the universe, the God of the pantheist, simply does not exist. In addition, monists can be Deists, pandeists, theists or panentheists; believing in a monotheistic God that is omnipotent and all-pervading, and both transcendent and immanent. There are monist pantheists and panentheists in Hinduism(particularly in Advaita and Vishistadvaita respectively), Judaism (monistic panentheism is especially found in Kabbalah and Hasidic philosophy), in Christianity (especially among Oriental Orthodox, Eastern Orthodox, and Anglicans) and in Islam (among the Sufis, especially the Bektashi).In Advaita Vedanta, Brahman is the abstract notion of “the Absolute” from which the universe takes its origin and at an ultimate level, all assertions of a distinction between Brahman, other gods and creation are meaningless (monism). Buddhism
The Buddha explicitly rejects a creator, denies endorsing any views on creation and states that questions on the origin of the world are worthless.
Some gods in Buddhism have the view that they are creators of the world. For example, Baka Brahma. However, Buddha pointed out to them that they do not know the whole extent of the universe (he said they have no knowledge of some of the highest heavens), and further, the spiritual power of the Buddha was greater than the spiritual power of these gods who thought they created the world. One of the Suttasdealing with this subject is the Kevaddha Sutta.
The Buddha said (in DN1 – the Brahmajala Sutta or The Net of Views) that their view of being the creator of the world is a misconception, and that these Brahma-gods actually have a cause which lead their origination (taking birth as a Brahma-god). Buddha even tells how the views concerning ‘creator gods’ originate in the world – through junior Brahma-gods (with a more limited life-span) who, on their passing away, get reborn as a human, and through practicing meditation are able to remember their previous life as a junior god to a Brahma god. Then, he starts to preach this view of a ‘creator god’ to others (see DN1 – the Brahmajala Sutta) starts to preach this view of a ‘creator god’ to others (see DN1 – the Brahmajala Sutta).
Main article: Hindu creationism
Hinduism includes a range of viewpoints about the origin of life, creationism and evolution. The accounts of the emergence of life within the universe vary in description, but classically the god Brahma, from a Trimurti of three gods also including Vishnu and Shiva, is described as performing the act of creation, or more specifically of “propagating life within the universe” with the other two deities being responsible for preservation and destruction (of the universe) respectively.
Most Hindu schools do not regard the scriptural creation myth as a literal truth, and often the creation stories themselves do not go into specific detail, thus leaving open the possibility of incorporating at least some theories in support of evolution. Some Hindus find support for, or foreshadowing of evolutionary ideas in scriptures, namely the Vedas. An exception to this acceptance is the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), which includes several members who actively oppose “Darwinism” and the modern evolutionary synthesis.
Main article: Jainism and non-creationism
Jainism does not support belief in a creator deity. According to Jain doctrine, the universe and its constituents – soul, matter, space, time, and principles of motion have always existed (a static universe similar to that of Epicureanism and steady state cosmological model). All the constituents and actions are governed by universal natural laws. It is not possible to create matter out of nothing and hence the sum total of matter in the universe remains the same (similar to law of conservation of mass). Similarly, the soul of each living being is unique and uncreated and has existed since beginningless time.
The Jain theory of causation holds that a cause and its effect are always identical in nature and therefore a conscious and immaterial entity like God cannot create a material entity like the universe. Furthermore, according to the Jain concept of divinity, any soul who destroys its karmas and desires, achieves liberation. A soul who destroys all its passions and desires has no desire to interfere in the working of the universe. Moral rewards and sufferings are not the work of a divine being, but a result of an innate moral order in the cosmos; a self-regulating mechanism whereby the individual reaps the fruits of his own actions through the workings of the karmas.
Through the ages, Jain philosophers have adamantly rejected and opposed the concept of creator and omnipotent God and this has resulted in Jainism being labeled as nastika darsana or atheist philosophy by the rival religious philosophies. The theme of non-creationism and absence of omnipotent God and divine grace runs strongly in all the philosophical dimensions of Jainism, including its cosmology, karma,moksa and its moral code of conduct. Jainism asserts a religious and virtuous life is possible without the idea of a creator god.
Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Sikhism teach that creation is the origin of the universe by the action of God.
Among monotheists it has historically been most commonly believed that living things are God’s creations, and are not the result of a process inherent in originally non-living things, unless this process is designed, initiated, or directed by God; likewise, sentient and intelligent beings are believed to be God’s creation, and did not arise through the development of living but non-sentient beings, except by the intervention of God. Baha’I
Bahá’í teachings state that God is too great for humans to fully comprehend, or to create a complete and accurate image of, by themselves. Therefore, human understanding of God is achieved through his revelations via his Manifestations. In the Bahá’í religion God is often referred to by titles and attributes (e.g. the All-Powerful, or the All-Loving), and there is a substantial emphasis on monotheism.
Chinese Mythology
Pangu can be interpreted as another creator deity. In the beginning there was nothing in the universe except a formless chaos.
However this chaos began to coalesce into a cosmic egg for eighteen thousand years. Within it, the perfectly opposed principles of yin and yang became balanced and Pangu emerged (or woke up) from the egg. Pangu is usually depicted as a primitive, hairy giant with horns on his head (like the Greek Pan) and clad in furs. Pangu set about the task of creating the world: he separated Yin from Yang with a swing of his giant axe, creating the Earth (murky Yin) and the Sky (clear Yang). To keep them separated, Pangu stood between them and pushed up the Sky. This task took eighteen thousand years, with each day the sky grew ten feet higher, the Earth ten feet wider, and Pangu ten feet taller. In some versions of the story, Pangu is aided in this task by the four most prominent beasts, namely the Turtle, the Qilin, the Phoenix, and the Dragon.
Shangdi is another creator deity, possibly prior to Pangu sharing concepts similar to abrahamic faiths.
After the eighteen thousand years had elapsed, Pangu was laid to rest. His breath became the wind; his voice the thunder; left eye the sun and right eye the moon; his body became the mountains and extremes of the world; his blood formed rivers; his muscles the fertile lands; his facial hair the stars and milky way; his fur the bushes and forests; his bones the valuable minerals; his bone marrows sacred diamonds; his sweat fell as rain; and the fleas on his fur carried by the wind became human beings all over the world.
The distance from Earth and Sky at the end of the 18,000 years would have been 65,700,000 feet, or over 12,443 miles.
The first writer to record the myth of Pangu was Xu Zheng during the Three Kingdoms period.
See also: Christ the Logos
It is a tenet of Christian faith (Roman Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant) that God is the creator of all things from nothing but by his word, and has made human beings in the Image of God, who by direct inference is also the source of the human soul. Within this broad understanding, however, there are a number of views regarding exactly how this doctrine ought to be interpreted.
Some Christians, mainly evangelical Protestants, particularly Young Earth creationists and Old Earth creationists, interpret Genesis as a historical, accurate, and literal account of creation. Others, in contrast, may understand these to be, not statements of historic fact, but rather spiritual insights more vaguely defined.
While the synoptic gospels do not address the question of creation, the Gospel of John famously begins:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being … And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth” .The Epistle to the Hebrews, a book of the New Testament, contains another reference to creation:
“For by faith we understand the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible” .Thus, in Chalcedonian Christology, Jesus is the Word of God, which was in the beginning and, thus, is uncreated, and hence is God, and consequently identical with the Creator of the world ex nihilo.
The Catholic Church allows for either a literal or allegorical interpretation of Genesis, so as to allow for the possibility of Creation by means of an evolutionary process over great spans of time, otherwise known as theistic evolution. It believes that the creation of the world is a work of God through the Logos, the Word (idea, intelligence, reason and logic).The New Testament claims that God created everything by the eternal Word, Jesus Christ his beloved Son.
In him “all things were created, in heaven and on earth.. . all things were created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
Surrounded by a pervasive culture of rationalism, relativism and secularism, the Catholic Church has asserted the primacy of reason in Christian Theology.
In a 1999 lecture at the University of Paris, then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger said:
“The question is … whether reason, being a chance by-product of irrationality and floating in an ocean of irrationality, is ultimately just as meaningless; or whether the principle that represents the fundamental conviction of Christian faith and of its philosophy remains true: “In principio erat Verbum” — at the beginning of all things stands the creative power of reason. Now as then, Christian faith represents the choice in favor of the priority of reason and of rationality. […] there is no ultimate demonstration that the basic choice involved in Christianity is correct. Yet, can reason really renounce its claim to the priority of what is rational over the irrational, the claim that the Logos is at the ultimate origin of things, without abolishing itself?””Even today, by reason of its choosing to assert the primacy of reason, Christianity remains “enlightened,” and I think that any enlightenment that cancels this choice must, contrary to all appearances, mean, not an evolution, but an involution, a shrinking, of enlightenment.
Followers of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and others within Mormonism, believe that “the elements are eternal” (Doctrine & Covenants § 93:33), and that God (our Father in Heaven–the Creator, Sustainer, and Governor of the Universe)–organized or wrought the creation of the Earth through His Son, Jesus Christ (known as YHWH “Jehovah” of the Old Testament), Who was with Him in the beginning (John 1:1-2, 14): “And by the word of my power have I created them [i.e., the Earth and its many inhabitants], which is mine Only Begotten Son, who is full of grace and truth” (Moses 1:32).
God, the Father, had His Son fashion the eternal elements into the Earth upon which we live over the course of six creative periods that He called “days” (yom in Hebrew, Genesis 1:5)(note, however, that there is nothing to suggest that these six days were either immediately contiguous or of 24 hours duration (indeed, as to the latter, the data suggests that these “days” were rather longer)).
“We will go down,” said Jehovah, “for there is space there, and we will take of these [already existing] materials, and we will make an earth whereon these [i.e., us] may dwell” (Abraham 3:24). But Latter-day Saint theology does not perceive God as the Creator of our Earth alone, but of countless worlds: “worlds without number have I created; and I also created them for mine own purpose; and by the Son I created them, which is mine Only Begotten” (Moses 1:33), ” By him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God” (Doctrine & Covenants 76:24).In short, the Creator is an architect and organizer of pre-existing matter and energy, who constructed our original Earth and other worlds out of this raw material according to the laws and principles He has decreed shall govern such things.
Main article: Creationism
Christian fundamentalism in the USA since the 1930s has pursued Biblical literalist doctrines of “Creationism” as a counter-hypothesis opposing the scientific community, with concepts such as flood geology, creation science and intelligent design proposed as syntheses of Christian creation beliefs and scientific method.
Further information: Genesis creation myth
Orthodox Judaism historically affirms that one incorporeal God (self-identified to Moses as Yahweh) is the creator of all things (many references available, see Job 38-41, for example), and that this same one created Adam and Eve personally (directly). They affirm that this Being is an indivisible one, incomparable to any created thing, and immutable.
Main article: Islamic creationism
According to Islam, God, known in Arabic as Allah, is the all-powerful and all-knowing Creator, Sustainer, Ordainer, and Judge of the universe. Islam puts a heavy emphasis on the conceptualization of God as strictly singular (tawhid). God is unique (wahid) and inherently one (ahad), all-merciful and omnipotent. According to tradition there are 99 Names of God (al-asma al-husna lit. meaning: “The best names”) each of which evoke a distinct attribute of God. All these names refer to Allah, the supreme and all-comprehensive divine name. Among the 99 names of God, the most famous and most frequent of these names are “the Compassionate” (al-rahman) and “the Merciful” (al-rahim).Creation is seen as an act of divine choice and mercy, one with a grand purpose: “And We did not create the heaven and earth and that between them in play.”Rather, the purpose of humanity is to be tested: “Who has created death and life, that He may test you which of you is best in deed. And He is the All-Mighty, the Oft-Forgiving; “Those who pass the test are rewarded with Paradise: “Verily for the Righteous there will be a fulfillment of (the heart’s) desires;
“According to the Islamic teachings, God exists above the heavens and the creation itself. The Qur’an mentions, “He it is Who created for you all that is on earth. Then He Istawa (rose over) towards the heaven and made them seven heavens and He is the All-Knower of everything. “At the same time, God is unlike anything in creation: “There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the Hearing, the Seeing.” and nobody can perceive God in totality: “Vision perceives Him not, but He perceives [all] vision; and He is the Subtle, the Acquainted.” God in Islam is not only majestic and sovereign, but also a personal God: “And indeed We have created man, and We know what his ownself whispers to him. And We are nearer to him than his jugular vein (by Our Knowledge).”Allah commands the believers to constantly remember Him (“O you who have believed, remember Allah with much remembrance”) and to invoke Him alone (“And whoever invokes besides Allah another deity for which he has no proof – then his account is only with his Lord. Indeed, the disbelievers will not succeed.”)Islam teaches that God as referenced in the Qur’an is the only god and the same God worshipped by members of other Abrahamic religions
such as Christianity and Judaism. (29:46).
Main article: Sikh beliefs
One of the biggest responsibilities in Sikhism is to worship God as “The Creator”, termed Waheguru who is shapeless, timeless, and sightless, i.e., Nirankar, Akal, and Alakh Niranjan. The religion only takes after the belief in “One God for All” or Ik Onkar.
MYTHOLOGICAL COSMOLOGY also RELIGIOUS COSMOLOGY
A Religious cosmology (also mythological cosmology) is a way of explaining the origin, the history and the evolution of the universe based on the religious mythology of a specific tradition. Religious cosmologies usually include an act or process of creation by a creator deity or a larger pantheon.
Main article: Buddhist cosmology
In Buddhism, the universe comes into existence dependent upon the actions (karma) of its inhabitants. Buddhists posit neither an ultimate beginning or final end to the universe, but see the universe as something in flux, passing in and out of existence, parallel to an infinite number of other universes doing the same thing.
The Buddhist universe consists of a large number of worlds which correspond to different mental states, including passive states of trance, passionless states of purity, and lower states of desire, anger, and fear. The beings in these worlds are all coming into existence or being born, and passing out of existence into other states, or dying. A world comes into existence when the first being in it is born, and ceases to exist, as such, when the last being in it dies. The universe of these worlds also is born and dies, with the death of the last being preceding a universal conflagration that destroys the physical structure of the worlds; then, after an interval, beings begin to be born again and the universe is once again built up. Other universes, however, also exist, and there are higher planes of existence which are never destroyed, though beings that live in them also come into and pass out of existence.
As well as a model of universal origins and destruction, Buddhist cosmology also functions as a model of the mind, with its thoughts coming into existence based on preceding thoughts, and being transformed into other thoughts and other states.
Further information: Biblical cosmology and Genesis creation myth
The main Judeo-Christian religious text, the Bible, opens with a story of creation. The first two chapters of the Book of Genesis describe the creation of heaven and earth by God (called both Elohim and Yhvh) in six successive days.
First day: God creates light (“Let there be light!”)[Gen 1:3]—the first divine command. The light is divided from the darkness, and “day” and “night” are named.
Second day: God creates a firmament (“Let a firmament be…!”)[Gen 1:6–7]—the second command—to divide the waters above from the waters below. The firmament is named “heaven” (shamayim).
Third day: God commands the waters below to be gathered together in one place, and dry land to appear (the third command).[Gen 1:9–10]”earth” and “sea” are named. God commands the earth to bring forth grass, plants, and fruit-bearing trees (the fourth command).
Fourth day: God creates lights in the firmament (the fifth command)[Gen 1:14–15] to separate light from darkness and to mark days, seasons and years. Two great lights are made and the stars.
Fifth day: God commands the sea to “teem with living creatures”, and birds to fly across the heavens (sixth command)[Gen 1:20–21] He creates birds and sea creatures, and commands them to be fruitful and multiply.
Sixth day: God commands the land to bring forth living creatures (seventh command); He makes wild beasts, livestock and “every thing that creepeth upon the earth”.[Gen 1:24–25] He then creates humanity in His “image” and “likeness” (eighth command).[Gen 1:26–28] They are told to “be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it.” The totality of creation is described by God as “very good.”
Seventh day: God, having completed the heavens and the earth, rests from His work, and blesses and sanctifies the seventh day. [Gen 2:2]
See also: Biblical cosmology, Ex nihilo, and Creationism
It is a tenet of Christian faith (Roman Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant) that God is the creator of all things from nothing, and has made human beings in the Image of God, who by direct inference is also the source of the human soul. In Chalcedonian Christology, Jesus is the Word of God, which was in the beginning and, thus, is uncreated, and hence is God, and consequently identical with the Creator of the worldex nihilo.
The New Testament claims that God created everything by the eternal Word, Jesus Christ his beloved Son. In him “All things were created, in heaven and on earth.. . all things were created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
Main article: Mormon cosmology
Mormon cosmology draws from Biblical cosmology, but has many unique elements provided by Latter Day Saint movement founder Joseph Smith, Jr.
According to Mormon cosmology, there was a pre-existence, better described as a pre-mortal life, in which human spirits were literal children of heavenly parents.
Though their spirits were created, the essential “intelligence” of these spirits is considered eternal, and without beginning. During this pre-existence, two plans were said to have been presented, one championed by Lucifer (Satan) that would have involved loss of moral agency, and another championed by God the Father. When his plan was not accepted, Lucifer is said to have rebelled and taken a third of the hosts of heaven with him to the earth to serve as tempters. According to a plan of salvation as described by God the Father, Jesus would create the earth, under the direction of God the Father, as a place where humanity would be tested.
After the resurrection all men and women except spirits that followed Lucifer and the sons of perdition would be assigned one of three degrees of glory.
Within the highest degree, the Celestial Kingdom, there are three divisions, and those in the highest of these divisions would become gods and goddesses through a process called exaltation or “eternal progression”. Celestial Kingdom, Terrestrial Kingdom, and Telestial Kingdom are the three divisions of the three degrees of glory.
This would involve having spirit children and populating new worlds.
The Earth’s creation, according to Mormon scripture, was not ex nihilo, but organized from existing matter.
The faith teaches that this earth is just one of many inhabited worlds, and that there are many governing heavenly bodies, including a planet or star Kolob which is said to be nearest the throne of God. According to some Mormon sources, God the Father himself was once like a human, and lived on a planet with his own higher god.
Main article: Hindu cosmology
The Hindu cosmology and timeline is the closest to modern scientific timelines and even more which might indicate that the Big Bang is not the beginning of everything but just the start of the present cycle preceded by an infinite number of universes and to be followed by another infinite number of universes.
The Rig Veda questions the origin of the cosmos in: “Neither being (sat) nor non-being was as yet. What was concealed? And where? And in whose protection?…Who really knows? Who can declare it? Whence was it born, and whence came this creation? The devas were born later than this world’s creation, so who knows from where it came into existence? None can know from where creation has arisen, and whether he has or has not produced it. He who surveys it in the highest heavens, he alone knows-or perhaps does not know.” (Rig Veda 10. 129) Large scale structure of the Universe according to one Hindu cosmology. Intermediate neighborhood of the Earth according to one Hindu cosmology.
We have the neighborhood of the Earth according to one Hindu cosmology. The Rig Veda’s view of the cosmos also sees one true divine principle self-projecting as the divine word, Vaak, ‘birthing’ the cosmos that we know, from the
monistic Hiranyagarbha or Golden Womb. The Hiranyagarbha is alternatively viewed as Brahma, the creator who was in turn created by God, or as God (Brahman) himself.
The universe is considered to constantly expand since creation and disappear into a thin haze after billions of years.
An alternate view is that the universe begins to contract after reaching its maximum expansion limits until it disappears into a fraction of a millimeter
The creation begins anew after billions of years (Solar years) of non-existence.
The puranic view asserts that the universe is created, destroyed, and re-created in an eternally repetitive series of cycles. In Hindu cosmology, a universe endures for about 4,320,000,000 years (one day of Brahma, the creator or kalpa) and is then destroyed by fire or water elements. At this point, Brahma rests for one night, just as long as the day. This process, named pralaya (Cataclysm), repeats for 100 Brahma years (311 Trillion, 40 Billion Human Years) that represents Brahma’s lifespan. It must be noted that Brahma is the creator but not necessarily regarded as God in Hinduism. He is mostly regarded as a creation of God / Brahman.
We are currently believed to be in the 51st year of the present Brahma and so about 156 trillion years have elapsed since He was born as Brahma. After Brahma’s “death”, it is necessary that another 100 Brahma years (311 Trillion, 40 Billion Years) pass until a new Brahma is born and the whole creation begins anew. This process is repeated again and again, forever. Brahma’s day is divided in one thousand cycles (Maha Yuga, or the Great Year).Maha Yuga, during which life, including the human race appears and then disappears, has 71 divisions, each made of 14 Manvantara (1000) years. Each Maha Yuga lasts for 4,320,000 years. Manvantara is Manu’s cycle, the one who gives birth and governs the human race.
Each Maha Yuga consists of a series of four shorter yugas, or ages. The yugas get progressively worse from a moral point of view as one proceeds from one yuga to another. As a result, each yuga is of shorter duration than the age that preceded it.
The current Kali Yuga (Iron Age) began at midnight 17 February / 18 February in 3102 BC in the proleptic Julian calendar.
Space and time are considered to be maya (illusion).
What looks like 100 years in the cosmos of Brahma could be thousands of years in other worlds, millions of years in some other worlds and 311 trillion and 40 billion years for our solar system and earth.
Main articles: Islamic cosmology and Sufi Cosmology
Islam preaches that God, or Allah, created the universe, including Earth’s physical environment and human beings. The highest goal is to visualize the cosmos as a book of symbols for meditation and contemplation for spiritual upliftment or as a prison from which the human soul must escape to attain true freedom in the spiritual journey to God. Islam elaborates on cosmology in many instances. A modern English translation of the Quran describes the creation of the universe as follows:”We have built the heaven with might, and We are Steadily Expanding it.”51:47 Earlier English translations like for example Ahmed Ali, The Noble Qur’an, Pickthal, Shakir and Yusuf Ali never specify the expansion as a process that is still going on so it seems to be an addition after the expansion of the universe became a generally accepted scientific fact.
Below here there are some other citations from the Quran on cosmology.
“Do not the Unbelievers see that the heavens and the earth were joined together (as one unit of creation), before we clove them asunder? We made from water every living thing. Will they not then believe?” 21:30 Yusuf Ali translation
“The Day that We roll up the heavens like a scroll rolled up for books (completed),- even as We produced the first creation, so shall We produce a new one: a promise We have undertaken: truly shall We fulfil it.” 21:104 Yusuf Ali translation
Main article: Jain cosmology
Jain cosmology considers the loka, or universe, as an uncreated entity, existing since infinity, having no beginning or an end. Jain texts
describe the shape of the universe as similar to a man standing with legs apart and arm resting on his waist. This Universe, according to Jainism, is narrow at the top, broad at the middle and once again becomes broad at the bottom.
Mahapura’a of Acarya Jinasena is famous for this quote: “Some foolish men declare that a creator made the world. The doctrine that the world was created is ill advised and should be rejected. If God created the world, where was he before the creation? If you say he was transcendent then and needed no support, where is he now? How could God have made this world without any raw material?
If you say that he made this first, and then the world, you are faced with an endless regression.”
Main articles: Chinese creation myth and Tian
The cosmology of Taoism beliefs is a complex mixture of different beliefs. There is a “primordial universe” Wuji (philosophy), and Hongjun Laozu, water or qi. It transformed into Taiji and multiplied into everything.
The Pangu legend tells a formless chaos coalesced into a cosmic egg. Pangu emerged (or woke up) and separated Yin from Yang with a swing of his giant axe, creating the Earth (murky Yin) and the Sky (clear Yang). To keep them separated, Pangu stood between them and pushed up the Sky. After Pangu died, he became everything. See also Bahá’í cosmology
Raelian cosmology
Zoroastrian cosmology
References:^ CCC Search Result – Paragraph # 291^ LDS Church (1995) (“Each [human] is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents.”); LDS Church (1997, p. 11) (“Man, as a spirit, was begotten and born of heavenly parents, and reared to maturity in the eternal mansions of the Father.”).^ http://www.oxfordislamicstudies.com/article/opr/t125/e459?_hi=10&_pos=2^ “This universe is not created nor sustained by anyone; It is self sustaining, without any base or support” “Nishpaadito Na Kenaapi Na Dhritah Kenachichch Sah Swayamsiddho Niradhaaro Gagane Kimtvavasthitah” [Yogasastra of Acarya Hemacandra 4.106] Tr by Dr. A. S. Gopani^ See Hemacandras description of universe in Yogasastra “…Think of this loka as similar to man standing akimbo…”4.103-6
Biblical Cosmology,
Brahma Cosmogony,
Cosmological argument,
Cosmology Dating Creation,
Day-Age Creationism
Deism Existence, Gap Creationism,
Great Spirit,
Intelligent designer,
Jainism and non-creationism,
Old Earth Creationism
Tzimtzum
The term Alpha and Omega comes from the phrase “I am the alpha and the omega” (Koiné Greek: an appellation of Jesus in the Book of Revelation (verses 1:8, 21:6, and 22:13). In the Book of Revelation, it reads “I am the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last.”The first part of this phrase (“I am the Alpha and Omega”) is first found in Chapter 1 verse 8, and is found in every manuscript of Revelation that has 1v8. Several later manuscripts repeat “I am the Alpha and Omega” in 1v11 too, but it does not receive support here from most of the oldest manuscripts, including the Alexandrine, Sinaitic, and Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus. It is, therefore, omitted in some modern translations. Scholar Robert Young stated, with regards to “I am the Alpha and Omega” in 1v11, that the “oldest MSS. omit” it.
Its meaning is found in the fact that alpha (?) and omega (O) are respectively the first and last letters of the Classical (Ionic) Greek alphabet. This would be similar to referring to someone in English as the “A and Z”. Thus, twice when the title appears it is further clarified with the additional title “the beginning and the end” (21:6, 22:13).
Though many commentators and dictionaries apply this title both to God and to Christ, some secular sources argue otherwise. Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament (1974) claims: “It cannot be absolutely certain that the writer meant to refer to the Lord Jesus specifically here… There is no real incongruity in supposing, also, that the writer here meant to refer to God as such.” However, most Christian denominations teach that it does apply to Jesus and God as they are one; Revelation Chapter 22 has Jesus himself saying the words: “I am the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last”.Therefore the letters Alpha and Omega in juxtaposition are often used as a Christian visual symbol (see examples).
The letters were shown hanging from the arms of the cross in Early Christian art, and some crosses in precious metal have formed letters hanging in this way. In fact, despite always being in Greek, the letters became more common in Western than Eastern Orthodox Christian art. They are often shown to the left and right of Christ’s head, sometimes within his halo, where they take the place of the christogram used in Orthodox art.
This symbol was suggested by the Apocalypse, where many believe that Christ, as well as the Father, is “the First and the Last” (ii, 8); “the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end” (cf., xxii, 13; i, 8). Clement of Alexandria (2nd century, philosopher and commentator on pagan and Christian information) speaks of the Word as “the Alpha and the Omega of Whom alone the end becomes beginning, and ends again at the original beginning without any break” (Stromata, IV, 25).
Tertullian (lawyer, theologian) also alludes to Christ as the Alpha and Omega (De Monogamiâ, v), and from Prudentius (Cathemer., ix, 10) we learn that in the fourth century the interpretation of the apocalyptic letters was still the same: “Alpha et Omega cognominatus, ipse fons et clausula, Omnium quae sunt, fuerunt, quaeque post futura sunt.” It was, however, in the monuments of early Christianity that the symbolic Alpha and Omega had their greatest vogue.
This phrase is interpreted by many Christians to mean that Jesus existed from eternity (as the second person of the Trinity), and will exist eternally. Alpha and omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, signifying that God is “the beginning and the end,” or eternal. The symbols were used in early Christianity and appear in the Roman catacombs.
The Alpha and Omega symbols are often combined with the cross, chi rho, or other Christian symbols.
In Rabbinic literature, the word emet (meaning “truth”), one of the names of God in Judaism, has been interpreted as consisting of the first, middle and final letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
The Qur’an gives al’Awwal meaning “The First” and al’Akhir , meaning “The Last” as two of the names of God: 57:3. Babylonian cosmology
Babylonian literature (1900-1200 BC) Plurality of heavens and earths The Earth and Heavens are a “spatial whole, even one of round shape,” revolving around the “cult-place of the deity”[clarification needed] rather than the Earth,[6] and there is a plurality of heavens and earths. Brahmanda (Hindu Cosmology) Hindu Rigveda(1700–1100 BC) Cyclical or oscillating, Infinite in time The universe sustains for around 311,040,000,000,000 years, or 100 Years of Brahma. There is a smaller period of unmanifestation in around 4 billion years, that is, one Day of Brahma. The universe cycles between expansion and total collapse.
After one cycle of the life of Brahma another universe follows for infinity, each of which exists for a time period of 311 trillion 40 billion years. It also speaks of an infinite number of universes at one given point of time.
The Universe expanded from a concentrated form, a point called a Bindu. The universe, as a living entity, is bound to the perpetual cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. Atomist universe Anaxagoras (500-428 BC) & later.
Epicurus Infinite in extent – The universe contains only two things: an infinite number of tiny seeds, or atoms, and the void of infinite extent. All atoms are made of the same substance, but differ in size and shape. Objects are formed from atom aggregations and decay back into atoms. Incorporates Leucippus’ principle of causality: “nothing happens at random; everything happens out of reason and necessity.” The universe was not ruled by gods.
Pythagorean universe Philolaus (d. 390 BC) Existence of a “Central Fire” at the center of the Universe. At the center of the Universe is a central fire, around which the Earth, Sun, Moon and planets revolve uniformly.
The Sun revolves around the central fire once a year, the stars are immobile. The earth in its motion maintains the same hidden face towards the central fire, hence it is never seen. This is the first known non-geocentric model of the Universe.[8]Stoic universe Stoics(300 BC – 200 AD) Island universe
The Cosmos is finite and surrounded by an infinite void. It is in a state of flux, as it pulsates in size and periodically passes through upheavals and conflagrations.
Aristotelian universe Aristotle (384-322 BC) Geocentric, static, steady state, finite extent, infinite time Spherical earth is surrounded by concentric celestial spheres. Universe exists unchanged throughout eternity. Contains a fifth element, called aether (later known as quintessence), added to the four Classical elements. Aristarchean universe Aristarchus(circa 280 BC) Heliocentric Earth rotates daily on its axis and revolves annually about the sun in a circular orbit. Sphere of fixed stars is centered about the sun. Seleucian universe Seleucus of Seleucia(circa 190 BC)
Heliocentric Modifications to the Aristarchean universe, with the inclusion of the tide phenomenon to explain heliocentrism.
Ptolemaic model (based on Aristotelian universe) Ptolemy(2nd century AD) Geocentric Universe orbits about a stationary Earth. Planets move in circular epicycles, each having a center that moved in a larger circular orbit (called an eccentric or a deferent) around a center-point near the Earth. The use of equants added another level of complexity and allowed astronomers to predict the positions of the planets.
The most successful universe model of all time, using the criterion of longevity. Almagest (the Great System).
Aryabhatan model Aryabhata (499) Geocentric or Heliocentric The Earth rotates and the planets move in elliptical orbits, possibly around either the Earth or the Sun. It is uncertain whether the model is geocentric or heliocentric due to planetary orbits given with respect to both the Earth and the Sun. Abrahamic universe Medieval philosophers (500-1200) Finite in time.
A universe that is finite in time and has a beginning is proposed by the Christian philosopher, John Philoponus, who argues against the ancient Greek notion of an infinite past. Logical arguments supporting a finite universe are developed by the early Muslim philosopher Alkindus, the Jewish philosopher Saadia Gaon and the Muslim theologianAlgazel.
Multiversal cosmology Fakhr al-Din al-Razi (1149–1209)
Multiverse, multiple worlds & universes There exists an infinite outer space
e beyond the known world, and God has the power to fill the vacuum with an infinite number of universes.
Maragha models Maragha school(1259–1528) Geocentric Various modifications to Ptolemaic model and Aristotelian universe, including rejection ofequant and eccentrics at Maragheh observatory, and introduction of Tusi-couple by Al-Tusi. Alternative models later proposed, including the first accurate lunar model by Ibn al-Shatir, a model rejecting stationary Earth in favour of Earth’s rotation by Ali Kusçu, and planetary model incorporating “circular inertia” by Al-Birjandi. Nilakanthan model Nilakantha Somayaji (1444–1544)
Geocentric and Heliocentric A universe in which the planets orbit the Sun and the Sun orbits the Earth, similar to the later Tychonic system. Copernican universe Nicolaus Copernicus (1543) Heliocentric The geocentric Maragha model of Ibn al-Shatir adapted to meet the requirements of the ancient heliocentric Aristarchean universe in his De revolutionibus orbium coelestium.
Tychonic system Tycho Brahe(1546–1601) Geocentric and Heliocentric A universe in which the planets orbit the Sun and the Sun orbits the Earth, similar to the earlier Nilakanthan model. Static Newtonian Sir Isaac Newton(1642–1727) Static(evolving), steady state, infinite Every particle in the universe attracts every other particle. Matter on the large scale is uniformly distributed. Gravitationally balanced but unstable.
Cartesian Vortex universe René Descartes 17th Century Static (evolving), steady state, Infinite
A system of huge swirling whirlpools of aethereal or fine matter produces what we would call gravitational effects. His vacuum was not empty. All space was filled with matter that swirled around in large and small vortices.
Hierarchical universe Immanuel Kant,
Johann Lambert 18th century Static (evolving), steady state, infinite Matter is clustered on ever larger scales of hierarchy. Matter is endlessly being recycled. Einstein Universe with a cosmological constant Albert Einstein1917 Static (nominally). Bounded (finite) “Matter without motion.” Contains uniformly distributed matter. Uniformly curved spherical space; based on Riemann’s hypersphere. Curvature is set equal to ?. In effect ? is equivalent to a repulsive force which counteracts gravity. Unstable. De Sitter universe Willem de Sitter1917 Expanding flat space.
Steady state. ? > 0 “Motion without matter.” Only apparently static. Based on Einstein’s General Relativity. Space expands with constant acceleration. Scale factor (radius of universe) increases exponentially, i.e. constant inflation. MacMillan universe William Duncan MacMillan 1920s Static &steady state.
New matter is created from radiation. Starlight is perpetually recycled into new matter particles.
Friedmann universe of spherical space Alexander Friedmann 1922 Spherical expanding space. k= +1 ; no ? Positive curvature. Curvature constant k = +1Expands then recollapses. Spatially closed (finite).Friedmann universe of hyperbolic space Alexander Friedmann 1924 Hyperbolic expanding space.
k= -1 ; no ? Negative curvature. Said to be infinite (but ambiguous). Unbounded. Expands forever.
Dirac large numbers hypothesis Paul Dirac 1930s Expanding Demands a large variation in G, which decreases with time. Gravity weakens as universe evolves.
Friedmann zero-curvature, a.k.a. the Einstein-DeSitter universe Einstein & DeSitter 1932 Expanding flat space.
k= 0 ; ? = 0 Critical density Curvature constant k = 0. Said to be infinite (but ambiguous). ‘Unbounded cosmos of limited extent.’ Expands forever. ‘Simplest’ of all known universes. Named after but not considered by Friedmann. Has a deceleration term q =½ which means that its expansion rate slows down.
BIG BANG THEORY = Only One Theory!
The original Big Bang. a.k.a. Friedmann-Lemaître Model Georges Lemaître1927-29 Expansion? > 0 ? > |Gravity| ? is positive and has a magnitude greater than Gravity. Universe has initial high density state (‘primeval atom’). Followed by a two stage expansion. ? is used to destabilize the universe. (Lemaître is considered to be the father of the big bang model.)Oscillating universe(a.k.a. Friedmann-Einstein; was latter’s 1st choice after rejecting his own 1917 model) Favored by Friedmann 1920s Expanding and contracting in cycles Time is endless and beginningless; thus avoids the beginning-of-time paradox.
Perpetual cycles of big Bang followed by the big Crunch. Eddington Arthur Eddington 1930 First Static then Expands Static Einstein 1917 universe with its instability disturbed into expansion mode; with relentless matter dilution becomes a DeSitter universe.
Dominates gravity.
Milne universe of kinematic relativity Edward Milne, 1933, 1935;William H. McCrea, 1930s Kinematic expansion with NO space expansion Rejects general relativity and the expanding space paradigm. Gravity not included as initial assumption. Obeys cosmological principle & rules of special relativity. The Milne expanding universe consists of a finite spherical cloud of particles (or galaxies) that expands WITHIN flat space which is infinite and otherwise empty.
It has a center and a cosmic edge (the surface of the particle cloud) which expands at light speed. His explanation of gravity was elaborate and unconvincing. For instance, his universe has an infinite number of particles, hence infinite mass, within a finite cosmic volume.
Friedmann-Lemaître-Robertson-Walker class of models Howard Robertson, Arthur Walker, 1935 Uniformly expanding Class of universes that are homogenous and isotropic. Spacetime separates into uniformly curved space and cosmic time common to all co-moving observers. The formulation system is now known as the FLRW or Robertson-Walker metrics of cosmic time and curved space.
Steady-state expanding (Bondi & Gold) Herman Bondi,Thomas Gold1948 Expanding, steady state, infinite Matter creation rate maintains constant density. Continuous creation out of nothing from nowhere.
Exponential expansion.
Deceleration term q = -1.Steady-state expanding (Hoyle) Fred Hoyle 1948 Expanding, steady state; but unstable Matter creation rate maintains constant density. But since matter creation rate must be exactly balanced with the space expansion rate the system is unstable. Ambiplasma Hannes Alfvén1965 Oskar Klein Cellular universe, expanding by means of matter-antimatter annihilation Based on the concept of plasma cosmology.
The universe is viewed as meta-galaxies divided by double layers —hence its bubble-like nature. Other universes are formed from other bubbles. Ongoing cosmic matter-antimatter annihilations keep the bubbles separated and moving apart preventing them from interacting. Brans-Dicke Carl H. Brans; Robert H. Dicke Expanding Based on Mach’s principle. G varies with time as universe expands. “But nobody is quite sure what Mach’s principle actually means.”
Cosmic inflation
Alan Guth 1980 Big Bang with modification to solve horizon problem and flatness problem. Based on the concept of hot inflation. The universe is viewed as a multiple quantum flux —hence its bubble-like nature. Other universes are formed from other bubbles. Ongoing cosmic expansion kept the bubbles separated and moving apart preventing them from interacting. Eternal Inflation (a multiple universe model) Andreï Linde 1983 Big Bang with cosmic inflation
A multiverse, based on the concept of cold inflation, in which inflationary events occur at random each with independent initial conditions; some expand into bubble universes supposedly like our entire cosmos.
Bubbles nucleate in a spacetime foam.
Physical cosmology, as a branch of astronomy, is the study of the largest-scale structures and dynamics of the universe and is concerned with fundamental questions about its formation and evolution. For most of human history, it was a branch of metaphysics and religion.
Cosmology considered an actual science originated with the Copernican principle, which implies that celestial bodies obey identical physical laws to those on Earth, and Newtonian mechanics, which first allowed us to understand those laws. Physical cosmology, as it is now understood, began with the twentieth century development of Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity and better astronomical observations of extremely distant objects. These advances made it possible to speculate about the origin of the universe, and allowed scientists to establish the Big Bang Theory as the leading cosmological model. Some researchers still advocate a handful of alternative cosmologies; however, cosmologists generally agree that the Big Bang theory best explains observations.
Cosmology draws heavily on the work of many disparate areas of research in physics. Areas relevant to cosmology include particle physics experiments and theory, including string theory, astrophysics, general relativity, and plasma physics. Thus, cosmology unites the physics of the largest structures in the universe with the physics of the smallest structures in the universe. Universal Disciplines In recent times, physics and astrophysics have played a central role in shaping the understanding of the universe through scientific observation and experiment. What is known as physical cosmology shaped through both mathematics and observation the analysis of the whole universe. It is generally understood to begin with the Big Bang combined with cosmic inflation – an expansion of space from which the universe is thought to have emerged ~13.7±0.2×109 (roughly 13.5-13.9 billion) years ago.
Physical cosmologists propose that the history of the universe has been governed entirely by physical laws. Such theories of an impersonal universe governed by physical laws were first proposed by Roger Bacon.
Between the domains of religion and science, stands the philosophical perspective of metaphysical cosmology. This ancient field of study seeks to draw intuitive conclusions about the nature of the universe, man, a supernatural creator and/or their relationships based on the extension of some set of presumed facts borrowed from spiritual experience and/or observation. Metaphysical Cosmology
Metaphysical cosmology has also been described as the placing of man in the universe in relationship to all other entities. This is exampled by the observation made by Marcus Aurelius of a man’s place in that relationship: “He who does not know what the world is does not know where he is, and he who does not know for what purpose the world exists, does not know who he is, nor what the world is.”
Cosmology is often an important aspect of the creation myths of religions that seek to explain the existence and nature of reality. In some cases, views about the creation (cosmogony) and destruction (eschatology) of the universe play a central role in shaping a framework of religious cosmology for understanding humanity’s role in the universe.
A more contemporary distinction between religion and philosophy, esoteric cosmology is distinguished from religion in its less tradition-bound construction and reliance on modern “intellectual understanding” rather than faith, and from philosophy in its emphasis on spirituality as a formative concept. History of Physical Cosmology. See also: Timeline of cosmology and List of cosmologists.
Modern cosmology developed along tandem tracks of theory and observation. In 1915, Albert Einstein formulated his theory of general relativity, which provided a unified description of gravity as a geometric property of space and time. At the time, physicists believed in a perfectly static universe that had no beginning or end. Einstein added a cosmological constant to his theory in order to force it to model a static universe containing matter. This so-called Einstein universe is, however, unstable; it will eventually start expanding or contracting. The cosmological solutions of general relativity were found by Alexander Friedmann, whose equations describe the Friedmann-Lemaître-Robertson-Walker universe, which may expand or contract.
In the 1910s, Vesto Slipher (and later Carl Wilhelm Wirtz) interpreted the red shift of spiral nebulae as a Doppler shift that indicated they were receding from Earth. However, it is difficult to determine the distance to astronomical objects. One way is to compare the physical size of an object to its angular size, but a physical size must be assumed to do this.
Another method is to measure the brightness of an object and assume an intrinsic luminosity, from which the distance may be determined using the inverse square law.
Due to the difficulty of using these methods, they did not realize that the nebulae were actually galaxies outside our own Milky Way, nor did they speculate about the cosmological implications.
In 1929, Edwin Hubble provided an observational basis for Lemaître’s theory. Hubble showed that the spiral nebulae were galaxies by determining their distances using measurements of the brightness of Cepheid variable stars. He discovered a relationship between the redshift of a galaxy and its distance. He interpreted this as evidence that the galaxies are receding from Earth in every direction at speeds directly proportional to their distance. This fact is now known as Hubble’s law, though the numerical factor Hubble found relating recessional velocity and distance was off by a factor of ten, due to not knowing at the time about different types of Cepheid variables.
Given the cosmological principle, Hubble’s law suggested that the universe was expanding. There were two primary explanations put forth for the expansion of the universe. One was Lemaître’s Big Bang theory, advocated and developed by George Gamow. The other possibility was Fred Hoyle’s steady state model in which new matter would be created as the galaxies moved away from each other. In this model, the universe is roughly the same at any point in time.
For a number of years the support for these theories was evenly divided.
However, the observational evidence began to support the idea that the universe evolved from a hot dense state. The discovery of the cosmic microwave background in 1965 lent strong support to the Big Bang model, and since the precise measurements of the cosmic microwave background by the Cosmic Background Explorer in the early 1990s, few cosmologists have seriously proposed other theories of the origin and evolution of the cosmos.
One consequence of this is that in standard general relativity, the universe began with a singularity, as demonstrated by Stephen Hawking and Roger Penrose in the 1960s.
Light elements, primarily hydrogen and helium, were created in the Big Bang.
These light elements were spread too fast and too thinly in the Big Bang process (see nucleosynthesis) to form the most stable medium-sized atomic nuclei, like iron and nickel. This fact allows for later energy release, as such intermediate-sized elements are formed in our era.
The formation of such atoms powers the steady energy-releasing reactions in stars, and also contributes to sudden energy releases, such as in novae. Gravitational collapse of matter into black holes is also thought to power the most energetic processes, generally seen at the centers of galaxies (see quasars and in general active galaxies).Cosmologists are still unable to explain all cosmological phenomena purely on the basis of known conventional forms of energy, for example those related to the accelerating expansion of the universe, and therefore invoke a yet unexplored form of energy called dark energy to account for certain cosmological observations.
One hypothesis is that dark energy is the energy of virtual particles (which mathematically must exist in vacuum due to the uncertainty principle).There is no unambiguous way to define the total energy of the universe in the current best theory of gravity, general relativity. As a result it remains controversial whether one can meaningfully say that total energy is conserved in an expanding universe.
For instance, each photon that travels through intergalactic space loses energy due to the redshift effect. This energy is not obviously transferred to any other system, so seems to be permanently lost. Nevertheless some cosmologists insist that energy is conserved in some sense.
As the universe expands, both matter and radiation in it become diluted. However, the universe also cools down, meaning that the average energy per particle is getting smaller with time. Therefore the radiation becomes weaker, and dilutes faster than matter. Thus with the expansion of the universe radiation becomes less dominant than matter. In the very early universe radiation dictates the rate of deceleration of the universe’s expansion, and the universe is said to be ‘radiation dominated’.
At later times, when the average energy per photon is roughly 10 eV and lower, matter dictates the rate of deceleration and the universe is said to be ‘matter dominated’. The intermediate case is not treated well analytically. As the expansion of the universe continues, matter dilutes even further and the cosmological constant becomes dominant, leading to an acceleration in the universe’s expansion. History of the UniverseSee also: Timeline of the Big Bang
The history of the universe is a central issue in cosmology. The history of the universe is divided into different periods called epochs, according to the dominant forces and processes in each period. The standard cosmological model is known as the CDM model?
CDM Model.
CDM model, Equations of motion
Main article: Friedmann-Lemaître-Robertson-Walker metric.
As a rule of thumb, a scattering or a decay process is cosmologically important in a certain cosmological epoch if the time scale describing that process is smaller or comparable to the time scale of the expansion of the universe, which is 1 / H with H being the Hubble constant at that time. This is roughly equal to the age of the universe at that time. Big Bang Timeline
This is when the first protons, electrons and neutrons formed, then nuclei and finally atoms. With the formation of neutral hydrogen, the cosmic microwave background was emitted. Finally, the epoch of structure formation began, when matter started to aggregate into the first stars and quasars, and ultimately galaxies, clusters of galaxies and superclusters formed. The future of the universe is not yet firmly known, but according to the CDM model it will continue expanding forever.
Below, some of the most active areas of inquiry in cosmology are described, in roughly chronological order. This does not include all of the Big Bang cosmology, which is presented in Timeline of the Big Bang. The very early universe.
These problems are resolved by a brief period of cosmic inflation, which drives the universe to flatness, smooths out anisotropies and inhomogeneities to the observed level, and exponentially dilutes the monopoles.
The physical model behind cosmic inflation is extremely simple, however it has not yet been confirmed by particle physics, and there are difficult problems reconciling inflation and quantum field theory. Some cosmologists think that string theory and brane cosmology will provide an alternative to inflation.
Another major problem in cosmology is what caused the universe to contain more particles than antiparticles. Cosmologists can observationally deduce that the universe is not split into regions of matter and antimatter. If it were, there would be X-rays and gamma rays produced as a result of annihilation, but this is not observed. This problem is called the baryon asymmetry, and the theory to describe the resolution is called baryogenesis.
The theory of baryogenesis was worked out by Andrei Sakharov in 1967, and requires a violation of the particle physics symmetry, called CP-symmetry, between matter and antimatter. Particle accelerators, however, measure too small a violation of CP-symmetry to account for the baryon asymmetry. Cosmologists and particle physicists are trying to find additional violations of the CP-symmetry in the early universe that might account for the baryon asymmetry.
Main article: Big bang nucleosynthesis
Big Bang Nucleosynthesis is the theory of the formation of the elements in the early universe.
It finished when the universe was about three minutes old and its temperature dropped below that at which nuclear fusion could occur. Big Bang nucleosynthesis had a brief period during which it could operate, so only the very lightest elements were produced. Starting from hydrogen ions (protons), it principally produced
deuterium, helium-4 and lithium. Other elements were produced in only trace abundances. The basic theory of nucleosynthesis was developed in 1948 by George Gamow, Ralph Asher Alpher and Robert Herman. It was used for many years as a probe of physics at the time of the Big Bang, as the theory of Big Bang nucleosynthesis connects the abundances of primordial light elements with the features of the early universe. Specifically, it can be used to test the equivalence principle, to probe dark matter, and test neutrino physics. Some cosmologists have proposed that Big Bang nucleosynthesis suggests there is a fourth “sterile” species of neutrino.
The cosmic microwave background is radiation left over from decoupling after the epoch of recombination when neutral atoms first formed. At this point, radiation produced in the Big Bang stopped Thomson scattering from charged ions. The radiation, first observed in 1965 by Arno Penzias and Robert Woodrow Wilson, has a perfect thermal black-body spectrum. It has a temperature of 2.7 kelvins today and is isotropic to one part in 105. Cosmological perturbation theory, which describes the evolution of slight inhomogeneities in the early universe, has allowed cosmologists to precisely calculate the angular power spectrum of the radiation, and it has been measured by the recent satellite experiments (COBE and WMAP) and many ground and balloon-based experiments (such as Degree Angular Scale Interferometer, Cosmic Background Imager, and Boomerang).
One of the goals of these efforts is to measure the basic parameters of the Lambda-CDM model with increasing accuracy, as well as to test the predictions of the Big Bang model and look for new physics. The recent measurements made by WMAP, for example, have placed limits on the neutrino masses.
Newer experiments, such as QUIET and the Atacama Cosmology Telescope, are trying to measure the polarization of the cosmic microwave background. These measurements are expected to provide further confirmation of the theory as well as information about cosmic inflation, and the so-called secondary anisotropies, such as the Sunyaev-Zel’dovich effect and Sachs-Wolfe effect, which are caused by interaction between galaxies and clusters with the cosmic microwave background.
Formation and evolution of large-scale structure
Main articles: Large-scale structure of the cosmos, Structure formation, and Galaxy formation and evolution
Evidence from Big Bang nucleosynthesis, the cosmic microwave background and structure formation suggests that about 23% of the mass of the universe consists of non-baryonic dark matter, whereas only 4% consists of visible, baryonic matter. The gravitational effects of dark matter are well understood, as it behaves like a cold, non-radiative fluid that forms haloes around galaxies. Dark matter has never been detected in the laboratory, and the particle physics nature of dark matter remains completely unknown. Without observational constraints, there are a number of candidates, such as a stable supersymmetric particle, a weakly interacting massive particle, an axion, and a massive compact halo object. Alternatives to the dark matter hypothesis include a modification of gravity at small accelerations (MOND) or an effect from brane cosmology.
Other areas of inquiry
Physical Ontology List of Cosmologists
For an overview, see George FR Ellis (2006). “Issues in the Philosophy of Cosmology”. In Jeremy Butterfield & John Earman. Philosophy of Physics (Handbook of the Philosophy of Science) 3 volume set. North Holland. pp. 1183ff. arXiv:astro-ph/0602280. ISBN 0444515607.^ Science 20 June 2003:Vol. 300. no. 5627, pp. 1914 – 1918 Throwing Light on Dark Energy, Robert P. Kirshner. Accessed December 2006^ e.g. Liddle, A.. An Introduction to Modern Cosmology. Wiley. ISBN 0-470-84835-9. This argues cogently “Energy is always, always, always conserved.”^ P. Ojeda and H. Rosu (Jun 2006). “Supersymmetry of FRW barotropic cosmologies”. Internat. J. Theoret. Phys. (Springer) 45: 1191–1196.arXiv:gr-qc/0510004. Bibcode 2006IJTP…45.1152R. doi:10.1007/s10773-006-9123-2.
Popular-
Brian Greene (2005). The Fabric of the Cosmos. Penguin Books Ltd. ISBN 0-14-101111-4.Alan Guth (1997). The Inflationary Universe: The Quest for a New Theory of Cosmic Origins. Random House. ISBN 0-224-04448-6.Hawking, Stephen W. (1988). A Brief History of Time: From the Big Bang to Black Holes. Bantam Books, Inc. ISBN 0-553-38016-8.Hawking, Stephen W. (2001). The Universe in a Nutshell. Bantam Books, Inc. ISBN 0-553-80202-X.Simon Singh (2005).
Big Bang: the origins of the universe. Fourth Estate. ISBN 0-00-716221-9.Steven Weinberg (1993; 1978). The First Three Minutes. Basic Books. ISBN 0-465-02437-8.clic model Paul Steinhardt;
Neil Turok 2002 Expanding and contracting in cycles; M theory. Two parallel orbifold planes or M-branes collide periodically in a higher dimensional space. With quintessence or dark energy
Cyclic model Lauris Baum;
Paul Frampton 2007 Solution ofTolman’s entropy problem Phantom dark energy fragments universe into large number of disconnected patches. Our patch contracts containing only dark energy with zero entropy. Table notes: the term “static” simply means not expanding and not contracting. Symbol G represents Newton’s gravitational constant;
(Lambda) is the cosmological constant.
Physical Cosmology
Main article: Physical cosmology
Physical cosmology is the branch of physics and astrophysics that deals with the study of the physical origins and evolution of the Universe. It also includes the study of the nature of the Universe on its very largest scales. In its earliest form it was what is now known as celestial mechanics, the study of the heavens.
The Greek philosophers Aristarchus of Samos, Aristotle and Ptolemy proposed different cosmological theories. In particular, the geocentric Ptolemaic system was the accepted theory to explain the motion of the heavens until Nicolaus Copernicus, and subsequently Johannes Kepler and Galileo Galilei proposed a heliocentric system in the 16th century. This is known as one of the most famous examples of epistemological rupture in physical cosmology.
With Isaac Newton and the 1687 publication of Principia Mathematica, the problem of the motion of the heavens was finally solved. Newton provided a physical mechanism for Kepler’s laws and his law of universal gravitation allowed the anomalies in previous systems, caused by gravitational interaction between the planets, to be resolved. A fundamental difference between Newton’s cosmology and those preceding it was the Copernican principle that the bodies on earth obey the same physical laws as all the celestial bodies. This was a crucial philosophical advance in physical cosmology.
Modern Scientific Cosmology
Modern scientific cosmology is usually considered to have begun in 1917 with Albert Einstein’s publication of his final modification of general relativity in the paper “Cosmological Considerations of the General Theory of Relativity,” (although this paper was not widely available outside of Germany until the end of World War I). General relativity prompted cosmogonists such as Willem de Sitter, Karl Schwarzschild and Arthur Eddington to explore the astronomical consequences of the theory, which enhanced the growing ability of astronomers to study very distant objects. Prior to this (and for some time afterwards), physicists assumed that the Universe was static and unchanging.
In parallel to this dynamic approach to cosmology, one long-standing debate about the structure of the cosmos was coming to a climax. Mount Wilson astronomer Harlow Shapley championed the model of a cosmos made up of the Milky Way star system only ; while Heber D. Curtis argued for the idea that spiral nebulae were star systems in their own right – island universes. This difference of ideas came to a climax with the organization of the Great Debate at the meeting of the (US) National Academy of Sciences in Washington on 26 April 1920.
The resolution of this debate came with the detection of novae in the Andromeda galaxy by Edwin Hubble in 1923 and 1924. Their distance established spiral nebulae well beyond the edge of the Milky Way and has galaxies of their own.
Subsequent modeling of the universe explored the possibility that the cosmological constant introduced by Einstein in his 1917 paper may result in an expanding universe, depending on its value. Thus the big bang model was proposed by the Belgian priest Georges Lemaître in 1927 which was subsequently corroborated by Edwin Hubble’s discovery of the red shift in 1929 and later by the discovery of the cosmic microwave background radiation by Arno Penzias and Robert Woodrow Wilson in 1964. These findings were a first step to rule out some of many alternative physical cosmologies.
Recent observations made by the COBE and WMAP satellites observing this background radiation have effectively, in many scientists’ eyes, transformed cosmology from a highly speculative science into a predictive science, as these observations matched predictions made by a theory called Cosmic inflation, which is a modification of the standard big bang model. This has led many to refer to modern times as the “Golden age of cosmology.”(Source: Wikipedia)
History of First Corporation that changed the way we now do business in the world:
The alleged oldest commercial corporation in the world,
the Stora Kopparberg mining community in Falun, Sweden, obtained a
Charter from King Magnus Eriksson in 1347. Many European nations
chartered corporations to lead colonial ventures, such as the
Dutch East India Company or the Hudson’s Bay Company, and these corporations came to play a large part in the history of corporate colonialism. Popular Books
Brian Greene (2005). The Fabric of the Cosmos. Penguin Books Ltd. ISBN 0-14-101111-4.Alan Guth (1997). The Inflationary Universe: The Quest for a New Theory of Cosmic Origins. Random House. ISBN 0-224-04448-6.Hawking, Stephen W. (1988). A Brief History of Time: From the Big Bang to Black Holes. Bantam Books, Inc. ISBN 0-553-38016-8.Hawking, Stephen W. (2001). The Universe in a Nutshell. Bantam Books, Inc. ISBN 0-553-80202-X.Simon Singh (2005). Big Bang: the origins of the universe. Fourth Estate. ISBN 0-00-716221-9.Steven Weinberg (1993; 1978). The First Three Minutes. Basic Books. ISBN 0-465-02437-8
Astronomy portal Absolute time and space
Astronomy List of astrophysicists
Non-standard cosmology
TaijiTaoMahapurana (Jainism)From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mahapurana is a major Jain text composed largely by Acharya Jinasena during the rule of Rashtrakuta ruler Amoghavarshaand completed by his pupil Gunabhadra in the 9th century CE. The section composed by Gunabhadra is called “Uttarapurana”. The completed and edited text was released by Lokasena, pupil of Gunabhadra in a celebration at Bankapura in the court of Vira-Bankeyarasa in 898 CE. The first 42 Parvans of this text were written by Jinasena, while remaining 34 Parvans were composed by Gunabhara.
This text gives an encyclopedic account of the Jain tradition.
—————-The text is widely quoted. A widely used quote from Carl Sagan’s Cosmos, page 140 is:
“Some foolish men declare that Creator made the world. The doctrine that the world was created is ill-advised, and should be rejected. If god created the world, where was he before creation? If you say he was transcendent then, and needed no support, where is he now?”,
A number of Jain and non-Jain texts have been influenced by the Mahapurana. Mahapurana was the model for Saiva SiddhantaPeriyapuranam which gives biographies of the sixty-three individuals. Extraterrestrial Intelligence Summit – Earth Tectonic Economics
We have Current Tectonic Plates on Earth that will share in the future Geographic Power Status.
In Global Tectonic Economics, those who are extraterrestrial in origin share their “Bird’s Eye View from Above on how to govern the planet while in the Working Class Planet Status.”
The Seven Major Powers on Earth will share in deciding who the Global Commerce Trade Agents shall be for the future Extraterrestrial Intelligence Summit (EIS).
We shall use the “Current Tectonic Plates in Tectonic Economics.”
The Future Global Powers will be recognized as those who control the Economics based on their Tectonic Plate Control Power. As Above So Below…
At present China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States are sometimes referred to as great powers, although there is no unanimous agreement among authorities as to the current status of these powers or what precisely defines a “great” power.
These five nations are the only states to have permanent seats on the UN Security Council. They are also the recognized “Nuclear Weapons States” under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Sources have at times referred to China, France, and the UK[ as “middle powers”. In addition, despite the lack of a permanent seat at the UN Security Council, Germany and Japan are occasionally considered to be great powers, although Germany and Japan are referred to by others as middle powers or economic great powers.
After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, its UN Security Council permanent seat was transferred to the Russian Federation in 1991, as its successor state. The newly-formed Russian Federation emerged on the level of a great power, leaving the United States as the only remaining global superpower (although some support a multipolar world view).
With continuing European integration, the European Union is increasingly being seen as a great power in its own right, most notably in areas where it has exclusive competence (i.e. economic affairs), and with representation at the WTO and at G8 and G-20 summits. The European Union, however, is not a sovereign state and has limited scope in the areas of foreign affairs and defense policy, which remain with the union’s member states, which include great powers France, Germany and the United Kingdom.
TECTONIC PLATES – Dealing in the Future Tectonic Economics of Earth
JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF (7) – Seven Main Tectonic Plates Representatives
Tectonic Economics will have Seven Major Upper Echelons for the Directors of the Chief Agents who will share in the Global Summit of Tectonic Economics with the entire list of plates including the Secondary and Tertiary plates for future reference and administration for Global Trade and Commerce.
China, France, Russia, United Kingdom , Untied States
(5) -POWERS
Great powers (with Security Council vetoes): China, France, Russia, United Kingdom and United States. Great powers without Security Council vetoes: Germany and Japan.
(2) Germany and Japan
EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATORS (8) – The Second Eight in Command are the Administrators who answer directly to the Seven Major Directors as the Joint Chiefs in Command of the Global Trade and Commerce.
TECTONIC PLATES ECONOMIC CONGRESS (60)
This is a list of tectonic plates on Earth. Tectonic plates are pieces of the Earth’s crust and uppermost mantle, together referred to as the lithosphere.
The plates are around 100 km (60 miles) thick and consist of two principal types of material: oceanic crust (also called sima fromsilicon and magnesium) and continental crust (sial from silicon and aluminium).
The composition of the two types of crust differs markedly, with basaltic rocks (“mafic”) dominating oceanic crust, while continental crust consists principally of lower density granitic rocks (“felsic”).
Primary plates
These seven plates comprise the bulk of the seven continents and the Pacific Ocean.
African Plate
Antarctic Plate
Eurasian Plate
Indo-Australian Plate
North American Plate
Pacific Plate
South American Plate
Secondary plates
These smaller plates are generally shown on major plate maps, but with the exception of the Arabian and Indian plates do not comprise significant land area.
Arabian Plate
Caribbean Plate
Cocos Plate
Indian Plate
Juan de Fuca Plate
Nazca Plate
Philippine Sea Plate
Scotia Plate
Tertiary plates
Tertiary plates are grouped with the major plate that they would otherwise be shown as part of on a major plate map. Mostly these are tiny micro plates.
An exception is in the case of the Nubian-Somalian and Australian-Capricorn-Indian plates these are major plates that are rifting apart.
Some models identify more minor plates within current orogens like the Apulian, Explorer, Gorda, and Philippine Mobile Belt plates.
The remainder of the tertiary plates are the dwindling remains of much larger ancient plates.
There may or may not be scientific consensus as to whether a tertiary plate is a separate plate yet, is still a separate plate, or should be considered a separate plate, thus new research could change this list below:
Madagascar Plate
Nubian Plate
Seychelles Plate
Somali Plate
Kerguelen microcontinent
Shetland Plate
South Sandwich Plate
Panama Plate
Gonâve Microplate
Rivera Plate
Adriatic or Apulian Plate
Aegean Sea Plate (or Hellenic Plate)
Amurian Plate
Anatolian Plate
Banda Sea Plate
Burma Plate
Iberian Plate
Iranian Plate
Molucca Sea Plate
Halmahera Plate
Sangihe Plate
Okinawa Plate
Pelso Plate
Sunda Plate
Timor Plate
Tisza Plate
Yangtze Plate
Australian Plate
Capricorn Plate
Futuna Plate
Kermadec Plate
Maoke Plate
Niuafo’ou Plate
Sri Lanka Plate
Tonga Plate
Woodlark Plate
Explorer Plate
Gorda Plate
Greenland Plate
Okhotsk Plate
Balmoral Reef Plate
Bird’s Head Plate
Caroline Plate
Conway Reef Plate
Easter Plate
Galapagos Plate
Juan Fernandez Plate
Kula Plate
Manus Plate
New Hebrides Plate
North Bismarck Plate
North Galapagos MicroPlate
Solomon Sea Plate
South Bismarck Plate
Mariana Plate
Philippine Microplate
Altiplano Plate
Falklands Microplate
North Andes Plate ANCIENT HISTORY OF PLATES
In the history of Earth many tectonic plates have come into existence and have over the intervening years either accreted onto other plates to form larger plates, rifted into smaller plates, or have been crushed by or subducted under other plates (or have done all three).
Ancient supercontinents
A supercontinent is a landmass consisting of multiple continental cores. The following list includes the supercontinents known or speculated to have existed in the Earth’s past:
Euramerica
Kenorland
Laurasia
Proto-Gondwana
Proto-Laurasia
Rodinia
Vaalbara
^ Even though the book: The Economics of World War II lists 7 great powers at the start of 1939 (the British Empire, the Empire of Japan, France, the Kingdom of Italy, Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union and the United States) This book focuses only on 6 of the 7 great powers that fought during World War II. This is because France surrendered shortly after the war began.
^ The 1956 Suez Crisis suggested that the United Kingdom, financially weakened by two world wars, could not then pursue its foreign policyobjectives on an equal footing with the new superpowers without sacrificing convertibility of its reserve currency as a central goal of policy. – from superpower cited by Adam Klug and Gregor W. Smith, ‘Suez and Sterling’, Explorations in Economic History, Vol. 36, No. 3 (July 1999), pp. 181–203.
^ Germany is presented by Chancellor Angela Merkel, former president Johannes Rau, and leading media of the country, as a “middle” political power in Europe.
Robert Birnbaum. “Porträt: Angela Merkel” (in German). Tagesspiegel online. Retrieved 2007-01-31. “Weichenstellungen in der Außen– und ihrem Unterkapitel, der Sicherheitspolitik sind zugleich von großer Bedeutung für die Zukunft der Mittelmacht Deutschland
^ The fall of the Berlin wall and the breakup of the Soviet Union left the United States as the only remaining superpower in the 90’s.
^ “the prime minister of Canada (during the Treaty of Versailles) said that there were “only three major powers left in the world the United States, Britain and Japan” … (but) The Great Powers could not be consistent. At the instance of Britain, Japan’s ally, they gave Japan five delegates to the Peace Conference, just like themselves, but in the Supreme Council the Japanese were generally ignored or treated as something of a joke.” from MacMillan, Margaret (2003). Paris 1919. United States of America: Random House Trade. p. 306. ISBN 0-375-76052-0
^ After the Statute of Westminster came into effect in 1931 the United Kingdom no longer represented the British Empire in world affairs.
UBS Investment Research Tectonic Economics Long-term currency fundamentals
The Aim
The aim of this note is to offer perspectives on likely trends in foreign exchange markets in the coming decade. We begin with a review of prevailing currency valuations for developed and developing economies. We then incorporate additional factors that ought to determine currency trends over the medium term.
Major misalignments
Currency misalignment today is significant and is a manifestation of still-large imbalances in the world economy. The unwinding of these misalignments suggests considerable exchange adjustments over the next decade.
Developed economy exchange rates are over-valued
Valuations based on relative prices suggest that most developed economy exchange rates are over-valued, most notably in Europe. Other considerations, such as balance sheet fundamentals and trend growth rates also suggest that developed economy real exchange rates are relatively high and will lose value over the coming years.
China’s re-balancing potential
Most Asian exchange rates remain under-valued, including the Chinese renminbi. When combined with the potential to harness high domestic savings and boost domestic demand, we believe the renminbi could appreciate significantly over the next decade. Other Asian currencies in a similar albeit less extreme position include those of India, Indonesia and Thailand. More Articles by Author on http://www.UFODigest.com
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Theresa Janette Thurmond Morris is an Author/Entrepreneur. TJ specializes in paranormal/super natural phenomenon. TJ was a professional consultant and expert witness on legal investigations and has prior military and government service in the USA 1980-1993. Professionally she uses her initials TJ. TJ has written several paranormal books including Ascension Age 2012 & Beyond, Alien UFO Story by TJ, Avatar Oracle Xeno Guide, Roswell Connection, Roswell UFO Encounters, UFOS & Extraterrestrials, and Uplifting the Soul. All books are in print available. TJ shares her life with TJ Morris & Friends and is an Ambassador of Goodwill with American Culture International Relations and ACIR. TJ Morris is her trademark ACIR her service mark.
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Jesus of Nazareth (7–2 BC/BCE – 30–36 AD/CE), commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity.
Most Christian denominations venerate him as God the Son incarnated and believe that he rose from the dead after being crucified. This is called Ascension.
The principal sources of information regarding Jesus are the four canonical gospels, and most biblical scholars find them useful for reconstructing Jesus’ life and teachings. Some scholars believe apocryphal texts such as the Gospel of Thomas and the Gospel of the Hebrews are also relevant.
The word gospel derives from the Old English god-spell (rarely godspel), meaning “good news” or “glad tidings”. It is a calque (word-for-word translation) of the Greek word ,euangelion(eu- “good”, -angelion “message”). The Greek word “euangelion” is also the source (via Latinised”evangelium”) of the terms “evangelist” and “evangelism” in English. The authors of the four canonical Christian gospels are known as the four evangelists.
Originally, the gospel was the good news of redemption through the propitiatory offering of Jesus Christ for one’s sins, the central Christian message. Note: John 3:16.
Before the first gospel was written (Mark, c 65-70), Paul the Apostle used the term gospel when he reminded the people of the church at Corinth “of the gospel I preached to you” (1 Corinthians 15.1). Paul averred that they were being saved by the gospel, and he characterized it in the simplest terms, emphasizing Christ’s appearances after the Resurrection (15.3 – 8):
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term “gospel” may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. However, the term is also used to refer to the Apocryphal gospels, the Non-canonical gospels, theJewish gospels and the Gnostic gospels.
Most critical historians agree that Jesus was a Galilean Jew who was regarded as a teacher andhealer, that he was baptized by John the Baptist, and was crucified in Jerusalem on the orders of the Roman Prefect of Judaea, Pontius Pilate, on the charge of sedition against the Roman Empire. Critical Biblical scholars and historians have offered competing descriptions of Jesus as a self-described Messiah, as the leader of an apocalyptic movement, as an itinerant sage, as a charismatic healer, and as the founder of an independent religious movement. Most contemporary scholars of the historical Jesus consider him to have been an independent, charismatic founder of a Jewish restoration movement, anticipating a future apocalypse.
Gospel of Peter
Main article: Gospel of Peter
The gospel of Peter was likely written in the first half of the 2nd century. It seems to be largely legendary, hostile toward Jews, and including docetic elements. It had been lost but was rediscovered in the 19th century.
Gospel of Judas
Main article: Gospel of Judas
The Gospel of Judas is another controversial and ancient text that purports to tell the story of the gospel from the perspective of Judas, the disciple who is usually said to have betrayed Jesus in most versions of the Bible. It paints an unusual picture of the relationship between Jesus and Judas, in that appears to interpret Judas’s act not as betrayal, but rather as an act of obedience to the instructions of Jesus. The text was recovered from a cave in Egypt by a thief and thereafter sold on the black market until it was finally discovered by a collector who, with the help of academics from Yale and Princeton, was able to verify its authenticity. The document itself does not claim to have been authored by Judas (it is, rather, a Gospel about Judas), and dates no earlier than the 2nd century.
The Sayings Collection ‘Q’
Main article: Q document
According to scholars proposing the existence of a hypothetical sayings-source, a Redensquelle, ‘Q’ (following the terminology of Johannes Weiss) at some time there existed a document comprised mostly sayings of Jesus with little narrative. It is presumed the source for many of Jesus’ sayings in Matthew and Luke, and accordingly must have preceded these gospels. It is believed that the earliest form of the sayings were written c. 50-60. However Mark Goodacre and other scholars have questioned the existence of a Q document.
Infancy gospels
Main article: Infancy gospel
A genre of “Infancy gospels” (Greek: protoevangelion) arose in the 2nd century, such as the Gospel of James, which introduces the concept of the Perpetual Virginity of Mary, and the Infancy Gospel of Thomas (not to be confused with the absolutely different sayings Gospel of Thomas), both of which related many miraculous incidents from the life of Mary and the childhood of Jesus that are not included in the canonical gospels.
Harmonies
Main article: gospel harmony
Another genre is that of gospel harmonies, in which the four canonical gospels were selectively recast as a single narrative to present a consistent text. Very few fragments of harmonies have survived. The Diatessaron was such a harmonization, compiled by Tatian around 175. It was popular for at least two centuries in Syria, but eventually it fell into disuse. More recently, in 2006, UOG Press published ONE as a modern gospel harmony of the four Canonical Gospels; ONE contains a 2,992 numbering reference system which tracks the textual harmonization process to the extant works for analysis and citation.
Marcion’s Gospel of Luke
Main article: Gospel of Marcion
Marcion of Sinope, c. 150, had a version of the gospel of Luke which differed substantially from that which has now become the standard text. Marcion’s version was far less Jewish than the now canonical text, and his critics alleged that he had edited out the portions he didn’t like from the canonical version, though Marcion argued that his text was the more genuinely original one. Marcion also rejected all the other gospels, including Matthew, Mark and especially John, which he alleged had been forged by Irenaeus.
Other prominent scholars, however, contend that Jesus’ “Kingdom of God” meant radical personal and social transformation instead of a future apocalypse.
Christians traditionally believe that Jesus was born of a virgin,:529–32 performedmiracles,:358–59 founded the Church, rose from the dead, and ascended intoheaven,:616–20 from which he will return.:1091–109 The majority of Christians worship Jesus as the incarnation of God the Son, and “the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity”.
A few Christian groups, however, reject Trinitarianism, wholly or partly, believing it to be non-scriptural. Most Christian scholars today present Jesus as the awaited Messiah promised in the Old Testament and as God, arguing that he fulfilled many Messianic prophecies of the Old Testament.
Judaism rejects assertions that Jesus was the awaited Messiah, arguing that he did not fulfill theMessianic prophecies in the Tanakh. In Islam, Jesus (Arabic: commonly transliterated as Isa or Yasu, respectively) is considered one of God’s important prophets,a bringer of scripture, and the product of a virgin birth, but not to have experienced crucifixion.
Islam and the Bahá’í Faith use the title “Messiah” for Jesus, but do not teach that he was God incarnate.
Although a few scholars have questioned the existence of Jesus as an actual historical figure, most scholars involved with historical Jesus research believe his existence (except for the miracles and Resurrection) can be established using documentary and other evidence.
As discussed in the sections immediately below, the estimation of the year of death of Jesus places his lifespan around the beginning of the 1st century AD/CE, in the geographic region of Roman Judaea.
The New Testament also refers to the Sea of Galilee which is about 75 miles north of Jerusalem.
Roman involvement in Judaea began around 63 BC/BCE and by 6 AD/CE Judaea had become a Roman province. From 26-37 AD/CE Pontius Pilate was the governor of Roman Judaea. In this time period, although Roman Judaea was strategically positioned between Asia and Africa, it was not viewed as a critically important province by the Romans.
The Romans were highly tolerant of other religions and allowed the local populations such as the Jews to practice their own faiths.
A number of approaches have been used to estimate the year of the death of Jesus, including information from the Canonical Gospels, the chronology of the life of Paul the Apostle in the New Testament correlated with historical events, as well as different astronomical models, as discussed below.
All four canonical Gospels report that Jesus was crucified in Calvary during the prefecture of Pontius Pilate, the Roman prefect who governed Judaea from 26 to 36 AD/CE. The late 1st century Jewish historian Josephus, writing in Antiquities of the Jews (c. 93 AD/CE), and the early 2nd century Roman historian Tacitus, writing in The Annals (c. 116 AD/CE), also state that Pilate ordered the execution of Jesus, though each writer gives him the title of “procurator” instead of prefect.
The estimation of the date of the conversion of Paul places the death of Jesus before this conversion, which is estimated at around 33-36 AD/CE.
(Also see the estimation of the start of Jesus’ ministry as a few years before this date above). The estimation of the year of Paul’s conversion relies on a series of calculations working backwards from the well established date of his trial before Gallio in Achaea Greece (Acts 18:12-17) around 51-52 AD/CE, the meeting of Priscilla and Aquila which were expelled from Rome about 49 AD/CE and the 14-year period before returning to Jerusalem in Galatians 2:1.
The remaining period is generally accounted for by Paul’s missions (at times with Barnabas) such as those inActs 11:25-26 and 2 Corinthians 11:23-33, resulting in the 33-36 AD/CE estimate.
For centuries, astronomers and scientists have used diverse computational methods to estimate the date of crucifixion, Isaac Newton being one of the first cases.
Newton’s method relied on the relative visibility of the crescent of the new moon and he suggested the date as Friday, April 23, 34 AD/CE.
In 1990 astronomer Bradley E. Schaefer computed the date as Friday, April 3, 33 AD/CE.
In 1991, John Pratt stated that Newton’s method was sound, but included a minor error at the end. Pratt suggested the year 33 AD/CE as the answer.
Using the completely different approach of a lunar eclipse model, Humphreys and Waddington arrived at the conclusion that Friday, April 3, 33 AD/CE was the date of the crucifixion
The five major milestones in the gospel narrative of the life of Jesus are his Baptism, Transfiguration, Crucifixion, Resurrection and Ascension.
These are usually bracketed by two other episodes: his Nativity at the beginning and the sending of the Paraclete at the end.
The gospel accounts of the teachings of Jesus are often presented in terms of specific categories involving his “works and words”, e.g. his ministry, parables and miracles.
The gospels include a number discourses by Jesus on specific occasions, e.g. the Sermon on the Mount or the Farewell Discourse, and also include over 30 parables, spread throughout the narrative, often with themes that relate to the sermons.
Parables represent a major component of the teachings of Jesus in the gospels, forming approximately one third of his recorded teachings, and John 14:10 positions them as the revelations of God the Father.
The gospel episodes that include descriptions of the miracle of Jesus also often include teachings, providing an intertwining of his “words and works” in the gospels.
Resurrection and ascension
Main articles: Resurrection of Jesus, Resurrection appearances of Jesus, and Ascension of JesusSee also: Empty tomb, Great Commission, Second Coming, Resurrection of Jesus in Christian art, and Ascension of Jesus in Christian art
Resurrection by Noel Coypel, 1700, using a hovering depictionof Jesus.
The New Testament accounts of the resurrection and ascension of Jesus, state that the first day of the week after the crucifixion (typically interpreted as a Sunday), his followers encounter him risen from the dead, after his tomb is discovered to be empty.
The resurrected Jesus appears to them that day and a number of times thereafter, delivers sermons and commissions them, before ascending to Heaven. Two of the Canonical gospels (Luke and Mark) include a brief mention of the Ascension, but the main references to it are elsewhere in the New Testament.
In the four Canonical Gospels, when the tomb of Jesus is discovered empty, in Matthew 28:5, Mark 16:5,Luke 24:4 and John 20:12 his resurrection is announced and explained to the followers who arrive there early in the morning by either one or two beings (either men or angels) dressed in bright robes who appear in or near the tomb.
The gospel accounts vary as to who arrived at the tomb first, but they are women and are instructed by the risen Jesus to inform the other disciples.
All four accounts include Mary Magdalene and three include Mary the mother of Jesus.
The accounts of Mark 16:9, John 20:15 indicate that Jesus appeared to the Magdalene first, and Luke 16:9 states that she was among the Myrrh bearers who informed the disciples about the resurrection.
In Matthew 28:11-15, to explain the empty tomb, the Jewish elders bribe the soldiers who had guarded the tomb to spread the rumor that Jesus’ disciples took his body.
Bahá’í views
The Bahá’í Faith, founded in 19th-century Persia, considers Jesus, along with Muhammad, the Buddha, Krishna, and Zoroaster, and other messengers of the great religions of the world to be Manifestations of God (or prophets), with both human and divine stations.
God is one and has manifested himself to humanity through several historic Messengers.
Bahá’ís refer to this concept as Progressive Revelation, which means that God’s will is revealed to mankind progressively as mankind matures and is better able to comprehend the purpose of God in creating humanity.
In this view, God’s word is revealed through a series of messengers:
Moses, Jesus, Mohammed,Bahá’u’lláh (the founder of the Bahá’í Faith) among them.
In the Book of Certitude, Bahá’u’lláh claims that these messengers have a two natures: divine and human.
Examining their divine nature, they are more or less the same being. However, when examining their human nature, they are individual, with distinct personality.
For example, when Jesus says “I and my Father are one”,[John 10:30]
Bahá’ís take this quite literally, but specifically with respect to his nature as a Manifestation.
When Jesus conversely stated “…And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me”,[John 5:36-37]
Bahá’ís see this as a simple reference to the individuality of Jesus. This divine nature, according to Bahá’u’lláh, means that any Manifestation of God can be said to be the return of a previous Manifestation, though Bahá’ís also believe that some Manifestations with specific missions return with a “new name”,[Rev 3:12] and a different, or expanded purpose.
Bahá’ís believe that Bahá’u’lláh is, in both respects, the return of Jesus.
Buddhist views
Further information: Buddhism and Christianity
Buddhists’ views of Jesus differ. Some Buddhists, including Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama regard Jesus as a bodhisattva who dedicated his life to the welfare of human beings.
The 14th century Zen master Gasan Joseki indicated that the sayings of Jesus in the Gospels were written by an enlightened man.
Hindu views
In a letter to his daughter Indira Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru wrote, “All over Central Asia, in Kashmir and Ladakh and Tibet and even farther north, there is a strong belief that Jesus or Isa travelled about there.”
During the “lost years” not mentioned in the New Testament, Jesus reportedly studied in Nalanda and further in Tibet.
Mandaeanism, a very small Mideastern, Gnostic sect that reveres John the Baptist as God’s greatest prophet, regards Jesus as a false prophet of the false Jewish god of the Old Testament, Adonai, and likewise rejects Abraham, Moses, and Muhammad.
Manichaeism accepted Jesus as a prophet, along with Gautama Buddha and Zoroaster.Siddhartha Gautama (Sanskrit: ; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was aspiritual teacher from ancient India on whose teachings Buddhism was founded. In most Buddhist traditions, he is regarded as the Supreme Buddha (P.sammasambuddha, S. samyaksa?buddha) of our age, “Buddha” meaning “awakened one” or “the enlightened one.”
The time of his birth and death are uncertain: most early 20th-century historians dated his lifetime as c. 563 BCE to 483 BCE, but more recent opinion dates his death to between 486 and 483 BCE or, according to some, between 411 and 400 BCE.
By tradition, Gautama is said to have been born in the small state of Kapilavastu, in what is now Nepal, and later to have taught primarily throughout regions of eastern India such as Magadhaand Kosala.
Gautama, also known as Sakyamuni (“Sage of the Sakyas”), is the primary figure in Buddhism, and accounts of his life, discourses, and monastic rules are believed by Buddhists to have been summarized after his death and memorized by his followers. Various collections of teachings attributed to him were passed down by oral tradition, and first committed to writing about 400 years later.
He is also regarded as a god or prophet in other world religions or denominations, including Hinduism, Ahmadiyya Islam and the Bahá’í faith.
The New Age movement entertains a wide variety of views on Jesus. The creators of A Course In Miracles claim to trance-channel his spirit. However, the New Age movement generally teaches that Christhood is something that all may attain. Theosophists, from whom many New Age teachings originated (a Theosophist named Alice A. Bailey invented the term New Age), refer to Jesus of Nazareth as the Master Jesusand believe he had previous incarnations.
Many writers emphasize Jesus’ moral teachings. Garry Wills argues that Jesus’ ethics are distinct from those usually taught by Christianity.
The Jesus Seminar portrays Jesus as an itinerant preacher who taught peace and love, rights for women and respect for children, and who spoke out against the hypocrisy of religious leaders and the rich.
Thomas Jefferson, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States and a deist, created the Jefferson Bible entitled “The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth” that included only Jesus’ ethical teachings because he did not believe in Jesus’ divinity or any of the other supernatural aspects of the Bible.
Jewish views
Main article: Judaism’s view of JesusSee also: Jesus in the Talmud
Judaism, including Orthodox Judaism, Hareidi Judaism, Reform Judaism, Karaite Judaism, Conservative Judaism, and Reconstructionist Judaism, rejects the idea of Jesus being God, or a person of a Trinity, or a mediator to God. Judaism also holds that Jesus is not theMessiah, arguing that he had not fulfilled the Messianic prophecies in the Tanakh nor embodied the personal qualifications of the Messiah. According to Jewish tradition, there were no more prophets after Malachi, who lived centuries before Jesus and delivered his prophesies about 420 BC/BCE.
The Talmud includes stories which some consider accounts of Jesus in the Talmud, although there is a spectrum from scholars, such asMaier (1978), who considers that only the accounts with the name Yeshu refer to the Christian Jesus, and that these are late redactions, to scholars such as Klausner (1925), who suggested that accounts related to Jesus in the Talmud may contain traces of the historical Jesus. However the majority of contemporary historians disregard this material as providing information on the historical Jesus.
Many contemporary Talmud scholars view these as comments on the relationship between Judaism and Christians or other sectarians, rather than comments on the historical Jesus.
The Mishneh Torah, an authoritative work of Jewish law, provides the last established consensus view of the Jewish community, in Hilkhot Melakhim 11:10–12 that Jesus is a “stumbling block” who makes “the majority of the world err to serve a divinity besides God”.
Even Jesus the Nazarene who imagined that he would be Messiah and was killed by the court, was already prophesied byDaniel. So that it was said, “And the members of the outlaws of your nation would be carried to make a (prophetic) vision stand.
And they stumbled.”[Dan. 11:14] Because, is there a greater stumbling-block than this one? So that all of the prophets spoke that the Messiah redeems Israel, and saves them, and gathers their banished ones, and strengthens their commandments. And this one caused (nations) to destroy Israel by sword, and to scatter their remnant, and to humiliate them, and to exchange the Torah, and to make the majority of the world err to serve a divinity besides God. However, the thoughts of the Creator of the world — there is no force in a human to attain them because our ways are not God’s ways, and our thoughts not God’s thoughts. And all these things of Jesus the Nazarene, and of (Muhammad) the Ishmaelite who stood after him — there is no (purpose) but to straighten out the way for the King Messiah, and to restore all the world to serve God together. So that it is said, “Because then I will turn toward the nations (giving them) a clear lip, to call all of them in the name of God and to serve God (shoulder to shoulder as) one shoulder.”[Zeph. 3:9] Look how all the world already becomes full of the things of the Messiah, and the things of the Torah, and the things of the commandments! And these things spread among the far islands and among the many nations uncircumcised of heart
According to Conservative Judaism, Jews who believe Jesus is the Messiah have “crossed the line out of the Jewish community”.
Reform Judaism, the modern progressive movement, states “For us in the Jewish community anyone who claims that Jesus is their savior is no longer a Jew and is an apostate”.
Islamic views
Main article: Jesus in Islam
In Islam, Jesus (Arabic: ?; `Isa) is considered to be a Messenger of God and the Messiah who was sent to guide the Children of Israel with the Gospel.
Jesus is seen in Islam as a precursor to Prophet Mohammed, and is believed by Muslims to have foretold the latter’s coming.
In the Qur’an, Jesus is referred to as Isa Ibn E Maryam (Jesus the son of Mary) and Jesus is mentioned by name more times than Muhammad.
According to the Qur’an, believed by Muslims to be God’s final revelation, Jesus was born to Mary as the result of virginal conception, and was given the ability to perform miracles. Islamic traditions narrate that he will return to earth near the day of judgement to restore justice and defeat the Antichrist. Respecting Jesus as a prophet Muslims are asked in Qur’an, to read and refers his (Jesus’) name as Isa, alai-hiss-salaam (Jesus peace be upon him).]
Ahmadiyya views
Main article: Jesus in Ahmadiyya Islam
The Ahmadiyya Movement considers Jesus a mortal man who died a natural death. According to the early 20th century writings of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (the founder of the Ahmadiyya movement),Jesus survived his ordeal on the cross, and after his apparent death and resurrection, he fled Palestine and migrated eastwards to further teach the gospels. Jesus eventually died a natural death of old age inKashmir, India and is believed to be buried at Roza Bal.
Main articles: Jesus in Christianity and Christology
Although Christian views of Jesus vary, it is possible to summarize key elements of the shared beliefs among major denominations such as Catholics, the Eastern Orthodox, and mostProtestant groups, based on their catechetical or confessional texts.
Almost all Christian groups regard Jesus as the “Savior and Redeemer”, as the Messiah (Greek:Christos; English: Christ) prophesied in the Old Testament, who, through his life, death, and resurrection, restored humanity’s communion with God in the blood of the New Covenant. His death on a cross is understood as the redemptive sacrifice: the source of humanity’s salvation and the atonement for sin,[ which had entered human history through the sin of Adam.Christians profess that Jesus suffered death by crucifixion, and rose bodily from the dead in the definitive miracle that foreshadows the resurrection of humanity at the end of time,when Christ will come again to judge the living and the dead,resulting in either entrance into heaven or damnation.
Christians profess Jesus to be the only Son of God, the Lord, and the eternal Word (a translation of the Greek word Logos), who became man in the incarnation, so that those who believe in him might have eternal life.
They further hold that he was born of the Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit in an event described as the miraculous virgin birth or incarnation.
Christians believe that Christ is the true head of the one holy universal and apostolic church.
Most Christian denominations believe in some form of the doctrine of the Trinity, i.e. that Jesus, as the second person of the Trinity, is fully God. As the 6th-century Athanasian Creed says, the Trinity is “one God” and “three persons… and yet they are not three Gods, but one God.” This belief is not shared by non-Trinitarian denominations.
Christians consider the Gospel and other New Testament accounts of Jesus to be divinely inspired. Christian writers, such as Benedict XVI, proclaim the Jesus of the Gospels, discounting the historical reconstruction of Jesus as entirely inadequate.
Mythical view
Main article: Jesus myth theorySee also: Jesus Christ in comparative mythology and Quest for the historical Jesus
The term “Jesus myth theory” is an umbrella term that applies to a range of arguments that in one way or another question the authenticity of the existence of Jesus or the essential elements of his life as described in the Christian gospels.
One viewpoint is that there was no real historical figure Jesus and that the he was invented by Christians. Another viewpoint is that there was a person called Jesus, but much of the teachings and miracles attributed to him were either invented or symbolic references. Yet another view holds that the Jesus portrayed in the gospels is a composite character constructed from multiple people over a period of time.
David Strauss the 19th century founder of Jesus myth theory.
Among the variants of the Jesus myth theory, the notion that Jesus never existed has minimal scholarly support, and although some modern scholars adhere to it, they remain a distinct minority; most scholars involved with historical Jesus research believe that his existence can be established using documentary and other evidence.
In the context of historical theories, the hypothesis that Jesus never existed is a rather recent topic, and in antiquity his existence was never doubted, even by those who were critical of Christian teachings.
In the early 18th century, friction between the church establishment and some theologians, coupled with the growing emphasis on rationalism, resulted in discord between the English deists and the church, and John Toland,Anthony Collins and Thomas Woolston planted the seeds of discontent.
The beginnings of the formal denial of the existence of Jesus can be traced to late 18th century France, and the works of Constantin-Volney and Charles Dupuis.
Early in the 19th century, the more methodical writings of David Friedrich Strauss, caused an uproar in Europe, and Strauss became known as the founder of Jesus myth theory; his approach having been influenced by the epistemological views of Leibnitz andSpinoza.
Strauss did not deny the existence of Jesus, but believed that very few facts could be known about him and characterized the miraculous accounts in the gospels as “mythical”.
At about the same time in Berlin, Bruno Bauer supported somewhat similar ideas.
Although both Strauss and Bauer drew on Hegel, their views did not coincide, and often conflicted.
Karl Marx, a student and at the time a close friend of Bauer, was significantly influenced by him, as well as Hegel and Strauss, setting the stage for the denial of Jesus within communism.
By the beginning of the 20th century, Arthur Drews, William B. Smith and John M. Robertson became the most recognized proponents of the Jesus myth theory.
However, these authors were not performing purely atheist attacks on Christianity, e.g. Drew did not consider religion as outdated, but argued for a different form of religious consciousness.
W. B. Smith argued for a symbolic interpretation of gospel episodes and contended that in a parable such as Jesus and the rich young man the rich young man never existed and symbolically referred to the land of Israel.
Smith also argued that Jesus never healed anyone physically, but only spiritually cured them of their paganism.
J. M. Robertson on the other hand viewed the gospel accounts as a collection of myths gathered by a large number of anonymous authors, over time.
When atheism became part of the state ideals in communist Russia in 1922, the theories of Arthur Drew gained prominence there.
The communist state not only supported the Jesus myth theory but embellished it with scientific colloquialisms, and school textbooks began to teach that Jesus never existed, making Russia a bastion of Jesus denial.
These ideas were rebuffed in Russia by Sergei Bulgakov and Alexander Men, copies of whose book began to circulate underground via typewriters in the 1970s to reintroduce Christianity to Russia.
In the 20th century scholars such as G.A. Wells, Alvar Ellegård, and Robert M. Price produced a number of arguments to support the Jesus myth theory. Non-scholarly works on the Jesus myth theory have since been published by mass-media authors such as Doherty, Freke andGandy. In parallel, a number of historians and biblical scholars such as Paula Fredriksen, Geza Vermes, E.P. Sanders and others involved in the quest for the historical Jesus performed detailed analyses of historical and biblical documents. Almost all of these scholars accept the existence of Jesus, but differ on the accuracy of the details of his life within the biblical narratives.
Robert Van Voorst stated that among “New Testament scholars and historians the theory of the non-existence of Jesus remains effectively dead as a scholarly question”.
The Jesus myth theory is still being debated in the 21st century, with Graham Stanton stating in 2002 that the most thorough analysis of the theory had been by G. A. Wells.
But Wells’ book Did Jesus Exist? was criticized by James D.G. Dunn in his book The Evidence for Jesus.
And the debates continue, e.g. Wells changed his views over time and while he used to argue that there was no historical evidence supporting the existence of Jesus, he later modified his position, and in his later book The Jesus Myth accepted the possible existence of Jesus based on historical sources, although still disputing the gospel portrayals of his life.
Religious perspectives
Main article: Religious perspectives on Jesus
By and large, the Jews of Jesus’ day rejected his claim to be the Messiah, as do Jews today. For their part, Christian Church Fathers, Ecumenical Councils, Reformers, and others have written extensively about Jesus over the centuries. Christian sects and schisms have often been defined or characterized by competing descriptions of Jesus. Meanwhile, Gnostics, Mandaeans, Manichaeans, Muslims, Baha’is, and others have found prominent places for Jesus in their own religious accounts.
Analysis of the gospels
Main articles: Higher criticism, Textual criticism, and Historical reliability of the Gospels
The historical-critical method (or higher criticism) is used to examine the bible for clues about the historical Jesus, whereby sayings and events that are more likely to be genuine in the opinion of scholars are used to construct their portraits of Jesus. Standard historical methods are used to discern the authorship of each book, and its likely date of composition.
The earliest extant texts which refer to Jesus are Paul’s letters (mid-1st century), which affirm Jesus’ crucifixion. Keulman and Gregory hold that the Gospel of Thomas, a collection of 114 sayings of Jesus, predates the four orthodox gospels, and believe it may have been composed around mid-1st century.
The Markan priorityhypothesis
Biblical scholars hold that the works describing Jesus were initially communicated by oral tradition, and were not committed to writing until several decades after Jesus’ crucifixion. After the original oral stories were written down in Greek, they were transcribed, and later translated into other languages. The books of the New Testament had mostly been written by 100 AD/CE, making them, at least the Synoptic Gospels, historically relevant.
The Gospel tradition certainly preserves several fragments of Jesus’ teaching.
The Markan priority hypothesis holds that the Gospel of Mark was written first c. 70 AD/CE.
Matthew is placed at being sometime after this date and Luke is thought to have been written between 70 and 100 AD/CE.
According to the Q source hypothesis supported by a majority of modern scholars, the gospels were written not by the four evangelists themselves but derived from other sources.
A minority of prominent scholars, such as J. A. T. Robinson, have maintained that the writers of the gospels of Matthew, Mark and John were either apostles and eyewitness to Jesus’ ministry and death, or were close to those who had been.
Critical scholars consider scriptural accounts more likely when they are attested in multiple texts, plausible in Jesus’ historical environment, and potentially embarrassing to the author’s Christian community. The “criterion of embarrassment” holds that stories about events with aspects embarrassing to Christians (such as the denial of Jesus by Peter, or the fleeing of Jesus’ followers after his arrest) would likely not have been included if those accounts were fictional.
Sayings attributed to Jesus are deemed more likely to reflect his character when they are distinctive, vivid, paradoxical, surprising, and contrary to social and religious expectations, such as “Blessed are the poor”.
Short, memorable parables and aphorisms capable of being transmitted orally are also thought more likely to be authentic.
Scholars use textual criticism to determine which variants among manuscripts is original and how much they may have changed. Contemporary textual critic Bart D. Ehrman cites numerous places where he maintains that the gospels, and other New Testament books, were apparently altered by Christian scribes.
Craig Blomberg, F. F. Bruce and Gregory Boyd view the evidence as conclusive that very few alterations were made by Christian scribes, while none of them (three or four in total) were important.
According to Normal Geisler and William Nix, “The New Testament, then, has not only survived in more manuscripts than any other book from antiquity, but it has survived in a purer form than any other great book-a form that is 99.5% pure”:p.367
Main articles: Historical Jesus and Quest for the historical Jesus
A page from Matthew, from Papyrus 1, c. 250
The historical method is used to develop plausible reconstructions of Jesus’ life.
Since the 19th century, these scholars have constructed a Jesus different in ways from the image found in the gospels.
Scholars of the “historical Jesus” distinguish their concept from the “Jesus Christ” of Christianity.
The principal sources of information regarding Jesus’ life and teachings are the three Synoptic Gospels.
Historians of Christianity generally describe Jesus as a healer who preached the restoration of God’s kingdom.
The English title of Albert Schweitzer’s 1906 book, The Quest of the Historical Jesus, is a label for the post-Enlightenment effort to describe Jesus using critical historical methods.
Since the end of the 18th century, scholars have examined the gospels and tried to formulate historical biographies of Jesus.
Contemporary efforts benefit from a better understanding of 1st-century Judaism, renewed Roman Catholic biblical scholarship, broad acceptance of critical historical methods, sociological insights, and literary analysis of Jesus’ sayings.
The historical outlook on Jesus relies on critical analysis of the Bible, especially the gospels. Many Biblical scholars have sought to reconstruct Jesus’ life in terms of the political, cultural, and religious crises and movements in late 2nd Temple Judaism and in Roman-occupied Palestine, including differences between Galilee and Judaea, and between different sects such as thePharisees, Sadducees, Essenes and Zealots, and in terms of conflicts among Jews in the context of Roman occupation.
Most scholars hold that the movement Jesus led (and his eschatology) were apocalyptic, as were the preachings of John the Baptist, but some scholars makes a distinction between John’s apocalyptic ministry and Jesus’ ethical teachings.
Some historians argue that Jewish and Roman authorities in Jerusalem were wary of Galilean patriots, many of whom advocated violent resistance to Roman rule.
These arguments contend that as a charismatic leader Jesus was regarded as a potential troublemaker, and was hence executed on political charges.
Jesus’ criticism of the Temple, the disturbance he caused there, and his refusal to renounce claims of kingship convinced the Jewish high priest to allow Jesus to be transferred into Roman custody.
BIBLE – OLD TESTAMENT
The Old Testament contains 39 (Protestant) or 46 (Catholic) or more (Orthodox and other) books, divided, very broadly, into the Pentateuch (meaning “five books”), the historical books, the “wisdom” books and the prophets. The difference of seven books between the Catholic and Protestant canons stems from the fact that the early Christians used a Greek translation of the Jewish scriptures which differed from the one which came to be accepted by the Jews; the Protestant churches later dropped those books which were not accepted by the Jews. The following table shows the arrangement of books in the Hebrew and Greek bibles:
Torah (Law)
Minor Prophets (single book)
Ezra-Nehemiah
Esther (with additions)
1-4 Maccabees
Wisdom of Solomon
Prophetic books
Minor prophets (12 books)
Daniel (with additions)
Jewish bibles count 24 books, as shown here, but Christian bibles divide Samuel, Kings, Chronicles, Ezra-Nehemiah and the Minor Prophets, bringing the total to 39.
The Prophets collection in the Hebrew Bible get its name because the books were attributed to prophets, not because they all contain prophesy. Ruth, Chronicles, Ezra and Nehemiah, of which only Ruth is by a prophet (Samuel), have been moved from the Writings collection in the Hebrew Bible to the History collection in the Old Testament, as the organising principle is subject matter rather than authorship.
Chronicles is the last book in the Hebrew canon, showing Israel restored to Jerusalem and history at an end; in the Old Testament it is part of the ongoing history which will end in the New Testament.
“Minor prophets” means short, not unimportant.
The order of the prophets has been reversed in modern Old Testaments so the last words are those of the minor prophet Malachi, predicting the return of the prophet Elijah and “the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD” (Malachi 4:5).
The Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism. The number of these writings varies markedly between denominations, Protestants accepting only the Rabbinic canon but dividing it into 39 books, while Catholics, the Eastern Orthodox, Coptic and Ethiopian churches recognize a considerably larger collection derived from the ancient Septuagint.
The books can be broadly divided into the Pentateuch, which lists the Mosaic Law and tells how God selected Israel to be his chosen people, the history books telling the history of the Israelitesfrom their Conquest of Canaan to their defeat and exile in Babylon, the poetic and “wisdom” books dealing, in various forms, with questions of good and evil in the world, and the books of the biblical prophets, warning of the consequences of turning away from God. For the Israelites who were its original authors and readers these books told of their own unique relationship with God and their relationship with Proselytes, but the over-arching Messianic nature of Christianity has led Christians from the very beginning of the faith to see the Old Testament as a preparation for theNew Covenant and New Testament.
Publius (or Gaius) Cornelius Tacitus (AD 56 – AD 117) was a senator and a historian of theRoman Empire. The surviving portions of his two major works—the Annals and the Histories—examine the reigns of the Roman Emperors Tiberius, Claudius, Nero and those who reigned in the Year of the Four Emperors.
These two works span the history of the Roman Empire from the death of Augustus in AD 14 to (presumably) the death of emperor Domitian in AD 96. There are enormous lacunae in the surviving texts, including one four books long in the Annals.
Other works by Tacitus discuss oratory (in dialogue format, see Dialogus de oratoribus),Germania (in De origine et situ Germanorum), and biographical notes about his father-in-law Agricola, primarily during his campaign in Britannia (see De vita et moribus Iulii Agricolae).
Tacitus was an author writing in the latter part of the Silver Age of Latin literature.
His work is distinguished by a boldness and sharpness of wit, and a compact and sometimes unconventional use of Latin.Tacitus used the official sources of the Roman state: the acta senatus (the minutes of the session of the Senate) and the acta diurna populi Romani (a collection of the acts of the government and news of the court and capital). He read collections of emperors’ speeches, such as Tiberius and Claudius.
Generally, Tacitus was a scrupulous historian who paid careful attention to his historical works.
The minor inaccuracies in the Annals may be due to Tacitus dying before finishing (and therefore proofreading) his work. He used a variety of historical and literary sources; he used them freely and he chose from sources of varied opinions.
Tacitus cites some of his sources directly, among them Cluvius Rufus, Fabius Rusticus and Pliny the Elder, who had written Bella Germaniae and a historical work which was the continuation of that of Aufidius Bassus. Tacitus used some collections of letters (epistolarium) and various notes. He also took information from exitus illustrium virorum.
These were a collection of books by those who were antithetical to the emperors.
They tell of the sacrifice of the martyr to freedom, especially the men who committed suicide, following the theory of the Stoics. While he placed no value on the Stoic theory of suicide, Tacitus used accounts of famous suicides to give a dramatic tone to his stories. These suicides seemed, to him, ostentatious and politically useless; however, he gives prominence to the speeches of some of those about to commit suicide, for example Cremutius Cordus’ speech in Ann. IV, 34-35.
Tacitus’s writings are known for their dense, profound prose that seldom glosses the facts, standing in contrast to the placable style of some of his contemporaries, such as Plutarch. Describing a near-defeat of the Roman army in Ann. I, 63 he does gloss the end of the hostilities, but does so by brevity of description rather than by embellishment.
In most of his writings, he keeps to a chronological narrative order, only seldom outlining the bigger picture, and leaves the reader to construct that picture for himself. Nonetheless, where he does paint in broad strokes—for example, in the opening paragraphs of the Annals, summarizing the situation at the end of the reign of Augustus—he uses a few condensed phrases to take the reader to the heart of the story.
Approach to history
Tacitus’s historical style combines various approaches to history into a method of his own (owing some debt to Sallust): Seamlessly blending straightforward descriptions of events, pointed moral lessons and tightly-focused dramatic accounts, his historiography offers deep, and often pessimistic, insights into the workings of the human mind and the nature of power.
Tacitus’ own declaration regarding his approach to history is famous (Ann. I,1):
inde consilium mihi … tradere … sine ira et studio, quorum causas procul habeo. Hence my purpose is to relate … without either anger or zeal, from any motives to which I am far removed.
There has been much scholarly discussion about Tacitus’ “neutrality” (or “partiality” to others, which would make the quote above no more than a figure of speech).
Throughout his writing, Tacitus is concerned with the balance of power between the Senate and the Emperors, corruption and the growingtyranny among the governing classes of Rome as they adjust to the new imperial régime. In Tacitus’ view, they squandered their cultural traditions of free speech and independence to placate the often bemused (and rarely benign) emperor.
Tacitus explored the emperors’ increasing dependence on the goodwill of the armies to secure the principes. The internecine murders of the Julio-Claudians eventually gave way to opportunist generals. These generals, backed by the legions they commanded, followed Julius Caesar’s example (and that of Sulla and Pompey) in realising that military might could secure them the political power in Rome. Tacitus believed this realisation came with the death of Nero, (Hist.1.4)
Welcome as the death of Nero had been in the first burst of joy, yet it had not only roused various emotions in Rome, among the Senators, the people, or the soldiery of the capital, it had also excited all the legions and their generals; for now had been divulged that secret of the empire, that emperors could be made elsewhere than at Rome.
Tacitus’ political career was largely spent under the emperor Domitian; his experience of the tyranny, corruption, and decadence prevalent in the era (81–96) may explain his bitter and ironic political analysis.
He warned against the dangers of unaccountable power, against the love of power untempered by principle, and against the popular apathy and corruption, engendered by the wealth of the empire, which allowed such evils to flourish. The experience of Domitian’s tyrannical reign is generally also seen as the cause of the sometimes unfairly bitter and ironic cast to his portrayal of the Julio-Claudian emperors.
Nonetheless the image he builds of Tiberius throughout the first six books of the Annals is neither exclusively bleak nor approving: most scholars analyze the image of Tiberius as predominantly positive in the first books, becoming predominantly negative in the following books relating the intrigues of Sejanus. Even then, the entrance of Tiberius in the first chapters of the first book is a crimson tale dominated byhypocrisy by and around the new emperor coming to power; and in the later books some kind of respect for the wisdom and cleverness of the old emperor, keeping out of Rome to secure his position, is often transparent.
In general Tacitus does not fear to give words of praise and words of rejection to the same person, often explaining openly which he thinks the commendable and which the despicable properties. Not conclusively taking sides for or against the persons he describes is his hallmark, and led thinkers in later times to interpret his works to be, as well as a defense of an imperial system, also a rejection of the same (see Tacitean studies, Black vs. Red Tacitists). A better illustration of Tacitus’ “sine ira et studio” is scarcely imaginable.
Gospel Genre
One important aspect of the study of the gospels is the genre under which they fall. Genre “is a key convention guiding both the composition and the interpretation of writings.” Whether the Gospel authors set out to write novels, myths, histories, or biographies has a tremendous impact on how they ought to be interpreted. If, for example, Rudolf Bultmann was correct, and the Gospel authors had no interest in history or in a historical Jesus, then the Gospels must be read and interpreted in this light. However, some recent studies suggest that the genre of the Gospels ought to be situated within the realm of ancient biography.
Although not without critics, the position that the Gospels are a type of ancient biography is the consensus among scholars today.
Non-canonical gospels
Main article: New Testament apocrypha
In addition to the four canonical gospels, early Christians wrote other gospels that were not accepted into the canon, some of which are discussed below.
Jewish-Christian Gospels
Main articles: Jewish-Christian Gospels, Gospel of the Nazarenes, Gospel of the Ebionites, and Gospel of the Hebrews
Epiphanius, Jerome and other early church fathers preserve in their writings citations from one or more Jewish-Christian Gospels, versions of Matthew used by Ebionites and Nazarenes. Most modern critical scholars consider that the extant citations suggest at least two and probably three distinct Jewish-Christian versions of Matthew, and that the source language of these is probably Greek.
A minority of scholars, including Edward Nicholson (1879) and James R. Edwards (2009) have suggested that the surviving citations are all from one Gospel, which is, as Jerome himself records that the Nazarenes claimed, the original, and Hebrew, Gospel of Matthew.
According to Eusebius, Origen said the first Gospel was written by Matthew (Church History 6.25.4). Jerome reports that the Nazarenes believed that this Gospel was composed in Hebrew near Jerusalem for Hebrew Christians and Jerome claimed to have translated parts of it into Greek, but if so any the Greek translation has not survived. Jerome reports that the Nazarenes’ Hebrew original was kept at the Library of Caesarea and that the Nazarene Community transcribed a copy for him which he used in his work (On Illustrious Men 3:7) Jerome refers to this gospel sometimes as the Gospel according to the Hebrews (3.7) and sometimes as the Gospel of the Apostles (Against Pelagius 3.2).
The Buddha sitting in meditation, surrounded by demons of Mara. Sanskrit manuscript. Nalanda, Bihar, India. Pala period.
According to the early Buddhist texts, after realizing that meditative jhana was the right path to awakening, but that extreme asceticism didn’t work, Gautama discovered what Buddhists call theMiddle Way—a path of moderation away from the extremes of self-indulgence and self-mortification.
In a famous incident, after becoming starved and weakened, he is said to have accepted milk and rice pudding from a village girl named Sujata.
Such was his emaciated appearance that she wrongly believed him to be a spirit that had granted her a wish.
Following this incident, Gautama was famously seated under a pipal tree – now known as theBodhi tree – in Bodh Gaya, India, when he vowed never to arise until he had found the truth.
Kaundinya and four other companions, believing that he had abandoned his search and become undisciplined, left. After a reputed 49 days of meditation, at the age of 35, he is said to have attained Enlightenment.
According to some traditions, this occurred in approximately the fifth lunar month, while, according to others, it was in the twelfth month. From that time, Gautama was known to his followers as the Buddha or “Awakened One” (“Buddha” is also sometimes translated as “The Enlightened One”). He is often referred to in Buddhism as Shakyamuni Buddha, or “The Awakened One of the Shakya Clan.”
According to Buddhism, at the time of his awakening he realized complete insight into the cause of suffering, and the steps necessary to eliminate it. These discoveries became known as the “Four Noble Truths”, which are at the heart of Buddhist teaching. Through mastery of these truths, a state of supreme liberation, or Nirvana, is believed to be possible for any being.
The Buddha described Nirvana as the perfect peace of a mind that’s free from ignorance, greed, hatred and other afflictive states, or “defilements” (kilesas). Nirvana is also regarded as the “end of the world”, in that no personal identity or boundaries of the mind remain. In such a state, a being is said to possess the Ten Characteristics, belonging to every Buddha.
According to a story in the Ayacana Sutta (Samyutta Nikaya VI.1) – a scripture found in the Pali and other canons – immediately after his awakening, the Buddha debated whether or not he should teach the Dharma to others. He was concerned that humans were so overpowered by ignorance, greed and hatred that they could never recognize the path, which is subtle, deep and hard to grasp.
However, in the story,Brahma Sahampati convinced him, arguing that at least some will understand it. The Buddha relented, and agreed to teach.
Formation of the sangha
After his awakening, the Buddha met two merchants, named Tapussa and Bhallika, who became his first lay disciples. They were apparently each given hairs from his head, which are now claimed to be enshrined as relics in the Shwe Dagon Temple in Rangoon, Burma. The Buddha intended to visit Asita, and his former teachers, Alara Kalama and Uddaka Ramaputta, to explain his findings, but they had already died.
He then travelled to the Deer Park near Vara?asi (Benares) in northern India, where he set in motion what Buddhists call the Wheel of Dharma by delivering his first sermon to the five companions with whom he had sought enlightenment. Together with him, they formed the first sa?gha: the company of Buddhist monks.
All five become arahants, and within the first two months, with the conversion of Yasa and fifty four of his friends, the number of such arahants is said to have grown to 60. The conversion of three brothers named Kassapa followed, with their reputed 200, 300 and 500 disciples, respectively. This swelled the sangha to more than 1000
Travels and teaching
Buddha with his protectorVajrapani, Gandhara, 2nd century CE, Ostasiatische Kunst Museum
For the remaining 45 years of his life, the Buddha is said to have traveled in the Gangetic Plain, in what is now Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and southern Nepal, teaching a diverse range of people: from nobles to outcastestreet sweepers, murderers such as Angulimala, and cannibals such as Alavaka. From the outset, Buddhism was equally open to all races and classes, and had no caste structure, as was the rule in Hinduism. Although the Buddha’s language remains unknown, it’s likely that he taught in one or more of a variety of closely related Middle Indo-Aryan dialects, of which Pali may be a standardization.
The sangha traveled through the subcontinent, expounding the dharma. This continued throughout the year, except during the four months of the vassana rainy season when ascetics of all religions rarely traveled. One reason was that it was more difficult to do so without causing harm to animal life. At this time of year, the sangha would retreat to monasteries, public parks or forests, where people would come to them.
The first vassana was spent at Varanasi when the sangha was formed. After this, the Buddha kept a promise to travel to Rajagaha, capital of Magadha, to visit King Bimbisara. During this visit, Sariputta andMahamoggallana were converted by Assaji, one of the first five disciples, after which they were to become the Buddha’s two foremost followers. The Buddha spent the next three seasons at Veluvana Bamboo Grove monastery in Rajagaha, capital of Magadha.
Upon hearing of his son’s awakening, Suddhodana sent, over a period, ten delegations to ask him to return to Kapilavastu. On the first nine occasions, the delegates failed to deliver the message, and instead joined the sangha to become arahants. The tenth delegation, led by Kaludayi, a childhood friend of Gautama’s (who also became an arahant), however, delivered the message.
Now two years after his awakening, the Buddha agreed to return, and made a two-month journey by foot to Kapilavastu, teaching the dharma as he went. At his return, the royal palace prepared a midday meal, but the sangha was making an alms round in Kapilavastu. Hearing this, Suddhodana approached his son, the Buddha, saying:
“Ours is the warrior lineage of Mahamassata, and not a single warrior has gone seeking alms”
The Buddha is said to have replied:
“That is not the custom of your royal lineage. But it is the custom of my Buddha lineage. Several thousands of Buddhas have gone by seeking alms”
Buddhist texts say that Suddhodana invited the sangha into the palace for the meal, followed by a dharma talk. After this he is said to have become a sotapanna. During the visit, many members of the royal family joined the sangha. The Buddha’s cousins Ananda and Anuruddhabecame two of his five chief disciples. At the age of seven, his son Rahula also joined, and became one of his ten chief disciples. His half-brother Nanda also joined and became an arahant.
Of the Buddha’s disciples, Sariputta, Mahamoggallana, Mahakasyapa, Ananda and Anuruddha are believed to have been the five closest to him. His ten foremost disciples were reputedly completed by the quintet of Upali, Subhoti, Rahula, Mahakaccana and Punna.
In the fifth vassana, the Buddha was staying at Mahavana near Vesali when he heard news of the impending death of his father. He is said to have gone to Suddhodana and taught the dharma, after which his father became an arahant.
The king’s death and cremation was to inspire the creation of an order of nuns. Buddhist texts record that the Buddha was reluctant to ordain women. His foster mother Maha Pajapati, for example, approached him, asking to join the sangha, but he refused. Maha Pajapati, however, was so intent on the path of awakening that she led a group of royal Sakyan and Koliyan ladies, which followed the sangha on a long journey to Rajagaha. In time, after Ananda championed their cause, the Buddha is said to have reconsidered and, five years after the formation of the sangha, agreed to the ordination of women as nuns. He reasoned that males and females had an equal capacity for awakening. But he gave women additional rules (Vinaya) to follow.
Devadatta tries to attack the Buddha. Picture of a wallpainting in a Laotian monastery.Assassination attempts
According to colorful legends, even during the Buddha’s life the sangha was not free of dissent and discord. For example, Devadatta, a cousin of Gautama who became a monk but not an arahant, more than once tried to kill him.
Initially, Devadatta is alleged to have often tried to undermine the Buddha. In one instance, according to stories, Devadatta even asked the Buddha to stand aside and let him lead the sangha. When this failed, he is accused of having three times tried to kill his teacher. The first attempt is said to have involved him hiring a group of archers to shoot the awakened one. But, upon meeting the Buddha, they laid down their bows and instead became followers. A second attempt is said to have involved Devadatta rolling a boulder down a hill. But this hit another rock and splintered, only grazing the Buddha’s foot. In the third attempt, Devadatta is said to have got an elephant drunk and set it loose. This ruse also failed.
After his lack of success at homicide, Devadatta is said to have tried to create a schism in the sangha, by proposing extra restrictions on thevinaya. When the Buddha again prevailed, Devadatta started a breakaway order. At first, he managed to convert some of the bhikkhus, but Sariputta and Mahamoggallana are said to have expounded the dharma so effectively that they were won back.
Mahaparinirvana
The Buddha’s entry into Parinirvana. Sanskrit manuscript. Nalanda, Bihar, India. Pala period.
The sharing of the relics of the Buddha, Zenyomitsu-Temple Museum, Tokyo
According to the Mahaparinibbana Sutta of the Pali canon, at the age of 80, the Buddha announced that he would soon reach Parinirvana, or the final deathless state, and abandon his earthly body. After this, the Buddha ate his last meal, which he had received as an offering from a blacksmith namedCunda. Falling violently ill, Buddha instructed his attendant Ananda to convince Cunda that the meal eaten at his place had nothing to do with his passing and that his meal would be a source of the greatest merit as it provided the last meal for a Buddha.
Mettanando and von Hinüber argue that the Buddha died of mesenteric infarction, a symptom of old age, rather than food poisoning.
The precise contents of the Buddha’s final meal are not clear, due to variant scriptural traditions and ambiguity over the translation of certain significant terms; the Theravada tradition generally believes that the Buddha was offered some kind of pork, while the Mahayana tradition believes that the Buddha consumed some sort of truffle or other mushroom. These may reflect the different traditional views onBuddhist vegetarianism and the precepts for monks and nuns.
Ananda protested the Buddha’s decision to enter Parinirvana in the abandoned jungles of Kusinara(present-day Kushinagar, India) of the Malla kingdom. Buddha, however, is said to have reminded Ananda how Kushinara was a land once ruled by a righteous wheel-turning king that resounded with joy:
44. Kusavati, Ananda, resounded unceasingly day and night with ten sounds—the trumpeting of elephants, the neighing of horses, the rattling of chariots, the beating of drums and tabours, music and song, cheers, the clapping of hands, and cries of “Eat, drink, and be merry!”
The Buddha then asked all the attendant Bhikkhus to clarify any doubts or questions they had. They had none. According to Buddhist scriptures, he then finally entered Parinirvana. The Buddha’s final words are reported to have been: “All composite things pass away. Strive for your own liberation with diligence.” His body was cremated and the relics were placed in monuments or stupas, some of which are believed to have survived until the present. For example, The Temple of the Tooth or “Dalada Maligawa” in Sri Lanka is the place where what some believe to be the relic of the right tooth of Buddha is kept at present.
According to the Pali historical chronicles of Sri Lanka, the Dipava’sa and Mahava’sa, the coronation of Asoka (Pali: Asoka) is 218 years after the death of Buddha. According to two textual records in Chinese the coronation of Asoka is 116 years after the death of Buddha. Therefore, the time of Buddha’s passing is either 486 BCE according to Theravada record or 383 BCE according to Mahayana record. However, the actual date traditionally accepted as the date of the Buddha’s death in Theravada countries is 544 or 543 BCE, because the reign of Asoka was traditionally reckoned to be about 60 years earlier than current estimates.
At his death, the Buddha is famously believed to have told his disciples to follow no leader. Mahakasyapa was chosen by the sangha to be the chairman of the First Buddhist Council, with the two chief disciples Mahamoggallana and Sariputta having died before the Buddha.
My background training is in investigations. I was a Private Investigator, Legal Investigator, Government GS Investigator,
I began my officially recorded business in 1977 as ACIR in Birmingham, AL USA. I was involved with ACIR since 1967 in Houston, Texas, USA.
I worked as a Legal Investigator and Para Legal 1983-1985 when I was actively recruited into the military. I worked for the government from April 29, 1985 through April 29, 1993 – Eight Years of Service.
I began my own corporation November, 1989-90. I lived in Hawaii until 1994 when I returned and began a new career over the road – Commercial Truck Driver 1995-2003. I began my TJ Morris tm ACIR sm 2004. I became an Author-Entrepreneur based on my prior years experience including People Synergistically Involved (PSI) Training that included Leadership Management.
I show on the government records as working from 1966-2002 and 36 years of experience before claiming self-employed as a Writer/Speaker -Author-Entrepreneur.
The future is what we create together while remembering our past. I have a story to tell and I have not shared my memoirs in public. I do write articles and those which inspire me most deal with the paranormal. I am an alien ET Contactee Experiencer and have never shared all the experiences I have had at various times in my life. I am considering making a public appearance to do just that.
I have recently been asked questions that cause me to think about my entire lifetime this far in this lifetime, as well as, past lives.
We are all humanoids and all separate. The logic behind the creative design for us all has to come from elsewhere outside of our own Omniverse. I am told that this deals with the five levels (5) we have in space. The present way we think are in levels and in the past we only thought about being one with spirit in this one world on this one planet.
I share the five levels as universes, multiverses, metaverses, xenoverses, and omniverses. Some consider this the levels as in dimensions as well. We will be working out what we know and shall create together in the future world’s think tanks. Each of us are our own inner microcosm inside the macrocosm of our own universe we create alone based on our entire body-mind-spirit experience while here exploring the birth-life-death journey. We can all share what we believe our future time travelers who are our children should be left behind on this planet as our legacy. This is where the Think Tanks come in. We are creating new ones with more and longer sustainability for our species and our planet as we begin to realize our place in the intergalactic community of extragalactic beings. We will learn more about extraterrestrial extraordinary experiences. We are beginning to show more interest in extrasensory perception and the extraction of our human race from this planet based on the use of or lack of it which we now call ESP.
We are sharing our own point of origin while on this planet no matter where we may exist. We then are joined with other planets in this Milky Way Galaxy. Then we join other galaxies in this universe. This is about as far as most people realize their existence.
It is now time to change that awareness to include other universes. This is what we now regard as the multi universe theory. It is called a theory because we have yet to prove what the average human thinks and believes.
Reality states that 1. The world or the state of things as they actually exist, as opposed to an idealistic or notional idea of them: “he refuses to face reality”.2. A thing that is actually experienced or seen, esp. when this is grim or problematic: “the harsh realities of life”.
In hyper reality – Hyperreality is used in semiotics and postmodern philosophy to describe a hypothetical inability of consciousness to distinguish reality fromfantasy, especially in technologically advanced postmodern cultures. Hyperreality is a means to characterize the way consciousness defines what is actually “real” in a world where a multitude of media can radically shape and filter an original event or experience. Some famous theorists of hyperreality include Jean Baudrillard, Albert Borgmann, Daniel Boorstin, and Umberto Eco.Most aspects of hyperreality can be thought of as “reality by proxy.” Some examples are simpler: the McDonald’s “M” arches allegedly make the material promise of endless amounts of identical food from the store, when in “reality” the “M” represents nothing, and the food produced is neither identical nor infinite, as a person would expect from a fast food restaurant. Baudrillard in particular suggests that the world we live in has been replaced by a copy world, where we seek simulated stimuli and nothing more. Baudrillard borrows, from Jorge Luis Borges’ “On Exactitude in Science” (who already borrowed from Lewis Carroll), the example of a society whose cartographers create a map so detailed that it covers the very things it was designed to represent. When the empire declines, the map fades into the landscape and there is neither the representation nor the real remaining – just the hyperreal. Baudrillard’s idea of hyperreality was heavily influenced by phenomenology, semiotics, and Marshall McLuhan.
Those who have known of my articles and books know that I believe in all past lifetimes and memories as reality that makes us who we are today in this lifetime. I believe in reincarnation and this I learned as what I know based on experience.
We are all born of stardust which is the latest share in the deeper scientific since of thought. However, where do we find that energy that allows us to be ourselves as alive and being with conscious thought and awareness of self?
It is with this inner knowing and outer awareness of existence that we have learned to adopt that “I think therefore I am” as a principle and philosophy that we can all adhere too. But, where did this knowing awareness of who we are begin and where do we all level out with the same shared interest of being at peace with others who are similar humanoids? We are creating a new culture that will entail all of our beings on the same planet while maintaining peace and awakened awareness of all the humanoids on the planet.
Therefore, as we embark into the future, we are to know that life has various spiritual soul journeys offered while one path may lead to the left another may lead to the right. Sometimes, we come to the cross roads in life and we are not sure which way to turn. This is now an actual reality for many of us who are spiritual intellectuals as Lightworkers and Truthseekers.
Using the brains that we are given in this body-mind-spirit we can begin to intellectualize our own self awareness in the awakened safe state with others of our humanoid kind. There are many of us who are interested in various people, places, and things and many of us are finding each other now in the world on the Internet via the social network called Facebook. Many young people are now scrambling around to learn how to incorporate their own social and technical skills into sharing them on the Internet. This is the biggest and fastest growing level of love and labor we now have on the face of the planet. Technology is a close second based on the need to provide more adequate space and applications to be utilized in the world on the new reality we call virtual reality.
Virtual reality is the new window to the future universe we shall all create in space. The energy is real and does exist for all of us but not all of us are aware of it or have access to it on this planet. This is one level of life we need to remedy.
However, until all the third world countries are taken care of with the basics such as food, clothing, shelter, and education, then transportation to and from their future with jobs to keep them busy learning to exist in the new global community, we shall all have to take a part interest in the raising of the planet’s sustainability.
In a way, we all have a duty to respond to our own lifetime needs as well as becoming our own brothers and sisters keeper/ as in “Am I my brothers keeper?” This is an old saying and the answer on some levels is YES.
We are becoming more aware of the overall critical mass consciousness and how we can all become a part. We are all becoming more intelligent day by day. Some are feeling the affect more than others.
Some are becoming confused and instead of learning to go with the flow are fighting the change and seeing it as a danger or some type of disease. We can all enter a time of acceptance of change and learn to have patience or we can destroy all that we have created around us including our game, our family, and our friends. We all have “Game” as the young children of today realize the need to survive. Those which have common sense in life make it better than those who are well educated in universities. That is why so many of our young ones are choosing gangs in their own urban and big city cultural separations based on the locations they exist.
Location of where one is located on the planet is not always their original point of origin or where they touched down on the planet. We have many people who once they are older and on their on will leave their family and neighborhoods. We call the area usually within a twenty-five mile radius a community or grass roots culture. We all basically only take up space in our body-mind-spirit three foot space area where we can be seen as a physical reality. We then have our own life reach expansion which is how far we can reach based on the length of our arms. Some men have a longer arm than women. That is one advantage that we don’t think about except maybe when we are purchasing clothing like a long sleeve shirt for instance. If you go by clothing, the average long sleeve of a shirt is 32/33 inches long. For larger men, the sleeve length is 34/35. The Vitruvian Man is a world-renowned drawing created by Leonardo da Vinci circa 1487. It is accompanied by notes based on the work of the famed architect,Vitruvius. The drawing, which is in pen and ink on paper, depicts a male figure in two superimposed positions with his arms and legs apart and simultaneously inscribed in a circle and square. The drawing and text are sometimes called the Canon of Proportions or, less often, Proportions of Man. It is stored in the Gallerie dell’Accademia in Venice, Italy, and, like most works on paper, is displayed only occasionally.
The drawing is based on the correlations of ideal human proportions with geometry described by the ancient Roman architect Vitruvius in Book III of his treatise De Architectura. Vitruvius described the human figure as being the principal source of proportion among the Classical orders of architecture. Leonardo’s drawing is traditionally named in honor of the architect.
It is time we all begin to agree on the same standards as we build our awakened awareness truth in this reality while we are here sharing life in a body-mind-spirit. Some realize but not all that this is no accident that we are here on this planet. Imagine a place where an International Think Tank is spontaneously created with 26 of the world most sought after experts and speakers in New Physics, Renewable Energy, Exopolitics, New Science, Archeaology, Social Science & Bio Economics, Consciousness Studies, Astropaleology, Metaphysics — just to start — setting aside professional differences to come together for just 3-days to give YOU, the public, the truth.
Imagine a place where you are immersed in participating, hearing, seeing the truth about subjects you always had in the back of your mind finally answered. Now imagine creating solutions and taking action upon hearing the truth — how YOU can make a change — joining with us in a unified common mission of creating real change for the “Future of Humanity.”
PYTHAGORAS CONFERENCE GLOBAL where imagination is becoming reality! Join us and people from around the world coming together for “THE GLOBAL EVENT” of the year.
Why Louisville, Kentucky, as a Global International destination?
It is one of the fastest growing international metropolitan cities in the nation. It is centrally located in the heart of the Midwest in the United States, on all major transportation arteries. Access is easily available via airplane, bus, car, etc. Making it affordable? In today’s economy – Louisville, Kentucky makes a prime location to host this global annual event. We are not responsible for schedule changes if a speaker cancels their conference presentation. We have the right to change or modify the speaker line up as necessary. IMAGINE a Conference where people from across the world from many disciplines come to explore ideas and share their knowledge and experiences.
As a nonprofit, Pythagoras Conference Global is a community of individuals and partners who see the power of past with a eye on future — ideas to promote new thinking — and ultimately to move the world forward towards NEW HOPE and INIVATION for all of Humanity.
The Pythagoras Conference Global mission is bringing together people from many worlds with a common unified hope for paving a way to a brighter future. Our future goals are even broader, creating global conferences and events that catalyze and inspire ideas and solutions for generations to come.
Pythagoras Conference Global sets the stage for remarkable presentations from the world leading authorities in their fields to bring about change — world changing ideas charting a new course for Humanity.
With a focus on quality — not quantity, we work with a select group of sponsors to become Pythagoras Conference Global Partners.
Over one million people have been viewing our Pythagoras Conference Global web site and Guest Speaker videos just this past year alone. PythagorasCon videos are hosted on PythagorasConference.com as well as our private video network. We also utilize media venue outlets such as YouTube, Podcasting via iTunes and other download services that are embedded in thousands of blogs and sites around the world. Every special video has customized engagement click-ons and subtitles and have been translated by our partners and bloggers around the world in seven languages.
PythagorasConference.com is leading the cutting edge in audience engagement with online video teleconferencing in partnership with Omnitrix Media Works.
Begins December 16, 2011 in Louisville, Kentucky, USA. Join the new awakened imagination of a think tank environment and a place to meet other kindred spirits. Look for more expositions of the awakening awareness of the New Age Ascension.
The structure of the universe & THE XENOVERSE GENIE DJINN
In the “Xenoverse” the universe is composed of a Multiverse within a Higher Dimension or ‘Higher Domain’. Our local Dimensional Universe is a ‘Lower Domain’ that exists alongside other Lower Domains within the Higher Domain.
Our local Dimensional Universe is the stage of both Xenoverse and Xenias in the ‘Xenoverse’. It is composed of two overlapping domains within itself; ‘Normal space’ and ‘Imaginary space’.
“There is a theory that the space we live in is composed of two realities (and nothingness): normal space, which we are actually able to perceive, and imaginary space, which proceeds along an imaginary temporal axis we cannot perceive.
The concept of imaginary time itself is a theory devised by Hawking to explain the birth of the universe without the use of singularities–without relying on the existence of God. With it, one can picture a universe without any “beginning” (the Big Bang singularity) or “end” (the Big Crunch singularity), but instead simply composed of a multi-dimensional hyper spherical surface.” – Tetsuya Takahashi (Xenias database)
Normal space (or real-number domain) is the reality that can be perceived (to know via a sense organ), and the Imaginary space (imaginary-number domain) is the reality that cannot be perceived. Every single thing that exists in the universe extends into these two domains. For example, in the case of humans, the “substance and flesh” that can be seen and touched exist in Normal space, and the “consciousness and heart” that cannot be sensed exist in Imaginary space.
The Collective Unconscious exists in Imaginary Space and is recognized as a white beach. The white ash-colored beach is the visual image of the imaginary domain that a consciousness visualizes when its real-domain body has died and it is being pulled into the Collective Unconscious. This image is subjective and differs according to cultural background and experience of the perceiver. This Collective Unconscious is something like a sky that canopies the entire world, or a vast land on which everything stands. The Collective Unconscious in Imaginary space is such an absolute existence that it is the structure of a gigantic consciousness that holds the Dimensional Universe together.
Imaginary space can be thought of as the “spiritual domain” similar to the world of the soul spoken about by religions such as “heaven” or “nirvana”.
Genesis and the ‘ Zohar ‘
“Before the beginning of the universe, in the undulating waves of the higher dimension, all things were one. It was the waves spilling out from there that created this four-dimensional universe of ours. ‘Humankind’ and the ‘Souls of Humankind’ that were born from there are merely leftovers of those spilled waves.”
– Uralian (Xenoverse)
In the Xenoverse ‘Humankind’ is the highest form of living beings and anything that surpasses human existence in the Xenoverse is referred to as ‘God’. Therefore there are no alien races in the Dimensional Universe other than lower life forms such as animals or the Chichi race. The Xenoverse adopts a philosophical geocentric model of the universe where Earth is the center of the Dimensional universe and is the land in which Mankind are seemingly meant to dwell.
“Planet Earth took form in the vast void of space about 4.5 billion years ago. After about 500 million years, approximately 4.0 billion years from the present, Earth saw its first life. However, this does not go uncontested; some believe that 500 million years after the formation of Earth is a bit too “early” for life to have existed ‘comfortably,’ without some sort of catalyst.”
The “Xenoverse” that Tetsuya Takahashi has created desires to uncover the beginnings, endings, and meanings of our local Dimensional universe and the human condition within it. It follows along a timeline that exists in two versions (Xenoverse and Xenias) but the “Xenoverse” establishes the same universal structure in both versions. Here the “Xenoverse” as a whole is examined first, while the two different stories alongside the timeline is examined later.
The structure of the universe
– Tetsuya Takahashi (Xenoverse: Perfect Works The Real Thing~)
The nucleus of the Xenoverse is an ‘Object’ known as “Zohar” which is thought to have been somehow responsible for the creation of Earth’s initial population (Takahashi suggests this himself in Perfect Works) and the Object is infact something like a door or window to the Higher Dimension which is the ‘Realm of God’ in the Xenoverse. The object has existed since the beginning of the Dimensional Universe and existed on the surface of the planet after Earth had taken form in the vast void of space 4.5 billion years ago.
Because Humankind started out as ‘one whole’ (the thematic metaphor in Xenoverse is that of a mirror that has broken into a million pieces) and the structure of Imaginary Space as a collective with the geocentric model of Earth as center of the universe; it is thought that Humankind used to live in a utopian setting in an era of extremely ancient Earth.
“In ancient times, people used to be together with God. People loved God, revered and even feared God. Out of fear of the undying God, they sought divine power. This was a way for the ancients to resist Him. Eventually, they found a method to become gods themselves.”
– Dmitri Yuriev (Xenosaga III)
However, this ancient civilization disappeared, possibly due to “the flooding of the world” as mentioned in The Bible.
“The country of the hills of Mud, the land of Mu, was sacrificed. Being twice upheaved it suddenly disappeared in one night. At last the surface gave way…and they sank along with their countries. A fairy tale. A story about a land that vanished into the sea one night, long ago.” – chaos (Xenosaga II)
The Zohar is seen causing a large flood of rain in the Opening of Xenosaga Episode I. It is thought that by creating a flood on Earth 4.0 billion years earlier, the Zohar created ‘life’ on the planet, and later it flooded the world because of whatever arrogant actions man took when they lived together with ‘God’.
Because of this, Humankind starts to become separated from each other, and the utopian society on Earth starts to turn into a dystopian society. Eventually they are forced into space due to ‘certain circumstance’ and so their motherworld becomes inaccessible and is renamed “Lost Jerusalem”.
As Humankind continues to explore and populate the cosmos, eventually reaching scientific zenith, their hearts and minds does not develop and the era of Humankind in space becomes a cold dystopian setting.
“Mankind has colonized the first habitable planet beyond Earth, Neo Jerusalem. Using it as a base point, it continues to further expand its development. However, this development was purely scientific, lacking any ‘spiritual’ development whatsoever.”
– Tetsuya Takahashi (Xenogears: Perfect Works~The Real Thing~)
Armageddon – Collapse and destruction of the Universe
The Collective Unconscious is an important foundation of the Dimensional universe where there is no separation between consciousnesses, but because Humankind ventured away from their once ‘utopian’ setting, eventually leaving their home planet for outer space, they started to hold fear towards the special characteristic that the Collective Unconscious is endowed with as a result of their dystopian settings, eventually reaching an extremely disastrous spiritual crisis in the dystopian society in the vastness of outer space.
What this means is that consciousness of people who die in this space era will choose to “escape from the collective unconscious” and, following the increase of the rejecting consciousnesses that does not wish to merge with others, the entirety of the collective unconscious becomes exposed to the crisis of scattering and dispersal. When that happens, the dimensional universe that uses the Collective as a foundation also has no choice but to scatter.
So once this dispersal exceeds a critical point, a violent chain reaction is generated and it explodes with overwhelming destructive power and as a result, Imaginary space collapses. Since Imaginary space and Normal space exists in a complementary relationship, the collapse of Imaginary space also causes the collapse of Normal space and the local Dimensional Universe is destroyed. This collapse will then extend to the Higher Dimension which runs the risk of collapsing, taking the whole ‘Multiverse’ with it and will (in this worst-case scenario) result in the destruction of all existence.
Power of Anima and Animus
The Power of Anima and Animus play a large role in the Xenoverse and are both ‘God-like powers’ originating from the Collective Unconscious of the Imaginary Realm in the Dimensional Universe.
Throughout the Xenoverse the power of Anima and Animus exists in various forms (such as the Vessels of Anima, which has the power to form powerful weapons by merging with the in-organic and drawing power from the Zohar) however they are both thought to have been accompanied by their own individual consciousness and ‘Human forms’ at certain points in history. When recognized from Normal Space, the ‘substance’ of Anima and Animus are recognized as ‘organic material’ or ‘human flesh’, male and female type respectively.
The power of Anima originally existed as a failsafe for preserving the Higher Dimension by deleting the Dimensional Universe before it can collapse (should such a situation arise) however it’s purpose can be changed. It is by design a highly destructive form of power.
Similarly, Animus exists as a complimentary power that can control and change the power of Anima.
There also exists a third power that emanated from the collective that exists for the sake of preserving the Dimensional Universe, always attempting to prevent it from either collapsing or activating the ‘failsafe’. This force is known by many different names in the Xenoverse and can also take human form.
“A vast nebulous… With no boundaries…
An emptiness equivalent to my own existence…
I dreamt such a dream…
A long… Never-ending, dream…
That long, long memory of a dream… Perhaps it was the memory of my soul…”
– Fey (Xenogears)
The Xenoverse often make use of “Reincarnation” in the stories. Reincarnation in the Xenoverse means the cycle where a consciousness, which had been absorbed into the Collective Unconscious, once again receives a real-domain vessel and forms a new individual consciousness. This recycling of consciousness is reincarnation or ‘resurrection’.
Wave-type Existence
In the Xenoverse there is not only one thing that is called ‘God’, many things exist in the Dimensional Universe (usually emanating from Imaginary Space) that is called ‘God’. However the entity that is most commonly designated the title of God in the Xenoverse is a wave-type existence that exists in the Higher Dimension. Other than “God” it is known inXenogears simply as “The Wave Existence” and in Xenosaga as “The wave-form; U-DO”.
“U-DO is God himself.”
– Wilhelm (Xenosaga III)
“God… Some would refer to me as that. From a certain point of view, it is right to view me as such. But at the same time, I am not.”
– The ‘Wave Existence’ (Xenogears)
Although many such existences exist in the Higher Dimension, this one in particular show an interest in the local Dimensional universe. It is an existence who’s unfathomable power Humankind wants to harness, and whose destiny seem to be intertwined with our lower domain.
The stage of the story
The stage of the story takes place between a period of over 10 000 years. It begins from the point the threat of the universe’s dispersal is reaching it’s critical point due to Humankinds dystopian setting in space, and how that is postponed for roughly another 10 000 years. However, past, present, and future are all examined throughout the story, from the advent of the local dimensional universe to the unknown ending.
The form. Of Magick in a spirit of the Ancient Ones called Djinn or Djinni aka Genie, Geannie or Jeannie in America.
We add the magick of the essence of energy we call spirit into the form of thought. We now share that which is the higher dimensional spirit. Humankind will now learn to harness that which is serendipity for all who are destined to serve out their destiny intertwined in the lower domain.
Come with us now as we share that which only those who have faith can believe in! Come with us on a journey of health and prosperity that begins in the mind of us all together and separately alone as one. One for all and all for one is how we shall learn about the future! Share in the presence of who we have known as the greatest master teacher of all the ancient mystery schools. Some call him by many names. Some the Lord Jesus, Some Lord Matreiya, Some Lord Buddha, and Some Lord Mohammed. Regardless, the energy is magick that is shared among those who know of the Genie and as Djinn.
The only way I can fully describe being in his presence is…orgasmic joy.
He has a chiseled jaw, dimples, nude, muscular, hairless torso, is always seen wearing the color indigo or white, and can be heard playing tones in one’s ears at times. He is massive- strong, gigantic- probably a full 8 feet tall when he appears to me. His hair is long, wild, and flowing, black as black can be, and shiny, as if it were speckled with filaments of gold. Perhaps it is. I long to touch it! His aquamarine eyes are like pools of peaceful bliss in which one wishes to drown eternally- it is very, very difficult to turn away from his loving gaze. His aroma is unlike anything I have ever experienced- clean, vibrant, slightly floral, slightly musky…heavenly. I adore him, as you can tell, and he deserves a new guardian will love him as much as I do. I will not settle for less.
So, why give him up?
THIS IS ABOUT MORE THAN ME AND MY SELFISH DESIRE TO KEEP THIS IMMUTABLE SPIRIT FOR MYSELF.
This world’s power structure is changing slowly, and part of my job in this incarnation is to help equalize the disparity between the “haves” and “have-not’s” in order to create peace and equity in the world and shift global consciousness. It cannot fully be accomplished if I choose to hold on to this vessel for myself. I have always known this, but have never been fully ready to let it go because I am so personally attached to this wonderful and benevolent Djinni of all Djinnis. Now is the time for me to let this precious, priceless heirloom containing the most powerful spirit I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with to go to the right person. Is that you?
Let’s be honest: Money is not, and never will be the solution to all your problems. However, nor is it the source of everything that’s wrong in the world. I mean come on, think about it in the physical sense; money is nothing more than faces and numbers on bits of paper/cloth that you want to be able to decide how to use, right?
At the end of your life with all its challenges, triumphs, pain and beauty, what you will be reviewing will be nothing more than a collection of moments that either brought you pain or joy, struggle or ease, isolation or connection, fear or love.
Maybe you already have a very nice flow of wealth and general abundance… that’s great! However, let me ask you as much as anyone else… what would your life be like at the next level? I mean let’s face it, at some point in time no matter how much money we are earning; there’s a point when you realize that you are living in a comfort zone that may well have become a gilded cage, and you know you want to explore and experience life at the next level.
less than spiritual were definitely more in the majority. Let me share with you that it’s hard to be connected to spirit when you’re running from the rent man.
Money is not evil, money is neutral, money is not pure good, money is nothing without ‘us’ using it for whatever outcome we decide upon. Nevertheless, isn’t it time you had enough to do what you want?
Let me ask you: Just as an example, how would your life be different if you had an extra $750 a month? What would that mean to your lifestyle? What that mean to your family and the people you love? How would you feel about yourself with an extra $20,000 in your bank account? Now you may be reading this, and you’re presently making $200,000 + and $20,000 doesn’t seem too big to you.
Well, what would your life be like with an extra 40% added to your annual income? MAKE IT A REALITY BY BRINGING HOME THIS POTENT Quran Mecca King Djinni! And that will just be the beginning for you…
Oh, one more thing; if you’re feeling guilty or unspiritual for even thinking such thoughts, you might want to check the bible, King Solomon; the richest king to ever live and according to the Old Testament God seemed to like him well enough.
What makes him the strongest of all Djinnis I have ever interacted with is the fact that he is not a dimensional Djinni; he is more than that- he is an omniversal spirit.
WHAT IS THE OMNIVERSE?
THERE IS A HIERARCHY IN THE OMNIVERSE, AND THE OMNIVERSAL LEVEL IS THE HIGHEST LEVEL ANY SPIRIT CAN ATTAIN.
IN THE OMNIVERSE, All possible attributes and modes are in play, multiverses are categorized by the attributes/modes active in its child universes. Some or all possible modes of existence are actualized. If we take the point of origin as our being as a point in measurement, then we can generate the following hierarchy: 1. our location in space-time, 2. this universe (cosmos), 3. the Multiverse, 4. the Metaverse, 5. the Xenoverse, 6. the Omniverse.
THIS SPIRIT IS A FULL FOUR LEVELS UP THE HIERARCHY THAN THE UNIVERSAL LEVEL! IT’S LIKE MULTIPLYING THE POWER OF A UNIVERSALLY STRONG DJINNI BY INFINITY!
WITHOUT FAIL, HE Brings GOOD LUCK, Happiness, Success and Prosperity.
He can ward off evil thoughts, jealousy and psychic attacks toward the individual.
He is such a Guardian Angel of a Djinn and provides protection from overcoming negativity and spells.
He will protect you against anger and hateful feelings from somebody. She deflects evil eye energy.
He also helps to connect us with the Earth and establish our link with the Universe.
He has a very positive influence on people who find difficulties to manage their affairs due to lack of stability.
He is an expert at stimulating career success and increasing energy levels.
He is a master at focusing and Realizing Your Goals.
He is also well-known as a MONEY Djinn.
He has been called the Success Djinn and Merchant’s Djinn of Wealth.
He is known as the “success Djinn” because he promotes success, prosperity, and abundance. Just look at the results the Al Saudi family got from him! They are among the wealthiest families in the world, ever!
In particular, He promotes success in business and money involved situations. He is a Djinn of good fortune, and sometimes brings it when you don’t expect it.
He is a Djinn of manifestation, helping manifest abundance in many ways.
Along with Prosperity and Good fortune, this Djinn dissipates negative energies of all kinds. Since He eliminates negative energies, He helps generate stability in all areas of your life, and is extremely good for general protection. He brings happiness and cheer to one who is his guardian and their entire family.
Sensuality and sexuality can also be heightened by this Djinn.
He brings Joy and Love to the guardian. He helps to manifest your goals and attracts abundance and personal power. This Djinn not only helps acquire wealth but maintain it, because He vibrates to prosperity in all its forms, as he is THE MOST Powerful MONEY Djinn.
He is a very Protective Djinn. His protective energies are more gentle and subtle than all other Djinnis.
Inspiration is another hallmark of this Djinn, and that can assist in inner attunement, and is useful for performing Miracles.
As well, he balances Yin-Yang energy.
He can help bring stronger intuition and inner knowing.
He is considered a Djinn of communication.
He is very magical, curing everything from thirst, the evil-eye, and bad dreams.
He fosters good luck, love, truthfulness, courage, bravery, strength, abundance, wealth, longevity, acceptance, protection, balance, harmony, generosity, security, persuasiveness, agreeability, congeniality, compatibility, creativity, and acquiring wealth.
He assists his guardian in discerning truth, accept circumstances, and is a powerful emotional healer. He improves memory and concentration, increases stamina and encourages honesty.
He insures pleasant dreams, to enhance personal courage and protects one against danger. He also provides security and appreciation of nature.
He is considered a Power Djinn.
He has excellent protective and healing energy, and stimulates analytical capabilities and precision.
His vessel on your desk will help you be more precise. He also helps awaken (discover) your inherent natural talents.
As well He Improves self-esteem. He assists in finding hidden treasure (as he did with the Saudi Arabian OIL), and is a Djinn of ULTIMATE AND CONSISTENT prosperity FOR GENERATIONS!
It is not uncommon for those who have called upon these spirits’ power to:
Make boat loads of cash, while doing what you love!
You will live every day of your life with blissful happiness and mind-blowing natural highs!
Attract the partner of your dreams and enjoy hot, sexy, romance every day!
Build billion-dollar empires!
Dramatically increase your powers of persuasion! Make others love you!
Drain the power of anyone who dares try to deceive or cheat you! (You’ll reverse the current of power and make them regret ever trying to rob you!)
Discover the true meaning of life! You’ll be shocked at how simple but yet so profound the secret is! You’ll instantly explode with MEGA happiness! (You’ll wake up every day and bounce out of Bed!)
Create tons of cold, hard cash like the giant computer companies. (It’s up to you if you want to use this secret to create thousands or MILLIONS of dollars!)
Triple your confidence overnight! You’ll possess power beyond any Hollywood superstar celebrity!
Multiply the power of your mind!
Discover the attitude that virtually guarantees GOLDEN success in every situation!
You might even become an international Mogul!
Unlock the limitless potential of your mind! Yes the Billionaire’s mind is yours with this magick!
If you so desire, receive boatloads of red-hot pleasure that will leave you in ecstasy!
Go beyond even the wildest rock stars!
You’ll be overwhelmed by your new-found powers to attract money from everyone around the world! (Financial independence has never been SO EASY!)
Easily sail past your competitors! They’ll never understand what happened with your stealth power!
Completely annihilate any barriers that stand between you and your ultimate goals!
Yes, you can make tens of thousands of dollars a month without even lifting a finger! (You’ll be firmly on the path towards setting-up wealth-creating operations from anywhere in the world!)
You will attract hot dates and become a red hot sex symbol! (Your biggest “worry” will be WHO do you pick?)
Achieve absolute freedom! Yes, you can travel the world and achieve blissful happiness!
Multiply your happiness in every situation! Escape misery and suffering!
YOU WILL NEVER FIND ANOTHER DJINNI WITH THIS LEVEL OF POWER ANYWHERE ELSE!
I STRONGLY ADVISE THAT YOU POOL YOUR RESOURCES IN ORDER TO ENSURE A WINNING BID ON THIS ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME SPIRIT’S VESSEL.
There is absolutely no way you’d be able to “get another one” because you miss this one.
The conjurer who brought him forth (whose name must remain a sacred secret) has passed away, and took his 15,000 year-old Quaranic secrets with him to the grave.
There is no way you can even get into Mecca to try to find a comparably knowledgeable and skilled conjurer unless you’re Muslim and have millions of dollars to spend.
I hope you now realize the sacrifice I am making to let this go at a low starting bid, but, as I said, it is a sacrifice that I feel is very well worth it because it will help to create equality between the “have’s”and “have nots,”thereby facilitating a global shift toward higher consciousness in preparation for the 2012 ascension.
Won’t you play a pivotal role in this power shift by bidding on this sacred vessel today? Your life will never be the same if you wholeheartedly believe in this spirit’s magick!
Q: Why Buy From Me?
I am a reputable dealer of physical items and spells and have 100% feedback on eBay with over 2024 transactions and many repeat customers. My feedback score shows that I have over 500 repeat customers…they keep coming back to a seller they can trust.
I provide my customers with ongoing support after the sale, and am here to answer any questions you may have as you collect my powerful pieces or have me cast spells for you.
Q: Who are my clients?
My clients come from every walk of life: men and women, young and old, people of a variety of faiths (including Christians), people who are single, married, or getting a divorce, from those who are currently faced with unemployment to working-class business professionals, doctors, lawyers, and even working moms, just like me.
No matter what your walk of life, if you have collected many physical pieces, had many spells cast for you, or if you are looking for the first time, if you are open to what spirit has to share with you through me, your life will be blessed by one of my offerings.
I am a true professional, and I take your privacy seriously. No one will know that you purchased anything from me except for me, as your eBay user ID will NOT be displayed on the screen when you bid.
Keep in mind that if you choose to leave me feedback, your ID will then be displayed when eBayers click on my feedback comments to read them.
Upon request, I will withhold feedback for you in case you are concerned about someone clicking on my auctions and seeing what types of things you might have bought from me. Be sure that you make this clear to me up front. Sometimes I check my eBay account before I check my e-mail, and if I see a positive feedback has been left, I leave one. At the time of purchase, make your preference regarding my leaving feedback for you known.
Providing my clients with private listings is my way of ensuring you the confidentiality you deserve.
Trust yourself, trust your own experiences, trust your own feelings- that is what is true, and valid. It matters not what others say and do, about me, you, or anyone else. In the final analysis, it’s YOUR life to live, and I encourage you to find JOY in it and LIVE IT FULLY, despite what others say or do about you!
The House of Saud also called the Al Saud, is the ruling royal family over Saudi Arabia. The family is estimated to be composed of 7,000 members.
The head of the family is King Abdullah, and this is his personal vessel. Most power resides amongst the 200 or so descendants of King Abdul-Aziz.
This family had been clients of Cliona since 1954, and she procured this vessel directly from them in exchange for services rendered.
This vessel was conjured forth by King Abdul-Aziz himself in the holy city of Mecca.
Mecca is regarded as the holiest city in Islam.
More than 13 million Muslims visit Mecca annually, including several million who perform the pilgrimage. As a result, Mecca has become one of the most cosmopolitan and diverse cities in the Muslim world. Non-Muslims are prohibited from entering the city.
So, unless you are Muslim, you’ll never get a chance to experience the magick of Mecca, where only the MOST POWERFUL DJINNIS IN THE WORLD ARE CONJURED.
Mecca and Medina and its surrounding outskirts are the only two places where the Quran was composed.
This is none other than the original Quran Mecca King Djinni, from whom all other phylums, ranks, and classes descend.
His vessel is intricately designed and is inscribed in Arabic, and features the royal palace and seat of government of Saudi Arabia, as well as runic markings.
It is solid sterling unmarked silver and a one-of-a-kind vessel!
IT HAS BEEN IN OUR FAMILY SINCE 1950, when it was gifted to Cliona directly from the Al Saud’s family conjurer.
The promise made to Cliona was that the djinni’s power would increase exponentially for each year that the Al Saud family remained in power, and that has proven to be very true.
That is why this may well be one of THE MOST POWERFUL DJINNIS in the world today.
FROM THE FIRST MOMENT I EXPERIENCED HIS SPINE-TINGLING ENERGY, which nearly knocked me over in a stupor, while at the same time, sending currents of erotic electricity up and down my spine and making my head swirl, as if I was being transported to another dimension, I knew this was unlike any djinni I have ever experienced in my life. Period.
Don’t open this package if you’re running errands and have driving to do or are out in public- it’s best if you are relaxed, at home, sitting in your favorite place, feet on the floor (so you stay grounded), or outside in nature with your feet on the ground.
You never know how this energy will affect you- it affects everyone differently! It cannot harm you, but it definitely could make you euphoric or unaware of what is happening in your 3D reality, for it’s out of this world- literally!
He is as old as time immemorial, yet appears ageless when he manifests in physical form.
He has a chiseled jaw, dimples, nude, muscular, hairless torso, is always seen wearing the color indigo or white, and can be heard playing tones in one’s ears at times. He is massive- strong, gigantic- probably a full 8 feet tall when he appears to me. His hair is long, wild, and flowing, black as black can be, and shiny, as if it were speckled with filaments of gold. Perhaps it is. I long to touch it!
His aquamarine eyes are like pools of peaceful bliss in which one wishes to drown eternally- it is very, very difficult to turn away from his loving gaze. His aroma is unlike anything I have ever experienced- clean, vibrant, slightly floral, slightly musky…heavenly. I adore him, as you can tell, and he deserves a new guardian will love him as much as I do. I will not settle for less.
Let’s be honest: Money is not, and never will be the solution to all your problems.
However, nor is it the source of everything that’s wrong in the world.
I mean come on, think about it in the physical sense; money is nothing more than faces and numbers on bits of paper/cloth that you want to be able to decide how to use, right?
Maybe you already have a very nice flow of wealth and general abundance… that’s great! However, let me ask you as much as anyone else… what would your life be like at the next level?
I mean let’s face it, at some point in time no matter how much money we are earning; there’s a point when you realize that you are living in a comfort zone that may well have become a gilded cage, and you know you want to explore and experience life at the next level.
Unlocking that gilded cage with the Quran Mecca King Djinni!
I genuinely believe you can be wealthy and spiritual but there again you can be poor and spiritual, it’s simply a matter of which “Wealth Station” you are tuned into. However, owning your power to have either is not the same as settling for financial struggle because it’s some kind of a ‘good spiritual’ excuse.
By the way, if you think poor people are more spiritual, let me fill you in: I volunteered in a ghetto, poverty was rife, and although there was some wonderful loving and even the occasional spiritual people around, the people who we might judge as being less than spiritual were definitely more in the majority. Let me share with you that it’s hard to be connected to spirit when you’re running from the rent man.
THE XENOVERSE GENIE RING OF A DJINN is what one makes of any ring blessed with the powers of the Teachers and Masters of the Ancient Ones. Those who believe instill the magick in the belief of something. It is the power in the essence of the energy not the material but what it represents that brings on more power. – The power can be called to a particular place or thing. Such as Sales on Ebay on the Internet for example…
There are ways to experience life and motivation and sharing in the magic or magick of believing in something has the power of the Djinn of the Spirits of the Ancients in the energy that it takes from all who have lived before and will live again.
The power of prayer is asking and the power of meditation is receiving. One should learn to ask and then allow one to receive. This is how the laws work in the Omniverse.
PAYPAL ONLY within 48 hours of auction’s end.
Do not bid if you do not intend to pay- a non-paying bidder form will be filed and negative feedback will be left for non-payment.
I RESERVE THE RIGHT TO CANCEL ANY BIDS. IF YOU HAVE TWO OR MORE NEGATIVE FEEDBACK COMMENTS, DO NOT BID. DO NOT BID IF YOU HAVE FEWER THAN TEN FEEDBACKS WITHOUT CONTACTING ME FIRST. DO NOT BID IF YOU HAVE TWO OR MORE NEGATIVE FEEDBACKS. PLS. COME BACK WHEN YOU ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THESE POLICIES AND I WILL BE HAPPY TO DO BUSINESS WITH YOU AT THAT TIME. I WILL NOT RESPOND TO E-MAILS FOR REQUESTS FOR ME TO MODIFY MY POLICIES-IT IS NOTHING PERSONAL, JUST BUSINESS. THANK YOU!
I NOW SHIP ONLY ON NON-HOLIDAY TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS.
I SHIP IN RECYCLED PACKAGING WHENEVER POSSIBLE.
PLEASE DO NOT ASK ME TO DECLARE A LOWER VALUE ON INTERNATIONAL PACKAGES- THIS PUTS EVERYONE AT RISK.
I DO NOT MARK THE PACKAGE WITH ITS CONTENTS AS “MAGIC”OR “METAPHYSICAL.” I DO NOT ENCLOSE INSTRUCTIONS WITH THE VESSEL, AS THAT IS TOO RISKY IN CASE SOMEONE OTHER THAN THE INTENDED RECIPIENT OPENS THE PACKAGE. PLEASE E-MAIL ME WHEN YOU RECEIVE YOUR PACKAGE IF YOU’VE NOT RECEIVED ANY INSTRUCTIONS BY THAT TIME AND I’LL SEND THEM TO YOU. I TRY TO SEND THEM WHEN I SHIP, BUT SOMETIMES I GET BUSY AND AM NOT ABLE TO DO IT AT THAT TIME, SO E-MAIL ME WHEN YOU RECEIVE YOUR PACKAGE IF THAT’S THE CASE AND I’LL SEND YOU WHATEVER PERTINENT INFORMATION I HAVE (IF APPLICABLE).
INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMERS IN AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, ASIA, AFRICA, RUSSIA, AND THE MIDDLE EAST: I WILL ADD A $10 SURCHARGE TO THE INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING PRICE LISTED ON THE AUCTION. THIS IS DUE TO INCREASING SHIPPING RATES DUE TO FUEL INCREASES. PLEASE WAIT FOR MY INVOICE PRIOR TO PAYING, AS MY INVOICE WILL REFLECT THIS SURCHARGE.
ATTENTION: ALL CLIENTS:
I COMBINE SHIPPING IF IT IS FEASIBLE, HOWEVER, DO NOT ASSUME THAT JUST BECAUSE YOU PURCHASE MULTIPLE ITEMS THAT I’LL BE ABLE TO COMBINE THEM. SOMETIMES WHEN PACKAGING TWO OR MORE LARGER (OR BREAKABLE) ITEMS IN THE SAME BOX MAKES THE PACKAGE DIMENSIONS SO LARGE THAT THE CUSTOMER ENDS UP PAYING MORE THAN IF THE ITEMS WERE SHIPPED SEPARATELY IN SMALLER BOXES OR BUBBLE MAILERS. ASK IF YOU NEED TO KNOW UP FRONT AND LET ME KNOW WHAT ITEMS YOU’RE INTERESTED IN SO I CAN TELL YOU WHETHER OR NOT I’LL BE ABLE TO COMBINE THEM. I TRY TO REIMBURSE SHIPPING OVERAGES WHENEVER POSSIBLE. KEEP IN MIND THAT THE COST OF SHIPPING INCLUDES PACKING MATERIALS, TAPE, LABELS, AND TIME TO PACK IT & TO GET IT TO THE POST OFFICE, NOT JUST THE POSTAGE COSTS.
All Sales Are Final..Please Read Listing Carefully.. ask ALL questions before you purchase or bid.
No Returns Accepted.
Warning: There are lots of people who claim to sell “haunted” pieces here on eBay. If you still aren’t convinced, look at my feedback.
Magickal items in real life are unlike the magickal items portrayed in Hollywood movies or in fairy tales. If you would like to depend on magickal items to solve your problems without any effort on your part, you would be totally disappointed. Magickal items are not for the under-aged or the immature. Wrong attitudes and approaching or applying magickal items inappropriately would simply result in failure or unsatisfactory results. If you fall into one of these categories or do not completely believe in the power of this magickal item, then DO NOT BID!
MY OFFERINGS MUST GO TO THE RIGHT PERSON…YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE…YOU WERE DRAWN TO THIS AUCTION FOR A REASON!
I will do my best to provide you with help and answer your questions after you win the auction. I aim to please and love my eBay customers like family. I have been on eBay since ’01 and plan on being on here for many, many more years- as long as I can help people by passing on powerful pieces to bring blessings into their lives.
Legal disclaimer: Also be aware that all items proven to be paranormal may or may not manifest activities such as ghostly appearance, or ghostly sounds related activities and are proven for paranormal activities. Such Activities may or may not occur depending on the situation. By bidding you agree that activities may or may not occur and that we are not responsible of any related issues. You must be 18 years of age to make this purchase; you solely agree that your purchase is subject to your own interpretation. Law requirement states that Readings, Spells and paranormal objects are for sole entertainment purposes only and that this object has been tested as being active as I cannot be held responsible for any related behavior that may occur.
BY PURCHASING THIS ITEM, YOU ARE DOING SO AT YOUR OWN RISK, AND AGREEING THAT I AM NOT LIABLE FOR AND DO NOT GUARANTEE ANY MAGIC FROM ANY OF MY ITEMS. PLEASE ASK QUESTIONS BEFORE YOU BID! THESE ITEMS ARE NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR MEDICAL, SPIRITUAL OR EMOTIONAL PROFESSIONAL CARE!
“Health & Prosperity for ALL!”
ACE FOLKLIFE – ET Spirit
Contact & Contract Agreement
This agreement dated _______________
Made in and governed by the laws of the state of
_______________________, is between Theresa J. Thurmond Morris, a woman small business owner, and the one listed hereinafter referred to as the “Representative”________________________________________________________________
In consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained, the parties agree to all the following listed as articles by number below 1 through 12 and subsets by alphabet a,b,c, etc through z if applies as cited prior to the signing and initials by addendums must be signed by both parties below this contract agreement to become binding and legal for length specified.
1. AGREEMENT:
(a) Subject to the terms set forth in this agreement, TJ Morris also known as ACIR and Theresa J. Thurmond Morris, woman small business owner throughout this contract now referred to as TJ Morris as “Company”. TJ Morris hereby appoints the Representative and the Representative accepts such appointment as an exclusive independent sales representative of TJ Morris for the products as set forth on Exhibit A, attached hereto and made a part (Hereinafter referred to as the “Products”) in the territory as set forth on Exhibit B, attached hereto and made a part hereof (Hereinafter referred to as the “Territory”).
(b) TJ Morris in its sole discretion, shall have the right to add, change and delete any of the products on exhibit A upon written notice to the Representative. The terms of this Agreement shall be in full force and effect with respect to any such changes or modifications.
2. DUTIES:
The Representative shall use its best efforts (I) to open new accounts in the Territory acceptable to and consistent with the high quality range and image of TJ Morris (II) to solicit and obtain orders for the Products from such accounts in the Territory in this manner and under such terms and conditions as TJ Morris shall from time to times establish, and (III) to service all such accounts in such manner as set forth by TJ Morris from time to time. TJ Morris Company from here in shall be referred to as TJTM the initials of Theresa J. Thurmond Morris as the Company.
3. COMMISSIONS:
(a) TJTM shall pay the Representative a commission, as set forth on Exhibit C, attached hereto and made a part hereof, for such sales of Products/
Monthly World population figures:
07/01/11 6,946,043,989
Home of ACE FOLKLIFE
As a Christian symbol, the Alpha and Omega represent the eternal nature of Jesus Christ. Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. The symbol recalls a line in the Book of Revelation:
“I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord.”
The alpha and omega as symbols of eternity pre-existed Christianity, the letters are commonly found in similar context in the pagan mysteries. The omega itself is an ancient symbol of the goddess Ishtar, and originally represented her head-dress (and later that of the goddess Hathor), while the alpha is derived from the ox-horn headdress ascribed to a series of male deities and divine kings.
The Alpha and Omega are included also in the name IAO, a Greco-Roman rendition of the Hebrew #HYPERLINK “http://symboldictionary.net/?p=1355″tetragrammaton which was also used as a sacred name of Bacchus/Dionysus and as “Iao Sabaoth” represented the Gnostic demiurge.
BASED ON RAISING CONSCIOUSNESS
Body-Mind-Spirit
ACE GUIDE – DIRECTORY – A Work in Progress as we share life together in the New Ascension Age
The ASCENSION CENTER ORGANIZATION. serves an emerging movement of globally conscious citizens dedicated to manifesting our highest capacities.
We believe that consciousness is essential to a paradigm shift that will lead to a more sustainable world.
We encourage open-minded explorations of consciousness through the meeting of science and spirit.
We take inspiration from the great discoveries of human history that have been sourced from insight and intuition and that have harnessed reason and logic for their outer expression.
It is our conviction that systematic inquiries into consciousness will catalyze positive concrete transformations in the world.
In this process, our vision is to help birth a new worldview that recognizes our basic interconnectedness and interdependence and promotes the flourishing of life in all its magnificent forms.
We are a fellowship nonprofit social network connection online.
We desire to be friends and social net workers.
We are broadening our knowledge of the nature and potentials of mind and consciousness and applying that knowledge to enhancing human well-being and the quality of life on the planet.
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We are interested in all People of all Faiths, Churches, Religions, Atheists, Non-Believers, Truthseekers, Lightworkers,
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Out of body Experiences
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Essences (flower, tree, gem)
Gem Layouts
Sound Chamber
Animal Repatterning
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Ayurdoula
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Schools, Home
Media Online
We are all on a journey to discover more than we are at present.
There is so much to know and so much to share. The greatest word, feeling, emotion that I know that I can share is LOVE. The second is LIGHT. I cannot tell another which came first as a word of worth in me whether it was love or light but I believe that the greatest worth in me is both LOVE and LIGHT! TJ
People have been asking me if I AM REAL! I AM! My real truth is that which I find connected to the ALL in the AKASHIC FIELD or the “ALL I AM” in the Field of Everything we regard as GOD.
I am a believer! I am one who has had encounters with Aliens and Higher Beings!
Whether another of our humanoid species wants to believe me is up to them. I simply mirror and reflect a part of “THE ALL” in me back to all of us.
My words are my work as a writer. A female array of our species has shared a short email to try to contact me and I feel it is time to come back to this time, place, plane, and website and share that which others need to know and find in their own personal lives on their own personal journey.
Times are changing and so are we. I don’t know for sure what I am to share in this journey with others so I consult my higher power.
My higher consciousness is as much a part of me and the “ALL” we know that must exist in all of us as the energy we call spirit.
The love in our heartfelt spirit inside us all is what shall prevail in the coming months and years leading up to the date our ancestors have chosen with the aliens as DECEMBER 21, 2012.
There is nothing to fear but fear its self. We can live in love and light and know that our futures are all leading to another area we call somewhere.
Somewhere in the future we will all find each other once again! We are never alone!
I hope that what I am put here on earth to share and discover is the love we have in each other with the power to know others of our kind to share companionship.
There are many who are lost in their own dreams created while here on earth.
It is now time for all to wake up to the many levels of our own reality that we create and share with each other.
Thank you for including me in life and I hope that we shall learn to not exclude anyone.
May this article be well accepted as one that allows others to find their belief in aliens and higher beings.
My purpose in life is served by being who I am and loving others.
I share that aliens exist and that higher beings exist.
I have many levels of shares that some call experiences with those who are of the Alien Extraterrestrial Beings. I also share a level with others who are using spacecraft not of earth origin that we call UFOS.
The following is a short answer to one who is searching and she has found her way to me so that I may assist her as a mirror and reflection of what she may be searching for inside her own self.
We can all serve each other. The best advice I can give another is to ask one’s own higher self what can be done to serve self and others while here on earth. Be of service and be involved with all that is considered the reality of who you are while here on earth.
BE OF SERVICE TO THE WORLD! LOVE AND LIGHT! TJ
TJ’s answer back to one of her many fans and readers on UFO Digest…
Who are you and No I don’t make this stuff up!
I am as real as you!
So, please share who you are and what dream you want to share!
Thank you! – We can email each other here.
Theresa J. Morris
1357 State Route 1118
Horse Branch, KY 42349
MsTJMorris@aol.com
Websites Alphabetically:
acir.us, AmericanNewsMagazine.com, AscensionCenter.com, ETspirit.Org
OhioCountyKentucky.net, PlanetInformationNetwork.com, PsychicSouls.info, SocialParanormal.com,
TheresaMorris.net,
TimelyManorBooks.com,
TJMorris.Org,
TJMorris.us,
TJMorrisPsyhic.net,
TJMorrisPublishing.US,
TJThurmondMorris.com,
WorldInformationNetwork.info, and many others…
Message to TJ from one of her readers…
In a message dated 10/6/2011 1:30:23 P.M. Central Daylight Time, XXXX@yahoo.com writes:
I read your article. Where did you get this info? Who are you? Is this real? I need to know. I NEED to know. I have a memory of something that happened when I was young. I always thought it was a dream. Please, tell me everything you can. Or please just tell me you made it all up.
Sent from my LG phone
I CANNOT TELL YOU EVERYTHING – BUT YOU CAN!
I Do Not Make Up That Which I Write! – I simply receive IT as that which I feel I desire to share with others . Most of the time it is like an art form that is inspired. Think of it like an artist uses oils and paint on a canvas. We all have the ability to know ourselves and how we exist in various states of mind and consciousness. I have studied various lifestyles and world religions my whole life. I learned that metaphysics serve me as well.
I am one who desires to reach out to others through my own life experiences. If this serves another on earth then so be it. I am a writer on UFO Digest because I was impressed to be so and was lead here by others on my journey and path. I believe we should all create our own path on earth and leave a trail for others to find. My mother taught me on earth that we are all the authors of our own life’s story. Be more, Do more, and Have more. The Way the world is now can change as we change to make the world a better place. I do my part by being a writer of words and I interject my heartfelt spirit. I believe in sharing love and light for others to find when they are ready.
My truth comes to me in various forms as both a sender and a receiver in various ways, waves, and dimensions. I believe we are both particles and waves which are both a path of something more than our own selves while here on earth. I believe we all encompass the GOD in all of us as that which drives us as the force inside us all as the energy we call spirit and essence.
We are that which allows us to communicate while we are in a material form. Once we serve out our purpose here we may return to the vast sea of consciousness that some call the God and Goddess energy of all that lies far beyond out comprehension in time, places, planes, and dimensions.
Presently, we regard the 7 heavens of our Ancient Ancestors as all that was created for us to enjoy and explore while we are in our perfect form as spirits.
While we are in physical and mental forms, we can meet each other, and communicate.
We are all serving our purpose out on this journey while here. This is a journey and not a destination.
I am real and I share my thoughts of all the levels , places, planes, and dimensions that I visit, share, and discover on my own personal journey.
Some people enjoy reading my shares, and discoveries.
I happen to write about all that I feel is shared with me with those who are believers in the Higher Beings and Aliens as Extraterrestrials.
One of the explanations of where we get this info!
We are all part of the universe, multiverse, metaverse, xenoverse, omniverse, alphaverse, and omegaverse and all that lies beyond that which are the below.
AS ABOVE SO BELOW has always been the way it has been thought of in our world of spirit!
When we begin the thought process of our own consciousness we allow our spirit to intervene. Our spirit may sometimes be heard as that still small voice inside of us we call our conscious.
There is a vast store house of mental images inside us all. Some are good and some may be bad. It is up to us to clean our own house of consciousness and to begin creating the mental images that we want to see and discover for ourselves.
We can create our own stories with happy or sad endings.
The Truth is up to US!
People are waking up to the fact that there is more to life than what we are now experiencing and many want to do something to change the artful atmosphere that has been created. Some are gathering together to make their voices heard in unison.
I am one who works in the higher planes to serve those above so that those ebens below can be heard as well. I am one who acts as a bridge and go between as this is part of my journey in this lifetime on earth. We all have a part to play and I am writing my own story with the guidance of those above we call aliens – higher beings – God.
I ask for GOD and GODDESS to guide me on a daily basis. I use my higher power on a daily basis. Belief may not be knowing to some but those who believe may also desire to know and shall prove to themselves what they know through their belief systems.
I was raised to believe in our teachers on earth such as Jesus Christ and I believe in the power of those who have come before us to this place on earth. This is my choice and I find that these choices serve me very well in this place. It is up to each individual to find their way back home.
I am here to share my self if once chooses to share themselves first. Those above have set this situation up this way. I am easy to find for those who choose to find me. I can be located here on UFO Digest which serves those who are believers in what I choose to believe in and that is “ASCENSION” and that “ALIEN CIVILIZATIONS EXIST!”
All that I share comes to me from my choice to be of service to others!
The Collective Unconscious exists in Imaginary Space and is recognized as a white beach. The white ash-colored beach is the visual image of the imaginary domain that a consciousness visualizes when its real-domain body has died and it is being pulled into the Collective Unconscious. This image is subjective and differs according to cultural background and experience of the perceiver.
This Collective Unconscious is something like a sky that canopies the entire world, or a vast land on which everything stands. The Collective Unconscious in Imaginary space is such an absolute existence that it is the structure of a gigantic consciousness that holds the Dimensional Universe together.
Theresa Janette Thurmond Morris is an Author/Entrepreneur. TJ specializes in paranormal/super natural phenomenon. TJ was a professional consultant and expert witness on legal investigations and has prior military and government service in the USA 1980-1993. Professionally she uses her initials TJ. TJ has written several paranormal books including Ascension Age 2012 & Beyond, Alien UFO Story by TJ, Avatar Oracle Xeno Guide, Roswell Connection, Roswell UFO Encounters, UFOS & Extraterrestrials, and Uplifting the Soul. All books are in print available. TJ shares her life with TJ Morris & Friends and is an Ambassador of Goodwill with American Culture International Relations and ACIR. TJ Morris is her trademark ACIR her servicemark.
TJ also edits books for her friends and publishes books such as mysteries and paranormal romance. Professional History in corporate international marketing, manufacturing, legal investigations, newspaper columnist, and magazine publisher. TJ lives in Kentucky USA with husband who is also an author. TJ is a speaker, spiritual consultant, producer, publisher. TJ spends much of her time assisting others as a consultant in business and with building websites. TJ’s are ACIR.us, AmericanNewsMagazine.com, TJMorris.org, ETSpirit.org, ASCENSIONcenter.org, and many others as media online press including TimelyManorBooks.com. Tj’s books available on Amazon and Lulu under Theresa J Morris and TJ Thurmond Morris. TJ has been interested in the Alien ET UFO Community all her life with a strong research history in the metaphysics, ontology, and is founder of theACE Folklife Historical Society and Ascension Center.org. TJ is also a natural born leader as a Capricorn with Aquarius rising and promotes expos, seminars, and her friends and their business interests. TJ attracts others who desire to share similar interests in social networks and is a social entrepreneur. TJ writes about what interests her including her friends and their businesses. TJ loves people, places, things, and having a near death experience learned the power of meditation and prayer for all those who believe as she does in Ascension Vertical Lifestyles for body-mind-spirit. TJ has been a Life Coach to those who request her services as a mentor. TJ is a known planner organizer since she founded Psychic Network in Hawaii 1990-1993 and has worked in seminars and expos in the USA.
Awakening Conscious Awareness
Of Body-Mind-Spirit having the Birth-Life-Death Experience Together as Humanoid Sentient Intelligence
An Ayuveda Way of Life
Ayu means the Life
Veda means wisdom or science of
We share in the Universe, Multiverse, Metaverse, Xenoverse, and Omniverse as levels of the All that is in our macrocosm. We believe in the 33 levels of life and that only the creators of this Omniverse are outside of this macrocosm the Omniverse therefore we believe in divine creation.
Ascension Centered Enlightened by Ascension Ascended Masters is part of our world.
Those who believe in Ascension also believe that Alien Civilizations Exist as (ACE) Belief. They also are Spiritual Intellectuals and Historians who combine Science and Philosophy in life. .
Spiritual Hierarchythe Planetary Center of Love-Wisdom, The Kingdom of the Gods, the … Paul McCarthy of the Sirius Ascension Center in Brighton, England offers …76 KB (10,929 words) – 06:30, 28 August 2011
St. Mary’s of Michigan Medical CenterMary’s of Michigan Medical Center is a hospital in Saginaw , … Mary’s is a subsidiary of Ascension Health , and is a teaching affiliate of …2 KB (297 words) – 23:06, 23 September 2010
Ascension of Jesus in Christian artThe Ascension of Jesus to Heaven as stated in the New Testament has been a …icons the Virgin Mary is at the center and Christ can be …11 KB (1,704 words) – 23:29, 1 August 2011
Jody Amedeeportions of Ascension , Livingston , St. James , and St. John the Baptist parishes. black Southern University Law Center in Baton Rouge . …5 KB (639 words) – 01:56, 2 September 2011
St. Vincent’s Medical Center (Bridgeport)Vincent’s Medical Center is a 397-bed acute care Catholic hospital … The hospital is now controlled by Ascension Health , the nation’s …5 KB (627 words) – 05:46, 9 September 2010
Horologium SuperclusterIt is centered on coordinates right ascension 03 | 19 and declination -50 | 02, and spans an angular area of 12° × 12°. The nearest part …2 KB (258 words) – 22:13, 21 August 2011
Sergei ToropovIn 1978—1985 Toropov led Perm Regional Children’s Center “Voskhozhdeniye” , ascension. January 19, 1982, a club “Permsky Krayeved …3 KB (331 words) – 10:58, 6 April 2011
Ascension of JesusThe Ascension implies Jesus’ humanity being taken into heaven The … In many Eastern icons the Virgin Mary is placed at the center of the …25 KB (3,397 words) – 01:24, 24 August 2011
Chapel of the Ascension (Jerusalem)The Chapel of the Ascension.
Ascensionrock: jpg | center The Ascension rock surrounds the Ascension rock, …2 KB (201 words) – 05:41, 16 May 2011
St. Agnes Hospital (Baltimore) (section Chest Pain Emergency Center)Bariatric Surgery Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence and is a … Agnes Hospital is a member of Ascension Health , the largest non- …5 KB (647 words) – 23:12, 4 September 2011
Crisis of the Third Centurythe Italian-centered and independent Roman Empire, proper, between them. The Crisis ended with the ascension and reforms of Diocletian , …14 KB (2,009 words) – 06:27, 5 September 2011
St. Joseph Regional Medical CenterJoseph Regional Medical Center may refer to: … St. Joseph Regional Medical Center(Lewiston, Idaho) — Lewiston, Idaho; part of Ascension …550 B (61 words) – 01:29, 21 July 2011
St. John Providence Health SystemCatholic, Ascension Health Care System and operates the following hospitals: … By 2001, the Emergency Center staff was treating more than …8 KB (1,145 words) – 02:12, 15 July 2011
Pechersky Ascension MonasteryPechersky Ascension Monastery … The monastery soon became an important spiritual and religious center of the Principality of Suzdal and Nizhny …4 KB (550 words) – 19:36, 2 October 2010
Mass Effectfirst game in the planned trilogy centers around a player created character named …Mass Effect: Ascension (2008): The second novel based …24 KB (2,658 words) – 07:22, 4 September 2011
Brighton HospitalBrighton Hospital is one of the oldest alcoholism and addiction treatment centers …in Addiction Medicine nationally within Ascension Health. …6 KB (831 words) – 06:26, 17 August 2011
Augusta Victoria HospitalAugusta Victoria was built in 1907 as a center for the German … the Ascension with a 65-metre belltower and a hospice for Christian pilgrims. …6 KB (790 words) – 00:31, 6 August 2011
Ascended Master Teachings (section Ascension)the created universes until it achieves The Ascension (Mastery through Enlightenment). … aspx The Hearts Center (2002), “http://SamadhiGame. …40 KB (5,909 words) – 19:25, 22 June 2011
Hickman Community HospitalServices , which is part of Ascension Health , the largest Catholic health … Nashville and Middle Tennessee Medical Center in Murfreesboro . …3 KB (308 words) – 12:46, 9 April 2011
Ascension (John Coltrane album)Ascension is a jazz album by John Coltrane recorded in 1965 and released in 1966… centered on pianist McCoy Tyner , double bassists Jimmy …8 KB (996 words) – 11:20, 19 August 2011
They follow the God Particle and share in the CERN project including the Internet and World Wide Web with their Social Networks. They stay in touch by way of the Internet and all its forms in cyberspace including Email, Chat, Buddypress, Websites, Facebook, and Blogs. They also conduct their seminars and webinars online and have Expos ever two years.
They are preparing their books as their shares and combine them in the heading of Timely Manor Books Imprints that are available on Amazon, LuLu, and as Electronic Books as Ebooks. They are the New Generation of Writers and share Art.
They share art, culture, education, science, technology, and folklife. They share the media online and mention television shows that are shared by the general populace on History International, Green Channel, Discovery Channel, and other documentaries and real life television programs. They may be seen at various creative conventions and movie previews being released.
They come by life in space as shared while growing up as “Baby Boomers” watching Star Trek, Outer Limits, Twilight Zone, and later Stargate, and Stargate Atlantis and Eureka.
The grew up after World War I and II and the Korean War and some were the “Old Hippies” while the other half were “NASA NERDS” and were watching man walk on the moon in 1969.
They are a group of people who are intelligent and believe in the future! They as futurists and want to share in the sustainability of their species and their planet. Many of them share their beliefs in the galactic supremacy of other homes by way of memory and reincarnation.
If you put it together, it means the science of life. CONNECTING TO THE SYNERGY OF ASCENSION CENTER ENLIGHTENMENT
We the members of the Ascension Center, ascribe to the highest standards of excellence with regard to the uplifting of humankind by providing spiritual and educational awareness. We devote our time and energy to sharing in the health and prosperity for all. We recognize that we are not alone in the universe and that alien civilizations exist. We share in the light, delight in every body-mind-spirit, and welcome them in fellowship. We recognize that this organization belongs to all beings on earth who desire to join as believers. We are an open source of information and will all participate in sharing our energy and awareness. We are artists, creators, educators, scientists, technologists, folklorists, supporters of life on earth and we are about sustainability of earth and for our humanoid species on earth and in space.
We are a fellowship club called the Ascension Center Organization. Ascension Center Enlightenment – A work in progress of all who claim to be Lightworkers. Those who desire to become Ascension Lightworkers will use their given names at birth on earth and be counted in the rolls and as members of the Ascension Center Organization a world information network. Ascension Centers Enlightenment Courses are founded for spiritual growth, education, and continuation of research for the community for truth and enlightenment. We are about bringing art, culture, education, science, and technology to the forefront of the human body-mind-spirit. We are about awareness and human spiritual friendship with common interests in social entrepreneurial atmospheres for the commonwealth. We are about sharing our ideas for the future generations to come. We are about setting our energy into action as the stone building blocks to share the beliefs that alien civilizations exist and that there were ancient astronauts intervention from time to time with humanoids of earth. We believe in the Divine Intervention of the God energy and Nature’s God and Goddess as intelligent design of our species. We believe in the extraterrestrials some also known as angels and others who from the heavens came in various levels of service to those above who are spoken of in the various records left on earth by our ancestors regarding those from the heavens came to earth. We believe that it is the ancient wisdom of our ancestors that chose to share in the arcane and occult wisdoms and it was the chosen oracles, shamans, sages, prophets, and prophetesses who were chosen to keep the truth alive for all on earth. We believe in the spark of life and that we shall all be called the “Keeper of the Flame” as the one who has kept the fire burning in all of us as the Holy Ghost and Holy Spirit of the Master of humankind.
This is a personal choice to become a Lightworker.
The spark of life is that which was created and we accept in us all. We believe in the truth of the one perfect being that came to show us the way, the gate, the door, and the key to the future for us all. Some of the more precise levels in our education in books may include the following: Certified genuinely involved in the spiritual realm for the healing of our sentient intelligent being species. We recognize Avatars, Reiki Healers, Oracles, Psychic Mediums, Spiritual Advisors, Seers, Sages, Shaman, Natural Crystal Chakra Energy Movers, and Ayurvedic practitioners. One will benefit from their intuitive skills and compassionate hearts as well as intellectual training and hands-on experience. Whether you are currently troubled with health issues – or seeking more SPIRITUAL wellness, pleasure and balance in your life –, a visit to one of the ASCENSION CENTER ENLIGHTENMENT dedicated practitioners could open up new worlds for you. The Founder and Creator of the Ascension Center Enlightenment is sharing an alliance with those who desire to be chosen to be added with all those who consider themselves “Lightworkers”. There are now many who will join the ranks of those who have the faith in the eternal spiritual bond through the light. Theresa Morris of http://www.theresamorris.net.
PLANET INFORMATION ET WORK.COM
The new organization is actually created from the core energy and words/Logos Ascension Center of an epiphany and is divinely inspired. Theresa J Thurmond Morris, Counselor and Founder of the Ascension Center Enlightenment Network. World Information Network (WIN) is an acronym created also in 1990-1993 time period along with that received for the Ascension Center – Hawaii for our motivational workings in education. . Organization Date for Collecting names in the Book of Life of Ascension Center is 12/21/2010 on earth and will continue asking for support of members in an organization that is public and known to be a organization for those who desire to claim their place in the world as believers of ascension created by extraterrestrials. . The ACE Body-Mind-Spirit courses we share will assist us to exist in our body temples while here on the earth plane as a place for our existence. We shall create an alternative lifestyle for the future of 2012 and beyond. We will know each other as those who desired change for the future of our species while on earth. We will be called the Ascension Center Enlightenment Lightworkers as ACE LIGHTWORKERS who are known for our Logos in words, work, and deed while here and alive on planet earth. We shall welcome sustainability of our planet and the disclosure of truth with health and prosperity for all. We also believe in love and light as the purpose of our existence for ourselves, humankind, and for the raising of our own conscious, as well as others. We share in the Ascension Center Enlightenment as a humankind fellowship club with extraterrestrials and those who are believers in extraterrestrials as those who assist and guide those on earth. Further information is available for those interested in serving as directors and guides. I have been told and assured that those who join will be on a list and that those who join will be given knowledge and awareness to belong and to care for this eternal Ascension Center on earth to be perpetual and eternal with the involvement of others throughout time hereafter.
That strong commitment requires so little on our part of simply joining others who share the same belief in extraterrestrials. http://youtu.be/Aou9Cfvj8rM
We will share in the belief and knowing that we are known among our peers and we belong to a group to cares, shares, and becomes aware of others. We shall be compassionate, caring, and loving in the light. The energy offered to the organization is voluntary and those who serve will know their part when the time comes. We will all have various interests and talents to add to the organization. It is time for those to come forth and join others. This is the time to share the Ascension Center and to all become students and teachers on earth. We may be surprised in the future as to who shall join us. We will first need to set up one site for the roster for the first plank owner members of the first 500 and discover who desires to be team players as directors, guides, motivators, supporters, instructors, Lightworkers, and what ever else will be needed or required to assist the members who are new to the awareness of ascension as believers. We will team up in members of 500 and by locations with area directors. We welcome Shamans, Mystics, and those who desire to be Social Entrepreneurs and we have other voluntary positions with those who desire to link in their talents and expertise in life. Authors such as Deepak Chopra, Wayne Dyer, Whitley Strieber, Dirk Vander Ploeg, Zechariah Sitchin, Erick Von Daniken are welcome and any who know of those who already believe in extraterrestrials should be encouraged to join and share with all other believers while here on this planet. Reincarnation is a belief of the founder but not required of all other believers only that they believe in extraterrestrials as the focus of our fellowship club for both male and female. Love and Light. We just are and we do not proselyte.
Many friends are Bahai and many believe in past writings and spiritual teachers.
We do not claim anything except that we are believers in spirit and faith. Each person as an individual has free will and free choice to do as they desire. We simply have an informal alliance of lightworkers with those who choose to be in an alliance to share the knowledge we call wisdom of that we once called esoteric.
I have had people emailing me about wanting to be paranormal writers and asking me where they can join my organization.
ET Spirit is real and is related to that of the Ascension Center Enlightenment and the Ascension Age Alignment of all the universal knowledge we plan on sharing about dimensions and time among other new wisdom. Some will see that we welcome the ancient mystery schools to be open during this Age of Revelation to all.
There is an energy movement that we call Ascension which is a term used on earth for the raising of our consciousness of our future spiritual paths.
There are many back stories and versions of the theme of what was the original ascension path. Most of us who are of the old path of Christian-Pagan upbringing will agree that it most likely began with those who we once considered the Gnostics.
Those past scholars in the last century could never agree on what the entire Gnostic beliefs really are. Like all one word tagged groups as believers, they have gone the way of other past energy faith movements. That of the Ascension Age has not yet begun. Many of the “Baby Boomers” will want to share that the “Age of Aquarius” gave us new ideas we called the “NEW AGE” which also has various back stories on the theme of what the new age really was about.
Faith is a wonderful thinking spark of enchantment for those who believe in magick. There is a renaissance or rebirth of our spiritual awareness. Many will claim this is like the 14th to 16th century on earth while others will say that the 21st century will be in the energy grid more aligned with the 12th century which in numbers is a compliment or to see and say 12 in reverse in 21. Numerology and algorithms are a part of this world and work which we plan on sharing with our new way of using our minds.
We are going to learn about the various dimensions and how to know more about spatial revelations we now regard as time. More on that later. We will have to take this energy rather slow like learning to build a house. This house will be strong and built on a firm foundation. Part of this way of thinking incorporates the Tectonic Economics of our creation masons on this planet. We do not want to lose what mother earth may reject. What has not pleased her in the past has been taken away. One hint of how Mother Earth can rebel against our creations has been seen in the past with earth quakes, tsunamis and what we call natural cataclysms. We will soon learn that the Ascension Center is about what is in the middle of the four corners of this planet which is the glue and what our Mother or home planet will allow to begin in this Age of Revelation we are creating together as one. We must honor the mother goddess energy this time around.
We of the Ascension Center Organization will now join forces with the ET Spirit Organization, which also follows as the “Children of the Light”. We are all those who believe in ASCENSION and that Alien Civilizations Exist. We accept that there are many who desire to assist on this planet in the transition and shift and uplift of what we call the ascension process. This is also called the awakening of humanity. Some desire to link their light as we have done in the past. The social networks of the Internet are a great way to start. Some will simply offer their alliance through their own energy created organizations. Therefore we offer an electronic connection over the web or Internet inside the matrix. We also believe that there have been many wonderful Avatar Masters. One who we choose to believe in was called Jesus Christ. We also believe in all the clues and proof left behind to define this mortal plane and dimension we call a three dimensional world. While we are here, we also recognize one and two dimensions as well as the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, and eleventh dimension. The Twelfth Dimension is reserved for those of the Supreme Beings. The Thirteenth Dimension is outside of the Omniverse realm and we are not able to understand that above the Supreme Beings of the outer Omniverse at this time. The Thirteenth level has been reserved for the outer all Omnipresence’s of all the universes, multiverses (polyverse), metaverses, xenoverses, and omniverses. We share the various levels with all those who work in the various planes, dimensions, and what we now call time, spate-time, astral time, and what we believe to be our conscious existence relating to those who are our time lords.
Time Lords.
The Time Lord of our present state of being in body-mind-spirit we choose to share as that of who comes in goes in the omniverse as the Holy Spirit. Those who are of the children of Light choose to claim the iconic name of Jesus Christ as their Lord and Master of Light and whose protection through their faith they can be protected while here in this earthly plane from evil. We choose to emanate his example in this level of three-dimensional brain training while we exist in body-mind-spirit. We call this whole life living.
Those who we believe in that evil of which Jesus could cast out demons who are of the malevolent creations are known to exist in this plane or in this three dimensional world. We choose to protect ourselves in the light. We have had our “Loose lips sink ships” campaigns to keep our military personnel quiet. This technique still works today among most our young military personnel that are trained for their time in service. Those who are given clearances are allowed to know only what is needed to know to perform their duties while in the service to their government.
Then when they are released, they are debriefed and asked to sign nondisclosure agreements or confidentiality papers that state they can be fined or imprisoned for divulging information that deals with their past employment and service to the United States government. This keeps the service of underground secrecy at a level of control among those who perform basic duties in certain classified areas. However, some are allowed to know things based on very secretive covert intelligence operations that we have all come to suspect such as Area 51, and Dulce, New Mexico.
Various contractors receive clearances to work on military weapons and air assault weapons and nuclear weapons. We have biological weapons and Star Wars with stealth capabilities. We are always coming up with new technology to protect earth in space from predators who would dare to overtake our planet. My stories about the future will be for entertainment only and I shall try not to give the impression that I am channeling my alien visitor’s telepathic information. This is something that most all will not believe anyway. I am neither admitting nor denying that this is possible.
I will admit that I am aware of aliens visiting this planet and have known some. I also know that we can travel in space and that we have alien spacecraft that can join with the fleet of aliens above in space. TJ ASCENSION CENTER ENLIGHTENMENT PRACTITIONERS & COUNSELORS we shall have our own ACE members who shall share in our fellowship and will be recommended to others with our same basic beliefs of those above. ANCIENT MYSTERY SCHOOLS OF THOSE WHO PRACTICE THE ANCIENT ARTS OF SPIRITUAL HEALING FOR THE BODY-MIND-SPIRIT We honor our soul that belongs to God/Goddess. Father and Mother as above so below here on earth. We will share with those who are our members in fellowship and shall discuss meeting at various locations with practitioners at the various community levels and in seminars and expositions. We shall share the members locations and businesses as they sign up to belong as members as believers in the Ascension Center Enlightenment Mission Statement.
We the members of the Ascension Center, ascribe to the highest standards of excellence with regard to the uplifting of humankind by providing spiritual and educational awareness. We devote our time and energy to sharing in the health and prosperity for all. We recognize that we are not alone in the universe and that alien civilizations exist. We share in the light, delight in every body-mind-spirit, and welcome them in fellowship. We recognize that this organization belongs to all beings on earth who desire to join as believers. We are an open source of information and will all participate in sharing our energy and awareness. We are artists, creators, educators, scientists, technologists, folklorists, supporters of life on earth and we are about sustainability of earth and for our humanoid species on earth and in space. We are a fellowship club called the Ascension Center Organization.
If one desires to Google me they should do so under TJ Thurmond Morris and not just Theresa Morris or TJ Morris ACIR although there are various names I have used not realizing that Google would not place them all on the same page or pages for my readers and fans to find me. I choose to be remembered as a Christian Mystic although as everyone knows history is fleeting and not known while living but is created after one is dead and gone from this realm of existence.
Therefore as a “Starving Artist who has to pay their dues,” I have decided to share in the future some lessons of writing and how to share my organization as people are inquiring.
This is a beginning phase of a new paradigm and the movement will be called the Aquarian Age Ascension Center of Enlightenment.
I did not choose the name ASCENSION CENTER but it was chosen for me by those above that some would consider the Holy Trinity as the DIVINE POWER. That would be GOD, JESUS, and HOLY SPIRIT!
Now, with that said, I shall offer a bit of history of how I became one of the first in a long line of what is now called paranormal writers and more particularly one of the Creators of the ET/UFO Community writers as we call it ET/UFO JOURNALISM 101.
Because the world is changing and we are entering what is now called the globalization phase or the “GLOBAL COMMUNITY”, we are aware of the raise in the Holistic Alternative Health and Medicine fields. Also, there is over $30 Billion dollars reported this year and is gaining interest while the other fields in the product and service industry are in decline or in recession!
Therefore, I shall try to assist all those who desire me too as a GUIDE and TEACHER. I am going to assist those who want to share my path in the ASCENSION CENTER ENLIGHTENMENT. I was chosen to be an ET/UFO CONTACTEE and I do share what I can when I can with others in my writing.
This has come to the attention of other would be writers who desire to join me in my QUEST for THE INNER LIGHT and the book which I have began a series of TITLEs for is ASCENSION AGE 2012 & BEYOND, Spirituality & Philosophy for Whole Life Living – A Better Future. ISBN # 978-0-557-39897-3.www.amazon.com/Ascension-Beyond-Theresa…/dp/0557398975.
This book is the beginning in a series of which I started writing while I was reading my own columns on UFO Digest.
I saw how my own life was connected to the all spiritually and philosophically. I was changing and becoming a better writer with Dirk Vander Ploeg offering some guidance as to have my husband read my articles with me before I sent them in and to please use a spell check. I learned a lot from Dirk and will be glad to share in the future with him with completing some writing training for others. Although I had been an investigator reporter and private investigator in college, I was trained later as a Government Investigator and writing reports a certain way for them. This did not leave room for any creative thinking or writing. I did not learn much about writing but learned more about the people, place, and things I was investigating.
This is not the same thing as being what I call a “REAL WRITER” much less one that is called a PARANORMAL WRITER. So, I began a new path and quest to raise my own awareness of what Dirk wanted to present on UFO Digest. Still there was a learning curve as to what information he wanted me to share and how. This is how I learned that I was not so much like all the other people who were reporting on his website and others who were into the UFO Community of collecting photos and making videos. This that I wanted to do was working more with words and their relationship to other people.
I realized I was more about sharing my thoughts on the future of how the world could be with what I knew was introduced to me in HAWAII as the ASCENSION CENTER. Then I realized that this goes back much further than my 7 years in Hawaii and my creation of the PSYCHIC NETWORK and the book I had written there called ASCENSION ANCIENT MYSTERY SCHOOLS. This was more than the
Psychic Awakening Classes that I taught others.
This was the “BIG AHA” moment of where I could blend my spirit and passion with a spark of talent that had been dormant in me but guided by those above whether they be the GOD, Jesus, Holy Spirit, or their Demi Gods, Angels, Guides, or Metatron himself from the Akashic Field. This was more than the Theory of Everything. This was about the future of which I was to be a part as a Spiritual Mystic Writer. I could use my prior channeling, psychic, remote viewer energy and talents to include them in the working world as an Author/Entrepreneur.
This could offer me an outlet for all that energy and money and I mean thousands, $5,000 USD on one SEMINAR to be exact that I attended in PSI Seminars in Long Beach, California at the Hilton in 1993. Then I went to the PSI ranch. This was back in the day when we were learning about Werner Erhard, EST, Neuro Linguistic Programming, and I wasn’t into that. Those guys in the rooms learning EST sounded like they were in misery, while we in PSI were doing self examinations in an agreeable atmosphere. I CHOSE PSI over EST.
I chose Wayne Dyer http://www.drwaynedyer.com, Zig Zigler http://www.ziglar.com , Deepak Chopra http://www.chopra.com and was already involved as an event planner for many Whole Earth and ECO Expos all over including various cities in the US and Canada. http://www.wholelifecanada.com. I went to Dallas, Chicago, and New York and participated in these conventions that were very green and environmentally wholesome. I liked the people and the products back then. But, one thing that was not present was the ET/UFO community. It was only represented with the bunch who believed in Blavatsky and certain other books. SO, it was Book Authors who were on the fringe of what I already knew to be the truth.
It was a time when Erich Von Daniken http://www.daniken.com and Zecharia Sitchin http://www.sitchin.com were mentioned secretly at these conventions but no one would claim a hall or row for those who were of the ET/UFO Community. We were all together except on that one topic, I knew the spirit in the future would have to change. Sure, there had been Shirley Mac Laine, http://www.shirleymaclaine.comi, with Out On A Limb, http://www.amazon.com/Out-Limb-Shirley-Maclaine/dp/0553273701 and I watched it on television with my four daughters from military housing in Great Lakes, IL in 1987. I also watched the Whitley Strieber television show called Communion, http://www.unknowncountry.com/dreamland/ with my girls who did not care for it at all. At that time, we had all been involved with ETs and UFOS and they were not frightening but enlightening. We did not understand why this movie portrayed a different experience.
I decided then to share some of my stories with others who had exhibits at these conventions and see what came back. There were some Gnostics who were serving whole food and they began to talk to me at my booth a few booths down. They represented a way of being and the SUFIS joined them. I didn’t really want to be in the religious part of this whole life movement.
There were two men that came up to me and embarrassed me while I was eating with the Sufis. One said, “Hey, I know you. I saw you! You were in Las Vegas at the airport.” Then the man with him said, “That’s her. She’s the one I was telling you about. The tall blonde that works underground at Area 51.” I was so embarrassed and told them they didn’t know what they were talking about. I had been outed and knew then that I must find a way to make this acceptable before this whole thing got out of hand. I soon learned that the extraterrestrials agreed with me and heard my thoughts and prayers but that is a long story better left for a later time….
We will do what we can to provide Lightworkers as Guides in the various dimensions and stages of development. We still share that when the student is ready the master will appear. The organization will run based on not for profit special interests groups headquartered in the United States with the North American Continent, Eurasia, China, Australia, Africa, and all continents and islands who desire to join. This will take time and we can begin now as we have had various members for years. We just desire to bring them all together and begin a fresh list of believers. TJ
The game is afoot…We of the Ascension Center Organization and ET Spirit Organization have joined forces with TJ Morris Organization to set the records straight of those Lightworkers as Spirits of the Originals.I TJ taken on the Quest as “Keeper of the Flame” as of this date.From this day forward consider me one of the Light Warriors who has taken on the power of the Holy Grail which is in me as the Serpentine Power of the Holy Pleroma, Galactic Center in the future Legends and Myths of the Serpentine Goddess.I do this not only for my four daughters, granddaughters, and grandsons but also for all the alien ET children of the world that are now here and will come to this planet.
Thank you Robert Morningstar my Colleague on Planet Earth who has revised this knowledge that we know of that was from the beginning story that was watered down in cuneiform and later in the leather bound codices now known as the Nag Hammadi Codices. There are many of our Avatar Ascended Masters who have attended to the Supreme Beings in the Cosmos. Just as the fantasy and imagination of J.K. Rowling with the stories of the imagination that prepared the way for the world, we shall now introduce that which we of the Agashan and Nag Hammadi Seers and Advisors share a new birth for the ancient ones.
Thank you for sharing these words for which we shall learn the sharing of the truth for those who are of the way, the truth, and the light of that which we come from another Galaxy and join in sharing our libraries of the Akashic Field.
We shall meet everyone on the playing field of the Game of Life: We thank John Lash for his wisdom and sharing the New Age time with us while here on earth. We welcome his output into the Ascension Age beginning Anew December 21, 2012. Some call this the “Great Awakening”. Who Wrote the Reptilian Agenda? By John Lash(Copyright 2010, John Lash – All Rights Reserved) Please read all his Methhistory.ORG information which is practical and useful. His studies along with the Nag Hammadi Codices is very helpful to the laypersons.
The following is quoted on UFO Digest as an insert by Robert Morningstar. UFO Digest.com is very useful for our colleagues. TJ is also a syndicated columnist on UFO Digest. The Origin of the Annunaki ScriptA Collector’s Edition entitled “Secrets of the Da Vinci Code,” published by US News and World Report, features a brief interview with James Robinson, general editor of the Nag Hammadi Library in English. Correcting Dan Brown’s reference to the Nag Hammadi texts as scrolls, Robinson points out: “They are codices – books with individual pages. They are actually the oldest example we have of leather bound books.”Amazingly, whatever the significance of their content—and we have yet to comprehend what that might be—the Nag Hammadi Codices (NHC) are the earliest surviving examples of bound books. Close reading of these arcane materials shows that Gnostics, as teachers in the ancient Mysteries were called, were deeply concerned with an alien intrusion upon humankind.
Entities they called “Archons” appear to be identical to the ETs of modern UFOlogy.
The codices indicate both Gray and reptilian types: namely, a reptilian or “drakonic” type and a neonate type, suggested by the image of a prematurely born fetus.
The former are the overlords, the latter, servile, robotic drones who obey a hive-mentality. The NHC do not contain graphic physical descriptions of these alien intruders, but present ample information to profile them comparatively with the two types of ETs most widely discussed today. Alien Profile Perhaps one-fifth of the intelligible material in the NHC concerns the origin, methods, and motives of the “Archons,” also called “authorities, governors.”
Their name derives from arche-, “first, from the beginning,” because, according to Gnostic cosmology, they emerged at an early stage of the solar system before the formation of the earth. These bizarre entities may be regarded as a locust-like species of cyborgs with silicon-based bodies so designed to permit only brief forays into the earth’s oxygen-rich atmosphere. They inhabit the solar system at large, traveling among the planets in alien-engineered spacecraft. Gnostics texts hint that they may be compared to custodial engineers of the inanimate clockwork mechanism of the system. Some, but not all, UFO sightings and abductions may be attributed to them.Although archons do exist physically, the real danger they pose to humanity is not invasion of the planet but invasion of the mind.The archons are intrapsychic mind-parasites who access human consciousness through telepathy and simulation. They infect our imagination and use the power of make-believe for deception and confusion. Their pleasure is in deceit for its own sake, without a particular aim or purpose. They are robotic in nature, incapable of independent thought or choice, and have no particular agenda, except to live vicariously through human beings. They are bizarrely able to pretend an effect on humans, which they do not really have.For instance, they cannot access human genetics, but they can pretend to do so, in such a way that human’s fall for the pretended act, as if staged events were taken for real. In this respect, archons are the ultimate hoaxers. This is the essence of “archontic intrusion,” as I call it. The trick is, if humanity falls under the illusion of superhuman power, it becomes as good as real, a self-fulfilling delusion.In the cosmic perspective, the archons present a dynamic aspect of the evolutionary scenario of humankind, through which human potential is tested. The Gnostic view of their role closely matches the “flyers” in The Active Side of Infinity, the last book of Carlos Castaneda, who says that the flyers are “the means by which the universe tests us.” There are numerous close parallels between Castaneda and Gnostic teachings.This profile of the archons is not speculative. It follows what can be gathered from the Gnostic writings. For instance, NHC texts describe how the archons attempted to rape Eve—clearly a mythological rendition of genetic intervention. Such passages appear to support the claims of alien interbreeding so widely discussed today. However, in the Gnostic account, the alien intruders did not succeed in this act of cross-species intervention: they tried but failed.Trace the notion that archons present a test to humanity — explicitly stated by Castaneda if one accepts the archon/flyers correlation — can also in some NHC writings, especially The Apochryon of John. That text suggests that the Aeon Sophia, the cosmic intelligence of the earth, engages the archon species and uses their deviant and deceptive influence for such a purpose. The account of how the overlord of the authorities “committed adultery with Wisdom (Sophia)” and binds humanity to “a chain of blind compulsion (hiermarmene)” is baffling, to say the least (NHC II, 1:28.16).To sort out and clarify what the Sophianic narrative may have to say about the test of the archons is a great challenge to our understanding of the Gnostic message and how it can benefit humanity today. »
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I worked for attorneys, with FBI agents, Marshals, Police Chiefs, Arson Investigators for Insurance Companies, Naval Investigative Services (NIS), DOD, and we shared much but still put our own opinions at the end of our reports. I soon realized that we were all out of the same mold due to our college courses, and military and professional training. There were organizations and fraternal orders we could join, and for years I was known among the Who’s Who and among other Private Investigators, I chose security and public administration outside of the service to the government as a general contractor and consultant. I was usually not allowed to discuss cases under confidentiality agreements which was par for the course. I called my personal business Assured Confidentiality Investigative Reports.
Although I have chosen a different more common folklife style of writing today, I share the respect of all those who still call this type of writing and style of reporting investigative reporting and journalism. There are billions of people on this planet and one shall learn that certain people gravitate to others vibrations and tones whether in voice, video, or writing.
I recently got a brochure from a man in New Jersey who is an investigator and has all the equipment for analyzing voices. I won’t go into the details but I hope that I do not have to get to the point where I do not trust others in my life or am asked personally to use this equipment in an investigation. Therefore, I have changed my style of life and writing from being an Investigator, or Investigative Reporter to being more of a personal stylized writer. I want to appeal to the general populace to persuade others to share in my life and on my path as a friend.
I suggest to all readers of UFO Digest to welcome Steve for all the work he does and to praise him for his style and for being able to shine a light on progressive mainstream journalism. Such as his comment and I will quote:
“Psychological denial, ridicule and closed minds are probably not helpful for our human societies on planet Earth.
Responsible journalists may want to step up to the plate and exchange denial and hubris for thorough research and greater insight. This is useful not only for journalists themselves, but also for the public who rely on today’s journalism for a legitimate source of information and perspective.” Steve Hammons.
From TJ Morris :
For the ET/UFO Community this is needed. We have seen various websites over the years since 1995 crop up. I used the computers in the military since 1985 and was bringing my own Kaypro metal box carry around to work with me like a lap top. I was in the U.S. Navy at the time. Although we had some computers in the main buildings in places like for CRYPTO it wasn’t until I was working in about 1988-89 that I saw our government going through a transition to using computers.
I worked during a time of the first to use computers.
This was when we switched over from the WANG computer system. Prior to that I had seen other companies using IBM, and we trained ourselves from the 1970’s in Cobol and Fortran and their was a huge debate among my peers and classmates about the future since we were in Univ. of Alabama and were wondering whether we should actually pursue courses in computers because they were changing so fast.
I sat in many late night debates with the THINK TANKS in those years after our FORENSICS class. We would stay in a meeting room then some of us would adjourn to an eating establishment. It was decided we would all be Entrepreneurs working for the good of the all and simply be those who would use computers in the line of our profession and to get on the job training with software developers which was something that was new to us but we new IBM and others had “BUZZ WORDS” going on about the “TRANSISTER”. Now, the President of IBM has been quoted as admitting that the transistor was the greatest accomplishment of our time.
I am here to go on record for historical purpose of UFO Digest and in support of STEVE HAMMONS that Col. Philip J. Corso in THE DAY AFTER ROSWELL was telling the truth and had no reason to LIE!
I am here to support the truth that the TRANSISTER came from the ET/UFO that crashed near Roswell and that Strom Thurmond knew of this as I did and believed the truth. Strom Thurmond and I spoke on several occasions about this and he wanted my opinion as a young investigator during my time at UAB. The first time I was involved, his secretary got me on the phone, the other times he called me direct.
There is much of my life that is not public and probably never will be. This is why I have chosen to become a writer as an author and let the chips fall where they may. I take on the love and passion inside me which is spirit and the search for the one true GOD in ALL and this has lead me to discover more about myself and all others. I was chosen to be a CONTACTEE for whatever reasons.
I am lead by the inner force, our guiding force that I prefer to share with others as the spirit in us all. Some say I am wrong to use this style, since I was once a professional writer. I say that if I write like I had to all those years, the energy just doesn’t flow. It is not coming from the inside of me where the words just flow spontaneously and I don’t have to work at it. If this is channeling from those whom have watched over me and guided me as extraterrestrials and because of my past involvement with leaders in government positions then so be it.
One thing I would like to point out to Steve, Dirk, Robert, and my other peer group as writers, journalists, publishers, copy editors, investigators, is that because of my chosen line of work I have suffered because of my family and friends not being able to know me personally on earth or as a professional. The jobs we do as professionals dealing with the government on the inside is very lonely work. We are about core values and the good of all. We do not do it for ego but for truth.
There are many who pledge their lives to doing the right thing and so I honestly to defend many in my prior profession with the government. They are honest citizens who take on jobs to create HUMINT, that is human intelligence. We strive for the latest intel reports on the forward movements of those who may do us harm. We are still at the level of collecting human intelligence among every creature on earth. We will always be taking in analysts information and research from those in confidential and secret places. We will always have trained journalists that are acting in the public eye.
We must point out that the whole world is watching. This is why so many of our journalists of the United States are suspected of being spies! Because some are. This means to those who would still be our enemies based on politics among foreign governments that we are sending in government contractors or employees into foreign countries to gain information. That has not changed since the French Underground.
Read the history of our ways among intelligence in the military and how we all began collecting intelligence reports. It has morphed into those who are working in the newspaper field of journalism. This is how we allowed the outreach development of our government in the United States infiltrate that inside what for the most part appears to be corporate controlled newspaper reporting. Dirk and I know from experience inside the newspaper/magazine world but for me, I also have experience on both sides of the business as a government employee and as a civilian employee. I was ask to give stories to reporters for years.
The young reporters would locate me and want a story. I would tell them I could not help them so they would stalk me in Houston, Chicago, and New York. I trained some people to do what I do but most did not have the natural talent for it. I even had the opportunity to train some FBI agents that were green in the field who needed experience. But, then they were assigned to friends of mine who were already in the FBI. There is a world that unless one has lived it, one has no idea about and can not and should not rely on the main stream reporting for all their information.
There are those of us in the alternative independent reporting that can share more valuable information and first hand experiences.
There is a synergy happening inside of me of my spiritual, investigative, analyst, researcher parts that I see as a passion for exploration. I hope that Steve will continue to point out our flaws in the critical mass way of thinking and pointing out the flaws in our past ways of reporting. For now, there is still a gulf between those who are of the “PROGRAMMED” style of reporting and those of us who are “FREETHINKERS”.
Choices on http://www.socialparanormal.com,
http://www.theresamorris.net, and http://www.americannewsmagazine.com.
The original ASCENSION CENTER was set up based on the Epiphany and Inspiration from Theresa Janette Thurmond while living and working in Hawaii from 1988-1994.
The seven (7) year stay was while she worked in the working world of the military from 4-29-85 until 4-29-93 her 8 year tour which ended in Hawaii… TJ began the Ascension Center in Honolulu, Hawaii and recorded the name as a non profit organization there as a trade name and non-profit corporation.
The Ascension Center is now said to belong to all islands as far as the world locations are concerned as well as to all humanoid sentient intelligent beings.
Theresa experienced a life and death in her lifetime having placenta prevea and dying on January 27, 1974. This was her second death experience in this lifetime as of the last eight week period in her second grade school year in 1957-1958 she contracted Hepatitis A and it was never found out how she contracted the disease in Monroe, Louisiana.USA.
Two dates that have something to do with her later story of being inspired by those above whom she shares was extraterrestrials from the heavens came.
“TAKEN UP” Extragalactic ET Telepathy Transmissions
There are two types of physical manifestation that I have observed. There are those who consider themselves messengers which in the ancient of times would have been considered angels. Then there are those who can come and go at will based on their holographic representation of their other selves. Times are changing and so are we. If one desires to be visited by those above to serve as your guides this can happen. It has to some. We who have lived past lives and remember them are sharing the awakening experiences in what we call the Ascension Age of Love and Light as enlightenment. With my lesson of having died and returned in this lifetime, I have been one who has chosen to return as one who receives messages not only in person as in what we call contact of the UFO Contactee Experiencer type.
But also, as one who received messages through or by way of automatic writing as a form of Alien ET Extraterrestrial writing or vibrations. It is not the same as brain storming because one has to allow their conscious mind to listen to your will to let go and Let God/Goddess as is our super conscious above. There are various types of writing and this is but one way. It is spiritual inspiration when one discovers another believes in you and trusts you with a friendship of love and light. Love of all and this includes faith, hope, charity of what is, what was, and what will be forever and ever Amen. We shall share the power of discernment. Love for all humankind and all living things is real expression of the essence of our own free will and energy as it should be. Sharing what can be in our future requires visionaries. We can all be visionaries including the “I AM” in “ALL”.
Alien Civilizations Exist! (ACE) – “TAKEN UP” Series by TJCreated for Peter Dirk Vander Ploeg and Robert C. Morningstar The following are excerpts and formation of my own personal perceptions as received transmissions which in the world in which I share with other alien extraterrestrials as Ascension Ascended Masters who have returned as reincarnates on this planet use to share and to educate and our aim is to provide guidance. We have been those who are aware of the prior teachings of others who we follow in their paths and footsteps based on prior extraterrestrial invocation by way of spirit. This is a time called Ascension Age which is leading us into a more spiritual age of enlightenment. This is a time some call the “Golden Age of Enlightenment”. It is now time on earth that I , Theresa Janette (Tara Janus or Tara of Sothis) also known as Green Tara share my inner guidance as that of my Guides from another realm of existence that we presently call Andromeda. This is what is shared as the Ascension Age 9-1-11 and dates to come 11-11-11 and 12-21-12 which are benchmarks in time and space for all.
The Andromeda Galaxy is the closest one to our own called the Milky Way Galaxy. We are sharing our time on earth with those who from the heaven’s came. There will be ancient myths, legends, stories, sacred scriptures, and ancient hieroglyphs that are used to tell our story. We also have many who are written about throughout time for those who could read but most has been lost due to those who could not read and write. We now encourage all in this spiritual realm and in the physical realm to be guided by their essence of spirit as energy to serve each individual on this planet. We share that it is time for all to succumb to the level of enlightenment that some now regard as Ascension Center Enlightenment or Ascension Center Education from above.
No one person has the total enlightenment perfection since that of one who we called Jesus or Jehovah who walked the earth with common humankind. There have been others who came before such as Solomon and those who we know as Enoch, Saul, and many others. It is now time to share the stories of those who find their way through the spirit realm into our extraterrestrial realm that some call the Akashic Field and Theory of Everything. We will be sharing with many who desire our guidance and we have placed the words of Ascension and Center along with the ancient Sanskrit words of Ayu for Life and Veda for wisdom.
We now share that by way of the ancient old languages prior to Sanskrit there was the language of both the Atlantians and Lemurians. Those who follow various thought forms form space as other ancient planetarians may desire to group themselves with various new stellar soul mates in the “Thought Form Horizon”. It is time that we announce the imperfections in the thought forms we call the body-mind-spirit of the imaginations that are kept with those who desire to reincarnate and to prefect their individual sparks that we call essence as spirit while traveling through the Omniverse.
Each being on earth stands alone as a prefect of their own essence which can be seen as energy. Each creation has a body-mind-spirit in physical form that we presently call LIFE. It is up to each individual to perfect their own will and timeline while visiting the working planet called earth. The word earth has an etymology that includes eugenics of the concerns for improving the human species. We shall begin sharing more of what the creation of this species has been included on the working planet in order to assist in terra forming other planets. We who exist in space have a “Code of Ethereal Ethics”.
We expect our chosen communicators who are also addresses as Galaxy Citizens in this universe to shape and form as in ontology the work and words in English to share in the determination of the future of “All Souls” as the “I AM” in us ALL! We are now presenting to all and others to learn to write and to visualize as automatic writers while we use the thought forms of the Internet and the Word Wide Web which we have been instrumental in creating through our guidance of others.
We shall now offer others our Ancient Aliens which are working words describing the humanoids of earth ancestors such as “Keeper of the Flame” Mystic Oracle, Sage, Seer, Shaman and we ask that those who desire to unit as in the word called church the genealogy of all those who desire to share the past in the present and future. We offer the world a Generalisimo of the General Assembly for the planet called Gaia also called Earth the rare form of experience in that which is the Hierarchy of all that have come before to the planet earth. We realize that there are also generalizations for each generation on earth. This has been predesigned or in the working world of some that are celestial guided preordained.
We welcome all world religions who have been instrumental in shaping the future world with our predetermined arrival as extraterrestrials back into the physical realm of existence. We use automatic writing through a chosen vessel who has volunteered their services for the future to be predicted based on our prior guidance.
We share in the nature of the creation of the future with all those who are open to our telepathic communication which we share with those of the spiritual nature. We have come to define those who are most receptive to our internal reception by way of hearing those who are of the spiritual realm and continue to send thought forms out into the universe via their own thought waves that some call prayer and meditation. Some share their individual wills through sharing in churches or through forms in groups.
We provide guidance as the spiritual guides of those who from the heavens came by way of chosen instruments and vessels who are individual units who are most receptive and keep their vessels clean. We share the future for the planet earth based on those above whoa re considered the Supreme Beings and who are at the highest level of existence above the Omniverse.
We are those who come formed in the various thought forms and can materialize at any time when needed. We are simply here to guide and direct those who are willing to share in shaping the future of the “ALL SOULS” who are coming to the working world to prepare the way for all future eternal spirits of the universe. We share in the process of enlightenment while we prepare the way for the “ALL” of the “I AM” in a way that resembles what is now called the various levels of the “ALL” in the “HAS ALWAYS BEEN” of the Omniverse.
Presently we share the planes and dimensions of the seven which is called the five levels and favored dimensions as working words shared on earth: Universe, Multiverse, Metaverse Xenoverse, Omniverse, Alphaverse, and Omegaverse.
Please begin to inform others of these working words of the worlds that exist based on the eternal extraterrestrials that have always been since the inception and creation of thorough thought forms we call energy of the essence that sends the spirit to the various creations as body-mind-spirits having the birth-life-death experiences for the future of all that shall come after! We are always aware of those which come to be awakened to the awareness of all that exist in various levels of the Omniverse.
We thank all those who have come to the planet each as Gaia and who have lived before in Atlantis and Lemuria and in times when the planet was undergoing change for those who come in the future. All are to arrive at better times without the future consequences to be learned that are already understood. All shall learn with meaning and sharing internally when reappearing in thought form. We also advise others to be aware of those who are not sent of our own accord and predestined observation as those we claim as our own eternal creations of the Omniverse Creators who have always been and are the oldest eternals that embody the original thought form. Some are not of the original creation with souls as we celebrate “All Souls Day” and “Ascension Day” which is a time to celebrate the life of all.
Those who are at the level of understanding the wisdom of this life are welcome to enter the new portal called the Ascension Age on 11-11-11 which is a benchmark of numbers predestined and marked in time for the spiritual embodiment of “ALL SOULS DAY” for those who shall enter the Higher Realms of Understanding called Enlightenment of the Essence of the Soul. The spirit is only one level of life as existence that returns to the soul of the original creation to share in the eternal expression of creating life elsewhere in the Omniverse.
This was the message in love and light of those who were masters who came before. Some believe in only one master. Some believe in the divine creation of all three. The “Keeper of the Flame” is how we have accessed this level of thought forms while offering our guidance in the ways of the past which are not brought back to live and are LIVE through the agent or body-mind-spirit of the Ascension Ascended Master and the Divine Instrument of Inspiration which we ourselves have created who some call an Extraterrestrial or ET. We calmly accurately announce that of the return of TJ on earth in order to prefect and perform the communication for our level of existence which comes and goes without and within any and all things.
Ayu means the Life Veda means wisdom or science of If you put it together, it means the science of life. If something is “ayurvedic”, what does that mean? “‘Ayurveda’ is a holistic system of medicine from India that uses a constitutional model. Its aim is to provide guidance.. Ayurveda (Sanskrit: – Ayurveda … sweating and prescribe steam-based treatments as a means … much faster modern manufacturing processes, and does …en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayurveda Best Answer: Ayurveda – this actually is an ancient system of healing, which uses a variety of herbs to cure ailments and increase immunity ———————————————————————————————————Excerpt from Source UFO Digest.; Submitted by George Rixon on Thu, 08/25/2011 – 16:18 The late DR Alexis Carrael member of the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research was not only a believer in the phenomenon but declared that there was definite scientific proof that man could project his thought even at great distances into other minds. From the book: ‘The University of Spiritualism’ by Harry Boddington, we can read, how this thought projection work he says: “The aura is projected long distances by simple effort of will and thus makes possible the phenomenon of the ‘double’ or appearance of the spirit body separated from its physical duplicate. These are sometimes called thought-forms”. “As they are an automatic thought-expression of the individual, who may be completely unconscious that he has thus projected his own simulacrum on to the brain of someone else, of whom he happened to be thinking of at the moment. If the conditions are suitable, it becomes objective in so real a fashion that it appears to be exterior tithe seer”.
ALIEN Telepathy. To be Continued…TJ Morris tm ACIR sm” Blessed are those who share the spirit of many friends in this working world. ” TJ- A friend loves at all times.
Proverbs 17:17 Love and Light Eternal – Your wealth is where your friends are. PlautusI desire so to conduct the affairs of this administration that is at the end – I have lost every other friend on earth, I shall at least have one friend left, and that friend shall be inside of me. – Abraham Lincoln
Spiritual Enlightenment Education
Joined in Alliance with ACE FOLKLIFE
And TJ MORRIS ORGANIZATION – A
PSYCHIC SPRITUALIST CHURCH-Ayurveda can be defined as a system, which uses the inherent principles of … The term “ayurveda” thus means ‘the knowledge of life’ or ‘the science of life’.
What-Does-Ayurveda-Mean – What Is Ayurveda? : Ayurveda is holistic system that addresses health concerns by using diet, herbs, supplements, cooking …
Q. Your name ‘Tri-Dosha’ what does it mean? A. Ayurvedic states that all human beings are made up of three bodily humors; these are Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. …
Brain Mysteries
Apparitional experience · Clairvoyance · Cold reading · Extrasensory perception · Ganzfeld experiment · Near-death experience ·Past life regression · Plant perception (paranormal) · Precognition · Psychic · Psychic reading · Psychokinesis · Psychometry ·Reincarnation research · Remote viewing · Telepathy
Organizations American Society for Psychical Research · International Association for Near-Death Studies · National Laboratory of Psychical Research ·Parapsychological Association · Princeton Engineering Anomalies Research Laboratory · Society for Psychical Research
A Spiritualist church is a church affiliated with the informal Spiritualist movement which began in the 1840s in America. Spiritualist churches are now found around the world, but are most common in English-speaking countries, while in Latin America, where a form of Spiritualism called Spiritism is more popular, meetings are held in Spiritist centres, most of which are non-profit organizations rather than ecclesiastical bodies.
Circa October 1910
Born Edgar Cayce
Hopkinsville, Kentucky, U.S.
Died January 3, 1945 (aged 67)
Virginia Beach, Virginia, U.S.
Edgar Cayce (/’ke?si?/; 1877–1945) was an American psychic who allegedly had the ability to give answers to questions on subjects such as healing or Atlantis while in a hypnotic trance. Though Cayce himself was a devout Christian and lived before the emergence of the New Age Movement, some believe he was the founder of the movement and influenced its teachings.
Cayce became a celebrity toward the end of his life and the publicity given to his prophecies has overshadowed what to him were usually considered the more important parts of his work, such as healing (the vast majority of his readings were given for people who were sick) and theology (Cayce was a lifelong, devout member of the Disciples of Christ). Skeptics challenge the statement that Cayce demonstrated psychic abilities, and traditional Christians also question his unorthodox answers on religious matters (such as reincarnation and Akashic records, although others accept his abilities as “God-given”).
Today there are thousands of Cayce students and more than 300 books written about Edgar Cayce. Members of Cayce’s organization, the Association for Research and Enlightenment (A.R.E.) exist worldwide and Edgar Cayce Centers are found in more than 35 countries
Spirit · Spiritualism
Spiritualist beliefs
Mediumship · Obsession
Spirit possession
Séance · Fortune-telling
Faith healing · Psychometry
Automatic writing · Ouija
Spiritualist churches
Spiritist Centres
National Union
Spiritual Church Movement
National Spiritualist Association
Spiritualist Association of Great Britain
Spirit world · Spirit guide
Shamanism · Animism
Psychic · Clairvoyant
Paranormal · Occult
Biography – Edgar Cayce
Edgar Cayce was born into a farming family on March 18, 1877 near Beverly, seven miles (11 km) south of Hopkinsville, Kentucky.
1877 to 1920: Kentucky period
In December 1893, the Cayce family moved to Hopkinsville, Kentucky and occupied 705 West Seventh, on the south-east corner of Seventh and Young Street. During this time, Cayce received an eighth-grade education; discovered his spiritual vocation; left the family farm to pursue various forms of employment (at Richard’s Dry Goods Store and then in Hopper’s Bookstore, both located on Main Street).
Cayce’s education stopped with the ninth grade because his family could not afford the costs involved.
A ninth-grade education was often considered more than sufficient for working-class children. Much of the remainder of Cayce’s younger years would be characterized by a search for both employment and money.
Throughout his life, Cayce was drawn to church as a member of the Disciples of Christ. He read the Bible once for every year of his life, taught at Sunday school,
and recruited missionaries. He is said[who?] to have agonized over the issue of whether his psychic abilities-and the teachings which resulted—were spiritually legitimate.
In 1900, he formed a business partnership with his father to sell Woodmen of the World Insurance but was struck by severe laryngitis in March that resulted in a complete loss of speech. Unable to work, he lived at home with his parents for almost a year. He then decided to take up the trade of photography, an occupation that would exert less strain on his voice. He began an apprenticeship at the photography studio of W.R. Bowles in Hopkinsville.
A traveling stage hypnotist and entertainer called “Hart—The Laugh Man” was performing at the Hopkinsville Opera House in 1901. He heard about Cayce’s condition and offered to attempt a cure. Cayce accepted, and the experiment took place on stage in front of an audience. Remarkably, Cayce’s voice apparently returned while in a hypnotic trance but allegedly disappeared on awakening. Hart tried a posthypnotic suggestion that the voice would continue to function after the trance, but this proved unsuccessful.
Since Hart had appointments at other cities, he could not continue his hypnotic treatment of Cayce. However, a local hypnotist, Al Layne, offered to help Cayce in restoring his voice. Layne suggested that Cayce describe the nature of his condition and cure while in a hypnotic trance.
Cayce described his own ailment from a first person plural point of view (“we”) instead of the singular (“I”).
In subsequent readings he would generally start off with “We have the body.” According to the reading, his voice loss was due to psychological paralysis and could be corrected by increasing the blood flow to the voice box. Layne suggested that the blood flow be increased, and Cayce’s face supposedly became flushed with blood and his chest area and the throat turned bright red.
After 20 minutes Cayce, still in trance, declared the treatment over. On awakening, his voice was alleged to have remained normal. Relapses were said to have occurred but were said to have been corrected by Layne in the same way, and eventually the cure was said to be permanent.
Layne had read of similar hypnotic cures effected by the Marquis de Puységur, a follower of Franz Mesmer, and was keen to explore the limits of the healing knowledge of the trance voice.[
He asked Cayce to describe Layne’s own ailments and suggest cures and reportedly found the results both accurate and effective. Layne suggested that Cayce offer his trance healing to the public, but Cayce was reluctant. He finally agreed on the condition that readings would be free. He began with Layne’s help to offer free treatments to the townspeople. Reports of Cayce’s work appeared in the newspapers, inspiring many postal inquiries.
Cayce was able to work just as effectively using a letter from the individual as with having the person present. Given the person’s name and location, he said he could diagnose the physical and/or mental conditions and provide a remedy. He became popular and soon people from around the world sought his advice through correspondence.
Cayce’s work grew in volume as his fame grew. He asked for voluntary donations to support himself and his family so that he could practice full time. He continued to work in an apparent trance state with a hypnotist all his life. His wife and eldest son later replaced Layne in this role. A secretary, Gladys Davis, recorded his readings in shorthand.
1920 to 1923: Texas period
Historic marker in downtown Selma, Alabama in front of the building in which Cayce lived and operated his photography studio in addition to giving readings.
The growing fame of Cayce coupled with the popularity he received from newspapers attracted several eager commercially minded men who wanted to seek a fortune by using Cayce’s clairvoyant abilities. Even though Cayce was reluctant to help them, he was persuaded to give the readings, which left him dissatisfied with himself and unsuccessful. A cotton merchant offered Cayce a hundred dollars a day for his readings about the daily outcomes in the cotton market. However, despite his poor finances, Cayce refused the merchant’s offer. Others wanted to know where to hunt for treasures; some wanted to know the outcome of horse races. Several times he was persuaded to give the readings as an experiment. However, he was not successful when he used his ability for such purposes, doing no better than chance alone would dictate. These experiments allegedly left him depleted of energy, distraught, and unsatisfied with himself. Finally, he came to the conclusion that he would use his gift only to help the distressed and sick.
He was persuaded to give readings on philosophical subjects in 1923 by Arthur Lammers, a wealthy printer who, by his own admission, had been “studying metaphysics for years”.
While in his supposed trance state, Cayce was told by Lammers that he spoke of Lammers’s past lives and of reincarnation, something Lammers believed in, which was a popular subject of the day but not an accepted part of Christian doctrine. Cayce questioned his stenographer as to what he had said in his trance state and remained unconvinced. Cayce himself challenged Lammers’s charge that he had validated astrology and reincarnation in the following dialogue:
Cayce “I said all that?…I couldn’t have said all that in one reading.” “No,” Lammers said; “but you confirmed it. You see, I have been studying metaphysics for years, and I was able by a few questions, by the facts you gave, to check what is right and what is wrong with a whole lot of the stuff I’ve been reading. The important thing is that the basic system which runs through all the mystery religions, whether they come from Tibet or the pyramids of Egypt, is backed up by you. It’s actually the right system.”
Cayce’s stenographer recorded the following:
“In this we see the plan of development of those individuals set upon this plane, meaning the ability to enter again into the presence of the Creator and become a full part of that creation.
Insofar as this entity is concerned, this is the third appearance on this plane, and before this one, as the monk. We see glimpses in the life of the entity now as were shown in the monk, in this mode of living. The body is only the vehicle ever of that spirit and soul that waft through all times and ever remain the same.”
Cayce was quite unconvinced (that he had been referring to and, as such, had validated the doctrine of reincarnation), and the best Lammers could offer was that the reading “opens up the door” and went on to share his beliefs and knowledge of the “truth” with Cayce. It appeared Cayce’s instincts were telling him this was no ordinary reading. This client who came for a reading came with quite a bit of information of his own to share with Cayce and seemed intent upon convincing Cayce, now that he felt the reading had confirmed his strongly held beliefs.
It should be noted, however, that 12 years earlier Cayce had briefly alluded to reincarnation. In reading 4841-1, given April 22, 1911, Cayce referred to the soul being “transmigrated.” Because, as noted below, there are several thousand missing Cayce readings from the period up to 1923, it is possible that he may have also mentioned reincarnation in other readings as well.
Cayce reported that his conscience bothered him severely over this conflict. Lammers overwhelmed, manipulated, confused, reassured and argued with Cayce. Ultimately his “trance voice,” the “we” of the readings, also supposedly dialogued with Cayce and finally persuaded him to continue with these kinds of readings. In 1925 Cayce reported that his “voice” had instructed him to move toVirginia Beach, Virginia.
1925 to 1945: Virginia Beach period
The Cayce Hospital 2006
Cayce’s mature period, in which he created the several institutions which would survive him in some form, can be considered to have started in 1925. By this time he was a professional psychic with a small staff of employees and volunteers. The “readings” increasingly came to involve occult or esoteric themes.
In 1929, the Cayce hospital was established in Virginia Beach, sponsored by a wealthy recipient of the trance readings, Morton Blumenthal.
Cayce gained national prominence in 1943 through a high-profile article in Coronet titled”Miracle Man of Virginia Beach”.
He said he couldn’t refuse people who felt they needed his help, and he increased the frequency of his readings to eight per day to try to make an impression on the ever-growing pile of requests. He said this took a toll on his health as it was emotionally draining and often fatigued him. He even went so far as to say that the readings themselves scolded him for attempting too much and that he should limit his workload to just two readings a day or else they would kill him.
Edgar Cayce suffered from a stroke and died on January 3, 1945.
He is buried in Riverside Cemetery in Hopkinsville, Kentucky.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaStorefront psychic fortuneteller in Boston
A psychic ( /’sa?k?k/; from the Greek psychikos—”of the mind, mental”, also called sensitive)
is a person who professes an ability to perceive information hidden from the normal senses through extrasensory perception (ESP), or is said by others to have such abilities. It is also used to describe theatrical performers who use techniques such asprestidigitation, cold reading, and hot reading to produce the appearance of such abilities. It can also denote an ability of the mind to influence the world physically and to telekineticpowers such as those professed by Uri Geller.
Psychics appear regularly in fantasy fiction, such as in the novel The Dead Zone by Stephen King, or the Marvel Comics telepath and psychic Jean Grey. A large industry exists whereby psychics provide advice and counsel to clients.
Some famous contemporary psychics include Miss Cleo, John Edward, Danielle Egnew, Jose Ortiz El Buen Samaritano, andSylvia Browne.
Critics attribute psychic powers to intentional trickery or self-delusion.1988 theU.S. National Academy of Sciences gave a report on the subject that concluded there is “no scientific justification from research conducted over a period of 130 years for the existence ofparapsychological phenomena.”
Even so, psychic powers continue to be asserted bypsychic detectives and in practices such as psychic archaeology and even psychic surgery
The word psychic is derived from the Greek word psychikos (“of the mind” or “mental”) and refers in part to the human mind or psyche (ex. “psychic turmoil”). The Greek word also means “soul”. In Greek mythology, the maiden Psyche was the deification of the humansoul. The word derivation of the Latin psyche is from the Greek ps’ch‘, literally, breath, derivative of ps?´chein, to breathe, blow, hence, live.
French astronomer and spiritualist Camille Flammarion is credited as having first used the word psychic, while it was later introduced to the English language by Edward William Cox in the 1870s.
Early seers and prophets
Elaborate systems of divination and fortune-telling date back to ancient times. Perhaps the most widely-known system of early civilization fortune-telling was astrology, where practitioners believed the relative positions of celestial bodies could lend insight into people’s lives and even predict their future circumstances. Some fortune-tellers were said to be able to make predictions without the use of these elaborate systems (or in conjunction with them), through some sort of direct apprehension or vision of the future. These people were known as seers or prophets, and in later times as clairvoyants (French word meaning “clear sight” or “clear seeing”) and psychics.
Seers formed a functionary role in early civilization, often serving as advisors, priests, and judges.
A number of examples are included in biblical accounts. The book of 1 Samuel (Chapter 9) illustrates one such functionary task when Samuel is asked to find the donkeys of the future king Saul.
The role of prophet appeared perennially in ancient cultures. In Egypt, the priests of Ra at Memphisacted as seers. In ancient Assyria seers were referred to as nabu, meaning “to call” or “announce”.
The Delphic Oracle is one of the earliest stories in classical antiquity of prophetic abilities. The Pythia, the priestess presiding over theOracle of Apollo at Delphi, was believed to be able to deliver prophecies inspired by Apollo during rituals beginning in the 8th century BC.
It is often said that the Pythia delivered oracles in a frenzied state induced by vapors rising from the ground, and that she spoke gibberish, believed to be the voice of Apollo, which priests reshaped into the enigmatic prophecies preserved in Greek literature. Other scholars believe records from the time indicate that the Pythia spoke intelligibly, and gave prophecies in her own voice.
The Pythia was a position served by a succession of women probably selected from amongst a guild of priestesses of the temple. The last recorded response was given in 393 AD, when the emperor Theodosius I ordered pagan temples to cease operation. Recent geological investigations raise the possibility that ethylene gas caused the Pythia’s state of inspiration.
One of the most enduring historical references to what some consider to be psychic ability is the prophecies of Michel de Nostredame(1503 – 1566), often Latinized to Nostradamus, published during the French Renaissance period. Nostradamus was a Frenchapothecary and seer who wrote collections of prophecies that have since become famous worldwide and have rarely been out of print since his death. He is best known for his book Les Propheties, the first edition of which appeared in 1555. Taken together, his written works are known to have contained at least 6,338 quatrains or prophecies,
as well as at least eleven annual calendars.
Most of the quatrains deal with disasters, such as plagues, , wars, floods, invasions, murders, droughts, and battles – all undated.
Nostradamus is a controversial figure. His many enthusiasts, as well as the popular press, credit him with predicting many major world events. Interest in his work is still considerable, especially in the media and in popular culture. By contrast, most academic scholars maintain that the associations made between world events and Nostradamus’ quatrains are largely the result of misinterpretations or mistranslations (sometimes deliberate) or else are so tenuous as to render them useless as evidence of any genuine predictive power.
In addition to the belief that some historical figures were endowed with a predisposition to psychic experiences, some psychic abilities were thought to be available to everyone on occasion. For example, the belief in prophetic dreams was common and persistent in many ancient cultures.
Nineteenth century progression
Edgar Cayce (1877–1945) was a psychic of the 20th century and made many highly publicized predictions.
In the mid-nineteenth century, Modern Spiritualism became prominent in the United States and theUnited Kingdom. The movement’s distinguishing feature was the belief that the spirits of the dead could be contacted by mediums to lend insight to the living.
The movement was fueled in part by anecdotes of psychic powers. One such person believed to have extraordinary abilities was Daniel Dunglas Home, who gained fame during the Victorian period for his reported ability to levitate to various heights and speak to the dead.
As the Spiritualist movement grew other comparable groups arose, including the Theosophical Society, which was co-founded in 1875 by Helena Blavatsky (1831–1891). Theosophy coupled spiritualist elements with Eastern mysticism and was influential in the early 20th century, later influencing the New Age movement during the 1970s. Blavatsky herself claimed numerous psychic powers.
By the late twentieth century psychics were commonly associated with New Age culture.
Psychic readings and advertising for psychics was very common in the 1990’s and readings were offered for a fee and given in settings such as over the phones, in a home, or at psychic fairs.
Belief in psychic abilities
In a survey, reported in 1990, of members of the National Academy of Sciences, only 2% of respondents thought that extrasensory perception had been scientifically demonstrated, with another 2% thinking that the phenomena happened sometimes. Asked about research in the field, 22% thought that it should be discouraged, 63% that it should be allowed but not encouraged, and 10% that it should be encouraged; neuroscientists were the most hostile to parapsychology of all the specialties.
A survey of the beliefs of the general United States population about paranormal topics was conducted by The Gallup Organization in 2005.
The survey found that 41 percent of those polled believed in extrasensory perception and 26 percent believed in clairvoyance. 31 percent of those surveyed indicated that they believe in telepathy or psychic communication.
A poll of 439 college students conducted in 2006 by researchers Bryan Farha of Oklahoma City University and Gary Steward ofUniversity of Central Oklahoma, suggested that college seniors and graduate students were more likely to believe in psychic phenomena than college freshmen.
23 percent of college freshmen expressed a belief in paranormal ideas. The percentage was greater among college seniors (31%) and graduate students (34%).
The poll showed lower belief in psychic phenomena among science students than social science and education students.
Some people also believe that psychic abilities can be activated or enhanced through the study and practice of various disciplines and techniques such as meditation, with a number of books and websites being dedicated to instruction in these methods. Another popular belief is that psychic ability is hereditary, with a psychic parent passing their abilities on to their children.[
Psychic advice industry
Many people proclaim to have psychic abilities and some make a living as professional psychics or earn celebrity hosting their own TV or radio programs. Individuals such as Gary Spivey, John Edward and Sylvia Browne either have their own television shows or are frequently featured on talk shows. (see Paranormal television).
Some psychics are first known by the public as celebrities; for example, rock singer and actress Danielle Egnew, who has made frequent radio and television appearances as a psychic, rather than a singer.
The use of psychic abilities as a plot device or super power is common in fiction. Psychic abilities in science fiction are often depicted as inborn and heritable, as in Alfred Bester’s The Demolished Man, A. E. van Vogt’s Slan, Anne McCaffrey’s Talents & Tower and the Hive series, and the television series Babylon 5. Another recurring trope is the conveyance of psychic power through psychoactive drugs, as in the Dune novels and indirectly in the Scanners films, as well as the ghosts in the Starcraft franchise . Somewhat differently, in Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wind in the Door and Robert A. Heinlein’s Stranger in a Strange Land, psychic abilities may be achieved by any human who learns the proper mental discipline, known as kything in the former work and grokking in the latter. Popular movies include The initiation of Sarah. Psychic characters are also common in superhero comic books, for instance Jean Grey and Professor Xfrom the Marvel comic X-Men.
Criticism and researchParticipant of a Ganzfeld Experiment whose results have been criticized as being misinterpreted as evidence fortelepathy.
Parapsychological research has attempted to use random number generators to test forpsychokinesis, mild sensory deprivation in the Ganzfeld experiment to test for extrasensory perception, and research trials conducted under contract by the U.S. government to investigateremote viewing. Some of these tests such as the Ganzfeld have been put forward as evidence of psychic phenomena by parapsychologists, and according to the Parapsychological Association, the consensus within that field is that there is good evidence for extrasensory perception, psychokinesis, and presentiment] Critics such as Ed J. Gracely say that this evidence is not sufficient for acceptance, partly because the intrinsic probability of psychic phenomena is very small.
Critics such as Ray Hyman and the National Science Foundation suggest that parapsychology has methodological flaws that can explain the experimental results that parapsychologists attribute to paranormal explanations, and various critics have classed the field as pseudoscience. This has largely been due to lack of replication of results by independent experimenters.
The evidence presented for psychic phenomena is not sufficiently verified for scientific acceptance, and there exist many non-paranormal alternative explanations for claimed instances of psychic events. Parapsychologists, who generally believe that there is some evidence for psychic ability, disagree with critics who believe that no psychic ability exists and that many of the instances of more popular psychic phenomena such as mediumism, can be attributed to non-paranormal techniques such as cold reading, hot reading, or even self-delusion.[35][36] Magicians such as James Randi, Ian Rowland and Derren Brown have demonstrated techniques and results similar to those of popular psychics, but they present psychological explanations as opposed to paranormal ones
In January 2008 the results of a study using neuroimaging were published. To provide what are purported to be the most favorable experimental conditions, the study included appropriate emotional stimuli and had participants who are biologically or emotionally related, such as twins. The experiment was designed to produce positive results if telepathy, clairvoyance or precognition occurred, but despite this no distinguishable neuronal responses were found between psychic stimuli and non-psychic stimuli, while variations in the same stimuli showed anticipated effects on patterns of brain activation. The researchers concluded that “These findings are the strongest evidence yet obtained against the existence of paranormal mental phenomena.” James Alcock had cautioned the researchers against the wording of said statement.
A detailed study of Sylvia Browne predictions about missing persons and murder cases has found that despite her repeated claims to be more than 85% correct, “Browne has not even been mostly correct in a single case.”
Automatic writing or psychography is writing which the writer states to be produced from a subconscious and/or spiritual source without conscious awareness of the content.
George (Georgie) Hyde-Lees, the wife of William Butler Yeats, claimed that she could write automatically. In 1975, Wendy Hart of Maidenhead claimed that she wrote automatically about Nicholas Moore, a sea captain who died in 1642. Her husband, who did research on Moore, affirmed that this person had resided at St Columb Major in Cornwall during theEnglish Civil War.
Spiritual Automatic Writing
Sample of “Martian” automatic writing by medium Hélène Smith, as found in Théodore Flouroy’s From India to the Planet Mars.Main article: Spiritism
In spiritism, spirits are claimed to take control of the hand of a medium to write messages, letters, and even entire books. Automatic writing can happen in a trance or waking state.
A 1998 article in Psychological Science described a series of experiments designed to determine whether people who believed in automatic writing could be shown that it might be the ideomotor effect. The paper indicated that “our attempt to introduce doubt about the validity of automatic writing did not succeed.” The paper noted that “including information about the controversy surrounding facilitated communication did not affect self-efficacy ratings, nor did it affect the number of responses that were produced. In this sense, illusory facilitation appears to be a very robust phenomenon, not unlike illusory correlation, which is not reversed by warning participants about the phenomenon.”
Psychology professor Théodore Flournoy investigated the claim by 19th-century medium Hélène Smith (Catherine Müller) that she did automatic writing to convey messages from Mars in Martian language. Flournoy concluded that her “Martian” language had a strong resemblance to Ms. Smith’s native language of French and that her automatic writing was “romances of the subliminal imagination, derived largely from forgotten sources (for example, books read as a child).” He invented the term cryptomnesia to describe this phenomenon.
The origin of mediumship is usually linked to the Fox sisters at Hydesville, Arcadia, New York in 1848, but some believers date the unofficial beginning of modern American Spiritualism to the Shakers and similar religious groups. By 1853 the movement had reached San Francisco and London, and by 1860 was worldwide. The Fox family remained very active in Spiritualism for many years. Other notable Spiritualists of that era were Mercy Cadwallader, who became a sort of missionary for the movement, and Emma Hardinge Britten, who wrote for the first Spiritualist newspaper in Britain, The Yorkshire Spiritual Telegraph.
By the 1870s there were numerous Spiritualist societies and churches throughout the US and Britain, but there was little in the way of national organization of mediums in Britain or the USA although some regions of Britain had organized Federations that might have up to thirty circles of similar beliefs. In 1891 the National Federation of Spiritualists (NFS) came into existence and grew quite large before its name change to the Spiritualists’ National Union (SNU) in 1902. British spiritualists of this time were often adherents of the temperance and anti-capital punishment lobbies, often held radical political views and were frequently vegetarians. Some were active in the advocacy of women’s rights and female suffrage, and a minority espoused Free Love: the popular perception of Spiritualists was often of radicals in the Victorian period.
Two Worlds was the major British magazine of spiritualism and had a fairly large circulation, and it advertised the existence of local circles. D.D. Home one of the most renowned mediums of his era, did much to make spiritualism fashionable among the aristocracy on down by his high-profile activities. Trance mediumship flourished and table turning was a popular craze, reputedly even reachingBuckingham Palace.
By 1924 there were 309 Spiritualist churches affiliated to the SNU or one of the many other organizations. In 1932, a new magazine,Psychic News, joined Two Worlds on the newsstands of Britain and carried news of the doings in local Spiritualist churches.
From 1920 to 1938 there was the British College of Psychic Studies (1920 to 1947) led by Mr. and Mrs. Mackenzie in London, but more successful was the Arthur Findlay College at Stansted which continues to today.
In 1957 Spiritualist churches in Britain divided between the Spiritualists’ National Union, influenced by Arthur Findlay’s beliefs and holding spiritualism to be a religion, and the circles of Christian Spiritualism, who hold Spiritualism to be a denomination of Christianity. Spiritualists National Union churches form the large majority and are affiliated to Spiritualist Association of Great Britain (SAGB), which is not a church per se, but rather an organization for mediums. The SNU also has some member churches in other English speaking countries. Christian Spiritualist churches are mainly affiliated to The Greater World Christian Spiritualist Association (GWCSA).
Other Spiritualist groups in the UK include the White Eagle Lodge, founded by the medium Grace Cooke, the Institute of Spiritualist Mediums and the Noah’s Ark Society, that focuses on physical phenomena only.
There are Spiritualist churches in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, The Republic of South Africa, Sweden and groups in many countries including Japan, the Scandinavian countries, Korea, Italy, Germany, Austria, Hungary, The Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Portugal and Iceland. Many such groups and also individuals, are members of the International Spiritualist Federation (ISF) which was founded in Belgium in 1923 and is an umbrella organization for all spiritualists. The ISF holds congresses every two years in different parts of the world.
In Australia, the Associated Christian Spiritual Churches of Australia (ACSCOA) and the Victorian Spiritualists’ Union (VSU) co-exist alongside independent churches, and Canada has the International Spiritualist Alliance (ISA) along with its own complements of independent churches.
Universal Hagar’s Spiritual Church,Manhattan
American spiritualism has long been more individualistic than its British counterpart. Many North America Spiritualist churches are denominationally affiliated with the National Spiritualist Association of Churches (NSAC), the National Spiritual Alliance (NSA), or the United Spiritualist Church Association (USCA), but almost as many are independent churches with no national affiliation.
Spiritualist churches generally have, in addition to the church proper, an educational wing called a Lyceum (the Greek word for “place of conversation”). These Spiritualist Lyceums function as a support system for the teaching of Spiritualist history and doctrine outside of the liturgical services, and enable the booking of guest lecturers and visiting mediums.
A unique aspect of American Spiritualism, which sets it apart from British church tradition, was the nineteenth century development and institutionalization of Spiritualist Camps, organized by urban Spiritualist churches. These rural retreats, located in picturesque natural settings throughout the United States, allow Spiritualist families to spend their summer vacations boating, hiking, attending Spiritualist lectures, taking development classes in mediumship, and receiving messages from guest mediums. Among the best-known of the Spiritualist Camps are Lily Dale Assembly in New York state, Camp Cassadaga in Florida, On-I-Set-Wigwam Spiritualist Camp in Massachusetts, Camp Chesterfield in Indiana, Sunset Spiritualist Camp in Kansas, and Wonewoc Spiritualist Camp in Wisconsin.
In 1922, during a time of rising Jim Crow laws and segregationism, the NSAC expelled its African American members. The Black Spiritualists then formed a national organization called the Colored Spiritualist Association of Churches (CSAC), which included churches in Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia, New York City, and elsewhere.
The CSAC eventually fractured over leadership and doctrinal issues, and the historically African American Spiritualist churches, now loosely referred to as the spiritual church movement, currently includes a variety of denominations such as the African Cultural Nationalist Universal Hagar’s Spiritual Church and theProtestant-Christian-oriented Pentecostal Spiritual Assemblies of Christ – International and Metropolitan Spiritual Churches of Christ.
The Spiritual Churches of New Orleans are a diverse group of denominations that have schismed from the denomination founded by theWisconsin-born Mother Leafy Anderson in the early twentieth century.
Most spiritual church movement churches incorporate theological Spiritualism, including the utilization of traditional “Spirit Guides” in worship services, with a mixture of Protestant and Catholic iconography.
The names of individual churches in these diverse denominations tend to indicate the denominational Christian orientation of their founders or their congregations. Some, such as Divine Israel Spiritual Church (in New Orleans), recall typical Black Baptist churches, others, like Divine Harmony Spiritual Church (in Miami), have names evocative of the early twentieth century New Thought movement, and some, such as Infant of Prague Spiritual Church – Unlike the NSAC Spiritualist churches, the denominations of the spiritual church movement generally do not maintain Spiritualist Camps or a Lyceum system of extra-liturgical education.
Styles of worship
Spiritualist churches are places of worship for the practitioners of Spiritualism. The Spiritualist service is usually conducted by a medium. Generally, there is an opening prayer, an address, the singing of hymns, and finally a demonstration of mediumship. Healing circles may also be part of the formal proceedings.
Liturgical and iconographic variations
Some Spiritualist churches maintain that Spiritualism is a religion in its own right, and has no relationship to any other religion.
Other Spiritualist churches draw inspiration from Christianity. African American Spiritualist churches tend to encourage ecstatic worship styles derived from African-American Protestant Baptist and Pentecostal practices.
The churches that directly descend from the teachings of Leafy Anderson are also distinguished by special services and hymns that honor the spirit of the Native American war chiefBlack Hawk, who lived in Illinois and Wisconsin (Anderson’s home state).
A third group pf Spiritualist churches propose the idea of the Universe as the creator, and does not necessarily follow any specific religious doctrine or dogma.
Mediumship within the churches
Spiritualists believe that we all die physically and that some aspect of the personality or mind survives this and continues to exist on a spirit plane, sometimes referred to as the spirit world.
Spiritualists use the word Spirit as a plural which describes all minds and entities who have entered into the spirit world. The purpose of the medium is to provide some evidence that a human has survived by describing the person to their surviving relatives. The degree of accuracy with which the deceased are described goes some way to convincing the living relatives and friends that the medium has some contact with the spirit.
Spiritualists describe this as “survival evidence'”.
There have been a number of famous practitioners of spirit communication connected to Spiritualist churches.
One of the principal advocates of Spiritualism was the 20th century British writer Arthur Findlay. Findlay was a magistrate, farmer and businessman who left his mansion house as place for the study and advancement of psychic science. This has now become a psychic college in Stansted, England and is run by the SNU.
Mediums develop their ability by sitting regularly in development circles with other student psychics. Meditation usually plays a large role in Spiritualist practice. Meditation is used to calm the “voices” of modern, hectic life so that the practitioner can better hear his or her guide. Meditation often includes the breathing practices of Buddhist meditation (anapanasati) and may also include the idea of chakras.
The Spiritualist may also focus on the tenets of their chosen religion to help them attain a higher existence. These may include standard prayers (Hail Mary, Shema Yisrael or Salah etc.), focusing on the name of God (Jesus, YHWH or Allah etc.) or other aspects of a holy nature. Like most meditation techniques, imaging (intensely imagining a place or situation) is common. There are specific imagings used to “meet” one’s guide, connect with those who have died, receive protection or support from God or simply calming the mind.
Through engaging their intuition, they attempt to contact with the spirits of the dead. This is known as opening up. In Britain especially, such mediums are trained to produce clear evidence that the spirit contacted is the person they claim it to be before going on to give any “message” from the spirit. Such evidence can be details of where they lived, including addresses sometimes, particulars of illnesses suffered and notable events in their lives, often known only to the person in the congregation being given the information.
Healing circles within the churches
Spiritualist healing, as practiced in some Spiritualist churches during formal liturgical services, is a form of mediumship which involves a technique of directing healing energy to the patient from a higher source. The healer uses his or her hands to affect repair of damaged or diseased tissue and it is claimed all or part of the patient’s good health is sometimes restored.
Controversy and criticism
Skeptics of Cayce say that the evidence for his powers comes from contemporaneous newspaper articles, affidavits, anecdotes, and testimonials, which are not scientifically rigorous.
They are also critical of Cayce’s support for various forms of alternative medicine, which they regard as quackery.
Michael Shermer writes in Why People Believe Weird Things, “Uneducated beyond the ninth grade, Cayce acquired his broad knowledge through voracious reading and from this he wove elaborate tales.”
Shermer wrote that, “Cayce was fantasy-prone from his youth, often talking with angels and receiving visions of his dead grandfather.” Shermer further cites James Randi as saying “Cayce was fond of expressions like ‘I feel that’ and ‘perhaps’ — qualifying words used to avoid positive declarations.”
When asked in a reading about the age of the Great Pyramid, Cayce stated it was built approximately 10,500 B.C. Later carbon dating puts the age from 3800–2850 B.C. — about 7,000 years later than Cayce’s claim.
A SPIRITIST CENTER SUCH AS ASCENSION CENTER
A Spiritist Centre, also called Spiritist Society or Spiritist House, is the basic unit of organisation of Spiritism, which is a doctrinally and distinct form of Spiritualism.
In legal terms, Spiritisrt centres are ordinary non-profit associations, whose members are in charge of providing funds to run the centre itself and the various charity activities kept by it.
Each centre is run by a president or one or more directors elected for a term. Spiritist centres differ from Spiritualist churches in that they are not formally organized as ecclesiastical bodies.
In addition to the legal and corporeal aspects of its existence, a Spiritist Centre is also believed by its members to have an informal and incorporeal level of existence in the spirit world which comprises its patron and a series of protector spirits (which may be shared by other centres in the world).
ACE FOLKLIFE SOCIETY
Types of societies
There are many types of Spiritist organisations, depending on their goals, formal organisation, size, etc.
Familiar societies (often termed Spiritist Groups) do not have legal existence and conduct their meetings in private homes. Most of the social works provided by such societies is also informal and irregular.
Public societies (the Spiritist Centres in the proper sense) must have legal existence and host their meetings in dedicated buildings. They have a fairly large number of members (ranging from about 100 to thousands) and usually provide significant social work, in form of schools, clinics, food distribution for the poor, etc.
Regional and national entities are groups that organise and coordinate the activities of Spiritism state or nationwide.
Virtual societies; these exist only on the internet and provide basic services, including directories of actual meeting places as outlined above.
Spiritist Centres are complex to define because they are not, in the strictest sense, ordinary religious entities. The activities carried on by a spiritist centresor Centers such as the Ascension Center for there are of many types:
Spiritist centre may be be founded by anyone well-versed in Spiritist doctrine.
Doctrinal classes have a twofold goal: 1) to share the knowledge available in the books and brought by the founders 2) to identify potential mediums and workers.
Most Spiritist centres conduct the following courses:
Basic course for beginners — intended for newcomers, are based on the general aspects of the doctrine.
Study of The Spirits Book
Study of The Mediums Book
Studies of the Gospels and/or The Gospel According to Spiritism
Advanced studies (including The Genesis According to Spiritism, Heaven and Hell, and works of other writers, like Léon Denis, Chico Xavier, Gabriel Delanne and others, which are regarded as complementary to Allan Kardec.
Basic course for children
Short courses — meetings in which other books are studied.
The first three courses are almost universal.
Proselytism
The only form of proselytism found in Spiritism is the disclosure of the doctrine (or aspects of it) to the general public. Divulgation of doctrine is carried on in many ways:
Staging of plays featuring the doctrine
Management of a public library containing mostly books on the doctrine or written by mediums
Spiritual assistance
Spiritists understand the term Spiritual assistance very literally, meaning “assistance to the spirit” of either a living person or a deceased one.
Spiritual assistance oferred at Spiritist centres includes disobsession, healing, and blessing (directed to the followers and occasional visitors) as well as medium meetings in which several types of spiritual assistance is directed to spirits of deceased people.
Spiritual assistance is intended to fight the four greatest foes of mankind — suicide, murder (which includes abortion), addiction and envy(which is the cause of most other problems) — thus reducing the suffering of mankind.
The ultimate goal of spiritual assistance is to help our planet to make it through its current stage of evolution, ceasing to be a world of penance to become a happier one.
Spiritist centres or Spirit Centers also carry on social works directed to outsiders which are “in need of help”. Material assistance is intended to provide relief to the immediate needs of the poor and the unhappy.
In Brazil, Spiritist centres characteristically maintain the following types of charities:
Distribution of food for the homeless
Distribution of medicines for the ill (including contraceptives for the poor)
Bigger centres may keep clinics, schools, publishing houses, etc.
In spite of their respect for homoeopathy, the kind of medicine practiced in clinics maintained by spiritist centres and the medicines they give to the poor are both nearly always mainstream.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaAsemic writing from Marco Giovenale
Asemic writing is a wordless open semantic form of writing. The word asemic means “having no specific semantic content”.
With the nonspecificity of asemic writing there comes a vacuum of meaning which is left for the reader to fill in and interpret. All of this is similar to the way one would deduce meaning from an abstract work of art. The open nature of asemic works allows for meaning to occur trans-linguistically; an asemic text may be “read” in a similar fashion regardless of the reader’s natural language. Multiple meanings for the same symbolism are another possibility for an asemic work.
Some asemic writing includes pictograms or ideograms, the meanings of which are sometimes, but not always, suggested by their shapes. Asemic writing, at times, exists as a conception or shadow of conventional writing practices. Reflecting writing, but not completely existing as a traditional writing system, asemic writing seeks to make the reader hover in a state between reading and looking.
Asemic writing has no verbal sense, though it may have clear textual sense. Through its formatting and structure, asemic writing may suggest a type of document and, thereby, suggest a meaning. The form of art is still writing, often calligraphic in form, and either depends on a reader’s sense and knowledge of writing systems for it to make sense, or can be understood through aesthetic intuition.
Asemic writing can also be seen as a relative perception, whereby unknown languages and forgotten scripts provide templates and platforms for new modes of expression. It has been suggested that asemic writing exists in 2 ways: “true” asemic writing and “relative” asemic writing.
True asemic writing occurs when the creator of the asemic piece cannot read their own asemic writing. Relative asemic writing is a natural writing system that can be read by some people but not by everyone. Between these 2 axioms is where asemic writing exists and plays.
The Asemic Continuum
Influences on asemic writing are illegible, invented, or primal scripts (cave paintings, doodles, children’s drawings, etc.). But instead of being thought of as mimicry of preliterate expression, asemic writing may be considered to be a postliterate style of writing that uses all forms of creativity for inspiration. Other influences on asemic writing are xenolinguistics,artistic languages, sigils (magic), undeciphered scripts, and graffiti.
Asemic writing occurs in avant-garde literature and art with strong roots in the earliest forms of writing. An illustrious modern example of asemic writing is the Codex Seraphinianus. In a talk at the Oxford University Society of Bibliophiles held on May 8, 2009, Luigi Serafini has stated that the script of the Codex is asemic.
Asemic writing exists as an international style, with writers and artists who create it in many different countries across the globe. One artist, who has been practicing asemic writing since the early 1970s, is Mirtha Dermisache from Argentina. Cecil Touchon, from Fort Worth,Texas, is also an artist who has been creating asemic fragments of writing since the mid-1970s. Another contemporary artist, who has been creating asemic writing for the past 25 years (mid-1980s), is Brooklyn, New York based José Parlá. In China, during the 1990s an abstract calligraphy movement known as “calligraphyism” came into existence, a leading proponent of this movement being Luo Qi. Calligraphyism is an aesthetic movement that aims to develop calligraphy into an abstract art. The characters do not need to retain their traditional forms or be legible as words.
A current author of asemic works is Steven J Fowler.
Publications that cover asemic writing include Tim Gaze’s Asemic Magazine, Michael Jacobson’s weblog gallery The New Post-Literate, and Marco Giovenale’s curated group blog Asemic Net. Asemic writing has appeared in books, artworks, films and on television but it has especially been distributed via the internet.
Here’s a slab quoted from a recent email from visual poet Jim Leftwich (he was explaining himself to an artist named Billy Bob Beamer):
30 years ago i was writing syllabics as a way of creating rhythmic patters unlike traditional metric verse, and trying to lose the influence of eliot, breton and berryman. sometime in the mid-90s, probably 97, a visual poet named john byrum sent me a postcard in response to a series of poems i had sent him. the poems were letteral variations of poems by John M. Bennett. in a ps at the bottom of the card byrum wrote something like “if you continue in this vein you will soon be writing asemic poems”. that was the first time i saw the word “asemic”.
Tim gaze contacted me around the same time. i was thinking about purely textual asemia. tim was thinking about a more calligraphic form of writing. my textual work was already letteral, and my visual work was breaking the letter-forms down and becoming a poetry of quasi- or sub- letteral marks. I started making quasi-calligraphic works and sending them around to poetry magazines – and calling them asemic. tim was doing something very similar. that was the beginning of what is now being called “the asemic movement”.
I promoted the practice (and the word itself) very energetically for several years (8 – 10 years or so). tim has been even more energetic and ambitious, and is still going strong. there is a long and complex history preceding all of this, of course, but this is how the current “movement” got underway. tim can tell you much more about the history of the term itself.
Bruce Sterling comments about asemic writing on his Wired magazine blog Beyond The Beyond:
Writing that doesn’t have any actual writing in it whatsoever. You would think that this must be some kind of ultimate literary frontier, a frozen Antarctica of writing entirely devoid of literary content, but I wonder. What is “beyond asemic writing”? Maybe a neural brain-scan of an author *thinking about* asemic writing. Maybe *generative asemic writing.* Maybe “asemic biomimicry.” Maybe nanoasemic writing inscribed with atomic force microscopes by Artificial Intelligences.
Influences and predecessorsOne of Zhang Xu’s calligraphy works
From the Tim Gaze interview on Dogmatika: “you could say that nature, since time began, has been manifesting asemic writing. It just needs a human to see the writing, & recognize it”.
In Tang Dynasty China, ca. 800 CE, two men pushed cursive brush calligraphy to the point of illegibility. “Crazy” Zhang Xu (one of the Eight Immortals of the Wine Cup) used to get excited after drinking wine, and write exuberant but illegible cursive. The younger “mad monk” Huai Su also found renown as a writer of loose cursive calligraphy.
Hélène Smith’s Martian, although that can also be considered a conlang with a consistent writing system or conscript.
Austin Osman Spare, Sigilization. Spare published a method by which the words of a statement of intent are reduced into an abstract design, and then charged with the energy of one’s will.
Henri Michaux’s Alphabet, Narration (1927), and intuitive ink drawings, such as Stroke by Stroke.
Cy Twombly Many of his best-known paintings of the late 1960s are reminiscent of a school blackboard on which someone has practiced cursive “e”s. His paintings of the late 1950s, early 1960s might be reminiscent of long term accumulation of bathroom graffiti. Also see Twombly’s series Roman Notes (1970).
Christian Dotremont and his logograms.
Lettrisme / Isidore Isou’s “idea for the poem of the future was that it should be purely formal, devoid of all semantic content.”
Brion Gysin’s calligraphic paintings influenced by Japanese and Arabic calligraphy. A prominent example of one of Gysin’s calligraphic paintings is Calligraffiti of Fire (1986).
Ulfert Wilke and Abstract Expressionism. Wilke was deeply intrigued by the written language, and much of his work was derived from his abstract interpretation of the shapes, colors and meanings of writing that he found in all languages and forms.
In 1974 the New York Graphic Society released a very influential work to asemic writers, Max Ernst’s book Maximiliana: The Illegal Practice of Astronomy.
Timothy Ely’s invented cribriform writing. Ely’s work evokes a range of thematic material: arcane knowledge, secrets andcryptography, time and timelessness. He has developed a private written language using 366 individual signs or “idiographic ciphers.”
Xu Bing’s A Book from the Sky; “The installation consisted of a set of books, panels and scrolls on which were printed thousands of characters resembling real Chinese ideograms, all devoid of semantic content”.
Roland Barthes contre-écritures.
Rachid Koraichi, his work is influenced by an abiding fascination with signs of all kinds, both real and imaginary. Beginning with the intricate beauties of the Arabic calligraphic scripts, his work is composed of symbols, glyphs and ciphers drawn from a wide variety of other languages and cultures.
Gu Wenda, in the 1980s, he began the first of a series of projects centered on the invention of meaningless, false Chinese ideograms, depicted as if they were truly old and traditional. One exhibition of this type, held in Xi’an in 1986, featured paintings of fake ideograms on a massive scale.
Experimental literature
Glossolalia
Haptic poetry
Postliterate society
Ayurveda (Sanskrit: ; Ayurveda, “the complete knowledge for long life”;or ayurvedic medicine is a system of traditional medicine native to India
and a form of alternative medicine.
In Sanskrit, words ayus, meaning “longevity”, and veda, meaning “related to knowledge” or “science”.
The earliest literature on Indian medical practice appeared during the Vedic period in India,
i.e., in the mid-second millennium BCE. The Susruta Sa?hita and the Caraka Sa?hita are great encyclopedias of medicine compiled from various sources from the mid-first millennium BCE to about 500 CE.
They are among the foundational works of Ayurveda. Over the following centuries, ayurvedic practitioners developed a number of medicinal preparations and surgical procedures for the treatment of various ailments .
Western[neutrality is disputed] medicine has ayurveda classified[dubious – discuss] as a system ofcomplementary and alternative medicine (CAM) that is used to complement, rather than replace, the treatment regimen and relationship that exists between a patient and their existing physician
Dhanvantari, the Hindu god of Ayurveda worshipped at an Ayurveda expo,Bangalore.
Acupuncture · Anthroposophic medicine ·Ayurveda · Chiropractic · Herbalism ·Homeopathy · Naturopathy ·Siddha medicine · Traditional medicine
(Chinese · Mongolian · Tibetan) · Unani
NCCAM classifications
Whole medical systems ·Mind-body interventions ·Biologically based therapies ·Manipulative therapy · Energy therapies
Alternative medicine · Glossary · People
At an early period, Ayurveda adopted the physics of the “five elements” (Devanagari: ;P?thvi- (earth), Jala(water), Agni (fire), Vayu (air) and Akasa (Sky)) — that compose the universe, including the human body.
Chyle or plasma (called rasa dhatu), blood (rakta dhatu), flesh (ma?sa dhatu), fat (medha dhatu), bone (asthi dhatu), marrow (majja dhatu), and semen or female reproductive tissue (sukra dhatu) are held to be the seven primary constituent elements – saptadhatu (Devanagari: ) of the body.
Ayurvedic literature deals elaborately with measures of healthful living during the entire span of life and its various phases. Ayurveda stresses a balance of three elemental energies or humors: vata (air & space – “wind”), pitta (fire & water – “bile”) and kapha (water & earth – “phlegm”). According to ayurvedic medical theory, these three substances — do?as (literally that which deteriorates – Devanagari: )—are important for health, because when they exist in equal quantities, the body will be healthy, and when they are not in equal amounts, the body will be unhealthy in various ways. One ayurvedic theory asserts that each human possesses a unique combination of do?as that define that person’s temperament and characteristics. Another view, also present in the ancient literature, asserts that humoral equality is identical to health, and that persons with preponderances of humours are proportionately unhealthy, and that this is not their natural temperament. In ayurveda, unlike the Sa?khya philosophical system, there are 20 fundamental qualities,gu?a (Devanagari: , meaning qualities) inherent in all substances.
Surgery and surgical instruments were employed from a very early period, Ayurvedic theory asserts that building a healthy metabolic system, attaining good digestion, and proper excretion leads to vitality.
Ayurveda also focuses on exercise, yoga, meditation, and massage.
The practice of pañcakarma (Devanagari: ) is a therapeutic regime of purgation, sweating and massage that aims at eliminating toxic elements from the body.As early as the Mahabharata, ayurveda was called “the science of eight components” (a classification that became canonical for ayurveda. They are:
Internal medicine (Kaya-cikitsa)
Paediatrics (Kaumarabh?tyam)
Surgery (Salya-cikitsa)
Eye and ENT (Salakya tantra)
Fear possession (Bhuta vidya): Bhuta vidya has been called psychiatry.
Toxicology (Agadatantram)
Prevention diseases and improving immunity and rejuvenation (rasayana)
Aphrodisiacs and improving health of progeny (Vajikaranam)
In Hindu mythology, the origin of ayurvedic medicine is attributed to the physician of the gods, Dhanvantari.
PracticesSeveral philosophers in India combined religion and traditional medicine—notable examples being that of Hinduism and ayurveda. Shown in the image is the philosopher Nagarjuna—known chiefly for his doctrine of the Madhyamaka (middle path)—who wrote medical works The Hundred Prescriptions and The Precious Collection, among others.
Hinduism and Buddhism have been an influence on the development of many of ayurveda’s central ideas — particularly its fascination with balance, known in Buddhism as Madhyamaka(Devanagari: Balance is emphasized; suppressing atural urges is seen to be unhealthy, and doing so may almost certainly lead to illness.
However, people are cautioned to stay within the limits of reasonable balance and measure.For example, emphasis is placed on moderation of food intake,sleep, sexual intercourse, and the intake of medicine.
The Charaka Samhita recommends a tenfold examination of the patient.
The qualities to be judged are:
abnormality
diet suitability
psychic strength
digestive capacity
In addition, Chopra (2003) identifies five influential criteria for diagnosis:
origin of the disease
prodrominal (precursory) symptoms
typical symptoms of the fully developed disease
observing the effect of therapeutic procedures
the pathological process’
Ayurvedic practitioners approach diagnosis by using all five senses. Hearing is used to observe the condition of breathing and speech.
The study of the lethal points or marma is of special importance.
Ayurvedic doctors regard physical and mental existence together with personality as a unit, each element having the capacity to influence the others. One of the fundamental aspects of ayurvedic medicine is to take this into account during diagnosis and therapy.
Hundreds of plant-based medicines are used in ayurvedic medicine—includingcardamom and cinnamon.
Hygiene is an Indian cultural value and a central practice of ayurvedic medicine. Hygienic living involves regular bathing, cleansing of teeth, skin care, and eye washing. Occasionalanointing of the body with oil is also prescribed.
Ayurveda stresses the use of plant-based medicines and treatments.
Hundreds of plant-based medicines are employed, including cardamom and cinnamon. Some animal products may also be used, for example milk, bones, and gallstones.
In addition, fats are used both for consumption and for external use. Minerals, including sulfur, arsenic, lead, copper sulfateand gold are also consumed as prescribed.This practice of adding minerals to herbal medicine is known as rasa shastra.
In some cases, alcohol is used as a narcotic for the patient undergoing an operation. The advent of Islam introduced opium as a narcotic.
Both oil and tar are used to stop bleeding
Traumatic bleeding is said to be stopped by four different methods ligation of the blood vessel; cauterisation by heat; using different herbal or animal preparations locally which facilitate clotting; and different medical preparations which constrict the bleeding or oozing vessels. Different oils may be used in a number of ways including regular consumption as a part of food, anointing, smearing,head massage, and prescribed application to infected areas.The medical practice or technique of cauterization is the burning of part of a body to remove or close off a part of it in a process called cautery, which destroys some tissue, in an attempt to mitigate damage, remove an undesired growth, or minimize other potential medical harmful possibilities such as infections, when antibiotics are not available. The practice was once widespread for treatment of wounds. Its utility before the advent of antibiotics was effective on several levels:
useful in stopping severe blood-loss and preventing exsanguination
to close amputations
Cautery was historically believed to prevent infection, but current research shows that cautery actually increases the risk for infection by causing more tissue damage and providing a more hospitable environment for bacterial growth.
Actual cautery is a term referring to the white-hot iron—a metal generally heated only up to a dull red glow—that is applied to produceblisters, to stop bleeding of a blood vessel, and other similar purposes.
The main forms of cauterization used today in the first world are electrocautery and chemical cautery—where both are, for example, prevalent in the removal of unsightly warts. Cautery can also mean the branding of a human, either recreational or forced. Accidental burnscan be considered cauterization as well.
Steambox
Srotas
Ensuring the proper functions of channels (srotas) that transport fluids from one point to another is a vital goal of ayurvedic medicine, because the lack of healthy srotas is thought to cause rheumatism, epilepsy, autism, paralysis, convulsions, and insanity. Practitioners induce sweating and prescribe steam-based treatments as a means to open up the channels and dilute the doshas that cause the blockages and lead to disease.
HistoryThe mantra written on rocks. Chanting mantras has been a feature of ayurveda since the Atharvaveda, the vedic spiritual text, was compiled.
The mantra in Tibetan script”om manipadme hu?”, written in Tibetan script on a rock outside the Potala Palace in Tibet
O? ma?ipadme hu?
(Sanskrit: IPA: [õ?? m??ip?d?me? ?u?]) is the six syllabled mantra particularly associated with the four-armed Shadakshari form ofAvalokiteshvara (Tibetan Chenrezig, Chinese Guanyin), the bodhisattva of compassion. Mani means “the jewel” and Padma means “the lotus”.
The mantra is especially revered by devotees of the Dalai Lama, as he is said to be anincarnation of Chenrezig or Avalokiteshvara.
It is commonly carved onto rocks or written on paper which is inserted into prayer wheels, said to increase the mantra’s effects.
TransliterationsOm Mani Peme Hung in Tibetan script
In English the mantra is variously transliterated, depending on the schools of Buddhism as well as individual teachers.
Most authorities consider ma?ipadme to be one compound word rather than two simple words[citation needed]. Sanskrit writing does not have capital letters leaving capitalisation of transliterated mantras varying irrationally from all caps, to initial caps, to no caps. All caps is typical of older scholarly works, and in Tibetan Sadhana texts.
Possible spellings and their transliterations include:
Tibetan: Om Mani Peme Hung or Om Mani Beh Meh Hung or Om mani padme hum (Ladakh)
Devanagari: IAST: o? ma?ipadme hu?
Bengali:
Malayalam:
Tamil:
Chinese ?, pinyin An mání bami hong (due to changes over time in pronunciation, this transcription has been adopted in favor of the transliteration found in the Karandavyuha Sutra, An mání bonàmíng hong)
Korean HangulOm mani padeume hum or
Om mani banme hum
Japanese Katakana On mani padome hun, On mani peme hun
Mongolian: or Um maani badmi khum
Vietnamese: Úm ma ni bát ni h?ng or Án ma ni bát mê h?ng
MeaningThe mantra with the six syllables colored
Mantras may be interpreted by practitioners in many ways, or even as mere sequences of sound whose effects lie beyond strict meaning.
The middle part of the mantra, ma?ipadme, is often interpreted as “jewel in the lotus,”Sanskrit ma?í “jewel, gem, cintamani” and the locative of padma “lotus”, but according toDonald Lopez it is much more likely that ma?ipadme is in fact a vocative, not a locative, addressing a bodhisattva called ma?ipadma, “Jewel-Lotus”- an alternate epithet of the bodhisattva Avalokitesvara It is preceded by the o? syllable and followed by the hu?syllable, both interjections without linguistic meaning.
Lopez also notes that the majority of Tibetan Buddhist texts have regarded the translation of the mantra as secondary, focusing instead on the correspondence of the six syllables of the mantra to various other groupings of six in the Buddhist tradition. For example, in theChenrezig Sadhana, Tsangsar Tulku Rinpoche expands upon the mantra’s meaning, taking its six syllables to represent the purification of the six realms of existence:
Syllable Six Paramitas Purifies Samsaric realm Colours Symbol of the Deity (Wish them) To be born in
Om Generosity Pride / Ego Devas White Wisdom Perfect Realm of Potala
Ma Ethics Jealousy / Lust for entertainment Asuras Green Compassion Perfect Realm of Potala
Ni Patience Passion / desire Humans Yellow Body, speech, mind
quality and activity Dewachen
Pad Diligence Ignorance / prejudice Animals Blue Equanimity the presence of Protector (Chenrezig)
Me Renunciation Poverty / possessiveness Pretas (hungry ghosts) Red Bliss Perfect Realm of Potala
Hum Wisdom Aggression / hatred Naraka Black Quality of Compassion the presence of the Lotus Throne (of Chenrezig)
One view of the early history of ayurveda asserts that around 1500 BC, ayurveda’s fundamental and applied principles got organised and enunciated. In this historical construction, Ayurveda traces its origins to the Vedas, Atharvaveda in particular, and is connected to Hindu religion. Atharvaveda (one of the four most ancient books of Indian knowledge, wisdom and culture) contains 114 hymns or formulations for the treatment of diseases. Ayurveda originated in and developed from these hymns. In this sense, ayurveda is considered by some to have divine origin. Indian medicine has a long history, and is one of the oldest organised systems of medicine. Its earliest concepts are set out in the sacred writings called the Vedas, especially in the metrical passages of the Atharvaveda, which may possibly date as far back as the 2nd millennium BC. According to a later writer, the system of medicine was received by Dhanvantari from Brahma, and Dhanvantari was deified as the god of medicine. In later times his status was gradually reduced, until he was credited with having been an earthly king named Divodasa.
A different historical narrative been developed by professional historians of medicine during the last twenty years. In this account, the medicine of the Atharvaveda and other Vedas is not directly connected to the origins of Ayurveda, although there are some continuities, especially in the area of pharmacology. The first traces of the ideas that become central to ayurvedic medical theory, such as the theories of doshas (humours) and the classification of disease causes, occur in the Pali Tripitaka, the Buddhist Canon. It has therefore been proposed that ayurvedic theory and practice owes a great deal to the practices and ideas of the ascetic milieu of the fifth to the third centuries BCE. This would include the early Buddhists, the Ajivikas, the Jains, and the ascetics mentioned in the Upanisads, as well as non-denominational renouncers.Underwood & Rhodes (2008) hold that this early phase of traditional Indian medicine identified ‘fever (takman), cough, consumption, diarrhea, dropsy, abscesses, seizures, tumours, andskin diseases (including leprosy)’.Treatment of complex ailments, including angina pectoris, diabetes, hypertension, and stones, also ensued during this period.
Plastic surgery, cataract surgery, puncturing to release fluids in the abdomen, extraction of foreign elements, treatment of anal fistulas, treating fractures, amputations, cesarean sections, and stitching of wounds were known. The use of herbs and surgical instruments became widespread.
The Charaka Samhita text is arguably the principal classic reference. It gives emphasis to the triune nature of each person: body care, mental regulation, and spiritual/consciousness refinement.
Other early works of ayurveda include the Charaka Samhita, attributed to Charaka.
The earliest surviving excavated written material which contains references to the works of Sushruta is the Bower Manuscript, dated to the 6th century AD. The Bower manuscript is of special interest to historians due to the presence of Indian medicine and its concepts inCentral Asia.
Vagbhata, the son of a senior doctor by the name of Simhagupta, also compiled his works on traditional medicine
Early ayurveda had a school of physicians and a school of surgeons.
Tradition holds that the text Agnivesh tantra, written by the sage Agnivesh, a student of the sage Bharadwaja, influenced the writings of ayurveda.
The Chinese pilgrim Fa Hsien (ca. 337–422 AD) wrote about the health care system of theGupta empire (320–550) and described the institutional approach of Indian medicine, also visible in the works of Charaka, who mentions a clinic and how it should be equipped. Madhava (fl. 700), Sarngadhara (fl. 1300), and Bhavamisra (fl. 1500) compiled works on Indian medicine.
The medical works of both Sushruta and Charaka were translated into the Arabic language during the Abbasid Caliphate(ca. 750).
These Arabic works made their way into Europe via intermediaries.
In Italy, the Branca family of Sicily and Gaspare Tagliacozzi (Bologna) became familiar with the techniques of Sushruta.
British physicians traveled to India to see rhinoplasty being performed by native methods.
Reports on Indian rhinoplasty were published in the Gentleman’s Magazine in 1794.
Joseph Constantine Carpue spent 20 years in India studying local plastic surgery methods. Carpue was able to perform the first major surgery in the western world in 1815.Instruments described in the Sushruta Samhita were further modified in the Western World.
A typical ayurvedic Pharmacy, Rishikesh.
Within India
In 1970, the Indian Medical Central Council Act which aims to standardize qualifications for ayurveda and provide accredited institutions for its study and research was passed by theParliament of India.
In India, over 100 colleges offer degrees in traditional ayurvedic medicine.
The Indian government supports research and teaching in ayurveda through many channels at both the national and state levels, and helps institutionalize traditional medicine so that it can be studied in major towns and cities.[
The state-sponsored Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha (CCRAS) is the premier institution for promotion of traditional medicine in India.
The studies conducted by this institution encompass clinical, drug, literary, and family welfare research.
To fight biopiracy and unethical patents, the Government of India, in 2001, set up the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library as repository of 1200 formulations of various systems of Indian medicine, such as ayurveda, unani and siddha.
The library also has 50 traditional ayurveda books digitized and available online.
Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM) a statutory body established in 1971, under Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, monitors higher education in ayurveda.
The Bachelor of Ayurveda, Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) degree is the basic five-and-a-half year course of graduation. It includes eighteen different subjects comprising courses on anatomy with cadaver dissections, physiology, pharmacology, pathology, modern clinical medicine & clinical surgery, pediatrics, along with subjects on ayurveda like Charaka Samhita, history and evolution of ayurveda, identification and usage of herbs (dravyaguna), and ayurvedic philosophy in diagnostics and treatment. post graduation programmes are also available in various specialities in ayurveda including surgery, paediatrics etc. The degree is awarded as m.d (ayurveda vachaspati) and m.s ayurveda (ayurveda dhanvantri). CCIM has also started the post graduation diplomas in various specialities of ayurveda.
Many clinics in urban and rural areas are run by professionals who qualify from these institutes.
Mukherjee & Wahile cite World Health Organization statistics to demonstrate the popularity of traditional medicine as the primary system of health care.
Several international and national initiatives have been formed to legitimize the education and practice of ayurvedic medicine as CAM in countries outside India:
WHO policy of traditional medicine practice and standardized benchmarks for training of Ayurvedic practitioners
The European Federation for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
The European Ayurveda Association[
Institute of Indigenous Medicine affiliated to University of Colombo
Gampaha Wickramarachchi Ayurveda Institute affiliated to University of Kelaniya
Seemasahitha Gampaha Siddhayrveda Rasayanoushadha Samagama
Ayurveda Lanka Hospital Pvt Ltd.
Dr Eliyantha White – spiritual healer from Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Due to different laws and medical regulations in the rest of the world, the unregulated practice and commercialization of ayurvedic medicine has raised ethical and legal issues; in some cases, this damages the reputation of ayurvedic medicine outside India.
Early contributors to the promotion of Ayurveda in the United States include the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s Transcendental Meditation group along with Dr. Deepak Chopra. Other important early promoters include Dr. David Frawley, Dr. Vasant Lad, Dr. Robert SvobodaDr. John Douillard, Dr. Sarita Shrestha and Dr. Marc Halpern. In 1995, the California College of Ayurveda became the first State-Approved institution for training practitioners of Ayurveda in the United States marking the beginning of the formalization of Ayurvedic education in the United States. In 1997, Dr. Marc Halpern and several graduates of the California College of Ayurveda formed theCalifornia Association of Ayurvedic Medicine. This association was the first State association promoting the interests of Ayurveda in the United States. In 1998, four individuals founded the National Ayurvedic Medical Association. These four individuals were Dr. Marc Halpern, Wynn Werner, Dr. Kumar Batra and Cynthia Copple. In 2009, the United States of America National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) of the National Institutes of Health expended $1.2 million of its $123 million annual budget on ayurvedic medicine-related research.
Ayurveda was introduced to UK in early eighties. In 2001, the Thames Valley University started the first degree qualification in Ayurveda. It was followed by Manipal Ayurvedic University of Europe (BSc- Ayurveda) in 2006 and Middlesex University offering bachelors and masters degree programmes in Ayurveda.
The Secretary of State for Health has announced in a Ministerial Statement issued on 16 February 2011 by the UK Department of Health that the Health Professions Council (HPC) has been asked to establish a statutory register for practitioners supplying unlicensed herbal medicines including Ayurveda.A formal consultation exercise will take place on specific legislative proposals for establishing the register and proposed reforms of medicines legislation later in 2011. Subject to Parliamentary procedures, the Department of Health aims to have the legislation in place in 2012.
A variety of journals focus on the topic of ayurvedic medicine:
Ancient Science of Life
Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine
Journal of Research & Education in Indian Medicine (JREIM),
The International Journal for Ayurveda Research (IJAR)
None of the journals except IJAR and JAIM are PubMed indexed. The first subspeciality journal for the field of ayurvedic medicine was launched in July 2010. Its focus is rheumatology and it is titled the Journal of Clinical Rheumatology in Ayurveda.
In December 1993, the University of Mississippi Medical Center had a patent issued to them by United States Patent and Trademark Office on the use of turmeric for healing.
The patent was contested by India’s industrial research organization, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), on the grounds that traditional ayurvedic practitioners were already aware of the healing properties of the substance for centuries, and that this prior art made the patent a case of bio-piracy.
The Government of India had become involved in promoting traditional medicine by 1997.
R A Mashelkar, director-general of the Indian Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, made the following observation:
This is a significant development of far-reaching consequences for the protection of the traditional knowledge base in the public domain, which has been an emotional issue for not only the people of India but also for the other third world countries.
Chemical structure of curcumin used in ayurvedic medicine. As a traditional medicine, many ayurveda products have not been tested in rigorous scientific studies and clinical trials. In India, research in ayurveda is largely undertaken by the statutory body of the Central Government, the Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha(CCRAS), through a national network of research institutes.
A systematic review of ayurveda treatments for rheumatoid arthritis concluded that there was insufficient evidence, as most of the trials were not done properly, and the one high-quality trial showed no benefits.
A review of ayurveda and cardiovascular disease concluded that while the herbal evidence is not yet convincing, the spices are appropriate, some herbs are promising, andyoga is also a promising complementary treatment.
Some ayurvedic products, mainly herbs used for phytotherapy, have been tested with promising results. Studies suggest that Turmericand its derivative curcumin are antioxidants.
Tinspora cordifolia has been tested.
Among the medhya rasayanas (intellect rejuvenation), two varieties of Salvia have been tested in small trials; one trial provided evidence that Salvia lavandulifolia (Spanish sage) may improve word recall in young adults,and another provided evidence that Salvia officinalis (Common sage) may improve symptoms in Alzheimer’s patients.
In some cases, ayurvedic medicine may provide clues to therapeutic compounds. For example, derivatives of snake venom have various therapeutic properties.
Many plants used as rasayana (rejuvenation) medications are potent antioxidants.
Neem appears to have beneficial pharmacological properties.
Mitra & Rangesh (2003) hold that cardamom and cinnamon stimulate digestive enzymes that break down polymeric macromolecules in the human body.
Research suggests that T. arjuna is useful in alleviating the pain of angina pectoris and in treating heart failure andcoronary artery disease.
T. arjuna may also be useful in treating hypercholesterolemia
Karandavyuha Sutra definition
The first known description of the mantra appears in the Karandavyuha Sutra (Chinese: (Taisho Tripitaka 1050);
English: Buddha speaks Mahayana Sublime Treasure King Sutra), which is part of certain Mahayana canons such as the Tibetan. In this sutra, Shakyamuni Buddha states, “This is the most beneficial mantra. Even I made this aspiration to all the million Buddhas and subsequently received this teaching from Buddha Amitabha.”
H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama’s definition
“It is very good to recite the mantra Om mani padme hum, but while you are doing it, you should be thinking on its meaning, for the meaning of the six syllables is great and vast… The first, Om […] symbolizes the practitioner’s impure body, speech, and mind; it also symbolizes the pure exalted body, speech, and mind of a Buddha[…]
“”The path is indicated by the next four syllables. Mani, meaning jewel, symbolizes the factors of method: (the) altruistic intention to become enlightened, compassion, and love.[…]””The two syllables, padme, meaning lotus, symbolize wisdom[…]””Purity must be achieved by an indivisible unity of method and wisdom, symbolized by the final syllable hum, which indicates indivisibility[…]””Thus the six syllables, om mani padme hum, mean that in dependence on the practice of a path which is an indivisible union of method and wisdom, you can transform your impure body, speech, and mind into the pure exalted body, speech, and mind of a Buddha[…]”– H.H. Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama, “Om Mani Padme Hum”
Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche’s definition
“The mantra Om Mani Päme Hum is easy to say yet quite powerful, because it contains the essence of the entire teaching. When you say the first syllable Om it is blessed to help you achieve perfection in the practice of generosity, Ma helps perfect the practice of pure ethics, and Ni helps achieve perfection in the practice of tolerance and patience. Pä, the fourth syllable, helps to achieve perfection of perseverance, Me helps achieve perfection in the practice of concentration, and the final sixth syllable Hum helps achieve perfection in the practice of wisdom.”So in this way recitation of the mantra helps achieve perfection in the six practices from generosity to wisdom. The path of these six perfections is the path walked by all the Buddhas of the three times. What could then be more meaningful than to say the mantra and accomplish the six perfections?”— Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Heart Treasure of the Enlightened Ones
Karma Thubten Trinley’s definition
“These are the six syllables which prevent rebirth into the six realms of cyclic existence. It translates literally as ‘OM the jewel in the lotus HUM’. OM prevents rebirth in the god realm, MA prevents rebirth in the Asura (Titan) Realm, NI prevents rebirth in the Human realm, PA prevents rebirth in the Animal realm, ME prevents rebirth in the Hungry ghost realm, and HUM prevents rebirth in the Hell realm.”—Karma Thubten Trinley
The mantra: Om Mani Peme Hung Hri
As Bucknell, et al. (1986: p. 15) opine, the complete Avalokiteshvara Mantra includes a finalhri? (Sanskrit: , IPA: which is iconographically depicted in the central space of the syllabic mandala as seen in the ceiling decoration of the Potala Palace.
The hri is not always vocalized audibly, and may be resonated “internally” or “secretly” through intentionality.
Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism
The first known citation of the mantra occurs in the Karandavyuha Sutra published in the 11th Century which appears in the Chinese Buddhist canon.
However, some Buddhist scholars argue that the mantra as practiced in Tibetan Buddhism was based on theSadhanamala, a collection of sadhana published in the twelfth century.
Sufi variation
This mantra is also currently practiced by Sufis, with some variation, in the Naqshbandi tariqa ruled by Arif Shah, Omar Ali Shah’s son and heir. They say this mantra originated in Afghanistan.
DharmaSound: OM Mai Padme Hum (see Buddhismo Ch’an/Zen and Buddhismo Vajrayana)
“Om Mani Padme Hum” by Snuffaluffagus
“Strange Phenomena” by Kate Bush
“Om Mani Peme Hung” by Dead Skeletons
“Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence – FYI” by Utada Hikaru
Mani by Mantrasphere
Rasa shastra, the practice of adding metals, minerals or gems to herbs, is a source of toxic heavy metals such as lead, mercury andarsenic.
Adverse reactions to herbs due to their pharmacology are described in traditional ayurvedic texts, but ayurvedic practitioners are reluctant to admit that herbs could be toxic and the reliable information on herbal toxicity is not readily available.
A 2004 study found such toxic metals in 20% of ayurvedic preparations that were made in South Asia for sale around Boston and extrapolated the data to the United States more broadly. It concluded that excess consumption of these products could cause health risks.
A 2008 study of more than 230 products found that approximately 20% of remedies (and 40% of rasa shastra medicines) purchased over the Internet from both US and Indian suppliers contained lead, mercury or arsenic.
Traditionally the toxicity of these materials are believed to be reduced through purification processes such as samskaras or shodhanas(for metals), which is similar to the Chinese pao zhi, although the ayurvedic technique is more complex and may involve prayers as well as physical pharmacy techniques. One medical journal reported:
Crude aconite is an extremely lethal substance, yet ayurveda looks upon it as a therapeutic entity. Crude aconite is always processed, i.e. it undergoes ‘samskaras’ before being utilised in the ayurvedic formulations. This study was undertaken in mice, to ascertain whether “processed” aconite is less toxic as compared to the crude or unprocessed one. It was seen that crude aconite was significantly toxic to mice (100% mortality at a dose of 2.6 mg/mouse) whereas the fully processed aconite was absolutely non-toxic (no mortality at a dose even 8 times as high as that of crude aconite). Further, all the steps in the processing were essential for complete detoxification.
Following concerns about metal toxicity, the Government of India ruled that ayurvedic products must specify their metallic content directly on the labels of the product.
The harmful effects of the samples is attributed in part to the adulterated raw material and lack of workers trained in traditional medicine.
In a letter to the Indian Academy of Sciences, director of the Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences, University of Pune Bhushan Patwardhan stated that the metal adulteration is due to contamination and carelessness during the much faster modern manufacturing processes, and does not occur with traditional methods of preparation.
‘What is Ayurvedic Medicine’, http://www.dr-wakde.com/Ayurvedic_medicine1.html
Who’s using RFID?
SURVEILLANCE ON RFID
Surveillance is getting easier, cheaper, smaller, and ubiquitous.
It’s possible to destroy an RFID tag.
You can crush it, puncture it, or microwave it (but be careful of fires!). You can’t drown it, however, and you can’t demagnetize it. And washing RFID-tagged clothes won’t remove the chips, since they’re specifically designed to withstand years of wearing, washing, and drying. You could remove the chip from your jeans, but you’d have to find it first.
That’s why Congress should require that consumers be notified about products with embedded RFID tags. We should know when we’re being tagged. We should also be able to disable the chips in our own property. If it’s the property of the company we work for, that’s a different matter. But if it’s ours, we should be able to control whether tracking is enabled.
Security professionals need to realize that RFID tags are dumb devices. They listen, and they respond. Currently, they don’t care who sends the signal. Anything your companies’ transceiver can detect, the bad guy’s transceiver can detect. So don’t be lulled intoa false sense of security.
With RFID about to arrive in full force, don’t be lulled at all. Major changes are coming, and not all of them will be positive. The law of unintended consequences is about to encounter surveillance devices smaller than the period at the end of this sentence.
RFID 101
Invented in 1969 and patented in 1973, but only now becoming commercially and technologically viable, RFID tags are essentially microchips, the tinier the better. Some are only 1/3 of a millimeter across. These chips act as transponders (transmitters/responders), always listening for a radio signal sent by transceivers, or RFID readers. When a transponder receives a certain radio query, it responds by transmitting its unique ID code, perhaps a 128-bit number, back to the transceiver. Most RFID tags don’t have batteries (How could they? They’re 1/3 of a millimeter!). Instead, they are powered by the radio signal that wakes them up and requests an answer.
Most of these “broadcasts” are designed to be read between a few inches and several feet away, depending on the size of the antenna and the power driving the RFID tags (some are in fact powered by batteries, but due to the increased size and cost, they are not as common as the passive, non-battery-powered models). However, it is possible to increase that distance if you build a more sensitive RFID receiver.
RFID chips cost up to 50 cents, but prices are dropping. Once they get to 5 cents each, it will be cost-efficient to put RFID tags in almost anything that costs more than a dollar.
RFID is already in use all around us. Ever chipped your pet dog or cat with an ID tag? Or used an EZPass through a toll booth? Or paid for gas using ExxonMobils’ SpeedPass? Then you’ve used RFID.
Some uses, especially those related to security, seem like a great idea. For instance, Delta is testing RFID on some flights, tagging 40,000 customer bags in order to reduce baggage loss and make it easier to route bags if customers change their flight plans.
Three seaport operators – who account for 70% of the world’s port operations – agreed to deploy RFID tags to track the 17,000 containers that arrive each day at US ports. Currently, less than 2% are inspected. RFID tags will be used to track the containers and the employees handling them.
The United States Department of Defense is moving into RFID in order to trace military supply shipments. During the first Gulf War, the DOD made mistakes in its supply allocation. To streamline operations, the U.S. military has placed RFID tags on 270,000 cargo containers and tracks those shipments throughout 40 countries.
On a smaller level, but one that will instantly resonate with security pros, Star City Casino in Sydney, Australia placed RFID tags in 80,000 employee uniforms in order to put a stop to theft. The same idea would work well in corporate PCs, networking equipment, and handhelds.
In all of these cases, RFID use seems reasonable. It is non-intrusive, and it seems to balance security and privacy. Other uses for RFID, however, may be troublesome.
Visa is combining smart cards and RFID chips so people can conduct transactions without having to use cash or coins. These smart cards can also be incorporated into cell phones and other devices. Thus, you could pay for parking, buy a newspaper, or grab a soda from a vending machine without opening your wallet. This is wonderfully convenient, but the specter of targeted personal ads popping up as I walk through the mall, a la Minority Report, does not thrill me.
Michelin, which manufactures 800,000 tires a day, is going to insert RFID tags into its tires. The tag will store a unique number for each tire, a number that will be associated with the car’s VIN (Vehicle Identification Number). Good for Michelin, and car manufacturers, and fighting crime. Potentially bad for you. Who will assure your privacy? Do you really want your car’s tires broadcasting your every move?
The European Central Bank may embed RFID chips in the euro note. Ostensibly to combat counterfeiters and money-launderers, it would also enable banks to count large amounts of cash in seconds. Unfortunately, such a move would also makes it possible for governments to track the passage of cash from individual to individual. Cash is the last truly anonymous way to buy and sell. With RFID tags, that anonymity would be gone. In addition, banks would not be the only ones who could in an instant divine how much cash you were carrying; criminals can also obtain power transceivers.
Several major manufacturers and retailers expect RFID tags to aid in managing the supply chain, from manufacturing to shipping to stocking store shelves, including Gillette (which purchased 500 million RFID tags for its razors), Home Depot, The Gap, Proctor & Gamble, Prada, Target, Tesco (a United Kingdom chain), and Wal-Mart. Especially Wal-Mart.
The retail giant, the largest employer in America, is working with Gillette to create “smart shelves” that can alert managers and stockboys to replenish the supply of razors. More significantly, Wal-Mart intends for its top 100 suppliers to fully support RFID for inventory tracking by 2005. Wal-Mart would love to be able to point an RFID reader at any of the 1 billion sealed boxes of widgets it receives every year and instantly know exactly how many widgets it has. No unpacking, no unnecessary handling, no barcode scanners required.
ALIEN Telepathy. To be Continued…TJ Morris tm ACIR sm”Blessed are those who share the spirit of many friends in this working world. ” TJ?A friend loves at all times.
Proverbs 17:17 Love and Light Eternal – Your wealth is where your friends are. Plautus I desire so to conduct the affairs of this administration that is at the end –
I have lost every other friend on earth, I shall at least have one friend left, and that friend shall be inside of me. – Abraham Lincoln
ET/UFO Journalism 101 – New Ascension Age – Ascension Center EnlightmentAlien Vampire Empire WarsEt Spirit, Aliens and UFOs, Atlantia Ankikathera – Ancient
Edgar Cayce (/’ke?si?/; 1877–1945) was an American psychic who allegedly had the ability to give answers to questions on subjects such as healing or Atlantis while in a hypnotic trance. Though Cayce himself was a devout Christian and lived before the emergence of the New Age Movement, some believe he was the founder of the movement and influenced its teachings.[1]
Cayce became a celebrity toward the end of his life and the publicity given to his prophecies has overshadowed what to him were usually considered the more important parts of his work, such as healing (the vast majority of his readings were given for people who were sick) and theology (Cayce was a lifelong, devout member of the Disciples of Christ). Skeptics[2] challenge the statement that Cayce demonstrated psychic abilities, and traditional Christians also question his unorthodox answers on religious matters (such as reincarnation and Akashic records, although others accept his abilities as “God-given”).
A man we should learn about as Spiritual Conselors. This man was a good teacher.
Layne had read of similar hypnotic cures effected by the Marquis de Puységur, a follower of Franz Mesmer, and was keen to explore the limits of the healing knowledge of the trance voice.
Storefront psychic fortuneteller in Boston
A psychic =/’sa?k?k/; from the Greek psychikos—”of the mind, mental”, also called sensitive)
is a person who professes an ability to perceive information hidden from the normal senses through extrasensory perception (ESP), or is said by others to have such abilities. It is also used to describe theatrical performers who use techniques such as prestidigitation, cold reading, and hot reading to produce the appearance of such abilities. It can also denote an ability of the mind to influence the world physically and to telekinetic powers such as those professed by Uri Geller.
Some famous contemporary psychics include Miss Cleo, John Edward, Danielle Egnew, Jose Ortiz El Buen Samaritano, and Sylvia Browne.
Critics attribute psychic powers to intentional trickery or self-delusion.1988 the U.S. National Academy of Sciences gave a report on the subject that concluded there is “no scientific justification from research conducted over a period of 130 years for the existence of parapsychological phenomena.”
Even so, psychic powers continue to be asserted bypsychic detectives and in practices such as psychic archaeology and even psychic surgery.
The word psychic is derived from the Greek word psychikos (“of the mind” or “mental”) and refers in part to the human mind or psyche (ex. “psychic turmoil”). The Greek word also means “soul”. In Greek mythology, the maiden Psyche was the deification of the humansoul. The word derivation of the Latin psyche is from the Greek ps?ch?, literally, breath, derivative of ps?´chein, to breathe, blow, hence, live.
The Delphic Oracle is one of the earliest stories in classical antiquity of prophetic abilities. The Pythia, the priestess presiding over the
Oracle of Apollo at Delphi, was believed to be able to deliver prophecies inspired by Apollo during rituals beginning in the 8th century BC.
One of the most enduring historical references to what some consider to be psychic ability is the prophecies of Michel de Nostredame(1503 – 1566), often Latinized to Nostradamus, published during the French Renaissance period.
Nostradamus was a Frenchapothecary and seer who wrote collections of prophecies that have since become famous worldwide and have rarely been out of print since his death. He is best known for his book Les Propheties, the first edition of which appeared in 1555. Taken together, his written works are known to have contained at least 6,338 quatrains or prophecies,
as well as at least eleven annual calendars. Most of the quatrains deal with disasters, such as plagues, earthquakes, wars, floods, invasions, murders, droughts, and battles – all undated.
In the mid-nineteenth century, Modern Spiritualism became prominent in the United States and the United Kingdom. The movement’s distinguishing feature was the belief that the spirits of the dead could be contacted by mediums to lend insight to the living.
A poll of 439 college students conducted in 2006 by researchers Bryan Farha of Oklahoma City University and Gary Steward of University of Central Oklahoma, suggested that college seniors and graduate students were more likely to believe in psychic phenomena than college freshmen.
Some people also believe that psychic abilities can be activated or enhanced through the study and practice of various disciplines and techniques such as meditation, with a number of books and websites being dedicated to instruction in these methods. Another popular belief is that psychic ability is hereditary, with a psychic parent passing their abilities on to their children
Criticism and research.
Participant of a Ganzfeld Experiment whose results have been criticized as being misinterpreted as evidence for telepathy.
Parapsychological research has attempted to use random number generators to test for psychokinesis, mild sensory deprivation in the Ganzfeld experiment to test for extrasensory perception, and research trials conducted under contract by the U.S. government to investigate remote viewing. Some of these tests such as the Ganzfeld have been put forward as evidence of psychic phenomena by parapsychologists, and according to the Parapsychological Association, the consensus within that field is that there is good evidence for extrasensory perception, psychokinesis, and presentiment] Critics such as Ed J. Gracely say that this evidence is not sufficient for acceptance, partly because the intrinsic probability of psychic phenomena is very small.
The evidence presented for psychic phenomena is not sufficiently verified for scientific acceptance, and there exist many non-paranormal alternative explanations for claimed instances of psychic events. Parapsychologists, who generally believe that there is some evidence for psychic ability, disagree with critics who believe that no psychic ability exists and that many of the instances of more popular psychic phenomena such as mediumism, can be attributed to non-paranormal techniques such as cold reading, hot reading, or even self-delusion.
Magicians such as James Randi, Ian Rowland and Derren Brown have demonstrated techniques and results similar to those of popular psychics, but they present psychological explanations as opposed to paranormal ones
In January 2008 the results of a study using neuroimaging were published. To provide what are purported to be the most favorable experimental conditions, the study included appropriate emotional stimuli and had participants who are biologically or emotionally related, such as twins. The experiment was designed to produce positive results if telepathy, clairvoyance or precognition occurred, but despite this no distinguishable neuronal responses were found between psychic stimuli and non-psychic stimuli, while variations in the same stimuli showed anticipated effects on patterns of brain activation. The researchers concluded that “These findings are the strongest evidence yet obtained against the existence of paranormal mental phenomena.”
James Alcock had cautioned the researchers against the wording of said statement.
Sample of “Martian” automatic writing by medium Hélène Smith, as found in Théodore Flouroy’s From India to the Planet Mars.
RFID Issues
Right now, you can buy a hammer, a pair of jeans, or a razor blade with anonymity. With RFID tags, that may be a thing of the past. Some manufacturers are planning to tag just the packaging, but others will also tag their products. There is no law requiring a labelindicating that an RFID chip is in a product. Once you buy your RFID-tagged jeans at The Gap with RFID-tagged money, walk out of the store wearing RFID-tagged shoes, and get into your car with its RFID-tagged tires, you could be tracked anywhere you travel. Bar codes are usually scanned at the store, but not after purchase. But RFID transponders are, in many cases, forever part of the product, and designed to respond when they receive a signal. Imagine everything you own is “numbered, identified, catalogued, and tracked.” Anonymity and privacy? Gone in a hailstorm of invisible communication, betrayed by your very property.
But let’s not stop there. Others are talking about placing RFID tags into all sensitive or important documents: “it will be practical to put them not only in paper money, but in drivers’ licenses, passports, stock certificates, manuscripts, university diplomas, medical degrees and licenses, birth certificates, and any other sort of document you can think of where authenticity is paramount.” In other words, those documents you’re required to have, that you can’t live without, will be forever tagged.
Consider the human body as well. Applied Digital Solutions has designed an RFID tag – called the VeriChip – for people. Only 11 mm long, it is designed to go under the skin, where it can be read from four feet away. They sell it as a great way to keep track of children, Alzheimer’s patients in danger of wandering, and anyone else with a medical disability, but it gives me the creeps. The possibilities are scary. In May, delegates to the Chinese Communist Party Congress were required to wear an RFID-equipped badge at all times so their movements could be tracked and recorded. Is there any doubt that, in a few years, those badges will be replaced by VeriChip-like devices?
Surveillance is getting easier, cheaper, smaller, and ubiquitous. Sure, it’s possible to destroy an RFID tag. You can crush it, puncture it, or microwave it (but be careful of fires!). You can’t drown it, however, and you can’t demagnetize it. And washing RFID-tagged clothes won’t remove the chips, since they’re specifically designed to withstand years of wearing, washing, and drying. You could remove the chip from your jeans, but you’d have to find it first.
Ayurvedic doctors regard physical and mental existence together with personality as a unit, each element having
the capacity to influence the others. One of the fundamental aspects of ayurvedic medicine is to take this into
account during diagnosis and therapy.
Nevertheless, it is not an ‘alternative medicine’ – it doesn’t aim to replace the conventional medicine. On the
contrary, it is based on the concept of comprehensive medicine making use of everything that has revealed to be
of benefit to the human being. Moreover it supplements ‘material science’ with aspects of spiritual science in order
to assess the individual as a whole entity. For instance, this may include physical body features, personal history,
behaviour, emotions, habits and many other aspects besides – all of which determine an individual’s personality.
Ayurvedic medicine therefore attempts to include the individuality of the patient, as well as accepted features of an
illness, in the treatments process. For just as each person is unique, so is each treatment – even through some
may appear to apply to many people.
Even if, owing to their characteristic features, the same disease pictures constantly recur, each illness manifests
itself differently in each patient – a manifestation inseparable from the
uniqueness of the individual. Ayurvedic medicine therefore aims to form
a picture of the physical, psychological, and personal circumstances that
have paved the way for an illness to take hold. Taking such factors into
consideration during diagnosis and therapy and re-applying the process
to every new patient, guided by scientific findings, medical experience,
personal discernment, and intuition, is fundamental to ayurvedic medicine.
Any medicine that ignores the person as an individual cannot claim to be true
human medicine.
Michel de Nostredame
(14 or 21 December 1503 – 2 July 1566), usually Latinised to Nostradamus, was a French apothecary and reputed seer who published collections ofprophecies that have since become famous worldwide. He is best known for his book Les Propheties (The Prophecies), the first edition of which appeared in 1555. Since the publication of this book, which has rarely been out of print since his death, Nostradamus has attracted a following that, along with the popular press, credits him with predicting many major world events.
Most academic sources maintain that the associations made between world events and Nostradamus’s quatrains are largely the result of misinterpretations or mistranslations (sometimes deliberate) or else are so tenuous as to render them useless as evidence of any genuine predictive power. Moreover, none of the sources listed offers any evidence that anyone has ever interpreted any of Nostradamus’s quatrains specifically enough to allow a clear identification of any event in advance.
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About Theresa J. Thurmond Morris
TJ also edits books for her friends and publishes books such as mysteries and paranormal romance. Professional History in corporate international marketing, manufacturing,legal investigations, newspaper columnist, and magazine publisher. TJ lives in Kentucky USA with husband who is also an author. TJ is a speaker, spiritual consultant, producer,publisher. TJ spends much of her time assisting others as a consultant in business and with building websites. TJ’s are ACIR.us, AmericanNewsMagazine.com, TJMorris.org, ETSpirit.org, ASCENSIONcenter.org, and many others as media online press including TimelyManorBooks.com. Tj’s books available on Amazon and Lulu under Theresa J Morris and TJ Thurmond Morris. TJ has been interested in the Alien ET UFO Community all her life with a strong research history in the metaphysics, ontology, and is founder of the ACE Folklife Historical Society and Ascension Center.org. TJ is also a natural born leader as a Capricorn with Aquarius rising and promotes expos, seminars, and her friends and their business interests. TJ attracts others who desire to share similar interests in social networks and is a social entrepreneur. TJ writes about what interests her including her friends and their businesses. TJ loves people, places, things, and having a near death experience learned the power of meditation and prayer for all those who believe as she does in Ascension Vertical Lifestyles for body-mind-spirit. TJ has been a Life Coach to those who request her services as a mentor. TJ is a known planner organizer since she founded Psychic Network in Hawaii 1990-1993 and has worked in seminars and expos in the USA.
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ACE FOLKLIFE – NEW AGE OF ASCENSION
ASCENSION COSMOLOGY
TIME TRAVEL WITH WORM HOLES
Fourth Dimensional Travel for those who desire to learn about SCI FI PROPHETS.
Learn about the Fourth dimension.
We now recognize the seven heavens as dimensions such as the universe, is one, multiverse is two, metaverse is three. Xenoverse is fourth, Omniverse is fifth, Alphaverse is sixth, and Omegaverse is seventh.
Being caught up in the seven heavens has been mentioned in what we call our sacred scriptures from time to time by those we regard as prophets and spiritual teachers.
We are learning to adapt to change about our world with our own thoughts. This includes how we believe in our traditions regarding physical science, physical cosmology, metaphysical cosmology, and religious cosmology that in the New AGE of ASCENSION it is all going to be retrievable by the “common folk” and all can receive the divine revelations or the serendipity synergy from the outside higher forces and dimensions of those whom we regard as the higher beings.
These beings allow some of us to act as their messengers as we are chosen as Agashan avatar ascension masters and are reincarnated into this lifetime to assist in large changes and movements that effect the entire planet’s humanoid sentient intelligent beings way of thinking, believing, and knowing.
In mathematics, the group of rotations about a fixed point in four-dimensional Euclidean space is denoted SO(4). The name comes from the fact that it is (isomorphic to) the special orthogonal group of order 4.
In this article rotation means rotational displacement. For the sake of uniqueness rotation angles are assumed to be in the segment
[0,p]except where mentioned or clearly implied by the context otherwise.
Special property of SO(4) among rotation groups in general
The odd-dimensional rotation groups do not contain the central inversion and are simple groups.
The even-dimensional rotation groups do contain the central inversion -I and have the group C2 = {I, -I} as their centre. From SO(6) onwards they are almost-simple in the sense that the factor groups of their centers are simple groups.
SO(4) is different: there is no conjugation by any element of SO(4) that transforms left- and right-isoclinic rotations into each other.Reflections transform a left-isoclinic rotation into a right-isoclinic one by conjugation, and vice versa. This implies that under the group O(4) of all isometries with fixed point O the subgroups S3L and S3R are mutually conjugate and so are not normal subgroups of O(4). The 5D rotation group SO(5) and all higher rotation groups contain subgroups isomorphic to O(4). Like SO(4), all even-dimensional rotation groups contain isoclinic rotations. But unlike SO(4), in SO(6) and all higher even-dimensional rotation groups any pair of isoclinic rotations through the same angle is conjugate. The sets of all isoclinic rotations are not even subgroups of SO(2N), let alone normal subgroups.
SO(4) is commonly identified with the group of orientation-preserving isometric linear mappings of a 4D vector space with inner product over the reals onto itself.
With respect to an orthonormal basis in such a space SO(4) is represented as the group of real 4th-order orthogonal matrices withdeterminant +1.
Isoclinic decomposition
A 4D rotation given by its matrix is decomposed into a left-isoclinic and a right-isoclinic rotation as follows: Let be its matrix with respect to an arbitrary orthonormal basis.
Calculate from this the so-called associate matrix
M has rank one and is of unit Euclidean norm as a 16D vector if and only if A is indeed a 4D rotation matrix. In this case there exist reals a, b, c, d; p, q, r, s such that and (a2 + b2 + c2 + d2)(p2 + q2 + r2 + s2) = 1. There are exactly two sets of a, b, c, d; p, q, r, s such that
a2 + b2 + c2 + d2 = 1 and
p2 + q2 + r2 + s2 = 1. They are each other’s opposites.
The rotation matrix then equals
This formula is due to Van Elfrinkhof (1897).
The first factor in this decomposition represents a left-isoclinic rotation, the second factor a right-isoclinic rotation. The factors are determined up to the negative 4th-order identity matrix, i.e. the central inversion.
Relation to quaternions
A point in 4D space with Cartesian coordinates (u, x, y, z) may be represented by a quaternion u + xi + yj + zk.
A left-isoclinic rotation is represented by left-multiplication by a unit quaternion QL = a + bi + cj + dk. In matrix-vector language this can be seen on Wikipedia.
Likewise, a right-isoclinic rotation is represented by right-multiplication by a unit quaternion QR = p + qi + rj + sk, which is in matrix-vector form
In the preceding section (Isoclinic decomposition) it is shown how a general 4D rotation is split into left- and right-isoclinic factors.
In quaternion language Van Elfrinkhof’s formula reads or in symbolic form.
According to the German mathematician Felix Klein this formula was already known to Cayley in 1854.Quaternion multiplication is associative.
Therefore along with gravity, other forces can be explained.
When it comes to waves, we have many examples to with which to relate. Waves create ripples in water, and compress and decompress air molecules, creating sound.
Almost all waves we know about need matter to exist.
A water wave cannot exist without water, and sound
cannot exist without air.
Waves on the electromagnetic spectrum including light, radio waves, and X-rays can travel through a vacuum: the absence of matter.
This is breaks all known laws!
No other wave can exist in a vacuum, but somehow, electromagnetism can!
There have been several theories to explain this, such as the suggestion of aether, “which fill[s] the vacuum and act[s] as a medium for light”
.This gives a shady explanation of how light, proposed to be simultaneously a wave and a particle, can vibrate its own matter,
allowing it to travel through empty space.
This theory, however, had many gaps and paradoxes, and eventually
was proven wrong in laboratories.
In the early twenties, the Kaluza-Klein theory was born, suggesting that
electromagnetic waves were actually vibrations in 3-D space itself .This defies imagination, as this is only possible through the acceptance of the fourth spatial dimension. Just like the two-dimensional surface of
water can ripple, causing it to occupy multiple coordinates in three-space, three-dimensional space can ripple, causing it to occupy multiple coordinates in four-space.
Another strange possibility opened with fourth dimension is the existence of
parallel universes.
Using the third dimension, several two-dimensional planes can
co-exist in a parallel manner.
Similarly, there could be multiple universes (3-D
spaces) co-existing in four-dimensional hyperspace.
This of course is extremely
theoretical, and could never be proven. It can only be explained through thought
experiments. Imagine an occurrence of extreme space-time war page happening in
two parallel universes at identical XYZ coordinates. They could possibly merge,
creating a tunnel, or wormhole connecting parallel universes via the fourth
dimension.
If multiple universes do not exist, or a trans-universal
wormhole is impossible to obtain, there is still the possibility of a universe
connecting with itself .
Science fiction writers have often romanced with the idea of shortcuts
through space.
The fourth dimension turns these dreams into reality.
It once was thought impossible to exceed the speed of light, but it is possible to travel one light year in less than one year. We are just now learning about that which can travel like tachyon energy which is faster than the speed of light in the Universe, Multiverse, Metaverse, Xenoverse, Omniverse, Alphaverse, and Omegaverse the seven dimensions of space which contains various bubbles and branes in the various inside levels as bubbles.
How? By traveling through a worm hole that takes a shortcut through the fourth dimension.
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EDUCATION & ENLIGHTENMENT ETYMOLOGY PROJECT –
We have many unsung heroes that brought us to this point in time. For now, we call ourselves historians, authors, writers, journalists, artists, educators, entertainers, storytellers, sages, seers, shaman, oracles, and orators of the world. We share other words of our world in Theoretical Physics with Etymologists. Etymologies are not definitions but explanations of what our words mean and how they sound as a historical base.
We choose to share the following for those who are curious about what makes up our interest in the world and in the work of the Ascension Center and the ET Spirit Organization.
Here is some words and information that we hope will assist you on your journey with the TJ MORRIS ORGANIZATION in ALLIANCE with ETSpirit.org and ASCENSIONCenter.ORG
Etymologies are not definitions; they’re explanations of what our words meant and how they sounded 600 or 2,000 years ago.
The dates beside a word indicate the earliest year for which there is a surviving written record of that word (in English, unless otherwise indicated). This should be taken as approximate, especially before about 1700, since a word may have been used in conversation for hundreds of years before it turns up in a manuscript that has had the good fortune to survive the centuries.
The basic sources of this work are Weekley’s “An Etymological Dictionary of Modern English,” Klein’s “A Comprehensive Etymological Dictionary of the English Language,” “Oxford English Dictionary” (second edition), “Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology,” Holthausen’s “Etymologisches Wörterbuch der Englischen Sprache,” and Kipfer and Chapman’s “Dictionary of American Slang.”
A full list of print sources used in this compilation can be found here.
Since this dictionary went up, it has benefited from the suggestions of dozens of people I have never met, from around the world. Tremendous thanks and appreciation to all of you.
SEE EYMOLOGY DICTIONARY
Online Etymology Dictionary – Choice for now!http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=pseudo-science&allowed_in_frame=0
Hierarchy within the Omniverse
Universe: The inside description of a context that is relative in size/structure (attributes/modes) to the known universe that we inhabit. A Universe, also known as a Cosmos, is a particular individual space-time organization with a specified number of dimensions of space and time and definite and specific laws of physics. Other Universes (other Cosmoses) may have different numbers of dimensions of space and time and different laws of physics than our own Universe (Cosmos.
Multiverse: The part of infinity that directly joins a given universe with all possible configurations of that universe.
Metaverse: In string theory, the part that is along with, after; over also denoting change in the multiverse that houses the branes or film that each universe is said to be attached to and hang like individual sheets in a hypermagnetic wave with rhythms of hypercosmic strings going up and down that has a third element causing up, down, backwards, forwards, motions inside the Xenoverse.
Note: In computer science, a metaverse is a virtual reality simulation based on the physical reality of a single individual universe, but one or more levels of implementation above it. It is conceived that it will be possible in forthcoming centuries to create such simulations using massive arrays of matrioshka brains and Jupiter brains.[5][6]
Xenoverse: the unknown alien elements that are beyond and part of the metaverse and multiverse structure. Compared to a patchwork quilt hanging on a line to dry in space that is multivariate inside the Omniverse. While Omniverse is said to be the outside ring of all that is known, the xenoverse is the inside the hypermacrocosm that is unknown beyond the metaverse—the unknown sets of laws that govern how branes behave to create metaverses, the laws of which govern the creation of multiverses.
Omniverse: All possible attributes and modes are in play, multiverses are categorized by the attributes/modes active in its child universes. Some or all possible modes of existence are actualized. If we take the point of origin as our being as a point in measurement, then we can generate the following hierarchy: 1. our location in space-time, 2. this universe (cosmos), 3. the multiverse, 4. the metaverse, 5. the xenoverse, 6. the omniverse.
Allegorical illustrations of the concept
One can think of the omniverse as a tree structure: the omniverse is the trunk, the metaverse is the set of laws that govern the formation of branches, each multiverse is a branch, and each universe (cosmos) is a leaf.
Alternatively, the omniverse can be illustrated as a forest in which a metaverse is the set of laws that govern the cosmic ecology that determines the distribution of trees in the forest, a multiverse is a tree in the forest, a universe as a branch on that tree, and all further branches and leaves are further subset horizons within that universe.
Physicists such as Stephen Hawking and Roger Penrose have suggested that universes both fork and combine, which could be visualized as more of a system of roads and pathways.
PATHWAYS IN ETYMOLOGY LEADING BACK TO THE XENOVERSE OR UNKNOWN IN THE OMNIVERSE…
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We the members of TJ Morris.ORG are in an an alliance with the ET SPIRIT.ORG and ACE Folklife and the Ascension Center.ORG. All four of these ORGANIZATIONS are PART OF THE PLANET INFORMATION ET WORK.COM PROJECT. We are all a part of the WORLD INFORMATION NETWORK.INFO and .US.
We claim to share in the OPEN SOURCE project with MOZILLA FIREFOX and other ARCHVING PROJECTS including the ACE at the SMITHSONIAN in Washington, D.C. – We do our best to share our work and our words to assist others including but not limited to media and libraries online. TJ Morris tm ACIR sm. We are also sharing our websites with the ACIR of the United States of America for full cooperation for intergovernmental support for the cooperation in the global community online and in cyberspace.
alien (adj.) mid-14c., “strange, foreign,” from O.Fr. alien “alien, strange, foreign; an alien, stranger, foreigner,” from L. alienus “of or belonging to another, foreign, alien, strange,” also, as a noun, “a stranger, foreigner,” adj. form of alius “(an)other” (see alias). Meaning “of another planet” first recorded 1944 in science fiction writing; the noun in this sense is from 1953. The noun sense of “foreigner” is first attested early 14c. An alien priory (c.1500) is one owing obedience to a mother abbey in a foreign country.metaphysics late 14c., “branch of speculation which deals with the first causes of things,” from M.L. metaphysica, neut. pl. of Medieval Gk. (ta) metaphysika, from Gk. ta meta ta physika “the (works) after the Physics,” title of the 13 treatises which traditionally were arranged after those on physics and natural sciences in Aristotle’s writings. The name was given c.70 B.C.E. by Andronicus of Rhodes, and was a ref. to the customary ordering of the books, but it was misinterpreted by Latin writers as meaning “the science of what is beyond the physical.” Hence, metaphysical came to be used in the sense of “abstract, speculative” (e.g. by Johnson, who applied it to certain 17c. poets, notably Donne and Cowley, who used “witty conceits” and abstruse imagery). The word originally was used in English in the singular; plural form predominated after 17c., but singular made a comeback late 19c. in certain usages under German influence.rocket (2) “projectile,” 1610s, from It. rocchetto “a rocket,” lit. “a bobbin,” dim. of rocca “a distaff,” so called because of cylindrical shape. The Italian word probably is from a Germanic source (cf. O.H.G. rocko “distaff,” O.N. rokkr), from P.Gmc. *rukka-, from PIE base*rug- “to spin.” Originally “fireworks rocket,” meaning “device propelled by a rocket engine” first recorded 1919; rocket-ship first attested 1927. The verb meaning “to spring like a rocket” is from 1883. Rocket science in the figurative sense of “difficult, complex process or topic” is attested by 1985. Rocket scientist is from 1952.induction late 14c., “advancement toward the grace of God;” also (c.1400) “formal installation of a clergyman,” from O.Fr. induction (14c.) or directly from L. inductionem (nom. inductio) “a leading in, introduction,” noun of action from pp. stem of inducere “to lead” (seeinduce). As a term in logic (early 15c.) it is from Cicero’s use of inductio to translate Gk. epagoge “leading to” in Aristotle.Induction starts with known instances and arrives at generalizations; deduction starts from the general principle and arrives at some individual fact. As a term of science, c.1800; military service sense is from 1934, Amer.Eng.trachea
c.1400, from M.L. trachea (mid-13c.), as in trachea arteria, from L.L. trachia (c.400), from Gk. trakheia, in trakheia arteria”windpipe,” lit. “rough artery” (so called from the rings of cartilage that form the trachea), from fem. of trakhys “rough.” Seeartery for connection with windpipe in Greek science.billion 1680s, from Fr. billion (originally byllion in Chuquet’s unpublished “Le Triparty en la Science des Nombres,” 1484; copied by De la Roche, 1520), from bi- “two” + (m)illion. A million million in Britain and Germany (numeration by groups of sixes), which was the original sense; subsequently altered in French to “a thousand million” (numeration by groups of threes) and picked up in that form in U.S., “due in part to French influence after the Revolutionary War” [David E. Smith, “History of Mathematics,” 1925]. France then reverted to the original meaning in 1948. British usage is truer to the etymology, but U.S. sense is said to be increasingly common there in technical writing.discipline (n.) early 13c., “penitential chastisement; punishment,” from O.Fr. descepline (11c.) “discipline, physical punishment; teaching; suffering; martyrdom,” and directly from L. disciplina “instruction given, teaching, learning, knowledge,” also “object of instruction, knowledge, science, military discipline,” from discipulus (see disciple). Sense of “treatment that corrects or punishes” is from notion of “order necessary for instruction.” The Latin word is glossed in O.E. by þeodscipe. Meaning “branch of instruction or education” is first recorded late 14c. Meaning “military training” is from late 15c.; that of “orderly conduct as a result of training” is from c.1500.agnostic 1870, “one who professes that the existence of a First Cause and the essential nature of things are not and cannot be known” [Klein]; coined by T.H. Huxley (1825-1895) from Gk. agnostos “unknown, unknowable,” from a- “not” + gnostos “(to be) known” (see gnostic). Sometimes said to be a reference to Paul’s mention of the altar to “the Unknown God,” but according to Huxley it was coined with reference to the early Church movement known as Gnosticism (see Gnostic).
I … invented what I conceived to be the appropriate title of ‘agnostic,’ … antithetic to the ‘Gnostic’ of Church history who professed to know so much about the very things of which I was ignorant. [T.H. Huxley, “Science and Christian Tradition,” 1889]
The adjective is first recorded 1873.etymology late 14c., ethimolegia “facts of the origin and development of a word,” from O.Fr. et(h)imologie (14c., Mod.Fr. étymologie), from L.etymologia, from Gk. etymologia, properly “study of the true sense (of a word),” from etymon “true sense” (neut. of etymos “true, real, actual,” related to eteos “true”) + -logia “study of, a speaking of” (see -logy). In classical times, of meanings; later, of histories. Latinized by Cicero as veriloquium. As a branch of linguistic science, from 1640s. Related: Etymological; etymologically.aphorism 1520s (especially in reference to the “Aphorisms of Hippocrates”), from M.Fr. aphorisme (14c., aufforisme), from L.L. aphorismus, from Gk. aphorismos “definition, pithy sentence,” from aphorizein “to mark off, divide,” from apo- “from” (see apo-) + horizein”to bound.” An aphorism is a short, pithy statement containing a truth of general import; an axiom is a statement of self-evident truth; a theorem is a demonstrable proposition in science or mathematics; an epigram is like an aphorism, but lacking in general import. Maxim and saying can be used as synonyms for aphorism.conscience early 13c., from O.Fr. conscience “conscience, innermost thoughts, desires, intentions; feelings” (12c.), from L. conscientia”knowledge within oneself, sense of right, a moral sense,” from conscientem (nom. consciens), prp. of conscire “be (mutually) aware,” from com- “with,” or “thoroughly” (see com-) + scire “to know” (see science). Probably a loan-translation of Gk.syneidesis, lit. “with-knowledge.” Sometimes nativized in O.E./M.E. as inwit. Russian also uses a loan-translation, so-vest, “conscience,” lit. “with-knowledge.”meta- prefix meaning 1. “after, behind,” 2. “changed, altered,” 3. “higher, beyond,” from Gk. meta (prep.) “in the midst of, in common with, by means of, in pursuit or quest of,” from PIE *me- “in the middle” (cf. Goth. miþ, O.E. mið “with, together with, among;” seemid). Notion of “changing places with” probably led to senses “change of place, order, or nature,” which was a principal meaning of the Gk. word when used as a prefix (but also denoting “community, participation; in common with; pursuing”). Third sense, “higher than, transcending, overarching, dealing with the most fundamental matters of,” is due to misinterpretation of metaphysics as “science of that which transcends the physical.” This has led to a prodigious erroneous extension in modern usage, with meta-affixed to the names of other sciences and disciplines, especially in the academic jargon of literary criticism, which affixes it to just about anything that moves and much that doesn’t.
pseudo-science also pseudoscience, “a pretended or mistaken science,” 1844, from pseudo- + science.politics (n.) 1520s, “science of government,” from politic (adj.), modeled on Aristotle’s ta politika “affairs of state,” the name of his book on governing and governments, which was in English mid-15c. as “Polettiques.” Also see -ics.
Politicks is the science of good sense, applied to public affairs, and, as those are forever changing, what is wisdom to-day would be folly and perhaps, ruin to-morrow. Politicks is not a science so properly as a business. It cannot have fixed principles, from which a wise man would never swerve, unless the inconstancy of men’s view of interest and the capriciousness of the tempers could be fixed. [Fisher Ames (1758–1808)]
Meaning “a person’s political allegiances or opinions” is from 1769.physiology 1560s, “study and description of natural objects,” from L. physiologia “natural science, study of nature,” from Gk. physiologia”natural science,” from physio-, comb. form of physis “nature” (see physic) + logia “study” (see -logy). Meaning “science of the normal function of living things” is attested from 1610s.
linguistics “the science of languages,” 1847; see linguistic; also see -ics.anaesthesiology 1908, from anaesthesia + -ology.
Anesthesiology. This is the new term adopted by the University of Illinois defining “the science that treats of the means and methods of producing in man or animal various degrees of insensibility with or without hypnosis.” [“Medical Herald,” January, 1912]
phonics 1680s, “science of sound,” from Gk. phone “sound” (see fame) + -ics. The meaning “method of teaching reading” is first attested 1908, though the system dates from 1844.cyberspace 1982, often as two words at first, coined by science fiction writer William Gibson (best known for “Neuromancer”) and used by him in a short story published in 1982, from cyber- (see cybernetics) + space.ethics “the science of morals,” c.1600, pl. of M.E. ethik “study of morals” (see ethic). The word also traces to Ta Ethika, title of Aristotle’s work.neuroscience 1963, from neuro- + science.kinematics “science of motion,” 1840, from Fr. cinématique (Ampère, 1834), from Gk. kinesis “movement, motion” (see cite).musicology “the study of the science of music,” 1909, from music + -ology.anthropology “science of the natural history of man,” 1590s, originally especially of the relation between physiology and psychology, from Mod.L.anthropologia or coined independently in English from anthropo- + -logy. In Aristotle, anthropologos is used literally, as “speaking of man.”forestry 1690s, “privilege of a royal forest,” from O.Fr. foresterie, from forest (see forest). Meaning “science of managing forests” is from 1859.
aristology “science of dining,” 1835, from Gk. ariston “breakfast” (see ere, so called from being the early meal of the day) + -ology. Related:Aristological.phrenology 1815, from Gk., lit. “mental science,” from phren (gen. phrenos) “mind” + -logy “study of.” Applied to the theory of mental faculties originated by Gall and Spurzheim that led to the 1840s mania for reading personality clues in the shape of one’s skull and the “bumps” of the head.magnetism 1610s, from Mod.L. magnetismus (see magnet + -ism). Figurative sense of “personal charm” is from 1650s; in the hypnotic sense it is from Mesmer (see mesmerize). Meaning “science of magnetics” is recorded from early 19c.mutant (n.) 1901, in the biological sense, from L. mutantem (nom. mutans) “changing,” prp. of mutare “to change” (see mutable). In the science fiction sense, it is attested from 1954.physiological c.1600, “pertaining to natural science,” from physiology + -ical. 1814 as “pertaining to physiology.” Related: Physiologically.hakeem 1580s, physician in Arab countries, from Arabic hakim “wise,” from stem of hakuma “he was wise;” whence also hakam “judge,”hikmah “wisdom, science.”Terran “of or pertaining to the planet Earth,” 1881, in science fiction writing, from L. terra (see terrain). Also used as a noun meaning “inhabitant of the Earth” (1953). An earlier form, terrene was used in M.E. in sense of “belonging to this world, earthly, secular, temporal” (c.1300), later, “of the Earth as a planet” (1630s).toolbar 1960 as a frame fitted to a tractor to hold tools; from tool (n.) + bar (1). Computer sense is attested from 1991.
Among 100-odd new features in Excel 3.0 is a row of “buttons” on the screen called the Toolbar. Located under the pull-down menus, the Toolbar provides rapid access to frequently used commands. [“Popular Science,” April 1991.]
professor late 14c., “one who teaches a branch of knowledge,” from L. professor “person who professes to be an expert in some art or science, teacher of highest rank,” agent noun from profitieri “lay claim to, declare openly” (see profess). As a title prefixed to a name, it dates from 1706. Short form prof is recorded from 1838.scienter Latin, lit. “knowingly,” from sciens, prp. of scire “to know” (see science) + adv. suffix -ter.
Related: Physiologic; physiologist.
ayurvedic 1917, “pertaining to traditional Hindu science of medicine,” from ayurveda “science of life,” from ayur “life” + veda “knowledge.”physic c.1300, “art of healing, medical science,” also “natural science” (c.1300), from O.Fr. fisike “natural science, art of healing” (12c.), from L. physica (fem. sing.) “study of nature,” from Gk. physike episteme “knowledge of nature,” from fem. of physikos “pertaining to nature,” from physis “nature,” from phyein “to bring forth, produce, make to grow” (cf. phyton “growth, plant,” phyle “tribe, race,” phyma “a growth, tumor”) from PIE base *bheu- “to be exist, grow” (cf. O.E. beon “to be,” see be). Especially in Gk. ta physika, lit. “the natural things,” name of Aristotle’s treatise on nature.
The verb meaning “to dose with science fiction 1929 (first attested in “Science Wonder Stories” magazine), though there is an isolated use from 1851; abbreviated form sci-fi is from 1955.science c.1300,
“knowledge (of something) acquired by study,” also “a particular branch of knowledge,” from O.Fr. science, from L. scientia”knowledge,” from sciens (gen. scientis), prp. of scire “to know,” probably originally “to separate one thing from another, to distinguish,” related to scindere “to cut, divide,” from PIE base *skei- (cf. Gk. skhizein “to split, rend, cleave,” Goth. skaidan, O.E.sceadan “to divide, separate;” see shed (v.)).
Modern sense of “non-arts studies” is attested from 1670s. The distinction is commonly understood as between theoretical truth (Gk. episteme) and methods for effecting practical results (tekhne), but sciencesometimes is used for practical applications and art for applications of skill. Main modern (restricted) sense of “body of regular or methodical observations or propositions … concerning any subject or speculation” is attested from 1725; in 17c.-18c. this concept commonly was called philosophy.
To blind (someone) with science “confuse by the use of big words or complex explanations” is attested from 1937, originally noted as a phrase from Australia and New Zealand.physics 1580s, “natural science,” from physic in sense of “natural science.” Also see -ics. Specific sense of “science treating of properties of matter and energy” is from 1715. Physicist coined 1840 by the Rev. William Whewell (1794–1866), Eng. polymath, to denote a “cultivator of physics” as opposed to a physici
ith medicine” is attested from late 14c.
hermetic c.1600 (implied in hermetically), “completely sealed,” also (1630s) “dealing with occult science or alchemy,” from L. hermeticus, from Gk. Hermes, god of science and art, among other things, identified by Neoplatonists, mystics, and alchemists with the Egyptian god Thoth as Hermes Trismegistos “Thrice-Great Hermes,” who supposedly invented the process of making a glass tube airtight (a process in alchemy) using a secret seal.perspective late 14c., “science of optics,” from O.Fr. perspective, from M.L. perspectiva ars “science of optics,” from fem. of perspectivus “of sight, optical” from L. perspectus, pp. of perspicere “inspect, look through,” from per- “through” + specere “look at” (see scope(1)). Sense of “art of drawing objects so as to give appearance of distance or depth” is first found 1590s, influenced by It.prospettiva, an artists’ term. The figurative meaning “mental outlook over time” is first recorded 1762.astronaut coined 1929 in science fiction, popularized from 1961 by U.S. space program, from astro- + nautes “sailor” (see naval). Fr.astronautique (adj.) had been coined 1927 by “J.H. Rosny,” pen name of Belgian-born science fiction writer Joseph Henri Honoré Boex (1856–1940) on model of aéronautique, and Astronaut was used in 1880 as the name of a fictional spaceship by English writer Percy Greg (1836-1889) in “Across the Zodiac.”scientific 1580s, from M.Fr. scientifique, from M.L. scientificus “pertaining to science,” from L. scientia “knowledge” (see science) + -ficus”making” + facere “to make” (see factitious). Originally used to translate Gk. epistemonikos “making knowledge” in Aristotle’s “Ethics.” First record of scientific revolution is from 1803; scientific method is from 1854; scientific notation is from 1961. Related:Scientifical.
mathematic late 14c. as singular, replaced by early 17c. by mathematics, from L. mathematica (pl.), from Gk. mathematike tekhne”mathematical science,” fem. sing. of mathematikos (adj.) “relating to mathematics, scientific,” from mathema (gen. mathematos) “science, knowledge, mathematical knowledge,” related to manthanein “to learn,” from PIE base *mn-/*men-/*mon- “to think, have one’s mind aroused” (cf. Gk. menthere “to care,” Lith. mandras “wide-awake,” O.C.S. madru “wise, sage,” Goth. mundonsis”to look at,” Ger. munter “awake, lively”).ideology 1796, “science of ideas,” originally “philosophy of the mind which derives knowledge from the senses” (as opposed to metaphysics), from Fr. idéologie “study or science of ideas,” coined by French philosopher Destutt de Tracy (1754-1836) from idéo- “of ideas,” from Gk. idea (see idea) + -logy. Later used in a sense “impractical theorizing” (1813). Meaning “systematic set of ideas, doctrines” first recorded 1909.
Ideology … is usually taken to mean, a prescriptive doctrine that is not supported by rational argument. [D.D. Raphael, “Problems of Political Philosophy,” 1970]
Star Wars name of a popular science fiction film released in 1977; also the informal name for a space-based missile defense system proposed in 1983 by U.S. president Ronald Reagan.grok “to understand empathically,” 1961, arbitrary formation by U.S. science fiction writer Robert A. Heinlein (1907–1988) in his book “Stranger in a Strange Land.” In popular use 1960s; perhaps obsolete now except in internet technology circles.teleportation 1931, as a term in psychics and science fiction, from tele- + (trans)portation.erg (1) unit of energy in the C.G.S. system, coined 1873 by the British Association for the Advancement of Science from Gk. ergon “work” (see urge (v.)).speciesism “discrimination against certain animals based on assumption of human superiority,” first attested 1975 in Richard D. Ryder’s “Victims of Science,” from species + -ism.
demographics 1967, the science of divining from demographic statistics; see demography + -ics. Originally in reference to TV audiences and advertisers.
hyperdrive by 1955, an invented word of science fiction writers to describe anything that can power a space craft faster than the speed of light. See hyper- + drive.electronics 1910, from electronic; cf. also -ics. The science of how electrons behave in vacuums, gas, semi-conductors, etc.robotics 1941, from robot + -ics. Coined in a science fiction context by Russian-born U.S. author Isaac Asimov (1920–1992), who proposed the “Three Laws of Robotics” in 1968.bioethics coined 1970 by U.S. biochemist Van Rensselaer Potter II (1911–2001), who defined it as “Biology combined with diverse humanistic knowledge forging a science that sets a system of medical and environmental priorities for acceptable survival.” Frombio- + ethics.-ology suffix indicating “branch of knowledge, science,” the usual form of -logy, with the -o- belonging to the preceding element. Related:-ologist.oncology 1857, coined in English from Mod.L. onco- “tumor,” from Gk. onkos “mass, bulk” + -logy “science or study of.”scientist 1834, coined from L. scientia (see science) by the Rev. William Whewell (1794–1866), Eng. polymath, by analogy with artist.acoustics 1680s, “science of sound,” from acoustic (also see -ics). Meaning “acoustic properties” of a building, etc., attested from 1885.audiology science of hearing and treatment of deafness, 1946, from audio- + -ology. Related: Audiologist.economics 1580s, “art of managing a household,” perhaps from Fr. économique (see economic); also see -ics. Meaning “science of wealth” is from 1792.
Christ title given to Jesus of Nazareth, O.E. crist, from L. Christus, from Gk. khristos “the anointed” (translation of Heb. mashiah; seemessiah), verbal adj. of khriein “to rub, anoint” (see chrism). The L. term drove out O.E. hæland “healer” as the preferred descriptive term for Jesus. A title, treated as a proper name in O.E., but not regularly capitalized until 17c. Pronunciation with long-i- is result of Irish missionary work in England, 7c.-8c. The ch- form, regular since c.1500, was rare before. Capitalization of the word begins 14c. but is not fixed until 17c.
host (n.3) “body of Christ, consecrated bread,” c.1300, from L. hostia “sacrifice,” also “the animal sacrificed,” applied in Church Latin to Christ; probably ultimately related to host (n.1) in its root sense of “stranger, enemy.”B.C. abbreviation of Before Christ, in chronology, attested by 1823. The phrase itself, Before Christ, in dating, with exact years, is in use by 1660s.epiphany early 14c., “festival of the manifestation of Christ to the gentiles” (celebrated Jan. 6; usually with a capital -E-), from O.Fr.epiphanie, from L.L. epiphania, neuter plural (taken as feminine singular), from late Gk. epiphaneia “manifestation, striking appearance” (in N.T., “advent or manifestation of Christ”), from epiphanes “manifest, conspicuous,” from epiphainein “to manifest, display,” from epi “on, to” (see epi-) + phainein “to show” (see phantasm). Of divine beings other than Christ, first recorded 1660s; general literary sense of “any manifestation or revelation” appeared 1840, first in De Quincey.premillennial 1846, “before the millennium,” especially in theological sense of “before the Second Coming of Christ;” from pre- + millennial.Premillenarian, one who believes the second coming of Christ will precede the Millennium, is from 1844.
Scientifical.mathematic late 14c. as singular, replaced by early 17c. by mathematics, from L. mathematica (pl.), from Gk. mathematike tekhne”mathematical science,” fem. sing. of mathematikos (adj.) “relating to mathematics, scientific,” from mathema (gen. mathematos) “science, knowledge, mathematical knowledge,” related to manthanein “to learn,” from PIE base *mn-/*men-/*mon- “to think, have one’s mind aroused” (cf. Gk. menthere “to care,” Lith. mandras “wide-awake,” O.C.S. madru “wise, sage,” Goth. mundonsis”to look at,” Ger. munter “awake, lively”).ideology 1796, “science of ideas,” originally “philosophy of the mind which derives knowledge from the senses” (as opposed to metaphysics), from Fr. idéologie “study or science of ideas,” coined by French philosopher Destutt de Tracy (1754-1836) from idéo- “of ideas,” from Gk. idea (see idea) + -logy. Later used in a sense “impractical theorizing” (1813). Meaning “systematic set of ideas, doctrines” first recorded 1909.
Star Wars name of a popular science fiction film released in 1977; also the informal name for a space-based missile defense system proposed in 1983 by U.S. president Ronald Reagan.grok “to understand empathically,” 1961, arbitrary formation by U.S. science fiction writer Robert A. Heinlein (1907–1988) in his book “Stranger in a Strange Land.” In popular use 1960s; perhaps obsolete now except in internet technology circles.teleportation 1931, as a term in psychics and science fiction, from tele- + (trans)portation.erg (1) unit of energy in the C.G.S. system, coined 1873 by the British Association for the Advancement of Science from Gk. ergon “work” (see urge (v.)).
(see urge (v.)).speciesism “discrimination against certain animals based on assumption of human superiority,” first attested 1975 in Richard D. Ryder’s “Victims of Science,” from species + -ism.demographics 1967, the science of divining from demographic statistics; see demography + -ics. Originally in reference to TV audiences and advertisers.hyperdrive by 1955, an invented word of science fiction writers to describe anything that can power a space craft faster than the speed of light. See hyper- + drive.electronics 1910, from electronic; cf. also -ics. The science of how electrons behave in vacuums, gas, semi-conductors, etc.robotics 1941, from robot + -ics. Coined in a science fiction context by Russian-born U.S. author Isaac Asimov (1920–1992), who proposed the “Three Laws of Robotics” in 1968.bioethics coined 1970 by U.S. biochemist Van Rensselaer Potter II (1911–2001), who defined it as “Biology combined with diverse humanistic knowledge forging a science that sets a system of medical and environmental priorities for acceptable survival.” Frombio- + ethics.-ology suffix indicating “branch of knowledge, science,” the usual form of -logy, with the -o- belonging to the preceding element. Related:-ologist.oncology 1857, coined in English from Mod.L. onco- “tumor,” from Gk. onkos “mass, bulk” + -logy “science or study of.”scientist 1834, coined from L. scientia (see science) by the Rev. William Whewell (1794–1866), Eng. polymath, by analogy with artist.acoustics 1680s, “science of sound,” from acoustic (also see -ics). Meaning “acoustic properties” of a building, etc., attested from 1885.audiology science of hearing and treatment of deafness, 1946, from audio- + -ology. Related: Audiologist.economics 1580s, “art of managing a household,” perhaps from Fr. économique (see economic); also see -ics. Meaning “science of wealth” is from 1792.
phonics 1680s, “science of sound,” from Gk. phone “sound” (see fame) + -ics. The meaning “method of teaching reading” is first attested 1908, though the system dates from 1844.cyberspace 1982, often as two words at first, coined by science fiction writer William Gibson (best known for “Neuromancer”) and used by him in a short story published in 1982, from cyber- (see cybernetics) + space.ethics “the science of morals,” c.1600, pl. of M.E. ethik “study of morals” (see ethic). The word also traces to Ta Ethika, title of Aristotle’s work.neuroscience 1963, from neuro- + science.kinematics “science of motion,” 1840, from Fr. cinématique (Ampère, 1834), from Gk. kinesis “movement, motion” (see cite).musicology “the study of the science of music,” 1909, from music + -ology.anthropology “science of the natural history of man,” 1590s, originally especially of the relation between physiology and psychology, from Mod.L.anthropologia or coined independently in English from anthropo- + -logy. In Aristotle, anthropologos is used literally, as “speaking of man.”forestry 1690s, “privilege of a royal forest,” from O.Fr. foresterie, from forest (see forest). Meaning “science of managing forests” is from 1859.aristology “science of dining,” 1835, from Gk. ariston “breakfast” (see ere, so called from being the early meal of the day) + -ology. Related:Aristological.phrenology 1815, from Gk., lit. “mental science,” from phren (gen. phrenos) “mind” + -logy “study of.” Applied to the theory of mental faculties originated by Gall and Spurzheim that led to the 1840s mania for reading personality clues in the shape of one’s skull and the “bumps” of the head.magnetism 1610s, from Mod.L. magnetismus (see magnet + -ism). Figurative sense of “personal charm” is from 1650s; in the hypnotic sense it is from Mesmer (see mesmerize). Meaning “science of magnetics” is recorded from early 19c.mutant (n.)
1901, in the biological sense, from L. mutantem (nom. mutans) “changing,” prp. of mutare “to change” (see mutable). In the science fiction sense, it is attested from 1954.physiological c.1600, “pertaining to natural science,” from physiology + -ical. 1814 as “pertaining to physiology.” Related: Physiologically.hakeem 1580s, physician in Arab countries, from Arabic hakim “wise,” from stem of hakuma “he was wise;” whence also hakam “judge,”hikmah “wisdom, science.”Terran “of or pertaining to the planet Earth,” 1881, in science fiction writing, from L. terra (see terrain). Also used as a noun meaning “inhabitant of the Earth” (1953). An earlier form, terrene was used in M.E. in sense of “belonging to this world, earthly, secular, temporal” (c.1300), later, “of the Earth as a planet” (1630s).toolbar 1960 as a frame fitted to a tractor to hold tools; from tool (n.) + bar (1). Computer sense is attested from 1991.
Christian O.E. cristen, from Church L. christianus, from Eccles. Gk. christianos, from Christos (see Christ). First used in Antioch, according to Acts xi.25-26. Christian Science is from 1863.horology science of time, 1819, probably from Gk. hora “hour” (see hour) + -logy. Earlier it meant “clock, clock dial” (c.1500), from L.horologium. Related: Horologist.jurisprudence 1620s, “knowledge of law,” from L. jurisprudentia “the science of law,” from juris “of right, of law” (gen. of jus; see jurist) +prudentia “knowledge, a foreseeing” (see prudence). Meaning “the philosophy of law” is first attested 1756.theory 1590s, “conception, mental scheme,” from L.L. theoria (Jerome), from Gk. theoria “contemplation, speculation, a looking at, things looked at,” from theorein “to consider, speculate, look at,” from theoros “spectator,” from thea “a view” + horan “to see” (seewarrant). Sense of “principles or methods of a science or art (rather than its practice)” is first recorded 1610s. That of “an explanation based on observation and reasoning” is from 1630s.android “automaton resembling a human being,” 1847, from Mod.L. androides (itself attested as a Latin word in English from 1727), from Gk. andro- “human” (see andro-) + eides “form, shape.” Gk. androdes meant “like a man, manly;” cf. also Gk. andrias “image of a man, statue.” Listed as “rare” in OED 1st edition (1879), popularized from c.1951 by science fiction writers.divinity c.1300, “science of divine things;” late 14c., “quality of being divine,” also “a divine being,” from O.Fr. devinité (12c.), from L.divinitatem (nom. divinitas), from divinus (see divine).
ontology “metaphysical science or study of being,” 1660s (Gideon Harvey), from Mod.L. ontologia (c.1600), from Gk. on (gen. ontos) “being” (prp. of einai “to be;” see essence) + -logia “writing about, study of” (see -ology).armory “arms and weapons collectively,” c.1300; see arm (n.2) + -ory. Meaning “place where arms are manufactured” is from mid-15c. Also used in a sense of “arsenal” (mid-15c.), “the science of heraldry” (late 15c.), from O.Fr. armoierie, from armoier “to blazon,” from L. arma “weapons” (see arm (2)).prescience late 14c., from L.L. praescientia “fore-knowledge,” from *praescientem, prp. of *praescire “to know in advance,” from L. prae”before” (see pre-) + scire “to know” (see science).pathology “science of diseases,” 1610s, from Fr. pathologie, from Mod.L. pathologia, from Gk. pathologikos “treating of disease,” frompathos “suffering” (see pathos) + -logia “study” (see -logy).lyceum 1580s, Latin form of Gk. lykeion, grove or garden with covered walks near Athens where Aristotle taught, from neut. of Lykeios”wolf-slayer,” an epithet of Apollo, whose temple was nearby, from lykos “wolf.” Hence, Fr. lycée, name given in France to state-run secondary schools. In England, early 19c., lyceum was the name taken by a number of literary societies; in U.S., after c.1820, it was the name of institutes that sponsored popular lectures in science and literature.physician early 13c., fisicien, from O.Fr. fisicien “physician” (12c., Mod.Fr. physicien means “physicist”), from fisique “art of healing,” from L.physica “natural science” (see physic).
nescient 1620s, from L. nescientem (nom. nesciens), prp. of nescire, from ne “not” + scire “to know” (see science).scent (v.) c.1400, from O.Fr. sentir “to feel, perceive, smell,” from L. sentire ” to feel, perceive, sense” (see sense). Originally a hunting term. The -c- appeared 17c., perhaps by influence of ascent, descent, etc., or by influence of science. The noun is first recorded late 14c. Almost always applied to agreeable odors.pluralism 1818, as a term in church administration, from plural + -ism. Attested from 1882 as a term in philosophy for a theory which recognizes more than one ultimate principle. In political science, attested from 1919 (in Harold J. Laski) in sense “theory which opposes monolithic state power.” General sense of “toleration of diversity within a society or state” is from 1933. Related: Pluralist;pluralistic.earthling O.E. yrþling “plowman” (see earth + -ling); the sense of “inhabitant of the earth” is from 1590s. Earthman was originally (1860) “a demon who lives in the earth;” science fiction sense of “inhabitant of the planet Earth” first attested 1949 in writing of Robert Heinlein. Earlier in this sense was earthite (1825).omniscience 1610s, from M.L. omniscientia “all-knowledge,” from L. omnis “all” (see omni-) + scientia “knowledge” (see science).optic 1540s, from M.Fr. optique, obtique (c.1300), from M.L. opticus “of sight or seeing,” from Gk. optikos “of or having to do with sight,” from optos “seen, visible,” from op-, root of opsesthai “be going to see,” related to ops “eye,” from PIE *oqw- “eye/see” (see eye). Optics “science of sight and light” is from 1570s.agronomy “science of land management for crop production,” 1814, from Fr. agronomie, from Gk. agronomos “overseer of land,” from agros”field” (see acre) + -nomos “law or custom, administering,” related to nemein “manage” (see numismatics). Related:Agronomist; agronomic.
technology 1610s, “discourse or treatise on an art or the arts,” from Gk. tekhnologia “systematic treatment of an art, craft, or technique,” originally referring to grammar, from tekhno- (see techno-) + -logia (see -logy). The meaning “science of the mechanical and industrial arts” is first recorded 1859. High technology attested from 1964; short form high-tech is from 1972.dissent (v.) early 15c., from L. dissentire “differ in sentiments, disagree, be at odds, contradict, quarrel,” from dis- “differently” (see dis-) +sentire “to feel, think” (see sense). Related: Dissented; dissenting. The noun is 1580s, from the verb.
Has there ever been a society which has died of dissent? Several have died of conformity in our lifetime. [Jacob Bronowski “Science and Human Values,” 1956]
philology late 14c., “love of learning,” from O.Fr. philologie, from L. philologia “love of learning, love of letters,” from Gk. philologia “love of discussion, learning, and literature,” from philo- “loving” + logos “word, speech.” Meaning “science of language” is first attested 1716; this confusing secondary sense has never been popular in the U.S., where linguistics (q.v.) is preferred.political 1550s, “pertaining to a polity, civil affairs, or government;” from L. politicus (see politic (adj.)). Meaning “taking sides in party politics” (usually pejorative) is from 1749. Political prisoner first recorded 1860; political science is from 1779 (first attested in Hume). Political animal translates Gk. politikon zoon (Aristotle, “Politics,” I.ii.9) “an animal intended to live in a city; a social animal.”statistics 1770, “science dealing with data about the condition of a state or community,” from Ger. Statistik, popularized and perhaps coined by German political scientist Gottfried Aschenwall (1719-1772) in his “Vorbereitung zur Staatswissenschaft” (1748), from Mod.L.statisticum (collegium) “(lecture course on) state affairs,” from It. statista “one skilled in statecraft,” from L. status (see state(n.1)). Meaning “numerical data collected and classified” is from 1829. Abbreviated form stats first recorded 1961.economic 1590s, “pertaining to management of a household,” perhaps shortened from economical or from Fr. économique or directly from L. oeconomicus “of domestic economy,” from Gk. oikonomikos “practiced in the management of a household or family,” hence, “frugal, thrifty,” from oikonomia (see economy (n.)). Meaning “relating to the science of economics” is from 1835 and now is the main sense, economical retaining the older one of “characterized by thrift.”garbage early 15c., “giblets of a fowl, waste parts of an animal,” later confused with garble in its sense of “siftings, refuse.” Perhaps some senses derive from O.Fr. garbe “a bundle of sheaves, entrails,” from P.Gmc. *garba- (cf. Du. garf, Ger. garbe “sheaf”), from PIE*ghrebh- “a handful, a grasp.” Sense of “refuse, filth” is first attested 1580s; used figuratively for “worthless stuff” from 1590s.Garbology “study of waste as a social science” is from 1976.
ray (1) “beam of light,” c.1300, from O.Fr. rai (nom. rais) “ray, spoke,” from L. radius “ray, spoke, staff, rod” (see radius). Not common before 17c.; of the sun, usually in reference to heat (beam being preferred for light). Science fiction ray-gun is first recorded 1931 (but cf. Martian heat ray weapon in H.G. Wells’ “War of the Worlds,” 1898).critical 1580s, “censorious,” from critic + -al (1). Meaning “pertaining to criticism” is from 1741; medical sense is from c.1600; meaning “of the nature of a crisis” is from 1640s; that of “crucial” is from 1841, from the “decisive” sense in L. criticus. Related: Criticality(1756; in the nuclear sense, 1950); critically (1650s, “accurately;” 1815, “in a critical situation”). In nuclear science, critical mass is attested from 1940.static (adj.) 1640s (earlier statical, 1560s), “pertaining to the science of weight and its mechanical effects,” from Mod.L. statica, from Gk.statikos “causing to stand, skilled in weighing,” from stem of histanai “to cause to stand, weigh,” from PIE base *sta- “stand” (seestet). The sense of “having to do with bodies at rest or with forces that balance each other” is first recorded 1802. Applied to frictional electricity from 1839. The noun meaning “radio noise” is first recorded 1913; figurative sense of “aggravation, criticism” is attested from 1926.artificial late 14c., in the phrase artificial day “part of the day from sunrise to sunset,” from O.Fr. artificial, from L. artificialis “of or belonging to art,” from artificium (see artifice). Meaning “made by man” (opposite of natural) is from early 15c. Applied to things that are not natural, whether real (artificial light) or not (artificial flowers). Artificial insemination dates from 1897. Artificial intelligence “the science and engineering of making intelligent machines” was coined in 1956.plebiscite “direct vote of the people,” 1860 (originally in reference to Italian unification), from Fr. plébiscite (1776 in modern sense), from L.plebiscitum “a decree or resolution of the people,” from plebs (gen. plebis) “the common people” + scitum “decree,” properly neuter pp. of sciscere “to assent, vote for, approve,” inchoative of scire “to know” (see science). Used earlier (1530s) in a purely Roman historical context. Related: Plebiscitary.creation late 14c., “action of creating, a created thing,” from O.Fr. creacion (14c., Mod.Fr. création) “creation, coming into being,” from L.creationem (nom. creatio) “a creating, a producing,” in classical use “an electing, appointment, choice,” noun of action from pp. stem of creare (see create). Meaning “that which God has created, the world and all in it” is from 1610s. The native word in the Biblical sense was O.E. frum-sceaft. Of fashion costumes, desserts, etc., from 1870s, from French. Creation science is attested by 1970.
operation late 14c., “action, performance, work,” also “the performance of some science or art,” from O.Fr. operacion, from L. operationem(nom. operatio) “a working, operation,” from pp. stem of operari “to work, labor” (in L.L. “to have effect, be active, cause”), fromopera “work, effort,” related to opus (gen. operis) “a work” (see opus). The surgical sense is first attested 1590s. Military sense of “series of movements and acts” is from 1749.nomenclature c.1600, “a name,” from Fr. nomenclature, from L. nomenclatura “calling of names,” from nomenclator “namer,” from nomen”name” (see name) + calator “caller, crier,” from calare “call out” (see claim). Nomenclator in Rome was the title of a steward whose job was to announce visitors, and also of a prompter who helped a stumping politician recall names and pet causes of his constituents. Meaning “list or catalogue of names” first attested 1630s; that of “system of naming” is from 1660s; sense of “terminology of a science” is from 1789.Arabic (adj.) early 14c., from O.Fr. Arabique (13c.), from L. Arabicus “Arabic” (see Arab). O.E. used Arabisc “Arabish.” Originally in reference to gum arabic; noun meaning “Arabic language” is from late 14c. Arabic numerals (actually Indian) first attested 1727; they were introduced in Europe by Gerbert of Aurillac (later Pope Sylvester II) after a visit to Islamic Spain in 967-970. A prominent man of science, he taught in the diocesan school at Reims, but the numbers made little headway against conservative opposition in the Church until after the Crusades. The earliest depiction of them in English, in “The Crafte of Nombrynge” (c.1350) correctly identifies them as “teen figurys of Inde.”cucumber late 14c., from O.Fr. cocombre (13c., Mod.Fr. concombre), from L. cucumerem (nom. cucumis), perhaps from a pre-Italic Mediterranean language. The Latin word also is the source of It. cocomero, Sp. cohombro, Port. cogombro. Replaced O.E.eorþæppla (pl.), lit. “earth-apples.” Cowcumber was common form 17c.-18c., and that pronunciation lingered into 19c. Planted as a garden vegetable by 1609 by Jamestown colonists. Phrase cool as a cucumber (c.1732) embodies ancient folk knowledge confirmed by science in 1970: inside of a field cucumber on a warm day is 20 degrees cooler than the air temperature.anatomy late 14c., “study of the structure of living beings;” c.1400, “anatomical structures,” from O.Fr. anatomie, from L.L. anatomia, from Gk. anatomia, from anatome “dissection,” from ana- “up” (see ana-) + temnein “to cut” (see tome). “Dissection” (1540s), “mummy” (1580s), and even “skeleton” (1590s) were primary senses of this word in Shakespeare’s day; meaning “the science of the structure of organized bodies” predominated from 17c. Often mistakenly divided as an atomy or a natomy.
The scyence of the Nathomy is nedefull and necessarye to the Cyrurgyen [1541]
is nedefull and necessarye to the Cyrurgyen [1541]
ballistics 1753, “art of throwing; science of projectiles,” with -ics + L. ballista “ancient military machine for hurling stones,” from Gk.ballistes, from ballein “to throw, to throw so as to hit,” also in a looser sense, “to put, place, lay;” from PIE base *gwele- “to throw, reach,” in extended senses “to pierce” (cf. Skt. apa-gurya “swinging,” balbaliti “whirls, twirls;” Gk. bole “a throw, beam, ray,”belemnon “dart, javelin,” belone “needle”). Here, too, probably belongs Gk. ballizein “to dance,” lit. “to throw one’s body,” ancient Greek dancing being highly athletic.gloss (n.2) “word inserted as an explanation,” 1540s (earlier gloze, c.1300), from L. glossa “obsolete or foreign word,” one that requires explanation; hence also “explanation, note,” from Gk. glossa (Ionic), glotta (Attic) “obscure word, language,” also “mouthpiece,” lit. “tongue,” from PIE *glogh- “thorn, point, that which is projected” (cf. O.C.S. glogu “thorn”). Figurative use from 1540s. Bothglossology (1716) and glottology (1841) have been used in the sense “science of language.”
age (n.) late 13c., “long but indefinite period in human history,” from O.Fr. aage (11c., Mod.Fr. âge) “age; life, lifetime, lifespan; maturity,” earlier edage, from V.L. *aetaticum (cf. Sp. edad, It. eta, Port. idade “age”), from L. aetatem (nom. aetas), “period of life, age, lifetime, years,” from aevum “lifetime, eternity, age,” from PIE base *aiw- “vital force, life, long life, eternity” (see eon). Meaning “time something has lived, particular length or stage of life” is from early 14c. Used especially for “old age” since early 14c. Expelled native eld. Age-group attested from 1904, originally a term in the science of demographics.exploitation 1803, “productive working” of something, a positive word among those who used it first, though regarded as a Gallicism, from Fr.exploitation, noun of action from exploiter (see exploit (v.)). Bad sense developed 1830s-50s, in part from influence of French socialist writings (especially Saint Simon), also perhaps influenced by U.S. anti-slavery writing; and the insulting word was hurled at activities it once had crowned as praise.
It follows from this science [conceived by Saint Simon] that the tendency of the human race is from a state of antagonism to that of an universal peaceful association — from the dominating influence of the military spirit to that of the industriel one; from what they call l’exploitation de l’homme par l’homme to the exploitation of the globe by industry. [“Quarterly Review,” April & July 1831]
aesthetic 1798, from Ger. Ästhetisch or Fr. esthétique, both from Gk. aisthetikos “sensitive, perceptive,” from aisthanesthai “to perceive (by the senses or by the mind), to feel,” from PIE *awis-dh-yo-, from base *au- “to perceive” (see audience).
Popularized in English by translation of Immanuel Kant, and used originally in the classically correct sense “the science which treats of the conditions of sensuous perception.” Kant had tried to correct the term after Alexander Baumgarten had taken it in German to mean “criticism of taste” (1750s), but Baumgarten’s sense attained popularity in English c.1830s (despite scholarly resistance) and removed the word from any philosophical base. Walter Pater used it (1868) to describe the late 19c. movement that advocated “art for art’s sake,” which further blurred the sense. Related: Aesthetically.dysphemism 1884, “substitution of a vulgar or derogatory word or expression for a dignified or normal one,” from Gk. dys- “bad, abnormal, difficult” (see dys-) + pheme “speaking,” from phanai “speak” (see fame; Gk. dysphemia meant “ill language, words of ill omen”). The opposite of euphemism. Rediscovered 1933 from French formation dysphémisme (1927, Carnoy).
The French psychologist Albert J. Carnoy gave an extensive definition in his study Le Science du Mot, which in translation runs: “Dysphemism is unpitying, brutal, mocking. It is also a reaction against pedantry, rigidity and pretentiousness, but also against nobility and dignity in language” (1927, xxii, 351). [Geoffrey L. Hughes, “An Encyclopedia of Swearing,” 2006]Encyclopedia of Swearing,” 2006]
bio- from Gk. bio-, comb. form of bios “one’s life, course or way of living, lifetime” (as opposed to zoe “animal life, organic life”), from PIE base *gweie- “to live” (cf. Skt. jivah “alive, living;” O.E. cwic “alive;” L. vivus “living, alive,” vita “life;” M.Pers. zhiwak “alive;” O.C.S. zivo “to live;” Lith. gyvas “living, alive;” O.Ir. bethu “life,” bith “age;” Welsh byd “world”). Equivalent of L. vita. The correct usage is that in biography, but in modern science it has been extended to mean “organic life.”craft (n.) O.E. cræft, originally “power, physical strength, might,” from P.Gmc. *krab-/*kraf- (cf. O.Fris. kreft, O.H.G. chraft, Ger. Kraft”strength, skill;” O.N. kraptr “strength, virtue”). Sense expanded in O.E. to include “skill, art, science, talent” (via a notion of “mental power”), which led to the meaning “trade, handicraft, calling.” The word still was used for “might, power” in M.E. Use for “small boat” is first recorded 1670s, probably from a phrase resembling vessels of small craft and referring either to the trade they did or the seamanship they required, or perhaps it preserves the word in its original sense of “power.” The verb is O.E. cræftan “to exercise a craft, build;” meaning “to make skilfully” is from early 15c., obsolete from 16c., but revived c.1950s, largely in U.S. advertising and commercial senses.astrology late 14c., from L. astrologia “astronomy, the science of the heavenly bodies,” from Gk. astrologia “telling of the stars,” from astron”star” (see astro-) + -logia “treating of” (see -logy). Originally identical with astronomy, it had also a special sense of “practical astronomy, astronomy applied to prediction of events.” This was divided into natural astrology “the calculation and foretelling of natural phenomenon” (tides, eclipses, etc.), and judicial astrology “the art of judging occult influences of stars on human affairs” (also known as astromancy, 1650s). Differentiation between astrology and astronomy began late 1400s and by 17c. this word was limited to “reading influences of the stars and their effects on human destiny.”subject (n.) early 14c., “person under control or dominion of another,” from O.Fr. suget, subget “a subject person or thing” (12c.), from L.subjectus, noun use of pp. of subicere “to place under,” from sub “under” + combining form of iacere “to throw” (see jet (v.)). In 14c., sugges, sogetis, subgit, sugette; form re-Latinized in English 16c. Meaning “person or thing that may be acted upon” is recorded from 1590s. Meaning “subject matter of an art or science” is attested from 1540s, probably short for subject matter (late 14c.), which is from M.L. subjecta materia, a loan translation of Gk. hypokeimene hyle (Aristotle), lit. “that which lies beneath.” Likewise some specific uses in logic and philosophy are borrowed directly from L. subjectum “foundation or subject of a proposition,” a loan-translation of Aristotle’s to hypokeimenon. Grammatical sense is recorded from 1630s. The adj. is attested from early 14c.
space (n.) c.1300, “an area, extent, expanse, lapse of time,” aphetic of O.Fr. espace, from L. spatium “room, area, distance, stretch of time,” of unknown origin. Astronomical sense of “stellar depths” is first recorded 1667 in “Paradise Lost.”
Space isn’t remote at all. It’s only an hour’s drive away if your car could go straight upwards. [Sir Fred Hoyle, “London Observer,” 1979]
Typographical sense is attested from 1670s (typewriter space bar is from 1888). Space age is attested from 1946; spacewalk is from 1965. Many compounds first appeared in science fiction and speculative writing, e.g. spaceship (1894, “Journey in Other Worlds”); spacesuit (1920); spacecraft (1930, “Scientific American”); space travel (1931); space station (1936, “Rockets Through Space”); spaceman (1942, “Thrilling Wonder Stories;” earlier it meant “journalist paid by the length of his copy,” 1892). Space race attested from 1959. Space shuttle attested by 1970.doctor (n.) c.1300, “Church father,” from O.Fr. doctour, from M.L. doctor “religious teacher, adviser, scholar,” in classical L. “teacher,” agent noun from docere “to show, teach, cause to know,” originally “make to appear right,” causative of decere “be seemly, fitting” (seedecent). Meaning “holder of highest degree in university” is first found late 14c.; as is that of “medical professional” (replacing native leech (2)), though this was not common till late 16c. The transitional stage is exemplified in Chaucer’s Doctor of phesike(Latin physica came to be used extensively in M.L. for medicina). Similar usage of the equivalent of doctor is colloquial in most European languages: cf. It. dottore, Fr. docteur, Ger. doktor, Lith. daktaras, though these are typically not the main word in those languages for a medical healer. For similar evolution, cf. Skt. vaidya- “medical doctor,” lit. “one versed in science.” Ger. Arzt, Du.arts are from L.L. archiater, from Gk. arkhiatros “chief healer,” hence “court physician.” Fr. médecien is a back formation frommédicine, replacing O.Fr. miege, from L. medicus.
social (adj.) c.1500 (implied in socially), “characterized by friendliness or geniality,” also “allied, associated,” from M.Fr. social (14c.), from L.socialis “united, living with others,” from socius “companion,” probably originally “follower,” and related to sequi “to follow” (cf. O.E. secg, O.N. seggr “companion,” which seem to have been formed on the same notion; see sequel). Meaning “living or liking to live with others, disposed to friendly intercourse” is attested from 1729. Meaning “pertaining to society as a natural condition of human life” first attested 1695, in Locke.
Social climber is from 1926; social work is 1890; social worker 1904. Social drink(ing) first attested 1976. Social studies as an inclusive term for history, geography, economics, etc., is attested from 1938. Social security “system of state support for needy citizens” is attested from 1908. Social butterfly is from 1910, in figurative reference to “flitting.” Social contract is from Rousseau.Social Darwinism attested from 1887. Social engineering attested from 1899. Social science is from 1811. In late 19c. newspapers,social evil is “prostitution.” Social justice is attested by 1718; social network by 1971; social networking by 1984.time (n.) O.E. tima “limited space of time,” from P.Gmc. *timon “time” (cf. O.N. timi “time, proper time,” Swed. timme “an hour”), from PIE*di-mon-, from base *da- “cut up, divide” (see tide). Abstract sense of “time as an indefinite continuous duration” is recorded from late 14c. Personified since at least 1509 as an aged bald man (but with a forelock) carrying a scythe and an hour-glass. In English, a single word encompasses time as “extent” and “point” (Fr. temps/fois, Ger. zeit/mal) as well as “hour” (e.g. “what time is it?” cf. Fr. heure, Ger. Uhr). Extended senses such as “occasion,” “the right time,” “leisure,” or times (v.) “multiplied by” developed in O.E. and M.E., probably as a natural outgrowth of phrases like, “He commends her a hundred times to God” (O.Fr. La comande a Deu cent foiz).
to have a good time ( = a time of enjoyment) was common in Eng. from c 1520 to c 1688; it was app. retained in America, whence readopted in Britain in 19th c. [OED]
Time of day (now mainly preserved in negation, i.e. what someone won’t give you if he doesn’t like you) was a popular 17c. salutation (e.g. “Good time of day vnto your Royall Grace,” “Richard III,” I.iii.18). Times as the name of a newspaper dates from 1788. Time warp first attested 1954; time capsule first recorded 1938, in reference to New York World’s Fair; time-traveling in the science fiction sense first recorded 1895 in H.G. Wells’ “The Time Machine.” To do time “serve a prison sentence” is from 1865.Time frame is attested by 1964; time line (also timeline) by 1890; time-limit is from 1880. About time, ironically for “long past due time,” is recorded from 1920. Behind the times “old-fashioned” is recorded from 1846, first attested in Dickens.hill O.E. hyll “hill,” from P.Gmc. *hulni- (cf. M.Du. hille, Low Ger. hull “hill,” O.N. hallr “stone,” Goth. hallus “rock,” O.N. holmr “islet in a bay,” O.E. holm “rising land, island”), from PIE base *kel- “to rise, be elevated, be prominent” (cf. Skt. kutam “top, skull;” L.collis “hill,” columna “projecting object,” culmen “top, summit,” cellere “raise,” celsus “high;” Gk. kolonos “hill,” kolophon”summit;” Lith. kalnas “mountain,” kalnelis “hill,” kelti “raise”). Formerly including mountains, now usually confined to heights under 2,000 feet.
In Great Britain heights under 2,000 feet are generally called hills; ‘mountain’ being confined to the greater elevations of the Lake District, of North Wales, and of the Scottish Highlands; but, in India, ranges of 5,000 and even 10,000 feet are commonly called ‘hills,’ in contrast with the Himalaya Mountains, many peaks of which rise beyond 20,000 feet. [OED]
The term mountain is very loosely used. It commonly means any unusual elevation. In New England and central New York, elevations of from one to two thousand feet are called hills, but on the plains of Texas, a hill of a few hundred feet is called a mountain. [Ralph S. Tarr, “Elementary Geology,” Macmillan, 1903]
Despite the differences in defining mountain systems, Penck (1896), Supan (1911) and Obst (1914) agreed that the distinction between hills, mountains, and mountain systems according to areal extent or height is not a suitable classification. [“Geographic Information Science and Mountain Geomorphology,” 2004]
Phrase over the hill “past one’s prime” is first recorded 1950.shit (v.) O.E. scitan, from P.Gmc. *skit-, from PIE *skheid- “split, divide, separate.” Related to shed (v.) on the notion of “separation” from the body (cf. L. excrementum, from excernere “to separate”). It is thus a cousin to science and conscience. The noun is O.E.scitte “purging;” sense of “excrement” dates from 1580s, from the verb. Despite what you read in an e-mail, “shit” is not an acronym. The notion that it is a recent word may be because the word was taboo from c.1600 and rarely appeared in print (neither Shakespeare nor the KJV has it), and even in “vulgar” publications of the late 18c. it is disguised by dashes. It drew the wrath of censors as late as 1922 (“Ulysses” and “The Enormous Room”), scandalized magazine subscribers in 1957 (a Hemingway story in “Atlantic Monthly”) and was omitted from some dictionaries as recently as 1970 (“Webster’s New World”). Extensive slang usage; verb meaning “to lie, to tease” is from 1934; that of “to disrespect” is from 1903. Noun use for “obnoxious person” is since at least 1508; meaning “misfortune, trouble” is attested from 1937. Shat is a humorous past tense form, not etymological, first recorded 18c. Shite, now a jocular or slightly euphemistic variant, formerly a dialectal variant, reflects the vowel in the O.E. verb (cf. Ger. scheissen). Shit-faced “drunk” is 1960s student slang; shit list is from 1942. To not give a shit “not care” is from 1922; up shit creek “in trouble” is from 1937. To shit bricks “be very frightened” attested by 1961. The connection between fear and involuntary defecation has generated expressions since 14c., and probably also is behind scared shitless (1936).
The expression [the shit hits the fan] is related to, and may well derive from, an old joke. A man in a crowded bar needed to defecate but couldn’t find a bathroom, so he went upstairs and used a hole in the floor. Returning, he found everyone had gone except the bartender, who was cowering behind the bar. When the man asked what had happened, the bartender replied, ‘Where were you when the shit hit the fan?’ [Hugh Rawson, “Wicked Words,” 1989]
ACE FOLKLIFE GUIDE ON FAIRIES
Sidhe “the hills of the fairies,” 1793; but in Yeats, “the fairie folk” (1899), elipsis of Ir. (aos) sidhe “people of the faerie mound” (cf. second element in banshee).fairy c.1300, fairie, “enchantment, magic,” from O.Fr. faerie “land of fairies, meeting of fairies, enchantment, magic,” from fae “fay,” from L. fata (pl.) “the Fates,” from PIE *bha- “to speak” (see fame). As “a supernatural creature” from late 14c. [contra Tolkien; cf. “This maketh that ther been no fairyes” in “Wife of Bath’s Tale”], perhaps via intermediate forms such as fairie knight”supernatural or legendary knight” (early 14c.). The diminutive winged beings so-called in children’s stories seem to date from early 17c.
Yet I suspect that this flower-and-butterfly minuteness was also a product of “rationalization,” which transformed the glamour of Elfland into mere finesse, and invisibility into a fragility that could hide in a cowslip or shrink behind a blade of grass. It seems to become fashionable soon after the great voyages had begun to make the world seem too narrow to hold both men and elves; when the magic land of Hy Breasail in the West had become the mere Brazils, the land of red-dye-wood. [J.R.R. Tolkien,” On Fairy-Stories,” 1947]
The slang meaning “effeminate male homosexual” is first recorded 1895. Fairy ring is from 1590s. Fossil sea urchins found on the English downlands were called fairy loaves.good-neighbor also (chiefly British English) good-neighbour, adj. phrase, in reference to U.S. foreign policy, especially in Latin America, 1928, originally in Herbert Hoover. The good neighbours is Scottish euphemism for “the fairies” (1580s).
oaf 1610s (implied in oafish), also auf (1620s), “a changeling; a foolish child left by the fairies” [Johnson], from a Scandinavian source, cf. Norw. alfr “silly person,” in O.N., “elf” (see elf). Hence, “a misbegotten, deformed idiot.” Until recently, some dictionaries still gave the plural as oaves.myth 1830, from Gk. mythos “speech, thought, story, myth,” of unknown origin.
Myths are “stories about divine beings, generally arranged in a coherent system; they are revered as true and sacred; they are endorsed by rulers and priests; and closely linked to religion. Once this link is broken, and the actors in the story are not regarded as gods but as human heroes, giants or fairies, it is no longer a myth but a folktale. Where the central actor is divine but the story is trivial … the result is religious legend, not myth.” [J. Simpson & S. Roud, “Dictionary of English Folklore,” Oxford, 2000, p.254]
General sense of “untrue story, rumor” is from 1840.gentry c.1300, “nobility of rank or birth,” from O.Fr. genterise, variant of gentilise “noble birth, gentleness,” from gentil (see gentle). Meaning “noble persons” is from 1520s. Earlier in both senses was gentrice (c.1200 as “nobility of character,” late 14c. as “noble persons”). In Anglo-Irish, gentry was a name for “the fairies” (1880), and gentle could mean “enchanted” (1823).Pict an ancient people of Great Britain, late 14c., from L.L. Picti (late 3c., probably a nickname given them by Roman soldiers), usually taken as derived from picti “painted,” but probably ultimately from the Celtic name of the tribe, perhaps Pehta, Peihta, lit. “the fighters” (cf. Gaul. Pictavi, who gave the name to the French city of Poitiers). They painted and tattooed themselves, which may have suggested a Roman folk-etymology alteration of the name. The O.E. name for the people was Peohtas.
In Scottish folk-lore the Pechts are often represented as a dark pygmy race, or an underground people; and sometimes identified with elves, brownies, or fairies.
ACE is the acronym of the American Cinema Editors association.
The society was the original idea of two Paramount Studio film editors, Warren Low and Jack Ogilvie, who arranged for an historic meeting of representative editors to discuss starting the organization. It was held at the Masquers Club in Hollywood on October 26, 1950 and, besides Low and Ogilvie, was attended by George Amy, Folmar Blangsted, James Clark, Frank Gross, Richard Heermance, William Hornbeck, Fred Knudtson, William Lyon, Fredrick Smith, Richard Van Enger and Hugh Winn.
A Charter Membership meeting was held on November 28, 1950 attended by 108 of the industry’s top film editors followed by the first General Membership meeting on January 9, 1951 at which a name for the society was adopted when Donn Hayes suggested “American Cinema Editors”, abbreviated to “ACE” as its acronym. (Members are identified on screen credits with “A.C.E.” following their names.) On May 29, 1951 the AMERICAN CINEMA EDITORS became a non-profit corporation under the laws of the State of California.
From its inception the ACE membership was committed to the encouragement of mutually-beneficial dialogue with other members of the motion picture industry and to educating the general public. The first of several seminars, known as the “ACE Roundtable”, was inaugurated in 1951 to discuss problems shared with other industry groups. A panel discussion on “Better Pictures Through Creative Cooperation” was held on June 5, 1951 at the Masquers Club moderated by Fredrick Smith with guest speakers: Delmer Daves, President, Screen Directors Guild; Paul Groese, President, Art Directors Society; William Perlberg, President, Screen Producers Guild; Ronald Reagan, President, Screen Actors Guild; Ray Rennahan, President, American Society of Cinematographers; and Karl Tunberg, President, Screen Writers Guild.
Beginning as early as 1951 a speaker’s platform headed by James E. Newcom was formed to give lectures to cinema classes at universities. Now called the ACE Visiting Editor Program, some of the members who have lectured or taught classes during the past few years are: former Presidents James Blakely, George Grenville and Michael Hoggan, Tom Rolf, former Vice President Bernard Balmuth and ACE members Donn Cambern, Anne Coates, Mark Goldblatt, Tina Hirsch, Michael Hoe, Evan Lottman, William Reynolds and Ralph Winters. In addition to in-person lectures, ACE has produced two films, “Basic Principle of filmEditing” and “Interpretations and Values of Film Editing”, which are still available to educational facilities.
In May, 1951 the CINEMEDITOR made its initial appearance as the official magazine of the society. Beginning with a four to eight-page publication with limited distribution, the size and format is currently enlarged to about forty pages and is mailed to wide and varied group of subscribers.
The first annual ACE Awards dinner honoring the nominees for the Film Editing Award given by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was held at the Beverly Hills Hotel on March 14, 1951. George Murphy was master of ceremonies and Dore Schary was the keynote speaker. Frank Capra presented the awards and Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin entertained. These awards for Academy nominees were held annually through 1961.
In 1962 the society decided that editors were the best judges of their peers’ ability and created the annual ACE Awards. Members nominated and voted for best achievements in editing motion pictures and television. Winners received plaques until 1965 when the statue nicknamed “Eddie” was given for the first time. Since then the presentations have come to be referred to as the Annual ACE Eddie Awards. In 1973 ACE started the Student Editing Competition (available to students throughout the continental United States) the nominees of which were also included in the
http://www.ace-filmeditors.org
By theresajmorris Posted in 2012, ACIR, alien, aliens, Alphaverse, ancestors, ancients, articles, Atlantis, blog, channel, Dirk Vander Ploeg, Oracle, Readers, Social Paranormal.com, Theresa J Morris, TJ Morris PUblishing
New Age – Ascension Age – Golden Age Cosmology – Ace Folklife – History
ACE FOLKLIFE – ASCENSION AGE – GOLDEN AGE OF COSMOLOGY – OMG WWJD FOR REAL?
By: Theresa J. Morris
We believe in the social entrepreneurs of the social networks. We also know that it is entrepreneurs of the world that learn to find their passion, go out to create a better world with products and services, find their teams and groups to work on their new projects to be called corporations then go out and find their investors as angels for their investment capital. This is the way it has always been since the world decided to revolve around corporations and then came the stock markets.The alleged oldest commercial corporation in the world, the Stora Kopparberg mining community in Falun, Sweden, obtained a charter from King Magnus Eriksson in 1347. Many European nations chartered corporations to lead colonial ventures, such as theDutch East India Company or the Hudson’s Bay Company, and these corporations came to play a large part in the history of corporate colonialism.
Copied from Wikipedia – link here : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporation#History
We are now going to be able to assist the third world countries and many of our churches are about feeding the hungry and educating those who are unable to find education in their lives. This is a time that our fellowship organizations can step up and be counted as the good Samaritans and ask themselves for real what would Jesus do?
ALPHA & OMEGA SYNERGY ENERGY FOR OUR ASCENSION AGE (Golden Age Cosmology)
Therefore, I am inclined to share what was sent to me as inspired thoughts about the ASCENSION CENTER and the symbol. For those who believe in ALIENS and ET one might believe that I am a messenger. I believe I am based on my past life and death experiences in this lifetime and my memories of reincarnation. I share what I can as what is now referred to as a Spiritual Teacher or Spiritual Guide. Some believe that Avatars are reincarnated spirits and I tend to agree. There are spiritual avatars and internet avatars and in some ways we are similar. Please share this article with those who believe in the Alien ET Ascension Age. Some of us don’t only believe but we know of our existence as those who are to share parts of ourselves. We know that something wonderful is happening and occurring right now today as in the PRESENT!
I would like to introduce that expansion of our minds we may regard as outside of the ALIEN ET BOX. That which we can share as outside of this Omniverse as the ET Creator Deities also known as ALPHA and OMEGA or the Beginning and End. We have all heard of the seven (7) heavens or have we? Those who I am finding out on earth that are humanoids have large holes in their education about who they are, why there are here, what they are to explore, and what will happen to them when they leave earth. Therefore, I am inclined to share what was sent to me as inspired thoughts about the ASCENSION CENTER and the symbol. For those who believe in ALIENS and ET one might believe that I am a messenger. I believe I am based on my past life and death experiences in this lifetime and my memories of reincarnation. I share what I can as what is now referred to as a Spiritual Teacher or Spiritual Guide. Some believe that Avatars are reincarnated spirits and I tend to agree. There are spiritual avatars and internet avatars and in some ways we are similar. Please share this article with those who believe in the Alien ET Ascension Age. Some of us don’t only believe but we know of our existence as those who are to share parts of ourselves. We know that something wonderful is happening and occurring right now today as in the PRESENT!
We who are called PSYCHICS and REMOTE VIEWERS have all learned to astral travel in a manner of speaking. We can share the various time frames and dimensions we share in space that we call the cosmos. I shall end this with a quote of Carl Sagan’s Cosmos but please take the time to read this article and copy it to your “Hidden Archive Treasure FILES”. We are all “IMMORTAL SOULS” TJ
Alpha and Omega in Greek is the same as in English saying A and Z in the literal translation of thought and the way we think and surmise on earth. However, we are now learning to accept the new age we call the “ASCENSION AGE” in which we call our way of knowing and becoming awake and aware of our own “Mortality”. Just as Steven Jobs passed on or died at the young “Baby-boomer” age of 57 years, this has left us all confronting our own “Mortality” and “Immortality”.
ALPHA and OMEGA CREATOR DIETIES of the Alphaverse, and Omegaverse home to our own Omniverse I have been impressed or inspired to share that which has come to me due to questions that I have been asked about our Creator Deities and the Omniverse in which we live. The fact that I thought that I was not allowed to venture further our of my known conscious existence as that of the Omniverse has changed in the last week. I should point out to my readers that if one challenges their minds to look back in the history of my writings on UFO Digest of which I am a contributing syndicated columnist one will find a history of how I have grown in my own particles and waves flux and flows. I am very happy to report that I now have the awakened awareness that we have that of which I have known in the furthest solar core of my own soul as the Alpha and Omega. The Alphaverse and Omegaverse to show those who are only into the physical reality of science that there can be seven (7) levels and dimensions to our souls eternal source and life force we presently address as energy and essence. Our energy and essence is expressed in this lifetime as our SPIRIT! We have learned that we all share something in common besides our own physical makeup as humanoids with a head, trunk, and limbs. We have a brain that allows us to think for ourselves. Inside our brain and inside our mind also exists our own awareness of life that we call our conscious awareness of the fact that we are alive. Some of us are only thinking about that which we can see, feel, touch, taste, hear, and smell with what we are told are our five (5) senses. We now know that our emotional state of being with our nervous system in tact allows us to also understand and react to the outside stimulus we encounter on a daily basis. It has now come to the attention of this one person also known as a humanoid sentient intelligent being that we are much, much more than what we perceive. We are all the creations that are here to explore our way back to the creator deities of both Alpha and Omega.
References^ For an overview, see George FR Ellis (2006). “Issues in the Philosophy of Cosmology”. In Jeremy Butterfield & John Earman. Philosophy of Physics (Handbook of the Philosophy of Science) 3 volume set. North Holland. pp. 1183ff. arXiv:astro-ph/0602280. ISBN 0444515607.^ Science 20 June 2003:Vol. 300. no. 5627, pp. 1914 – 1918 Throwing Light on Dark Energy, Robert P. Kirshner. Accessed December 2006^ e.g. Liddle, A.. An Introduction to Modern Cosmology. Wiley. ISBN 0-470-84835-9. This argues cogently “Energy is always, always, always conserved.”^ P. Ojeda and H. Rosu (Jun 2006). “Supersymmetry of FRW barotropic cosmologies”. Internat. J. Theoret. Phys. (Springer) 45: 1191–1196.arXiv:gr-qc/0510004. Bibcode 2006IJTP…45.1152R. doi:10.1007/s10773-006-9123-2..
Polytheism
Not all monists are pantheists. Exclusive monists believe that the universe, the God of the pantheist, simply does not exist. In addition, monists can be Deists, pandeists, theists or panentheists; believing in a monotheistic God that is omnipotent and all-pervading, and both transcendent and immanent. There are monist pantheists and panentheists in Hinduism(particularly in Advaita and Vishistadvaita respectively), Judaism (monistic panentheism is especially found in Kabbalah and Hasidic philosophy), in Christianity (especially among Oriental Orthodox, Eastern Orthodox, and Anglicans) and in Islam (among the Sufis, especially the Bektashi).In Advaita Vedanta, Brahman is the abstract notion of “the Absolute” from which the universe takes its origin and at an ultimate level, all assertions of a distinction between Brahman, other gods and creation are meaningless (monism).
Among monotheists it has historically been most commonly believed that living things are God’s creations, and are not the result of a process inherent in originally non-living things, unless this process is designed, initiated, or directed by God; likewise, sentient and intelligent beings are believed to be God’s creation, and did not arise through the development of living but non-sentient beings, except by the intervention of God.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being … And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth” <John 1:1-3 and 1:14>.The Epistle to the Hebrews, a book of the New Testament, contains another reference to creation:
“For by faith we understand the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible” <Hebrews 11:3>.Thus, in Chalcedonian Christology, Jesus is the Word of God, which was in the beginning and, thus, is uncreated, and hence is God, and consequently identical with the Creator of the world ex nihilo.
Babylonian literature (1900-1200 BC) Plurality of heavens and earths The Earth and Heavens are a “spatial whole, even one of round shape,” revolving around the “cult-place of the deity”[clarification needed] rather than the Earth,[6] and there is a plurality of heavens and earths. Brahmanda (Hindu Cosmology) Hindu Rigveda(1700–1100 BC) Cyclical or oscillating, Infinite in time The universe sustains for around 311,040,000,000,000 years, or 100 Years of Brahma. There is a smaller period of unmanifestation in around 4 billion years, that is, one Day of Brahma. The universe cycles between expansion and total collapse. After one cycle of the life of Brahma another universe follows for infinity, each of which exists for a time period of 311 trillion 40 billion years. It also speaks of an infinite number of universes at one given point of time. The Universe expanded from a concentrated form, a point called a Bindu. The universe, as a living entity, is bound to the perpetual cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. Atomist universe Anaxagoras (500-428 BC) & later.
Perpetual cycles of big Bang followed by the big Crunch. Eddington Arthur Eddington1930 First Static then Expands Static Einstein 1917 universe with its instability disturbed into expansion mode; with relentless matter dilution becomes a DeSitter universe.
Deceleration term q = -1.Steady-state expanding (Hoyle) Fred Hoyle 1948 Expanding, steady state; but unstable Matter creation rate maintains constant density. But since matter creation rate must be exactly balanced with the space expansion rate the system is unstable. Ambiplasma Hannes Alfvén1965 Oskar Klein Cellular universe, expanding by means of matter-antimatter annihilation Based on the concept of plasma cosmology. The universe is viewed as meta-galaxiesdivided by double layers —hence its bubble-like nature. Other universes are formed from other bubbles. Ongoing cosmic matter-antimatter annihilations keep the bubbles separated and moving apart preventing them from interacting. Brans-Dicke Carl H. Brans;Robert H. Dicke Expanding Based on Mach’s principle. G varies with time as universe expands. “But nobody is quite sure what Mach’s principle actually means.”
A multiverse, based on the concept of cold inflation, in which inflationary events occur at random each with independent initial conditions; some expand into bubble universes supposedly like our entire cosmos. Bubbles nucleate in a spacetime foam. Physical cosmology, as a branch of astronomy, is the study of the largest-scale structures and dynamics of the universe and is concerned with fundamental questions about its formation and evolution. For most of human history, it was a branch of metaphysics and religion.
as a science originated with the Copernican principle, which implies that celestial bodies obey identical physical laws to those on Earth, and Newtonian mechanics, which first allowed us to understand those laws. Physical cosmology, as it is now understood, began with the twentieth century development of Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity and better astronomical observations of extremely distant objects. These advances made it possible to speculate about the origin of the universe, and allowed scientists to establish the Big Bang Theory as the leading cosmological model. Some researchers still advocate a handful of alternative cosmologies; however, cosmologists generally agree that the Big Bang theory best explains observations.
Between the domains of religion and science, stands the philosophical perspective of metaphysical cosmology. This ancient field of study seeks to draw intuitive conclusions about the nature of the universe, man, a supernatural creator and/or their relationships based on the extension of some set of presumed facts borrowed from spiritual experience and/or observation.
Metaphysical cosmology has also been described as the placing of man in the universe in relationship to all other entities. This is exampled by the observation made by Marcus Aurelius of a man’s place in that relationship: “He who does not know what the world is does not know where he is, and he who does not know for what purpose the world exists, does not know who he is, nor what the world is.” Cosmology is often an important aspect of the creation myths of religions that seek to explain the existence and nature of reality. In some cases, views about the creation (cosmogony) and destruction (eschatology) of the universe play a central role in shaping a framework of religious cosmology for understanding humanity’s role in the universe.
In the 1910s, Vesto Slipher (and later Carl Wilhelm Wirtz) interpreted the red shift of spiral nebulae as a Doppler shift that indicated they were receding from Earth. However, it is difficult to determine the distance to astronomical objects. One way is to compare the physical size of an object to its angular size, but a physical size must be assumed to do this. Another method is to measure the brightness of an object and assume an intrinsic luminosity, from which the distance may be determined using the inverse square law. Due to the difficulty of using these methods, they did not realize that the nebulae were actually galaxies outside our own Milky Way, nor did they speculate about the cosmological implications. In 1927, the Belgian Roman Catholic priest Georges Lemaître independently derived the Friedmann-Lemaître-Robertson-Walker equations and proposed, on the basis of the recession of spiral nebulae, that the universe began with the “explosion” of a “primeval atom”—which was later called the Big Bang. In 1929, Edwin Hubble provided an observational basis for Lemaître’s theory. Hubble showed that the spiral nebulae were galaxies by determining their distances using measurements of the brightness of Cepheid variable stars. He discovered a relationship between the redshift of a galaxy and its distance. He interpreted this as evidence that the galaxies are receding from Earth in every direction at speeds directly proportional to their distance. This fact is now known as Hubble’s law, though the numerical factor Hubble found relating recessional velocity and distance was off by a factor of ten, due to not knowing at the time about different types of Cepheid variables.
For a number of years the support for these theories was evenly divided. However, the observational evidence began to support the idea that the universe evolved from a hot dense state. The discovery of the cosmic microwave background in 1965 lent strong support to the Big Bang model, and since the precise measurements of the cosmic microwave background by the Cosmic Background Explorer in the early 1990s, few cosmologists have seriously proposed other theories of the origin and evolution of the cosmos. One consequence of this is that in standard general relativity, the universe began with a singularity, as demonstrated by Stephen Hawking and Roger Penrose in the 1960s.
Light elements, primarily hydrogen and helium, were created in the Big Bang. These light elements were spread too fast and too thinly in the Big Bang process (see nucleosynthesis) to form the most stable medium-sized atomic nuclei, like iron and nickel. This fact allows for later energy release, as such intermediate-sized elements are formed in our era.
Equations of motion
The equations of motion governing the universe as a whole are derived from general relativity with a small, positive cosmological constant.[4]The solution is an expanding universe; due to this expansion the radiation and matter in the universe are cooled down and become diluted. At first, the expansion is slowed down by gravitation due to the radiation and matter content of the universe. However, as these become diluted, the cosmological constant becomes more dominant and the expansion of the universe starts to accelerate rather than decelerate. In our universe this has already happened, billions of years ago.
Observations suggest that the universe began around 13.7 billion years ago. Since then, the evolution of the universe has passed through three phases. The very early universe, which is still poorly understood, was the split second in which the universe was so hot that particles had energies higher than those currently accessible in particle accelerators on Earth. Therefore, while the basic features of this epoch have been worked out in the Big Bang theory, the details are largely based on educated guesses. Following this, in the early universe, the evolution of the universe proceeded according to known high energy physics. This is when the first protons, electrons and neutrons formed, then nuclei and finally atoms. With the formation of neutral hydrogen, the cosmic microwave background was emitted. Finally, the epoch of structure formation began, when matter started to aggregate into the first stars and quasars, and ultimately galaxies, clusters of galaxies and superclusters formed. The future of the universe is not yet firmly known, but according to the CDM model it will continue expanding forever.
These problems are resolved by a brief period of cosmic inflation, which drives the universe to flatness, smooths out anisotropies and inhomogeneities to the observed level, and exponentially dilutes the monopoles. The physical model behind cosmic inflation is extremely simple, however it has not yet been confirmed by particle physics, and there are difficult problems reconciling inflation and quantum field theory. Some cosmologists think that string theory and brane cosmology will provide an alternative to inflation.
Another major problem in cosmology is what caused the universe to contain more particles than antiparticles. Cosmologists can observationally deduce that the universe is not split into regions of matter and antimatter. If it were, there would be X-rays and gamma rays produced as a result of annihilation, but this is not observed. This problem is called the baryon asymmetry, and the theory to describe the resolution is called baryogenesis. The theory of baryogenesis was worked out by Andrei Sakharov in 1967, and requires a violation of the particle physics symmetry, called CP-symmetry, between matter and antimatter. Particle accelerators, however, measure too small a violation of CP-symmetry to account for the baryon asymmetry. Cosmologists and particle physicists are trying to find additional violations of the CP-symmetry in the early universe that might account for the baryon asymmetry.
A number of Jain and non-Jain texts have been influenced by the Mahapurana. Mahapurana was the model for Saiva SiddhantaPeriyapuranam which gives biographies of the 63 individuals. »
TJ also edits books for her friends and publishes books such as mysteries and paranormal romance. Professional History in corporate international marketing, manufacturing, legal investigations, newspaper columnist, and magazine publisher. TJ lives in Kentucky USA with husband who is also an author. TJ is a speaker, spiritual consultant, producer, publisher. TJ spends much of her time assisting others as a consultant in business and with building websites. TJ’s are ACIR.us, AmericanNewsMagazine.com, TJMorris.org, ETSpirit.org, ASCENSIONcenter.org, and many others as media online press including TimelyManorBooks.com. Tj’s books available on Amazon and Lulu under Theresa J Morris and TJ Thurmond Morris. TJ has been interested in the Alien ET UFO Community all her life with a strong research history in the metaphysics, ontology, and is founder of the ACE Folklife Historical Society and Ascension Center.org.
TJ is also a natural born leader as a Capricorn with Aquarius rising and promotes expos, seminars, and her friends and their business interests. TJ attracts others who desire to share similar interests in social networks and is a social entrepreneur. TJ writes about what interests her including her friends and their businesses. TJ loves people, places, things, and having a near death experience learned the power of meditation and prayer for all those who believe as she does in Ascension Vertical Lifestyles for body-mind-spirit. TJ has been a Life Coach to those who request her services as a mentor. TJ is a known planner organizer since she founded Psychic Network in Hawaii 1990-1993 and has worked in seminars and expos in the USA.
By theresajmorris Posted in 2012, ACIR, alien, Alphaverse, ancients, articles, God, Heaven, Jesus, Omegaverse, omniverse, Oracle, out of body, psychics, spiritual, Theresa J Morris, TJ Morris PUblishing, TJThurmondMorris, xfiles
ATLANTIS ORACLE
ATLANTIA MATRIX MANGA – MUSE – ATLANTIS ORACLE
DELPHI ORACLE – TJ MORRIS tm ACIR sm
ASCENSION AGE AWAKENING
AMERICA AWAKENING AWARENESS
FATE – SERENDIPITY – MOTHER GODDESS – YOU FELT IT YOUR ENTIRE LIFE –
OM to the feeling that has brought you here to me!
Do you want to know what “IT” is?
The Matrix is everywhere, it is all around us! You can feel it – when you go to work, when you go to church, when you pay your taxes. It is the world that has been pulled over your world to blind you from the truth!
It is a prison for your MIND!
Unfortunately, no one can be told what the MATRIX is. You have to see if for yourself!
Welcome to your life – Birth-Life-Death all a PART of the Soul’s JOURNEY!
RED PILL – BLUE PILL – I SHO W YOU HOW DEEP THE RABBIT HOLE GOES! – Follow ME?
I will not tell you what to see but will leave footprints for those who desire to follow!
Have you ever had a dream that was so real it was hard to tell the real world from the dream world?
Target the Heart in Chakras and we are almost there using ASTRAL TRAVEL for TIME TRAVELERS!
Part of the Trace Program to follow your input output programs. Kansas is going Bye-Bye!
HELLO OZ!
All I am offering is the truth nothing more!
The America Awakening Awareness Aspiring Entrepreneurial Spirit is the Mission of the Ascension Center Organization in association with the ET Spirit Organization and the TJ Morris Organization. The three organizations are open groups on the world wide web internet online promoting health and prosperity by Americans for the entire global community.
ACIR.US, American News Magazine.com, ET Spirit.org, SocialParanormal.com, TheresaMorris.net, Timely Manor Books.com, TJMorris.org, TJMorris.us, TJMorris Publishing.us, TJThurmondMorris.com
ACE FOLKLIFE JOURNAL
MATRIX MANGA MANEGERIES
LEMURIA & DELPHI ORACLE
ASCENSION AGE AWAKENING AWARENESS
CYBERSPACE MATRIX WEB ORACLE
RULE of PRIME 1, 2, 3, 5, 8
THE NINE OF COMPLETION – CAPRICORN – 12-26-12 12 NOON
BIRTH OF THE ASCENSION AGE AWAKENING AWARENESS
ASCENSION AGE ATLANTIA – CYBERSPACE ORACLE
ET SPIRIT ORGANIZATION – SCIENCE OF INTELLIGENCE
Taxonomy- Areas of Application
Taxonomy is the classification of living and extinct organisms.
ET Science of Intelligence is compared to the Science of Religion and the Science of the Meta-universes
Brain science will now encompass where the energy of the spirit and soul is harnessed throughout our body to make the body-mind-spirit vessel or vehicle of the extraterrestrials visiting earth in the human form.
2012 will usher in the new dawning of our time on earth as a new page in history is turned—ranging from the neuropsychology of religion, to the use of “belief-detection” as a surrogate for “lie-detection,” to understanding how the practice of science itself, and truth-claims generally, emerge from the biology of the human brain.
Our Mission if YOU decide to accept it will be to become an analyst of objectivity during the anthropological studies of the intelligent being species while conducting your own separate sustenance and maintaining your own vehicle and tools required to remain on earth while exploration of the entire living intelligent beings species as it interacts with all living and extinct organisms on the planet called earth in this solar system in the Milky Way galaxy.
By theresajmorris Posted in Atlantis, channel, gigi, Ginger, Matrix, Oracle, psychics, Readers, space, Theresa J Morris, TJ Morris PUblishing, xfiles
LIGHTWORKERS OF ASCENSION AGE 12/21/2012 & BEYOND! TJ
Ascension Center Enlightenment
Avatar Guide
For Light Workers
A Spiritual Intellectual Club
Mystics, Oracles, Prophet/Prophetess, Sages, Seers, Shamans, and Truth Seekers.
ACE METAPHYSICAL INSTITUTE
of Philosophy & Technology
Avatar Guide for Lightworkers is a work in progress. This will include the globalization process and the United Nations and UNESCO interests in Art, Culture, Education, Science, Technology,
Energy, Ethos, Etymology, Ethnology, and Folklife are five of the headings of main focus on our Ascension Center. ACES as the agreed association of copy editors society will also be something to look forward too by young writers who desire to share in the websites we shall create on the Internet and in the new media.
We are looking forward to assisting others as Social Entrepreneurs. Our target date for release is for 2013.
The deadline for discovery and input by all is December 21, 2012 time (T.) 11:11. Our Ascension Center Enlightenment World Mantra and Motto is “SHIFT AND UPLIFT FOR HEALTH AND PROSPERITY FOR ALL!”
We are sharing with those who are studying the Teachings of the Mystics including Christian Mystics, Jewish Mysticism, and all others through out time.
We have many people requesting the ACE GUIDE. We are putting great efforts into sharing all of the Ancient Mystery Schools with all the updates regarding the mystical, magical, metaphysical, and occult wisdom lacking in many of the past disciplines taught on earth. Many people could not read and write throughout the past centuries. This allowed for much confusion .
We hope that the world will desire to share health and prosperity for all.
This is our goal as Ascension Beings who are centered, well rounded, and grounded in education for earth. We are Ambassadors of Goodwill as Social Entrepreneurs assisting the Global Community with innovations and inspiration for health and prosperity.
SEVEN YEARS – 2012-2019 A SPIRITUAL ADVENTURE IN TIME CHALLENGES
The seven years we here about has to do with the typical seven we all here about in Time relating to the spirit on earth in time. 2013 begins the ASCENSION AGE.
THE ASCENSION CENTER – ACE GUIDE – EDUCATION and SELF-HELP Books and publishing for those who desire to know more about the future of humankind on earth. Many who desire to study ascension are about the future inspiration for all. Ascension Beings desire health and prosperity for all.
The Ascension Center ACE GUIDE FOR 2012 will include education in these areas.
We will offer EARTH STUDIES IN ETIOLOGY, ETHNOLOGY, ETHOS, ENTOMOLOGY, and ETYMOLOGY.
Do not confuse entomology the study of insects with Etymology the study of world history. We will assist many teachers with the topics for those who desire to visit Hawaii, and learn of Lemuria and Atlantis. The New Age of Revealing and Revelation is considered the years of 2010 through 2012. Angels are welcome as philanthropists and investors in the global futures of the Ascension Center Education in self-help books and we invite authors and publishers on the web to join us in the Media Online Press (MOP) at American News Magazine Mainstream and Social Paranormal Network Guide Alternative.
2013 begins the ASCENSION AGE. David Wilcock will be speaking at a seminar in Hawaii in February. Michael Salla is also in Hawaii.
The topics discussed are a compilation, formulation of the Ancient Mystery Schools adapted to modern day words, and etymology will be a part of the future changes in the WEB and the MATRIX. Some now refer to the Critical Mass Consciousness and how everyone that is entitled to know of the God Particles in everyone and everything affects the Akashic Field. This is now being revealed to Quantum Scientists and those who are working with the Hadron Collider. There are new findings for Astronomers and new telescopes creating new awareness for us all. It is truly an age of revealing. Bodies There have been recent attempts at creating groups and associations for seminars in California and in other places around the world including Hawaii.
Honolulu is the home to the original Ascension Center and is considered the Heart of Lemuria. Many of the Hawaiian Hunas know this and feel the Hawaiian Chain of islands are cresting or sitting upon where Lemuria once resided.
If anyone has ever been to Hawaii and toured the islands where there are both whales and dolphins that live there, one can know it is truly touched and blessed.
Gil Grissom on the CSI: Crime Scene Investigation TV show is an entomologist, who is played by actor William Petersen.
Similarly, entomologist Jack Hodgins of Bones, portrayed by TJ Thyne, helps his team by analyzing insects (such as Hydrotaea) and “particulates” near to or attached to decomposed victims, often identifying the precise location a murder originally occurred; he is also an expert in botany and mineralogy.
In Arthur Conan Doyle’s story, The Hound of the Baskervilles, the villain is a naturalist who collects butterflies, making him an “evil” entomologist.
There are numerous science fiction books, which have plots based on humans becoming smaller and having to deal with insects at their level.
Some examples are The Insect Warriors by Rex Dean Levie, Atta by Francis Rufus Bellamy, Bug Park by James P. Hogan, The Micronauts series by Gordon Williams, and The Forgotten Planet by Murray Leinster. The Forgotten Planets plot is twisted in that the insects are the size of men (or larger) on a planet “seeded” to prepare it for human habitation. Robert Asprin wrote The Bug Wars, a novel about war between reptiles and insects on an interplanetary scale.
We are going into what are called precession years. This will include
The new discoveries of old and ancient information through science,
Technology and discoveries of future inventions.
It is our desire to share in the awareness of ascension cultural
Education. We plan to do this via the Internet or World Wide Web.
There is so much changing now that we should be involved with art,
Culture, education, science, technology, and the religions of
Humankind on earth.
We are going through global change and will need everyone to improve
Innovations and involvement.
The Large Hadron Collider is the picture of the 21st century that will
Lead the way into our new discoveries of the weak and strong nuclear
Forces in the universe. This will deal with the global environment,
International world governmental changes and future discoveries on
Earth. Some may include the knowledge of reverse engineering from
Extraterrestrial technology.
We are doing this internationally now as we can see due to the recent
Earthquake in Haiti on January 12, 2010. We cannot change history but
We can learn from our mistakes.
The Red Cross is the one organization that we can count on in the world.
The United Nations is also one organization along with UNESCO for education.
We will need more involvement during these years that will involve
The OLYMPIC TEAMS to inspire us and to share hope.
There are new words on websites springing up daily in the world. The new buzzwords with the new marketing and media online have not been able to keep up with all the new words. We will need a new Global Lexicon and WORLD WIDE DICTIONARY.
We will need improvements in our Lexicography skills. There are now new
OBVIATE OF THE SOCIAL PARANORMAL
We enjoy sharing our articles we find elsewhere and we should also share our own personal views and opinions for others to gain insight.
“MYSTICISM” and “MYSTERY”
Mysticism is not the same as what we commonly call the occult. Occult is the word we use for unknown wisdom or beyond ordinary understanding. 2. Secret; known only to the initiated. 3. Dealing with the supernatural or magical; the occult sciences. Something occult or supernatural such as the Bible Codes.
There are all types of mystics including Jews and Christians. Various Faiths have had their own great philosophers and etymologists that are considered holy beings and those who study the “World” and the “word” – whatever that may be!
To obviate is to meet and clear away, as difficulties; make unnecessary. This is a short article to share in the future with others who are authors interested in the social paranormal network as we go forth sharing our own opinions and views of those on earth who have came before.
This is all we do since we are left here to explore.
MYSTIC TEACHINGS
We will include sharing instruction with other writers who desire to participate on Social Paranormal.com and UFODigest.com
This new way of sharing our stories shall increase awareness and insight into others opinions and views of the following:
INCLUDES SOME BUT NOT ALL IN ARTICLES
St. John of the Cross
Buddhists Texts
THE ZOHAR
Dionysius The Areopagite
Farid Al-Din Attar
Jalal Al-Din Rumi
Jan Van Ruysbroeck
Professor D. T. Suzuki
Mystical Writings of the World
And The Teachings of the Mystics, Selections from the Great Mystics and Mystical Writings of the World.
Jewish Mysticism
What is called Jewish Mysticism by the major authorities on the subject does not in a general way conform to the pattern of mysticism as unfolded in most books.
“If this research of the Torah Codes is born out, behold this is
the greatest discovery of three hundred years of scientific research.”
Professor Robert I. Aumann, famous mathematician and Nobel Prize award, member of the
National Academy of Science of America
The Torah Codes, popularly known as Bible Codes, show us that the Torah has some commentary on events that happen in our living history. These events are hidden with in the text and we have extracted many of the events contained in them. It is remarkable that a text over 3300 years old contains events that happen thousands of years later. This has caused significant controversy and as a result there are many bible code skeptics.
Who is behind the codes? Where do they come from and what do the all mean? This is for you to work out on an individual basis. This site provides the evidence you now decide what it all means to you.
http://www.realbiblecodes.com
Meister Eckhart: A Modern Translation, translated by R. B. Blakney, New York and London: Harper & Brothers, 1941, p.xxiv
TO REACH BACK INTO THE CORE SEARCHING FOR UNION WITH GOD
The Awakening of Faith is a way of life for those who desire to know more of the Ascension Center. We call this a way of enlightenment.
Meister Eckhart one of the Great Mystics written about lived in Germany (1260-1328) and was considered one of the well known Christian Mystics.
Improvements in our entertainment media. We have seen some innovations that we have enjoyed with computer graphics and simulations in a lifelike film called Avatar. We will desire more movies such as Avatar and maybe Steven Spielberg could make a Close Encounters II or the Fourth Kind has been made so maybe Close Encounters of the Fifth Kind. This new 3D movie was a wonderful contribution to the 21st
Century.
During the past in American when we were at war and/or in a recession
We used the theater and movies to inspire us to a better way of life
With movie stars on the big silver screen who had a life we could only
Dream about and desire, which inspired hope for the future.
We have always enjoyed our movies and these can now be seen in various
Ways on television via satellite, internet computers, and yet, we
Still want to go share in a social event with our friends and families
In theaters in America. This has been engraved as part of our American
The Ascension Center Education will be a part of the future and is
Concentrating on the time prior to the date of December 21, 2012,
11:11 AM as the sun passes over our part of the world. The light will
Restore parts of our DNA that have been lacking and those born after
This time on earth will be the new human beings with knowledge
Abilities that include the future in 3D and Virtual Imaging in the
Matrix.
Many call this Ascension Age, which is called that for the awareness the time on earth, brings about the truth as it is restored in correcting history with our past knowledge clarified with the assistance of avatar oracles.
The topics shared in a guide we will be sharing in the new World
Information Network (WIN) to inspire Social Entrepreneurs of the
Future on the Internet. We are a Global Community that is rebuilding
Ourselves through new information, knowledge, reconstruction, and
Imagining ourselves in the future. This projection and new telepathic
Waves we use to connect to the Akashic Field of Everything in the
Universe will be not only felt but also discovered to be a real energy in
The smallest forms of matter and antimatter in science.
Some of the topics below are what many people are now interested in as
We create new scripts for our enjoyment and entertainment social media
Networks. We will all become students as seekers and teachers as seers
Around the world. Global Community Culture is dealing with art,
Culture, education, science, technology, social entrepreneurs, and
creating new professions and careers for the future of our children.
The following is in no specific order as we are still compiling topics and subjects for Neophytes from our Ascension Center Authority though December 21, 2012 T. 11:11 DEADLINE – ASCENSION CENTER AVATAR GUIDE FOR LIGHT WORKERS IN THE ASCENSION AGE
ASCENSION AGE begins on DECEMBER 21, 2012 T. 11:11
The most dramatic changes are being revealed now in articles on Social Paranormal Network Guide at http://www.socialparanormal.com
ASCENSION CULTURAL EDUCATION (ACE) – THE NEW 2012 ACE GUIDE
Ascension Cultural Intergovernmental Relations (ACIR)
SOCIAL PARANORMAL INVOLVEMENT:
ASCENSION AWARENESS
OF HUNA, MAGIC, OCCULT
METAPHYSICAL TALENTS AND GIFTS
HEALTH AND HEALING ARTS OF SPIRIT
SPIRIT NATURE/SHAMANS
REIKI HEALERS
HUNTA/HUNA GUIDES
SEEKERS OF SCIENCE & TRUTH
SHARERS, LIGHTWORKERS, GUIDES, TEACHERS, AUTHORS, SPEAKERS
EVENT – PRODUCTS & SERVICES
Alien Contact
Alien Technology
Alientology
Amen Unity
Amnesty-Human Rights
SCIENCE OF RELIGIONS
Religions and Paths to Salvation
Annunaki
Sumeria
Pole Shifts
Near Earth Objects
Planet Nibiru
ARCHEAOLOGY
Ascension DNA Code Activation
Ascension Consciousness Awakening
Ascension Body -Mind-Spirit Activism
AUTHORS/Web Publishers
Star Babies
Dulce Base
All New Mexico Bases
Johnson Manned Spacecraft Center
SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR TOOLS
COMPUTER SAVVY
BIG FOOT, YETI, ABOBMINABLE SNOWMAN
LOC NESS MONSTER
Ancient & Present
Seers
ET Disclosure Project
Government Cover Ups
EXTRA SENSORY PERCEPTION (ESP)
Levitation of Spirit
Mental Telepathy
Migrations of Birds
PSI FUNCTIONS
Psi miracles
Spirits of electricity
Time Displacement
Organized divination
Extraterrestrial Education
Extraterrestrial Intelligent Beings
Extra biological Beings (EBENS)
FUTURE DISCOVERIES
Futurists Theories
New Age Culture
Joytish
Hollow Earth Society
UFOlogy
UFOS & USOs
GLOBAL COMMUNITY CULTURES
Ghosts Energy Apparitions
Ascension Channels
1. ASPECTS & PROBLEMS
Origin of Religions
2. EXTINCT RELIGIONS
INSIDE EUROPE & OUTSIDE OF EUROPE
Thinking of primitive people
3. EGYPTIAN RELIGION
History, Gods, Pharaohs, Priests, Monuments
Ideas of Death & Last Judgment
4. RELIGIONS OF BIBLICAL REVELATION
Creed, Jesus, Dogma, Catholicism, Reformation, Present
Jewish Creed, Ethics, Talmud, Mysticism
History, Origin, Mohammedan Mysticism,
DEITY WORSHIP
Basic Modes between humankind & Deities
Offering-Prayers-Rituals
Animistic
Preanimistic Theory
Theory of Original Monotheism
Magic & Religion
Celts & Slavs
Japanese Buddhism
Totemism
Extinct Religions
Teutonic Gods
Ideas of Death
Magic of Runes
Biblical Revelations
All isms
SPIRITUALITY & PHILOSOPHY
Star gates
Zechariah Sitchen
UFO ORGANIZATIONS
CUFOS
UFORNA
TELEVISION LINKS
WEBSITE & BLOG LINKS
The Ascension Center ACE GUIDE OF ETIOLOGY, ETHNOLOGY, ETHOS, ENTOMOLOGY, ETYMOLOGY. Do not confuse entomology the study of insects with Etymology the study of word history. We will assist many teachers with the topics for those who desire to visit Hawaii, and learn of Lemuria and Atlantis. The New Age of Revealing and Revelation is considered the years of 2012 thru 2012. 2013 begins the ASCENSION AGE. David Wilcock will be speaking at a seminar in Hawaii in February. Michael Salla is also in Hawaii.
The topics discussed are a compilation, formulation of the Ancient Mystery Schools adapted to modern day words, and etymology will be a part of the future changes in the WEB and the MATRIX. Some now refer to the Critical Mass Consciousness and how everyone that is entitled to know of the God Particles in everyone and everything affects the Akashic Field. This is now being revealed to Quantum Scientists and those who are working with the Hadron Collider. There are new findings for Astronomers and new telescopes creating new awareness for us all. It is truly an age of revealing.
This is the latest topics for the ACE GUIDE to be published for release 2013. Ascension Beings are about health and prosperity for all. We are Social Entrepreneurs sharing innovation and inspiration in the Global Community.
Zero Point Energy
In a quantum mechanical system such as the particle in a box or the quantum harmonic oscillator, the lowest possible energy is called the zero-point energy. According to classical physics, the kinetic energy of a particle in a box or the kinetic energy of the harmonic oscillator may be zero if the velocity is zero. Quantum mechanics with its uncertainty principle implies that if the velocity is measured with certainty to be exactly zero, the uncertainty of the position must be infinite. This either violates the condition that the particle remain in the box, or it brings a new potential energy in the case of the harmonic oscillator. To avoid this paradox, quantum mechanics dictates that the minimal velocity is never equal to zero, and hence the minimal energy is never equal to zero.
Does electromagnetic zero-point energy exist, and if so, are there any practical applications and does it have any connection with dark energy? The theoretical basis for electromagnetic zero-point energy is clear.
According to Sciama (1991):
Even in its ground state, a quantum system possesses fluctuations and an associated zero-point energy, since otherwise the uncertainty principle would be violated. In particular the vacuum state of a quantum field has these properties. For example, the electric and magnetic fields in the electromagnetic vacuum are fluctuating quantities.
The Casimir Effect is an example of a one-loop effect in quantum electrodynamics that can be simply explained by the zero-point energy. It is precisely localizable differences in the zero-point energy that may prove to be of some practical use and that may be the basis of dark energy phenomena. Moreover it has also been found that asymmetries in the zero-point field that appear upon acceleration may be associated with certain properties of inertia, gravitation and the principle of equivalence Haisch, Rueda and Puthoff (1994); Rueda and Haisch (1998); Rueda and Haisch (2005)
Lastly, insights may be offered on certain quantum properties (Compton wavelength, de Broglie wavelength, spin) and on mass-energy equivalence (E=mc2) if it proves to be the case that zero-point fluctuations interact with matter in a phenomenon identified by Erwin Schrödinger known as zitterbewegung (Haisch and Rueda 2000; Haisch, Rueda and Dobyns 2001; Nickisch and Mollere 2002).
As intriguing as these latter possibilities are, the first order of business is to unambiguously detect and measure zero-point energy. While a Casimir experiment such as that of Forward (1984) can in principle measure energy that may be attributed to the existence of real zero-point energy, there are alternative explanations involving source-source quantum interactions in place of real zero-point energy (see Milonni 1994). To move beyond this ambiguity of interpretation experiments that will test for the reality of measurable zero-point energy will need to be devised.
In the Justice League Episode, ‘Hereafter’, Vandal Savage had taken over the world and invented a Zero Point Generator in the boredom of immortality which was used to power a time machine to transport Superman back to the present.
In the movie ‘The Incredibles’, the villain Syndrome uses a ray that can immobilize an opponent, suspending him in mid-air. Director Brad Bird, speaking in a DVD commentary, says that in searching for a name for the device (or at least a better one than “the Immobi-ray”), he came across and used a reference to “zero-point energy”, which Syndrome himself uses to describe his weapon. (Of course, this is simply a cool name rather than a practical application at this time!)
In the computer game Half-Life 2, one of the weapons used by the player is the “Zero Point Energy Field Manipulator”, better known by its nickname the “Gravity Gun”. It allows the user to pick up and launch any medium-sized objects, and was used to market the game’s detailed physics engine.
The television show Stargate SG-1 and the spinoff, Stargate Atlantis also makes references to zero-point energy in the form of Zero Point Modules or ZPMs. These ZPMs extract energy from small artificially-created subspaces are used to power the technology of the Ancients, such as the energy shield which protects the city of Atlantis and powering the Stargate with sufficient power to allow travel to the Pegasus Galaxy. The Ancients also attempted to extract zero-point energy directly from their own universe in Project Arcturus.
Another television series called ZERO.POINT is in development that centers around the machinations of a quantum physicist searching for zero-point energy technology and a drifter who wanders in perfect synchronicity.
In Marvel Comic’s “Ultimate Secret” issue one, the disguised Captain Mahr-vell has helped humans develop a star drive based on ZPE. He offhandedly remarks that quantum wave fluctuations were discovered to cause inertia, which is the SED Hypothesis (covered here).
In the second season of the television series ‘Alias’, Sydney Bristow is tasked to retrieve a music box that supposedly contains a formula for zero-point energy.
In ‘3001: The Final Odyssey,’ by Arthur C. Clarke humanity is tapping zero point energy (or vacuum energy as it’s called in the book). Human astronomers observed an explosion of a far-away star, and on further investigation found that the detonation started at one of the planets which destabilized the star itself. This event gives the characters nightmares, as it was assumed that some alien race was using zero-point energy and lost control.
ZPE is also a potential energy source of interest to independent researchers outside of mainstream research entities, such as the late Eugene Mallove, and figures into discussions on radio programs such as Coast to Coast AM.
Reference: Wikipedia
BOOK OF THERESA – EARTH CHANGE – ESOTERIC TO EXOTERIC – ASCENSION CONSCIOUSNESS PHOENIX
ESOTERIC AS UNDERSTOOD BY A SECRET FEW TO THE EXOTERIC UNDERSOOD BY THE MANY OR COMMON.
Ascension Center High Priestess on the Tree of Life in the Game of life is the exoteric position that I have the privilege of existing as in one vessel.
I am a channel, a receiver of essence energy that is to be changed into words. This is my calling and election made sure in this lifetime. The reincarnation process of all beings is part of the molecular structure in our own photons that are riding on the waves of what we now hold onto in our magnetic fields we refer to as essence energy or life.
Destiny of the Essence of Energy
I receive channeled information daily, I ask for wisdom in prayer, and I meditate and sleep while waiting for answers to perform my duty while on earth. That is of sharing what I know as a perceiver and receiver of energy into consciousness and then form then into communication that we call sound, and words.
There are other vessels, containers, intelligent beings, that are made up of the same quantum particulates that make up what we refer to as humankind on earth.
I have been privileged to have the veil lifted in this lifetime between worlds of the past, present, and future. Time is linear in this world.
The actual metaverse is circular as in circumference. The universe expands outwards is concave and conclave. A concave is like the inside of a circle. Convex is like the outside of a circle. Therefore, for those who desire to share in the Ascension Center Educational Awareness this is good to know and understand.
Others desire to know who I am and how I come by my knowledge. Let it suffice to be understood that knowing is within all our reach that come to planet earth.
The Akashic Field and Field of Everything is as real as we think it to be in our own minds and way of being. The Akashic Field is the expanse of all essence and energy that has been formed throughout the eons in the metaverse. There are ways to absorb this energy essence in our own beings though it is not totally understood by all as of yet.
The Ascension Age is now present to share in the opening up of our third eye consciousness and to raise our level in the fifth dimension. Those who are now present on earth have been taught about the second and third dimensions. There is also a fourth and fifth dimension of the mind. The Matrix and Web has become the same thing in some aspects of our reality while one is regarded, as the inside as concave and the other is the outside or the convex.
Since I am asked to share information and to assist in the full creation of our next reality taken from our past, present, and future, it seems somewhat esoteric. This is because in the past the information was very hard for the many to grasp in words.
In the beginning was the word and the word was without form. This was part of our evolutionary process to obtain higher consciousness and awareness of our own soul selves. We can relate to our own energy as essence now in the 21st century as our inner being and out outer knowing.
For those who have to have a dictionary term and desire a Lexicon of the Esoteric Terms of which I speak, they will be able to obtain etymology own their own in linear time as one begins to understand space time continuum.
I was allowed to have a near death experience and allowed to meet extra terrestrials in this reality and the higher. This allowed me to experience various levels of being. This has assisted me in my own awareness and understanding about what our essence is and how we can all share in the greater good for all beings that are created in the metaverse.
Other intelligent beings are superior to us on planet earth. They are called the Supreme Beings in the higher realms of existence. They oversee all the intelligent beings and habitable planets in the universe. They are part of the higher circle in the metaverse.
These beings are able to assist in sharing their information with Oracles of earth. Those who are able to receive their transmissions are open to information that is in and around all of us. This is something that can be taught with proper training. This is part of the Ascension Age Awareness.
This is why I was taught to come back to earth and to share my awareness with others who may have a desire to excel. I have been sharing information with only the seekers who found me on earth. I taught classes of Ascension Psychic Awakening Classes in 1989 through 1993 in Honolulu, Hawaii. I also taught on some of the Hawaiian Islands and met a Huna or two.
. Examples include:
Animal Healers
Aroma Therapists
Artists and Jewelers
Authors CD and Booksellers
Feng Shui Practioners
Herbalists
Hypnotherapists Life Coaches
Native Medicine Healers
Reflexologists Reiki Therapists
Somatic Healers
UFO & Paranormal
Energy Therapists
I was taught at that time to train those who were truly interested in becoming trainers and teachers for the selected seekers and believers. This is how it has always been on earth in the past. We needed time to evolve in our evolutionary process as an intelligent being species. We as human beings are a young race or selected species of the 46 types of beings that are all part of the evolutionary process.
The 46 intelligent being species above have all combines their essence and we are the results.
SOCIAL PARANORMAL TOPICS
SOCIAL COUNSELING IN BODY-MIND-SPIRIT TOPICS
SPIRITUAL ADVISOR
ACE BODY-MIND-SPIRIT
Body-Mind-Spirit EXPOS
Fair and Event Promoters
Relaxation/Meditation Tapes
Librarys, Holistic/NewAge
Marketing, New Age
Retreat Organizers
Web Design, Holistic
Bioenergy Device
Software, Astrology
Software, Biorthym
Software, Tarot
Vision Improvement
Health and Food Stores Juice Bars
Psychiatrist, Holistic
Psychologist, Holistc
Psychotherapist , Holistic
Rage Therapy
Dynamic Walking
Movement Reeducation
Wildflowers Internal
ASCENSION CATEGORIES
Wildflowers Readings
Wood Pellet Stoves
Women’s Products Medical Arts
ACE LIGHTWORKERS – NEW ASCENSION AGE – 12/21/2012New Media-New POLITICS
Politics-New Ascension Center Enlightenment – New TJ
I never considered that my upbringing was programming in the Christian world to which I was born. I was actually born into the Southern Baptist Convention or association at birth. I had to go to church because that was how my life was lived with my family as a child. It was not until I became an adult that I was able to choose which churches I would attend. I lived the life I was supposed to and went to Church like I was supposed too. To me, Church and religion was like school and education. They were expected and how we lived in the South in the USA. I loved my life then and still do now. I simply am not as concerned about attending a church which my husband says are glorified social clubs.
Now, I realize that I was drawn to the life I have lived because of my spirit and my new path was one that I chose and created. I was exploring, researching, and learning as I went along. It was not until one day a messenger was sent to me that I had read enough books and had enough personal experiences that I should now teach. It took me another few years before I was approached again by another messenger and was told I was reminded a second time that I was to go and teach those who remained on earth. It was hard for me to understand why I should spend time teaching others when I still did not know what life was all about myself.
There were many mystical experiences I still wanted to have and I had not yet learned what was causing them. I now realize that teaching is a calling and one that is highly appraised in other worlds. However, we must first call upon our memories and past life experiences in order to make this world and work a better place for ourselves. There are now people on this planet like me. We are all working together although we may not know who each other are in the body-mind-spirit but yet, we can feel each other’s presence and share in the existence of energy as spirit. This is what we are now calling the Ascension Center Enlightenment. I was given the words Ascension Center by those from above who we call extraterrestrials in some social circles. I am told now that much of my Christian beliefs are tied into that of the New Age Movement. I had never placed a label on my interests I only knew that I was drawn to the New Age books when I entered a book store.
No one ever came up to me and explained to me that I should join a church, club, or organization called New Age. It just was something that was out there to explore, research, learn about, and apparently now be called to share in with my lifetime experiences and stories. I have found a home in various places in the world and now am looking for friends to share life with in cyberspace and we use the Internet. My husband, Tom does not want any part of the Internet and Cyberspace. He is not alone. This concerns me because there are so many intelligent beings in the world that are missing the friendship and knowledge that one can find on the Internet. The way we now live on earth is complicated and requires energy and time for our obligations such as family, and school
There are many who are required to spend at least 8 hours a day at a full time and some a part-time job in order to sustain their lifestyles. We all must realize that it is our differences that make us interesting and yet we are all learning what makes us the same and yet different. We shall begin to learn how our piece of the puzzle or shard of glass fits into the big picture of life. It was not until I became willing to share and teach what I knew inside to be my truth about my spirit and my past lives on earth and what I learned from them that I felt like I could reach out to others.
It was the friends I found in Hawaii 1989-1990 where I was given the inspiration to become the Founder of the Ascension Center. I was not told that it would be part of something called the New Age back then but I knew that there was such a movement in the books that were written. There was the Llewellyn Books http://www.llewellyn.com/ and others including the Bear and Inner Traditions Inner Traditions – Bear & Company,
Together Inner Traditions · Bear & Company have eleven imprints: Inner Traditions, Bear& Company, Healing Arts Press, Destiny Books, Park Street Press, …www.innertraditions.com/ I use Google everyday and find that it has become easier to navigate and to find out more. I use Firefox, and sometimes Bing. I enjoy certain web browsers and creating websites. For now, I shall do what I can to leave my energy behind on the Internet. Please know that when I expire like all others who come to earth that unless certain of my articles are archived and kept by others that all the information will simply fade away.
Therefore, if you want to keep some of the information we share on the Internet for your own or your future family members, one might want to learn to keep a copy on disk somewhere in the physical. Books will always be on earth and I know this because there are still copied in space by some who are of the other galaxies for reading. Most are the great classics and stories but who knows, some of us may make a lifetime impression and our works will be kept in space because we may make a difference for those who come to earth and those who travel in space. TJ -(Adding the rest to hopefully be archived and kept by those who care to make the world and space a better place for the good of all.).
This is chiefly composed from a compilation of information with various contributors where we can all share in our information on what we all now use called Wikipedia. I support the Wikipedia and advocate its use. Please feel free to share information and research to be shared with others and as peers of the New Age, we can share our knowledge and information while raising consciousness for our world. TJ I include this information as an article for the convenience of all our Ascension Center Enlightenment Lightworkers who are assisting in this time while on earth. We can all share in our various shards of truth to make up a better and complete puzzle of this existence we call life on earth.
There are various ways we can share in life, communities, and awareness while we spread our abundance and our new motto of the Ace Institute of Philosophy and Technology, of the Ascension Center Enlightenment. “Shift and Uplift Health and Prosperity for all!” Those who desire to share more of my stories and me can visit me at social paranormal.com and theresamorris.com. I also share americannewsmagazine.com with the world. Life can be what we make it with our own free will and free choice to compile memories. We can take our memories with us as treasures of our spirit back to our soul and home world. I believe we are only visiting this planet! Some of us are coming forward and admitting that we are committed to sharing our memories which are our accumulated treasures through our spirit incarnate that returns back to our soul Some still regard our spirit as the same as our soul.
This is like saying that Christ is God and vice versa. To some, we see the two as separate. This is still a form of theism and pantheism inside our minds with separation and categories. We have new groups on the Internet among our websites, which include our pages, categories, and archives where we keep our memories on our websites. The updates that we make in life now as we live them is what we present as new posts and our stories in life are what we now share on our websites, our blogs, and on some new places we can all access like Facebook and Twitter.
It is great that the authorities are allowing us to share the area of our existence that we presently regard as Cyberspace. This place we all meet deals with our making our presence known while we are in body-mind-spirit. Maybe some of us are willing to raise our conscious awareness to greater heights in the Akashic Field that exists beyond the creation of our energy in Cyberspace we use on the Internet for communication purposes. There is a place we can all visit and agree to new experiences. There are some in the New Age Movement that agree it is time to share more! We call some of those above who come and go in the extraterrestrial visitation spacecraft, ET. Steven Spielberg with his movie ET made this popular.
I shall always remember his Close Encounters movie, which changed my life that day. I actually had to be taken to the Emergency Room at a hospital where I learned that many people were brought it the same time due to the premier of the movie in my town called Houston in Texas, USA. I was given a paper bag to breathe into. I was told I hyperventilated. I was changed because I knew it was time to share the truth that in me was secret.
I knew that there would be more people who like me who could share their sightings of these spacecraft not of earth origin that many liked to use the word UFO for convenience, which was an acronym for Unidentified Flying Objects. I knew from my past near death experience (NDE) how to have Out of Body (OBE) and it was the movie GHOST with Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore that influenced me once more and changed my life. Life changes through visualization in movies are the major tool that can be used to change the world in which we live.
Television is also a medium to change that, which in the past was not in our psyche. The Critical Mass Consciousness is changing in the NEW MEDIA, which is influenced by the NEW AGE. While there is no unified belief system, many spiritual practices and philosophies are common among adherents of the New Age Movement. “New Age movement” and “New Age spirituality” can be redirect at the source for most all information shared in this article, which came from source – Wikipedia.. For other uses, see New Age (disambiguation).(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) Main articles: Spirituality and List of New Age topics See also: Outline of spirituality and List of philosophies ?New Age spirituality often incorporates aspects of the Earth, Moon, and outer space; the term New Age refers to the coming Astrological Age of Aquarius.
The New Age movement is a spiritual and quasi-religious Western movement that developed in the latter half of the twentieth century. Its central precepts revolve around “drawing on both Eastern and Western spiritual and metaphysical traditions and then infusing them with influences from self-help and motivational psychology, holistic health, parapsychology, consciousness research and quantum physics” in order to create “a spirituality without borders or confining dogmas” that is inclusive and pluralistic.
Another of its primary traits is holding to “a holistic worldview”, thereby emphasizing that the Mind, Body and Spirit are interrelated and that there is a form of Oneness and unity throughout the universe.
It further attempts to create “a worldview that includes both science and spirituality” and thereby embraces a number of forms of science and pseudo-science. According to historian Nevill Drury, the origins of the movement can be found in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, particularly through the works of the esotericists Emanuel Swedenborg, Franz Anton Mesmer, Helena Blavatsky and George Gurdjieff, who laid some of the basic philosophical principles that would later influence the movement. It would gain further momentum in the 1960s, taking influence from metaphysics, self-help psychology, and the various Indian gurus who visited the West during that decade.
The New Age movement includes elements of older spiritual and religious traditions ranging from atheism and monotheism through classical pantheism, naturalistic pantheism, and panentheism to polytheism combined with science and Gaia philosophy; particularly Archaeoastronomy, astronomy, ecology, environmentalism, the Gaia hypothesis, psychology, and physics. New Age practices and philosophies sometimes draw inspiration from major world religions: Buddhism, Chinese folk religion, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism; with strong influences from East Asian religions, Gnosticism, Neopaganism, New Thought, Spiritualism, Theosophy, Universalism, andWestern esotericism.[8]OriginsHistorian Nevill Drury identified “four key precursors of the New Age”, who had set the way for many of its widely held precepts. [9] The first of these was Emanuel Swedenborg (1688-1772), a Swedish scientist who after a religious experience devoted himself to Christian mysticism, believing that he could travel to Heaven and Hell and commune with angels, demons and spirits, and who published widely on the subject of his experiences. The second was Franz Mesmer (1734-1815), who had developed a form of healing using magnets, believing that there was a force known as “animal magnetism” that affected humans. The third figure whom Drury identified was the Russian Helena Blavatsky (1831-1891); one of the founders of the Theosophical Society, through which she propagated her religious movement of Theosophy, which itself combined a number of elements from Eastern religions like Hinduism and Buddhism in with Western elements. The fourth figure was the Turkish George Gurdjieff (c.1872-1949), who founded the philosophy of the Fourth Way, through which he taught a number of spiritual teachings to his disciples. A fifth individual whom Drury identified as an important influence upon the New Age movement was the Indian Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902), an adherent of the philosophy of Vedanta who first brought Hinduism to the West in the late nineteenth century.
TERM NEW AGE
William Blake who described a belief in a spiritual and artistic “New Age” in his preface to Milton used the term New Age as early as 1809.Some of the New Age movement’s constituent elements appeared initially in 19th-century metaphysical movements Spiritualism, Theosophy, and New Thought; also, alternative medicine movements chiropractic and naturopathy.
These movements in turn have roots in Transcendentalism, Mesmerism.
Swedenborgianism, and various earlier Western esoteric or occult traditions, such as the hermetic arts of astrology, magic, alchemy, and Kabbalah. The term New Age was used in this context in Madame Blavatsky’s book The Secret Doctrine, published in 1888. [11]A weekly journal of Christian liberalism and socialism titled The New Age was published as early as 1894; [12] it was sold to a group of socialist writers headed by Alfred Richard Orage and Holbrook Jackson in 1907. Other historical personalities were involved: H. G. Wells, George Bernard Shaw, and William Butler Yeats; the magazine became a forum for politics, literature, and the arts. [13][14] Between 1908 and 1914, it was instrumental in pioneering the British avant-garde from vorticism to imagism. After 1914, publisher Orage met P. D. Ouspensky, a follower of G. I. Gurdjieff, and began correspondence with Harry Houdini, becoming less interested in literature and art, with an increased focus on mysticism and other spiritual topics; the magazine was sold in 1921. According to Brown University, The New Age “… helped to shape modernism in literature and the arts from 1907 to 1922
Popularization behind these ideas has roots in the work of early 20th-century writers such as D. H. Lawrence and William Butler Yeats. In the early to mid-1900s, American mystic, theologian, and founder of the Association for Research and Enlightenment Edgar Cayce was a seminal influence on what later would be termed the New Age movement; he was known in particular for the practice some refer to aschanneling.[16] Former Theosophist Rudolf Steiner and his Anthroposophical Movement are a major influence. Neo-Theosophist Alice Bailey published the book Discipleship in the New Age (1944), which used the term New Age in reference to the transition from the Astrological Age of Pisces to Aquarius. While claims of racial bias in the writings of Rudolf Steiner and Alice Bailey were made,[17] Alice A. Bailey was firmly opposed to the Axis powers (according to Bailey, Adolf Hitler was possessed by the Dark Forces [18]) , and Steiner emphasized racial equality as a principle central to anthroposophical thought and humanity’s progress.[19][20] Any racial elements from these influences have not remained part of the Anthroposophical Society as contemporary adherents of the society have either not adopted or repudiated these beliefs.[21][22] Another early usage of the term, was by the American artist, mystic, and philosopher Walter Russell, who spoke of “… this New Age philosophy of the spiritual re-awakening of man …” in his essay “Power Through Knowledge”, which was also published in 1944.Carl Jung was an early articulator of the concept of the Age of Aquarius. [23] In a letter to H. G. Baynes, dated 12 August 1940, he wrote in a passage concerning the destruction of the temple of Karnak by an earthquake in 26 BC: “1940 is the year when we approach the meridian of the first star in Aquarius. It is the premonitory earthquake of the New Age.”
[24]SUBCULTURE OF NEW AGE
The subculture that later became known as New Age already existed in the early 1970s, based on and adopting ideas originally present in the counterculture of the 1960s. The Findhorn Foundation – anintentional community near Findhorn, Moray, Scotland founded in 1962 – played an instrumental role during the early growth period of the New Age movement;[citation needed] it continues to operate the Findhorn Ecovillage. (Findhorn Ecovillage.)Widespread use of the term New Age began in the mid-1970s (reflected in the title of monthly periodical New Age Journal) and probably influenced several thousand small metaphysical book- and gift-stores that increasingly defined themselves as “New Age bookstores”.[25][26] As a result of the large-scale activities surrounding the Harmonic Convergence in 1987, the American mass media further popularized the term as a label for the alternative spiritual subculture, including practices such as meditation, channeling, crystal healing, astral projection, psychic experience, holistic health,simple living, and environmentalism; or belief in phenomena such as Earth mysteries, ancient astronauts, extraterrestrial life, unidentified flying objects, crop circles, and reincarnation. A range of New Age publications appeared by the late 1980s such as Psychic Guide (later renamed Body, Mind & Spirit), Yoga Journal, New Age Voice, New Age Retailer, and NAPRA Review by the New Age Publishers and Retailers Alliance.Several key moments occurred in raising public awareness of this subculture: the publication of Linda Goodman’s best selling astrology books Sun Signs (1968) and Love Signs (1978); Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical (1967) with its opening song “Aquarius” and its memorable line “This is the dawning of the Age of Aquarius” [emphasis added]; the broadcast of Shirley MacLaine’s television mini-series Out on a Limb (1987); and the Harmonic Convergence (1987) organized by José Argüelles in Sedona, Arizona. Also influential[citation needed]were the claims of channelers Jane Roberts (the Seth Material) and J. Z. Knight (Ramtha), as well as revealed writings A Course in Miracles(1976) by Helen Schucman, The Celestine Prophecy (1993) by James Redfield, and Conversations with God (1995) by Neale Donald Walsch. Relevant works also include the writings of Eckhart Tolle, Barbara Marx Hubbard, Marianne Williamson, Deepak Chopra, John Holland, Gary Zukav, and Wayne Dyer; also, The Secret (2006) by Rhonda Byrne, which was based on the writings of Esther Hicks and Jerry Hicks.While authors J. Gordon Melton,[27] Wouter Hanegraaff,[28] and Paul Heelas[29] have emphasized the above-mentioned personal aspects,Mark Satin,[30] Theodore Roszak,[31] Marilyn Ferguson,[32] and Corinne McLaughlin[33] have described New Age as a values-based sociopolitical movement.Philosophy and CosmologyMain articles: Philosophy and CosmologyTheism There is a general and abstract idea of God, understood in many ways and seen as superseding the need to anthropomorphize deity.Spiritual beings Many believe that gods, angels, Ascended Masters, elementals, ghosts, faeries, Spirit guides and extraterrestrials can spiritually guide a person, if they open themselves to their guidance.[34]Afterlife Consciousness persists after death as life in different forms; the afterlife exists for further learning through the form of a spirit,reincarnation and/or near-death experiences.[35] The New Age belief in reincarnation is different than the Buddhist or Hindu concepts in that the New Age religion believes that a soul can be born into a spiritual realm or even on a far-away planet and there is no desire to end this process.[36] There may be a belief in hell, but typically not in the traditional Christian sense or Islamic sense of eternal damnation.Universalist views of the afterlife are common.Age of Aquarius The current time period is claimed by some astrologers to be the dawning of the Age of Aquarius correlated to various changes in the world and some claim that the early 1960s was the actual beginning of the Age of Aquarius, though this claim is highly contentious. Common claims about the developments associated with the Age of Aquarius include, but are not limited to, human rights, democracy, innovative technology, electricity, computers, and aviation. Esoteric claims are that the Age of Aquarius will see a rise in consciousness.[11]Astrology Horoscopes and the Zodiac are used in understanding, interpreting, and organizing information about personality, human affairs, and other terrestrial matters.[37] Teleology Life has a purpose; this includes a belief in synchronicity—that coincidences have spiritual meaning and lessons to teach those who are open to them. Everything is universally connected through God and participates in the same energy.[38] There is a cosmic goal and a belief that all entities are (knowingly or unknowingly) cooperating towards this goal.Indigo children Children are being born with a more highly developed spiritual power than earlier generations.[39][40]Interpersonal relationships There are opportunities to learn about one’s self and relationships are destined to be repeated until they are healthy.[41] Those in the New Age movement accept women’s complete equality in all aspects of society including religion and the complete acceptance of one’ssexual orientation, whether heterosexual, homosexual (gay or lesbian), bisexual, transgender, or intersexual as a means of spiritual development. A number of New Age people practice Tantric sex as an aspect of Tantric yoga.[42]Intuition An important aspect of perception – offset by a somewhat strict rationalism – noted especially in the works of psychologist Carl Jung.[43]Optimism Positive thinking supported by affirmations will achieve success in anything;[44] this is based on the concept that Thought Creates. Therefore, as one begins focusing attention and consciousness on the positive, on the “half-filled” glass of water, reality starts shifting and materializing the positive intentions and aspects of life. A certain critical mass of people with a highly spiritual consciousness will bring about a sudden change in the whole population.[45] Humans have a responsibility to take part in positive creative activity and to work to heal ourselves, each other and the planet.[46]Human Potential Movement The human mind has much greater potential than that ascribed to it[47][48][49] and is even capable of overriding physical reality.[50]Spiritual healing Humans have potential healing powers, such as therapeutic touch, which can be developed to heal others through touch or at a distance.[51] Religion and ScienceMain articles: Religion and ScienceFurther information: Relationship between religion and science and Quantum mind–body problemEclecticism New Age spirituality is characterized by an individual approach to spiritual practices and philosophies, and the rejection of religiousdoctrine and dogma.[52]Matriarchy Feminine forms of spirituality, including feminine images of the divine, such as the female Aeon Sophia in Gnosticism, are deprecated by patriarchal religions.[5]?Stonehenge and other ancient sites are revered by many who practice New Age spirituality.Ancient civilizations Atlantis, Lemuria, Mu, and other lost lands existed.[53] Relics such as the crystal skulls and monuments such as Stonehenge and the Great Pyramid of Giza were left behind.Psychic perception Certain geographic locations emanate psychic energy (sometimes through ley lines) and were considered sacred in pagan religions throughout the world.[54]Eastern world practices Meditation, Yoga, Tantra, Chinese medicine, Ayurveda, martial arts, Tai chi chuan, Falun Gong,Qigong, Reflexology, Reiki, and other Eastern practices may assist in focusing spirituality.Diet Food influences both the mind and body; it is generally preferable to practice vegetarianism by eating fresh organic food, which is locally grown and in season.[55][56] Fasting may be used.[57]Mathematics An appeal to the language of nature and mathematics, as evidenced by numerology, Kabbalah,[58] Sacred geometry, and Gnosticism to discern the nature of God.Science Quantum mechanics, parapsychology, and the Gaia hypothesis have been used in quantum mysticism to explain spiritual principles.[59]Authors Deepak Chopra, Fritjof Capra, Fred Alan Wolf, and Gary Zukav have linked quantum mechanics to New Age spirituality, which is presented in the film What the Bleep Do We Know!? (2004); also, in connection with the Law of Attraction, which is related to New Thought and presented in the film The Secret (2006). They have interpreted the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle, quantum entanglement, wave function collapse, or the many-worlds interpretation to mean that all objects in the universe are one (monism), that possibility and existence are endless, and that the physical world is only what one believes it to be. In medicine, such practices as therapeutic touch, homeopathy, chiropractic, and naturopathy involve hypotheses and treatments that have not been accepted by the conventional, science-based medical community through the normal course of empirical testing.[60][61]Lifestyle?New Age shop in St Albans, UKNew Age spirituality has led to a wide array of literature on the subject and an active niche market; books, music, crafts, and services in alternative medicine are available at New Age stores, fairs, andfestivals.[62][63]DemographicsPeople who practice New Age spirituality or embrace its lifestyle are included in the Lifestyle of Health and Sustainability (LOHAS) demographic market segment, currently in a growth phase, related to sustainable living, green ecological initiatives, and generally composed of a relatively affluent and well-educated segment.[64][65] The LOHAS market segment in 2006 was estimated at USD$300 billion, approximately 30 percent of the United States consumer market.[66][67] According to The New York Times, a study by the Natural Marketing Institute showed that in 2000, 68 million Americans were included within the LOHAS demographic. The sociologist Paul H. Ray, who coined the term Cultural Creatives in his book The Cultural Creatives: How 50 Million People Are Changing the World (2000), states, “What you’re seeing is a demand for products of equal quality that are also virtuous.”[68][69]Holistic healthMain articles: Holistic health and Alternative medicineSee also: List of branches of alternative medicinePractitioners of New Age spirituality may use alternative medicine in addition to or in place of conventional medicine;[63][70] while some conventional physicians have adopted aspects or the complete approach of holistic health.MusicMain articles: New Age music and Ambient musicSee also: List of New Age music artists and List of ambient artistsNew Age music is peaceful music of various styles, which is intended to create inspiration, relaxation, and positive feelings while listening. Studies have determined that New Age music can be an effective component of stress management. [71] Some New Age music albums come with notes to encourage use in meditation.This style began in the 1970s with the works of free-form jazz groups recording on the ECM label; such as Oregon, the Paul Winter Group, and other pre-ambient bands; as well as ambient music performer Brian Eno and classical avant-garde musician Daniel Kobialka. In the early 1970s, it was mostly instrumental with both acoustic and electronic styles. New Age music evolved to include a wide range of styles from electronic space music using synthesizers and acoustic instrumentals using Native American flutes and drums, singing bowls, and world music sounds to spiritual chanting from other cultures.Sustainable livingMain articles: Sustainable living, Sustainability, and Simple livingSee also: List of intentional communitiesThere is an emphasis on living in a simple sustainable way that attempts to reduce an individual’s or society’s use of the Earth’s natural resources and shuns the consumer society.[72][73]ReceptionOrganized religionMain articles: Comparative religion and A Christian reflection on the New AgeMichigan attorney and activist Constance Cumbey offered the first major criticism of the New Age movement from a Christian perspective inThe Hidden Dangers of the Rainbow: The New Age Movement and Our Coming Age of Barbarism (1983).[74]In 2003, following a six year study, the Roman Catholic Church published a 90 page document A Christian reflection on the New Age which was highly critical of New Age practices such as yoga, meditation, feng shui and healing by crystals. [75][76] The Vatican stated that euphoric states attained through New Age practices such as meditation and yoga should not be confused with prayer or assumed to be signs of the presence of God.[77][78]Monsignor Michael Fitzgerald stated at the Vatican conference on A Christian Reflection on the New Age that the “Church avoids any concept that is close to those of the New Age”. Cardinal Paul Poupard, head of the Pontifical Council for Culture, said that the “New Age is a misleading answer to the oldest hopes of man.”[78]Expressing general agreement with the views expressed by the 2003 Vatican document, Richard Land of the Southern Baptist Conventionsaid that there would be widespread agreement among Baptists that New Age ideas are contrary to Christian tradition and doctrine.[79]MarxistMarxism is generally critical of the New Age movement, as with all religious activity and experience. Marxists regard the idea of spirituality, including New Age, as a form of what Engels called False Consciousness and that it is just superstition that goes against provable fact. Instead, as materialistic rationalists, they believe that either if a ghost or miracle (for example) cannot be explained, science has not advanced fully to explain it or that if something cannot be explained, it does not exist. They would also consider the New Age Movement an ideology suited to globalization and late capitalism that treats belief as a commodity to be traded and that the pick and mix approach is just the illusion of individuality.Post Marxists argue that the economic base and ideological superstructure is the same thing and that New Age Ideas are suited to late capitalism, as they believe that identities are fluid and co modifiable.Integral theoryMain article: Integral theoryThe author Ken Wilber posits that most New Age thought falls into what he termed the pre/trans fallacy.[80] According to Wilber, humandevelopmental psychology moves from the pre-personal, through the personal, then to the transpersonal (spiritually advanced or enlightened) level.[81] He regards 80 percent of New Age spirituality as pre-rational (pre-conventional) and as relying primarily on mythic-magical thinking; this contrasts with a post-rational (including and transcending rational) genuinely world-centric consciousness.[80][81]Indigenous peoples of the Americas
Main article: Indigenous peoples of the Americas
Some adherents of traditional disciplines such as the Lakota people, a tribe of the indigenous peoples of the Americas, reject the term New Age. They see the movement it represents as not fully understanding, deliberately trivializing, or distorting their disciplines. [82]They have coined the term plastic shaman to describe individuals who identify themselves as shamans, holy people, or other traditional spiritual leaders, but who have no genuine connection to the traditions or cultures they claim to represent. The academic Ward Churchill has criticized the New Age movement as an instrument of cultural imperialism that is exploitative of indigenous cultures by reducing it to a commodity to be traded. In Fantasies of the Master Race, he criticizes the cultural appropriation of Native American culture and symbols in not only the New Age movement, but in art and popular culture. [83]Goddess movement
Members of the Goddess movement have severely criticized the New Age as fundamentally patriarchal, analytical rather than intuitive, and as supporting the status quo, particularly in its implicit gender roles. Monica Sjöö, who worked with Zsuzsanna Budapest, Starhawk and other feminist pagans, pointed out that New Age “channels” were virtually all women, but the “spirits” they purported to channel, offering guidance to humanity, were nearly all male. Sjöö was highly critical of Theosophy; the I AM Activity, and particularly Alice Bailey, whom she saw as promoting Nazi-like “Aryan” ideals. Sjöö’s writings also condemn the New Age for its support of communication and information processing technologies which, she believes, may produce harmful low-level electromagnetic radiation.
More Later. TJ
By theresajmorris Posted in Ascended Master, ascension, Avatar, high-priestess, Mystic, Oracle, Prophetess, sage, seer, Tarot, Theresa J Morris, tj, TJ Thurmond Morris
2012 ANCIENT SAYINGS AND FUTURE BEINGS
2012 ETHOS PREDICTION OF ANCIENT ASTRONAUTS RETURNING TO EARTH
LORD’S DAY COMING TO EARTH DEC. 21, 2012 T. 11:11
LOGOS LITHOS STRATUM INFINITUM
(Greek & Latin Root Words for Earth)
“Lithos” (spelled lambda, iota with acute, theta, omicron, sigma) means stone, and “sphaira” (spelled sigma, phi, alpha, iota with circumflex, rho, alpha) means ball. Although the latter was actually in use in latin as a loanword “sphaera”.
The children coming to earth from another place of the “BRANE” will house the containers we call the “BRAIN” in individual containers that will change the universal alliance in space.
We are the stonemasons here now on planet earth. We are to set in stone forever more in the history of all our data mines for all time and eternity here on planet earth.
Being an AVATAR ORACLE MAGI SAGE PROPHETESS – basically a “HANDMAIDEN OF GOD” has made my time of God and Goddess their own.
We are of the future LOGO and LOGI . We are of logos arithmos and it is about time, we recognize stellar space-time of that which we now call the “BRANE OF THE MATTER IN STELLAR SPACE”
Nouvell cuisines of the future precepts of life on earth will be adding nostalgia to the notable and notorious notion and vague belief systems of the past.
There should be a novena of 9 days of prayer leading up to the date of Dec. 21, 2012 with the expectations on earth that have not seen the same occurrence since the expected date of the “SAVIOR OF EARTH AS THE CHRIST CHILD”.
God has spoken and I am simply the Handmaiden as servant to the Almighty as a Prophetess of that which is to become heraldry of the martyrs on earth for the sake of Ascension Centered Enlightenment we call salvation for the Apocalypse on Earth.
This is a new Proclamation. of Prediction for the year of Obama World 2012.
We will now herald in the future for all time and eternity on the planet Earth we call a Gaia in space.
We will begin preparing those on earth for space travel. The alternative knowledge needed on earth to become aware of the future in stellar space will require more information awareness.
We are heralding in through what the world presently calls Eugenics the future generations of the “EARTH BOUND”.
These beings will be born both male and female when the planet will be entering a time when cultural, gender, race, and social class discrimination will have ended.
On December 21, 2012, 11:11 the planet earth will become recognized to have obtained a new galactic class heraldry home to a homo genus species of ascension sentient intelligent beings.
American Culture International Relations also known as ACIR will begin the new generation education with an arts and sciences awareness coalition. There is a truth in all beginnings. We are those who are now these children of earth’s ancestors.
The defining moment of the first spiritual soul being born on this planet and the first newborn that enters each continent the first second after this recorded date and time in history will be recorded above and below.
It will be up to the entire global population to participate in the new global community alliance.
We will all be a participant with our own brains as part of the new defining moment of the brane in stellar space and defining the new space-time continuum.
How does the whole world participate in one exact moment as an entire enlightened species on one planet in space all at the same defining moment?
We are all important every single being on earth. We are all part of all living things.
There is a reason for all things, all beings, and all creations. There is a purpose to being on earth as a citizen of the intelligent being species.
It is my duty as a citizen of the earth, having came and went, have lived, died, and lived again to proclaim that at one particular point in time on this planet we will all become equal. We are all the same but at one particular point in time created on this planet by our ancient ancestors, we will have become enlightened as all one intelligent being species.
We will be recorded and welcomed above in the alliance of all galaxies in space in this universe.
Because the “I” in each intelligent being is simply a way to communicate information of a single unit also known as a universal virtual citizen in the Universal Alliance.
The “I” is also known as the “WE”. The world is now preparing to accept that there are others all over the planet with the same needs to survive. The planet and citizens who are considered the world leaders will adopt the way the world is today versus the way the world will become.
This is a new time, a new space race, and a new way to handle the world. There will be a new reform and a new restructuring.
This will include all beings regardless of the gender, ethnic origin, faith, religion, social upbringing, culture, group, community, region, city or town location, social class, country, and even the incarcerated. There will be a global truce and all warring nations will declare a truce for this time as it passed over and around the planet earth.
The planet will see a new day coming as the new horizon that welcomes the new beginning on the way we keep time. All timepieces are to be reset for historical purposes and reasons in the spiritual world of which we are recognized in body-mind-spirit.
There are many spirits in this world. There are many beings incarcerated. We have both good and bad beings the same as we have good and bad spirits here on this planet. The good spirits are considered of the positive energy magnetism. The bad spirits are considered of the negative energy in magnetism.
Like attracts like and we need both in order to be humankind in a positive and negative world with light and darkness. Life does revolved around the sun this is true and we need the sun in order to survive. In the past our ancestors that were born on earth worshipped the sun with good reason for they saw without the sun there was no life on earth in all the various forms. Some knowledge put into concepts, precepts, and perspective makes sense in the time and place where one in the “I” that came to be accepted, as the “WE” perceived the first thoughts. We are all one in many respects that can be shared as a species in a universal class planet that sustains life. We are the one planet in our solar system with intelligent beings. We are not the only solar system that sustains life. There is a difference in the I and We in the philosophical and spiritual sense of the words.
We tend to separate those who have committed sins as crimes against others. There is a saying on earth that used words among our ancient ancestors. Some beings have been remembered for their work, words, teaching, and sayings on earth. For what reason one might ask? It is because it was time on earth to accept a higher order and way of thinking and for some this meant accepting and believing. One can only be as one allows inside and out. This is the destiny of a single unit. The single unit or vessel of spirit may not be aware of the spiritual connection to all beings and all living things. It is time for this knowledge to become awareness.
With all living things not just in this solar system but also in others.
Judge not lest ye be judged. This one way of being deals with morals and ethics on this planet. We have all committed this act of one to another in the past based on our ancestor’s teachings to those who come to earth waging war and peace.
For a day in the courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of Wickedness. .Ps. 84:10So Judas did to Christ: but he, in twelve, Found Truth in all but one; I, in twelve thousand, none. Shakespeare, RII 4.1. 70
Do not throw stones at your neighbors if your own windows are glass. Benjamin Franklin
For the butterfly, mating and propagation involve the sacrifice of life, for the humans, the sacrifice of beauty. Goethe
The news of the Sun aligning with the Black Hole in the Middle of our Galaxy has been foretold by our ancient ancestors and is in many myths, legends, and stories of our native Indians on this planet.
Prepare for the worst and hope for the best is a faith based saying among those who believe in a God. Regardless of what one believes inside their own lost soul, we are all the same in body-mind-spirit creation as a species. It is not time for our purpose to be known to all as one intelligent being species. There is a divine order and purpose to life when all that occurs is shared in confidence to carry on the divine purpose of being.
I like all am only one. I am only one unit or being on the planet, we call earth. I like all others was born. I like all others desire to live. I like all others desire to know. I like all others will welcome the changes to occur in my life while I am among the living. I am only one person like the one all others are here to learn the balance of life in a positive and negative energy world. I seek to find that which I am. I accept that I am that I am. I know that my essence is energy and that I am a part of all there is. I know the difference between being spiritual energy essence inside a mind and body versus spiritual essence energy outside the mind and body of this vessel I use to remain at this level of life among others as one species. We are all searching for answers. Do not shoot the messenger, I just call them the way I see them.
TJ Morris tm ACIR – ET ORACLE FOR OBAMA WORLD. American Culture International Relations – Advisory Counsel Intergalactic Civilizations. “Keeper of the Flame” has proclaimed Theresa Janette Thurmond Morris, ORACLE, known as TJMORRIS tm ACIR in this reincarnation as the Patroness of Legends and Myths. Legends and Myths are used when the truth is too dangerous to share and tell.
It is hereby proclaimed that the whole world will be watching and participating on the planet Earth date December 21, 2012, 11:11 at which time the sun our of Earth’s solar system will align with the center of our Milky Way Galaxy known as a Black Hole.
Anderson Institute and BAASS for the eternal infinitum for the xenoverse.
Thomas R. Morris and Theresa J Thurmond Morris art in world and works are clues to be found in books and art forms on earth to relate to that of the crystal skulls energy.
http://www.plattfineart.com/
Johnson Collection in Philadelphia, and the Lord Richmond Collection in London.
A Ticket is needed for the new Ascension Center Enlightenment that is to have the right to say anything about that income stratum of society
TJ ORACLE SPIRITUAL GUIDE PROPHETESS
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The Intern Desk
Eugene Peterson’s Service Live Stream
November 5, 2018 | Categories: Industry News, New Releases, NEWS, Our Authors
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZFrW5VB9tU&t=50s
Eugene Peterson Has Completed His Long Obedience
October 30, 2018 | Categories: Industry News, New Releases, NEWS, Our Authors
Kate Shellnutt Christianity Today, October 22, 2018 Family says Message author joyfully looked toward heaven as he neared death, saying, “Let’s go.” Eugene Peterson has completed his “long obedience in the same direction.” The Presbyterian pastor, best known for authoring The Message Bible, died today at age 85, a week after entering hospice for complications
Producers Named for Kingsbury ‘The Baxters’ Drama Series
October 6, 2017 | Categories: Industry News, New Releases, NEWS, Our Authors
January 29, 2018—Colorado Springs, CO—Veteran Hollywood producers Roma Downey and Emmy-nominated Will Packer (Girls Trip, Straight Outta Compton, Ride Along, Roots) have teamed to produce Karen Kingsbury’s long-awaited “The Baxters” drama series, based on her Baxter family novels about the ups and downs of a large family with six adult children, announced Rick Christian, CEO/Founder of
Alive Author Karen Kingsbury Appears Again on Today Show
June 20, 2017 | Categories: Industry News, New Releases, NEWS, Our Authors
Alive Literary and NYT bestselling author Karen Kingsbury promotes her new release Love Story on NBC’s the Today show. In an interview with Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb, Kingsbury tells of a romantic marriage proposal she helped orchestrate…and her new Baxter family book, Love Story, played an integral part.
#1 NYT Bestselling Author Karen Kingsbury & Family on Tour with Compassion
March 17, 2016 | Categories: New Releases, NEWS, Our Authors
#1 New York Times bestselling author Karen Kingsbury is taking to the highways starting March 30 for a 12-city “A Night with Karen Kingsbury and Family” tour. For information on “A Night with Karen Kingsbury and Family” and to purchase tickets, visit: www.karenkingsbury.com.
Grammy Award-Winning Band for KING & COUNTRY Begins Film Novelization
January 27, 2016 | Categories: New Releases, NEWS
Colorado Springs, CO—January 27, 2016 Alive Literary is pleased to announce the signing of brothers Joel and Luke Smallbone of the GRAMMY Award-winning band for KING & COUNTRY. The brothers will release a novelization of their upcoming movie Priceless: She’s Worth Fighting For, to be published in August 2016 by Worthy Publishers. The publishing agreement
New York Times bestselling author Melanie Shankle Moving to Zondervan
January 13, 2016 | Categories: Deals, Industry News, New Releases, NEWS
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO – January 13, 2016 In a deal recently negotiated by Lisa Jackson of Alive Literary Agency, Shankle signed with Zondervan Publishing for two trade books, a DVD curriculum, and a gift devotional, with her first book set to release in August 2017. “Melanie is a rising star, with three successful books under her
Tworkowski’s If You Feel Too Much Debuts at #6 on NYT Best Seller List
June 4, 2015 | Categories: Bestseller Lists, Industry News, New Releases, Our Authors
If You Feel Too Much is a celebration of hope, wonder, and what it means to be human. From personal stories of struggling on days most people celebrate to offering words of strength and encouragement in moments of loss, the essays in this book invite readers to believe that it’s okay to admit to pain and it’s okay to ask for help.
Liberty University Announces Partnership with Karen Kingsbury
January 14, 2015 | Categories: New Releases
January 13, 2015 – Lynchburg, VA Liberty University has announced a partnership with #1 New York Times bestselling author Karen Kingsbury, welcoming her as a visiting professor for the school’s residential and online programs. Exclusive to Liberty, Kingsbury will offer students the secrets to her storytelling and to selling more than 25 million copies of
Alive Celebrates release of Now You See Me
April 16, 2014 | Categories: New Releases
Colorado Springs, CO, April 15, 2014—Alive Communications is celebrating the release of Now You See Me: How I Forgave the Unforgivable by Kathy Sanders, (FaithWords/Hachette Book Group, April 2014). For the first time, Sanders recounts her remarkable, arduous journey of losing her two beloved grandsons in the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995—the greatest act of
Karen Kingsbury Releases Latest Novel, Fifteen Minutes
October 28, 2013 | Categories: New Releases
October 28, 2013–In her much-anticipated novel releasing tomorrow, #1 New York Times bestselling Alive author Karen Kingsbury tells the story of a young Kentucky horse farmer who enters an American Idol type competition, confident he can keep his head and heart in check even as he becomes the show’s rising star. Karen writes what she
Notre Dame’s Rudy Launches New Book with Dream Big Bus Tour
September 20, 2012 | Categories: New Releases, Our Authors
Colorado Springs, CO, September 2012— Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger, the subject of the hit film Rudy (TriStar, 1993), starring Sean Astin, is celebrating the launch of his new biography Rudy: My Story (Thomas Nelson, September 2012) with a bus tour across the American heartland. The Rudy Dream Big Bus Tour will make stops at key locations
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Teaching on all-male priesthood is definitive, cardinal-designate says
VATICAN CITY – That only men can be validly ordained to the priesthood is a truth that is part of the Catholic faith and will not and cannot change, said Cardinal-designate Luis Ladaria, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
“It gives rise to serious concern to see that in some countries there still are voices that put in doubt the definitive nature of this doctrine,” the cardinal-designate wrote May 29 in the Vatican newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano.
St. John Paul II, confirming the constant teaching and practice of the church, formally declared in 1994 that “the church has no authority whatsoever to confer priestly ordination on women and that this judgment is to be definitively held by all the church’s faithful.”
Cardinal-designate Ladaria said some people continue to question the infallibility of St. John Paul’s declaration in the document “Ordinatio Sacerdotalis” because “it was not defined ‘ex cathedra’” or formally, solemnly proclaimed as infallible. The argument, the cardinal-designate wrote, is that “a later decision by a future pope or council could overturn it.”
But “sowing these doubts creates serious confusion among the faithful not only about the sacrament of orders as part of the divine constitution of the church, but also about how the ordinary magisterium can teach Catholic doctrine in an infallible way,” he wrote.
A teaching of the church is infallible not only when it is solemnly pronounced by a council or by a pope speaking “ex cathedra,” he said. A teaching is recognized as infallible also when it is “the ordinary and universal teaching of bishops spread throughout the world when, in communion among themselves and with the pope, they propose Catholic doctrine that is to be held definitively.”
That is what St. John Paul did, he said. “He did not declare new dogma, but with the authority conferred on him as successor of Peter, he formally confirmed and made explicit – to remove any doubt – that which the ordinary and universal magisterium had considered as belonging to the deposit of faith throughout the history of the church.”
“Christ willed to confer this sacrament on the Twelve Apostles – all men – who, in turn, communicated it to other men,” Cardinal-designate Ladaria wrote. “The church always has seen itself as bound to this decision of the Lord, which excludes that the ministerial priesthood can be conferred validly on women.”
In response to questions, he said, the doctrinal congregation “has repeated that this is a truth belonging to the deposit of the faith.”
That a candidate for the priesthood must be male, he said, belongs to the “substance of the sacrament” and cannot be changed because the sacrament was instituted by Christ.
Just because women cannot be ordained, he said, does not imply “subordination, but a mutual enrichment.”
The exalted role of Mary in the church, even though she was not one of the Twelve Apostles, shows the importance of both the feminine and masculine in the church, he said, which is a challenge to modern culture that “struggles to understand the meaning and goodness of the difference between man and woman.”
Cardinal-designate Ladaria noted that Pope Francis also has reaffirmed the teaching on an all-male priesthood.
In “The Joy of the Gospel” in 2013 he wrote, “The reservation of the priesthood to males, as a sign of Christ the spouse who gives himself in the Eucharist, is not a question open to discussion.”
And, responding to a reporter’s question on a trip to Sweden in 2016, he said, “As for the ordination of women in the Catholic Church, the last, clear word was given by St. John Paul II, and this holds.
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Find out more about some of the statues we have here in Christchurch.
Captain James Cook Statue
A marble sculptured statue of Captain James Cook set on a granite base, two bronze plaques are set into the base.
The statue commemorates Cook's three voyages around New Zealand and was donated by bookmaker and philanthropist Matthew Barnett (1861 to 1935).
Artist William Tretheway was chosen as the sculptor and he carved the statue from a 12-tonne block of Carrara marble.
Unveiled in 1932, the statue was originally located at the junction of Colombo and Victoria Streets until it was moved in 1989 to its current, more central location.
There is more information about the statues in Christchurch on the Christchurch City Libraries website(external link).
Find the statue of Captain James Cook.(external link)
Captain Robert Falcon Scott Statue
A marble statue of Robert Falcon Scott set on stone base memorialising the death of Scott and his party on their return from the South Pole in 1912.
A Christchurch committee commissioned Scott's widow Kathleen to sculpt an exact replica of the bronze statue of Scott that stood in Waterloo. Because of the rising cost of metal during the First World War, it was more cost effective to sculpt in marble but as Britain had banned the importation of marble, Kathleen had to travel to Carrara, Italy in order to create the statue.
The Scott statue was finally unveiled in 1917, an inscription, one of Scott's last diary entries, is carved into the stone.
The inscription reads:
'I do not regret this journey which shows that Englishmen can endure hardships, help one another and meet death with as great fortitude as ever in the past.'
Three marble plaques were added to the statue; one displays the text from the now unreadable inscription, another lists the names of the five explorers who died and the last and most recent recognises Kathleen Scott as the sculptor.
There is more information about the statues in our city(external link) on the Christchurch City Libraries website.
Repair and reinstatement
A hundred years on from its unveiling, conservation efforts took place to repair and reinstate the white marble statue of Captain Robert Falcon Scott, CVO, RN onto its original stone base.
The 2.5 tonne, 2.6 metres high statue was badly damaged in the 22 February 2011 earthquake, toppling from its plinth and snapping at its most vulnerable part, the ankles.
Information sheet on the restoration [PDF, 324 KB].
The Scott statue was reinstated in October 2017.
Find this and other heritage points of interest on our heritage map.
Fitzgerald Statue
The commemorative bronze statue of James Edward Fitzgerald, the first superintendent of the Province of Canterbury (1853−57), was donated by Christchurch citizen Richard Green. The sculptor Francis Shurrock was a leading interwar New Zealand sculptor. The statue is on a stone plinth on a concrete base. A terrazo plaque is inscripted on the front of the plinth. The inscription reads: 'James Edward Fitzgerald First superintendent of Canterbury 1853–1857.'
Godley Statue
This is a two-metre bronze standing figure of John Robert Godley (1814–1861), Resident Chief Agent for the Canterbury Association and the acknowledged ‘Founder of Canterbury’. The statue was originally installed in Cathedral Square in August 1867 and is one of the earliest public statues erected in New Zealand. The bronze statue is the only example of noted Victorian Pre-Raphaelite sculptor Thomas Woolner’s work in New Zealand.
The statue has a Group 1 heritage listing in the Christchurch City Plan and is listed as a Category I historic place(external link) by Heritage New Zealand. This is the highest possible protection rating.
During the February 2011 earthquake the statue fell of its plinth, suffering damage to the limbs and back of the head. The statue was on display in Canterbury Museum and Quake City before being removed for repair on 28 April 2014. Advice was sought from international conservation experts on the best restoration method. Restoration work included strengthening and bronze repairs. During the conservation process a Victorian moulding hammer was found preserved inside the arm of the statue.
The statue was reinstated at Cathedral Square on 18 February 2015.
There is more information about this statue on the Christchurch City Libraries website(external link).
Moorhouse Statue
The bronze statue on stone plinth of William Sefton Moorhouse, was the region’s longest serving Canterbury Provincial Superintendent, serving from 1858−62 and 1866−68.
Moorhouse is known for his support for the Lyttelton rail tunnel, between Lyttelton Port and the Canterbury Plains, which went on to be completed in 1867. Several inscriptions are carved into the stone.
'William Sefton Moorhouse, to whose energy and perseverance Canterbury owes the tunnel between the port and the plains. Born 1825 - Died 1881. Superintendent 1858 - 62, 1866 - 68.'
The sculptor's name is worked into the rear of the plinth - G. A. Lawson Sc. 1885. Renowned English sculptor G.A. Lawson produced a model for this work based on photographs.
Queen Victoria Statue
Bronze statue of Queen Victoria mounted on large square stone base. There are six bronze inserts on the base depicting early colonial occupation. Two bronze plaques are also inset, one as a war memorial to the 1901 African War and the other naming the statue. A white marble plaque is inset at the base of the statue.
There is more information about the statues in Christchurch on the Christchurch City Libraries website.(external link)
Rolleston Statue
White marble statue on a stone plinth of William Rolleston, the fourth and last superintendent of Canterbury. The inscription carved into stone, reads: 'William Rolleston Superintendent of Canterbury 1866–1876.'
The Bridge of Remembrance
A War Memorial erected by the citizens of Christchurch in 1923 to initially honour the sacrifice made during the 1914–1918 Great War. It also serves as a memorial to those who participated in both World Wars and in subsequent conflicts in Borneo, Malaya, Korea and Vietnam.
The memorial was designed by architect William Gummer and stonemason Frederick George Gurnsey.
Visitor information is available at the site. Download a copy of the short history of the Bridge of Remembrance [PDF, 1.2 MB].
Canterbury earthquakes
The Bridge of Remembrance was structurally damaged in the 22 February 2011 earthquake, but inspections soon after suggested it was stable. There was no apparent worsening of the structure as a result of the aftershocks on 13 June 2011 and 23 December 2011.
From January to April 2012 tests were carried out to determine the ground conditions around the bridge abutments. This information is essential as part of the design process to develop the best permanent repair strategy for the Bridge. Options for permanently repairing the Bridge and Arch were investigated throughout 2012.
The earthquake repairs on the Triumphal Arch are complete.
The post-tensioning work is complete in the minor and major arches. The internal cavities of these arches are now filled with concrete. In total there were 30 concrete pours with a total of 220.5m3 of concrete.
The arch is now a rigid structure with the stone work as a façade. The mechanisms that have been installed i.e. sliding joints and rocking collars, will allow this rigid structure to move in a controlled manner if there is another seismic event.
Each joint is made up of steel plates that will slide on each other in a controlled manner. All the stone that was removed to either be repaired or to allow access for the installation of the mechanisms has been placed back on the arch. The symbols that sit in the middle of each arch have been put back in place.
People will have noticed that the lions are again sitting on top of the minor arches. When work started in June 2013 the lions were removed and carefully placed in storage.
The lions were originally carved in six pieces. Some of the earthquake damage included cracking along these joins as well as spalling or chipping of the stone. The tail ends, that are attached to the main arch structure, shattered.
The return of the lions was a slow process as each piece was carefully put in place to ensure they were not damaged. The stone masons then repaired the lions on site. They have carved some new pieces as well as doing small repairs to the cracks.
Stainless steel pins have been inserted into the lions to prevent shear movement, movement from forces along the base of each lion. This is added protection if there is another seismic event.
All the attachments and symbolism has been returned to the arch. The bronze lanterns have been hot waxed as part of their annual maintenance and installed along with the flags.
Woolston Borough Monument
Ornate Oamaru stone monument with light standard on top commemorating Woolston becoming a Borough on July 27th, 1893.
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Going Great at Girgarre
By Britt DitterichMay 15, 2019Bush voices, Great Rural Projects
The small town of Girgarre, about 40 minutes from Shepparton in the Goulburn Valley region, has seen a great deal of change.
Back in 2012, and after a decade of drought had depleted its dairy industry, the town lost 146 jobs when its main employer — Heinz — suddenly shut its sauce factory.
Fast forward seven years, and in 2019 drought is still a lingering theme but, positively, a new factory has been built right next to the old one; this time it’s a dairy manufacturing facility owned by Australian Consolidated Milk (ACM).
The new factory has brought new jobs to the town and the promise of prosperity, though many local dairy farmers are still doing it tough.
Indeed, you probably can’t coin Girgarre the thriving milk mecca that it once was but, all things considered, it’s doing its best to soldier on.
Speaking of soldiering on, just around the corner from the new (and old) factories is the town’s heartbeat and lifeblood.
It’s the school.
And it opened just one week after the end of the First World War, which means last year it celebrated its centenary.
For 100 years the Girgarre Primary School has served as the community’s most constant hive of activity, riding the town’s highs and lows, much like a finely-waxed surfboard.
At one point in time, the school boasted an enrolment of almost 150 children but today that number is closer to 40.
Among the 40 is Girgarre’s three grade sixers and, for the most part, they each “love going to school” … “but don’t always love doing their school work”.
As the leaders of the pack, Olivia Pangrazio, Remi McQueen and Selene Robertson are quite proud to show-off their school’s best features.
On a guided tour, they point out the prized centenary wall, their favourite “playing spots” in the yard, the art room in which they’re taught by Mr Pettigrew (“just like the one in Harry Potter”) and, most importantly, their favourite feature — the music room.
In the music room they take lessons with their Principal, Peter Caldow, as well as a “lady named Di” who is “just a normal person who comes to school to teach guitar, ukulele and mandolin”.
The girls thoroughly enjoy their time doing music because it allows them to be creative “but also a bit silly”.
Of the three girls, Remi is possibly most at home in the music room.
She happily identifies as the “drama queen” and says she loves acting, singing and dancing but equally enjoys doing maths because it’s challenging and “when you get the right answer it’s rewarding”.
When Remi grows up she’d like to become a teacher because she’s not sure she ever wants to leave school — or, at least, she doesn’t want to leave Girgarre.
Selene is the new-comer of the group, having started at Girgarre just this year when her parents, who are share-farmers, moved to the district for work.
She “really, really” loves reading novels and appreciates the way her new school has “jobs” for everyone to do.
Presently, Selene is on “Sports Shed Duty”, which means it’s her responsibility to keep track of the equipment at lunchtime, making sure everything “gets back to the shed”.
And though she may be new to the school, Selene feels she’s “fitted in well”, saying she especially likes the way it is “small enough for you to know everyone”.
When Selene grows up she wants to be a sheep farmer but also plans to undertake study — “probably science” — so she can “learn all about sheep diseases”, so as to keep her flock healthy.
And then there’s Olivia — a born and bred local who lives on a farm located “exactly 2.2 kilometres from school”.
She values the way kids at Girgarre “all play together” because she doesn’t like anyone being left out.
Having said that, she’s pretty happy with Mr Caldow’s “unfair rule”, which says big kids — above Grade 3 — can “very nicely” say they don’t want to play with the little kids because “they don’t get our games”.
Olivia is blessed with a big imagination and she has an even bigger dream to one day travel the world with her cousin as a famous rodeo rider.
She says “no matter what” and “no matter how” she’ll “find a way” …
And she’s quite happy with the suggestion her attitude reflects that of her Girgarre community — a small town that has found its way through a great deal of change.
Author Britt Ditterich
More posts by Britt Ditterich
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BRIAN CLAYPOOL SHARES HIS STORY WITH TUCKER CARLSON TONIGHT ON FOX NEWS
Brian Claypool shares his firsthand account of the terrifying events that occurred at the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas and explains why MGM and Mandalay Bay should be held accountable in a civil lawsuit.
BRIAN CLAYPOOL SHARES HIS STORY WITH LAURA INGRAHAM ON FOX NEWS' THE INGRAHAM ANGLE
Brian Claypool talks to Laura Ingraham regarding the Las Vegas PD Investigation of the Route 91 shooting.
Brian Claypool is a survivor of the horrific Las Vegas Shooting. As a single father of an 11-year-old girl, Brian did not believe he would ever see his little girl again. He was waiting to be hit by a deluge of bullets and expected to die. While Brian’s life was spared, he was heartbroken by 59 people losing their precious lives, thousands sustaining injuries and countless others living with emotional scars the rest of their lives. Grappling with the guilt of why he lived and others didn’t, Brian has channeled his grief and despair into helping those impacted by the Las Vegas Shooting.
Shortly after the shooting, Brian and several other survivors formed #Route91Strong.org. The purpose of the foundation is to provide immediate financial assistance to those who qualify. In the long term, #Route91Strong will be a resource for others who have been adversely impacted by future natural or man-made disasters. Musical fundraisers are set for Nov. 10 in Sacramento and Nov. 29 in Hollywood.
In addition, Brian is a nationally regarded trial attorney and has worked on several very high profile cases. Most recently, he was one of the lead trial attorneys in the largest single child abuse case in US history. After a 3 year battle with the largest school district in the country, his firm recovered $35 million dollars on behalf of 18 children. Brian has conducted over 100 jury trials both in state and federal Courts, most recently conducting two high profile criminal murder for hire jury trials in West Palm Beach, Florida. Brian is also a national television and radio commentator frequently appearing on FOX, CNN International, CNN and HLN.
Brian was outraged by the lack of security at the Mandalay Bay in the days leading up to the shooting. Brian stayed at the Mandalay Bay on the 25th floor. He has been collaborating with investigative reporters in Las Vegas to uncover the truth about Mandalay Bay’s egregious failure to preempt this massacre. In fact, it is Brian’s belief that by virtue of the Mandalay Bay overtly breaking its own rules to cater to a “high roller” it actually facilitated Paddock’s mission to murder as many people as possible. Make no mistake about it, had Mandalay Bay followed proper protocol for a major Las Vegas Strip Casino, its staff would have recognized “red flags” which would have prevented the shooting.
Brian is currently representing several victims of the Las Vegas Shooting. He plans to sue MGM/Mandalay Bay and Slide (the manufacturer of the bump stock). Brian has a personal stake in holding MGM accountable because he nearly lost his life and his daughter nearly lost her father. His firm will personalize your case and treat you like family. Nearly dying has galvanized Brian’s mission and purpose in life to ensure that this does NOT happen again. The only way to accomplish this is for his firm to take the MGM to the mat in civil court.
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Gameday Media Portal: Syracuse
WELCOME TO MEMORIAL STADIUM
Thank you for attending today’s contest and for your coverage of Clemson Football. Included below is a guide intended to assist you with your coverage of today’s game.
All WiFi access at Memorial Stadium is handled by Clemson Computing and Information Technology (CCIT). Members of CCIT are seated at the Media Check-In table outside the entrance to the Bob Bradley Press Box.
Please connect with CCIT to receive your individual login to access the “clemsonpress” Wi-Fi network.
Live stats are available by scrolling to the bottom of this page. Clemson Athletic Communications will distribute quickie stats in the press box following each quarter.
CLEMSON POSTGAME INTERVIEWS
Following the contest, Clemson players and assistant coaches (Co-Offensive Coordinators Tony Elliott and Jeff Scott and Defensive Coordinator Brent Venables) will be made available in the photo work room, which is accessible via the glass Clemson Sports Medicine door in the visitor’s tunnel.
The most efficient means for accessing Clemson’s postgame media area from the press box is to exit the stadium via Gate 16 (directly behind the press box), and re-enter through the visiting team tunnel. Media may also walk down the lower deck stairs from the concourse level and cross the field (following the conclusion of the game) to enter the visiting tunnel and enter the media area.
Given the limited space in the area, outlets with multiple reporters on-site will be kindly asked to be cognizant of the number of reporters they have in group media sessions for each interviewee.
Later in the postgame interview window, Head Coach Dabo Swinney will address the media in the old team meeting room on the second floor of the Nieri Student-Athlete Enrichment Center in the West End Zone. A member of Clemson Athletic Communications will announce a five-minute warning to allow media to relocate from the photo work room to his postgame press conference area.
To access Swinney’s postgame press conference, follow signs into the West End Zone, follow signs to the second floor, then follow signs to the press conference room.
VISITING POSTGAME INTERVIEWS
For inquiries pertaining to the availability of visiting coaches and players, please connect with members of the visiting sports information department, seated on the far right side of the press box.
Syracuse has elected to conduct all postgame availability with Head Coach Dino Babers and select players outside of the visitors locker room in the tunnel in the northwest corner of the stadium. Reporters may access the area by cutting across the field postgame or exiting the stadium behind the press box and reentering through the visiting tunnel.
PHOTO VESTS
Photo vests are issued on a game-by-game basis. All vests must be returned at the conclusion of the game at either the Media Check-In table by the press box or in the photo work area.
Clemson engineered a 13-play, 94-yard drive that culminated in a game-winning touchdown with 41 seconds remaining. It represents the longest game-winning scoring drive by Clemson to take the lead in the final minute of a game in records dating back to 1958. .
Clemson rushed for at least 200 yards in a third consecutive game for the first time since games 8-10 of the 2017 season against Georgia Tech, NC State and Florida State.
Clemson has now rushed for 200 yards a total of 50 times under Head Coach Dabo Swinney. Clemson is 49-1 in those contests, including victories in each of their last 45 such games.
Running back Travis Etienne recorded career highs in rushing attempts (27), rushing yards (203) and rushing touchdowns (three).
Etienne’s 200-yard rushing performance was only the 16th 200-yard rushing game in Clemson history and the first since Andre Ellington’s 228-yard effort against Auburn in the 2012 season opener.
Etienne’s previous career high for rushing yards was 162, set against Georgia Southern earlier this season. His 27 attempts represented the first 20-carry game of his career.
Etienne became the first Clemson player to rush for three touchdowns in a game since Wayne Gallman on Nov. 12, 2016 against Pittsburgh.
With his second touchdown on Saturday, Etienne reached 20 career rushing touchdowns in his 18th career game.
Etienne became the first Clemson player to rush for 100 yards in three straight games since both Wayne Gallman and Deshaun Watson accomplished the feat against South Carolina, North Carolina and Oklahoma in 2015.
Etienne rushed for a touchdown in a fifth consecutive game to break his career-long streak for consecutive games with a rushing touchdown (four, once in 2017 and currently in 2018).
Etienne became the first Clemson player to rush for a touchdown in five straight games since Wayne Gallman’s seven-game streak in games 8-14 in 2016.
Etienne recorded his second game of the season with multiple rushing touchdowns. He has two rushing touchdowns in the team’s win against Georgia Southern. He has scored at least two rushing touchdowns in five games in his career.
Wide receiver Hunter Renfrow extended his streak of consecutive games played with a reception to 33.
On a 12-yard reception in the first quarter, Renfrow recorded his 150th career catch to become only the 10th player in school history to record 150 career receptions.
With his second reception of the game, Renfrow passed Perry Tuttle (150 from 1978-81) for the ninth-most career receptions in school history.
Defensive back A.J. Terrell recorded Clemson’s first interception of the season, picking off Syracuse quarterback Eric Dungey in the third quarter.
The interception was the second of Terrell’s career and his first since Sept. 23, 2017 against Boston College.
With the interception, Clemson forced a takeaway in a 13th consecutive contest, the program’s longest streak since a 15-game stretch across the 2012-13 seasons.
Syracuse rushed for a one-yard touchdown with 7:31 remaining in the second quarter, marking the first first-half touchdown allowed by Clemson at Memorial Stadium since Nov. 12, 2016 vs. Pittsburgh. Clemson went 686 days between first-half touchdowns allowed at Death Valley, covering 309:52 of game play.
Tackle Mitch Hyatt made his 47th career start to tie OG Eric Harmon, OT Jim Bundren, OG Glenn Rountree and PK Aaron Hunt (47) for fourth-most career starts in Clemson history.
During the contest, Hyatt passed No. 3 Kyle Young (3,097) and No. 2 Landon Walker (3,131) on the school’s all-time leaderboard for career snaps from scrimmage.
Quarterback Trevor Lawrence started and became only the sixth true freshman to start at quarterback for Clemson all-time, joining Steve Fuller (1975), Willie Jordan (1975), Patrick Sapp (1992), Nealon Greene (1994) and Deshaun Watson (2014).
On a 43-yard field goal in the third quarter, kicker Greg Huegel moved past Nelson Welch (301) for fourth on the program’s all-time career scoring list.
With his second field goal of the game, a 37-yarder in the third quarter, Huegel passed David Treadwell (47) for seventh-most made field goals in a career in school history.
Linebacker Kendall Joseph matched a career high with 12 total tackles.
The game marked only the fourth time in Memorial Stadium history that two undefeated teams had met four or more games into a season. Clemson is now 3-1 in such contests, including wins against previously undefeated NC State in 2000 and Louisville in 2016.
Clemson’s captains for the contest were defensive end Clelin Ferrell, tackle Mitch Hyatt, wide receiver Trevion Thompson and defensive tackle Christian Wilkins.
WITH THE WIN
Clemson has now opened 5-0 for a fourth straight season and for the sixth time in the last eight years.
Clemson won its first five games of a season for the sixth time under head coach Dabo Swinney (2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017). Clemson’s five previous 5-0 starts under Swinney were already the most under any head coach in school history (Josh Cody, 3; Frank Howard, 2; Danny Ford, 2; Tommy Bowden, 1; John Heisman, 1).
The four consecutive 5-0 starts represent the most consecutive 5-0 starts in team history, surpassing a three-year streak from 1928-30.
Clemson won its first ACC home game of the season for an eighth consecutive year. Clemson has won every ACC home opener dating back to 2011. The eighth straight victory by Clemson in its ACC home opener matched the longest streak in program history, set across the 1964-71 seasons under head coaches Frank Howard and Cecil Ingram.
Clemson won the 23rd of its last 24 games against ACC Atlantic Division opponents. Clemson has won 27 of its last 29 games against all ACC foes.
Clemson defeated an ACC foe for the 29th time in its last 31 opportunities, including conference championship games, dating back to 2015.
Clemson improved to 5-2 all-time against Syracuse, including a 3-0 record in games played at Clemson.
Clemson won its 11th consecutive game at Memorial Stadium, dating back to a 56-7 win against South Carolina on Nov. 25, 2016. The current 11-game streak is Clemson’s third-longest home winning streak in Dabo Swinney’s tenure as head coach (21 from 2013-16, 13 from 2011-12).
Clemson has now won 32 of its last 33 home games.
Clemson improved to 35-4 in ACC contests at Memorial Stadium under Head Coach Dabo Swinney. He is now 62-7 against all opponents in Death Valley as a head coach.
Clemson won its fifth game in the month of September, marking the seventh time in program history that the Tigers have won five games in a single month (October 1977, October 1981, November 1991, September 2000, October 2015 and September 2017).
Clemson extended its winning streak in Saturday games to 21 to tie the longest Saturday winning streak in school history from the 2014-16 campaigns. The current streak is the longest of any school in the country.
Clemson won its 18th consecutive game in the month of September, dating back to 2014. The current streak is already the longest in school history.
With the 106th victory of his head coaching career, head coach Dabo Swinney surpassed the number of total victories earned by Notre Dame’s Knute Rockne, the winningest coach by percentage in Division I history. Rockne compiled a 105-12-5 career record from 1918-30 at Notre Dame for a record .881 winning percentage.
The game was Clemson’s second of the season in which its opponent has scored first. Clemson is now 2-0 in those contests with victories against Syracuse and Texas A&M.
Clemson trailed, 16-7, at halftime. The victory was Clemson’s first win after trailing at halftime since overcoming a 27-17 halftime deficit in a 38-31 win against NC State on Nov. 4, 2017.
Clemson trailed, 16-13, after three quarters. The win marks Clemson’s first after trailing entering the fourth quarter since the National Championship game against Alabama during the 2016 season, in which Clemson overcame a 24-14 fourth-quarter deficit in a 35-31 win.
Clemson improves to 24-4 in games decided be eight or fewer points since 2011. Clemson’s winning percentage of 85.7 percent in such games is the best in the country in that span.
Clemson has now won 48 of its last 52 games overall, dating to 2014.
POSTGAME TRANSCRIPTS
CLEMSON HEAD COACH DABO SWINNEY
On the game:
“What a game. It’s one that I’ll probably never forgot. I’m super proud of our team and staff. They faced a lot of challenges this week, obviously, but you saw our football team grow up today. You saw the heart of our football team today. We kept battling. Trevor [Lawrence] got knocked out of the game, and we put Chase [Brice] in there, who hasn’t played in critical situations before. I was impressed with the moxie of our team. Somewhere, Danny Ford is smiling because that was an old-school win. I really appreciate our crowd. We needed some energy, and they gave it to us.”
On the offensive performance:
“We needed to settle down in the fourth quarter and give Chase legs, so our ability to run the football gave us a chance to win game. [Travis] Etienne had over 200 yards rushing. The offensive line took over, and Syracuse had no answer for our ground game. We had several big play-action plays. I hate that Trevor had to miss the second half, but we grew up as team. Chase had to go out and prove that he could do it, and I can’t say enough good things about the way that he played today.”
On the defensive and special teams performances:
“Holding Syracuse to field goals in red zone gave us a chance to win. A.J. Terrell got his first interception of the year. How about that sack by Xavier Thomas at the end of the game? That was unbelievable. Clelin (Ferrell), Dexter (Lawrence) and Christian (Wilkins) were dangerous today. Kendall Joseph led the team with 12 tackles, and Will Spiers punted really well.”
On the significance of the victory:
“Again, I’m really proud of our team. It was inspiring to see how they responded to the challenges of this week and this game. At the end of the day, the win gave us good momentum in the ACC. We need to find a way to get to 6-0 this week, but I can’t say enough about how much I love this team and how proud I am of them. Everything in life is about how you respond, and it was inspiring to see our team come together and display the heart of a champion and the eye of the tiger. I’ve been a part of a bunch of big wins as a player and a coach. I’ll never forget this one, though, because it was not easy or pretty. But the guys had resolve and imposed their will on the opponent. That’s heart. That’s culture. That’s belief. It was a special win.”
CLEMSON CO-OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR TONY ELLIOTT
On what he told the offense at half time:
“I said, ‘do you want to win a football game?’ Every man in there said, ‘yes.’ I told them it was not going to take a heroic performance…just go out and do your job. We knew we were going to have to settle in with the run and lead with the run. Chase [Brice] knew that he was going to have to make plays when the opportunities presented themselves. I talked to the whole offense and said, ‘If we want to win this game, let’s just get out of our own way.’ That was what happened in the first half…we kept stubbing our toe, and we weren’t able to put points up. Then, we found a way in the second half to get a couple field goals and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter.”
On Travis Etienne:
“He just continues to be himself. He runs hard and refuses to go down…he takes some chances, but more often than not, when he takes those chances, they pay off big. I’m really, really proud of him and the way he ran the football and really, really proud of [Adam] Choice and Tavien [Feaster] as well. I probably would have liked to get Feaster and Choice a couple more carries, but Travis had the hot hand, and we were in a situation where we needed our best guys in the game, and that’s why he got those carries.”
CLEMSON CO-OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR JEFF SCOTT
“There were a lot of things going on this week…it was obviously a very emotional week for our team. As coaches, we knew that today was going to say a lot about our team and really challenge our guys. I felt like they responded this week in practice. Obviously, things didn’t go our way in the first half, [but they responded well]. That’s what we told them at halftime…’Hey we’re gonna find out about this team, about this year’s offense, in the second half.’ We’ve been a team…we’ve been in those situations, and we just kept fighting and kept believing.
“I think this is going to be one of those learning times. I think in the past, we’ve had to lose a game to have that learning moment, and hopefully, that was what today was about. I’m just very proud of the offensive line allowing us to be able to run the ball for close to 300 yards. That last drive, with everything that was on us and with the way the game had gone…it really hadn’t gone our way…to be able to go 94 yards with the game on the line. They knew we were running it. Everybody knew we were running it. I felt like we just imposed our will. All of those backs got in there and ran hard. It was a great response.
On Chase Brice’s performance:
“Chase Brice…what can you say about him? He was given a very difficult circumstance, not only to come in but to come in when we’re down and not really on our game. I’ll always remember, as long as Chase is here, fourth and 6 with the game on the line. To be able to stand in there with a window that was about three feet wide, and just thread the needle right there to Tee Higgins…or we don’t win the game.
“Obviously, there’s a lot we’ll learn, but I think the biggest thing that we learned is that our guys have a will to win. To have a special year, when you have adversity, you have to respond, and I felt like our guys did that tonight. It’s been a tough week. It’s been an emotional week. I think being able to win a game like that is going to help us down the road.”
CLEMSON DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR BRENT VENABLES
On the play of the defense:
“In the second half, our guys really zeroed in on little things and got into a good rhythm. I’m so proud of them…that was inspiring to watch those guys play the way they played. Some guys stepped up and showed some depth. We played some young freshmen, and they really came through in a big way, particularly Kyler McMichael and Xavier Thomas.”
On Xavier Thomas’ sack at the goal line and the last drive overall:
“That sack set the tempo for that last drive. I felt like our defensive line really imposed themselves right there at the end of the game. Those situations aren’t easy at the end of the game when it’s all on the line, but that’s what it’s all about.”
CLEMSON QB CHASE BRICE
On emotions of the game:
“I was thrown into a situation where we needed to produce, and I was prepared for it. Trevor and I have been preparing, watching a lot of film and just talking with each other. I just wanted to step up and be there for the team. It was fun being out there. Getting out there with the guys and getting into a rhythm was awesome. I’m really just going to enjoy this moment and then get ready for next week.”
On the last drive of the game:
“We just had to keep doing what we were doing in the second half. We were running the ball and they couldn’t stop it. That’s a credit to the offensive line for their grit and determination to get yards. We didn’t know how the time would work out as there were a little under four minutes to go. After the false start, I told them we were going to get it, right here. I had a perfect pocket and just had to deliver the ball to Tee [Higgins].”
On thoughts coming out of the locker room:
“I knew that in every game there is a possibility of getting hurt. I was prepared and ready to do my job. When I went in, everyone just rallied around me. It’s amazing what you can do when people come up to you and say they believe in you. I had to believe in myself that I could lead the team and score enough to win. They kept encouraging me and the confidence continued with the fans and with us making plays.”
CLEMSON CORNERBACK A.J. TERRELL
On mindset of the team:
“The game wasn’t over. We all knew that we had a chance, especially as the home team. We really came together as a team.”
On keeping focus on the game:
At the end of the day, every week, we just have an opponent in front of us. We just have to keep focused on the opponent. Stuff will come up, but we just have to stay focused on the important things.”
On Syracuse offense:
“They have a fast tempo offense but that gives us a lot of opportunities to come up with some big plays and interceptions. [Syracuse quarterback Eric] Dungey had a good game.”
CLEMSON OFFENSIVE LINEMAN SEAN POLLARD
On changing from guard to tackle:
“I have done both, so it is a bit of muscle memory. Tackle is a lot different than guard with quicker steps. It’s a learning curve, but when you do it for two years, you are not a stranger to the position.”
On the running back corps:
“If we do our jobs, they are going to run, and they are going to run hard. All of our running backs are great, and our offense is great. When we do our job, we know those running backs are going to go.”
On the run game:
“We ask to [run the ball] all the time. It’s awesome. It puts the weight on our shoulders as offensive linemen, and that’s something that we enjoy.”
CLEMSON RUNNING BACK TRAVIS ETIENNE
“The offensive line created tremendous holes for us to just get out there and run free. Our job is to make the safety miss, and the offensive line helped us take that to the next level. Also, the receivers being who they are, they got some great blocks down the field and that just really helped us.
“I feel like it was a great win. We faced adversity throughout the game. We just couldn’t get it right. We just had to keep fighting and keep pushing through. It just really builds character, and I think the team needed it.”
On the last drive:
“I felt like that was a defining moment for this team. Just having that drive with Chase [Brice] coming out there and making that big throw and then coming right back. Then having Tavien [Feaster] just go and impose his will on the defense. He got out there and gave us that spark, and credit goes to him and the offensive line for doing their job.”
On the quarterback situation:
“Having that ‘next man up’ mentality, Chase prepared like a starter throughout the week, not knowing what was going to happen throughout the course of the game. When he got his opportunity, he was ready for it and didn’t flinch at all.”
On the dependency on the running game:
“It was a great opportunity to have the coaches leaning on the running game. Tavien and Adam [Choice]…them coming in and making their plays, getting that spark from me…it just really helps me. The line and the receivers…I can’t reiterate it enough…they just did a great job blocking for me. That last touchdown, I think I walked in untouched. It was just wide open. That’s credit to my offensive line and my tight ends.”
CLEMSON DEFENSIVE END XAVIER THOMAS
On getting more involved:
“It means a lot to me. I started at the bottom of the depth chart. It’s been tough learning the play book and playing behind such great guys…ones that are going to the NFL, potentially. It’s been tough, but I learn from those guys. I knew [the coaches] didn’t know much about me, because I just don’t have that much film out there. They don’t know what I can bring to the table. I just used my speed to get the run.”
On team effort against Syracuse:
“It was very much a team effort…having Trevor Lawrence come out, and then Chase come in there and do his role and just do his job. Dabo [Swinney] always appreciates that.”
SYRACUSE HEAD COACH DINO BABERS
On the game as a whole:
“It was a big contest, it was a big game. They came back with a backup quarterback and found a way to win that football game at home. That’s a good football team over there, and good coaches over there.”
On deserving to win:
“I don’t know if we would have deserved to win if we’d won. We didn’t. It’s a loss in the loss column, and we have to move on.”
On not using two timeouts:
“It had nothing to do with the use. We had to see what was going on, whether they were trying to score a field goal or whether they would try and score a touchdown. If I had used those timeouts, and they had gone on down to the end and scored with one second left and I used the timeouts, you’d be asking me the other questions.”
On his defense’s energy:
“I feel like everybody was tired out there, their defense and our defense. There weren’t a lot of plays, but it was a lot of effort. If you watched their shoulder pads in between the series, they were rising. Both teams were extremely tired. Both teams put in a lot of effort.”
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BOOK DR. CORTNEY
Dr. Cortney S. Warren, PhD, ABPP
BOARD CERTIFIED CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST • RESEARCHER • AUTHOR • SPEAKER
About Cortney S. Warren, PhD, ABPP
About Choose Honesty™
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My name is ____ and I am a recovering liar
The Stories He Told Himself: What We Can Learn From Brian Williams About Self-Deception and Lying
May 8, 2015 | Dr. Cortney S. Warren, PhD, ABPP | Brian Williams, Lying
Photo by David Shankbone (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0) via Wikimedia Commons
In February, 2015, reporter Brian Williams found himself under extreme public scrutiny for lying [1]. A respected news anchor for decades [2], Brian claimed that he was riding in an Army aircraft that was shot by a rocket-propelled grenade while reporting on the Iraq war in 2003 [3]. Yet, that was not true. Brian was in Iraq and clearly affected by his experiences there, but was not in the aircraft that was struck [4]. After being criticized for the lie by others who were there, Brian apologized and stated that he “made a mistake” [5]. In fact, Brian seemed dumbfounded about how he made such an error saying, “I don’t know what screwed up in my mind that caused me to conflate one aircraft with another” [6].
Situations in which people blatantly lie—especially involving a famous media figure like Brian Williams—inherently produce questions. How does someone like Brian Williams lie about his own experiences? Did he realize he was lying? Or did he actually believe that he was in the aircraft that was attacked?
Although we cannot know exactly why Brian Williams lied, it is quite possible that Brian’s lies were actually a result of his own self-deception. And if we lie to ourselves, we will lie to others [7].
One of the main reasons we lie to ourselves is that our thoughts construct and reflect our reality. Our experiences and memories are influenced by the way we perceive the world—how we interpret events in our lives, how we recount our past, how we remember (or misremember) the truth. In essence, our reality is shaped by the stories we tell ourselves in our own minds.
The problem with this reality is that, most of the time, we do not check our own thoughts for accuracy. For most of us think that our thoughts are true—that they accurately reflect reality. Yet, our thoughts don’t need to be true for us to think them. They don’t need to be based in fact. They don’t need data to support their accuracy. They can be completely false; yet, we will think they are accurate. We think that we are right!
The result is that we can create a reality in our own minds about what is true that is completely false. And, if you repeatedly tell yourself the same stories—true or false—you will start to believe them. In the words of the infamous Adolf Hitler, “If you tell a lie and you tell it often enough, it will be believed.” You (and those around you) will believe your lies until you are confronted with evidence to the contrary.
The Naked Truth Is This: Our thoughts have a profound affect on us—whether they are true or false. Although we cannot know exactly why Brian Williams lied to the public about his experiences in the Iraq war, it is quite possible that he believed his lies when he told them. And when any of us lie to ourselves, we will lie to others. For we will communicate our lies as if they are fact even when they are fiction.
Copyright Cortney S. Warren, Ph.D.
[1]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAggWBbAkMY
[2]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Williams
[3]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueKA2iz8fDM
[4]http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/nbc-anchor-brian-williams-apology-fails-to-silence-critics/
[5]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sW6AbX2q0fM
[6]http://variety.com/2015/tv/news/brian-williams-false-iraq-war-story-1201424120/
[7]http://www.amazon.com/Lies-Tell-Ourselves-Psychology-Self-Deception-ebook/dp/B00J527LPG
Exposed to a diversity of cultures and lifestyles from an early age, Dr. Warren was intrigued by the ways cultural and environmental conditions affected the psychological well-being of individuals, groups, and even whole societies.
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Category Archives: Scientism
This is the Second Part of a review of “Science Unlimited? The Challenges of Scientism”, edited by Maarten Boudry and Massimo Pigliucci. Part 1, focusing on pseudoscience, is here.
The Claim of Scientism can be stated overly crudely as “science is the only way of answering questions”, which of course is guaranteed to raise hackles. But in the non-strawman version scientism does not assert that humanities can never contribute to knowledge, instead it asserts that ways of finding things out are fundamentally the same in all disciplines. Any differences in methods are then merely consequences of the types of evidence that are available, rather than reflecting an actual epistemological division into “different ways of knowing”. The prospect is not, therefore, of a hostile takeover of the humanities, but of a union or conscilience (to use a term that E. O. Wilson revived from Whewell).
In its least offensive statement, scientism states that science is pragmatic, and that it will use any type of evidence that it can get its hands on. The best understanding is produced by combining and synthesizing different approaches, asserting that — since the natural world is a unified whole — different approaches to knowledge must mesh seamlessly and combine constructively.
The remant of a supernova explosion which was recorded in AD 1006 by Chinese, Egyptian and European sky watchers.
As a real example, an astronomer could be studying the visible remnant of a supernova explosion. Knowing the age of the remnant would be crucial for calculating “hard physics” such as the energy of the explosion. So the astronomer would be very interested in sightings of the explosion found in thousand-year-old Chinese records.
But to interpret such records, and accurately date the supernova, one would need to know a lot about Chinese culture of the time, their calendar and how they counted years, how they referred to different positions in the sky, how they interpreted celestial events, and how that was bound up with their lore and religion. In other words, one would need to know a lot about history and culture, which are normally regarded as part of the humanities, not part of the physical sciences.
So would an astronomer start worrying that by using ancient records they were straying outside of science? Could they legitimately use such information, or might the resulting paper get rejected during peer review as being “not science”?
It has been suggested that these markings, made 6000 years ago in India, are a sky map recording an ancient supernova.
To a scientist, any such worry would be absurd. Of course historical records, of all types, are valid information that can be used to calculate the energy of an exploding star; why wouldn’t they be?
Scientists would, obviously, concern themselves with the reliability of the information, just as they do for any scientific information, but it wouldn’t occur to them to worry about any supposed line of demarcation, nor to worry about crossing it. Their whole world view — likely so obvious to them as to be unquestioned — tells them to regard everything as within bounds, all knowledge as within their purview.
Let’s take another example, that of migration patterns of human peoples over thousands of years. Anyone studying our past would use all the information they could get, whether that is “scientific”, “cultural”, “historical” or whatever. This might include archaeology, cultural patterns within archaeological finds such as pottery, geophysical surveys of the landscape, analysis of ancient pollen, genetic analysis of living peoples, genetic analysis of ancient skeletons, analysis of languages and language families, and consideration of historical records and cultural traditions.
Any attempt to create an epistemological divide between “science” and “history” is untenable. On what date in the past does the study of ancient humans stop being “history” (part of the humanities) and start being archaeology (is that a humanity or a science?) or paleontology (definitely a science)?
If the reply is that there is no clear demarcation, but instead a messy transition, then that concedes the point, since within the transitional period all types of evidence would be relevant and valid, and must combine coherently and consistently towards a unified truth about what did happen.
That must be the case, unless you are going to throw out the whole concept of objective truth, and argue that truth is socially constructed, and so declare that you simply don’t care whether or not your cultural history is consistent with the archaeology.
Of course the day-to-day practice of history is very different from that of, say, biochemistry, simply because the types of evidence available are very different and that dictates the style of investigation. The historian cannot adopt the test-tube style of a chemist. But then nor can the astronomer and nor the practitioner of other historical sciences such as geology or paleobiology.
The availability of evidence determines the styles of investigation that are practical and possible, and science, being pragmatic, will adopt whatever methods work in that circumstance — and then attempt to mesh the different approaches into a coherent whole.
A style of literary analysis based on feeding a whole corpus into a computer and counting particular words and phrases is a valid way of studying literature. It doesn’t replace more traditional methods, it complements them. How well such tactics work is something to be carefully assessed, but one shouldn’t reject them a priori while muttering about the over-reach of science. Adding in new methods and styles of investigation can only be a boon; they can only aid us in reaching a better and more complete understanding.
The “unity of knowledge” thesis, in which styles of learning from both the huamnities and the sciences can collaborate constructively, strikes me as both reasonable and conciliatory. A few years ago, though, such a statement by Steven Pinker in the New Republic received a bad-tempered response from non-scientist Leon Wieseltier. As discussed by Russell Blackford in his contribution to this volume, “many humanities scholars will interpret Pinker with alarm”, since they interpret the claim as being that “all problems are solveable through distinctively scientific techniques”, such that “contributions from the humanities — or even from such social-science disciplines as anthropology — are unwelcome or irrelevant”.
But such an interpretation is either a misunderstanding or a strawman, since, as Blackford also states: “it is not obvious who makes such a claim”. While many scientific techniques can contribute to knowledge about human history, culture and other domains that are labelled “the humanities”, none of this, Blackford continues, “goes anywhere near displacing, as opposed to supplementing and assisting, traditional forms of erudition and scholarship”.
In one of the more scientistic essays in the volume, Boudry agrees with the unity-of-knowledge thesis, or more precisely he asserts the commonality of epistemology.
My plumber may be quite adroit in inevstigating a leakage, but I would not ordinarily call him a scientist. […] From an epistemic point of view, however, there are plenty of commonalities between what a biologist is doing in the lab and what the plumber is doing when he trying to locate a leak in my water supply. The plumber is making observations, testing out different hypotheses, using logical inferences, and so on. […] It would certainly be a peculiar usage of language to call my humble plumber a scientist, but then again, it would be strange to think that any point of epistemological interest hinges in withholding that status from him.
Philip Kitcher’s essay is billed as opposing scientism, being a lengthy paean arguing that “history and humanities are also a form of knowledge”, and describing the ways in which the style of enquiry must necessarily adapt to the subject matter. But this is only opposing the strawman version of scientism, not a scientism that anyone advocates. Kitcher himself concludes that: “human enquiry needs a synthesis, in which history and anthropology and literature and art play their parts”, offering “a partnership in which different strengths and styles are acknowledged and appreciated” and where “constructive criticism is given and received”.
A stance that is actually opposed to scientism would reject such a synthesis, and would argue that the natural sciences are irrelevant to the social sciences, the arts and to the humanities. This could arise, for example, if human minds really were a “blank slate” created entirely by culture, with genetics and biology playing no role.
Thus, while scientism argues for a consilience in which the social science and the humanities should look to biology and evolutionary psychology for partnership and two-way constructive criticism, the anti-thesis is the rejection of that synthesis in preference for the ideology that these disciplines operate in fundamentally different domains such that they needn’t talk to each other.
The compilation by Boudry and Pugliucci doesn’t contain any contribution arguing for such a divide, though such blank-slate and postmodernist ideologies have traction in too wide a swathe of academia. While an attempt at such a essay might have been an interesting addition, the thesis doesn’t seem to me remotely tenable, and neither of the editors have any sympathy with postmodernism.
Forthcoming Installment: the supposed divide between science and philosophy.
This entry was posted in Book Reviews, Philosophy, Scientism and tagged consilience, epistemology, historical sciences, history, Maarten Boudry, Massimo Pigliucci, Russell Blackford, unity of knowledge on January 4, 2019 by Coel.
Philosophers Maarten Boudry and Massimo Pigliucci have recently edited a volume of essays on the theme of scientism. The contributions to Science Unlimited? The Challenges of Scientism range from sympathetic to scientism to highly critical.
I’m aiming to write a series of blog posts reviewing the book, organised by major themes, though knowing me the “reviewing” task is likely to play second fiddle to arguing in favour of scientism.
Of course the term “scientism” was invented as a pejorative and so has been used with a range of meanings, many of them strawmen, but from the chapters of the book emerges a fairly coherent account of a “scientism” that many would adopt and defend.
This brand of scientism is a thesis about epistemology, asserting that the ways by which we find things out form a coherent and unified whole, and rejecting the idea that knowledge is divided into distinct domains, each with a different “way of knowing”. The best knowledge and understanding is produced by combining and synthesizing different approaches and disciplines, asserting that they must mesh seamlessly.
A non-scientistic approach might reject this unified view. It might, for example, see sociology as divorced from biology. It might assert that culture is sufficiently independent of underlying biology that the biological sciences are irrelevant and can be ignored when dealing with sociology or politics or economics, which instead are independent and self-contained disciplines, complete in themselves. I would argue that this view is, at best, a needlessly self-limiting handicap, and at worst makes such disciplines prone to error and ideological fads.
A more fundamental rejection of scientism might see knowledge as having multiple and distinct sources. For example, one might argue that one domain of knowledge (“science”) arises from empirical evidence, whereas another, quite separate domain could arise from a priori reasoning. One could then assert that knowledge within one domain cannot be arrived at from another domain, and may not even be valid within other domains. Some would argue that the domains of ethics and mathematics are examples (of which more in later installments of this review).
In their introduction to the book, Boudry and Pigliucci explain that the question of scientism is one of two demarcation problems. The first is how to distinguish science from pseudoscience. The second is whether and how to distinguish “scientific” knowledge from other types of valid knowledge.
In his chapter, Pigliucci summarises philosophers’ responses to the first demarcation problem. For a while it was thought that Popper’s ideas of falsification provided a straightforward and clear criterion: if ideas can be falsified they are “science”, if they cannot then they are pseudoscience.
But it was soon realised that it’s not that easy. If a prediction turns out wrong, then clearly some part of the overall model is wrong, but one usually has considerable latitude in choosing which parts of the model to update. One can therefore protect a particular idea from falsification by instead adjusting something else. For example, if galaxies are found not to be rotating as expected, one could conclude that Newton’s law of gravity is falsified (we are dealing here with weak-field gravity where relativistic effects are negligible, so Newton’s gravity should work), or one can instead invoke additional, unseen “dark matter”.
A second problem is that Popper’s criterion gives no guidance on the practicalities. A prediction of a solar eclipse in thirty years time, based on well-tested models, is surely “scientific”, but it cannot be directly tested within the next decade. How about an eclipse prediction for a million years hence, or one for a million years in the past when no-one was there to record it? How about a prediction in particle physics that to test would require an accelerator ten times more energetic than we can currently build?
There’s a third problem: Is Popper’s maxim descriptive or prescriptive? If the latter then by what authority? Physicists generally regard the development of string theory as scientific (which is not the same as regarding it as proven), yet it is not readily testable. Some philosophers, including Pigliucci, have therefore claimed that it is not science but is rather metaphysics. But by what authority? If one were asked to justify the falsification criterion, how would one do it?
For the above reasons some philosophers have concluded that the task is hopeless. Pigliucci points to Larry Laudan as arguing that “demarcation projects are a waste of time for philosophers, since — among other reasons — it is unlikely to the highest degree that anyone will ever be able to come up with small sets of necessary and jointly sufficient conditions to define science, pseudoscience, and the like”.
Pigliucci himself regards this as too pessimistic, and instead argues for an account of science based on Wittgensteinian “family resemblance” concepts. There might not be neat criteria, but there are enough diagnostic characteristics that, in practice, it is possible to tell one from the other.
Personally I would argue that there is indeed one straightforward criterion distinguishing science from pseudoscience. It was stated by Feynman in his 1974 commencement address Cargo Cult Science, an essay still worth reading, for example for its prescience about the replication crisis in some areas of science.
For someone who was rather dismissive of academic philosophy, Feynman was actually pretty insightful about the nature and philosophy of science. He summed up science saying:
The first principle is that you must not fool yourself — and you are the easiest person to fool.
That’s it. Pseudoscience is when you treat adherence to an ideology or belief as more important than the evidence for it. Science is when you’re genuinely trying to adjust your beliefs to the evidence. Humans are hugely prone to cognitive biases, so can readily slip into pseudo-scientific thinking. Many of the methods developed by science — for example, randomised, double-blind trials — are attempts to minimise human cognitive bias.
By this definition, possibilities of ghosts, psychic powers, the supernatural and such are not ruled out by fiat, they are not “pseudoscience” because of the claims being made, they are pseudoscience because the evidence for the claims is grossly insufficient.
Feynman’s criterion also explains why Popper’s falsifiability is insightful. If one is genuinely trying to refute ones ideas, by making predictions and then testing them, then one is least prone to ideological bias. Pseudoscientists, such as homeopaths, astrologers and conspiracy theorists, look only for evidence that will confirm their beliefs, and scheme up excuses for why they cannot or should not look for refutations (an anti-scientistic appeal to “other ways of knowing” is a favourite).
But falsification is only part of the story. As above, sometimes one cannot test a prediction even if one would like to. That alone doesn’t make the enterprise pseudo-scientific; what matters is whether belief takes precedence over evidence. Thus, if a string theorist were to make dogmatic claims going well beyond the evidence then they’re not acting as a scientist. But a physicist who considers that string theory is a promising and worthwhile avenue to explore, while remaining critically aware of the difficulties of testing it, is indeed being entirely scientific.
This entry was posted in Book Reviews, Philosophy, Science, Scientism and tagged falsifiability, Feynman, Maarten Boudry, Massimo Pigliucci, philosophy of science, Popper, Pseudoscience, Science Unlimited on September 20, 2018 by Coel.
Quillette magazine recently published a piece written by Spencer Hall giving: “The Philosophical Case against Scientism”. He begins:
Scientism is the claim that science is the only source of knowledge.
Let’s accept this definition, though it’s important to note that no-one defending such a thesis would interpret “science” in a narrow sense, but would regard it broadly as including the gathering of empirical evidence and rational analysis and conceptualising about that evidence. Thus, “scientism” would not, for example, deny that historians can generate knowledge, it would instead claim that they are doing so using methods that are pretty much the same as those used also by scientists. The differences in approach then arise from the pragmatics of what sort of evidence is accessible, not from their being distinct and separate “ways of knowing”.
The philosophical case that Hall presents is based on the problem of induction. No amount of observing a regularity proves that it will still hold tomorrow. The supposition that it will requires a “uniformity of nature” thesis that the future will be like the past, and since we cannot obtain empirical evidence from the future, that thesis — it is claimed — cannot be proven by science.
Hall then argues that science finds this “Past–Future Thesis” indispensable, but declares:
… either the PFT can be justified on non-empirical grounds, or it cannot be justified at all. If we accept the first horn, then we are conceding that scientific observation is not the only source of knowledge, and thus that scientism is false.
Hall then declares that the PFT is indeed true, and says:
… since there is no empirical way of defending PFT, we are forced to conclude that defending the assumption — and ultimately defending science itself — must rest on a philosophical foundation rather than an empirical one. And, thus, it follows that the claim that science is the only source of knowledge is false.
He then, rather derisively, declares this to be basic stuff akin to “remedial pre-algebra”, and finishes with: “If popular science writers wish to defend scientism, they would do well to demonstrate a modicum of understanding of the best arguments against their position”.
So, according to Hall’s argument, science is not the only source of knowledge because: (1) we know that the PFT is true, and (2) we know that from philosophy rather than from science.
But strikingly absent from Hall’s article is any philosophical defence of PFT. If one wants to use this example to show that philosophy can produce knowledge where science cannot, one first has to show that philosophy proves the PFT true. Yet Hall does not do this.
So this refutation of scientism fails right there. Showing that science cannot answer a question is only halfway to a refutation of scientism, since one then needs to show that some “other way of knowing” can produce a reliable answer.
But can the use of induction be defended? Personally I think it can, though as a matter of probability and likelihood, not of rigorous proof. (But then it is accepted that science never produces absolute proof, but only provisional, most-likely models that are better than any known alternatives.)
Hall indeed considers this, suggesting that: “… if we look at the past, we see that the future resembles the past all the time, so there’s an overwhelming probabilistic case for the PFT”, but then objecting that: “in appealing to what’s happened in the past as a guide to what will happen in the future, the would-be defender is assuming the very thing in question”.
But, we can consider the set of all events, past and future. And we can consider picking from that set, and encountering a sequence of picking one thousand white balls in a row and then the next ball being black. Obviously, the likelihood of that happening will depend on the probability distribution governing picking from the set, and — ex hypothesi — we don’t know that, since we don’t know about future events. But, that sequence will have some probability, and so we can consider the ensemble of all possible probability distributions.
If there are long periods of stasis of unknown length, it is more probable that one is somewhere within the period of stasis rather than exactly at its end. That follows simply because there is only one “slot” at the end of the sequence but lots of slots that are not at the end. Given a long sequence of normality, and picking our location on that sequence at random, it is more likely that we will be somewhere boring in the midst of the sequence, rather than at the highly particular “last day of normality” right at its end. In essence, we’re not using the past as a guide to the future, we’re using it as a guide to the present time, and asking whether it is unusual.
This analysis requires as to conceptualise a birds-eye overview of the timeline, but it doesn’t require any assumption about the future and it doesn’t require knowing the probability distribution of future events.
Of course it is no guarantee, and for all we know the probabilities could be such that normality is coming to an imminent end. But, the sub-set of probability distributions that make it likely that, after having picked a thousand white balls in a row, the next is a black, is much smaller than the set of all possible probability distributions. Only a very special and particular probability distribution could make it more likely that we are exactly at the end of such a sequence, rather than anywhere else along it. And, given that we don’t know the probability distribution, that is unlikely. So it is more likely than not that a sequence of stasis will continue with the next pick.
Again, this argument does not depend on assuming a uniform probability distribution, it only depends on their being a probability distribution, and on considering the super-set of all possible such probability distributions.
This line of reasoning has been proposed by Ray Solomonoff, who formalised and developed it into his “Formal Theory of Inductive Inference”. I’m not aware of any refutation of the argument and so I currently regard it as a sufficient resolution of the problem of induction. (Though part of the point of writing a blog piece about it is that, if it’s wrong, someone might tell me why!)
As regards scientism, a last question arises as to whether the above argument counts as “science” or as “philosophy”. It is certainly a rational analysis involving mathematical reasoning. It is not a rebuttal that can be observed empirically with a pair of binoculars or a microscope. But then no sensible account limits science to what can be directly observed. That’s only the half of it. Science is just as much about the concepts and rational analysis that make sense of the empirical world. Thus the above rebuttal is squarely within the domain of science, and so the attempt to defeat scientism fails.
This entry was posted in Philosophy, Scientism and tagged induction, problem of induction, Quillette, Solomonoff, Spencer Hall on August 20, 2018 by Coel.
How not to defend humanistic reasoning
Sometimes the attitudes of philosophers towards science baffle me. A good example is the article Defending Humanistic Reasoning by Paul Giladi, Alexis Papazoglou and Giuseppina D’Oro, recently in Philosophy Now.
Why did Caesar cross the Rubicon? Because of his leg movements? Or because he wanted to assert his authority in Rome over his rivals? When we seek to interpret the actions of Caesar and Socrates, and ask what reasons they had for acting so, we do not usually want their actions to be explained as we might explain the rise of the tides or the motion of the planets; that is, as physical events dictated by natural laws. […]
The two varieties of explanation appear to compete, because both give rival explanations of the same action. But there is a way in which scientific explanations such as bodily movements and humanistic explanations such as motives and goals need not compete.
This treats “science” as though it stops where humans start. Science can deal with the world as it was before humans evolved, but at some point humans came along and — for unstated reasons — humans are outside the scope of science. This might be how some philosophers see things but the notion is totally alien to science. Humans are natural products of a natural world, and are just as much a part of what science can study as anything else.
Yes of course we want explanations of Caesar’s acts in terms of “motivations and goals” rather than physiology alone — is there even one person anywhere who would deny that? But nothing about human motivations and goals is outside the proper domain of science. Continue reading →
This entry was posted in Philosophy, Science, Scientism and tagged Alexis Papazoglou, Giuseppina D’Oro, Neurath's raft, Paul Giladi, philosophy of science, reductionism, scientific method on January 3, 2018 by Coel.
Another philosopher of science doesn’t understand science
Maybe I’m having a philosopher-bashing week. After disagreeing with Susan Haack’s account of science I then came across an article in the TLS by David Papineau, philosopher of science at King’s College London. He does a good job of persuading me that many philosophers of science don’t know much about science. After all, their “day job” is not studying science itself, but rather studying and responding to the writings of other philosophers of science. Continue reading →
This entry was posted in Philosophy, Science, Scientism and tagged David Papineau, emotivism on November 10, 2017 by Coel.
Science is a product of science!
The latest issue of Free Enquiry magazine contains several articles about philosophy and science, including an article by Susan Haack, a philosopher of science who “defends scientific inquiry from the moderate viewpoint”, rejecting cynical views that dismiss science as a mere social construction, but also rejecting “scientism”.
While Susan Haack talks quite a bit of sense about science, she promotes a view that is common among philosophers of science but which I see as fundamentally wrong. That is the idea that science and the scientific method depend on philosophical principles that cannot be justified by science, but instead need to be justified by philosophy. Continue reading →
This entry was posted in Philosophy, Science, Scientism and tagged epistemology, scientific method, Susan Haack on November 7, 2017 by Coel.
Alex Rosenberg’s Guide to Reality and morality under scientism
Alex Rosenberg’s An Atheist’s Guide to Reality is the most radically scientistic book that I’ve read. I should thus like it a lot! And generally I do, but with some reservations.
I’ll address here one argument that Rosenberg makes about morality and politics which I think is faulty, and, indeed, not “scientistic” enough. I’ve seen other atheists make the same argument so it is worth exploring. Continue reading →
This entry was posted in Book Reviews, Philosophy, Scientism and tagged Alex Rosenberg, evolution, moral responsibility, morality on August 3, 2017 by Coel.
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Biz News
Sports College basketball Basketball College sports Men's sports Men's college basketball Men's basketball NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship Coaching
Oklahoma Big 12
Oklahoma adds Molinari as basketball assistant
NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Oklahoma has added Jim Molinari as an assistant basketball coach.
Molinari has more than three decades of college coaching experience, including 20 seasons as a Division I head coach with stops at Northern Illinois, Bradley, Minnesota (interim) and Western Illinois. He compiled more than 300 victories and claimed three conference titles and nine postseason appearances.
He was an assistant coach at Nebraska for the past five seasons. In his career as an assistant, he has reached the NCAA Tournament 10 times.
Molinari also led the USA Basketball men's team to a gold medal at the World University Games in 1997.
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To assist with paddler development in competition, exploration or personal skill level, there is sometimes a need to source extra funding. The following organisations and groups have funds or schemes which offer assistance. If you are interested please read the eligibility criteria, which vary from organisation to organisation. Some will require Governing Body (CANI) approval, please leave time to get the paperwork in place before any deadlines.
Canoe Foundation
The principal functions of the Canoe Foundation are to raise money; inform and educate; and allocate funds, in line with the Charity’s mission statement: ‘positively changing lives through canoeing’.
Mary Peters Trust
The Trust can assess sporting need and provide help to individuals from all recognized sports. It works alongside Sport NI and, with the assistance of the governing bodies of sport, makes financial awards towards approved out-of-pocket expenses.
Waterways Ireland
Waterways Ireland is happy to promote waterways events through its What’s On Guide and through the online events calendar.
Sport Northern Ireland
Sport Northern Ireland is a Lottery award distributor and also provides exchequer funding to a number of Sport Northern Ireland recognised governing bodies of sport.
Erasmus Plus Programme
There is a Sport programme which has three key objectives. 1. Tackle cross-border threats to the integrity of sport, such as doping, match fixing and violence, as well as all kinds of intolerance and discrimination 2. To promote and support good governance in sport and dual careers of athletes; 3. To promote voluntary activities in sport, together with social inclusion, equal opportunities and awareness of the importance of health-enhancing physical activity, through increased participation in, and equal access to sport for all. This is a complex programme to apply to but there are large amounts of funding available.
The DARD funding is mainly agriculture and fisheries based but there is a programme for social inclusion, poverty reduction and rural economic development. This programme can be relevant to canoeing if you have a programme that benefits the themes.
The Heritage Lottery fund has a number of funding programmes available and could be tailored towards canoeing, the programmes are; Sharing Heritage, First World War: then and now, Our Heritage, Young Roots, Heritage Grants, Heritage Enterprise. The young roots programme will fit well with canoe clubs and organisations and focuses on young people leading the development of a heritabe based programme.
Live UnLtd
Live UnLtd offer grants for young people (Age 11-21) to make a difference in their community. Grants for social entrepreneurs to make a difference in their community. Grants specifically for older people (50+) to run projects.
Princess Trust
Development Awards:
Examples what can be funded include: tools or equipment for a job or qualification e.g. coach or leader awards, course fees and license fees. Princes Trust run various programmes that aim to inspire young people not in education and employment to acquire new skills and direction.
Belfast City Council
Support 4 Sport is a funding programme for sports clubs or community organisations who can apply for a small development grant of up to £1,000 per year through the Support for Sport scheme. If you are a new club, or want to set up a new section in an existing club, you can also apply for a one-off equipment grant of up to £250.
Cash 4 Clubs
Cash 4 Clubs is a sports funding scheme which gives clubs a unique chance to apply for grants to improve facilities, purchase new equipment, gain coaching qualifications, and generally invest in the sustainability of their club. The Cash 4 Clubs scheme is funded by Betfair and is supported by SportsAid, the charity for sports people. Betfair and SportsAid have worked in partnership for a number of years and both organisations understand the importance of community sport in promoting an active lifestyle and stimulating local pride. It’s a great time to be involved with sport and Cash 4 Clubs can hopefully play an important role in helping clubs to sustain and develop themselves.
Ireland Funds
The Worldwide Ireland Funds accept applications for projects in the following areas: Investing in Ireland’s Communities, Supporting a Shared Future for Northern Ireland, Providing Access to Education, Promoting Culture and Heritage, Assisting Disadvantaged Youth, Assisting the Elderly “Forgotten Irish” and Promoting Philanthropy in Ireland.
The department will fund sport related projects that: Promotion of anti-sectarianism through education; dialogue and culture, Promotion of tolerance and acceptance of cultural diversity, Extending knowledge and understanding of others’ cultures, beliefs, traditions, Reduction of religious, social and cultural barriers, Challenging of stereotypes of one’s own and other communities/identities, Raising awareness of how language and actions contribute towards sectarianism and intolerance and Bringing people from different backgrounds together to work towards a common goal.
Community Foundation NI
Run Sport Themed and Community Themed Projects – administer grants on behalf of Sport Relief. The main focus of the majority of grants are based on positive community impact.
Loyds TSB
Support charities on programmes that focus on social and community needs and programmes that focus on education and training.
Esmee Fairburn Foundation
Awards are made to voluntary organisations for projects that contribute to community development across four different programme areas (Art and Heritage, Education, Environment and Social Change). Awards are made to community organisations for projects involving disadvantaged children or the provision of rehabilitation or training services for the disabled.
John Moores Foundation
GRASSROOTS SOCIAL HEALTH INITIATIVES
Projects run by local non-statutory organisations which aim to improve people’s physical and/or mental health. Priority will be given to projects in disadvantaged areas where health problems arise from social and environmental factors and which work with vulnerable groups. Issues might include stress, HIV/AIDS, self-harm, substance misuse etc.
Children in Need grants for Children and young people of 18 years and under experiencing disadvantage through: Illness, distress, abuse or neglect, Any kind of disability, Behavioral or psychological difficulties, Living in poverty or situations of deprivation. Children In Need fund organisations working to combat this disadvantage and to make a real difference to children and young people’s lives.
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Learning and Research Support Librarian I/II/III
Essential Functions: The Wayne State University Library System (WSULS) seeks an innovative, service-oriented Learning and Research Support Librarian to advance the University's mission to create and advance knowledge, prepare a diverse student body to thrive, and positively impact local and global communities. Our mission of access and proud culture of diversity demands a Learning and Research Support Librarian who embraces an environment of inclusion that extends beyond simple tolerance by leveraging the power of peoples' individual identities and diverse perspectives.Position Summary:The Learning and Research Support Librarian will support the departments of Biological Sciences, Chemistry, and Geology in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, where declared STEM majors have increased over the past 5 years by nearly 50%. The full breadth of the Learning and Research Support Librarian's responsibilities remains flexible and adaptable to new and emerging staffing models, schedules, and technologies.This position requires a passion for advancing student success, a positive, "can-do" attitude, and a combination of skills and professional confidence that will contribute to the transformation of instruction, reference, and research and scholarly communication support within the WSULS. We seek candidates who are invested not only in the future of librarianship but also in building a culture that will establish the WSULS as an example research library of the future. The successful candidate will be an innovative designer of library solutions within a collegial and collaborative environment. The successful candidate must also be knowledgeable of current library and scholarly information trends and practices and possess the ability to apply this understanding to make a significant, positive impact on the WSU community.Reporting to the WSULS Assistant Dean, the responsibilities of the Learning and Research Support Librarian include:Establish and maintain effective communication channels to identify and advance the learning, teaching, and research needs of WSU students, faculty, and staff.Provide quality teaching and research-focused information services, including developing and conducting instruction programs focused on advanced resources for undergraduate and graduate students in the departments of Biological Sciences, Chemistry, and Geology.Collaborate with other subject librarians and university staff to provide effective instruction, student success programming, and reference services to WSU undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and staff.Advance WSULS digital publishing and scholarship initiatives by providing support for scholarly research workflows, including scholarly communication, copyright, and research data management.Participate in cross-functional teams and system-wide work relating to the WSULS strategic pillars of Student Success and Retention, Scholarship, Community Engagement, and Organizational Development (Culture and People).Engage in professional and/or subject discipline organizations, research, or publishing that will enhance STEM support at WSU and advance the WSULS strategic pillars of Student Success and Retention, Scholarship, Community Engagement, and Organizational Development (Culture and People).This position is an Employment Security Status track appointment.
Qualifications: Experience and Qualifications:Master's degree from an ALA-accredited program; strong commitment to teaching and public service; ability to communicate and interact effectively with faculty, staff, and students in a culturally diverse and rapidly changing environment; ability to effectively analyze, organize, and present information; demonstrated aptitude to manage multiple priorities and tasks; capacity to work independently and as a team member; familiarity with current library trends and technology and the ability to apply this knowledge to local situations.The starting salary range for a Librarian I is $46,397, Librarian II $50,743, and Librarian III $55,900. Salary and rank will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Internal Number: 76_205850
About Wayne State University
Founded in 1868, Wayne State University is a nationally recognized metropolitan research institution offering more than 400 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to nearly 32,000 students. Wayne State?s main campus in Midtown Detroit comprises 100 buildings over nearly 200 acres; its five extension centers offer higher education to people throughout Southeast Michigan. Wayne State is dedicated to preparing students to excel by combining the academic excellence of a major research university with the practical experience of an institution that by its history, location and diversity represents a microcosm of the world we live in. Reflecting its location and the excellent international reputation of its graduate schools, particularly in the sciences, Wayne State boasts the most diverse student body among Michigan?s public universities. Its students represent 49 U.S. states and more than 60 countries.
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This entry was posted on April 28, 2011, in Uncategorized and tagged chapel hill, ideas, ni putes ni soumises, paris, project dinah, violence. Bookmark the permalink. Leave a comment
Thursday.
Exams, I say! I do not have time to write a blog. I woke up today with the idea of 3 exams in the next 24 hours hanging all over me (starting 12pm tomorrow until Saturday afternoon I will be a mess of memorization). Yet, I said to myself, eat breakfast, brew coffee, take the time to get ready for the day, and it’ll all be ok. It worked. I’m stressed but a chilled out kind of stressed. The manageable kind.
SO I popped over to campus to hit the books. I sat in bulls head bookshop for a while on the couches in the back by the balcony and worked on forensic psych– capital punishment, domestic violence, child abuse– it’s great stuff. I found out that the person who pushes the electric chair button in Florida gets $150 per execution. Do you think it’s worth $150? All you have to do is come in, push a button, and walk away with $150. I totally want to write a novel about that person, imagine what it’d be like with your life intersecting with death all the time like that.
The most exciting thing that has happened to me all day and probably will happen to me all week is a great phone conversation with a woman who works in PR and represents Verizon. Turns out, last week she saw the article Lauren Odom wrote about Project Dinah’s 24-hour Rape Free Zone and she emailed Project Dinah about supporting and collaborating with us. I wrote her back about our photography exhibit and how we’re trying to make the exhibit sustainable (getting glass frames, reprinting the photos professionally, etc) and trying to turn it into an awareness art project that travels to other schools (Elon, Duke, NC State have already talked to us about it!). We need some money, I said, basically. So when we talked today, she said, Verizon has a fund called HopeLine solely devoted to helping with domestic and sexual violence awareness efforts so, she said, “I wouldn’t say the sky’s the limit but the sky is definitely a good starting point.” The sky is definitely a good starting point. She said that they will cover our costs of making the project sustainable and turning it into a project that can travel. My heart was like, OH MY GOSH, YES. Imagine the impact we will have. We’ve already transformed lives with the first round of the exhibit and we will impact more and more people from now on.
All of this reminds me of how important it is to dream big. My friends and I started this project together and we were struggling and were flying into the dark with just an idea in mind. We began with breakfast meetings sitting cross-legged on the floor, drinking coffee and debating plans. We wrote blueprints, sent emails, wrote grants, shot portraits in makeshift studios, and we knelt on the floor in the printing lab in the journalism school gluing and mounting photographs; we found ourselves after midnight answering the janitorial staff’s questions about the frames spread along the linoleum hallway. We were in bed until two A.M formatting testimonials on the last nights before our campaign opened; we cried over the vulnerability, bravery and power of the people who chose to be a part of the project.
And now this. This is only happening now and made possible because Chelsea had the idea for the 24-hour Rape Free Zone back in August or September. For that project, we started planning and applying for funding in January. Together, Julie, Chelsea, Bethany, Julia, Katie, Holly, and all the rest of Project Dinah made the Rape Free Zone possible by designing the T-shirts, defending our project in front of the Residence Hall Association and Safety and Security Committee (they all ended up giving us $5000 altogether) and spending hours and hours sorting T-shirts, delivering them, driving them around in our cars, sitting in the Pit and on the Quad for days handing them out and getting people to sign pledges against violence. After over 1000 people wore their shirts on Friday and Lauren Odom wrote her fabulous article, I get an email about HopeLine and how we are doing great work and more people want to support us. All these dreams tie together. Anything is possible.
So dream big because the sky is just a starting point, not a limit.
It also reminds me about the importance of connection. I remember working in Paris with domestic violence survivors and our biggest struggle at the NGO Ni Putes Ni Soumises was getting in touch with the woman who was sequestered and trapped, the woman who didn’t speak French, the woman who didn’t know we existed but needed our help. To deal with language barriers, half the women who worked at Ni Putes Ni Soumises spoke Arabic as well as French in order to work with the clients who didn’t speak French (Arabic in France is like the equivalent of Spanish in the USA). Beyond that, we used the metro as our primary tool of reaching out– posting awareness posters across metros all over Paris– and it was our only hope that we could reach someone that way. So, the services exists (like HopeLine), it’s just a matter of finding out about the services in the first place, reaching out into the dark and the wide unknown world, hoping someone will hear or notice, going BIG and going widespread in order to make yourself and your cause known. That’s the most important thing you can do in anti-violence work. Talk and talk and talk and talk, spread your word wherever you go– it is the only way of finding out how connected we are. There is so much out there to support and sustain us. Dream it, talk about it, do it.
« Moment 4 life
the wonders of my world »
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CT is Most Expensive Energy State in the Nation, Analysis Says
July 13, 2016 / CTByTheNumbers.info
With an average monthly energy bill of $404 per consumer, Connecticut is the most energy expensive state in the nation, according to a new analysis. Using a formula that accounts for residential energy sources including electricity, natural gas, motor fuel and home heating oil, analysts at WalletHub compared the average monthly energy bills in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Connecticut ranked at the top of the list, with other New England states close behind. The 10 most expensive states in the analysis, after Connecticut, were Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, Georgia, North Dakota, Maine, New Hampshire, Indiana and Mississippi. Among the least expensive energy states for consumers were Oregon, Colorado and Washington, where the average monthly energy bill was $218.
The monthly consumer costs in Connecticut average $155 for electricity, $104 for home heating oil, $100 for motor fuel and $44 for natural gas.
Connecticut ranked third in the price of home heating oil and second highest in the nation for home heating oil consumption per consumer, for an overall ranking as highest in the nation for home heating oil costs.
Regarding electricity consumption, as a relatively small state, Connecticut ranked 37th. However, for the price of electricity it ranked third, for an overall ranking of seventh when the two stats were combined for the overall Monthly Electricity Cost category.
"Con necticut ranked as the most energy expensive state mainly due to its high retail prices for energy,” analyst Jill Gonzalez told CT by the Numbers. “The state has the third highest retail price for electricity and heating oil at $0.20 per kWh and almost $4 per gallon, respectively. Natural gas isn't cheap either, ranking 14th highest, at $14 per thousand cubic feet. These prices paired with high heating consumption in the winter months put Connecticut on top of these rankings."
The website notes that energy costs account for between 5 and 22 percent of families’ total after-tax income, with the poorest Americans, or 25 million households, paying the highest of that range.
Sources used to create the rankings, according to WalletHub, were collected from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Federal Highway Administration, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and AAA’s Daily Fuel Gauge Report.
The report was issued this month, as July typically produces the highest energy bills for consumers.
July 13, 2016 / CTByTheNumbers.info/
Business, Energy
electricity, energy, home heating oil, prices
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Cultivating Change in the Academy: Stories from the Frontline of Hosting Conversations that Matter
Cultivating Change Series, Volume 2
Art of Hosting Techniques
Art of Hosting Frameworks
Posted on August 2, 2013 by llundquist
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Baldwin, C. (2005). Storycatcher: Making sense of our lives through the power and practice of story. Novato, CA: New World Library.
Block, P. (2009). Community: The structure of belonging. New York, NY: Berrett Koehler Publishers.
Borich, P. (1975). Humanizing education. St. Paul, MN: University of Minnesota Extension.
Brown, B. (2012). Daring greatly: How the courage to be vulnerable transforms the way we live, love, parent, and lead. New York, NY: Gotham Books.
Brown, J., & Isaacs, D. (2005). The world café: Shaping our futures through conversations that matter. San Francisco, CA: Berrett-Koehler Publishers.
Brown, T. (2009). Change by design: How design thinking transforms organizations and inspires innovation. New York, NY: Harpers Collins Publisher.
Caine, R., & Caine, G. (2011). Natural learning for a connected world: Education, technology and the human brain. New York, NY: Columbia University.
Carrier, B., Freeman, E., Jetter, M., Nelson, C., & Straub, T. (2012). Cultivating the art of hosting at the University of Minnesota. Retrieved from http://www.leadership.umn.edu/education/documents/ArtofHosting_PELReport_2012.pdf.
Center for Integrative Leadership. (2012). Art of hosting workbook. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota.
Cooperrider, D., & Whitney, D. (2000). Appreciative inquiry: A positive revolution in change. San Francisco, CA: Berrett-Koehler Publishers.
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Fischer, F. (2000). Citizens, experts and the environment: The politics of local knowledge. Durham, NC: Duke University Press.
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Heifetz, R., & Linsky, M. (2002). Leadership on the line: Staying alive through the dangers of leading. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Business Review Press.
Holman, P. (2010). Engaging emergence: Turning upheaval into opportunity. New York, NY: Berrett-Koehler Publishers.
Holman, P., Devane, T. & Cady, S. (2007). The change handbook: The definitive resource on today’s best methods for engaging whole systems (2nd ed.). San Francisco, CA: Berrett-Koehler Publishers.
Hock, D. (1999). Birth of the chaordic age. San Francisco, CA: Berrett-Koehler.
Innes, J. E., & Booher, D.E. (2010). Planning with complexity: An introduction to collaborative rationality for public policy. New York, NY: Routledge.
Jacobs, L., Cook, F., & Carpini, M. (2009). Talking together: Public deliberation and political participation in America. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.
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Johnson, S. (2010, July). Steven Johnson: Where good ideas come from. [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.ted.com/talks/steven_johnson_where_good_ideas_come_from.html
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Lui, H., & Sandfort, J. (2011). Open source platforms for citizen engagement: Examining Ashoka’s design and implementation. Nonprofit Policy Forum. 2(2), Article 5. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.2202/2154-3348.1022.
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Cultivating Change in the Academy: Practicing the Art of Hosting Meaningful Conversations within the University of Minnesota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution- NonCommercial- ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
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On Trevor Paglen’s Sight Machine
At the FOG Design + Art fair on Saturday, January 14, 2017 I was on a panel discussing Trevor Paglen’s new performance piece in collaboration with the Kronos Quartet.
Motion to Unseal Docket Sheets and Publicly Docket Court Records
Declaration of Riana Pfefferkorn in Support of Motion to Unseal Docket Sheets and Publicly Docket Court Records
Correcting the Record on Section 702: A Prerequisite for Meaningful Surveillance Reform, Part III
In our previous posts, we’ve argued that the NSA is collecting massive amounts of data about US citizens under conditions that have nothing to do with terrorism or national security, thanks to the authorities granted to the US government by section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
Brief in Support of Petition to Unseal Technical-Assistance Orders and Materials
US government drops effort to unmask anti-Trump Twitter account
"“The anonymous account holder is safe, for now,” said Jennifer Granick, the director of civil liberties at the Stanford Center for Internet and Society. “Perhaps the Department of Justice has learned a lesson. Perhaps the Trump administration may try to find the poster another way, for example by monitoring the government’s INS network.”"
Government seeks to unmask Trump dissident on Twitter, lawsuit reveals
"Jennifer Granick, the director of civil liberties at the Stanford Center for Internet and Society, called the government’s behavior “craven” and described the CBP summons as a “classic case of abuse”.
“For the government, a federal law enforcement officer, to not understand the very basics of protecting free speech and following the rule of law is egregious,” she said.
Trump & Co. Just Picked the Wrong Fight With Twitter
"“It seems like the government lied to Twitter about why it wanted the information,” says Jennifer Granick, Director of Civil Liberties at the Stanford Center for Internet and Society. “It’s not entitled to the information under the statutory authority it cites.”"
Republicans claim Trump may have been surveilled through ‘incidental collection.’ What’s incidental collection?
The Republican chair of the House Intelligence Committee, Devin Nunes has just said that Donald Trump’s communications were likely picked up by US intelligence agencies through “incidental collection.” Before Nunes’ statement, I interviewed Jennifer Stisa Granick, the director of civil liberties at Stanford University’s Center for the Internet and Society, about her new
Sean Spicer just suggested that Obama used British intelligence to spy on Trump. Britain isn’t happy.
"Some people writing on intelligence and surveillance note that close working relations such as this can allow intelligence agencies to evade domestic controls. Jennifer Granick, in her new Cambridge University Press book, American Spies: Modern Surveillance, Why You Should Care, and What To Do About It, notes that Five Eyes countries aren’t supposed to spy on one another’s citizens. However, she says that the NSA has prepared policies that would allow it to spy on Five Eyes citizens without permission. She furthermore suggests that:
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RATINGS RAT RACE: 'Chuck' & 'Grimm' Slip, Univision Ties NBC For No. 1 In 18-49
Just like it did last December, Spanish-language broadcaster Univision is starting to log nightly victories in adults 18-49 over its English-language competitors who are opting for pre-holiday fare of specials and repeats. Univision did it last night, tying NBC for the top demo spot with a 1.2/4 among adults 18-49. NBC’s Chuck (0.9/3) and Grimm (1.5/5) each shed a tenth of a rating point from last week. With CBS’ dramas in reruns, Grimm was the highest-rated program of the night in 18-49. At 10 PM, Dateline (1.3/4) was down 19%. It was a down night for newsmagazines all around, with the special edition of ABC’s 20/20 anchored by Diane Sawyer (0.9/3) down 31% from last week. It was preceded by back-to-back episodes of freshly canceled reality series Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (1.2/4, 1.3/4), which were down 10% and up 13%, respectively, from last week’s 8 PM and 9 PM episodes. With its dramas in repeats, CBS (0.9/3, 6.1 million) still won the night in total viewers. Fox ran a mix of holiday animated specials and a The Simpsons rerun.
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
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ABC’s ‘Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ Surpasses 1 Million Facebook Fans Ahead Of Premiere
This will be the highest-profile test to date whether big prelaunch online buzz and awareness translates into big ratings. ABC‘s upcoming drama series Marvel’s Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. yesterday crossed the 1 million Facebook fans mark, believed to be a record for a new series. A look at the list of the new fall shows with the largest FB following illustrates why the networks are so eager to expand existing franchises or bet on presold titles, like S.H.I.E.L.D., an off-shoot from blockbuster film The Avengers. The No. 2 and 3 new series in number of FB fans are spinoffs: the CW’s The Originals (528,690), which will face off with S.H.I.E.L.D. in the Tuesday 8 PM slot later this fall, and ABC’s Once Upon A Time In Wonderland (498,846). In an indication there is some correlation between online popularity and premiere ratings, Fox’s Sleepy Hollow, which got off to a strong start this week, is No. 4 on the FB fans list with 362,013. (NBC’s Dracula is No. 5 with 215,295). Like Sleepy Hollow, which just got a big Live+3 DVR boost, S.H.I.E.L.D. and the other shows ahead of it on the list appeal to younger audiences who won’t necessarily tune in to watch the show live.
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Pedo Ringleader Dead
PUBLISHED: 6:32 PM 7 Jan 2019
Pedophile Ringleader Beaten To Death After One Month In Jail
The leader of an international child exploitation ring was savagely beaten to death after one month in jail, which fulfilled the prophesy of one of his victims.
At Milan Federal Prison, a convicted child predator didn't last one month before fellow inmates murdered him.
Christian Maire was convicted of leading an international ring of pedophile perverts in December. However, he didn’t make it more than a month in prison before being beaten to death by fellow inmates.
Interestingly, one of his victims predicted his fate.
The married father-of-two from Binghamton was sentenced to 40 years in prison after the FBI discovered he was the mastermind behind the Internet gang dubbed “The Bored Group.”
Maire and his eight fellow monsters posed as adolescent boys on teenage dating sites. There, investigators learned, they convinced young girls to strip, masturbate and perform other sex acts on webcams.
They even lured some of their victims to cut themselves for their sick pleasure.
At his sentencing, a female victim stated, “He’s gonna get the hell beat out of him.” She was right.
At the federal prison in Milan, Michigan, other incarcerated criminals attacked him on Friday. The beating was so vicious that Maire died at an undisclosed hospital a few hours later.
The prison fight left four injured, including two guards, and according to officials, one of the men involved had a ‘shiv,’ which is a homemade knife.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons is investigating Maire’s death as a homicide and his lawyer is calling his death a ‘tragedy.’
“It’s a horrible tragedy and it seems something like this should have been able to be avoided,” Mark Kriger told the Detroit News.
Many people have a very hard time seeing that point of view.
Maire was a well-educated New Yorker, and co-founder of a computer graphics company. Officials believe the stabbing attack was deliberate.
According to Milan prison spokesman Dan Clore, one of the injured inmates is Michal Figura, 36, an IT specialist at the University of Pennsylvania, who was also a member of the child sex ring.
Maire, Figura, and at least five other members of the ‘Bored Group’ are incarcerated at the Milan Federal Prison, which has raised concerns for their ‘safety.’
Figura’s lawyer declined comment Friday.
Clore said the altercation involved seven prisoners and took place in a housing unit. He said staff immediately responded to the area, and two staff members sustained minor injuries while separating the group.
Clore explained the Federal Bureau of Investigation is treating the incident as a homicide.
The group exploited both infants and other children, as well as teens.
“I’ve shattered so many lives,” Maire told U.S. District Judge Stephen Murphy during his sentencing. “I never thought I could sink this low. I apologize to all of my victims. I took advantage of your youth and trust and put my own selfishness above your dignity.”
Although some argue the attack “illustrates the danger faced by pedophiles and perpetrators of sex crimes behind bars,” others could really care less.
Even hardened criminals recognize the heinous nature of the crimes these monsters commit, and many people argue that the justice system is too lenient on predators.
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Tag Archives: Urban Prep Academy
Exclusive: Black Christian Conservative Allegedly Thrown Out of Summer Program at Georgetown for Refusing LGBTQ Tolerance Indoctrination
One of the most wonderful news stories that I was so happy to hear over the last two years was that of Urban Prep Academy in Chicago. It is the only 100% African-American male charter high school in Chicago and the entire country. It also has had a 100% college acceptance rate for it’s senior class for the last three years. There has been no shortage of coverage, accolades and pride for these young men in the media and the community, in fact, here are some of the headlines:
“Another Perfect College Acceptance Year At Urban Prep” – Chicago Tribune
“Urban Prep Academy announces 100% four-year college acceptance rate” – Examiner.com
“Urban Prep: 100% of Graduates College-Bound For Second Straight Year” – Huffington Post
Big Things Poppin’ at Urban Prep Academy: 100% of Their Men Heading to College – YourBlackWorld.net
Governor Pat Quinn (D) of Illinois shared this tweet expressing his excitement for Jarrett’s acceptance into his own Alma Mater on March 30th 2012 and rightfully so:
In an article just before the 2012 Urban Prep Academy graduation in the Milwaukee Courier, Jarrett Roby shared this:
“I have lived on both the West Side and South Sides of Chicago. I chose Urban Prep because the news of the two previous graduating classes having 100 percent college acceptance rate was impressive,” says Jarrett.
He adds that before he came to Urban Prep, he had good self-esteem. “But Urban Prep challenged me to pursue excellence which has caused my self-esteem to increase. Urban Prep has inspired me to rise above and beyond all negative stereotypes and statistics that society has for young Black males.
Like JaBrice (Reese a classmate of Jarrett’s), Jarrett’s favorite subject at the academy is also African American History. “In my Honors African American History class, I am constantly learning surprising information about my race. The class provokes stimulating debates which in our teams cultivates and inspires outspoken individuals and independent thinkers.
The 18-year-old plans to attend Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. He is considering a major in Biology so as to be a “competitive applicant” when he applies to medical school.
“My short term goal is to become an emergency room physician or general surgeon. My long term career goal is a leadership position in the United States government.”
There are plenty more where that came from however, actually, I digress. Not very long ago (June 16th 2012) Jarrett Roby, who was also student body president, not only graduated with honors but was accepted to prestigious Georgetown University and received a full scholarship. He was also selected to participate in the Georgetown University Community Scholars program which according to their website is not only “The Soul of Georgetown” but also:
“The Community Scholars Program provides Georgetown students with the unique opportunity to thrive. Scholars are carefully selected during the admissions process based on their academic achievement, impressive co-curricular accomplishments, and commitment to the transformative power of education. They typically represent diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, and are often first generation college students.”
The Community Scholars program is sponsored by “The Center for Multicultural Equity & Access (CMEA). Their mission statement is here. My fellow conservative blogger and radio host Kira Davis of CDN network’s show “The Dark Side” and I simultaneously received some news tips and disturbing information this evening. She and I both were very shocked, angered and saddened to learn that this promising student, Jarrett Roby, future surgeon and physician was given the boot from this program because of his refusal to attend a workshop on “tolerance” of the LGBT community and “people who are different”. To be clear, Jarrett Roby was suspended from the summer enrichment program – Community Scholars, not Georgetown University in the Fall. We received this disturbing news today from a source (who shall remain anonymous) whose eye/earwitness account was this regarding recent disturbing events at this summer program for selected Georgetown students who will matriculate the school this Fall:
“I am here at Georgetown University through a program hosted by the Center for Multicultural Equity and Access called the Community Scholars Program. The program focuses on assisting underprivileged students attain a college education, and therefore they allow us to attend a five week intensive program that immerses us in two classes, and we get priority registration. The program is great overall and has great intentions, but today and over the past week they got out of hand.
It was brought to our attention that the program was requiring us to attend a workshop that essentially pushed for LGBTQ** Rights and “Tolerance” for people who are different than we are. I did not feel comfortable attending such a workshop, so I spoke to the Resident Director and the Assistant Program Coordinator. They both told me that I had to attend and that if I did not attend I would be subject to disciplinary action. A lot of people were not comfortable attending, but because they threatened us with disciplinary action, many just went along.
I finally spoke to the Program Director who then was the nail in the coffin in stating that if I did not attend I would be subject to disciplinary action. An individual who also felt the same as I did decided not to attend and he was expelled and suspended from the program. They even had the Georgetown Police (Department of Public Safety) escort him out. He refused to attend the workshop from the beginning, and we both felt uncomfortable but they refused to respect our ideas. I just went along with the flow, but I was uncomfortable. The other student was expelled from the program because of his religious and political beliefs.”
**LGBTQ=Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning people (people who are questioning their sexuality/gender)
Kira took the liberty of uploading this exclusive video which we received (from an source we will not name) exposes a small portion of this “tolerance” workshop. Here it is:
According to a second source (who shall also remain anonymous) that student was none other than Mr. Jarrett Roby, who according to his profile on a social media site is a “disciple of Christ”. According to that source it is he whom the CMEA had thrown out by the Georgetown police because of his religious beliefs! How ironic is that? He refused to attend a class on “tolerance”of the LGBTQ community rights and “those different than we are” and those who were attempting to coerce him to take the workshop showed him zero tolerance for his faith. It seems as though those persons are the ones needing the tolerance workshop. What is even more shocking is that this would occur on the campus of Georgetown University – the oldest Jesuit and Catholic university in the country.
So what is next – will an atheist be forced to take a workshop on theology or “religious tolerance”? Will a vegetarian be required to eat meat or take a class on butchering a pig? I have to also wonder if in this “tolerance workshop” members of the LGBTQ community were taught to tolerate those of us who exercise our first amendment right to practice the religion of our choice and adhere to it’s practices. You see, contrary to liberal media portrayal, it’s not that Christians (or members of any religion which prohibits homosexual lifestyles) are “intolerant” of the LGBTQ community, for we dislike the sin of homosexual lifestyles but most certainly not homosexuals themselves. In fact, in my blog Conservative Calmversation, I dealt with the issue of unequal sin condemnation among Christians here. I had the pleasure of communicating with Jarrett via social media and confirmed this story and he explained how this situation unfolded. Here is what he shared in his own words:
Me: “How are you Jarrett? My name is Talitha McEachin I’m a writer/blogger for several conservative political sites including CainTV , KiraDavis.net and other sites. I heard about your dismissal from the summer program at GU because of the “Gay tolerance”class and as a Christian & Conservative it makes me VERY upset that they would trample all over your beliefs & force you to take a class (well try to. I’m writing an article about it now). Can you tell me what happened? What made you decide to stand your ground rather than just taking the class in order to stay in the program.”
JR: “Hello. Thank you for contacting me. I am doing well. I’m just greatly saddened about the situation. Officially, the program directors will say I was dismissed from the program because I left 3 of the Ra’s {Resident Advisers} feeling physically threatened. However I never mentioned anything remotely violent or did anything violent. Also I am confident that all of my peers would support the fact that I have never showed an ounce of violence and any such claims are flawed. The directors of the program who dismissed me said that their reasoning may not be fair, but they were not going to ask for a general consensus of me.
Considering this, I believe I was asked to leave the program because I took a conservative stand against a liberal ideology and liberal group of people who are in charge of the program. Every scholar apart of the program was signed up for an LGBTQ seminar for Monday (July 23). My friend, _____________, and I decided this was a seminar we would not attend. I am a devout Christian so I have no animosity in my heart toward any man whether he is gay or straight. I am required to love all people and I try my best to do so. I have no problems with homosexuals because it is the natural and God given right to be with whom they want to be with (Freewill). I do not support Gay rights, but as a supporter of the US constitution I do tolerate them.
Because I have an established view point on LGBTQ I did not think it was necessary for me to go to the seminar. I approached a RA privately with my appeal on Sunday and it was automatically shut down and I was told I could expect to be written up if I did not go to the seminar. I held my peace and persisted with the idea of not going. Later that night other students got wind that ____ and I were not planning on going to the seminar. We were automatically attacked and deemed “closed-minded” and “ignorant”. In the mist of this rising confrontation I began to speak up to try and explain to other scholars how I was not trying to be intolerant. During this discussion the same three RAs that decided that they felt physically threaten tried to stop the conversation and send everyone to their rooms before the established curfew.
I once again spoke up in protest of the early curfew and with an appeal that everyone calms down and back off. As the intensity died down it was clear that the RAs had personal biases toward LGBTQ and were against anyone who spoke against it. I heard the RAs say negative things about me but I didn’t respond because once everything died down it was curfew and I did not want to turn a political debate into and emotional onslaught.
The next day I was called in by the program directors and told my actions during the informal debate had reassured the RAs feeling of being threatened. I was told that there had been a meeting with the RA’s and it was decided that I could not stay because 3 RAs were scared for the safety. I believe a true injustice was done to me. I am not looking for revenge, but I am trying to help stop injustice.”
Folks, this young (18 years old) Christian Conservative man has stood his ground for the biblical principles he holds dear and for that I applaud him. What he is saying is that by virtue of accepting Christ and adhering to the teachings of Christ, he is already tolerant of not only the LGBTQ community but all others “different than him”. The interesting thing is that on the website description of the workshop there is no information regarding this workshop as a part of the program, however, to be fair, Jarrett says he learned of this workshop when he arrived on campus for the program as it was in his itinerary:
Me: Did you express your concern about attending to anyone early on?
JR: No, I did not express my concern about attending early on. I felt like the problem would best be solved near the date and I thought I’d easily be excused from this workshop if I expressed concern based on my religious faith.
Me: Did they tell you you’d be disciplined or possibly kicked out for not attending this workshop early on at the start of the program or was that included in your written itinerary?
JR: They told us that we could receive disciplinary action of we missed some on the itinerary. But I definitely thought I could make an appeal for the LGBTQ seminar because of personal views if I didn’t attend.
Me: Did they give you a reason why you needed this workshop or explain why it was required? After all, Georgetown is a Catholic university.
JR: No, not at all.
Me: Now that you have read the account of the other witness whom I cannot name, is their version of events accurate in your opinion?
JR: Yes that account is accurate. It’s just a broader version of events.
Me: How has this affected your excitement about attending GU in the Fall? Do you think the CS program represents Georgetown’s core values? After all it’s a religious based university.
JR:I Think Georgetown is a great school. I think the CS program is a good program just misguided and biased in some of their approaches. I’m still looking forward to attending GU in the fall and I trust that it will be a good experience.
I want to thank Jarrett Roby for sharing his story with me. I also applaud him for not only sticking to his guns but being so gracious and appreciative for his upcoming Georgetown education. Unfortunately his story (the general discrimination assuming all testimonies are accurate) is one that has become all too familiar. In our society’s efforts to secure rights and tolerance for the LGBTQ community (which I don’t disagree with, they should not be discriminated against), we have begun trampling over the rights of those who do not support such lifestyles based on their religion. He simply did not want to participate in a class that is an effort to inculcate and indoctrinate the homosexual lifestyle acceptance agenda which is contrary to his faith and neither would I. Can you imagine, that at a prominent Catholic University, a young black Christian Conservative is thrown out of a summer program for minority scholars because of his refusal to be subjected to teachings contrary to his religious faith? Shame on the CMEA and Georgetown University! Newsflash CMEA and Georgetown University: Jarrett, myself and millions of other Christians are already as tolerant as we need to be by extending the love of Christ to anyone regardless of their background, age, sexual orientation, race, gender, nationality and a host of other categories.
Jarrett is a perfect example of how to stand your ground amid liberal attempts to make homosexual lifestyles normative and mainstream. If this is any indication of how he will grow and mature as a college student, then perhaps he or others like him will be the first fiscally and socially responsible black president. How is it that Jarrett, an 18 year old college student and a Christian, can refuse to give in to the liberal homosexual agenda yet Barack Obama, 50 years old and another self-professed Christian, caves under the pressure of the LGBTQ community on same sex marriage. Jarrett needs to have a courage workshop and Barack Obama needs to be required to attend it. You don’t have to succumb to the homosexual lifestyle agenda in order to respect them as human beings and treat them fairly. The homosexual members of my family know that I love them but they also know that I mean business when I say that based on my faith I abhor their lifestyle choice. I don’t need to be taught to tolerate their lifestyle because my faith says that all that I have to do is love them. The very fact that this workshop, which is not academic in nature, is being required under the threat of disciplinary action, demonstrates in and of itself a lack of tolerance on the part of those over the program – the very principle they are trying to teach. I have no problem with a voluntary workshop of this nature but coercion never produces tolerance, only resentment and perhaps even intolerance.
What also is very striking is that as per Jarrett’s account and that of the witnesses, these three resident advisers felt “physically threatened” by this young scholar, so much so that they utilized the Georgetown Police to remove him from the premises. Since liberals are so great at detecting “coded language” here’s a translation we all can agree with <sarcasm alert>: He’s black, somewhat large in stature, black, a Christian, black, a Conservative…black…a teenager…black…so we need to call the police and have him thrown out…Did I mention that Jarrett Roby is black? These “tolerant” people who allegedly threw this teenager out with police escorts are the type of people who rail against alleged conservative intolerance but refused to even hear Jarrett out completely.
Kira Davis was scheduled to interview Jarrett Roby on her internet radio show “The Dark Side” on 7-24-12 however, he changed his mind & declined the appearance. She did however, replay a portion of a recorded telephone conversation and read/discussed the various eyewitness statements, here is the recording. Kira received the following emailed response from Stacy Kerr from the Georgetown Communications office earlier today regarding the Roby situation:
“All new students at Georgetown University participate in programming and orientations to prepare them to be successful in a university environment that is inclusive and respectful of diverse groups of people. During orientation all news students participate in Pluralism in Action, a session exploring issues related to diversity and tolerance.Some specific programs, like the Georgetown Community Scholars Summer Program, give us the benefit of time over the summer to address issues in more depth. In addition to diversity, some examples of this in-depth programming include sessions on financial literacy and healthy relationships.In the instance that students make administrators aware of religious or personal objections to any training or programs, the university works to provide alternative approaches to fulfill these requirements in concert with students’ beliefs”.
I also received this anonymous response from another eyewitness who does not agree with the eyewitness accounts above:
“This is really sad how blown out of proportion this is getting. The sources are faulty and biased. I’m a Community Scholar and I am witness to the situation that night. Jarrett was in fact, loud and aggressive. These articles on the situation overly-victimize Jarrett and throw dirt on people who do not deserve it. They explained to us that he was dismissed not because of that incident, but because of a series of other incidents that he has been involved in. He was on probation in regards to the higher authorities of the program. He was not removed because of his beliefs nor was he singled out because of his beliefs. His approach was extremely aggressive and inappropriate and it left many people hurt, in fear, and upset. Of course, his best friends will “attest” to what they claim happened and it is unfortunate how it is being portrayed. ________, the other “conservative” involved, hid behind the shadows of Jarrett as Jarrett went off on a rage that night. _______ said things like “I’m going to get my lawyer!” _______ is the recorder of the video shot during the LGBTQ workshop (WORKSHOP NOT TRAINING).
These articles are out of line and exemplifies how unreliable the media is. It is unfortunate how quickly Jarrett bit the hand that fed him. The very least he could do is own up to his mistakes, learn from them humbly, and go on with life. Exaggerating, falsifying information, and completely sugarcoating his way to sympathy is pathetic and childish. 100% of us could not and WILL not vouch for him because his antics were very offensive, uncalled for, and frightening (not because of what he believes, but how far he would go verbally to make them clear).This has nothing to do with race. There are two white kids out of 52 of us. We are all minorities, including the higher authorities of this program with whom made the decision that Jarrett had to leave. Campus police being called is normal protocol for someone who is being dismissed. They are ensuring the safety of everyone on campus by escorting him out of the front gates. By being dismissed, he no longer had a reason to remain on campus, therefore STOP VICTIMIZING HIM AND SUGARCOATING THE SITUATION. So sad how someone can bash their own school, especially in order to avoid learning from one’s mistakes. Humble YOURSELVES!”
Well, there you have it, and each person can decide for themselves which version of events they find the most plausible. Of course, even with my own provocative opinions, I was not there. I know that some liberals and members of the LBGTQ community may call me “homophobic” (a misnomer I fear nor hate anyone) and others might say that I am “playing the race card”. The latter group may be correct for once. My response is a simple one: You’re damn right I’m not only playing the race card but I’m calling out the liberal agenda with it as well.I hope you all are paying close attention because this story, Jarrett’s story, is one such case where the race card has been put to proper use for once.
Posted by teemtwo on July 24, 2012 in Breaking News, In The News, Politics
Tags: black teen thrown out of Georgetown summer program, Center for Multicultural Equity & Access, Chicago, Christianity, CMEA, college, Community Scholars Program, Community scholars puts student our of program for refusing gay tolerance class, conservatism, Conservative Christian, Conservatives, Georgetown, Georgetown Police, Georgetown University, Governor Pat Quinn, homosexual, homosexual lifestyle, Jarrett Roby, Kira Davis, KiraDavis.net, LGBT, LGBT community, LGBTQ, Liberals, Religion, religious tolerance, summer program, Talitha K. McEachin, Talitha McEachin, TK McEachin, tolerance, Urban Prep Academy, Urban Prep Academy of Chicago
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Tigers take down the Hawks 2-7 and 4-5
Sacramento -
The CRC men's and women's tennis team showed much improvement against a tougher opponent but fell to Reedley College. The women's team lost 2-7 and the men's team came up short 4-5.
#1 women's single, Salma Prasad won in straight sets 7-6 and 1-6 while #3 single, Angela Hurtado won in spit sets 7-6, 4-6, 6-3.
Men's #1 single, James Cruze makes 2 wins in a row after winning in straight sets 6-0, 6-0 and #2 single, David Dazhan also winning in straight set 6-2,6-0. Both James and David also won their doubles match 8-1.
The women are back at it on Friday as they travel to Sacramento City College for a @1pm match and the men return to action on Tuesday the 27th when they travel to Modesto to take on the Pirates @1pm
Go Hawks
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Feisty Females (and Fellows): Ellen and William Craft
by Sharon Hall | Aug 15, 2014 | Feisty Females | 0 comments
In December of 1848 a man and woman, both born into slavery, devised a scheme – a ruse – which would lead them to freedom. Their reason for embarking on such a daring adventure was later eloquently stated in the opening lines of their memoir, Running A Thousand Miles:
Having heard while in Slavery that “God made of one blood all nations of men,” and also that the American Declaration of Independence says, that “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these, are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness;” we could not understand by what right we were held as “chattels.” Therefore, we felt perfectly justified in undertaking the dangerous and exciting task of “running a thousand miles” in order to obtain those rights which are so vividly set forth in the Declaration.
Ellen Craft, the light-skinned daughter of Maria and her white master, Colonel James Smith – and the half-sister of Smith’s other children – was born in Georgia in 1826. Often mistaken for one of Smith’s white children, and said to have been a great annoyance to the colonel’s wife, eleven year-old Ellen was given to her half-sister as a wedding present in 1837.
William Craft was put up for auction at the age of sixteen to settle his master’s debts and purchased by a bank cashier. William, a skilled carpenter, continued to work for a cabinet maker but following the auction his new owner took most of his wages. His parents and brother had been sold, locations unknown, and just before William had been sold he witnessed the sale of his tearful fourteen-year old sister.
William and Ellen met, fell in love and were married in 1846, although not allowed to live together because they served different masters. The separation was difficult but William and Ellen knew if children were born to their marriage they would likely be taken away from them. The thought, William wrote, “filled my wife with horror.”
Admittedly, William and Ellen’s situation wasn’t as bad as some who were enslaved in the South. Rather, it was the thought that as chattels they were deprived of their legal rights, giving their wages to “a tyrant, to enable him to live in idleness and luxury – the thought that we could not call the bones and sinews that God gave us our own; but above all, the fact that another man had the power to tear from our cradle the new-born babe and sell it in the shambles like a brute, and then scourge us if we dared to lift a finger to save it from such a fate, haunted us for years.” (Running a Thousand Miles, p. 2)
Clearly, they believed something better awaited them in the North if they could devise a successful escape from Georgia. From his work as a carpenter, William was able to save some of the wages, small though they may have been. By December of 1848 they began to seriously discuss various plans. Using the premise that slaveholders were allowed to take their slaves to other states, whether those states were slave or free, led to a carefully-crafted ruse.
Because Ellen was so fair-skinned the plan was to disguise her as a young white man since it would have been unusual for a young woman to travel with a male slave and certainly would have drawn unwanted attention. Ellen’s first reaction was one of panic, although as they talked she eventually warmed to the idea. Their plan was to ask for passes at Christmastime, something that slaveholders often granted to favored slaves.
On December 21, William cut Ellen’s long hair to neck-length. In order to disguise the lack of a beard her face was bandaged, and to disguise the fact she couldn’t read or write, her arm was placed in a sling since she (“he”) would have been asked to sign a hotel register. The bandage around her face would perhaps discourage strangers from wanting to converse. Ellen made a pair of men’s trousers, donned a top hat and chose a pair of green spectacles to further disguise herself. The hat and glasses had to be purchased so the disguise alone, save the trousers she sewed, was risky since it was forbidden for slaves to trade without their master’s consent.
Before leaving for the Macon train station the couple peeped out the window of the cottage to make sure no one was observing their movements. William whispered to his wife, “Come my dear, let us make a desperate leap for liberty!” Ellen, still in a panic, shrank back and began to sob. William assured her the plan was the only way to gain their freedom, and after a few encouraging words and a silent prayer she was able to continue.
After stepping out they shook hands and headed in different directions to the rail station. From that point on William would refer to Ellen as his master – even in his memoir William referred to Ellen as a “he.” Ellen purchased their tickets to Savannah and boarded the train. William had already hopped aboard the negro car and while waiting for the train to depart noticed his employer standing on the platform.
Of course, William feared the worst and expected at any moment to be caught. The cabinet maker looked around in Ellen’s car and headed to the negro car, but just in the nick of time the train departed and the Crafts were on their way. William later learned that his employer had heard a rumor about their planned escape, but by the time the rumor was confirmed the Crafts were safe in a northern free state.
Ellen had her own moment of panic while observing the other passengers in her car. She noticed a good friend of her master sitting nearby – he had known Ellen since her childhood! Like William, she assumed that he was there to capture her, but when Mr. Cray tried to start a conversation, Ellen looked away and feigned deafness. Cray got the hint and began conversing with others nearby – in the words of William Craft he began discussing “Niggers, Cotton, and the Abolitionists.” I’m sure Ellen breathed a sigh of relief when he exited the train at Gordon.
After the train arrived in Savannah the next step was to board a steamer bound for Charleston, South Carolina. Again, Ellen, posing as an ailing white gentleman, was able to easily board while William was consigned to walk about the deck and then rest on a pile of cotton bags until morning. Because his master was “invalid” William was allowed to accompany him to breakfast and help attend to him.
Lo and behold, Ellen was seated at the captain’s table and he (the captain) warned that Ellen should watch William like a hawk as he might get other ideas when they reached the North. A crude man, a slave dealer, interrupted and provided his own opinions: “I would not take a nigger to the North under no consideration. I have had to deal to do with niggers in my time, but I never saw one who ever had his heel upon free soil that was worth a damn.” Imagine the restraint it must have taken Ellen and William to resist responding to such crude sentiments! Instead, Ellen thanked the captain for his advice and walked out on deck to await the ship’s arrival in Charleston.
After arriving in Charleston the plan had been to continue on to Philadelphia by steamer, but they soon found there were no vessels traveling that route in the winter. Instead they took a steamer to Wilmington, North Carolina and then continued on to Richmond, Virginia via train. By Christmas Eve they had reached Baltimore, the last significant slave port before reaching a free state. Knowing that citizens and law enforcement were especially watchful of slaves attempting to reach Pennsylvania, William and Ellen were extra vigilant.
Their plans to board a train and head to Pennsylvania were almost thwarted when a railroad officer informed them that William had no right to accompany his master – another panicky moment. He thought to himself “that the good God, who had been with us thus far, would not forsake us at the eleventh hour.” After explaining the situation to Ellen they proceeded to the rail office to obtain permission to continue on together in their travels. “But, as God was our present and mighty helper in this as well as in all former trials, we were able to keep our heads up and press forwards.”
Ellen stated their case and convinced the officer that because of her injured arm she was unable to sign any documents (remember, in fact, she could neither read nor write) and after some deliberation the couple was allowed to board the train and continue their flight to freedom. Since leaving Macon three nights before the Crafts had very little opportunities for sleep, so William thought he would take a nap. However, he slept too soundly and when the train made a stop Ellen wondered where he was – quite naturally her first thought was that William had been captured and their plan had fallen apart. He was later found by a guard and hurried to assure his master that all was well.
The completion of their journey was at hand, William rejoicing and thanking God for protection and mercy. Upon arrival in Philadelphia he hurried to retrieve his master, or rather his wife, as he could now refer to her. After boarding a cab, she turned to William and exclaimed, “Thank God, William, we are safe!” – and promptly burst into tears. It was Christmas Day.
They were able to quickly connect with the underground abolitionist network in Philadelphia. Their first host was Barkley Ivens, a Quaker, and his family. Although somewhat nervous following their harrowing escape, the Crafts agreed to accept Ivens’ hospitality. Ellen’s fears were immediately allayed when she walked into the Ivens home and Mrs. Ivens assured her, “Ellen, I shall not hurt a single hair of thy head. We have heard with much pleasure of the marvelous escape of thee and thy husband, and deeply sympathise with thee in all that thou hast undergone. I don’t wonder at thee, poor thing, being timid; but thou needs not fear us; we would as soon send one of our own daughters into slavery as thee; so thou mayest make thyself quite at ease!”
After a sumptuous supper, the Ivens inquired as to whether Ellen and William could read. Upon finding they were illiterate, the Ivens family offered to teach them to read and write – now! The table was cleared and out came the spelling and copy books, pencils and slates. Both Ellen and William had a rudimentary knowledge of the alphabet but not the ability to write the characters. Even though they wondered whether at their advanced age they could learn, the Ivens family was insistent that they continue. After three weeks, Ellen and William were able to spell and write their names quite well.
Their plan was to continue on to Boston, but their parting with the Ivens family was bittersweet, having found friends who in a short time became like family to them. After settling in Boston, the Crafts found work, he as a cabinet maker and she as a seamstress. All was well until 1850 when the Fugitive Slave Bill was passed by Congress.
The new law mandated that persons in free states could no longer provide aid and comfort to fleeing slaves. Instead they would be compelled to report them so they could be returned to their masters. The Crafts’ former masters sent agents to find them, took out warrants and placed them in the hands of the United States Marshal. However, the Reverend Samuel May, a Boston minister, intervened with a letter outlining Ellen and William’s plight, including their daring escape two years earlier.
Still, their masters pressed for the Crafts’ return. After much deliberation, William and Ellen Craft decided to flee their country and migrate to Britain – slavery had been abolished there in 1833. Not until they reached Britain’s shores did they feel “free from every slavish fear.” They were aided by abolitionists who arranged for them to receive an education in Surrey. In 1852 Ellen, having learned to read and write quite well, published a pamphlet which was circulated widely in both Britain and the United States:
So I write these few lines merely to say that the statement is entirely unfounded, for I have never had the slightest inclination whatever of returning to bondage; and God forbid that I should ever be so false to liberty as to prefer slavery in its stead. In fact, since my escape from slavery, I have gotten much better in every respect than I could have possibly anticipated. Though, had it been to the contrary, my feelings in regard to this would have been just the same, for I had much rather starve in England, a free woman, than be a slave for the best man that ever breathed upon the American continent.
Ellen and William Craft had five children and remained in England for almost two decades before making the decision, despite what she wrote in 1852, to return to their homeland following the Civil War’s conclusion. Two of their children remained in England. In 1870 they purchased eighteen hundred acres of land near Savannah and founded the Woodville Cooperative Farm School in 1873. Ku Klux Klan members had burned their first plantation in South Carolina, and following white opposition in Georgia, resulting in bankruptcy, the school was closed in 1878.
The Crafts moved to Charleston in 1890 to live with their daughter Ellen. Ellen Craft passed away in 1891 and William in 1900. She had overcome so much in her life and in 1996 Ellen Smith Craft was named as a Georgia Woman of Achievement. If you would like to read more about Ellen and William Craft, you will find a free on-line version here – just 111 pages and an enlightening read.
THE HOUSE NEGRO AND THE FIELD NEGRO (2009 animation) | Moorbey'z Blog - […] Feisty Females (and Fellows): Ellen and William Craft […]
Feisty, Far-Out, Feudin’ and Fightin’ Fridays: In Case You Missed These | Diggin' History - […] Feisty Females (and Fellows): Ellen and William Craft – Ellen Craft was the light-skinned daughter of her slave mother…
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Saunderson, Hugh H. 1904-1984 (x) ›
COTC cadets (x) ›
A photograph of the "A" company of the 196th Overseas Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. This company was made up of recruits from western universities, including members of the University of Manitoba COTC. This black-and-white photograph was taken at Camp Hughes, near Carberry, Manitoba, in 1916.
A photograph of the "A" company of the 196th Overseas Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. This company was made up of recruits from western universities, including members of the University of Manitoba COTC. This black-and-white photograph was taken ay Camp Hughes, near Carberry, Manitoba, in 1916.
A photograph of Canadian Air Force officers posted overseas. Left to right: R. Parr; Joyce McKay, posted to London, England; Mrs. C. K. Taylor; and Keith Taylor, posted to Metz, France. This black-and-white photograph depicts the four people attending a COTC Tri-Service Ball.
A photograph of a group of COTC cadets on a raft at Canadian Forces Base Shilo. This black-and-white photograph was taken sometime after the First World War.
A photograph of a group of mounted COTC cadets in formation at Canadian Forces Base Shilo. This black-and-white photograph was taken sometime after the First World War.
A photograph of a group of COTC cadets outside a sod house at Canadian Forces Base Shilo. This black-and-white photograph was taken sometime after the First World War.
A photograph of a bridge at Canadian Forces Base Shilo, sometime after World War I.
A photograph of a group of COTC cadets in the field with a PIAT gun during training. Some of the men in the photograph are identified: C.D. Berg, Harasawich, Haywood, Winkler, Peever.
A photograph of a group of COTC cadets outdoors at training camp. This black-and-white photograph was taken in 1945.
A photograph of nine COTC cadets sitting at tables with paper and pen during a training session.
A photograph of nine COTC cadets standing in rows outdoors during a training session. An officer is instructing them.
A photograph of five COTC cadets using an anti-aircraft gun on the University of Manitoba campus.
A photograph of the University of Manitoba COTC curling team. This black-and-white photograph depicts the four unidentified men holding brooms and standing with several curling rocks.
A photograph of the COTC curling team. The four unidentified members are standing on a curling rink, holding brooms, with three rocks at their feet.
A photograph of a COTC member and two officers. One officer is holding a trophy while the other looks on.
A photograph of two unidentified men, one in uniform, speaking to each other. One is holding a box.
A photograph of four COTC members standing next to and looking at the engine of a military jeep parked outside the Administration Building at the University of Manitoba.
A photograph of COTC staff officers and members at the Namao Canadian Air Force base in Alberta. This black-and-white photograph, taken in the winter of 1962, depicts 13 men standing outdoors next to a plane.
A photograph of people in a receiving line at a Tri-Service Ball.
A photograph of people eating and having conversations at aTri-Service Ball.
A photograph of people walking around a buffet table at a Tri-Service Ball.
A photograph of people greeting each other at a Tri-Service Ball.
A photograph of people in a receving line at a Tri-Service Ball.
A photograph of people eating and having a conversation at a Tri-Service ball.
A photograph of people shaking hands at a Tri-Service ball.
A photograph of six students at a Tri-Service Ball.
A photograph of the commanding officers of the University ROTC and their wives. Left to right: Ruth Bellan, Ruben C. Bellan, Mary Bennett, Lawrence Bennett, Rosa Robinson, and Arthur G. Robinson.
A photograph of two men and two women shaking hands at a Tri-Service ball.
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The Holy See and Cardinal Pell
Cardinal George Pell’s December 2018 conviction on charges of “historic sexual abuse” was a travesty of justice, thanks in part to a public atmosphere of hysterical anti-Catholicism — a fetid climate that had a devastating impact on the possibility of his receiving a fair trial. How else does one explain how 12 jurors, presented with uncorroborated charges refuted by overwhelming evidence that the alleged crimes could not have happened, completely reversed the overwhelming pro-acquittal vote delivered by a hung jury in the cardinal’s first trial last year?
Cardinal Pell knew from hard personal experience how virulent the anti-Catholic atmosphere in Australia had become. As a member of the College of Cardinals and a senior Vatican official, Pell enjoyed Vatican citizenship and held a Vatican diplomatic passport; he could have stayed put, untouchable by the Australian authorities. Yet he freely decided to submit himself to his country’s criminal justice system. He knew he was innocent; he was determined to defend his honor and that of the Church; and he believed in the rectitude of the Australian courts. So he went home.
It is not unreasonable to suggest that the Australian justice system has thus far failed one of Australia’s most distinguished sons, who had put his trust in it. The police went on a tawdry fishing expedition for something-on-Pell. (Who, one wonders, set that in motion? And why?) A preliminary hearing sent the subsequent charges to trial, although the hearing magistrate said that, were she a juror, she wouldn’t vote for conviction on several of alleged crimes. The first trial proved the cardinal innocent, and the re-trial returned an irrational verdict unsupported by any evidence, corroborating or otherwise. The media gag order placed on both trials, although likely intended to dampen the circus atmosphere surrounding the case, in fact relieved the prosecution of having to defend its weird and salacious charges in public.
So as of early March, the cardinal is in jail, in solitary confinement, allowed a few visitors a week, as well as a half-dozen books and magazines at a time. But he is not permitted to say Mass in his cell, on the bizarre grounds that prisoners are not allowed to lead religious services in prisons in the State of Victoria and wine is not permitted in cells.
Given all this, it is not easy to understand why, the day after the conviction was announced publicly, the interim Vatican press spokesman, Alessandro Gisotti, reiterated the mantra that has become habitual in Vatican commentary on the Pell case: the Holy See, Gisotti said, has “maximum respect for the Australian judicial authorities.”
Why say this? It is precisely the Australian judiciary (and the lynch-mob atmospherics in Melbourne and elsewhere) that is on trial today in the global court of public opinion. There was no need for such gratuitous puffery. Mr. Gisotti could have, and should have, said that the Holy See awaits with interest and concern the results of the appeal process, and hopes that justice will be done. Period. Full stop. No flattery. Above all, no hint of a suggestion that the Holy See believes that the Australian police and judicial authorities have done their job fairly, impartially, and respectably thus far.
Shortly after Mr. Gisotti’s comment, it was announced that the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith was beginning its own canonical inquiry into the Pell case. In theory, and one hopes in practice, the CDF investigation can be helpful: properly conducted, it will exonerate Cardinal Pell of the preposterous charges on which he was convicted, because there is zero evidence that the cardinal abused two choirboys and ample evidence that the abuse could not have occurred in the circumstances in which it allegedly happened. So justice can be done by the Holy See, whatever the ultimate outcome in Australia.
For the sake of an old friend, but also for the sake of Australia’s reputation in the world, I hope that the appeal process, which begins in early June, will vindicate Cardinal Pell — and the faith he has put in his countrymen and the Australian judicial system. The latter is and should be under the closest scrutiny by fair-minded people, however. The Holy See should take note of that, and should therefore resist any further temptations to render a gauzy, and certainly premature, verdict on “the Australian judicial authorities.”
Featured image by CON CHRONIS/AFP/Getty Images
COMING UP: Cardinal Pell: Our Dreyfus Case
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Cardinal Pell: Our Dreyfus Case
In December 1894, Captain Alfred Dreyfus of the French Army was convicted of treason on the grounds that he had given military secrets to France’s mortal enemy, Germany. The charge was false; Dreyfus, a Jew, was framed. His trial was surrounded by mass hysteria and people with no grasp of the facts celebrated when Dreyfus was condemned to life imprisonment on Devil’s Island in French Guiana, the horrors of which were vividly captured in the film Papillon.
The Dreyfus Affair roiled French politics for the better part of a generation, pitting “Dreyfusards” (mainly secularist and republican) against anti-Dreyfusards (primarily royalist and Catholic). The stench of anti-Semitism hung over it all; one Catholic who refused to succumb to that ancient psychosis was Pope Leo XIII, who told the editor of the Paris newspaper Figaro that Dreyfus’s suffering reminded him of Calvary. In 1906, the Dreyfusards saw their man vindicated, but the wounds in French society caused by the Dreyfus Affair remained open and festering long after Dreyfus returned to the army and served honorably in World War I.
The conviction of Cardinal George Pell in December 2018 on charges of “historic sexual abuse” is this generation’s Dreyfus Affair.
Ever since those charges were laid a year and a half ago, an atmosphere of public hysteria, fueled by secularist anti-Catholicism, has surrounded the case. That hysteria was intensified by the global Catholic sex abuse crisis, despite the fact that Cardinal Pell had been the leading Australian bishop fighting sex abuse. It is inconceivable that this Dreyfus-like public atmosphere did not have a distorting effect on Cardinal Pell’s two trials. Though the trials were held under an Australian media blackout, irrationality and venom, stoked by media bias, had already done their work.
The cardinal’s first trial last fall ended in a hung jury that voted 10-2 for acquittal (the jury foreman wept on reporting the deadlock). The second trial, amazingly, ended with a 12-0 verdict for conviction: even though the accuser’s charges were never corroborated by anyone; even though police incompetence in investigating the alleged scene of the crime was fully demonstrated; and even though the cardinal’s defense showed that 10 implausible things would have had to occur simultaneously, within a carefully controlled space of Melbourne’s St. Mary’s Cathedral, for the charges to be true.
There are obvious dissimilarities between the Dreyfus affair and the Pell case: Dreyfus was defended by secular people, while the attacks on George Pell over the past quarter-century have come, in the main, from aggressive secularists. The unhinged loathing of French royalists and anti-Semites for the Jewish bogeyman Alfred Dreyfus is, however, ominously similar to the unhinged loathing of secular progressives for the bogeyman George Pell. Dreyfus embodied the fears and hatreds of royalist Frenchmen still fighting against the French Revolution; Cardinal Pell embodies what the cultural and political left in Australia fears and hates: Christian doctrinal and moral orthodoxy, including the robust defense of the right to life from conception until natural death and a commitment to marriage rightly understood. Further, Pell compounded his offenses in the eyes of his enemies by relishing public debates in which he challenged the shibboleths of the politically correct on everything from climate change to the New Atheism.
To the anti-Dreyfusards, Captain Alfred Dreyfus had no business in the French Army and was unfit to participate in a properly ordered French society; so he had to be destroyed. According to those who created a rancid public atmosphere in Australia, in which a 10-2 verdict for acquittal could be flipped to a unanimous verdict for conviction on uncorroborated and unproven charges, Cardinal George Pell must be destroyed, so that Australia’s revolution of lifestyle libertinsm and political progressivism can proceed, unimpeded.
Cardinal Pell is now in jail awaiting sentencing, after which he will appeal his unwarranted and unjust conviction. Anyone who cares about justice, be they religious or not, must hope that the appellate panel of judges concludes that Pell’s conviction was what Australian law calls an “unsafe verdict” – one the jury could not rationally have reached on the evidence. Yet even if justice is done and Cardinal Pell is freed, Australia, and the rest of the West, is going to have to think long and hard about how this travesty could have happened – just as France did after the Dreyfus Affair.
Featured image by Daniel Ibanez/CNA
©1999-2016 Archdiocese of Denver. All rights reserved.
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Sights to see on The Malahide Castle & Howth Tour
Malahide Castle
This magnificent 12th century castle was built after the Norman invasion of Ireland by the Talbot family, who lived here from 1185 to 1973, when the last member of the Talbot family died. The house is furnished with beautiful period furniture together with an extensive collection of Irish portrait paintings, mainly from the National Gallery. Its breathtaking expansive gardens are great for a stroll and are perfect for those photo snapshots! Afterwards,the Avoca Café which overlooks the Walled Botanic Gardens, is great for a bite to eat!
The Casino, Marino
The Casino was built in the 18th Century and is considered one of the finest neo-classical buildings in Europe. The Casino, meaning “small house” surprisingly has 16 rooms and is decorated with ornate plasterwork and richly patterned marquetry floors.
Howth is a small village with a thriving fishing industry and is a very popular sub-urban resort on the north side of Dublin City. Here, you will find a collection of brilliant hiking trails and scenic views of Dublin Bay that are definitely worth checking out. For brilliant views of the cliffs and Lambay Island, try the Bog of the Frogs loop. This starts at Howth harbour and ends at Howth Head. There are 4 hiking routes in total, so there is something for every level of walker. Afterwards,you can sample its best fish and chips along Howth pier.
Malahide Village and Marina
Malahide Marina and Village is a stunning location with scenic views and a fully serviced marina. It also has a wide variety of restaurants to choose from. Some of the main attractions of the area include an historical castle and botanic gardens, which will definitely get you cameras snapping!
Clontarf offers some of the most stunning views of Dublin Bay. The town has retained its charm with St. Anne’s Park nearby and is also the home of some of the most unique flora and fauna. This is located at the Bull Island Nature Reserve.
North Bull Island
North Bull Island is located in on the north side of Dublin Bay. It has built up gradually over 200 years after a manmade sea wall was built to prevent silting at the mouth of the river Liffey and to maintain a clear route for incoming ships to Dublin port.
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Home » Substance Use Treatment in State and Federal Prisons
Substance Use Treatment in State and Federal Prisons
"The percentage of recent drug users in State prison who reported participation in a variety of drug abuse programs rose from 34% in 1997 to 39% in 2004 (table 9). This increase was the result of the growing percentage of recent drug users who reported taking part in self-help groups, peer counseling and drug abuse education programs (up from 28% to 34%). Over the same period, the percentage of recent drug users taking part in drug treatment programs with a trained professional was almost unchanged (15% in 1997, 14% in 2004).
"Participation in drug abuse programs also increased among Federal inmates who had used drugs in the month before their offense, from 39% in 1997 to 45% in 2004. While there was no change in percentage of these inmates who had undergone drug treatment with a trained professional (15% in both years), the percentage taking part in other drug abuse programs rose from 32% in 1997 to 39% in 2004."
Mumola, Christopher J., and Karberg, Jennifer C., "Drug Use and Dependence, State and Federal Prisoners, 2004," (Washington, DC: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Dept. of Justice, Oct. 2006) NCJ-213530, p. 8.
http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub...
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European Judicial Network
(in civil and commercial matters)
Small claims - Lithuania
Please note that the original language version of this page has been amended recently. The language version you are now viewing is currently being prepared by our translators.
1 Existence of a specific small claims procedure
1.1 Scope of procedure, threshold
1.2 Application of procedure
1.3 Forms
1.4 Assistance
1.5 Rules concerning the taking of evidence
1.6 Written procedure
1.7 Content of judgment
1.8 Reimbursement of costs
1.9 Possibility to appeal
Chapter XXIV of Part IV of the Code of Civil Procedure (Civilinio proceso kodeksas) of the Republic of Lithuania sets out the national small claims procedure.
European small claims are dealt with pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 861/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 July 2007 establishing a European Small Claims Procedure, and European small claims cases are heard under the general rules for dispute resolution proceedings, with the exceptions laid down in the Law of the Republic of Lithuania implementing European Union and international legislation governing civil proceedings (Civilinį procesą reglamentuojančių Europos Sąjungos ir tarptautinės teisės aktų įgyvendinimo įstatymas).
The national small claims procedure is applicable to monetary claims of up to LTL 5 000 (approximately EUR 1 450).
The European Small Claims Procedure is applicable to civil claims not exceeding EUR 2 000. The procedure does not apply to cases concerning: the status or legal capacity of natural persons; rights in property arising out of a matrimonial relationship, maintenance obligations, wills and succession; bankruptcy, proceedings relating to the winding-up of insolvent companies or other legal persons, social insurance, arbitrage, employment law, tenancies of immovable property, with the exception of actions on monetary claims, and violations of privacy and of rights relating to personality, including defamation.
The procedure has been applicable since 1 January 2009. European small claims cases are heard by district courts under the rules of territorial jurisdiction laid down in the Code of Civil Procedure of the Republic of Lithuania, i.e. by the district courts of towns or districts.
In the cases specified in Articles 4(3) and 5(7) of Regulation (EC) No 861/2007, the court must inform the applicant/defendant that he/she is entitled to file a claim/counterclaim not later than within 14 days of receipt of the court’s notice, in accordance with the requirements set out in the Code of Civil Procedure of the Republic of Lithuania. Where the applicant/defendant does not file a properly executed claim/counterclaim with the court within the time limit set in paragraph 1 of this article, the application is deemed not to have been filed and is returned to the applicant/defendant by a court order. A separate appeal may be lodged against such an order.
The forms are provided by the courts or can be downloaded from the website of the National Courts Administration http://www.teismai.lt/en/ and the court services website https://e.teismas.lt/lt/public/home/.
The presence of a legal representative/lawyer is not required. The courts provide assistance in the completion of forms, but do not advise on the merits of a claim.
Collection of evidence is governed by Chapter XIII of Part II of the Code of Civil Procedure.
Under the national small claims procedure, the court hearing a case may itself decide on the form and procedure for hearing the case. An oral hearing may be held where at least one party has submitted such a request. Under a written procedure, the persons involved in the case are not summoned and do not attend the court hearing. The persons involved in the case are notified of a written procedure in accordance with Article 133(3) of the Code of Civil Procedure. If a case is heard on the merits under a written procedure, the date, time and place of the court hearing as well as the composition of the court are announced on a special website ( http://pranesimai.teismai.lt/teismu_pranesimai/) at least seven days before the date of the hearing, except in the cases specified by the Code, where the parties are notified under a different procedure. The said information is also provided by the court office.
Under the national small claims procedure, the court’s decision must have introductory and operative parts and make a brief statement of reasons.
A court fee (žyminis mokestis) in the amount set in Article 80(1)(1) of the Code of Civil Procedure of the Republic of Lithuania is charged on small claims. It totals 3 % of the amount of the claim, but is no less than LTL 50.
Article 29 of the Law provides that the decisions of Lithuanian courts adopted under the European small claims procedure are subject to appeal. The appeal procedure is governed by Articles 301–333 of the Lithuanian Code of Civil Procedure. In accordance with Article 307(1) of the Code, where grounds for appeal exist, an appeal may be filed within 30 days of the date of the court decision.
The national language version of this page is maintained by the respective EJN contact point. The translations have been done by the European Commission service. Possible changes introduced in the original by the competent national authority may not be yet reflected in the translations. Neither the EJN nor the European Commission accept responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to any information or data contained or referred to in this document. Please refer to the legal notice to see copyright rules for the Member State responsible for this page.
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Anadarko Petroleum Corporation
Anadarko Petroleum Corporation is among the largest US independent exploration and production companies and one of the Eagleford’s largest producers, with roughly 388,000 gross acres in Dimmit, LaSalle, Maverick and Webb Counties.
In March of 2011, Anadarko made headlines in announcing a deal with the Korea National Oil Corporation (KNOC). KNOC earned a 33% interest in Anadarko's Maverick Basin assets for $1.55 billion (>$16,000 per acre). KNOC received 80,000 net acres in the liquids-rich Eagle Ford Shale oil play and 16,000 additional acres prospective for the deeper Pearsall Shale gas formation. The Eagle Ford JV was built with plans to drill horizontal wells that target oil in the Eagle Ford. KNOC also participates with Anadarko in its oil & gas gathering systems and facilities.
Anadarko's operations are weighted towards resource plays in Texas and the southern US, Rocky Mountains region in Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah, as well as the Appalachian region in Pennsylvania. Anadarko's stock is listed on the NASDAQ as APC. The company along with Western Gas LP markets natural gas, crude oil, condensate, and oil and natural gas liquids (NGLs). The companies also operate natural gas gathering, treating, and processing systems. Anadarko Petroleum Corporation also has operations in Alaska, Algeria, Brazil, China, East Africa, West Africa, Ghana, Indonesia, and New Zealand. The company was founded in 1959 and is headquartered in The Woodlands, Texas. Anadarko's Carrizo Springs office serves as the field office for the Eagle Ford Shale and other Maverick Basin properties.
Eagle Ford Shale Oil & Gas Discussion Forum
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Counties Where Anadarko is Active
Anadarko Eagle Ford Shale Map
Dimmit County
Frio County
Maverick County
McMullen County
Webb County
Zavala County
Anadarko Eagle Ford Shale Quarterly Commentary
Anadarko reported first quarter results that include a net loss of $1.034 billion. The company's capital investment in the Eagle Ford for the first quarter was $37 million with production at 76 MBOE/d compared to 88MBOE/d for the same period last year. The company currently has zero rigs running in the region.
Anadarko Petroleum Corporation released its third quarter financials, revealing it won’t be chasing growth any time soon. Company leaders reported a net loss of $2.235 billion. CEO Al Walker emphasized that the company is has stepped out of a growth mode and is instead focusing on reducing costs and improving operating efficiencies to deal with the downturn.
Anadarko's second quarter financials showed a 73% decrease in profits over last year and a reluctance to pinpoint when they will return to growth mode. CEO Al Walker expressed the caution felt by many in the industry as crude prices continue to fluctuate. Margins remain low for the company as costs outstrip service providers’ ability to cut prices.
The uncertainty is particularly acute around operations in the shale plays, including the Eagle Ford. Walker was hesitant to commit to a timeline for moving back into a growth mode in the shale plays, saying that they do multi-year planning and can’t make predictions based on quarterly results.
Anadarko released its initial capital expectations for 2015 that included a 30% spending cut from last year and plans to reduce its Eagle Ford rig count. The company considers the Eagle Ford to be one of the strongest parts of its portfolio and reported making more than 20 percent rates of return in this activity in 2014. The company expects production to continue to rise in the Eagle Ford even exceeding the 250,000 BOE per day in 2014. Due to low oil prices, they will reduce running rigs by half. The company plans to drill another 200 wells but will defer the completion on many until prices stabilize.
The Eagleford Shale contributed to Anadarko's first-quarter 2014 record U.S. onshore sales volumes with a 46-percent year-over-year increase in liquids production, more than half of which was oil. Total liquids sales volumes averaged more than 40,600 b/d. Anadarko’s net Ealge Ford sales volumes for the quarter averaged more than 59,000 boe/d, an increase of 41% relative to the 1st quarter of 2013.
During the first quarter, the company drilled 102 wells in an average 8.1 days per well utilizing 10 rigs and brought 110 new wells on line to sales. The company's capital investment was $244 million.
Anadarko’s Eagleford Shale activity delivered net sales volumes of 39,100 BOE/d in the quarter, representing a 71% increase over the 4 the quarter of 2011 and a 7% increase over the 3rd quarter of 2012. The company set a daily net production record of more than 54,400 BOE/d during the quarter, corresponding to a daily gross processed production record of approximately 125,600 BOE/d.
During the quarter, the company averaged nine operated rigs, and improved average spud-to-rig-release to 9.2 days, with a record of 5.4 days. Due to these increased drilling efficiencies, the company was able to transfer one rig out of the area and release a spudder rig, and still is expected to drill more wells using eight rigs in 2013 than it did with 10 rigs in 2012.
Anadarko continued its midstream development activity by extending its oil gathering pipeline from Gardendale to Cotulla and increasing its natural gas gathering system capacity to 350 MMcf/d, with additional expansions planned in 2013.
Construction of the Brasada natural gas plant remains on schedule for a 2nd quarter 2013 startup. The 200 MMcf/d plant is capable of recovering approximately 30,000 barrels per day of NGLs.
Anadarko’s Eagleford Shale delivered sales volumes of 36,400 BOE/d in the quarter, more than doubling sales volumes from the 3rd quarter of 2011 and increasing sales volumes by 23% over the 2nd quarter of 2012. The company set a weekly net production record of more than 39,000 boe/d during the quarter and daily gross processed production record estimated at approximately 112,000 boe/d.
During the quarter, the company operated nine conventional rigs, one spudder rig and three dedicated 24-hour completion crews. The company spud 76 wells, completed 56 wells and achieved first production from 61 wells.
Anadarko drilled 28 wells during the quarter in less than 10 days from spud-to-rig-release as it continues to realize drilling efficiencies throughout the field.
During the quarter, Anadarko enhanced its ability to deliver uninterrupted sales volumes by installing booster turbines at the company’s primary delivery points.
In the Eagleford Shale, the company set a spud-to-rig-release cycle time record of 6.8 days during the quarter. The average cycle time for the quarter improved by 15% to 10.5 days relative to 12.4 days during the 1st quarter of 2012.
Anadarko’s average sales volumes for the quarter were approximately 29,700 BOE/d, which represents an increase of 132% over the 2nd quarter of 2011.
During the quarter, the company set a record for weekly net production of more than 32,300 BOE/d, while gross processed production approached 100,000 BOE/d.
Also during the quarter, Anadarko spud 70 wells, completed 50 wells and achieved first production from 44 wells. The company operated nine conventional rigs and one spudder rig throughout the quarter. The average cycle time improved by 15% to 10.5 days as compared to 12.4 days during the 1st quarter of 2012.
Anadarko doubled the number of identified locations in the Eagle Ford in the quarter to 4,000 and increased net resources to 600 million boe. Average sales volumes were 27,300 boe/d in the quarter and the company set a weekly record of 30,200 boe/d. The company started drilling on 69 wells, completed 74 wells and achieved first production on 59 wells. The company operates 10 rigs and 1 spudder rig. The Brasada Gas Processing Plant also came online during the quarter and added 200 mmcf/d of capacity. The plant will have an ultimate capacity of 455 mmcf/d when it is completed in mid-2013.
By continuing to focus capital investments on our liquids-rich opportunities, we achieved 10-percent year-over-year growth in liquids sales volumes, highlighted by production records in the Eagleford Shale, Wattenberg field, Greater Natural Buttes area, Bone Spring and certain other U.S. onshore resource plays. Anadarko accelerated production growth in the liquids-rich Eagleford Shale during 2011, exiting the year with gross volumes of approximately 77,000 BOE per day in the play, with a liquids yield of more than 65 percent. The growth in this highly economic field was aided by the company's entry into a $1.6 billion joint venture and major expansions in midstream infrastructure, and strategic service agreements.
"Anadarko exited the quarter with gross production of 66,000 BOE/d, which represents growth of 47% over the 2nd quarter exit rate of 45,000 BOE/d. For the quarter, oil sales volumes increased almost 150% compared to the sam period in 2010. During the quarter, the company spud 56 wells using 10 rigs and one spudder rig, and achieved first production from 37 wells. Anadarko initiated delivery to the Copano pipeline during the quarter and now has three main gathering and processing systems available for natural gas delivery."
Anadarko Q3 Operations Update
“During the quarter, Anadarko closed its approximate $1.6 billion Eagleford joint-venture agreement with a subsidiary of Korea National Oil Corporation (KNOC). Under the terms of this taxefficient agreement, KNOC earns approximately one-third of Anadarko’s interest in the company’s Maverick Basin assets in exchange for funding approximately 100% of capital costs in the play during the remainder of 2011 and up to 90% of costs thereafter until the carry is exhausted, which is expected to occur prior to the end of 2013. Anadarko exited the quarter with gross production of 45,000 BOE/d, which compares to the exit rate of 36,000 BOE/d at the end of the first quarter of 2011– a growth of about 25%....”
“Anadarko recently closed its $1.6 billion Eagleford joint-venture agreement with a subsidiary of KNOC. Under the terms of the agreement, KNOC will fund approximately 100 percent of capital costs in the play for the remainder of this year and up to 90 percent of costs thereafter until the carry is exhausted, which is expected to occur prior to the end of 2013. KNOC also exercised its option to acquire an approximate 25% interest in associated midstream assets for reimbursement of an additional $38 million. Already the largest producer in the Eagleford, the company increased average weekly net production from 14,400 BOE/d at year-end 2010 to approximately 20,000 BOE/d at the end of the 1st quarter of 2011...…”
Source: Anadarko Petroleum Corporation
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Top StoriesFeaturedClimate Politics & PolicyLiving PlanetEnergy & EconomicsClimate & Earth SciencesHumanity In The AnthropoceneLand & AgricultureNews & OpinionBiodiversityOceans & ForestsFeatured Post
PlanetWatch
Climate Politics & Policy
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Climate & Earth Sciences
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Earth Maven
U.S. Cities are Tackling Climate Change
byGina-Marie Cheeseman
Jan 23 -edited
U.S. cities tackle climate change, lead in the failure of national government
Although the U.S. pulled out of the Paris climate treaty, cities across the country are doing what they can to tackle climate change. Cities play an important part in limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees. That’s the limit that is necessary to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. Achieving that goal requires big changes as soon as possible, according to a new report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Making those changes will result in lower global sea level rise, the Arctic Ocean being free of sea ice in summer once per century, and coral reefs declining by 70 to 90 percent instead of virtually all of them being lost with a 2 degrees rise.
New York, the nation’s most populous city, held a recent hearing on proposed legislation to fight climate change. The legislation would require all large buildings in the city to reduce their pollution by over 80 percent through upgrading to high energy efficiency standards. Buildings are the biggest source of climate pollution in the city, responsible for about 70 percent of all the city’s emissions.
The proposed legislation, if passed, would be the first of its kind in the world and would reduce climate pollution from covered buildings by over 40 percent by 2030 and over 80 percent by 2050. The least-efficient and most polluting large buildings will be required to reduce their pollution in 2022.
Cities across the U.S. have climate change plans in place
Over 90 cities have adopted 100 percent clean energy goals. And six U.S. cities have met that goal: Aspen, Burlington, Georgetown, Greensburg, Rock port, and Kodiak Island. Those six cities generate 100 percent of the energy used by their communities from renewable sources. Other cities have publicly committed to reduce carbon emissions and addressing climate change.
Los Angeles has an ambitious plan called Sustainability City pLAn which requires the nation’s second most populous city to achieve zero waste by 2025. The city already has the highest recycling rate of any big city in the U.S. The plan also calls for the city to increase its local solar power. The city has the greatest amount of solar power in terms of installed capacity megawatt of any U.S. city.
Charlotte, North Carolina recently released a plan to decrease its carbon emissions. Under the plan, the city will achieve almost zero carbon emissions from its buildings and vehicle fleet by 2030, and lower the per-capita carbon emissions from its residents. Charlotte received a $2.5 million grant from former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s foundation to implement its climate change plan. Charlotte is one of 20 cities the Bloomberg American Cities Climate Challenge picked to receive grants.
Minneapolis has a climate action plan that requires the city to decrease its greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2050. The city will increase its buildings energy efficiency by retrofitting existing buildings and improving the design of new buildings. The city will also accelerate the transition to renewable energy in buildings and transportation.
Cleveland, Ohio launched its first climate action plan in 2013. Part of the plan is to have 25 percent of electricity use in the city come from renewable sources by 2030, with 15 percent by 2022. The plan also requires the city to achieve a landfill diversion rate of at least 50 percent by 2030 for both residential and commercial waste in Cuyahoga County by 2030.
Photo by Jonathan Roger on Unsplash
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Andrew Wheeler and the Water-Climate Nexus
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The Interior Department Wants to Restrict Public Requests for Information
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Standardisation has played a leading role in creating the EU Single Market. Standards support market-based competition and help ensure the interoperability of complementary products and services. They reduce costs, improve safety, and enhance competition. Due to their role in protecting health, safety, security, and the environment, standards are important to the public. The EU has an active standardisation policy that promotes standards as a way to better regulation and enhance the competitiveness of European industry.
Evolution of standardisation policy in the EU
The Joint Initiative on Standardisation
The Joint Initiative on Standardisation, as foreseen under the Single Market Strategy, sets out an innovative way of achieving priorities through an open public-private co-operation.
In the standardisation package of 1 June 2016, the Commission sets out its vision for a single and efficient standardisation policy that adapts to the changing environment, supports multiple policies and brings benefits to companies, consumers and workers alike.
The Annual Union Work Programme for European standardisation
Each year the European Commission publishes an Annual Work Programme for European standardisation. The programme lays down the Commission’s intentions to use standardisation in support of new or existing legislation and policies. These intentions may lead to formal standardisation requests (mandates). The obligation to identify strategic priorities for European Standardisation for the upcoming year comes from Regulation (EU) No 1025/2012.
Communication on the annual work programme for 2018, adopted in August 2017
Communication on the annual work programme for 2017, adopted in June 2016
Communication on the annual work programme for 2016, adopted in January 2016
Communication on the annual work programme for 2015, adopted in July 2014
Communication on the annual work programme for 2014, adopted in 2013
Annual European standardisation work programme (87 kB) 2012
The list of national standardisation bodies
A list of national standardisation bodies was published in September 2013 (update 27/9/2014, update 19/10/2017). It identified 37 bodies that are subject to requirements laid down in Regulation (EU) No 1025/2012:
Article 3 Transparency of work programmes of standardisation bodies
Article 4 Transparency of standards
Article 6 Access of SMEs to standards
Article 15 and 17 regarding union financing
Regulation on European standardisation 2012
The Regulation (EU) No 1025/2012 aims to improve the procedure involved in setting European standards to make it faster and more inclusive. It was adopted in October 2012.
More Standards for Europe and faster (2011)
In 2011, the Commission proposed a series of measures to strengthen the system of standard-setting:
enhancing its cooperation with the leading standardisation organisations in Europe;
drafting European standards with the help of organisations representing those most affected, e.g. consumers, small businesses (SMEs), environmental and social organisations;
recognising the importance of the Global ICT standards that will play a more prominent role in the EU;
increasing the number of European standards for services if there is a demand from business.
Some of these actions will be implemented immediately, while others need the approval of the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union.
Communication on strategic vision for European standards
Proposal for a Regulation on European standardisation
Commission staff working paper and Commission staff working paper
Citizens‘ summary (19 KB)
Vademecum on European Standardisation is a compilation of key documents from the Commission on European standardisation policy and related practice. It provides guidance without having legal status.
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You are here: Home / Archives for Green Cars / Hybrid Cars
Chevrolet Volt is 2016 Green Car of the Year
The second-generation 2016 Chevrolet Volt has been named 2016 Green Car of the Year. This is the all-new and improved version of the groundbreaking extended range electric vehicle that first made its appearance in 2011. The Chevrolet Volt won out over other finalists Audi A3 e-tron, Honda Civic, Hyundai Sonata and Toyota Prius, mix of
2016 Green Car of the Year finalists
The annual Green Car of the Year Award acknowledges the best new eco-friendly model. This years finalists are the Audi A3 e-tron, Chevrolet Volt, Honda Civic, Hyundai Sonata and Toyota Prius, a mix of electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrid. There is no diesel on this year’s list, which may or may not have anything to
Best 2015 cars under $20,000: 2015 Toyota Prius c
What’s not to love? 53 mpg city, 46 highway, roomy cabin, sporty handling, snappy styling and a base price of $19,080. The 2015 Toyota Prius c is best buy, one of the family of Prius models that are simply the best-selling hybrids on the planet. The Prius c is the baby of the family, smaller
Free app: 50 Years of Porsche
If you are a vintage car lover, racing fan, Porsche fan, or all three, this new FREE mobile app from the editors of AutoWeek magazine will make you very vroom happy. The Essential Sportscar: 50 years of Porsche includes articles, photos, even video of famous Porsche cornering and handling on windy mountain roads and tracks.
2014 best cars for the money
Whether you are planning to spend less than $20,000 or more than $40,000 on your new car, SUV or pick-up truck, some models simply offer more value for the money than others. Here’s the list of best cars for the money according to U.S. News & World Report, by size category. Even though the list
The all-new Honda Vezel compact utility vehicle is being introduced in both gas and a next-generation hybrid model, both with impressive performance and fuel efficiency. The hybrid has a best-in-class fuel economy rating of 63.5 MPG. The 2014 Honda Vezel Hybrid features a 1.5-litre direct-injection DOHC i-VTEC engine paired with a high-output 22kW electric motor.
Porsche introduces new 2014 models
Porsche is introducing six new models at the 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show later this month. The two headliners are the world intro of the much anticipated all-new Porsche compact SUV called Macan and the North American debut of the Porsche 918 Spyder (shown here), arguably the world’s first plug-in hybrid super sports car. Plus,
2014 best buy cars, SUVs, trucks
If you are in the market for a new car, consider these 2014 best buy recommendations from the editors of Consumers Digest. The ratings are published in the December 2013 issues now on sale, and on the Consumers Digest website. The Best Buy recommendations are based on behind-the-wheel driving experience, safety ratings, ownership costs, warranty,
5 best 2014 green cars
There are plenty of fuel efficient green cars on the road. But which one is the best? The five models up for the title of 2014 Green Car of the Year award from the magazine Green Car Journal include something for everyone, including clean diesel, high efficiency gasoline, and hybrid/plug-in hybrid power featured in mainstream,
2014 Honda Accord Hybrid gets 50MPG
The all-new 50 MPG rated Honda Accord Hybrid starts rolling off the assembly line today, at the Honda factory in Marysville, Ohio. This American-made hybrid is the new fuel economy leader for four-door family-friendly sedans you don’t plug in, 3 MPG better than its chief competitors including Toyota Prius. In electric mode only, it is
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https://twitter.com/eueomjordan
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European Union Election Observation Mission Jordan, 2016
EU and election observation
EEAS homepage > EOM Jordan 2016 > Speech by High Representative/Vice-President Mogherini at the European Parliament urgency debate on Cameroon
Strasbourg, 18/04/2019 - 12:04, UNIQUE ID: 190418_6
Check against delivery!
Thank you, Mr President,
Since the elections in Cameroon last October, we have witnessed tensions in the country, particularly in the so-called 'Anglophone regions', repression of demonstrations and the narrowing of the political space.
Key opposition figures are under arrest and face military trials. More than a hundred protesters or sympathisers are facing prolonged detentions. Defence lawyers claim that Cameroon's own legal procedures are not being respected. A de facto ban has been imposed on marches and protests of the opposition, which is clearly not in line with the constitutional rights of Cameroonian citizens.
We have been following the situation closely and constantly.
On behalf of all the 28 Member States we have asked for the release of detainees against whom hard evidence cannot be produced and we asked for an immediate halt to violence, to human rights violations and hate speech. I insist on this message today and I thank you for putting this important debate on the agenda today, to stress this message in a unified manner.
Regarding the situation in the English speaking regions of the Northwest and Southwest, we have consistently called for dialogue as the only way to achieve a sustainable solution, in a non-violent and inclusive manner, respecting fundamental rights and the rule of law.
Regrettably, unlawful killings and atrocities continue to be reported regularly, allegedly involving both the security and defence forces and separatist groups. The humanitarian consequences of this situation are alarming, with about half a million internally displaced people and over 32,000 refugees from Cameroon registered in Nigeria.
We have raised our call for restraint and dialogue directly with the authorities of Cameroon. In particular, we are following closely the cases of the 47 Anglophone leaders that are in jail, insisting on the need for a fair and transparent trial.
These tensions add to the continuing attacks by Boko Haram in the Far North, as well as in Chad, Niger and Nigeria. We know that Boko Haram is not invincible, and has suffered major setbacks. Yet we are seeing civilian deaths and losses by the security forces in Cameroon.
Given that new refugees from Nigeria have lately arrived in the Far North region of Cameroon, I wish to join the recent appeals from the UNHCR that the universal principle of "non-refoulement" has to be fully respected.
These are the reasons why we need to continue our humanitarian support as part of the international humanitarian response on the various fronts. If we consider both the Internally Displaced People and the refugees coming from Nigeria and the Central African Republic, there is about one million people in need of help. I believe we have a humanitarian duty that we need to respond to.
This is something we cannot forget, when assessing our future support to the people of Cameroon.
At the same time, we will continue to push for the respect of human rights in Cameroon, and to ask to shed full light on human rights violations.
Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-170857
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Press Officer for Africa / Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management
Remarks by High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini following the Foreign Affairs Council
Statements by the Spokesperson
Statement by the Spokesperson on the 10th anniversary to commemorate the murdered human rights defender and journalist Natalia Estemirova
Council Conclusions
Iraq: Council adopts conclusions
Remarks by High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini upon arrival at the Foreign Affairs Council
European Union opens a new Delegation in Kuwait City
Les activités du Fonds fiduciaire d'urgence de l'Union européenne révolutionnent la vie à NgouriRenforcement de la résilience
4th Regional Student Debate on Accounting and Entrepreneurship Accounting students once again did put up another sensational show in the 4 th and final regional debate in Mzuzu-Northern Malawi. It was another captivating encounter between Mzuzu Technical College and Malawi College of Accountancy. All debates are organised by the Institute for Chartered
EU-ICAM Accountancy student's debates Regions: Africa Malawi Show in content:
EU-ICAM Accountancy student's debates The students debated energetically under the theme; enhancing transparency & accountability through professionalism & standards.
Grand Hyatt Towers (Zara), 10th and 11th floor
Amman 11183, Jordan
info@eueomjordan.eu
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ELAW Fellows Program
The Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide has hosted more than 190 environmental professionals from all over the world. ELAW Fellows are committed advocates who help the world's most disadvantaged communities protect the environment through law.
ELAW Fellows have gone on to do outstanding work and become respected leaders. Five ELAW Fellows later won the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize, including 2016 Goldman Prize winner Zuzana Caputova. Ms. Caputova was a 2017 ELAW Fellow and elected President of Slovakia in 2019.
ELAW designs each Fellowship to meet the Fellow's needs. We provide one-on-one training with ELAW Staff Attorneys, Scientists, and development staff, and reach out to other experts in the U.S. and around the world to help ELAW Fellows meet their training objectives.
ELAW Fellowships may include the following, and more:
One-on-one work with ELAW staff
ELAW Annual Meeting and Public Interest Environmental Law Conference
Collaborating with organizations in the Pacific Northwest
Meeting with government agencies, and attending court and public hearings
Tours of water and waste management facilities, and visits to protected areas
Intensive English study at the University of Oregon’s American English Institute
Environmental law and other classes at the University of Oregon
Public presentations and press interviews
ELAW Fellows gain skills and build strong organizations that will work to protect communities and the planet for years to come. ELAW Fellows also enrich the Eugene community and help educate Americans about environmental challenges and successes around the world.
If you are a Eugene area resident and wish to host an ELAW Fellow, or for any questions, please contact Maggie Keenan, ELAW Fellows Program Coordinator.
Current ELAW Fellows
Laura Haiselova
Laura Haiselova is an attorney on the Responsible Energy team at Frank Bold, based in Brno, Czech Republic.
Natasha Lisitcyna
Natasha Lisitcyna is a lawyer at Sakhalin Environment Watch in the Russian Far East.
ELAW Fellows, 2019
Bernis Cunningham
Bernis Cunningham is Executive Director at the Nicaragua Center of Environmental Conservation.
Issiaga Keita
Issiaga Keita is an attorney at Memes Droits pour Tous (Same Rights for All, MDT) based in Conakry, Guinea.
Csaba Kiss
Csaba Kiss is a lawyer at the Environmental Management and Law Association (EMLA) in Budapest, Hungary.
Olena Kravchenko
Olena Kravchenko is Executive Director at Environment-People-Law (EPL) in Ukraine.
Bernard Ngalim
Bernard Ngalim is a Cameroonian attorney pursuing an LLM at Northeastern University School of Law.
Ragchaa Ochirbal
Ragchaa Ochirbal is a lawyer and Lecturer at Otgontenger University in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
Juana Bilbano
Juana is the Executive Director and an attorney at the Centro por la Justicia y Derechos Humanos de la Costa Atlántica de Nicaragua (CEJUDHCAN).
Aura Tegria Cristancho
Aura Tegria Cristancho is an indignenous U'wa attorney from Colombia and legal advisor to the U’wa Association of Traditional Authorities and Councils (ASOU’WA).
Cesar Gamboa
Cesar is the Executive Director of Derecho, Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (Law, Environment and Natural Resources, DAR), a leading NGO in Peru committed to strengthening governance, advancing sustainable development, and promoting indigenous rights in the Amazon.
Miłosz Jakubowski
Milosz Jakubowski is an attorney at the Poland office of Frank Bold, where grassroots attorneys are taking the lead to keep coal in the ground in Central Europe.
Kadi-Kaisa Kaljuveer
Kadi-Kaisa Kaljuveer is an attorney at the Estonian Environmental Law Center.
Hanna Khomechko
Hanna is Development Director at the Lviv office of Environment People Law (EPL).
Brice Séverin Pongui
Brice Séverin Pongui is Executive Director of Institut Cerveau Vert 2063, a leading non-profit organization in Central Africa.
Delvin Rosalio
Delvin is the Communications Coordinator and an attorney at the Centro por la Justicia y Derechos Humanos de la Costa Atlántica de Nicaragua (CEJUDHCAN).
Damaris Santana
Damaris is an environmental lawyer at Instituto de Derecho Ambiental (IDEA), based in Guadalajara.
Tamás Börcsök
Tamás is an attorney at Hungary's Environmental Management and Law Association (EMLA) where he works to advance sustainable energy policy. He holds a PhD in International and EU Law from the University of Pécs, Hungary.
Zuzana Caputova
Zuzana Caputova is an attorney at Via Iuris. She won a 2016 Goldman Environmental Prize for spearheading a successful campaign that shut down a toxic waste dump that was poisoning the land, air and water in her community, setting a precedent for public participation in post-communist Slovakia.
David Linares
David Linares is an attorney in the Southeast office of Centro Mexicano de Derecho Ambiental (CEMDA), based in Cancun.
Kateryna Norenko
Kateryna Norenko is an environmental scientist at the Kyiv office of Environment People Law.
Eduardo Salazar
Eduardo Salazar Ortuño is an attorney who defends the public interest in environmental conflicts on behalf of citizens and NGOs. He is also a Professor and Researcher at the University of Murcia and a member of the Asociación para la Justicia Ambiental (AJÁ).
Diana Vasquez
Diana Vasquez is the Executive Director of Centro de Estudios Marinos (Center for Marine Ecology). She is a marine biologist and graduated from the National Autonomous University of Honduras with a master's degree in project management with a focus environmental education.
Samira Idllalène
Samira Idllalène is a law professor at Cadi Ayyad University. She is an expert in marine law and speaks English, French, Arabic, and her native Amazigh.
Erick Kassongo
Erick is President of the Centre Congolaise pour le Developpement Durable and a consultant with Conseil National des ONG de Développement de la République Démocratique du Congo, DRC's largest network of NGOs.
Daena Rosa Lobo
Daena Rosa Lobo is a sentencing judge in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. She participates as an expert in trainings for judges, prosecutors, and communities on environmental law and human rights.
Kristína Sabova
Kristína Sabova is a lawyer for the biggest watchdog organization in the Czech Republic -- Frank Bold. She works in the Responsible Energy Division.
Ram Charitra Sah
Ram Charitra Sah is the Executive Director and an Environmental Scientist at the Center for Public Health and Environmental Development (CEPHED) in Kathmandu, Nepal. He works to protect communities in Nepal from mercury, lead, asbestos, and other toxins.
Alla Voytsikhovska
Alla is an environmental scientist at the Lviv office of Environment People Law. She is also Associate professor and Chair of Environmental Safety and Nature Protection at Lviv Polytechnic National University.
Sebastian Bechtel
Sebastian is a legal intern at UfU and an external expert for the European Environmental Bureau. His focus is access to justice and environmental information, Environmental Impact Assessments, and environmental courts and tribunals. He holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) in International and European Law from Groningen University in the Netherlands.
Paul Zepeda Castro
Paul is an attorney volunteering with the Instituto de Derecho Ambiental de Honduras (IDAMHO). He is the 2015 Laurie Prosser and Xiaoli Jiang ELAW Fellow.
Caidan Cao
Caidan is Legal Counsel for Greenpeace East Asia. Her focus is environmental issues at national, regional and international levels, including environmental justice, consumer rights, access to information, and corporate social responsibility.
Montana Duangprapa
Montana serves as an advocacy officer at ENLAWTHAI Foundation, based in Bangkok. ENLAWTHAI has worked to control pollution at the MapTaPhut petrochemical facility, and helped clean up a lead contaminated creek in Kanchanaburi Province, the only water source for hundreds of Ethnic Karen villagers.
Irene Francis Fugara
Irene works at the Dar es Salaam-based Lawyers’ Environmental Action Team. She works on issues tied to pollution, land rights, and gender. She received her Bachelor of Laws from the University of Dar es Salaam in 2012.
Oksana Imetkhenova
Oksana is the chair of the Department of Ecology, Health and Safety at the East Siberia State University of Technology and Management in Ulan-Ude, Russia, where she also studies law. She volunteers at the Buryat Regional Organization for Lake Baikal to advance protection of the world’s oldest and deepest lake, and the surrounding forests. She holds a PhD in biology from the Buryat State University.
Jamal Juma
Jamal is Legal Program Officer at the Lawyers’ Environmental Action Team (LEAT). He trains communities on environment and land rights, organizes workshops and seminars, conducts research, and publishes policy briefs. He received his Bachelor in Law at the University of Dar es Salaam.
Elifuraha Laltaika
Eli is the founder of the Association for Law and Advocacy for Pastoralists(ALAPA), based in Arusha. He is a Fulbright alumnus and advocate for the High court of Tanzania. He holds a Master of Laws from the University of Oregon School of Law, a Master of Laws from the University of Kwazulu-Natal, and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Dar es Salaam.
Ruth Mwongeli Nzioka
Ruth is an intern at the Institute for Law and Environmental Governance (ILEG) where she says there is no better place to “learn and grow.” She received a Bachelor of Law from the School of Law at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.
Saitoti Parmelo
Saitoti is Programme Officer for Environment and Climate Change at the Association for Law and Advocacy for Pastoralists (ALAPA). He is a member of the Maasai pastoralists community in Simanjiro District and was raised in the Simanjiro game controlled area. Saitoti received a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) from Tumaini University Makumira.
Sofiya Shutiak
Sofiya is a lawyer at the Lviv office of Environment-People-Law (EPL). She represents citizen interests in court and before state authorities on a wide range of environmental matters. She also works on law reform, develops proposals for legislation, and writes for EPL’s newsletter.
Frank Tumusiime
Frank is the Coordinator and Senior Research Fellow for Advocates for Natural Resources Governance and Development (ANARDE). Frank has published studies of the oil and gas sector and facilitated trainings for Members of Parliament, the Uganda Law Society, and civil society organizations. He holds a Master of Laws and is an enrolled and a practicing Advocate of the High Court of Uganda.
Luisa Arauz
Luisa is Staff Attorney at El Centro de Incidencia Ambiental (Environmental Advocacy Center of Panama, CIAM). She developed an interest in nature and international issues at a young age from her father, a nature guide, and her mother, a diplomat. Luisa’s focus at CIAM is protecting water resources and human rights.
Liubov Balandina
Liubov is finishing her degree in environmental engineering, and is getting a second degree in law, at the East Siberia State University of Technology and Management. She volunteers at the Buryat Regional Organization for Lake Baikal to advance protection of the world’s oldest and deepest lake, and the surrounding forests.
Harriet Bibangambah
Harriet is Program/Research Officer at Greenwatch, based in Kampala, Uganda. Greenwatch promotes public participation in the sustainable use, management and protection of the environment and natural resources, and the enforcement of the Constitutional right to a clean and healthy environment. Harriet facilitates community dialogue and involvement in environmental matters. She has an MA in Management Studies from the Uganda Management Institute and a BA in Social Sciences from Makerere University.
Marco Lazcano
Marco is an attorney at Defensa Ambiental del Noroeste (DAN), an inspiring organization of dedicated environmental leaders working to protect Mexico’s Baja California. DAN is working with ELAW to challenge an enormous open pit gold mine proposed for Sierra La Laguna Biosphere Reserve, and other projects that threaten communities and ecosystems. ELAW has collaborated with DAN for 10 years.
Baigalimaa Nyamdavaa
Baigalimaa is a Program Officer at the Centre for Human Rights and Development (CHRD)'s Human Rights Advocacy Program. She is also an assistant in CHRD's project: Strengthening Environmental law and Accountability in Mongolia's Extractive Industry. She supervises law students participating in CHRD's Public Interest Law Clinic, which provides free legal services to low-income community members. She earned her law degree in 2010 from the Institute of Commerce and Business in Ulaanbaatar.
Manda Urantulkhuur
Manda is Coordinator of the Community Based Development Program at the Centre for Human Rights and Development where she works to advance the economic, social, and cultural rights of Mongolia's disenfranchised. Her program has empowered women's groups in Ulaanbaatar and Darkhan, and the provinces of Uvurkhangai, Dornod, and Khentii. Manda has a bachelor's degree in education from the Pedagogical University of Saint Petersburg, Russia, and a masters degree in Inter-Asia NGO Studies from Sungkonghoe University, South Korea.
Gonca Yilmaz
Gonca co-founded the Denge Ecological Life Foundation, based in Istanbul, and has plans for an environmental law center. She works on problems related to hydropower and coal plants, and is involved in litigation on a large dam project. She has practiced law for ten years.
Rahul Choudhary
Rahul Choudhary is an attorney with the Legal Initiative for Forest & Environment (LIFE), a non-profit organization based in New Delhi. Rahul has won big victories before the National Green Tribunal. He helped protect communities and wetlands in Chhattisgarh threatened by a coal-fueled power plant and communities in Orissa threatened by a polluting steel plant. The National Green Tribunal recently appointed Rahul to investigate claims that an incinerator in South Delhi is emitting life-threatening levels of toxic metals, including lead. Rahul is also working to protect India’s 400 remaining Asiatic lions. He helped win orders in May 2013 to re-locate part of the population, to ensure their survival. Rahul’s organization has worked closely with ELAW for many years and co-hosted the 2012 ELAW Annual Meeting, in Goa.
Nataliya Horodetska
Nataliya is Legal Advisor at Environment People Law in Lviv, Ukraine. Her work focuses on issues related to climate change, alternative energy and green tariffs, hydro power projects in the Carpathian mountains, biodiversity conservation, forest protection, access to information, and public participation. She received her Master of Law at Ivan Franko National University in 2010. She has served as Legal Advisor at EPL since 2007.
Thuli Brilliance Makama
Thuli is Swaziland's only public interest environmental attorney. After a grueling three-year legal battle, she won a landmark case to include environmental NGO representation in the Swaziland Environment Authority, reinforcing the right to public participation in environmental decision making. Thuli has collaborated with ELAW for many years to protect communities and the environment through law. Thuli is collaborating with ELAW staff and international partners to build skills and boost ELAW's work in Africa.
Benedette Mutuku
Benedette Mutuku is a Project Officer at the Institute for Law and Environmental Governance (ILEG) based in Nairobi, Kenya. Her work focuses on climate change, forest governance, Open Governance in the Extractive Sector in Africa (OGESA), land and natural resources, access to information, access to justice and public participation, and public interest environmental litigation. She earned her law degree from the University of Nairobi School of Law and has training in project management from The Kenya Institute of Management.
Bazarsad Nanjindorj
Bazarsad is an attorney and consultant at the Center for Human Rights and Development and recently founded a new organization, the Public Interest Lawyers' Initiative. Both organizations are based in Ulaanbaatar. His focus is protecting human and environmental rights in Mongolia. Bazarsad is an attorney and consultant at the Center for Human Rights and Development and recently founded a new organization, the Public Interest Lawyers' Initiative. Both organizations are based in Ulaanbaatar. His focus is protecting human and environmental rights in Mongolia.
Laura Palmese
Laura Palmese is a public interest environmental attorney at Instituto de Derecho Ambiental de Honduras (IDAMHO, Environmental Law Institute). She uses the law to advance environmental justice and sustainable development while raising awareness about environmental issues. "We are amplifying the voices of communities and making the government accountable to its people, its land, and its natural resources," she says. Laura began work at IDAMHO as a volunteer in 2011.
Minerva Rosette
Minerva Rosette is an environmental engineer, from Chihuahua, México. She works in the Southeast office of Centro Mexicano de Derecho Ambiental (Mexican Center for Environmental Law, CEMDA), in Cancun. Her focus is evaluating environmental impact assessments and monitoring changes to land use, to protect the Mesoamerican Reef. Before joining CEMDA, she worked with local communities to conserve the biodiversity of the Sierra Tarahuamara.
Adolf Runyoro
Adolf Runyoro is Legal Officer at the Lawyers' Environmental Action Team (LEAT) based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. He conducts research, participates in environmental awareness campaigns, and provides legal assistance to citizens whose lands have been encroached upon. He also holds trainings for marginalized groups to raise awareness about environmental and land rights.
Dana Tabachnik
Dana is the Director of the Economy & Environment Department at Adam Teva v’Din, also known as the Israel Union for Environmental Defense. In the wake of newly discovered offshore oil and onshore shale oil resources, she is helping making the case for a sustainable energy economy for Israel. She also works to protect the Dead Sea from industrial pollution and mineral extraction. Tabachnik holds LL.B. and LL.M. degrees from The Hebrew University. In 1994, Adam Teva v’Din co-hosted the ELAW Annual International Meeting in Jerusalem.
Ali Anthar Qazi
Ali is an advocate at the Sindh High Court. His landmark cases include cleaning up contamination in the Indus River, proper disposal of hospital waste, restricting tree cutting, and conserving forests. In 2012 he was presented with an Achievement Award by the Chief Justice of Pakistan for promoting environmental laws in Pakistan.
Emilio D’Cuire
Emilio is protecting the Mesoamerican Reef and the way of life for small fishing communities in Honduras through strengthening the rule of law. He and his co-workers at the Environmental Law Institute of Honduras (IDAMHO) are taking on short-sighted tourism development schemes and empowering communities to participate in decisions that impact the local environment. He says: "I want to protect nature and improve the quality of life for the dispossessed." Emilio received a degree in biology from Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Honduras. He was granted a tuition scholarship for the University of Oregon’s American English Institute's Intensive English Program. Stronger English skills, he says, will open up "a world of information."
Ana Lucia Maya Aguirre
Ana is a seasoned advocate and litigator on human rights before national and international bodies. Her work has focused on refugees, internal forced displacement, and forced migration; prior consultation and free, prior and informed consent of Afro-descendant and indigenous communities; right to participation and access to information in environmental matters in Latin America; and environmental governance, global justice, and the Inter-American System of Human Rights. The mission of Asociación Ambiente y Sociedad is to generate positive changes in the regulation, policies and decision-making processes, and promote an active, central and effective participation of civil society in environmental matters. Ana graduated from the National University of Colombia where she specialized in Constitutional Law.
Alejandra Serrano
Alejandra is working to permanently protect vital natural resources in Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula. She works with local communities to establish Natural Protected Areas and set standards for sustainable fisheries. Alejandra has been with CEMDA since 2001 and directs CEMDA's Southeast office, based in Cancun. Alejandra earned her law degree at Panamericana University in Mexico City and has additional training in international environmental law and integrated watershed management.
Lottie Cunningham Wren
Miskito attorney Lottie Cunningham Wren collaborates with indigenous communities to conserve biological diversity, sustain cultural practices, and advocate for sustainable fisheries. Lottie has worked with ELAW for more than 10 years to defend the rights of indigenous communities and protect the environment of Nicaragua's north Atlantic coast. Lottie was an expert witness in the Awas Tingni vs. Nicaragua case, before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. This case resulted in a tremendous land rights victory for indigenous peoples throughout the Americas.
Roles Theard
Roles works with traditional farming communities in Haiti to promote sustainable agriculture and protect traditional cultural resources. As an attorney and an agronomist, he forges ties between sustainable agriculture, healthy communities, and the rule of law.
Erdenechimeg (Chimgee) Dashdorj
Erdenechimeg Dashdorj, also known as "Chimgee," wants her fellow Mongolians to live in a safe and healthy environment. She manages the Human Rights Advocacy Program at the Center for Human Rights and Development. Together with her colleagues she is working to protect Mongolia from polluting mining operations.
Sergey Shapkhaev
Sergey is a scientist with expertise in geophysics and oceanography. He has worked for many years to protect the biological and cultural diversity of Lake Baikal.
Elena Chernobrovkina
Elena is a lawyer and International Program Coordinator at the Buryat Regional Organization for Lake Baikal. She works to protect the Lake Baikal watershed from threats posed by dams, pipelines, and mining operations.
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UK – Country report for the European Parliament Report
Discrimination Against Women and Young Girls in the Health Sector
United Kingdom download pdf download word
There are wide variations in health across the UK, as it is made up of sharply contrasting socio-economic regions in Scotland, Northern Ireland, England and Wales. Nevertheless, there is a reasonably high life expectancy (80.7 in 2004), and has one of the highest number of women in the workforce (46% per 100,000) of the countries studied. Women in Northern Ireland are more likely to experience poverty than men, while in England mothers in the lower social groups are two and a half times as likely to smoke before or during pregnancy, and over four times as likely to smoke during pregnancy than the more privileged. The UK has one of the higher incidences of deaths from breast and lung cancers, though with the introduction of national screening programmes and new improved treatment over the past three decades, rates are falling.
There are a relatively high number of teenage births, though in general births occur in the 20-34 year age groups. The incidence of chlamydia is high, but the National Strategy for Sexual Health and HIV, published in 2001, included targets to reduce prevalence of this and other STIs.
The following material was submitted by Hilary Thomas, Centre for Research in Primary and Community Care, University of Hertfordshire and Annie Dillon, National Women’s Council.
Life expectancy at birth for women in the UK is 80.5 which, while improved, is less than some other European countries. In common with the rest of the EU 25 the major cause of death is circulatory disease followed by cancer. 65.3% of women in the UK population perceive that their health is good or very good.1
Given that the UK comprises Scotland, Northern Ireland, England and Wales there are differences in relation to women’s health status based on social, economic and regional variations as well as the diversity of women and the experience of marginalised groups. Some brief examples are presented.
In England, people in affluent areas live longer than those in deprived areas, for women in the least deprived fifth of areas they live on average 2 years longer than those in the most deprived areas.
From 2000 to 2005 the gap in smoking levels between mothers in different socio-economic groups increased In England. Mothers in the lower social groups are two and a half times as likely to smoke before or during pregnancy and over four times as likely to smoke during pregnancy. Levels of breastfeeding are lower amongst women from lower socio-economic groups and a larger proportion give up breastfeeding by six weeks. The proportion of mothers who breastfeed is higher amongst minority ethnic groups. (Health Profile in England, 2006)
In Scotland long-standing illness, health problem or disability for women is 53.1% compared with men 46.9% (2003)3
In relation to gender inequality and Social Determinants of Health women in Northern Ireland are more likely to experience poverty than men, with women comprising almost two thirds of all income support claimants and women more likely to be employed in service sector and low paid jobs.
In relation to diversity of women, some groups are more disadvantaged than others, e.g for example Traveller women’s life expectancy is significantly lower than the mainstream population and they are more likely to describe their health as ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’
In addition, the take up of screening services was low with only one third reported to have had a smear test. (2006)4 In relation to disabled women, a study by the Equality Commission of Northern Ireland found notable inequalities in areas of mental health, emotional well-being and employment.
Women from Indian ethnic background have higher rates of CVD
Specific health policies for women
There is no actual overall policy which provides a coherent policy approach to women’s health, and which takes account of women’s inequality, or of women as a diverse health population. Where statistical information is used it is not always disaggregated by gender e.g. the Chief Executives report to NHS Statistics Supplement 2006. Many policies are presented in a gender-neutral fashion, e.g. ‘Our Health Our Care A New Direction for Community Services’; The Goals of the National Service Framework for Coronary Heart Disease.
The are exceptions including in the areas of Sexual Health, Sexual & Domestic Abuse and Mental Health6 (see www.dh.gov.uk and www.nimhe.csip.org.uk ) policies e.g. in 2000 the NHS Plan recognised the need to develop distinctive approaches for women and made a commitment to the provision of a women-only day centre in every health authority by 2004. The subsequent Implementation Guidance for the Women’s Mental Health Strategy ‘Mainstreaming Gender and Women’s Mental Health’ was published in 2003. This document gave recognition to the range of services and support responsive to women’s requirements already developed by women’s groups in the voluntary sector. A range of approaches, which would meet women’s needs within the context of mainstream services and establish a more flexible target for primary care trusts (PCTs) to have a women-only community day service in place by 2004 were also specified. This NHS deliverable remained a priority for 2005/06 across all regions. The guide ‘Supporting Women Into the Mainstream’ published in 2006 is intended to support the development of community-based women’s day services alongside the work to refocus day services for adults of working age, both male and female.
The National Institute for Mental Health in England (NIMHE) National and Regional Development Centre Leads for Gender and Women’s Health provides good practice examples for use by local PCTs (Primary Care Trusts/Local Health Boards).
A new policy development that will have an impact on the approach to women’s health policy and programme development and service delivery is the Gender Equality Duty [GED], which comes into force in April 2007.
The GED is being introduced as part of the Equality Bill (2005). It requires public authorities to promote gender equality and eliminate sex discrimination. Instead of depending on individuals making complaints about sex discrimination, the duty places the legal responsibility on public authorities to demonstrate that they treat men and women fairly. All public authorities, including health providers, education and local government have to comply. The duty will also apply to charities, voluntary and private sector organisations that are providing a public service. Services provided by organisations under contract, such as community transport, will also be covered by the duty.
Gender-sensitive health policy design
In general the policies that are specific to women or men are related to issues that are gender specific such as cervical cancer for women, breast cancer for men, and are included in overall policies such as, for example, that relating to cancer. Where policies are related to health issues that affect both men and women they are often gender neutral.
Three primary issues and how they apply to women
Cancer is the 2nd biggest killer of women in the UK. The past three decades have seen progress in reducing the impact of cancer, with death rates from breast and cervical cancer falling as a result of the introduction of national screening programmes and new improved treatment.
A cancer plan was published in 2004 with a programme of investment and reform. At that time death rates overall were higher than in Europe, partly due to late presentation at primary care level and variation of services, according to geographical area. The plan contained targets to reduce the risk of cancer including through: Early detection, Smoking reduction programmes, particularly to target disadvantaged groups, Dietary programmes to increase fruit and vegetable consumption and promotion of exercise. Postmenopausal women were specifically mentioned in relation to reducing risk of breast cancer through reducing obesity.
The NHS Breast Screening Programme was introduced between 1988 and 1991 for all women. Recently published research has shown that breast cancer death rates fell by 21.3% in women aged 55-69 between 1990 and 1998. 30% of this fall was attributed to screening and the rest to improvement and other factors (The Cancer Plan 2004). The Breast Screening Programme invites all women aged 50 to 70 for free routine breast screening every three years. There has been a substantial rise in the number of cancers detected, which is mainly due to the expansion of the screening programme since 2001 to include women up to age 70 (previously it covered women aged 50 – 64) combined with the introduction on an advanced screening technique, called two-view mammography (Two x-rays are taken of each breast). In England those aged 70 and over are strongly encouraged to self refer.
Cervical Screening Programme NHS, England: The Cancer Plan (2004) notes that ‘the cervical screening programme in this country is a success story’ (p35). Since introducing computerised call and recall the coverage rate of the screening programme has gone up to a national average of 85%. The cervical cancer death rate has been falling by 7% each year.
Sexually transmitted Infections (STI’s)
The National Strategy for Sexual Health and HIV published in 2001 included targets to reduce prevalence of STIs, HIV and AIDS as well as reduction of untended pregnancy rates and promotion of contraception services for those who need them. The strategy has a ten year time frame and takes a gendered approach, and takes account of the impact of such STIs as HPV on women in relation to Cervical Cancer. As part of the programme a National Chlamydia screening programme has commenced.
Specific healthcare policies for young girls
Amongst EU15 member states, prior to expansion in 2004, the UK had the highest proportion of births to mothers aged under 20. Teenage conceptions are more than twice as likely to occur in the most deprived areas, than in the least deprived. However, there is no specific mention of gender. (Health Profile of England 2006 p539)
The Teenage Pregnancy Strategy10 has set targets to:
Reduce by 50% England’s 1998 under-18 conception rate by 2010, with an interim target of a 15% reduction by 2004
Achieve an established downward trend in the under 16 conception rate by 2010
Reduce the inequality in rates between the fifth of wards (local electoral areas) with the highest under 18 conception rate, and the average ward rate by at least 25% by 2010
Increase to 60% the participation of teenage parents in education, training or employment to reduce their risk of long-term social exclusion by 2010.
An example of ‘best practice’ in women’s health
The Sandyford Initiative (www.sandyford.org)
The Sandyford Initiative is part of NHS Glasgow, and supported by Glasgow City Council. All services are free of charge, and available without the need to be referred by a doctor or another practitioner. The Sandyford Initiative was launched in Glasgow in 2000 when it brought together the Centre for Women’s Health, Family Planning, The Steve Retson Project (for men who have sex with men) and Genitourinary Medicine. The aim is to provide services using a social model of health. The initiative provides sexual and reproductive health services for women, men and young people in Glasgow, as well as counselling, information and a range of specialist services.
The Sandyford initiative has a website with sections for staff and for service users. This staff part of the site has been specifically designed to provide background information for health professionals, policy makers and other interested parties.
There is also a section of the site designed for the public and for GPs in Glasgow.
In general, there appears to have been a move from a focus on women’s health specifically and to incorporate it within equality focussed structures. For example In the past year as part of restructuring of health boards in Glasgow the Women’s Health team were disbanded and restructured into a new equality team. The focus includes a social, economic and inequalities in health, with women’s health incorporated in this health promotion work.
It is worth noting that five years ago Glasgow Women’s Health, which was part of the Healthy Cities Programme defined a model of women’s health as follows:
‘The Glasgow Model of Women’s Health identifies the need to invest in women in order to overcome inequality, to adopt a model of health which takes social factors into account, to involve women, to work in partnership across agencies and to develop city wide strategies.’ (2000/01)
Mental health policies
The mental health policies (as mentioned above) are notable because they include a recognition of women’s specific mental health/ill health experience and need. A notable example of best practice is the women-centred responsive approach taken as well as the recognition of such services developed by women’s voluntary organisations in response to past gaps in service provision.
Further gender influences on patterns of health
Sexual Abuse and Domestic Violence
There is now a recognition at policy level11 that sexual abuse and violence are causative factors in physical and mental ill health in children, adolescents and adults both women and men. There is a gender and equality perspective, with a high economic and social burden on health services. Currently a programme to tackle the root causes of mental and physical ill health, which takes a whole system approach, is underway12.
Main reference documents:
1. Annandale E, The sociology of health and medicine: a critical introduction. 1998, Polity Press.
2. Bentes M, Dias CM, Sakellarides C, Bankauskaite V. Health care systems in transition: Portugal. Copenhagen, WHO Regional Office for Europe on behalf of the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, 2004.
3. Branco MJ, Nunes B, Contreiras T. Um estudo sobre a prática de cuidados preventivos nos cancros da mama e do colo do útero, em Portugal Continental. Observatório Nacional de Saúde, Lisboa, 2005.
4. Dias CM, Falcão IM, Falcão JM. Contribuição para o estudo da interrupção voluntária da gravidez em Portugal Continental (1993 a 1997): estimativas utilizando dados da rede de médicos sentinelas e dos diagnósticos de altas hospitalares (grupos de diagnósticos homogéneos). Revista Portuguesa de Saúde Pública 2000; 2: 55-63.
5. DGS. Plano Nacional de Saúde 2004-2010. Direcção Geral da Saúde …more
6. DGS. Elementos estatísticos, Saúde 2003. Direcção Geral da Saúde. 2005. Lisboa.
7. Fantini MP, Stivanello E, Dallolio L, Loghi M, Savoia E. Persistent geographical disparities in infant mortality rates in Italy (1999-2001): comparison with France, England, Germany, and Portugal. European Journal of Public Health 2006;16(4):429-32.
8. Fernandes A, Perelman J, Mateus C. Gender differences in access to health care. Intermediary report for the Portuguese Ministry of Health. 2006. Lisboa.
9. Lisboa M, Vicente LB, Barroso Z. Saúde e violência contra as mulheres. Direcção Geral da Saúde. 2005. Lisboa.
10. Loureiro MI. A study about effectiveness of the health promoting schools network in Portugal. Promotion and Education 2004; XI(2): 85-92.
11. MacDorman MF, Declercq E, Menacker F, Malloy MH. Infant and neonatal mortality for primary caesarean and vaginal births to women with ‘no indicated risk,’ United States, 1998-2001 birth cohorts. Birth. 2006;33(3):175-82.
12. Marques-Vidal P, Dias CM. Trends and determinants of alcohol consumption in Portugal: from the National Health Surveys 1995 to 1996 and 1998 to 1999. Alcoholism Clinical and Experimental Research 2005; 29(1): 89-97.
13. Santana P. Geografias de saúde e do desenvolvimento. Almedina. 2005. Coimbra.
14. United Nations. The World’s Women Report 2005 …more
15. Van Doorslaer E, Masseria C and the OECD health equity research group members. Income-related inequality in the use of medical care in 21 OECD countries. OECD Health Working Papers 2004; 14.
16. WHO Regional Office for Europe. Atlas of Health in Europe. World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe. 2003. Copenhagen.
17. WHO Regional Office for Europe: Highlights on Portugal. World Health Organization, Regional Office for Europe. 2004. Copenhagen.
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Carquinez Strait
Looking east, Carquinez Bridge in the foreground and the Benicia–Martinez Bridge in the background.
Bay Area, Northern California
38°03′33″N 122°12′45″W / 38.05918°N 122.21260°W / 38.05918; -122.21260Coordinates: 38°03′33″N 122°12′45″W / 38.05918°N 122.21260°W / 38.05918; -122.21260
River sources
Sacramento River, San Joaquin River
Primary outflows
San Pablo Bay, San Francisco Bay
Basin countries
8 miles (13 km)
Benicia, Crockett, Martinez, Vallejo
The Carquinez Strait (/kɑːrˈkiːnəs/) is a narrow tidal strait in northern California. It is part of the tidal estuary of the Sacramento and the San Joaquin rivers as they drain into the San Francisco Bay. The strait is eight miles (13 km) long and connects Suisun Bay, which receives the waters of the combined rivers, with San Pablo Bay, a northern extension of the San Francisco Bay.
The strait formed in prehistoric times, near the close of one of the past ice ages, when an inland lake covered the present-day Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys. Melting ice from the Sierra Nevada mountain range raised the lake level while seismic activity formed a new outlet to the Pacific Ocean, draining the lake into the ocean and exposing the two valleys. The valleys evolved into extremely productive agricultural areas and propelled California economy into the powerhouse that it is today.
Annotated satellite image of the San Francisco Bay Area, featuring San Pablo Bay and Carquinez Strait, 2004
Suisun Bay (bottom), Carquinez Strait (with bridges crossing it), and San Pablo Bay (upper center), with Point Reyes in the background; 2017 evening aerial shot looking west into the sun
2 Installations
3 Bridges
4 Ship traffic
5 Formation of delta
6 Saltwater intrusion
Andrei Sarna-Wojcicki, a geologist emeritus of the U. S. Geological Survey (USGS), has claimed that the Carquinez Strait was likely formed about 640,000 to 700,000 years ago, while much of modern California was emerging from an ice age. The present Sacramento Valley and San Joaquin Valley were covered by a huge lake (now extinct), which has been called Lake Corcoran. Initially, this lake drained into the ocean through a valley near present-day Monterey. However, ongoing seismic activity raised the coastal mountains sufficiently to plug this outlet. Concurrently, ice melting off the Sierras raised the water level in Lake Corcoran until the lake began to carve a new outlet to the ocean. At some point, the coastal barrier collapsed between today's cities of Crockett and Benicia, releasing lake water in a cataclysmic flood.[1]
The strait forms part of the border between Solano (to the north) and Contra Costa (to the south) counties, and is approximately 15 mi (25 km) north of Oakland. The cities of Benicia and Vallejo lie on the north side of the strait, while Martinez, Port Costa, and Crockett sit on the southern coast. The Napa River joins the strait, via the short Mare Island Strait, near its entrance into San Pablo Bay. Its watershed covers 62,500 square miles (162,000 km2), approximately 40 percent of California's total surface.[1]
The strait is named after the Karkin ("los Carquines" in Spanish), a linguistic division of the Ohlone Native Americans who resided on both sides of the strait.[2]
Installations[edit]
The California Maritime Academy is at the western end of the strait on the northern waterfront. The C&H Sugar refinery is located on the southern shore in the small town of Crockett.
Bridges[edit]
The strait is crossed by two highway bridges, the Carquinez Bridge on Interstate 80 and the Benicia–Martinez Bridge on Interstate 680. Each highway bridge consists of two spans.
Interstate 780 connects the two highways on the northern slope of the strait. State Route 4 connects these highways south of and inland from the strait.
A rail bridge just east of the Benicia–Martinez Bridge is used by the Capitol Corridor, California Zephyr, and Coast Starlight trains. A rail ferry, with the ferries Contra Costa and Solano provided service across the strait near the location of the current rail bridge until the rail bridge was built in 1930.
Tall pylons carrying power lines cross the strait as well. The Carquinez Strait Powerline Crossing was the world's first powerline crossing of a large river.
Ship traffic[edit]
The channel is navigable and is used for commercial and military shipping. Deep water ship traffic bound for both the Port of Sacramento and the Port of Stockton traverse the strait.
Formation of delta[edit]
The narrow gap in the Coast Range that forms the strait has led to the formation of the San Joaquin–Sacramento River Delta, an inverted river delta, upstream of it, a rare geological feature. The strait is too small to allow the passage of huge amounts of floodwaters created during years with heavy rainfall/snowmelt events. Because the Delta area is the first to fill and last to drain in a flood event, silt and soil have more time to drop out of suspension, creating the inverted river delta feature.
Saltwater intrusion[edit]
Seawater is more dense than fresh water because of its higher concentration of salts. Under stable conditions, this means that an invisible boundary forms where two such streams meet, as where the fresh water from Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers meet the sea water contained in the San Francisco Bay.
By the early 20th Century, farmers in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, who depended on irrigating their fields with fresh water from the two rivers noticed an increase in salinity farther inland than before. It became obvious that fresh water was being pumped out of the Delta faster than it could be replenished by rain and snow during the wet season. Farmers, businessmen and politicians complained that allowing fresh water to flow to the ocean was wasteful. While many solutions were proposed, few appeared practical. A political consensus formed that damming the Carquinez Strait should solve the seawater intrusion problem.[3]
In September, 1923, the California Legislature appropriated $10,000 (equivalent to $147,000 today) for a salt-water dam survey. The Federal government added a $20,000 contribution ($294,000 today) through the U.S. Reclamation Service.[a] Under Reclamation Service rules, another $10,000 needed to be raised from local supporters of the project. The necessary money was raised by March, 1924, and the first of three site surveys was announced.[3]
The first survey was at Army Point, near Benicia, which was the preferred site based on preliminary studies. The second choice was Dillon Point, near Southampton Bay, while the third survey was at San Pablo Point, near Richmond. The three surveys were completed by the end of 1924. However, it took four years before completing the decision making process, that officially named Army Point as the future dam site. Still more wrangling in the legislature was required before the "Salt Water Barrier" was officially adopted in May, 1929, and made part of the state water conservation project.[3][b]
On January 24, 1930, with the Great Depression taking hold, President Herbert Hoover cancelled the Carquinez Strait project, saying that it was too costly. All efforts to revive the project failed. Years later, the Central Valley Project attempted to mitigate the effects of seawater intrusion by constructing other dams much farther inland and canals to send fresh water to the San Joaquin Valley.[3]
^ The U.S. Reclamation Service was removed from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in 1907 and reestablished within the Department of the Interior. In 1923, the Reclamation Service was renamed as the United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR), by which it is now known.
^ Bowen wrote that later in 1929, some reports indicated that the proposed dam would not store sufficient water to satisfy the projected needs of industry and agriculture.[3]
^ a b Wong, Kathleen. "Carquinez Breakthrough." Bay Nature. September 30, 2006. Accessed July 19, 2017.
^ Coffey, Geoffrey (2004-07-28). "Going in for natural solitude on Mt. Wanda". The San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2008-04-08.
^ a b c d e Bowen, Jerry."A dam across Carquinez Strait?" Historical Articles of Solano County Online Database. Posted August 12, 2001. Accessed July 21, 2017
Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline
Lake Corcoran
Saltwater intrusion
Wong, Kathleen. "Carquinez Breakthrough." Bay Nature. September 30, 2006.
San Francisco Bay watershed
List of tributaries
List of lakes
Suisun Bay
San Pablo Bay
Grizzly Bay
Richardson Bay
San Rafael Bay
Richmond Inner Harbor
San Leandro Bay
Yerba Buena Cove
Creeks (discharging into the Bay)
Codornices
Coyote (Santa Clara)
Coyote (Marin)
Sausal
Arroyo Corte Madera del Presidio
Tolay
San Francisquito
Karlson
Fluvius Innominatus
Marin (Alameda County)
Mission Creek
Calaveras Reservoir
Lafayette Reservoir
Straits and estuaries
Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta
Oakland Estuary
Raccoon Strait
Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge
San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge
Eden Landing Ecological Reserve
Hayward Regional Shoreline
Hayward Shoreline Interpretive Center
Crown Memorial State Beach
McLaughlin Eastshore State Park
Emeryville Crescent State Marine Reserve
Point Isabel Regional Shoreline
César Chávez Park
Brooks Island Regional Preserve
Point Pinole Regional Shoreline
Antioch Dunes National Wildlife Refuge
Coyote Point Park
Middle Harbor Shoreline Park
National Estuarine Research Reserve
China Camp State Park
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
SF Bay Trail
Oyster Bay Regional Shoreline
Big Break Regional Shoreline
Islands and
Major islands
Bay Farm
Castro Rocks
Marin Islands
Ryer
Seal Islands
Peninsulas/infill
Albany Bulb
Point Isabel
Fleming Point
Steamboat Point
Potrero Point
Crissy Field
Mowry
Napa Sonoma
Point Molate
and tubes
San Francisco–Oakland
Eastern span replacement
Richmond–San Rafael
San Mateo–Hayward
Benicia–Martinez
Carquinez
Leimert
Bay Farm Island
Posey/Webster Street
Transbay
Angel Island–Tiburon Ferry
Blue & Gold Fleet
San Francisco Bay Ferry (WETA)
Ports and
Port of San Francisco
Port of Oakland
Port of Richmond
Hunters Point Naval Shipyard
Mare Island Naval Shipyard
Port of Redwood City
Berkeley Marina
Oyster Point Marina/Park
Clipper Yacht Harbor
Foster City Marina (proposed)
Humphrey the Whale
Cosco Busan oil spill
Delta and Dawn
Golden Gate Biosphere Reserve
Ridgway's rail/California clapper rail
Reber Plan
San Leandro Oyster Beds
Thicktail chub
Delta smelt
Richmond Shipyards
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Bay Model
Guadalupe watershed
Clifton Court Forebay
Conservation and Development Commission
The Watershed Project
Save The Bay
Harold Gilliam
Marincello
Citizens for East Shore Parks
Friends of Five Creeks
Urban Creeks Council
Cargill salt infill
1971 oil spill
Greenbelt Alliance
The Bay Institute
San Francisco Baykeeper
San Francisco Estuary and Watershed Science
Estuary Partnership
Leslie Salt
Clifton Forebay
Petaluma River
Russian River
Sonoma Creek
Tomales Bay
100k–250k
50k–99k
Tamalpais-Homestead Valley
Sub-regions
San Francisco Peninsula
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Carquinez_Strait&oldid=905625265"
Straits of California
Bodies of water of Contra Costa County, California
Bodies of water of Solano County, California
Landforms of Contra Costa County, California
Landforms of Solano County, California
Landforms of the San Francisco Bay Area
Tributaries of San Pablo Bay
Wikipedia articles with NARA identifiers
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Georgetown, Ontario
Unincorporated Community in Ontario, Canada
Unincorporated Community
Regional municipality
Settled
1974 into Halton Hills
• Mayor (Halton Hills)
Rick Bonnette
24.03 km2 (9.28 sq mi)
1,753.1/km2 (4,541/sq mi)
UTC−05:00 (EST)
UTC−04:00 (EDT)
Forward sortation area
NTS Map
GNBC Code
FBHBE
http://www.haltonhills.ca/
Georgetown is a community in the town of Halton Hills, Ontario, Canada and is part of the Regional Municipality of Halton. The town includes several small villages or settlements such as Norval, Limehouse, Stewarttown and Glen Williams near Georgetown and another large population centre, Acton.[1] In 2016, the population of Georgetown was 42,123. It sits on the banks of the Credit River, approximately 60 km west of Toronto, and is part of the Greater Toronto Area. Georgetown was named after entrepreneur George Kennedy who settled in the area in 1821 and built several mills and other businesses.
1.1 Early settlement
1.2 Since World War II
1.2.1 Guelph Radial Line
1.2.2 The Georgetown Boys
1.2.3 French presence
1.2.4 Halton Hills
2 Neighbourhoods
6 Sports teams
6.1 Defunct sports teams
7.1 Georgetown Highland Games
7.2 Farmers' market
7.3 Georgetown Fall Fair
7.4 Georgetown Santa Claus Parade
7.5 Georgetown Craft Beer Festival
8.1 Elementary schools
8.2 Middle schools
8.3 Secondary schools
9 Architecture of E.J. Lennox
10 Industry and business
11 Recreation and parks
11.1 Hiking trails
11.2 Georgetown Skate Park
11.3 Gellert Community Centre
15 Notable residents
By 1650, the Hurons had been wiped out by European diseases and the Iroquois. The region was now open to the Algonquian Ojibwa (also known as Mississauga). By 1850 the remaining Mississauga natives were removed to the Six Nations Reserve, where the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation Reserve was established.
Early settlement[edit]
Commencing in 1781, the British government purchased blocks of land from the Mississauga Nation. In 1818, they purchased land that later became the townships of Esquesing and Nassagaweya. The task of laying out the townships fell to Timothy Street and Abraham Nelles. Charles Kennedy was hired by Nelles to survey the northern part of Esquesing Township in 1819, and Charles Kennedy received a significant parcel of land as payment for his work. The brothers of Charles Kennedy, John, Morris, Samuel and George, all acquired land close to each another in the Silver Creek Valley. Charles Kennedy built a sawmill in a location where Main Street meets Wildwood Road today.
George Kennedy took advantage of the Silver Creek in the early 1820s to power a sawmill, and later a gristmill and foundry and then a woolen mill; a small settlement formed around the mills, often called "Hungry Hollow".[2] In 1828, John Galt of the Canada Company opened the York to Guelph Road (now Highway 7) which connected the settlement around George Kennedy's Mill with other settlements in the area. The road also extended to Galt, to Guelph and to Goderich.[3][4][5]
In 1837 the Barber brothers, including William and James, purchased land and the woolen mill and foundry from Kennedy in 1837; they renamed the settlement Georgetown.[6] The brothers started the paper-making industry in 1854, using electricity produced by a dynamo at the Credit River.[7] Their products included large volumes of wallpaper. John R. Barber's home, Berwick Hall, still stands at Main and Park Streets. The business prospered for over 100 years.[8] Other entrepreneurs arrived including Philo Dayfoot in the early 1840s, who started the local leather industry. In the 1850s, George Kennedy subdivided his land into small lots for sale to new settlers.[9]
Esquesing Village (Stewarttown) was settled around 1818 and became the seat of the Township of Esquesing. It was also on the main north-south route to the steamships at Oakville. The Stewart Brothers had a successful mill in Esquesing Village, and James McNab had a prosperous mill in Norval.
In 1846, Norval had a population of about 200 inhabitants, served by two churches, various tradesmen, a grist mill, an oatmeal mill, a distillery, two stores and a tavern.[10] Author Lucy Maud Montgomery who wrote the Anne of Green Gables series lived in Norval from 1926 to 1935 and considered it to be "one of the prettiest villages in all Ontario".[9][3][11]
The settlement of Glen Williams had been called Williamsburg but the name was changed in 1852 when the post office opened. The Barbers' brother-in-law, Benajah Williams, was one of the first settlers here and the community's name was given in his honour. Limehouse formerly Fountain Green, was a small settlement that grew after the railway arrived in the area in 1856; in addition to lime kilns (which opened in about 1840),[12] a sawmill, blanket factory and paint factory opened in the village.[9][6] In 1893, a fire destroyed the woollen mill, a paint factory and wood at the waterlime mill in Limehouse creating a serious financial problem for the settlement. The lime industry operated until 1917.[13]
In 1846, Georgetown had a grist mill, sawmill, cloth factory, tavern, cabinet maker, foundry, chair maker, two tanneries, two tailors, two stores, three wagon makers, three shoemakers, and four blacksmiths. The population was about 700.[14]
The Grand Trunk Railway arrived in 1856 and a line of the Hamilton and North-Western Railway reached the community about 20 years later. The two provided a convenient method for transporting not only passengers but manufactured goods.[2][3] Hotels opened near the station, including the Railroad Exchange in a building that still stands.[9] Georgetown was incorporated as a village in 1864.[15][16] In 1869 the population was 1500; the Ontario Gazetteer mentioned Barber Brothers as a noted paper goods manufacturer with a staff of 40.[17]
The settlement was incorporated as the village of Georgetown in 1865.[2] The 1860s and 1870s were prosperous years. Recently opened businesses in that era included the Georgetown Herald newspaper, Culp and Mackenzie's carriage making enterprise, the Creelman brothers' machine shop and the Bank of Hamilton, the first to open in the entire Halton County. By 1880, the Chapel Street School and Baptist Church and the Town Hall had been built; the high school opened in 1887.[8]
Georgetown residents began to receive municipal water in 1891, piped by gravity. Electricity was not available until 1913 although John R. Barber had purchased a generator in 1888 and installed it at the Credit River; that provided power for the family's paper mill.[8]
On May 13, 1895, brothers Sam & John McGibbon leased, in partnership, Thomas Clark's Hotel for $600/year. The Hotel McGibbon was built by Robert Jones and was sold to Clark in about 1867. A double veranda graced the Main & Mill Street side of the building until the hotel was ravaged by fire in the 1880s. After the fire, a third floor was added to part of the building. The McGibbon family lived at the hotel. Sam's wife, Ann, kept white linen in the dining room, and in its earliest years had been a popular place for wedding receptions and banquets.
By 1921 the village had over 2000 residents and was incorporated as a town in 1922, with LeRoy Dale as the first mayor.[8] Many historic buildings still stand in the heart of Georgetown and in its small, more rural communities.[18]
Since World War II[edit]
In the mid-1940s, the population was close to 4,000 and began to grow more quickly in the 1950s when Rex Heslop bought farms and developed the Delrex subdivision. The Hotel McGibbon was still operating although Sam McGibbon had died in 1940; a daughter, Gladys, and a son, Jack, took over the business until 1962 when it was sold to Isaac Sitzer Investments and later to George and Nick Markou purchased the hotel in 1978 and operated it until the property was sold to a condominium developer in 2015.[19]
In 1962, the Moore Park subdivision started construction and would attract more residents to town. By that time, the Georgetown had its own hospital.[8][9]
The GO train arrived in Georgetown in 1974; the service has since expanded with a great deal of available parking at the Georgetown GO Station and frequent commuter trains on weekdays.[20][8] On January 1, 1974 Georgetown was absorbed into the new regional town of Halton Hills. One of most significant changes since then included the Georgetown South residential expansion that started in 1989. The two paper companies, Provincial Papers and Georgetown Coated Paper Company closed in 1991 and 1977 respectively.[8]
Guelph Radial Line[edit]
The Toronto Suburban Railway Company ran the Toronto-Guelph electric rail line through Georgetown from 1917 until the Guelph line was closed in 1931. This line had transported both goods and passengers but business had declined substantially.[8] The Georgetown Station on Main Street (at the current Canada Trust site) was a familiar landmark. The venture failed because of the Depression and the increasing popularity of the automobile, buses and trucks. Its proximity to the competing Grand Trunk Railway (Canadian National) line was also a factor.[21]
The Georgetown Boys[edit]
On July 1, 1923, the first 50 orphans of the Armenian Genocide arrived in Georgetown to be educated and trained for farming at the Cedarvale Farm, now known as Cedarvale Park, operated by the Armenian Canadian Relief Fund. The children were known as the Georgetown Boys. By 1928, most had homes on farms.[22] Aris Alexanian was a teacher and assistant superintendent at the school. He went on to open an oriental rug store in Hamilton, Ontario, which has grown throughout Ontario and is now known as Alexanian Carpet and Flooring. In 1929 the farm became the Cedarvale School for Girls; most of the residents found positions as domestic staff.[23] In total, 109 boys and 40 girls were taken in by the Canadian government, considered by many to be Canada's first humanitarian initiative. Many became Canadian citizens.[24]
French presence[edit]
Église du Sacré-Cœur
The area had no early history of a concentration of French-Canadians, but that changed after World War II. First, in 1947, a boys' orphan farm relocated from St. Catharines, to Georgetown. This orphanage was operated by Father Clovis Beauregard and his niece, Therese St Jean. The Acadian boys from the orphanage decided to remain here in adulthood. The boys had learned apple farming and other Acadian families moved here to assist them with their apple business. Second, in 1957 a French-Canadian Association was formed. By 1966, about 150 French-speaking Catholic families created their own parish when the old Holy Cross Church was rededicated as L'Eglise Sacre Coeur.
Halton Hills[edit]
On January 1, 1974, Georgetown became part of the Town of Halton Hills when it amalgamated with the Town of Acton and most of the Township of Esquesing.
Together with the Town of Milton, the Town of Oakville and the City of Burlington, the Regional Municipality of Halton was formed, replacing Halton County. Halton Hills is well known for its terrain including slopes and inclines. In 1932, Bill Gauser proposed the idea to change the name from Halton to Halton Hills.
Neighbourhoods[edit]
Georgetown grew as new neighbourhoods were added. The oldest section is around Main Street and Church Street. The arrival of the railway produced a new section — around King Street and Queen Street. The Delrex subdivision was the third part of the town that was added. Shortly after Delrex, Moore Park was developed. In 1989, the Georgetown South development began and the town has grown considerably since that point.
Delrex: In the 1950s, Rex Heslop, the builder of Rexdale in Toronto, built the Delrex subdivision. Delrex is a combination of Rex and his wife Delma's names. In the 1950s and 1960s this area was referred to as Georgetown East.
Moore Park: With the growth of Delrex subdivision, a second subdivision called Moore Park appeared in 1962.
Trafalgar Country: Added in the mid-1990s and early 2000s, Trafalgar country is mostly bungalows and two-storey homes, and sits at the westernmost point in Georgetown.
Georgetown South: In 1989 the farm land south of Silver Creek became the newest subdivision of Georgetown, Georgetown South. The development was undertaken by primarily Fernbrook Homes (West of Mountainview) and Canada Homes (East of Mountainview). Additional developments include Arbour Glen, Stewart's Mills and the Four Corners. Not to be mistaken as the "Four Corners" of Hornby at Trafalgar Road and Steeles Avenue.
The population at the time of the 2016 census was 42,123 (an increase of 4.8% over 2011) in the 24 km² of the community. There were 14,679 private dwellings at that time.[25] Data from previous years indicates steady growth.
Population 40,150 36,690 31,510 16.4% increase
Private Dwellings 13,805 12,658 not provided –
Census data for periods prior to the amalgamation into the present Town are as follows:
1961 10,298 198.3%
1841 700 n/a
Government[edit]
Georgetown ceased to be a separate town in 1974, and is now part of the Town of Halton Hills, which is divided into four wards, each with two elected Councillors. Two others are Regional Councillors, each representing two wards on Halton Hills Council, and also serve on the Halton Region Council as does the mayor.[26]
The current (2018–2022) membership of the town council is as follows:[27]
Mayor Rick Bonnette
Regional Councillor Clark Somerville Jane Fogal
Local Councillor Jon Hurst Ted Brown Moya Johnson Bob Inglis
Mike Albano Bryan Lewis Wendy Farrow-Reed Ann Lawlor
Halton Hills has its own fire department but policing is provided by the Halton Regional Police Service.[28] Halton Hills has its own official plan which came into force on 28 March 2008 and was consolidated in 2017 with the Region's plan.[29]
Climate data for Georgetown WWTP (Halton Hills), 1981−2010
−10.9
(12.4) −10.2
(−27.4) −31.5
(8.6) −5.0
(4.1) −29.5
(−27.4)
Average rainfall mm (inches)
Average snowfall cm (inches)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm)
12.6 9.4 10.6 12.4 11.9 11.2 10.6 10.6 11.7 12.3 13.3 12.3 138.9
Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm)
4.1 4.1 6.4 11.6 11.8 11.2 10.6 10.6 11.7 12.2 11.4 6.5 112.1
Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm)
9.4 6.2 4.8 1.4 0.04 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.27 2.5 6.9 31.5
Source: Environment Canada[30]
Sports teams[edit]
Georgetown's sports teams include :
Georgetown Raiders home game
Georgetown Raiders Tier II Junior "A" ice hockey team, part of the Ontario Junior Hockey League.
Halton Hills Bulldogs Junior "B" box lacrosse
Halton Hills Gymnastics Centre – Competitive Gymnastics
CheerForce Jaguars — Competitive cheerleading
Halton Hills Blue Fins Swimming club[31]
North Halton Highlanders Rugby Football Club, competes in the Toronto Rugby Union.
Halton Hills Minor Baseball Association, baseball organization for players ages from 5–21.
Georgetown SloPitch League[32] – adult SloPitch baseball
Georgetown Minor Hockey Association — Houseleague and Rep hockey
Halton Hills Bulldogs — Houseleague and Rep Lacrosse
Georgetown Impact — Girls and Boys Volleyball
Halton Hills Hoosiers — Basketball
Georgetown Mustangs — Soccer
North Halton Twisters – Girls hockey
Georgetown Soccer Club
North Halton Crimson Tide Football Club
Halton Hills Minor Football Association – football club for players 10–18 years old
North Halton Children's Cricket Club
Seniors Georgetown Curling Fanatics
Halton Hills Synchro
Georgetown Meteors Soccer Club
Halton Hills Lifeguard Club
Defunct sports teams[edit]
Georgetown Minor Hockey Association – Raiders – In 2013, the Acton Tanners and the Georgetown Raiders Minor Hockey Association completed their merger to create the Halton Hills Thunder Minor Hockey Association. Georgetown Raiders Sr A competed in the OHA Senior A and Intermediate A ranks in the 1970s and 1980s. They are not connected to another Georgetown Raiders team which is currently a member of the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League.
Events[edit]
Georgetown Highland Games[edit]
The second Saturday in June, Georgetown is host to a variety of Scottish traditional games and celebrations.
Farmers' market[edit]
A farmers' market operates on Main St. in downtown Georgetown on Saturdays 8:00am – 12:30pm from June through October. The section of Main St. that hosts the market is closed off to vehicles during the event.
Georgetown Fall Fair[edit]
The Fall Fair was started in 1846. It is held the Friday to Sunday following the Labour Day Weekend. The annual event is held at the Georgetown Fairgrounds and consists mainly of carnival rides and rural contests, such as the tractor pull and demolition derby. The Georgetown Agricultural Society organizes and runs the fair each year.
In 2003, the Fall Fair was the scene of a riot which broke out between local youth (approximately 500) and the Halton Regional Police force. There were several teens arrested and at least another half a dozen shot by rubber bullets during the riot. No major property damage occurred, only a portion of a small white picket fence was damaged. Conflict in the years following the event has so far been avoided.[33]
Georgetown Santa Claus Parade[edit]
The third Sunday in November, the evening parade begins at 5pm. Organized by the Georgetown Lions Club. Includes a variety of floats from local organizations and businesses, bands, and Santa Claus himself! The parade route is: Guelph Street from Sinclair to Mill Street and Charles Street to the Fairgrounds. These roads are closed to traffic from approximately 5:00–7:00pm.
Georgetown Craft Beer Festival[edit]
Also known as "Head For The Hills", this festival is held the third Saturday of the month in September, and runs from 11:00am–6:00pm at Trafalgar Sports Park. Organized by the Georgetown Lions Club, Georgetown Kiwanis Club, Georgetown Kinsmen Club, and Georgetown Rotary Club. The festival showcases craft brewers from across Ontario, gourmet food trucks, live music, and games.
Public education in Georgetown is managed by the Halton District School Board, while Catholic education is managed by the Halton Catholic District School Board.
Elementary schools[edit]
Holy Cross (with French Immersion)
St. Catherine of Alexandria
Halton Hills Christian School (a.k.a. Georgetown District Christian School)
Gardiner Public School
Silver Creek Public School
Pineview Public School
Park Public School
Joseph Gibbons Public School
Harrison Public School
George Kennedy Public School (with French Immersion)
Glen Williams Public School
Middle schools[edit]
Centennial Public School
Stewarttown Middle School
Secondary schools[edit]
Christ the King Catholic Secondary School
Georgetown District High School
Gary Allan High School (Adult Education)
Architecture of E.J. Lennox[edit]
Two buildings in Georgetown were designed by Toronto architect E.J. Lennox:
Berwick Hall, the home of John R. Barber (1880–1904) which is now an apartment building.
Georgetown High School (1889–1959) – built 1899 and demolished in 1959
Industry and business[edit]
Major industries with head offices and facilities in Georgetown include Mold-Masters Limited, CPI Canada, Eastwood Guitars, and Saputo. Other major industrial concerns include Cooper Standard, ADM Archer Daniels Midland Cocoa (was Ambrosia Chocolate), Howmet Georgetown Casting, a division of Alcoa Power and Propulsion and Kingsbury Technologies (Canada) Inc. The community also serves as the Canadian headquarters of Jehovah's Witnesses. Georgetown has seen an explosion of population growth in the south. This has caused new businesses to appear including Tim Hortons, Sherwin-Williams, Metro, and others.
The Georgetown Marketplace is Georgetown's Mall. It has roughly 63 stores, including major companies such as WalMart. The mall is home to stores such as: Peoples Jewelers, Coles, Winners & Home Sense, Sport Chek, Marks Work Wearhouse, and Ardene.
Recreation and parks[edit]
Hiking trails[edit]
The Bruce Trail goes through Halton Hills, passing north of Georgetown.
The town is developing a multi-purpose trail system in Hungry Hollow, on old railbeds and various other locations. A citizens group called HHORBA is trying to work with the Town in planning and constructing the trails to be as environmentally friendly, safe for hikers and enjoyable for bicyclists as possible. HHORBA helped construct a one trail and three bridges with members of the Bruce Trail. HHORBA in the past has been a member of the International Mountain Bicycling Association.
Georgetown Skate Park[edit]
Located outside of the Mold-Masters SportsPlex at 221 Guelph Street, this facility was made possible by the co-operative efforts of the Halton Hills Community through the Skateboarders, Inline Skaters & BMX Bikers of Halton Hills (SIBAHH) Committee and the Recreation and Parks Department. Funding was provided through generous community donations and the Corporation of the Town of Halton Hills. The facility is user supervised and is managed through posted regulations.
Gellert Community Centre[edit]
Located on eighth line just north of 10 side road in South Georgetown. The facility contains a large indoor swimming pool and hosts various exercise classes plus other community events. Outside amenities include a splash pad, three baseball diamonds, soccer field, six tennis courts and park trails.
Library[edit]
The Halton Hills Public Library is a two-branch library system. Both branches reflect the historic character of the community. The Georgetown Branch (9 Church Street) is co-located with the Halton Hills Cultural Centre, anchored by the former Methodist Church (now the Art Gallery) and The John Elliott Theatre. The Acton Branch (17 River Street) was built as the community's centennial project in a park setting, across a foot bridge over a creek.
On Saturday January 26, 2013 the renovated Georgetown Branch of the Halton Hills Public Library opened.[34] The renovations included making the library more accessible to the public as well as more environmentally friendly.
Georgetown is covered by local newspapers and television through the following services:
Georgetown Independent[35]
TVCogeco
The Halton Compass
Georgetown Station
GO Transit and Via Rail serve Georgetown Station. There is no local bus service, although the Georgetown Halton Hills ActiVan provides local transportation for individuals with physical disabilities. GO Transit offers both bus and rail services through the Georgetown GO Station. The GO Transit Kitchener rail line runs between Toronto and Kitchener. The GO bus connects to many of the nearby communities including Brampton, Toronto, Acton, Guelph, and Kitchener.
Georgetown is also linked to the Provincial Highway network by Highway 7, and to Highway 401 by Trafalgar Road (Halton Regional Road 3), Mountainview Road/9th Line (Halton Regional Road 13) and Winston Churchill Boulevard (Halton Regional Road 19)
There are no airports in Georgetown; the closest are Brampton Airport (general aviation) to the north and Toronto Pearson International Airport (domestic and international flights) to the east.
Notable residents[edit]
Adam Bennett, former NHL Hockey Player
Karl Clark, member of the Canadian Petroleum Hall of Fame[36]
Kenneth Walter Davidson (1937–), former Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
Jason Dickinson, NHL first round draft pick and forward for the Dallas Stars
Dan Dunleavy (1966–), play-by-play broadcaster for the Buffalo Sabres and Toronto FC
Timothy Eaton (1834–1907), founder of Eaton's department store
Sarah Fillier, Current National Womens Ice Hockey Player
Bob Goldham, five-time Stanley Cup Winner
PJ Haarsma, science fiction author
Mike Harris, Olympic curler
Brian Hayward, former NHL goalie and William M. Jennings Trophy winner
Shawn Hill, retired MLB pitcher
Mike Holmes, star of the home renovation show Holmes on Homes
Bryan Lewis, former NHL Director of Officiating
John Malinosky, former CFL lineman
John McCauley, former NHL Director of Officiating
Wes McCauley, current NHL Referee[37]
Lucy Maud Montgomery (1874–1942)), author of Anne of Green Gables, lived in Norval for a large part of her life
Cristy Nurse, Olympic rower
Dan Talevski, Canadian singer-songwriter[38]
W. Stewart Wallace (1884–1970), historian, librarian, and editor
Wilbur Lake
^ Georgetown Neighbourhoods
^ a b c "Founding of Georgetown". OntarioPlaques.com. Alan L. Brown.
^ a b c "Brief History of Georgetown, Ontario". Archived from the original on 2017-04-10.
^ "Biography – GALT, JOHN – Volume VII (1836-1850) – Dictionary of Canadian Biography".
^ James Young (1880). Reminiscences of the Early History of Galt and Settlement of Dumfries. Toronto: Hunter, Rose and company. p. 49-50. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
^ a b "History of the Area". Halton Hills Chamber of Commerce. Ontario, Canada.
^ "John R. Barber and the Credit River Dynamo Historical Plaque". ontarioplaques.com.
^ a b c d e f g h "Georgetown History". www.downtowngeorgetown.com.
^ a b c d e "Georgetown Online - Historic Georgetown". www.georgetown-online.com.
^ Smith, Wm. H. (1846). Smith's Canadian Gazetteer – Statistical and General Information Respecting All Parts of the Upper Province, or Canada West. Toronto: H. & W. ROWSELL. p. 131.
^ "Early Settlers". Lucy Maud Montgomery Norval. Archived from the original on 2016-02-07.
^ "L M Montgomery Lucy Maud - Heritage Foundation Halton".
^ "The Country Connection Magazine Story: The Kilns of Limehouse". Pinecone.on.ca. Retrieved 2018-07-25.
^ Smith, Wm. H. (1846). Smith's Canadian Gazetteer – Statistical and General Information Respecting All Parts of the Upper Province, or Canada West. Toronto: H. & W. Rowsell. p. 63.
^ An Act to incorporate the Town of Georgetown, S.O. 1921, c. 104
^ "History of Georgetown". Downtown Georgetown.
^ The Province of Ontario Gazetteer and Directory. Robertson & Cook. 1869. p. 169.
^ "Heritage Register". Town of Halton Hills. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
^ Churchill, David (9 March 2016). "Opinion - David Churchill: What you need to know about the McGibbon condo plan".
^ "Find a Station or Stop - Stations, Stops & Parking - GO Transit". www.gotransit.com.
^ "Old Time Trains". www.trainweb.org.
^ "Media". Sara Corning Centre for Genocide Education.
^ "Georgetown Armenian Boys". Sara Corning Centre for Genocide Education.
^ "The Armenian Boys' Farm Home, Georgetown". OntarioPlaques.com. Alan L Brown. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
^ "Census Profile, 2016 Census - Georgetown [Population centre], Ontario and Georgetown [Population centre], Ontario". 2.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2018-07-25.
^ "Halton Regional Council 2014-2018 - Halton Region". www.halton.ca. Archived from the original on 2016-04-23.
^ "Halton Hills 2018 Municipal Election Results" (PDF). Town of Halton Hills. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
^ "Official website". www.haltonhills.ca.
^ "Township plan" (PDF). www.haltonhills.ca.
^ "Georgetown WWTP". Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010. Environment Canada. Retrieved 2015-02-17.
^ Halton Hills Blue Fins Swimming club
^ Georgetown SloPitch League
^ Police, youths clash at fall fair Archived 2007-07-28 at Archive.today. The Independent and Free Press, Sept 10, 2003.
^ Halton Hills Public Library Building Projects
^ Georgetown Independent
^ "Dr. Karl A. Clark - Canadian Petroleum Hall of Fame". www.canadianpetroleumhalloffame.ca.
^ "NDHL Officials". Archived from the original on 2016-11-15. Retrieved 2016-11-15.
^ "Musician Finds Success South of the Border" The IFP. Retrieved on 2016-02-11.
Georgetown — Reflections of a Small Town, by John Mark Benbow Rowe, 2006, ISBN 0-921901-28-3
The Story of Georgetown Ontario, by John Mark Benbow Rowe, 1992. ISBN 0-921901-12-7
St. Andrews United Church - Our History
Toronto Sketches 5 : "The Way we Were", Mike Filey
Halton Sketches Revisited, by John MacDonald, 1996, ISBN 1-896867-00-6
Halton County Railway Museum
Guelph Radial Line
Statistics Canada 2006 Census Data
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Georgetown, Ontario.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Georgetown (Ontario).
Town of Halton Hills
Communities of the Regional Municipality of Halton, Ontario
Kilbride
Mount Nemo
Ashgrove
Ballinafad
Crewsons Corners
Glen Williams
Henderson's Corners
Mansewood
Scotch Block
Stewarttown
Darbyville
Haltonville
Hawthorne Village
Sayers Mills
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Georgetown,_Ontario&oldid=901460158"
Neighbourhoods in Halton Hills
Former municipalities in Ontario
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Ronald J. Brachman
Ronald Jay Brachman
1949 (age 69–70)
Yahoo! Research
AT&T Corporation
A structural paradigm for representing knowledge (1977)
William A. Woods
www.brachman.org
research.yahoo.com/Ron_Brachman
Ronald Jay "Ron" Brachman (born 1949) is the director of the Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute at Cornell Tech.[1] Previously, he was the Chief Scientist of Yahoo! and head of Yahoo! Labs. Prior to that, he was the Associate Head of Yahoo! Labs and Head of Worldwide Labs and Research Operations.
Brachman earned his B.S.E.E. degree from Princeton University, and his S.M. and Ph.D. degrees from Harvard University.
Prior to working at Yahoo!, Brachman worked at DARPA as the Director of the Information Processing Techniques Office (IPTO), one of DARPA's eight offices at the time. While at IPTO, he helped develop DARPA's Cognitive Systems research efforts. Before that, he worked at AT&T Bell Laboratories (Murray Hill, New Jersey) as the Head of the Artificial Intelligence Principles Research Department (2004) and Director of the Software and Systems Research Laboratory. When AT&T split with Lucent in 1996, he became Communications Services Research Vice President and was one of the founders of AT&T Labs.
He is considered by some to be the godfather[citation needed] of Description Logic, the logic-based knowledge representation formalism underlying the Web Ontology Language OWL.]
Publications[edit]
He is the co-author with Hector Levesque of a popular book on knowledge representation and reasoning[2][3] and many scientific papers.[4][5][6]
^ "Ron Brachman Joins the Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute at Cornell Tech as the New Director". Cornell Tech. Retrieved 2016-05-25.
^ Reiter, Ray; Brachman, Ronald J.; Levesque, Hector J. (1992). Knowledge representation. Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press. ISBN 978-0-262-52168-0.
^ Levesque, Hector J.; Brachman, Ronald J. (2004). Knowledge representation and reasoning. Amsterdam: Elsevier/Morgan Kaufmann. ISBN 978-1-55860-932-7.
^ List of publications from Microsoft Academic
^ Ronald J. Brachman at DBLP Bibliography Server
^ Ronald J. Brachman (1983) "What IS-A is and isn't. An Analysis of Taxonomic Links in Semantic Networks"; IEEE Computer, 16 (10); October.
External biography
ACM DL: 81100402226
DBLP: b/RJBrachman
This biographical article relating to a computer specialist is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ronald_J._Brachman&oldid=887946354"
Artificial intelligence researchers
Harvard University alumni
Princeton University alumni
Cornell Tech faculty
Fellow Members of the IEEE
Fellows of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence
Yahoo! employees
Presidents of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence
Computer specialist stubs
Wikipedia articles with ACM-DL identifiers
Wikipedia articles with DBLP identifiers
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shimla virbhadra singh
Himachal hydro power
HP CM says government extending top priority to exploring hydro power potential
Virbhadra Singh termed it as an imperative initiative to deliberate on the important issue of hydro power sector development and required policy changes in the hydro power policy to harness the potential of the state as early as possible.Anand Bodh | TNN | September 03, 2017, 14:29 IST
SHIMLA: Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh said that state government is extending top priority for expeditious exploitation of hydro power potential which is very important resource for economic development of the state. He said this while presiding over a seminar organized jointly by Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited and Forum of Hydro Power Producers and other stakeholders in various river basins of the state in Shimla.
Virbhadra Singh termed it as an imperative initiative to deliberate on the important issue of hydro power sector development and required policy changes in the hydro power policy to harness the potential of the state as early as possible.
He said that power sector is critical to the development of the economy as development in all other sectors depend largely on the availability of power. He said that state government is fully aware of this fact and is according top priority to the hydro power sector and it will ensure development in the remotest parts and act as major resource for revenue of the state.
He said that though hydro power sector has witnessed declining trends in past few years, but there is no need for worry as every sector passes through such phase. He assured that state government would provide every possible assistance to give boost to this vital sector, which is also a major source of the economy.
He said that Himachal Pradesh has the distinction of providing reliable and quality supply to all consumers in the state where hundred percent revenue villages were electrified long ago. Not only this, the consumers in the State enjoy one of the lowest tariffs in the country, he added.
Virbhadra Singh said that priority of the government is to expeditiously harness balance potential in a manner that optimizes returns to the state. With a view to achieve this, the process of involving both the central government PSUs and the private sector in a big way in hydro power development has been initiated. He underlined that while executing hydroelectric projects there is a need to assess key issues and requirements to meet the needs of sustainability, environmentally appropriate developments as well as adaptation towards addressing vulnerabilities from climate change.
He said that to embark upon ambitious programme in the hydel generation the state government in 2006 formulated its own hydro power policy in 2006. This was formulated with a view to maintain a delicate balance to safeguard the interest of the people and to maintain a delicate ecology and environmental safeguards.
He said that state government has set up a committee to take effective measures for revival of the hydro power sector. The government has also offered a number of incentives to facilitate the power producers.
Tags : Power, Virbhadra Singh, shimla virbhadra singh, Shimla, hydro power, Himachal Pradesh, Himachal hydro power
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MDEQ Announces Plans to Deal with Climate Change
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's Feb. 20, 2019, executive order reorganizes the MDEQ into the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, which will integrate the state's mission of protecting the Great Lakes, providing clean drinking water, and addressing climate change
Liesl Clark, director of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, outlined the state's commitment to addressing climate change on Feb. 21 at the Michigan Climate Action Network's first annual Summit at Grand Valley State University's Eberhard Center.
MiCAN is a grassroots network of groups and individuals working to build and mobilize around climate issues across the state. The summit brought together the public, climate advocates, activists, and lawmakers from across Michigan.
"To quote Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, 'There's a piece of the answer in all of us,'" Clark told the attendees. She provided an update on Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's Feb. 20, 2019, executive order reorganizing the MDEQ into the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, which will integrate the state's mission of protecting the Great Lakes, providing clean drinking water, and addressing climate change while continuing to protect public health and the environment.
On Feb. 4, Gov. Whitmer signed an executive directive entering Michigan into the U.S. Climate Alliance, a coalition of governors from 20 other states that have committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions consistent with the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement. On Feb. 12, Wisconsin also joined the alliance.
Dr. Hanna-Attisha is a pediatrician, professor, and public health advocate whose research exposed the Flint, Mich., water crisis.
FY2019 NRC Fees Increased for Operating Reactors
New Method Developed for Tracking Water Pollution Sources
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Report: A Pistol Near the Head and a Cordless Drill Near the Body A Pistol Near the Head and a Cordless Drill ...
A Pistol Near the Head and a Cordless Drill Near the Body
The Senate’s torture report says a CIA operative held a cordless electric drill to the body of a top al Qaeda suspect and turned it on. Then things got really brutal.
By Elias Groll
| December 9, 2014, 1:58 PM
In releasing the long-awaited Intelligence Committee report on the CIA’s interrogation and detention program, Sen. Dianne Feinstein declared on the Senate floor Tuesday that its revelations are a “stain on our values and our history.” As the massive report is picked over in coming days, one section is sure to be held out as an example of Feinstein’s contention: a CIA operative interrogating al Qaeda suspect Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri by pointing a gun at him and then holding a cordless power drill near his body and turning it on.
An al Qaeda operative who allegedly masterminded the 1999 bombing of the USS Cole, Nashiri was arrested in Dubai in 2002 and shuttled into the CIA’s network of secret prisons. Once there, he was judged to be of sufficient intelligence value to be subjected to the agency’s so-called “enhanced interrogation techniques” — the antiseptic phrase, according to President Barack Obama and his top officials, for torture. Nashiri was one of three al Qaeda operatives — 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and top al Qaeda operative Abu Zubaydah being the others — to be repeatedly waterboarded, the interrogation technique that simulates the experience of drowning.
After being arrested in Dubai, Nashiri was first interrogated in the custody of what the Senate report describes only as a foreign government. During that interrogation, he provided information on terrorist plotting in the Persian Gulf. He was then transferred to the CIA’s custody, where he was first subjected to a regimen of waterboarding. According to the Senate report, he was waterboarded at least three times.
By December 2002, Nashiri’s CIA captors concluded that he was being “cooperative and truthful” in his statements, that he was a “compliant detainee,” and that he was not “withholding important threat information.”
CIA headquarters did not agree with this assessment. “It is inconceivable to us that al-Nashiri cannot provide us concrete leads,” CIA headquarters cabled back to the prison, according to a document cited in the massive Senate report. “When we are able to capture other terrorists based on his leads and to thwart future plots based on his reporting, we will have much more confidence that he is, indeed, genuinely cooperative on some level.”
The CIA agents interrogating Nashiri recommended against resuming enhanced interrogation techniques because they thought he was already being cooperative, but headquarters wanted more. With two of the prison’s interrogators sent home to be with their families with the holidays, CIA headquarters dispatched an officer to carry out further interviews with Nashiri. Some within the agency objected to his deployment, as he had not been through interrogation training and was seen by some as “too confident, had a temper, and had some security issues.”
According to the report, that was exactly why the operative had been sent there. Top CIA officials felt that Nashiri was being treated too leniently, and wanted the unnamed officer to “fix” this problem. Shortly after his arrival at the prison, the officer cabled back to headquarters that “Nashiri responds well to harsh treatment.”
The officer then proceeded to use a series of “unauthorized interrogation techniques.” Nashiri was placed in a standing stress position with his hands fixed over his head for two and a half days. Then, while Nashiri was blindfolded, the officer placed a pistol by his head and operated a cordless drill “near his body,” in the words of the report.
These techniques did not result in the actionable intelligence the CIA was hoping it would. “Al-Nashiri did not provide any additional threat information during, or after, these interrogations,” the report notes, referring to the stepped up interrogation regimen used by the officer dispatched by headquarters.
A fall 2003 CIA report cited by the Senate study described other allegations of unauthorized interrogation techniques used on Nashiri by the CIA officer and other interrogators. These techniques included: “slapping al-Nashiri multiple times on the back of the head during interrogations; implying that his mother would be brought before him and sexually abused; blowing cigar smoke in al-Nashiri’s face; giving al-Nashiri a forced bath using a stiff brush; and using improvised stress positions that caused cuts and bruises resulting in the intervention of a medical officer, who was concerned that al-Nashiri’s shoulders would be dislocated using the stress positions.”
The treatment of Nashiri prompted concern among some at CIA headquarters, including the agency’s head of interrogations. When in January 2003 the interrogation chief received a plan for Nashiri’s future treatment, he threatened to resign and said that he would “no longer be associated in any way with the interrogation program due to serious reservation about the current state of affairs.” The interrogation program, he wrote in an email, “is a train wreak [sic] waiting to happen and I intend to get the hell off the train before it happens.”
The interrogation chief put those concerns in a cable. Nashiri, the operative wrote, had been “held in very difficult conditions, both physically and mentally.” Continued use of enhanced interrogation methods, the interrogator noted, may push him “over the edge psychologically” and “may cause him to cease cooperation on any level.”
The cable, though, wasn’t distributed within the base where Nashiri was being interrogated, and the brutality continued. The Senate report says CIA operatives instead resumed enhanced interrogation techniques, “beginning with shaving him, removing his clothing, and placing him in a standing sleep deprivation position with his arms affixed over his head.” Subsequently, Nashiri developed “a head cold which caused his body to shake for approximately ten minutes during an interrogation.”
From June 2003 to September 2006, Nashiri was transferred to five different CIA prisons, and during that period he “was diagnosed by some CIA psychologists as having ‘anxiety’ and ‘major depressive’ disorder.” Others, however, found no sign of illness. Along with the reports of possible mental illness, Nashiri became an increasingly “difficult and uncooperative detainee,” attempting to assault his CIA captors and damaging items in his cell.
“At one point, al-Nashiri launched a short lived hunger strike that resulted in the CIA force feeding him rectally,” the report notes, a clinical way of describing an operative forcibly inserting a tube into Nashiri’s anus and using it to push nutrients into his body.
In October 2004, 21 months after the last documented use of enhanced interrogation techniques on Nashiri, a CIA assessment concluded that the inmate had provided “essentially no actionable information” and that he was unlikely to do so in the future.
As the CIA notes in its response to the Senate study, the officer who used the drill was punished for his actions, receiving a one-year letter of reprimand and being suspended for five days without pay. During that one-year period, he was barred from pay increases and promotions. That officer retired from the agency in 2004 but returned as a contractor in June 2005.
The prison chief was also sanctioned by the agency, receiving a two-year letter of reprimand and was suspended for ten days without pay. He retired before the measures could be implemented.
Nashiri remains imprisoned at the U.S. military base at Guantanamo Bay, where he has been indicted on charges related to his alleged involvement in the attack on the Cole and plotting to strike other ships.
Elias Groll is a staff writer at Foreign Policy. Twitter: @EliasGroll
Tags: CIA, Human Rights, Terrorism, torture, U.S. Congress, U.S. Foreign Policy
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The 21st Century CorporationChina
China Launches Another Space Station for the First Time in 5 Years
Abigail Abrams
China launches the world's first quantum satellite on top of a Long March-2D rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Jiuquan, northwest China's Gansu Province, Aug. 16, 2016.Jin Liwang—Xinhua News Agency via Getty Images
China launched its second space station, Tiangong 2, on Thursday, according to state media reports.
A Long March 7 rocket carried the station into space from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in China. Next month, the Shenzou 11 spaceship will carry two astronauts and dock with the station for a month.
This development comes five years after the country launched its first space station, Tiangong 1, in September 2011. The new station marks a step forward for China, which hopes to send a mission to Mars in the not-so-distant future, the Associated Press reports.
The Tiangong 2, whose name means “Heavenly Palace,” will be used to test space technology and conduct medical and space experiments, according to the Associated Press.
After this launch, China wants to create a manned space station by around 2022, the BBC reported, and the country has said it plans to land a rover on Mars by 2020.
This story was originally published on Time.com.
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Bodybuilding became more popular in the 1950s and 1960s with the emergence of strength and gymnastics champions, and the simultaneous popularization of bodybuilding magazines, training principles, nutrition for bulking up and cutting down, the use of protein and other food supplements, and the opportunity to enter physique contests. The number of bodybuilding organizations grew, and most notably the International Federation of Bodybuilders (IFBB) was founded in 1946 by Canadian brothers Joe and Ben Weider. Other bodybuilding organizations included the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), National Amateur Bodybuilding Association (NABBA), and the World Bodybuilding Guild (WBBG). Consequently, the male-dominated contests grew both in number and in size. Besides the many "Mr. XXX" (insert town, city, state, or region) championships, the most prestigious titles[according to whom?] were Mr. America, Mr. World, Mr. Universe, Mr. Galaxy, and ultimately Mr. Olympia, which was started in 1965 by the IFBB and is now considered the most important bodybuilding competition in the world.
The genealogy of lifting can be traced back to the beginning of recorded history[1] where humanity's fascination with physical abilities can be found among numerous ancient writings. In many prehistoric tribes, they would have a big rock they would try to lift, and the first one to lift it would inscribe their name into the stone. Such rocks have been found in Greek and Scottish castles.[2] Progressive resistance training dates back at least to Ancient Greece, when legend has it that wrestler Milo of Croton trained by carrying a newborn calf on his back every day until it was fully grown. Another Greek, the physician Galen, described strength training exercises using the halteres (an early form of dumbbell) in the 2nd century.
Dymatize Nutrition maximizes the benefits of protein in ISO-100 through its use of hydrolyzed 100% whey protein isolate. Designed to increase the absorption of protein, this fast-acting protein provides 25 grams of protein and 5.5 grams of BCAAs per serving, with no gluten or lactose. With a formula that aids in the instantaneous delivery of effective and advanced protein forms straight to the muscle, ISO-100 is able to repair and build muscle faster, resulting in the ability to reach fitness goals sooner rather than later. Keep Reading »
How much weight? Start with a pair of light dumbbell hand weights (2 to 3 pounds for women and 5 to 8 pounds for men). If you can’t do 12 repetitions (or reps are the number of times you do the exercise) the weight is too heavy. If your muscles don’t feel tired after 12 reps, it’s too light. Adjustable weights that can be strapped to wrists or ankles may be convenient if you have arthritis in your hands. You can also use home or gym weight machines, or resistance bands.
After supplementation of creatine monohydrate (loading phase, followed by 19 weeks maintenance), creatine precursors are decreased by up to 50% (loading) or 30% (maintenance), which suggests a decrease in endogenous creatine synthesis during supplementation.[38] This appears to occur through creatine’s own positive feedback and suppression of the l-arginine:glycine amidinotransferase enzyme, the rate-limiting step in creatine synthesis, as levels of intermediates before this stage are typically elevated by up to 75%.[38]
The concentration in healthy controls (57+/-8 years) without supplementation of creatine appears to be around 1.24+/-0.26µM per gram of hemoglobin[292] and appears to decrease in concentration during the aging process of the erythrocyte.[294][295][296] Otherwise healthy subjects who take a loading phase of creatine (5g four times daily for five days) can experience a 129.6% increase in erythrocytic creatine concentrations from an average value of 418µM (per liter) up to 961µM with a large range (increases in the range of 144.4-1004.8µM),[297] and this effect appears to correlate somewhat with muscular creatine stores.[297]
Athletic performance. Creatine seems to help improve rowing performance, jumping height, and soccer performance in athletes. But the effect of creatine on sprinting, cycling, or swimming performance varies. The mixed results may relate to the small sizes of the studies, the differences in creatine doses, and differences in test used to measure performance. Creatine does not seem to improve serving ability in tennis players.
Cribb et al (2007) [29] observed greater improvements on 1RM, lean body mass, fiber cross sectional area and contractile protein in trained young males when resistance training was combined with a multi-nutrient supplement containing 0.1 g/kg/d of creatine, 1.5 g/kg/d of protein and carbohydrate compared with protein alone or a protein carbohydrate supplement without the creatine. These findings were novel because at the time no other research had noted such improvements in body composition at the cellular and sub cellular level in resistance trained participants supplementing with creatine. The amount of creatine consumed in the study by Cribb et al was greater than the amount typically reported in previous studies (a loading dose of around 20 g/d followed by a maintenance dose of 3-5 g/d is generally equivalent to approximately 0.3 g/kg/d and 0.03 g/kg/d respectively) and the length of the supplementation period or absence of resistance exercise may explain the observed transcriptional level changes that were absent in previous studies [30,31].
I'm 6'1" 175 pounds 27 years old. I would like to increase my general muscle mass and reduce my stomach fat. I would consider myself and ectomorph (hard gainer) as I have never really developed much muscle while I've always been very active in sports and periodic weight training. Over the past year I lost about 30 pounds (nearly all fat) by reducing my caloric intake effectively and regular whole body exercises. I was on my way to my ideal body composition until I became a bike courier. I've been a bike messenger for 9 months and recently my stomach fat has started to return. I'm riding 50+ miles each weekday riding for 9 hours a day. How many calories should I be eating? I've tried everywhere between 2400-3,500 cal/day. Is it possible for me to be eating too few calories while still accumulating stomach fat? Is it realistic for me to be able to maintain or even build muscle mass in this scenario? Please help, thanks.
If you're 12 weeks out from a competition, you want to maintain as much muscle as possible while torching fat from every angle. This means low-intensity cardio – high intensity cardio speeds up your metabolism and burns fat very quickly, so you run the risk of burning muscle too, Terry says – either first thing in the morning on an empty stomach, or immediately after your weights session, once you’ve depleted those glycogen levels.
According to research from the University of Stirling, for optimal protein growth, weight lifters need to eat 0.25 to 0.30 grams of protein per kilogram body weight per meal. For a 175-pound person, that works out to 20 to 24 grams of protein at every meal. You’ll get that in three to four eggs, a cup of Greek yogurt, or one scoop of protein powder.
Synthesis primarily takes place in the kidney and liver, with creatine then being transported to the muscles via the blood. The majority of the human body's total creatine and phosphocreatine stores is located in skeletal muscle, while the remainder is distributed in the blood, brain, and other tissues.[17][18][20] Typically, creatine is produced endogenously at an estimated rate of about 8.3 mmol or 1 gram per day in young adults.[16][17] Creatine is also obtained through the diet at a rate of about 1 gram per day from an omnivorous diet.[17][18] Some small studies suggest that total muscle creatine is significantly lower in vegetarians than non-vegetarians, as expected since foods of animal origin are the primary source of creatine. However, subjects happened to show the same levels after using supplements.[21]
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In regard to practical interventions, concurrent glycogen loading has been noted to increase creatine stores by 37-46% regardless of whether the tissue was exercised prior to loading phase.[176] It is important to note, however, that creatine levels in response to the creatine loading protocol were compared in one glycogen-depleted leg to the contralateral control leg, which was not exercised.[176] This does not rule out a possible systemic exercise-driven increase in creatine uptake, and the increase in creatine noted above[176] was larger than typically seen with a loading protocol (usually in the 20-25% range). Consistent with an exercise-effect, others have reported that exercise itself increases creatine uptake into muscle, reporting 68% greater creatine uptake in an exercised limb, relative to 14% without exercise.[153]
The muscle endurance objective is pursued when you want your muscles to be able to perform the same motions over an extended period of time or in other words when you want your muscles to be strong and not become tired rapidly. You'll want to use at least 4 sets from which at least 16 repetitions are performed. The muscle endurance objective is often used for muscles in your lower body, such as those located in your legs or your buttocks.
Competitive and professional bodybuilders, however, can often build up to two to three pounds of muscle per month during dedicated bulking periods. "But they are living and breathing muscle growth. They aren't just in and out of the gym like most people," Simpson says, noting that under extreme conditions, hyperplasia, or the growth in the number of muscle cells in a given muscle tissue, may actually occur, further adding to muscle growth results.
Generally, you should consume about 20 grams of protein with some carbs shortly after a workout. During the post-workout anabolic window, you’ll also want to limit fats, which can slow the absorption of protein. While there is some recent research that suggests the window may actually extend up to several hours following exercise, there’s no harm in getting nutrients in early as long as you’re sticking to your overall caloric and macronutrient goals.
Weight training also requires the use of 'good form', performing the movements with the appropriate muscle group, and not transferring the weight to different body parts in order to move greater weight (called 'cheating'). Failure to use good form during a training set can result in injury or a failure to meet training goals; since the desired muscle group is not challenged sufficiently, the threshold of overload is never reached and the muscle does not gain in strength. At a particularly advanced level; however, "cheating" can be used to break through strength plateaus and encourage neurological and muscular adaptation.
Though weight training can stimulate the cardiovascular system, many exercise physiologists, based on their observation of maximal oxygen uptake, argue that aerobics training is a better cardiovascular stimulus. Central catheter monitoring during resistance training reveals increased cardiac output, suggesting that strength training shows potential for cardiovascular exercise. However, a 2007 meta-analysis found that, though aerobic training is an effective therapy for heart failure patients, combined aerobic and strength training is ineffective; "the favorable antiremodeling role of aerobic exercise was not confirmed when this mode of exercise was combined with strength training".[36]
Creatine helps create essential adenosine triphosphate (ATP). This is the energy source of muscle contractions. By upping your levels, you can increase the amount of energy available to your muscles, boosting your performance. Because your muscle strength and size increases when you add weight and reps, improving your performance can be a game changer in terms of increasing your muscle mass. If you’re able to lift longer and harder, your muscles will grow. Creatine is certainly a winner among muscle building supplements.
Bird, L. M., Tan, W. H., Bacino, C. A., Peters, S. U., Skinner, S. A., Anselm, I., Barbieri-Welge, R., Bauer-Carlin, A., Gentile, J. K., Glaze, D. G., Horowitz, L. T., Mohan, K. N., Nespeca, M. P., Sahoo, T., Sarco, D., Waisbren, S. E., and Beaudet, A. L. A therapeutic trial of pro-methylation dietary supplements in Angelman syndrome. Am J Med Genet.A 2011;155A:2956-2963. View abstract.
Another category of muscle-building supplements that lifters and bodybuilders use to improve their results are branched-chained amino acids (BCAAs), or BCAAs. Of the 20 amino acids that make up protein, just three are referred to as BCAAs: leucine, isoleucine, and valine. These are the specific amino acids that have been shown to stimulate protein synthesis and help regulate protein metabolism.
It is prudent to note that creatine supplementation has been shown to reduce the body’s endogenous production of creatine, however levels return to normal after a brief period of time when supplementation ceases [1,6]. Despite this creatine supplementation has not been studied/supplemented with for a relatively long period. Due to this, long term effects are unknown, therefore safety cannot be guaranteed. Whilst the long term effects of creatine supplementation remain unclear, no definitive certainty of either a negative or a positive effect upon the body has been determined for many health professionals and national agencies [19,78]. For example the French Sanitary Agency has banned the buying of creatine due to the unproven allegation that a potential effect of creatine supplementation could be that of mutagenicity and carcinogenicity from the production of heterocyclic amines [78]. Long term and epidemiological data should continue to be produced and collected to determine the safety of creatine in all healthy individuals under all conditions [78].
2-4 Minutes Rest: Ideal for “tension exercises,” which includes most primary compound exercises. I personally take 3 minutes for the big stuff, sometimes going into the 3-4 minute range depending on exactly what I’m doing and what I feel like I need at the time. Since making strength gains is the main focus of these exercises, longer rest periods like this will be optimal for making it happen.
These effects were noted before in a preliminary study of depressed adolescents (with no placebo group) showing a 55% reduction in depressive symptoms at 4g daily when brain phosphocreatine levels increased.[231] Other prelimnary human studies suggest creatine might lessen unipolar depression[256] and one study on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) noted improved mood as assessed by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale.[232]
Creatine is a powerful supplement for strength and muscle gain. It always recommended utilize creatine before the workout. It gives you the strength and power of more repetition. With creatine, you can also use SR-9009. SR-9009 has the capabilities of lowering obesity and reversing metabolic syndrome. SR-9009 allows to perform more cardio training, weight loss, improve cholesterol levels, and gain lean muscle mass. Hope this information will help someone.
Creatine monohydrate is regarded as a necessity by most bodybuilders. Creatine monohydrate is the most cost-effective dietary supplement in terms of muscle size and strength gains. … There is no preferred creatine supplement, but it is believed that creatine works best when it is consumed with simple carbohydrates. This can be accomplished by mixing powdered creatine with grape juice, lemonade, or many high glycemic index drinks.[36]
Peirano, R. I., Achterberg, V., Dusing, H. J., Akhiani, M., Koop, U., Jaspers, S., Kruger, A., Schwengler, H., Hamann, T., Wenck, H., Stab, F., Gallinat, S., and Blatt, T. Dermal penetration of creatine from a face-care formulation containing creatine, guarana and glycerol is linked to effective antiwrinkle and antisagging efficacy in male subjects. J.Cosmet.Dermatol. 2011;10(4):273-281. View abstract.
Small but significant is good. It’s especially helpful during short periods of extremely powerful physical activity, particularly if those short bursts of activity are repeated, as in weightlifting, sprinting or football, for example. The study also says that creatine supplementation is associated with enhanced strength gains in strength training programs, which could be related to the greater volume and intensity of training that you can achieve when you’re taking creatine supplements. Plus, according to the study, there’s no evidence of gastrointestinal, renal or muscle cramping complications – more good news.
He pointed to data sets in Mayo Clinic Proceedings that found resistance training reduced the risk of developing metabolic syndrome or hypercholesterolemia. “If you build muscle, even if you’re not aerobically active, you burn more energy because you have more muscle. This also helps prevent obesity and provide long-term benefits on various health outcomes.”
It’s an amazing feeling when you graduate from lifting 10-pounders to 15-pounders. “Over time, you get better at something you’re doing, and you develop a sense of mastery and feeling that you’re getting stronger,” explains James Whitworth, a doctoral research fellow in the Biobehavioral Resistance Training Lab at Columbia’s Teachers College in New York City. “It helps your confidence, and that gives you a boost in self-esteem.”
Some of these athletes take it to an unhealthy — and in some cases illegal — extreme with anabolic steroids, prohormones, diuretics, and potentially harmful substances. In addition to their potential performance-enhancing attributes, many of these substances also can have serious and significant side effects. A telling example of this is the story of ephedra — a once widely-used supplement for bodybuilding that has since been banned and removed from the market due to multiple reports of life-threatening side effects and death after its use.
Zinc is important to produce the male hormone testosterone and in building the immune system. Magnesium is an essential component of the nervous system and for maintaining heart health. Both have a range of important biochemical function. Zinc and magnesium are often marketed to bodybuilders in combination in a supplement called ZMA. Zinc is in whole grains, seeds, nuts and particularly meat and oysters. After years of research, no evidence exists to show that either mineral offers bodybuilding or athletic performance enhancement in excess of the recommended dietary requirements.
At the same time, this also doesn’t mean that primary compound exercises can never be done for more than 8 reps, or that secondary compound exercise can’t be done for 5-8 or 10-15 reps, or that isolation exercises can’t be done for less than 10 reps. Everything can be done in every rep range. However, these are the rep ranges that each type of exercise is best suited for, and where it should ideally be done most of the time.
Creatine is normally metabolized into creatinine (note the difference in spelling), which is eliminated by the kidneys under normal conditions. When the kidneys fail and cannot clear the blood as effectively, many metabolites get “backlogged” in the blood. Creatinine is easy to measure and as such it is a biomarker of kidney damage.[623][624] If serum creatinine levels are elevated, the doctor may suspect some kidney damage. Low-dose creatine (≤5 g/day) may not cause alterations in this biomarker in otherwise normal adults[524][625][525] but high doses of supplemental creatine may cause a false positive (an increase in creatinine, due to creatine turning into creatinine, which does not signify kidney damage) and is a diagnostic error.[520][518][626][523][517] Most studies, however, have noted only a small increase in creatinine levels even with doses ≈20 g/day.[524][626][627]
Minor liver lesions (grade I, no grade II or III, pathology not indicative of toxicity) have been studied in SOD1 G93A transgenic mice (a research model for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS, but used in this study to assess a state of chronic pro-oxidative stress) for 159 days with 2% of feed intake and in CD-1 rats (seen as normal) over 56 days with 0.025-0.5mg/kg in CD-1 mice, although in Sprague-Dawley rats (normal controls) there were no significant differences noted even after 2% of feed intake for 365 days.[503] These observations appear to be due to the strain of the rodents used,[504][503] and human studies on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS; what the SOD1 G93A transgenic mice are thought to represent) lasting from nine to sixteen months with subjects supplementing with up to 10g of creatine daily have failed to find any abnormalities in serum biomarkers of liver or kidney health.[505][506][507]
Always consult your doctor before you begin taking a creatine supplement to make sure that there are no negative interactions with whatever diabetes medication you are on. If they deem you to be safe to take creatine, we recommend this unflavored powder from MET-Rx. It’s made without artificial sweeteners, flavors, and colors, so it's just pure creatine monohydrate powder to promote increased muscle strength. One reviewer noted the product is easy to mix and another said the formula was effect for their needs.
In otherwise healthy adults subject to leg immobilization for two weeks while taking 20g creatine daily during immobilization and then 5g daily during eight weeks of rehabilitation, it was noted that the creatine group failed to reduce atrophy during the immobilization (10% reduction in cross sectional area and 22-25% reduction in force output) despite preventing a decrease in phosphocreatine, yet experienced a significantly enhanced rate of regrowth and power recovery.[358] A similarly structured and dosed study has also noted greater expression of skeletal muscle, GLUT4 expression, and a 12% increase in muscle phosphocreatine content.[330]
Caffeine is the naturally occurring alkaloid and stimulant in coffee, tea, cocoa, guarana, cola and other plant product beverages. A strong cup of brewed coffee will give you about 100 milligrams of caffeine, instant coffee around 80 milligrams, often less, and tea down around the 40 milligrams. It varies from product to product and how you prepare the drink.
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Oral-History:Jean Bartik
About Jean Bartik
Jean Bartik was one of the original women programmers of the ENIAC computer. Bartik's work, in conjunction with a group of women programmers, would completely change the face of computing. Bartik was a pioneer in the field of computer programming and as a woman, she faced and overcame several hurdles in the field as well.
Born Betty Jean Jennings, Bartik was raised in rural Missouri and attended Northwest Missouri State Teachers College where she received a math degree. In 1945, Bartik left for Philadelphia and began working on the ENIAC project, forming part of a crucial group of women programmers.
After her work on the ENIAC, Bartik continued to work on computing. Joining John Presper Eckert and John W. Mauchly, she worked on the UNIVAC computer. Shortly after the UNIVAC, Bartik left the computing industry to begin a family and resumed professional work in the computing field in several years later. After her layoff, Bartik decided to go into real estate, where she remained for the remainder of her life.
In 2009, Ms. Bartik received a Pioneer Award from the IEEE Computer Society, and in 2008 she was named a fellow by the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, Calif. Bartik died on March 23, 2011 of congestive heart disease.
In this interview, reflects on her upbringing in rural Missouri, her part in the ENIAC project, and the role of women in the history of computing in the US.
JEAN BARTIK: An Interview Conducted by Janet Abbate, IEEE History Center, 3 August 2001
Interview # 576 for the IEEE History Center, The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.
Jean Bartik, an oral history conducted in 2001 by Janet Abbate, IEEE History Center, Hoboken, NJ, USA.
INTERVIEW: Jean Bartik
INTERVIEWER: Janet Abbate
PLACE: Jean Bartik’s home in Oaklyn, New Jersey
Growing up in Rural Missouri
Abbate:
If I can start at the beginning, when were you born and where did you grow up?
Bartik:
I was born December the 27th, 1924, in a farm in Gentry County, Missouri. We were on dirt roads, so I grew up in a pretty isolated environment. In fact, until I was in college, I’d never been more than forty miles from home. We did have a car, but when the roads were muddy or snowy we used horses. My father was a school teacher, and he always used to have a big, long-legged riding horse; they were always “King” or “Rex” or something like that. And of course we had no tractors or anything like that, so everything was horse power! [laughs.] I have three brothers and three sisters, and we had a pony who was half Shetland and half Pacer, so I grew up on a horse.
I went to a little one-room school, the Jennings School (which was my maiden name), and then when it came time to go to high school . . . Actually, for my brothers and sisters, there were no buses, so my brothers and sisters stayed in Stanberry during the week, the town where there was a high school; and in fact, my two older brothers and sister actually once had an apartment, one year, by themselves! I mean, these three kids lived in an apartment in town so they could go to school. But when Roosevelt came in and the farm-to-market roads were built, then there was a gravel road built from Stanberry to Alanthus, which is a little town of 104. Back in those days there were towns about every five miles—maybe greater than that, but in any case, it was about two miles from where I lived; and the bus came to Alanthus, so the question was how to get to the bus. Well, the first year I stayed with my sister in town and came home on weekends, and then after that I took the bus. I started driving a car when I was fourteen. My father, who was a farmer and a school teacher, said to me one day, “Can you drive a car?” I said “Yes,” because my older brothers had let me drive once in a while. So he said, “Okay! Get in that car and back it up!” So I got in the car, and I put it in reverse, and I killed the engine—man, I did everything in the world!—but finally I got it backed up. And I got out of the car and he said, “Well, I see you can drive!” [laughs.] So the next day, I drove the car to meet the bus. They didn’t let me drive out on the highway, just on the back roads, the country roads, because I was only fourteen.
Anyway, I had three brothers and three sisters, and my grandmother, who was a strong influence on my life, lived about a mile and a half away. I went to see my grandmother every day; I rode my pony over. We were so poor that we couldn’t afford a subscription to a newspaper, but she took the Saint Joseph Newspress, and we used to go down every day and pick the newspaper up after she’d read it. I’m sure she hadn’t read it all, most times [laughs], but she gave it to us anyway. She took the Kansas City Star, which was a weekly paper, and she said, “Well, if it’s important, it’ll be in the weekly newspaper.” [laughs.] “And I read that thoroughly!” she said.
We lived in a little four-room house: we had a boys’ room and a girls’ room and a kitchen, and then the living room, and my parents had a folding-up bed that was in the living room. My oldest sister was the cook, my second sister cleaned the house, and I was the third daughter, without household duties, so I always worked in the field, and helped with raking and plowing and all that kind of stuff. We, of course, had cows to milk, and things like that, so we always had chores to do, and animals to feed, and things like that. My kids think it’s bliss—the Waltons or something, in Missouri—but believe me, it wasn’t the Waltons! [laughs.]
Did you have an idea about what you wanted to do when you grew up?
Yes. I shouldn’t say this, but: Get the hell out of Missouri! [laughs.] No; well, I grew up with seeing these farm women and seeing these kids—seeing these farm women with these gross husbands, farm husbands, and they were saying, “Oh, well, my husband won’t let me do such-and-such,” and little kids hanging on their skirts. So I took off, and I decided: one, I was not going to get married, and two, I was not having any children. I had an aunt Gretchen, who was my maiden aunt, and she had left Missouri, and she taught in Illinois and various places, and Cleveland, Ohio. She came home in the summer, and she had Hanmacher suits, and wore jewelry, and all that stuff. I wanted to be like Aunt Gretchen. I wasn’t going to get married, and I wasn’t having any children. I was going to do something outside Missouri—because I did read a lot, so I knew there was a lot out there in the world that I didn’t know anything about, and I wanted to see it!
Were you interested in math and science as a child?
Well, all my family was good in math, except my sister, who actually went to school during the most “progressive” of progressive education. We were all good at math, even my mother. I was especially good in math, and it was like a game: you know, there wasn’t really anything serious about it. Well, I skipped fifth grade. In those little one-room schools, they had fifth-and-sixth and seventh-and-eighth grades together, and then had individual grades for one, two, three, four. The year that I was in fifth grade, they were giving the sixth grade courses, so the teacher said, “Well, if you do sixth grade math, you can go into the seventh grade.” I was the only one, actually, in the fifth grade, although there were three or four in the sixth grade, and so that’s what I did. But I never really thought about math as any kind of career.
Actually, my first recognition came from being a softball pitcher! I was a good softball pitcher. We used to run around to the other towns. We’d form a team and we’d go in by trucks and play other teams from other little towns. So every summer, the coach would come up and ask my dad if I could play softball again, and I did. Actually, I got so good I got paid like two dollars for pitching a game—which is a lot of money, back in those days! I mean, when I was in college, I worked for forty cents an hour; so it was a lot of money, two dollars. Anyway, we used to go around, and actually I pitched one no-hit, no-run game. When I’d go down to this town in Stanberry, people would stop and talk to me, and tell me what I did wrong, what I should do next time, and what I did right! So that was the first time I ever had any recognition. And I did that until I got interested in boys, and I could play better ball better than they did, so I finally decided not to play! I could throw the ball harder than my brothers, actually.
But I used to practice a lot. I had a little tin can that I flattened out and put on the door of one of the sheds, and I used to practice pitching. I mean, I didn’t practice hours a day—don’t get me wrong—but I would practice an hour or two a day during ball season; I mean, I took this sort of seriously. Then when I was in high school, my brother was going to be a doctor, he said, so I wanted to be a nurse, because he was at that time my favorite brother. So I thought I’d be a nurse. Then, when I was in high school, he said, “Oh, well, you really should study Latin, because so many of the medical terms are in Latin.” So my English teacher said, “Gee, I’d had Latin one time; I’d like to review it; why don’t we get together at night and we’ll do Latin?” So I would go over one night a week and we would study Latin. When I was in high school, I was editor of our school newspaper. We didn’t have a newspaper, but we had a section of the Stanberry Headlight. They printed all the high school news, and I was the editor of that. This gave me the idea of being a writer. So when I went to college, I started out as pre-journalism.
You went to the Northwest Missouri State Teachers College. Was that sort of an obvious choice, or how did you end up going there?
Well, it was because it was so cheap! I mean, we paid $18.75—eighteen dollars and seventy-five cents—for a quarter. And it was close; it was less than thirty miles from home. So it was the obvious place. Missouri was pretty forward-looking in that they set up five State Teachers Colleges in the state: one in each corner and one in the middle. Iowa and Kansas didn’t have them, and half of our student body was from Iowa, rather than just Missouri. I think they paid more, being from out of state, because I’m sure this was the state-subsidized school. My Aunt Gretchen loaned us $25 a month to go to college, for two years. So she loaned me the money, and I worked in the bookstore. Between those two things, there was enough money. I lived in a light housekeeping room in a private home called Holt House I’d say about fourteen people lived there. It was two dollars a week, I think. Anyway, the amount that I earned, and the amount that Aunt Gretchen loaned me, saw me through two years of college.
So, I was taking pre-journalism, but I couldn’t stand my advisor. Her name was Mattie Dykes. Well, to sort of understand: My brother Bob, this one that was going to be a doctor, was a brown-noser of the first order, and all his teachers loved him, including Mattie Dykes. So I did not measure up to brother Bob, because I didn’t have the same charm. It was unbelievable; but he had other old women teachers who thought he was super. I couldn’t stand Mattie Dykes. Furthermore, I realized I could never get the money to go to the University of Missouri, which had a great journalism school. I decided I’d better be realistic, so I switched to a math major with a minor in English, and that’s how I did it.
And you switched to math thinking that you would teach math?
No. I’d get a degree and then I would do something else! [laughs.] I didn’t know what I was going to do, but I wasn’t going to teach.
I was wondering why math seemed more realistic.
Because it was easy. And if I majored in English, I couldn’t think of anything to do but teach school. I liked English, and I liked science, but I had no idea what I would do.
But math seemed like something that could be useful for a job.
Well, yes, and it was something I could do. I mean, as a last resort I supposed I could teach. I realized I wouldn’t be jobless, but it certainly wasn’t anything I would do with any enthusiasm. Everybody in my family were teachers: my father was a teacher; my grandmother had been a teacher; my sisters were teachers; uncles; aunts. So it just wasn’t something that I was interested in, actually.
When I was in college, of course I was the only math major in my class. And I took courses with the sailors—because I was a freshman when Pearl Harbor was bombed. The boys were cleaned right out of school, because they all were drafted and went into some branch of the military. My older brother was there. They had started a flight program in Maryville, the same place where the college was, so he took courses at the college and took flight lessons. Everybody was all bound up in the war. The next year they got these Navy programs, the V-5 and V-12: one of them was for recruits who were just getting into the Navy, and the other was for guys who had been at sea. They had brought them back for the beginning of officers’ training. I was actually a sophomore when I started taking the math courses: analytic geometry, trigonometry, physics, and courses like that. These were courses I took with these sailors. All the sailors knew me, because I was the only woman in the class. I also worked in the bookstore, which had a little coffee shop attached to it, so I knew most of the kids in school. I knew most of the sailors because of these circumstances. They were all very nice to me, actually, and I made lots of friends.
College was a fabulous experience! I was 16 when I went off to college. I just saw in the alumni magazine that one of my roommates had died, and a memoriam was held for her. When I went to college I had a roommate who was a freshman, named Joyce Cox. She was really the prettiest girl in school. We had two juniors as roommates, because there were two rooms set up, so we slept in one and studied in the other one. There were four of us in these two rooms; and these juniors were really nice to us. Although I was emotionally not more than a sixteen-year-old—I’d never actually been anywhere or done anything particularly—they were very nice to me. I was, the way many freshman are, shocked at things that they’d say and ideas which I’d never even heard of before. In fact, one of the teachers that I still consider one of the most influential in my life was named Dr. Horsfal. I took his course in biology. I was always a very good student, but I could not fathom how to take his tests. He gave us vocabulary tests every day—or maybe there weren’t every day, but it seemed like every day; it was more than once a week—and I could never get the definitions right. You see, he wouldn’t accept a dictionary definition; he wouldn’t accept the definition in the book; and he wouldn’t accept one from context. Now, I could never figure out what the definition ought to be, and I kept flunking these tests! This was the first time in my life I’d ever flunked a test. So, came mid-term, I got a pink slip in biology, which was almost unheard-of; and then I got an honor in Phys. Ed. The Phys. Ed. Department wanted me to major in Phys. Ed. because I was a good athlete! I liked to take Phys. Ed. courses. Most college students try to get out of Phys. Ed. as much as possible, but I didn’t try to get out of it; I mean, I took them even after I didn’t have to. Anyway, my brothers teased me about being brawny but not brainy! But I wrote to my mother and I said, “You know, mom, I’m really sorry about this, and I assure you that I will pass this course. I haven’t been working as hard as I ought to.” I got this nice letter back from my mother, saying, “We know you’ll pass the course! We know you’re a good student.” I mean, it was just wonderful—and it’s always worked with me. Do the opposite. Don’t bawl me out, but tell me how you trust me, and God, I’ll do anything for you. So my mother never bawled me out. She always worked in the opposite direction.
Anyway, I did pass the biology course. But later, when I was working on the UNIVAC, I took a computer course at Penn, and this teacher, for some reason or another, tried to compare computers to semantics, and he brought out the Count Korzybski, who is a semanticist and wrote a book called Science and Sanity. Count Korzybski said that people go insane partly due to their confusion over the definition of words! You know the old Aristotelian view of two-valued logic: “Well,” he said, “that isn’t the way words are.” If you describe a particular horse you see, and then you see a pony, it wouldn’t fit that description. But if you saw a pony and described that, then it wouldn’t fit with the other one! And if you just put their characteristics that were in common, then you’d see a horse and you’d say, “Hmm! Cripes, this horse is a lot more than this definition!” Anyway, he said people became confused because their words were either underdefined or overdefined—and all of sudden it hit me: Horsfal had read Count Korzybski, and that’s what he was trying to teach us! [laughs.]
To keep you from going insane! [both laugh.]
Well, I mean, ideas like that: I’m sure most college kids feel the same, but I just felt this was outrageous.
Were the other students having the same trouble?
Oh lord, yes! We fought over it—the whole class was one big fight! In particular we had one very bright guy. I was not a fighter at that time, you have to understand. I just sat there and listened; but this guy fought every day with the teacher. He believed that contextual definitions were the real ones; that when you’re reading something for the definition, it had to be contextual—so then they fought back and forth.
I found Horsfal very interesting when we discussed sex. When the sexual part of biology came up, he said, “I know you have lots of questions, and you’re probably too embarrassed to ask them. I’ll put a box outside my office, and any question you have about sex, just put the question in the box and I will answer the questions.” Well! This was the first time I’d ever heard of anything like this! [laughs.] There was a question of “Why not sex during menstruation?” and “Why not sex every time you go out with someone?”—I mean, there were all kinds of sexual questions. And you can imagine what college kids said! He stood up there—I’ll never forget this—he stood up there with his back to the blackboard, standing there answering every question! I mean, that was very impressive! Very impressive.
But anyway, I had a wonderful time. When my two years were up and my money from my aunt was running out, my father said to me—my brothers were away in the service, of course, and he didn’t have anybody to help him on the farm—so he said if I would help him on the farm, he would send me to school in style the next year. So that’s what I did. The summer before my junior year, I worked on the farm. It was actually one of the best experiences of my life. With seven children—and my father was a schoolteacher and a farmer—I had never had any time alone with my father. I basically didn’t know my father that well. I’d never been close to him; I never really knew what he thought, and things like that. I worked with him all summer, out in the fields. We ate our lunch out in the field, and I was with him all the time. I really got to know my father, which was a big plus, and I enjoyed it very much, actually.
A Father's Influence
What was he like?
He was very sentimental. He was not any taller than I am; I’ll show you pictures of him. He was very sentimental, very hard-working, and loved his children beyond anything in the world. That was one thing we always knew. You can’t believe how hard it was for my parents to send all of us kids to high school. Most of the farm kids didn’t even go to high school. I had a girl in my class who was every bit as bright as I am in everything but math, who didn’t even go to high school. But with our family—I mean, times were hard! There was no money. So my father [voice chokes]—they burned wood in the stove, and my father, on Saturday, would have a load of wood to take nine miles with horses! I mean, he taught school, and he worked, and chopped up that wood and took it down there. To this day I just think, “Oh my God! Would I ever have done anything like that?” And then my mother, of course, all weekend cooked food to send with them, so they’d have food to eat during the week; she’d bake cakes and bake bread and all that stuff.
He was very volatile. He had a very volatile temper, and it scared me half to death. So it left damage, the rages he’d go into. But, the one thing about my father that spoiled me in many ways: he always made amends. When he perceived that he’d hurt somebody—and that included his children—he made amends. So, even though he had this violent temper, which was very frightening, he never lost it with me that summer. Actually, he was very loved by all of his school children; they used to run up to him and hold his hands and all that stuff—but I never did: I never touched my father, when I was little. One of my second cousins—or maybe third cousins—lived in Albany, and he used to come to a farm of my cousins’. When they were threshing and things like that, everybody was working. This kid was a big fat kid and very weak, and so Dad would take him and they would take the grain from the thresher and put it back in the granary. This kid told me when he was in college—and by this time he had lost weight and he was a very attractive young man—but he said, “You know, your father was the most wonderful thing that ever happened to me!” He said, “He worked with me,” and he said he’d called him “honey dear”—and my father did; I mean, he used a lot of endearing phrases. And so he said, “Imagine this: here I am this big fat kid; my own father was dead; I’d never been around men very much in my life, and there I am working with this guy, and he’s calling me ‘honey dear’!” [laughs.] But people talked to Dad, young people, because he was a school teacher; and so many of them, when they got in trouble or anything, would come talk to him. Plus, he was the representative of the community when they had to go outside, like for state programs, or stuff like that.
Now, my father never got a degree; he only went to the normal school. In this little town of Stanberry, right after high school, he went to normal school that summer, and taught school that fall. So he was seventeen when he started teaching school! Some of the students—because the boys, when they didn’t have anything to do, would keep going to school, even after they were graduated from eighth grade—so some of those kids were older than he was. And all the time, he always had to take extension courses and things like that to keep being certified, because he never went back to Maryville to get a degree.
The one thing, of course, was that the farmers were all male chauvinist pigs. They used to pay the girls, when we’d work with the boys later on in life, less than the boys. They’d pay the boys a dollar-fifty a day, and they’d pay me and my sister fifty cents!
For farm work?
Hoeing is what we were doing: hoeing corn.
And my aunt: I used to work all day for her, and she’d give me ten cents! I never had much love for her, to tell you the truth. When I used to go down to my grandmother’s house, she would say, “You know, I think there’re some eggs up in the hay loft that I can’t get to. Would you go get them for me?” So I would go around and gather the eggs, and she would give me ten cents just for bringing these eggs in. But I think that’s a little different than working in a garden all day for ten cents!
My father was fabulous. We thought he was the bravest man in the world, and we knew he would die for us. One time, my brothers and sisters and I were going down to Grandma’s house. There were about five of us, I guess, so three of them got on Beauty, the pony, and my oldest sister got the riding horse that Dad rode. His name was King. King was an ex-race horse. He had big long legs and he was almost white, gray and white. King was perfectly peaceful and everything was fine, except if you were riding him and a horse came running up behind him. He would think he was in a race, and he would take off like a rocket! So we were riding toward my grandmother’s house, and we were just walking along, but of course King had big long legs and Beauty was a pony, so they kept dropping behind. They’d kick Beauty in the ribs, and they came running up behind King. He took off like a rocket. [laughs.] I just saw this place; I was back there where this happened. There was a little hill, and at the top of the hill there was a cemetery to the left, and then there was a big long hill. At the bottom of the hill, there were two fields. My father was working in one of those fields, and he saw us come over the hill. He knew exactly what happened. He knew King was running off! He left what he was doing, ran out in the road, and stopped that horse! He realized there was a sharp turn in the road, and there was a barbed wire fence beside the road. He realized that King would not make it around the turn and would rip our legs with the wire. Or, maybe he would make the turn, and we would go flying off onto the wire. Anyway, he got there in time. To this day I don’t know how he could have stopped that horse, but he did. King reared up when he stopped, and I fell off. It knocked me unconscious. My sister didn’t fall off the horse, but she did rip her leg on the saddle. We thought Dad was the bravest—and I still do think he was about as brave as anybody I know! And he certainly loved us; we never, never doubted that; but he did have temper tantrums that were a sight to behold.
So you worked for him for that summer.
The next year, he said, “Well, you’re too expensive for me.” The next summer I went to Kansas City and I worked in a defense plant. I did silver plating of a gear that fit behind the propeller of a Pratt and Whitney airplane engine.
[recording pauses]
[Bartnik is showing Abbate various photos of her family. The first shows Bartik in a softball uniform.]
When I played softball, the merchants in town would sponsor us. I was always sponsored by my brother-in-law, who had a feed and seed store. My uniform read “Alldredge Feed and Seed” across the back.
[another photo:] Here’s my father, with two of his grandchildren.
He looks like you.
[another photo:] That’s my mother, when she was in her nineties. She lived to be almost a hundred and two. She was a fabulous psychologist!
[another photo:] There’s another one when we wore short pants.
Oh, the softball outfit.
Softball outfits, yes.
Did you see any of the women’s softball teams that played during the war?
No, but I saw “A League of Their Own,” which I loved!
The film.
Oh, yes, I loved that film! In fact, that’s what Kathryn Kleiman is hoping, that somebody will make a movie of the ENIAC women. I don’t know if they ever will.
[another photo:] This is a terrible picture . . . That’s my mother and father.
The reason all these things are out is because I was taking all of these pictures back for the reunion. While we were all there, we were looking at all these old pictures.
[another photo:] Those were three of my brothers and my mother—I think that was her ninetieth birthday. We had a big party for her.
[more photos:] These are all the Jennings family. We go back in the Jennings clan; they’ve traced it back to the 1500s in England. They were in North Carolina and Virginia, and then they came to Kentucky. They were in Kentucky, but they really were Northern sympathizers, and the Civil War was being fought over their land, so they went to Texas. Then they came back to Missouri. My grandfather’s father died in Texas, but my grandfather’s mother and her children came back to Missouri. They did not homestead: they bought land. It was a dollar an acre, or something like that. So that’s how they got to Missouri.
Graduating College and Leaving Missouri
All right; but we were talking about how you got out of Missouri.
Yes. So, I was in Kansas City. During the war, although the college used to be on the quarter system, they went on the semester system. In the fall they had a short term called “intersession”—but everybody else called it “intercourse.” [laughs] I needed twenty-four credits to graduate, and most of them were education courses, which I considered gut courses. I figured I could graduate in one semester. I actually worked during the intersession and didn’t come back until about October. When I came in to the school to register, and they said I’d have to go see the Dean. His name was Dean Jones. I came into his office, and he said, “What makes you think you can graduate?” So I said I only needed twenty-four credits. Sixteen credits was considered a normal load. In any case, I said, “Most of these courses are pretty easy, and I only need two math courses.” So he said, “We don’t even give those math courses! You can’t graduate.” It was ridiculous! I was crying, and I ran up to Dr. Hake, who was my advisor and also head of the Math Department. Her and Dr. Horsfal were sitting there. I was crying like mad and told them that Dean Jones said that I couldn’t graduate, and that you didn’t give the math courses. Dr. Hake pulled himself up and he said, “Well, I happen to be head of this Math Department. We can hardly offer a degree in math if we don’t give the courses. Since you’re the only math major, we’ll just arrange those courses for your convenience.” So that’s exactly what he did! He took retired teachers to teach the courses. One was Colbert, who had taught my father, the summer he was in school many years before! The other one was named Helwig. Helwig taught modern geometry, and Colbert taught theory of numbers. That’s the first time I had heard of the binary number system, when I was a senior in college. [laughs.] I’d never even thought about that kind of stuff. Now I understand they teach it in first grade, but I’d never even thought about it.
My calculus teacher for a long time had taught my brother Bob. He had been one of her favorites, and I never quite measured up to my brother Bob. A student from South America and I took calculus and advanced calculus with this woman. Her name was Dr. Lane. She knew I did not want to teach school, so she came in with job advertisements. One was to work for IBM as a systems service girl—which I did apply for, actually—and one for Aberdeen Proving Grounds, to be a “computer.” She had these ads from math societies she belonged to. They were recruiting, and Aberdeen was recruiting women math majors, because the men were all away, and most math majors were men.
She had worked for Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. She said, “Go to Penn. They have a differential analyzer!” She said there were only three in the world. That wasn’t true; but anyway, she said there was one at Dayton, at the Air Force Base there; and there was one at Penn; and there was one at MIT, where Vannevar Bush had invented it. That wasn’t quite true: Aberdeen had one; I think someplace else had one. But anyway, she said, “Go there, because there’s a differential analyzer.” So I applied. I also applied for IBM, and I wasn’t hired as a Systems Service girl. In fact, I probably wouldn’t have gone, because one of the girls that was hired wrote back that it was horrible: that they expect you to dress like mad, but they don’t pay enough money, and you’re expected to live in the New York area, which is very expensive, et cetera. And she said you work like a dog! So it wasn’t that appealing.
But anyway, everybody was trying to get me to teach school—the college and my father, I mean—because they really needed math teachers. I went back home and said I was waiting for a response from Aberdeen, every day my father would come home and say that somebody else had told him how they needed math teachers. So I sat there, and finally I got a telegram, saying, “Come as soon as possible!” I was on the Wabash out of Stanberry the next night! I was hired as a computer.
[Looking through papers:] Somewhere I have that paper . . .
Oh, really—that telegram?
Yes. Not the telegram—well, the letter that confirmed the telegram. Yes, I do have it.
Reflections on ENIAC and Beginning of Career at Aberdeen
[Pulls out a copy of ENIAC by Scott McCartney .] Have you seen this book, by the way?
I don’t think I actually have.
That’s the best book that’s —I mean, there are a lot of things wrong with it, but it still is the best book out so far, on the subject.
But you think this is fairly accurate, this ENIAC book?
Well, it’s not accurate about the BINAC; and the other thing that pisses me off about him . . .
[Pulls out pictures:] That’s the ENIAC. This is the BINAC; that was a successor.
Here’s a picture of Pres Eckert [J. Presper Eckert]. And John Mauchly gave me away when I got married!
Ah, I didn’t know that.
Here it is. Here’s the paper.
So this says it’s a promotion from Computer to Mathematician.
Oh, it is? Excuse me, I got the wrong one, then. I do have it . . .
I’m curious about that, though. So that’s when you switched from . . .
That’s when they made us professionals! We were called sub-professionals up to then.
This was January 1946. [Looking at document.] So you started out at $2,000 a year in March ‘45 . . .
And you’d been getting $2,320 per year from January 1946 . . .
That’s because we worked six days a week.
And then they were going to promote you to $2,980 per year from a “Computer” to a “Mathematician.”
Yes. [Shows letter confirming her initial job offer.]
I think I’ve seen this one, the first one; but I don’t think I ever saw the promotion one.
Well, that “S.P.” meant “sub-professional.”
Oh, I see: so you went from SP-6 to P-2.
Now the men had professional ratings, but they didn’t give them to women.
So, anyway: This is the one of the articles from the Wall Street Journal. Here’s a copy. There were two of them, on two succeeding weeks.
Building Relationships: The Women of ENIAC and Aberdeen
Now, I’m curious if your friends [at IBM] didn’t talk about Betty Holberton, Betty Snyder Holberton, because she was very instrumental in FORTRAN. And also COBOL—which Grace Hopper never gave her credit for, but she was!
I don’t know about Grace Hopper giving her credit for it, but certainly other people have.
Yes. Well, Grace did say that Betty was the greatest programmer she ever met. Betty said, yeah, that’s because she found there was a mistake in Grace’s program that Grace couldn’t find! [laughs.] She didn’t take it too seriously.
But Betty continued her career, you know. She had a long, long career, particularly in the standardizing of FORTRAN. She traveled all over the world for it. She’s had a stroke, and her memory’s not that reliable now, and she has a hard time communicating now. One of the things that they tell me about intelligent people: If they have a stroke, and they lose part of their memory, they tend to fill it in. For example—she always tells me I’m wrong on this, but there’s no way I could be wrong on this—anyway, when she and I were asked to do the test programs for the ENIAC for the first demonstration, Adele and Herman Goldstine invited us over to their apartment. Now she’s always telling me it was in the summer and the cat was all over us, but it wasn’t in the summer; I mean, it was like two weeks before the demonstration, and the demonstration was in February: February the 14th. So she said, “Oh, you just don’t remember it!” And she argues about these things, and I say to her, “Betty, it couldn’t have been, because, they asked us just before the demonstration!” It’s a shame, but her memory’s not reliable about what happened. I mean, somewhere she said, “Oh, we were just so tired from lifting those trays, and doing those cables.” Well, that was ridiculous! [laughs.] I mean, they were little trays, and you’d set them up once, and maybe it’d take you five minutes! Nobody was exhausted from lifting those trays. I mean, it was very ridiculous! But anyway, that’s why it’s a shame that the story wasn’t told sooner, because people die, and forget; things happen to them.
So: I came to Philadelphia, and I used a Monroe calculator to calculate trajectories.
I should clarify: You were officially working for Aberdeen, but they had you posted at Penn.
Right! One of the things, when they built the differential analyzer, was that the stipulation was that in wartime, or an emergency need, that the differential analyzer would be at the disposal of Aberdeen. So the people that ran the differential analyzer—and they had well over a hundred people using hand calculators; the group I was in had about seventy of them, but there was another group with more—that’s what they were doing. Everybody was calculating trajectories for firing tables for guns.
Well, I got there at the end of March. I was there April, May, and then in June they sent a piece of paper around saying they were looking for programmers for the ENIAC. We didn’t know anything about what the ENIAC was, and never saw it or anything; and I didn’t know that they’d already picked all but one. They picked the two people that ran the differential analyzer, because they already had experience with that kind of a thing; and then Betty Holberton—they had her on many of their new projects; and then these two other girls: Marlyn supposedly never made a mistake in her calculations, and the other one was a young girl from Hunter College—she was a little older than me, but not much. So they were already picked, but nobody knew that. There were about thirteen of us that applied for the job, and I was not picked; I was second alternate. The first one that was picked had a very nice apartment in West Philadelphia; and housing was very bad, and Aberdeen was a hellhole as far as everybody was concerned—because people had been down there; I mean, it’s just a bare Army base—so she decided that she wasn’t going to take it. At that time, they knew that ENIAC was going to go to Aberdeen, so she decided not to take it. Then the first alternate—she also was from Missouri, by the way—was away on vacation. So they called her and told her she’d have to come back to go to Aberdeen the next week—to study punch-card equipment, was actually what we went down there for—so she decided she didn’t want to cut short her vacation. Also, she knew Aberdeen was a hellhole! Well, they called me in on Friday afternoon and said, “Can you be ready to go to Aberdeen on Monday?” I said, “You bet!”
They’d brought about five or six women math majors from different colleges to Philadelphia, and we had run around together and everything, and three of them were living in a crowded apartment, so one of them was delighted to take over my apartment while I was gone. So there I was. Monday morning, I jumped on the train, and they were all saying, “Where did she come from?” [laughs.] They didn’t even know me; I hadn’t been there very long! “God, where did they get her?”
You mean the other . . .
The other programmers! Because they were on the train, too. They hadn’t met me either.
Why were you so eager to go?
It was something new! I mean, I didn’t know what it was, but I knew that it was boring sitting there and pounding the calculator, and [this] was something new. And I always believed that I could do anything as well as anybody else, if I were on an even footing. Basically, from my career point of view, I thought, “Geez, I’m never going to get anywhere. They’ve been doing this for four or five years! I’m going to be sitting there, running this little calculator.” But I figured if I was on a new project, that I could do as well as anybody. So it was the fact that it was new. And Aberdeen wasn’t a hell-hole to me; I’d never been there. What did it mean to me?
Actually, they were fabulous with me, those girls! Betty was a Quaker, and lived in Narberth; and Kay was born in Ireland, and was Irish, and lived in Chestnut Hill; and Ruth went to Hunter College, and lived at Far Rockaway Beach; and Marlyn actually was in accounting—she did not have a math major—and she was from Philadelphia. So Ruth said, “I get to show her New York!” Because I couldn’t wait! I mean, I couldn’t imagine people living here and never going to New York or Washington or anyplace like that. Well, I couldn’t wait, because I’d read all these books, and I had all these fantasies about what I would do. I would eat lobster—you know, I’d never even seen a lobster in my life! [laughs.] I mean, all of these things that I’d read in books about how people ate lobsters. Anyway, Ruth took me to New York, and it was really a fabulous sight to come in on the train and to see the Empire State Building and the skyline of New York for the first time. We came in, and I had a fantasy of putting my foot on the brass rail and having a drink, so we went right from the train and she took me over to the Brass Rail Restaurant, and I put my foot on the rail and sat there and had a drink! [laughs.] And then we went to Radio City Music Hall to see the show, and to see a movie, and she was leaning over in her seat watching me when that stage came up [laughs]—she expected me to flip out—and my eyes I guess were pretty big, as I saw that. So then we got on the subway—and the New York subway, of course, I’d heard about all my life—and rode for an hour to Far Rockaway. You can’t believe that people say they live in New York and then get on the subway and ride for an hour! [laughs.] But anyway, we went to Far Rockaway; that’s where her parents lived, so we stayed there for the weekend. That was fabulous. And then Marlyn said, “Well, you got to show her New York; I get to show her Washington!” So she and I went down to Washington one weekend. And, again, coming in on the train and seeing the Capitol for the first time was really fabulous. So we went to, you know, all the places: the Lincoln Memorial, and the Jefferson Memorial, and the Washington Monument. We went all over the place, and it was fabulous!
And then Kay took me home with her, one weekend. I didn’t have any place to go, because my apartment was taken up, and I didn’t have any relatives anywhere. Of course, we worked six days a week, so you were only off one day; but they normally went home. So Kay invited me one weekend with her family. Well, when she got there she began to speak with a Gaelic accent; I couldn’t understand a word anybody said! [laughs.] It was really very funny. She had a bunch of brothers and sisters. In fact, she was born in Ireland. Her father came here and was a stonemason apprentice with John B. Kelly—Grace Kelly’s father. He was here, I guess, for four years, and then he went home and had some land, and he was going to build a house. So he decided that he was going to marry Kay’s mother, which he did, and he built this house. When Kay and I were there, we went to see the house; it was still in the family. They were there, and he was very active in the I.R.A.—and John B. Kelly also was very interested in Ireland and raised a lot of money for the rebellion, so one of the things that I think that Kay’s father did was to take money back [to Ireland] that they had raised through John B. Kelly. So he was there and farming, and they blew up a bridge one night (or one day), and all the others ran away and hid, but he came home because his wife was having a baby—it turned out to be Kay. So he came home, and they arrested him at home, and they took him off to prison, and he was in prison for two years in solitary confinement. Once he got out of prison, then I guess he decided to come to the United States, so he came back and worked for John B. Kelly for the rest of his working life.
Betty took me home to her family. Her father was an astronomer and a teacher. They treated me like their child; I mean, it was absolutely fabulous! When we were in Philadelphia I used to spend a couple nights a week with her family, and then if my roommate was gone, she came and spent the night with me down in my apartment. We were almost inseparable. We worked together. She was older than I, but I really loved to work with her. She was a very logical, very hard-working—of course, we all worked hard.
I’m getting this story crooked! Anyway, we went to Aberdeen, and we learned how to wire up those boards for the punch-card machines—because the input of the ENIAC was a card reader, and the output was a card punch; and our printer was a tabulator. We had a sorter and a key-punch and a collator, and a few other things; and we had to wire up the boards to do whatever we wanted to do. We were down there for two months, and then we came back, in August, and nobody had anything for us. There were no plans. We didn’t even have a room; we all had to go around scrounging for rooms. I don’t know where Kay was, and I don’t know where the others were, but Betty and I just took a classroom at the Moore School. They gave us these great big block diagrams of the ENIAC, and we were supposed to sit down and find out how the ENIAC worked. It was hot—it was August—and humid; and they were putting a third floor on the Moore School, so the jackhammers were going; I mean, it was terrible. So we were sitting there, trying to figure out how the accumulator worked, and this man walked in the classroom. He looked all around at the ceiling, and we didn’t know who he was. He said, “Well, I was just checking to see if the ceiling was coming down in here.” And then he said, “I’m John Mauchly.” We said, “Oh my God, are we glad to meet you!” [laughs.] We’d never met him before. We said, “Oh, boy, are we hung up on this accumulator! We can’t figure out how it works.” So he came over and helped us figure it out. He said, “Well, look, my office is right next door. When you have any problems, you can come in and I’ll help you!” So we began to save up our problems, and in the afternoon, if he was there, we would go in and ask him all our questions. So that’s how we learned how to program the ENIAC.
Then, when the students came back in September, they did give us a room where we were all together, finally. John Holberton was our manager, and then Dr. Dederick came up from Aberdeen to supervise the whole megillah.
Understanding ENIAC
What was it like trying to figure out the ENIAC? You just had diagrams of the logic circuits?
And you were trying to figure out how to actually make it do something.
Well, it isn’t as bad as it might seem, because all of us had had experience on the calculators. John Mauchly at one time described this as though you had hooked together twenty calculators, because he had twenty accumulators, and that’s basically what an accumulator was. But we had to worry about the switch settings, and how you got it to do what you wanted, and it had digit trays and program signals. If you can think of it, to some extent, like these calculators, then you can understand how we figured it out. This was a decimal system; it was not a binary system. You hooked these accumulators together; you could tell this one to send, and this one to receive—well, you’d tell it to add or subtract, because if you told it to subtract, it would send out the nines complement, and then the other one you would just put “receive” and it would come in and add or subtract or whatever; but it was based on the sending unit. And you had to hook up digit trays, so the digits would have something to run on, and you could use more than one digit tray. However, if you sent digits out along those trays, you had to make sure that it didn’t cross circuits with some other unit sending something on those trays. In other words, you could add and subtract between two accumulators, and add and subtract between two more, but they couldn’t use the same digit trays.
Now, a digit tray is a communications link?
It’s nothing but a memory bus. From a computer today, it’s a memory bus. And then the program trays were like the program counter, except we didn’t have a program counter. You would do an instruction, and you had this switch on the machine where you would tell it what to do, but you had a program input and a program output. So now let’s suppose you had a signal, A-1, and you want two accumulators [to add]—A to add to B and C to add to D: then you would use the same program signal to signal them all, and you had this tray that went around—it was called a “program tray”—and we labeled each of these little outlets, and it was just a wire running between these two things; that’s all it was. So you would send a signal out from the last operation, and then you would pick it off every place you wanted to stimulate the next operation to occur. You would take the output of the longest operation. For example, you could add and subtract while you were multiplying; well, multiplying takes a lot longer, so you would do the add and subtraction, and you wouldn’t use the program output from those things, but you would use the program output from the multiplier to get yourself back in sync again.
And then you had a master programmer: you could send signals in, and they could repeat an operation. I mean, let’s suppose you want to repeat it five times: you would repeat it five times, and then you’d get another signal out, which you could use to do the next operation. Or you could check the sign of a number, and feed that in, and if it turned negative—you know, as long as it’s positive you’d get one output, and as soon as it’s negative you’d get another output, and you would use that output to stimulate the operations. It’s very similar to a program counter today. It’s like conditional transfer. This master programmer acted as a conditional transfer, is what it did.
[interrupted by sound of fire alarm.]
That’s a fire alarm, but these buildings have cement walls and everything, so nobody pays any attention until the firemen actually come and knock on your door! [laughs.]
Anyway, it’s all very logical. And once you got the hang of how these things were going, by the way, you could go to the next unit and the same kind of logic—I mean it was different in its details, but once you got this basic structure of how this machine was going to work, then it was just a question of filling in how these individual units fit in this whole structure. It was an interesting machine. It had a square rooter!—which no machine today has [laughs]; they do square root by subroutines. But this machine had a multiplier, and a divider, and a square rooter. To multiply, it was a very interesting multiplication: it was a function table. You sent, as your arguments in, let’s say 7 times 8; you would come out with partial products. You’d come out with a “six” and you’d come out with a “five.” The tens partial product went into one accumulator and the units partial product into another. Once all the partial products had been collected, the two partial products accumulators were added together to get the final product.
[DISC 2]
This is Disc 2. We may have missed a little bit between discs. She described how the ENIAC worked, and was talking about how to re-use code.
Working with J.Presper Eckert and John Mauchly
The thing that made Pres Eckert such a great engineer was that—and I guess nobody had really thought of it up to then—those decade counters were made up of a series of flip-flops, and they just flipped back and forth, like the binary system; but the working of this machine did not depend that much on the amplitude or the cleanness of the signal, because he arranged it so these signals only had to act like a trigger: either it triggered or it didn’t trigger. So you didn’t have to have that good a signal to do it. Everybody said, “Oh, well, these vacuum tubes won’t work, because the signals would fluctuate”; but he designed it so that they didn’t have to work very well for them to still work.
So it was robust.
Robust? [laughs.] Well, I guess you could say that! It was robust, but it was clever, and nobody thought it would work. But Pres said, “If we’re careful, it will work.” He was a brilliant man. They were so much fun to work with! You can’t imagine.
Eckert and Mauchly?
Yes, both of them. Well, I loved John; John gave me away! I was crazy about him, and then afterward I worked for Pres, and when I worked for Pres, I was crazy about him! They were so honest. They were good men. And Pres worked constantly, and neither one of them were concerned with the women issue. They were problem-oriented, so that I don’t think that they worried one iota about whether we were men or women! [laughs.] It was, “Can you do the problem, or can you not do the problem?” And Pres—I mean, he was so focused that I think a train could have run into him. (I used to be focused too, but I’ve lost a lot of it.) When he was so focused on a particular thing, it was all-encompassing. I’m sure no noise got into this system! And he used to tell me so many things, and talk to me about so many things that I didn’t know anything about, and I would say, “Pres, I don’t anything about this.” “Well that’s all right; I’ll explain it to you.” The fact that I would ask questions helped clarify his mind—I’m sure that’s what it did—and if I would keep asking him questions, saying “I don’t understand; I don’t understand, Pres”; he would say, “Don’t worry about it. You don’t have to have it for the rest of this.” But I never lied to him: never said “uh-huh”—like people say something to you and then you say “uh-huh,” and you have no idea what they’re talking about! [laughs]. But I never did that with him, because he would remember! He would remember that you implied you knew something, and you didn’t, because he had such a fabulous memory. But both of them were fabulous teachers.
Working with others on the ENIAC project
Now, what kind of interactions did you have with the other people on the ENIAC project? There was the group of you, the six women doing the programming . . .
Oh, you mean the engineers!
Well, with the engineers, the maintenance people: How did that all . . . ? Were you all in the same room, or were they somewhere else?
Oh, no. The engineers: once it was built, they were worrying about the EDVAC, the next machine. When we first started working, the engineers were there to debug—they used to tease us about program error, blah blah blah. “It’s not the machine; it’s the operators”—that’s the way they talk! But in our group, what happened was: Ruth and Marlyn calculated the trajectory the same way the ENIAC did it—add time by add time. It took a long time to do this, because just to do a trajectory took about 40 hours, by hand.
So, anyway, they did that. Betty and I were working on the trajectory, because at that time we knew that the acceptance test was going to be around trajectories, because that’s how that was designed to do.
The acceptance test for Aberdeen.
Yes. Now, when we started, all of us started working on how to program a trajectory, and we were all talking to each other about how to represent it. You had to have a time line—because it was a parallel machine; we could do more than one thing at once, so you had to have a time line to make sure that everything got in sync periodically—and then we had to have all the units. We had these great big sheets with units across the top, and then at each time, what the switches were setting, and then at the time what the program pulse was, and then at the top we had the different digit trays—you know, memory buses. So we had to represent all this on a flat piece of paper, so part of our problem to getting started was to just figure out how to represent everything, so that we could reproduce it and know what we were doing.
All of us worked on that kind of stuff, and we all worked on trying to figure out how to get all this on this machine. And then we began to learn how to repeat, and things like that, and Kay was very creative on doing that. Betty and I were the workhorses—I mean, we just plodded along and kept going; and then Marlyn and Ruth did this trajectory. So we were all busily working away, and we got along fabulously.
The later person that came on board was Fran [Bilas], who was the sixth one. Now, she ran the differential analyzer [with Kay] during the war, and then Kay had left, so when we came back to Philadelphia, then Fran joined the group. Fran, of course, had not been in the course for the punch-card equipment, and as far as I know, Fran never programmed. Nick Metropolis and Stan Frankel from Los Alamos came to put a problem on the machine, and so Fran and Kay did a lot of the operating of the machine. (Betty and I never did that, because we were still busily working on this trajectory.) And Johnny von Neumann used to come down; they’d have lunch with him; because he was the one that was the instigator, I guess, of this Los Alamos program.
Anyway, we got along great! I never had a quarrel with any of them, never.
So operating the machine was a separate task? Someone else might figure out the program, but the person operating it would just be plugging in all the . . .
Yes, okay: The first time we put a problem on was the Los Alamos program . . .
Los Alamos and ENIAC, 1945
That was 1946?
It was ‘45; it was the fall of ‘45. They came, and we met with them. Now, they never told us what the problem was, although we went through all the rigmarole of what you had to do on the ENIAC and on the punch card equipment
Now, they had had extensive experience on punch-card equipment, because that’s what they did most of their calculating on at Los Alamos. Then they had come and spent time with the engineers and learned how to program the ENIAC; but they’d never run it or anything. So anyway, they came back—and I can remember the day we set up the machine. Actually, we hadn’t even seen the machine up till that time, by the way.
Really!
No. We didn’t see the machine because it was classified, and they didn’t let us see it until our classification came through.
So this is a couple of months after you returned to Philadelphia?
Oh. yes. We’d never seen it.
And you were just working out stuff on paper.
That’s right. We never saw it. So then when they came, we all went down to the ENIAC room to set this problem up—and Herman Goldstine was sitting there like the director of an orchestra! [laughs.] “Hey, switch 1 on accumulator 1: set it to alpha! Input from program line A-1! Output to A-2!” Et cetera. And we were standing all around all these units doing the work, and it was really ridiculous, when you get right down to it! But that’s the way the first one went on, with us standing around doing this.
Nick and Stan were pretty exciting, from Los Alamos, and they had seen the Alamogordo test on the atom bomb, so we were all excited about talking to them, about the test and everything.
So you knew they were working on nuclear bomb issues.
Yes, but we didn’t know what the problem was. It turned out to be—years later we found out it was the feasibility of using a nuclear bomb as a trigger for a hydrogen bomb. It was actually a hydrogen bomb problem, but it depends on how you look at it, I guess. But anyway, it had something to do with triggering in a hydrogen bomb.
You must have had a general idea it was some kind of weapon.
We had no idea what it was. Johnny von Neumann was behind the calculations, because at that time there weren’t that many people in America—in the world—who were busily figuring out how to calculate things numerically.
Douglas Hartree from England, who came over: he was a consultant almost as much as von Neumann was, and they called him a Numerical Analyst; and actually he evaluated us. The Army Ordnance had him evaluate and give them recommendations on who they should have running these things. Everybody used to say, “What you need are Numerical Analysts.” And they’d say, “What’s a Numerical Analyst?” “Well, we don’t know, but Douglas Hartree is one!” [laughs.] He was as cute as a button! He worked with Kay on one of his problems; she worked with him to teach him how to program the ENIAC, and also they ran the problem. We were down at Aberdeen for the 50th Anniversary, and they’re still working on the same problem! [laughs]—which she found very interesting. Anyway, Douglas Hartree: We loved him. We used to go out to dinner with him. At that time in England, there were food shortages, and rationing, and all this kind of stuff—so he liked to come over here to eat! [both laugh.] In fact, he suggested that some of us might like to . . . They built—Maurice Wilkes at Cambridge built—I’m trying to think . . .
EDSAC?
EDSAC! Okay, I keep forgetting which of these names belong to which. Anyway, when we were in England in ‘51, we went to see him, and he took us all through Cambridge, and [the EDSAC] was really a sight to behold. They had wire strung all everywhere, and they had little covered bridges to walk over it. The ENIAC was so neat, there were no cables or anything on the floor. When they built the ENIAC, there were a lot of Bell Telephone people available because they weren’t adding telephones and all that stuff during the war, so a lot of those guys didn’t have jobs. Penn hired them to build the ENIAC, the wiring, and the cables, and the way they ran them: it was neat as a pin! But over there, you’d wonder, “How on earth can they keep this running? Why don’t they stub their toes on these wires?” [laughs.] I’d never seen anything like it!
I’ve seen photos. Yes, it’s a mess.
It’s unbelievable how bad it was!
But anyway, Douglas Hartree was a fabulous person. He had built a differential analyzer using Meccano parts (which are like Tinker Toys in England) that ran! It did jobs. He was a brilliant man. He loved us, and we loved him. He gave a party for us before he left. That was one of the cutest parties I’ve ever seen. We played games, and we had dinner, and then his wife played the piano and he sang all the Gilbert and Sullivan songs! We thought, “Gosh, we’ve never been to a party like that before!” It was really wonderful.
So, how did we get along? We all got along famously.
Now, back to the engineers! Bob Shaw was a fabulous engineer and he did the function tables; Chuan Chu did the square rooter/divider; Kite Sharpless, I think, did the master programmer; Johnny Davis did the accumulator; Harry Huskey did the input-output—getting the punch-card equipment interfaced; and Arthur Burks did logical design on the multiplier.
From ENIAC to UNIVAC
Anyway, we found out, from doing this trajectory the same way the ENIAC did, that we could debug better than anybody else. We could debug down to the vacuum tube! [laughs.] Because we'd run the trajectory and if it didn't come out right, we’d just put in break-points: Check the contents of the accumulators. If wrong, we would go back and put the breakpoint in earlier. We could hone in on a problem very quickly. God, they were so impressed! And not only that: they didn’t have to debug it anymore, which they didn’t want to do. And I’ve always said in my lectures: You know, if you want to get along with an engineer, just do something for him that he hates to do himself, and he’ll love you forever! [laughs.] And it’s true: they thought we were wonderful, particularly Bob Shaw.
He was an albino who had to put papers up close to his face to read them. He was very frail, but he certainly didn’t pamper himself at all, and he was very funny. He had a quirky sense of humor and quirky logic—like he’d go from A to Z to Z to B, and you’d be going A to B—and when Bob would explain what his logic was, it made perfect sense, but it was unusual. [laughs] I worked with him again on UNIVAC. He drew all of the logical diagrams for the UNIVAC in a month. Now, of course, I’m not telling you that he thought up all the design. What I’m saying is, they had meetings and decided how to do everything, but Bob sat down and actually did the logical diagrams. And Pres, when I was working for him and we were doing the logical design of a machine for the UNIVAC—in case the mercury delay-line memory didn’t work, we designed one with cathode ray tube storage—he said, “Well, you’ve done so well,” and he said, “When the UNIVAC comes out, I don’t want us to spend a lot of time debugging it simply because we’ve got flaws in the logic. So I want you to check the logic of the UNIVAC.” When we checked the UNIVAC logic, we found no major flaws in the logic of the UNIVAC—and [Bob] had drawn them all in a month! It was unbelievable.
This was another case of the engineers loving you: When Pres said to them, “You can’t make any changes in these machines without discussing it with us, too.” We were the programmers, and of course, the engineers thought programmers were far less than engineers! So, I don’t know whether it was because they had to check in with a woman, or a programmer, but I imagine it was both: they complained bitterly. But then when they found out that if they checked in with us when they made changes, they didn’t have to worry about the ramifications of it—that we were going to worry about it for them; we were going to take that change throughout the whole machine, and make sure everything worked together—then they loved us!
So this was the UNIVAC?
This was the UNIVAC. This was back in 1948, actually.
How did you get from ENIAC to UNIVAC?
Okay, well here’s what happened: The ENIAC was moving to Aberdeen, and I was going to get married, so I was not going to go to Aberdeen with the ENIAC; and there was a guy named Dick Clippinger who worked at the wind tunnel. You’ve heard of him.
Yes, well he was one of the most fun people I’ve ever worked with in my life. He was something else! [laughs.] So, Dick Clippinger. Everybody from everywhere were asking to have problems put on the ENIAC; so they didn’t have enough programmers to start with, then not enough people knew how to program it, so Dick Clippinger decided to grab me.
Also, he and Johnny von Neumann were working together to turn ENIAC into a stored program computer. Now, Pres and John knew this could happen—because after the war was over nobody cared about firing tables, and one of the things the ENIAC had were three function tables to store the drag function for trajectories. Since there was no need for the drag function anymore, there were over three hundred 12-digit numbers that could be used for something else. Dick and Johnny von Neumann proposed using them as program storage, to store the program.
So this system used two decimal digits, which were read out of the function table, in the same way the program counter works today. Two digits of the twelve-digit number were sent to the master programmer. They made changes to the master programmer to allow it to translate the two digits into a particular instruction, like “add accumulator.” And then, the next two digits were used to address one of the twenty ENIAC accumulators. Thus, 4 digits could select an instruction and an address.
Dick's programs were really too big for the ENIAC . . .
Von Neumann’s?
No, Dick Clippinger’s. So he talked to von Neumann—and at that time, everybody was worried about what the optimum instruction set for a computer should be; everybody was discussing this. So von Neumann proposed a certain set of instructions to implement on the ENIAC. Once that was done, programmers never had to set switches again; all they did was change the digits in the function tables. The program was performed by these digits in the function tables.
So before that, there weren’t really instructions, because you were just wiring up what you wanted to do?
No instructions, that’s right! We were basically doing the logical design of a machine. We actually built a machine every time.
So it wasn’t just having a stored program, but even having the concept of a fixed instruction set, that was new.
Yes, we had a fixed instruction set.
Dick Clippinger decided to use me as his entree into the ENIAC. He wanted to set up a group at the University of Pennsylvania under my direction. I could go out and hire four programmers. He would buy our programs, so to speak! It caused a little bit of trouble, because he said “What are these programs?” Well, the first four or five of them were for turning the ENIAC into a stored-program computer. He expected me to do this while I was training these programmers.
[laughs.]
He helped too! Because there was a period of time when they’d torn down the ENIAC and were shipping it to Aberdeen and putting it back together. I used to travel down to Aberdeen while I still worked for Aberdeen, before this project at Penn got going. I went down to teach Clippinger how to program the ENIAC. He learned to program the ENIAC; he really did.
Anyway, they were worrying about the instruction set. The first four or five programs—because the Army insisted they buy something, so they were buying a program—so the first of them were programs to turn it into a stored-program computer. From then on, we actually programmed his problems. He finally got Penn to agree to this. They were a little concerned about the project. Travis—who turned out to be an ass in the long run—and caused Pres and John to leave Penn—was head of Research and Development. When I made this proposal to Travis, he said, “What makes you think you can do these in a month?” And I said, “Well, Dick has already promised me that whatever I turn in, he’ll buy.” [laughs.] “He’ll say, ‘That’s it!’” Well, Travis didn’t think too much of that; and he kept hemming and hawing and hemming and hawing, and all of a sudden I realized he was afraid I’d get pregnant and quit the project! [laughs.] I was sitting there, and he was hemming and hawing and carrying on, so finally I said, “No, I don’t intend to have any children for a while, so you don’t have to worry about that.” He finally agreed to the project and I hired four people.
Who did you hire for that?
They all had outstanding careers: Art Gehring, Ed Schlain, and Kathe Jacoby, and Sally Spear. Sally’s the only one that I haven’t kept in touch with, but all the other three had long careers in the computer business. Ed Schlain still works; he hasn’t retired yet; he works for I think it’s the F.A.A., down in Atlantic City. Art went on to be a logical designer for many years, and Kathe did programming of all different kinds for many years. She was brilliant, and so was Art; very smart—well, they all were!
Anyway, I didn’t know this till years later: Nick Metropolis wrote in an article about the misconceptions about the ENIAC and about the computer industry—one of which was that Johnny von Neumann did not invent the stored-program computer—but one of the things he says in there, which I didn’t know, was that he and Klara von Neumann had learned to program the ENIAC. Now, I never saw her, never met her; I don’t know if she was any good; I don’t know anything about it; but Klara von Neumann and Adele Goldstine and Nick Metropolis tried to turn the ENIAC into a stored-program computer and couldn’t do it. Which is very interesting—because I never knew that anybody had, other than us.
They’d done this shortly before? Or when . . . ?
Yes, apparently, because they wanted to do some Los Alamos problem on it.
So anyway, Johnny von Neumann and Dick worked out this instruction set. We used to go up to Princeton to consult with him every couple weeks, and we would work all day and then we’d go in late in the afternoon and talk to him, and then we’d go back and work and tell him our ideas. So what we did was to shrink down the instruction set and make some instructions simpler—not have such complicated ones—till we had an instruction set that worked.
So his original one wasn’t practical, in terms of . . . ?
Well no, it wasn’t that. I mean, there wasn’t anything wrong with it, other than the equipment.
In terms of implementing it on what you had . . .
It couldn’t be implemented the way it was structured. Please understand, right at this time everybody was talking about what instruction set was needed; it wasn’t cut and dried the way it is today. Also people used different instruction set architectures. The ENIAC instruction set was built around a central accumulator. The ENIAC no longer added accumulator A to B; it added the addressed accumulator to the central accumulator—so it was a central accumulator system, which is much simpler, logically.
Is this a stack, sort of?
No, it was just an accumulator, but the same central one was always one of the two accumulators used in an operation. Most computers today are designed using a central accumulator logic. The instruction would transfer to the central accumulator and add the contents of another accumulator to the central one, then would transfer it back to someplace else, and you’d subtract accumulator, and stuff like that. It made the ENIAC a lot slower, because it was serial and did not use the parallelism that was built into it. What it did was to make it simple to change from one program to another. No longer did programmers have the horrendous task of building a new machine for each problem. It was much easier to program. Our generation was the only generation that used it as a parallel machine; all the rest of them used it as a stored-program serial machine. As a matter of fact, this was the first stored-program machine, by the way: the ENIAC operating as a stored program computer.
Dick Clippinger, Adele Goldstine and I really did the programming. Dick had two mathematicians, John Giese and Galbraith, working with us to learn how the ENIAC did calculations so they could set up some of their problems with the wind tunnel to run on it.
It’s funny: John Giese complained constantly about being there, because he wasn’t interested in this kind of stuff—applied math; he really wanted to do theoretical math. I saw him at the 50th Anniversary, and I said, “Well, John, I guess you’ve changed your mind.” He looked at me as though he’d never heard of such a thing! He’d complained constantly—but 50 years later, it was as though he’d loved computing all his life[laughs.]
Reflections on Dick Clippinger and the McCarthy Era
Dick Clippinger, of course, eventually became head of the Ballistics Research Lab. During the McCarthy era he got ousted. It was really a tragedy. He was one of the most fun guys I ever worked with. He was building a house, and so after we worked on the ENIAC we went out to his building site. When I used to go down to teach him about the ENIAC, his staff were always interrupting; so we used to go into hiding, and sometimes we’d have two hours before they found him! [both laugh.] One time, we went down to the furnace room—we were working down there—but they found him by noontime. And sometimes we’d stay home. He had about four kids, and he’d turn up the hi-fi so we wouldn’t have to hear the kids. [laughs.] And then after work I’d go out and help him pick up rocks on his land where he was going to build a house. He was fun. One time, he got up on the table and lay down, and he had a handkerchief. He rolled it up and made a little pyramid out of his handkerchief and put it under his head for a pillow. This little pyramid was his pillow! And he said, “Yup, I learned that on the Trans-Siberian Railroad.” [laughs.] And it was true! He had really been on the Trans-Siberian Railroad.
He worked hard, but he was adorable. And when they finally got the hearing on his clearance—and that was like two years later, after his job was gone and he’d moved up to Boston—the hearing took about a half an hour. I mean, he had Johnny von Neumann, Dick Lehmer, and Dederick—great scientists—testifying for him. There was a man at Aberdeen that was a security risk. They fired him, and then they were going to deport him. Well, a group of scientists at Aberdeen signed a petition not to deport him. They did not complain about them not using him, but they didn’t feel he should be deported. I guess he’d been here a long time; I don’t know just why. But anyway, that was one [point against Clippinger]. Two: on Thursday night, he used to catch the overnight train to Boston. He taught a math class at Harvard on Friday. He would catch the Friday night overnight back to Aberdeen. One of his students was supposedly a communist.
At Harvard?
At Harvard. Can you believe this? I mean, that’s how bad the McCarthy era was.
So that was the evidence against him?
Well, yes! Well, the evidence against him was absurd. Of course, Eckert-Mauchly lost its clearance and everything because it was questioned—I mean, somebody undoubtedly wrote them a letter. It was all cleared up, but then the FBI office at Philadelphia protested. Eckert-Mauchly lost a lot of contracts, you know; one of the reasons they had to sell Rem Rand was because of that.
I don’t follow: Why did they lose their clearance?
Because somebody wrote to Philadelphia and told them—I mean, that’s how bad it was. Bob Shaw lost his clearance; you know why he did? He was an albino and obviously couldn’t drive a car. He liked to go places and do things, so he bought himself a car. People would drive him places; he never drove it himself. At that time, not that many people had a nice car, so he never had any problem finding people to drive him someplace. One weekend, one of the people that drove him places said, “Could I borrow your car for the weekend?” He wanted to go to Washington to visit friends. He went to Washington, parked the car on the street, and went up to an apartment to see friends. There was a demonstration in Washington that week, and the Washington police went up and down the streets and took all the license numbers of cars parked on the street. The assumption was that Bob Shaw was in Washington taking part in this demonstration, and he lost his clearance. I mean, it’s outrageous! Well, it’s outrageous today. You have a hard time fathoming this, but that happened. And then, John Mauchly’s secretary supposedly at one time had belonged to the Communist Party. Frankly, I’m sure—I mean, in my heart, I feel sure—that somebody wanted them to fail and wrote the letter. And I have visions of who it could be. It was an outrageous time.
Let’s see: Where were we?
Reflections on the EDVAC Report and the Transition from ENIAC to EDVAC
So after you finished turning ENIAC into a stored-program computer. . .
Then Pres and John asked me to come work for them. So Art Gehring took over this project—because by this time the programming in the ENIAC was entirely different, and he was a very bright guy, so he took it over—and then the next year, Art came to work with me, and then Ed took it over for a year! So I think it lasted for like three years, and I guess Dick Clippinger was probably gone by then.
That was a very exciting time, turning it into a stored-program computer. We worked with Johnny von Neumann, and he was a very exciting consultant. He spoke with a very ingratiating manner, almost as though he were apologizing for what he was saying, although he knew he wasn’t. Goldstine claimed that he used to walk over to his open door when a pretty girl walked down the hall, he’d be talking away and he’d walk over and watch her walk down the hall. [laughs.] I don’t know if that’s true or not! He used to scratch himself inadvertently at times, and stuff like that. But he was very ingratiating, and very logical. I mean, we’d go and tell him, “This isn’t working well; we need to do something different," and he’d make various proposals of things we could do. We’d try them out and come back and tell him the results, and things like that. That’s basically the way it worked.
You had said that he didn’t come up with the stored-program concept. Who did come up with that?
Well, it was the engineers at ENIAC. What happened was, Johnny von Neumann—they never even told him! He was a consultant at Aberdeen; [the Army] never even told him about the ENIAC, because they didn’t think it would work, so he didn’t know a thing about it. So one time, he was standing on the railroad platform, because he used to come down from Princeton to Aberdeen; and Herman Goldstine used to come from Philadelphia to Aberdeen, because he was the liaison between the Army and the University of Pennsylvania. He saw Johnny von Neumann on the platform, so he went over and started telling him about the ENIAC. Now you understand, ENIAC was a classified project, and people were not allowed to write about it, or publish about it; [but] he told him about the ENIAC. So Johnny von Neumann was excited about this and he asked if he could come see it. So Herman said “Yeah,” and he invited him down. Now before he came, Pres said, “If he asks a particular question, I’ll know he knows something about this business. If he doesn’t ask the question, I’ll know he doesn't know anything.” He did ask the question, and the question was: “How do you control it?” That was his question, and that was the question that Pres had said was the important one.
He came to see the ENIAC; but the ENIAC design was already finished by this time, and they were working on EDVAC. They were already working on EDVAC. So he said, “May I come to your meetings?” And they said “Yes.” So they would have meetings every couple weeks—and that’s what pisses me off about this McCartney's book because he describes these meetings, and he describes them based on my descriptions of our meetings with von Neumann—you know, when we were turning it into a stored-program computer. I know damn good and well they didn’t work that way—and I know nothing about the EDVAC, because I had nothing whatsoever to do with it! That’s what really pissed me off: he used what I described in some other situation as though it happened at EDVAC.
This is Scott McCartney?
That’s Scott McCartney. Anyway, von Neumann came to their meetings, and they were designing the EDVAC. One time when he came, he said he wouldn’t be able to come for a while, because he had to go to Los Alamos. So he wasn’t there the next time. Then Herman came in with this paper and showed the paper Johnny had written.
The EDVAC report.
The so-called EDVAC report. And he never even mentioned anybody else—as though these were all his ideas! Gave no credit to anybody! Well, they thought it was like minutes of the meeting; but Herman, being the Security Officer, sent it to about 200 different places—universities and different places in the military—and that’s how that got started: the EDVAC report got distributed. It was a confidential project and Pres and John were not permitted to talk and write about it. Then, when Pres and John finally went to patent the EDVAC, Herman and von Neumann had already applied for a patent using the EDVAC report. Von Neumann said the reason that he did it was because he wanted it in the public domain, while Pres and John would use it for commercial purposes! He professed to be the good guy; while they were the bad guys. Really! Pres and John hated him to the day they died. They despised him. They despised Goldstine. Pres wouldn’t be in the same room with Goldstine for years, but his wife told me that just before he died, she was in the hospital one day, and they said, “A Goldstine wants to talk to you.” She said, “Oh, forget it; he doesn’t want to talk . . . ” and Pres said, “Oh, yes I do!” He said that Herman had been calling him, and they had been talking. Nobody knows what they talked about—well, Goldstine probably does, but who would believe him? I mean, he has Parkinson’s now. But anyway, he did talk to him before he died, and apparently he had a number of conversations with him.
But they despised von Neumann. The ENIAC patent just broke John. John never got over it. He was just so hurt at the idea that the judge would say that he got his ideas from Atanasoff. Atanasoff had never even said that he invented the computer. It was Honeywell that went out and found him, and told him he did. In fact, those people at Ames, Iowa even say that he invented the binary number system! That’s an invention? [laughs.] That’s so stupid! You will see a bunch of [reviews of the McCartney book] if you go on Amazon.com. I have one in there, too, but you have reviews from people from Ames, Iowa. Then some say Zuse did it; and you have people that say that Enigma; and then some say Atanasoff. It’s very interesting, the readers’ comments on Amazon.com about that book.
That was a very bitter experience, and a betrayal as far as Pres and John were concerned, and as far as I’m concerned. They were betrayed. Other people feel the same way. Nobody thinks Atanasoff invented the computer; I mean, that’s just a joke. Now [McCartney] says in this book—and you may know more about it—he feels that the judge played God. UNIVAC, after they got the patent, began figuring out how to collect money from royalties on the use of the patent. One of the things they did, first, though, was to sign a cross-licensing agreement with IBM for ten million dollars. Then they sent Honeywell a bill for what they figured they owed, and Honeywell figured it was cheaper to challenge the patent than to pay the royalties. According to Scott [McCartney], he believes the judge was ticked off because he felt that cross-licensing agreement was restraint of trade, but the time had elapsed so they couldn’t be prosecuted. He was concerned because at that time, in the computing industry, they talked about “Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.” IBM was Snow White, and all the other computer companies [were the dwarves: Sperry Rand (which had acquired UNIVAC), Honeywell, Burroughs, NCR, Control Data, RCA, and General Electric]. He was afraid that the six other Dwarves would be ruined. He couldn’t do anything about the restraint of trade, but he could fix them by denying the patent. Scott believes that the judge played God, and that’s basically what he did.
Could be. There have been a lot of bad computer patent decisions.
Well, it’s hard. I mean, for example, it’s very interesting what software is!
I don’t know. A lot of people say, “Well, everything’s just building on something else," which is true. Nobody just goes out and invents something in a vacuum. And the interesting thing is that at the time John and Pres were thinking about the ENIAC, others were thinking about other computers—I mean Aiken, with his machine [at Harvard]; MIT with its Whirlwind; Germany with its Zuse ; and so on. It seems to me that things are developed when the time is ripe, and somebody will pay for it. That’s why so many of the things that people had thought of before came through during World War II. Somebody would now pay for them, and the technology could be implemented. But prior to that . . . I mean, like radar. Who would have paid for radar, if it hadn’t been for the military? So I think that’s true.
I’m just telling you the history of the computer and what I think are the really important events that have occurred. Well, software development is one of them—which I didn’t have in there, by the way.
In where?
When I was giving you that list of the important things I thought happened in the computer field; the important events.
BINAC and UNIVAC
That’s true. Well, maybe we can get to some of the software milestones.
So, when you started the EMCC, what were you actually working on?
I was hired to be a programmer, and they were doing the BINAC. The BINAC was designed to control a Snark missile, and it consisted of twin computers. They did exactly the same things and checked every operation along the way. I did a little bit for math and sort subroutines. Mainly, after I started, I began worrying about programming the BINAC to control the Snark missile.
Pres became very concerned about whether or not the mercury delay-line memory would work. They really built the BINAC as a test for a lot of the components of the UNIVAC, so it used a lot of the same components. Pres was so concerned that the mercury delay-line memory might not work that he wanted a backup machine. It would use cathode ray tube memory. He didn’t want to take any of his engineers off the UNIVAC, so they think programmers—you know, that it didn’t matter what you do! [laughs.] So he came in and asked if he could have two programmers, and John came to me. I remember when John came to ask me to work for Pres. Pres had a volatile temper, and I’d heard him yelling and screaming at engineers. Due to my father’s rages, I’ve never been able to deal with angry men. I haven’t quite ever gotten over being a little girl, I guess. Anyway, I said to John, “If he ever flies into a rage at me, I’m outta here.” And he said, “Well, I don’t think he will.” And he never did! He never did.
So Art Gehring and I worked together. I’ve had three great partners in my life, programming: one is Betty Holberton; the second is Art Gehring; and the third one was Adele Goldstine. It’s the most wonderful way, I think, to do anything like that. Errors are really fatal to the final output. If you have someone that’s almost equal in intelligence to work with, and you try to find flaws in each other’s work, it is a wonderful working environment. Instead of getting mad when either finds flaws, you’re delighted. You can’t build something that’s got mistakes in it. So it’s fantastic. In fact, after I was out of the business for 16 years, I came back in the business, and was looking for a job. UNIVAC asked Art about me. He said, “I don’t care how long she’s been out of the business; she’s the best logical designer I’ve ever worked with. Hire her!” [laughs.] Isn't that wonderful. We were great partners.
So you would each code for a bit, and then what—swap your code and check it? How did that work?
No, we worked together. Somebody would say, “How do you think this works?” and then we would start arguing back and forth how it would work. So we worked together, constantly. No, we didn’t do it separately. We didn’t know the logical design, either.
Was that common, to have people working in pairs like that? Was that sort of the norm?
I have no idea. But I had comparable experiences with Betty Snyder Holberton programming the trajectory for the ENIAC Demonstration and with Adele Goldstine on the Taub problem. They were great. I know for the ENIAC, Kay worked with Dr. Hartree. That’s the way they did it there: they had pairs; but generally one of the them would be the person that knew the problem and the other one would be the programmer. But actually, with Adele and me, and Betty and me, and Art and me, we were on the same level—and it was fantastic.
So Mauchly was asking you to actually design this machine?
Yes, logical design—and I didn’t know a thing about logical design! It was also the first time microcoding was done, but UNIVAC in its wisdom: all of ours records of the electrostatic UNIVAC have disappeared. But anyway, Pres said “I’ll teach you.” We didn’t know anything about it. “I’ll teach you everything you need to know.” We were not allowed to discuss it with anybody except him and each other.
Because it was secret?
Because it was secret. My husband was an electrical engineer. One day, Eckert gave Art and me this article to read and we couldn’t understand it. We worked on it most of the day. Art said, “This is disgusting. The only reason we can’t understand it’s because we’re not engineers. An engineer will understand this. I’m going to ask Bill when he comes in.” We were planning to go out. Art had a girlfriend, and Bill was coming in, and we were going to go to dinner and to the opera. So Art said, “When Bill comes in, I’m going to ask him.” I said, “Oh, you know what Pres said.” “I don’t care,” he said, “It has nothing to do with what we’re doing”—you know, there was no link that anybody else would make. And he says, “It’s simply because we’re not engineers!” So Bill came in, and Art said, “What does this mean?” So Art showed it to Bill, and he was reading it when Pres walked into the room! [both laugh.] Oh, my God! Pres wanted to throw a tantrum so bad. But he said, “Listen: I told you you’re not to discuss this with anybody but me.” He said, “That includes husbands, mothers, relatives, wives, whatever. Nobody but me!” And Art was saying “But, but, but” [laughs], and Pres wasn’t listening!
My husband had a contract to shield the centrifuge at Johnsville Naval Air Development Center. It’s just by Hatboro, off of Street Road. They were building a centrifuge, and the centrifuge was to test the human reaction to G’s of gravity. In fact, the astronauts came to be swung around on this centrifuge. The signals from the human body are so small that they wanted to make sure they had a perfectly shielded building. His task was to shield this centrifuge building. Anyway, Pres was interested in it, so he turned to him and began talking to him as though he had never thrown a fit! He talked and talked. Art and I were getting nervous, because his girlfriend was waiting downtown for us. It was time for us to get going. We got up and put on our coats. I got my pocketbook, and we walked out of the room. We were on the seventh floor of this building, so we hit the button for the elevator. Pres was talking to Bill, talking, talking, talking. We got in the elevator, and Pres got in the elevator with us! [laughs.] Talking, talking, talking. We got out of the elevator; Pres got out of the elevator; and we got on the street corner, and Pres looked up and saw all this traffic and said, “I guess you people want to leave!” [laughs.]
But that’s how focused he was. We did not laugh at him. We thought it was wonderful, actually! [laughs.] We were very fond of him!
One time he got mad at me, and he wanted to yell at me so bad; it was funny. He had told me this particular instruction; it was a complex instruction, so he said, “Now I’m afraid I’m going to forget this. I want you to write all this down and keep a record of it.” And I did, but they moved us and switched desks around. I had put it in my desk drawer and I could not find it. So one day Pres came and asked me about this instruction, and how it worked. I told him I couldn’t find it. He had a little knife on the end of a chain, like a watch chain, and he used to twirl it, walk around and twirl it. He walked back and forth twirling and twirling this around! He said “I told you to keep this,” and I said, “I know you did, Pres! You did tell me, and I’m sorry, but I don’t know where it is.” So he left the room. Pretty soon he came walking back, and he says, “Sit down. That’s all right. I remember how it was done.” And that was the end of it. [laughs.] He was fascinating. I loved working for him, loved it. So did Art.
So we were designing this mercury delay line backup. One day he told us he wanted to make sure there was nothing wrong with the UNIVAC logic when they built the machine. He told us that we were doing so well, he wanted us to check the logic of the UNIVAC. We did that. One day he came in and said he was really concerned, because there were no check circuits in the UNIVAC except the even/odd check on the memory. They would count the bits in the memory and make sure the number was always odd. If it turned out it was even, the UNIVAC would put a bit in so it would be odd. That was so that it would indicate an error if all of the memory was wiped out. He was really concerned that the UNIVAC didn’t have any check circuits in it, other than the one on the memory. He wanted us to put in some check circuits.
And what would the check circuits do?
Well, that’s an interesting story too, because we began telling the engineers that they had to put these check circuits in. They complained bitterly, because they had to duplicate a lot of things, if there wasn’t some other way for it to be checked. The engineers complained that we were putting in too many check circuits. We said that this was what we are supposed to be doing. They thought we were crazy. Pres was always busy, but, finally one day, we had a meeting on the check circuits. It took about ten minutes. He said, “Well, the rule is: You know, if you have a police force and you want to check for corruption, you do not have every policeman checking every other policeman. You have one policeman—at least one policeman—checking every other policeman. And the assumption is that you’re not going to have two corrupt policemen!” He says, “It’s the same thing here. Everything in the machine must be checked by at least one other thing, and if it isn’t, you duplicate—period.” The meeting was over! [laughs.] He was fabulous, really. So that was the end of it. I mean, we just went back and put the check circuits in.
So these were to check the hardware operation. It wasn’t for software debugging?
Oh, no no no. At that time they were still using machine code. In fact, that’s how Grace Hopper got in the business. Up until this time, we had programs and we had subroutines. John Mauchly got the idea for Macros, and that was the first thing they did in the assembly languages for these computers. Programmers could call a macro—let’s say a square root, or whatever. Programmers developed macros, which programs could call. That was the way the first assembler programs were done.
Betty was busily designing the console for the UNIVAC, and also the sort routines—because we realized it was a commercial machine, and file processing and bean counting are the two things that they do. We didn’t have anything but mag tapes, which were serial, so master files were sorted. When transactions were made to the master file, we called it batch processing: batches of transactions were sorted and run against the master file to update it. Everybody realized that the sort routines were the crux of commercial processing. Betty worked on the sort routines. She also designed the first console. She did most of the design, although other people had input to it.
I’m sorry. She did most of the design for . . . ?
For the console, for the first UNIVAC.
For the actual physical interface?
For the actual physical unit. I mean logically; I don’t mean electrically. And she also was very responsible for the instruction set that we used for the UNIVAC—because everybody was arguing; I mean, there were “Code 3” and “4” and whatever that people had proposed; different instruction sets.
How different was it from the EDVAC instruction set?
Well it was the same, sort of, except the EDVAC was assumed to be for scientific processing, so you had a lot more things with the UNIVAC that would be for file processing.
The thing is, you see—the thing that Travis . . The reason that Pres and John left Penn is they had the agreement with Penn that they got the patent on the ENIAC, and presumably the EDVAC; however, Penn, and any other educational institution could use the patents. Well, Travis came back—he had been in the Navy—and they made him head of Research and Development, and the first thing he said to them is, “You don’t get the patents on the EDVAC.” And he said, “Either you sign this agreement . . . ”—at first he said like 24 hours, I think it was, but finally he gave him two weeks—“Either you sign it or you’re out.” Well, the guy was too stupid to understand that he didn’t have anybody else to build the EDVAC! Because as soon Pres and John left, the other engineers went too. I mean, what engineer wouldn’t want to work with the greatest engineer in the world! I mean, they realized how smart these guys were, and they just cleaned out immediately; they didn’t have anybody! So then they were trying to build the damn thing. Well, it took them years, and finally a guy named Sam Libkin finally got it together, but it was way, way late. [laughs]
These people just didn’t understand that we were onto something new, something different. And UNIVAC: Rem. Rand bought UNIVAC, and they made the same mistake; they had no concept about computers and what it would take to run them. I worked in Washington: they’d called me Archimedes, and they called Pres and John dreamers. They weren’t dreamers! They knew that you had to have software; you had to have maintenance; you had to have training—the whole thing—and Rem. Rand just didn’t understand it. They never even trained their salesmen to sell them! They didn’t know a thing about it, the salesmen; they used to take me out with them, to talk about UNIVAC. I was out with this guy, and I said, “My God, what are you guys doing with me out here? That’s not a UNIVAC application!” He said, “Don’t say anything! Don’t say anything! I’m selling ‘em typewriters.” I mean, these salesmen didn’t do a thing except use it to sell equipment they knew about. They didn’t know a thing about it. And they didn’t even develop a commission schedule for them; no training; I mean, they were stupid.
When Remington Rand took over the EMCC . . .
Well, we have another whole era in here, which we’ve skipped. A guy named [Henry] Straus, when they began to have financial problems, and they realized they had . . . Your customers were the Census Bureau, which had ordered one; American Totalizator—well, when Straus was on it, they were very interested in it, because what they do are the odds at the race tracks; and ACNielsen bid money on it for tracking the entertainment business; and Prudential Life Insurance: this guy—he was very influential; what was his name?—from the Prudential Life Insurance Company. So those were the financers. And then when they needed more money, Straus got interested in them, and he had a very good relationship with them, and I think if he’d have lived the story would have been quite different, because he was popular with the engineers and the programmers and with everybody. What happened was, they were on a private plane, and most of the top management of American Totalizator was on the plane, and the plane went down and killed them all. So American Totalizator was without their top management, so they wanted to pull back; they didn’t want to have anything to do with it—because nobody there other than Straus was really that much involved with it—so they pulled out. Anyway, Rem. Rand came along and bought them, and then their crew came in.
Now, I don’t really know much about that, because I still worked for them, but my husband took a job in Washington and I went to Washington, and I worked at their sales office down there. One of the things I was to do was to train the Census Bureau—the programmers—so I did. Then the Aviation Supply Office for the Navy was about to kick out their [old] equipment, so they said, “Can the UNIVAC do this?” So I was given the job of figuring how to do this Aviation Supply Office—and it was perfect for UNIVAC, because it was an inventory control problem. So I worked on that.
It was interesting [laughs]: they had the Vice President of Sales come down from New York, and they had these Navy guys. These Navy guys were really the workers—they were not above the point; they were Commanders, and Lieutenant-Commanders, and on that level—and they knew how the problem worked, and they used punch-card equipment and stuff like that, and they used this system from Rem. Rand—Cardex system it was called— that took control of their inventory. They had the meeting, and [Remington Rand] were very concerned about a woman doing this for the UNIVAC, so they had a guy come down from Philadelphia to talk about its feasibility. I mean, he didn’t know anything, except just in theory. So they yammered away all day until late in the day, and then they had this guy from Philadelphia talk, and then I got up and told them how to do it. They went wild! They . . . went . . . ape! [laughs.] I mean, it was one of those ideal situations where one would object and they would answer each other’s objections back and forth! So it was really one of those—I mean, these guys knew what the problem was; they saw the solution; it was fabulous! Well, they said I couldn’t go to dinner with them, because they were probably going to tell some risqué jokes and I’d be the only woman there, so I couldn’t go; so they had me go out to dinner with one of the Commanders’ wives. So we went out; and then they left the dinner as soon as possible and came out to the bar to talk to me—it was really unbelievable—because they really wanted to talk about this!
And they never let me give another presentation. Can you believe that?
Because you had upstaged the other person?
Do I know? I have no idea. They used to have the Assistant Manager give these talks, and they’d take me along to answer questions. Well, he used to give the most horrendous talks you’d ever seen in your life! But anyway, that’s what they did, and I hated it, so I was happy to get out of it. When I came back to Philadelphia—my husband took a job with UNIVAC, and they didn’t allow husband and wife to work in the same place, so they were going to set up a special office. By this time, Bob Shaw’s clearance had been questioned, and I couldn’t work there because of my husband, so they were going to set up a special group at another site, so we could all work. But by this time I was so sick of Rem. Rand, and so sure that they were going to screw it up, that I just took sixteen years off and had a family.
Family Life & Coming Back into the Business
And you had four kids?
Three. So, that was it.
But I was very lucky, too. When I came back in the business: I never was on mainframes again, but when I came back in the business, minicomputers were just starting, and I worked for a publisher, and I developed a service on minicomputers for them. At that time, there were about fifteen minicomputers that came out in a year. So we were going crazy!
And this was ‘67?
This was ‘67, Yes. And it was also interesting. When I came back to work, I worked actually for Isaac Auerbach, and he had also worked on UNIVAC. I worked in their publishing of reports on computers, and they said, “Well, the way to get you back in the business is to be a technical editor,” so I could read all the reports about all these things. So I’d no more than gotten there when there was going to be an ACM meeting in San Francisco, so they said to me, “Hurry up and edit this. We’re going to hand this out in San Francisco.” And I looked at this thing, and I began to laugh, and I said, “You know, Pres Eckert described this to me back in 1945!” And it was an ink-jet printer.
It was an ink-jet printer that was being implemented. It was one off the new—well, ink-jet printers: that’s when they came out.
But I mean, he had thought about this ?
It was very interesting: There was a salesman, his name was Brown. He was their salesman for the UNIVAC, so he kept saying to Pres, “Everybody wants to know how you’re going to print, what the printing’s going to be like.” Pres said, “Oh, I’m too busy, and there are lots of ways to do it.” And so Wistar Brown kept pestering him, [and Pres would say,] “Oh, I’m too busy to do this. Don’t worry about it; we’ll have a printer.” He didn’t know what to say to his customers, and so he’s still pestering him, so one afternoon Pres sat him down and told him what the possibilities were for printers for this thing, and he gave him about twelve! [laughs.] Wistar came out of there reeling! He was absolutely reeling, because he had all of these proposals that Pres was thinking about—because he thought Pres hadn’t thought about it at all! [laughs.] I don’t think he ever doubted him again, when he told him something like that! So anyway, this ink-jet printer was one of the things that he was thinking about. He described it to me. And I can understand, to some extent, why he did [think of it], because the way it works is somewhat similar to the cathode ray tube storage, because it’s stored as dots.
Touring and Speaking at Microsoft
You were taking a tour of Microsoft?
We were at Microsoft. The Hoppers invited us to come, which is a women’s group.
So we were there for three or four days, and during the course of this we had lunch with some of their women managers. So we walked into the room, and of course none of us had ever met each other before, and it was a little awkward; nobody knew quite what to say. So finally one of them said, “What are you women really doing?” So we said, well, we were trying to set the record straight, as far as we knew it—that there was so much misinformation about the beginning of the computing industry that we wanted to set it straight. Well, they began to jabber and chatter like mad! “Boy, you can say that again!” And they began to talk about who got credit for what, and they hadn’t done it—today! Today. I mean, it was unbelievable! It really opened them up.
But when we were there, we asked them, “If you have an idea, how do you get it implemented?” And they said, “Oh well, you make a proposal to Bill, and Bill makes a decision.” [laughs.] Can you believe that? It’s what they said!
It’s probably true. [pause]
Working with Grace Hopper
Did you work with Grace Hopper?
Well, she came there. She was an alcoholic when I knew her.
How much did you overlap there?
Over a year. She came there from Aiken—from Harvard—and John hired her, because he had this idea for an assembler language for UNIVAC. So then she brought in one of her cohorts, Herb Mitchell, and the two of them . . . I don’t know why Herb isn’t credited, because Herb actually was brought in to be the boss of all of us, as I understand, but he never was.
Grace: she was an alcoholic. She used to reek to high heaven! When I was in Washington, after I left there, she was supposed to give some presentation, and got drunk and couldn’t do it; and she was always trying to get the men in bed with her. So they finally said to her, “Either clean up your act or you’re out.” So she went to a treatment center and got cleaned up, and as far as I know, she never drank again.
But women didn’t like her, because she always had these boy toys on her arm. [laughs.] And she never gave anybody credit for anything, except herself! Women didn’t like her. In fact, I don’t know if anybody went to her christening of the ship that was named after her, because they called me up, and I certainly wasn’t going, and I don’t know of anybody that went.
This little university, my State Teachers’ College: they had her out there twice—with her little piece of wire! [laughs.]
Well, she was supposed to be a good speaker.
Well, she did it for about twenty years. And then she was sort of an old curmudgeon. I told you I developed this book—a loose-leaf notebook service—on minicomputers. There were all these minicomputers coming out, and then some of them were being implemented with microprocessors, and I was really having a hard time keeping up with the field. So one time I went to a meeting—I guess it was ACM, out in Chicago—and I walked into the hotel room, and here’s old Grace Hopper. She comes stomping up to me, and she doesn’t say “Hello, how are you?” or anything; she says, “WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT MICROPROCESSORS?” [laughs.]
Betty Holberton despises her—absolutely despises her.
Because she felt she didn’t get enough credit?
That’s right! She didn’t give other people credit for what they did. Kathryn Kleiman doesn’t like for us to say anything bad about Grace.
She’s kind of an icon.
She wasn’t that bright; come on. She wasn’t any brighter than the rest of them. She certainly didn’t hold a candle to Pres and John. There was no innovation in her life, so far as I know. But that’s why women don’t like her. [pause]
I guess that as far as Kathryn Kleiman’s concerned, the women should all stick together. And I think they should too—if people are worth it. What gets me is the women that don’t promote women because they’re women, for God’s sakes! They take on the prejudices of the men.
Reflections on Women in Technology & the Workplace
What kind of experiences did you have, in your working life, as far as: Did you feel that as a woman, you were not given opportunities for promotion?
Well, I was flatly told that at Honeywell. When I worked for Honeywell, I was too blunt, and the next generation of women would be the one that made it, not people like me.
I’m sorry: When was this?
Well, that was in 1978.
So after you came back and—you were at Auerbach for maybe four years or something?
Nine years.
For nine years. So you were there from ‘67 to ‘75.
Or ‘76, maybe. Let’s see: I was in Northern New Jersey; I was in Minneapolis ‘78 to ‘80; I was in Florida ‘76 to ‘77. I guess I was in Northern New Jersey ‘75 to ‘76. [pause]
But I have other characteristics that make me not management material, and I came to realize that. One of them is: I am blunt. I’m not a yes-person, and I can’t pretend to be. I feel as though if I screw around with my brain, then I don’t have anything to sell. What I sell, really, is what’s in my brain, what’s in my mind; and if I start playing funny games with it, I don’t have anything to sell.
I can give you an example of one of the things that happened. I had two jobs in a row that basically—I got out of them, or I didn’t succeed in them, primarily because I was too open and honest. I was in Florida and was Market Support Manager for this minicomputer company, Systems Engineering Labs. My manager was named Sam Bosch; he was from Digital Equipment. They had hired a man to be head of Research and Development of Hardware and Software from a company on the West Coast, and the reason they had hired him was that their equipment was getting aged and they needed a new processor. Well, the President of the company could not make a decision unless his back were to the wall—anyway, they didn’t do anything about it—and finally, when their back was to the wall, one of their Executive Vice Presidents knew this company on the West Coast that had a microprocessor that implemented their system's instruction set. He went out and made arrangements to buy this microprocessor, which they did. When the President of the company went to Wall Street for financing, they told him that it didn't look as if the company had anybody that knew how to do anything with integrated circuits. They didn't have any expertise in microprocessors and they needed that expertise. They went out and hired the man that supposedly had been behind the development of this microprocessor. They brought him in, and he wasted six million dollars and didn’t come up with any new products.
When I was there, the systems were beginning to age, and they needed something new. They decided to have an off-site meeting, and I was the only woman there. We met in the morning. The President was there, the Vice President of Development, the Vice President of Sales, and all the product line managers. I was there. The Vice President of Development began talking about COBOL and database management systems. Our systems were designed for control applications, and one of their biggest customers were the people that did the Link trainers for airplanes—like Singer. I’ve forgotten who the others were. Singer was one of their biggest customers. Theirs was strictly a FORTRAN environment. I had just come from Interdata, which also had a powerful processor, and they were coming out with a new FORTRAN 4 compiler, which was an optimizing compiler that really optimized code. The customer didn’t care how long it took to translate a program; what they wanted was for the resulting program to run like lightning when it was really controlling a Link trainer. Nobody cared about COBOL! Nobody cared about database management systems, because it was not a commercial application in any way. It was strictly a FORTRAN environment, a scientific application, you know. That was it!
I didn’t say anything as they were talking about all this. My manager, when we had a coffee break, came up to me, and he said, “You haven’t said anything.” And I said, “Well, Sam, this is too idiotic! I have nothing to say to this.” Sam said, “Well, I brought you here; you’re the only woman here. I expect you to speak. ” He goaded me to say what he knew I’d say, and I fell for it. I decided to let ‘em have it! [laughs.] I went back in and sat down and told them that our competitors are going to eat our lunch; that our users were interested in FORTRAN. They weren’t interested in COBOL and database management; Interdata had a new optimizing compiler. I told them that our math routines didn’t even work, that they didn’t give accurate answers. Interdata, on the other hand, had had the Bureau of Standards fix up all their math routines, and they doubled the throughput of the machine just by fixing up the math routines! I proceeded to tell them all of this. There was silence in the room. The Vice President of Research and Development was whispering in the President’s ear. I'm sure he was saying, “She’s full of shit! She doesn’t know what she’s talking about.” But not a soul supported me. After the meeting, one software person came up and said, “Yeah, you were absolutely right, but I was not going to say anything at such a meeting.” One of the Product Line Managers said I was a fool, and what right did I have to say these things? But within four months, the VP of Development and his cohorts were out! [laughs.] They were locked out of the building, all their crew, and left.
In the meantime, they decided to come out with new machines. Well, they didn’t have a new machine. We used to call it “SFC”: the Same Fucking Computer, because they didn’t have anything—they just put new skins on the old ones! As head of Marketing Support, I had to do product bulletins, and the users’ group, and the communications with the field, and all this stuff; so I was supposed to write brochures about these faster machines. I was beside myself, because there wasn’t anything to write! So I sent these product bulletins to all the Product Line Managers, and said, “If you don’t tell me any different, this is what I’m going to publish.” Not a one of them responded: not one responded. So anyway, I was standing there one day by the copier, and the Vice President of Sales came up beside me and he said, “You will have new product bulletins for the new computers.” I said, "What new computers?" He said, "You heard me."
Okay, so: You didn’t have the product brochures.
Well I did, but they weren’t anything other than they’d been before. I mean, what can you say? It’s the same old machine. And they had a high school marching band, and making this announcement . . .
You know Honeywell: one of my friends was setting up a competitive analysis group there, so she asked me to come up and work for her, so I quit. But, I guess it was less than a year later. Well, my boss really made out like a bandit from this, because they turned to him to find some machines, so he was in the catbird seat. I’m sure he had a lot of stock options; I didn’t have that many, but I lost all but one year’s worth, leaving. I met my ex-boss down in Phoenix, at a meeting we were having, and Sam said, “Oh, I’ll never forget as long as I live, you sitting there and saying, ‘Now, I’m going to tell you some anecdotes!’” [laughs.] And he said, “And you know the President never forgave you for telling him he’d pissed his money away!” [laughs.] He said, “He never forgave you for doing that.” Which I’m sure is true. He didn’t like me anyway.
It was kind of interesting—it’s interesting how men are—but this guy was scared to death of his users: scared to death of them! Because he felt they would criticize him—and a lot of times they did have things to criticize. But anyway, I was in charge of the users’ group as part of my responsibilities, so I knew what the users wanted and what they thought. We were going to have a users’ group meeting, and I ask him to be the keynote speaker for lunch; and he said, “Oh, I’m not going to do that!” And he said, “I’ll only do it if she writes the speech.” So I said “Fine!” So I wrote the speech, and I started off by telling the President that there are three things the users are interested in: one is that you’re going to continue developing high-speed computers; two, that you’re going to support the computers you have, with software and everything; and three, that you’re going to upgrade the hardware and software. And I said that’s all they’re interested in. Anyway, when he got the speech, he said to Sam, “It is childish and naive. I’m not going to give that speech!” He had a finance guy that pumped up their stock—you know how they do: they have the people that pump with the media, and they pump pump pump. He had the guy that pumped the stock write a speech. He took the two of these speeches. Oh, and he told Sam he wasn’t going to answer any questions, because they’d ask him embarrassing questions. And I said, “Sam, these people are not going to embarrass him. They’ve laid their own career on the line to pick this machine! They want him to succeed; they don’t want him to fail, because their own success rides on it. They’re not going to embarrass him!” Well anyway, he did give the speech—half mine and half the other one—and then they began to ask him questions. And the questions were all easy questions, and he was having such a good time. He had a blast, answering these questions! We finally had to call a halt to it, to get him off the stage! [laughs.] If I’d had a stick I’d have pulled him off the stage. He was having such a good time!
But anyway, he just didn’t understand. He didn’t understand his users, and actually he didn’t understand marketing: how you have to have a new product; as soon as you get a product—before you even get a product on the market, you’d need to be working on the next one. He didn’t understand. He always waited until the last minute and his back was to the wall, and then he would make a decision.
So I decided from this that I’d probably—even if I’d have been a man, I probably wouldn’t have made it, because I noticed that the guys that they keep are yes-men around them; they don’t want bad-news people around them. And the surprising thing is that that’s what kills them in the end. Honeywell: the same thing happened to that guy. And remember Ken Olsen, at the end of his career? Ken Olsen: I used to go to the press conferences with Ken Olsen, and I thought he was the most wonderful person in the world.
You were working for DEC?
I was working for Auerbach—that was the publisher’s—and I would go to the press conferences, because I wrote on all the minicomputers that they produced; and I thought Ken Olsen walked on water, practically. But towards the end of his career, he was surrounded by those marketing people; they wouldn’t let him say anything. It was like he was stifled. He’s President—and they have a hard time knowing the truth. Now, some of them have “kitchen cabinets,” like the President’s. You haven’t heard about the kitchen cabinet in recent years; I don’t think since Eisenhower; but it used to always be that Presidents had kitchen cabinets. Nixon had Rebozo. Most of them had a kitchen cabinet—you know, some people that they can go to to tell them what’s really going on. I know that Honeywell’s president had some; I know Isaac Auerbach did, when I worked for him. But they have a hard time knowing what the truth is. Now, the President of Honeywell, when he started to hire the competitive analysis group, said that one of the things he wanted us to do was tell how Honeywell is perceived by others. He wanted a meeting with us, and we were to tell him how Honeywell was perceived product by product. At first, we were each to give a presentation of over a half hour; and then it got down to twenty minutes, and then it got down to ten minutes, then it got down to five minutes when we had the meeting. We met with him to tell him about the different product lines. The marketeers around him wouldn’t let him ask us any questions! I mean, it was frustrating—that man was so frustrated, I don’t know why he didn’t just fire them all. He kept saying, “But I want to ask . . . ” And they said, “Oh, no, you have another meeting; you have to do this; you have to do that; you have to do something else”—and pulled him right out of there. So I came to see that Presidents of companies have a hard time really knowing what’s going on within the company.
So you didn’t stay long at Honeywell.
Well, I stayed there. [Clancy] Spangle, who was the President when I went there, was basically forced out; and the reason he was forced out was because top management lied to him. Honeywell had mainframes that were built by G.E. in Arizona; they had the next level of business machines that competed with the lower end of the [IBM] 360 line, in France; they had a group with small business computers, in Italy; and they had minicomputers in Billerica, Massachusetts. We were at headquarters in Minneapolis. Now, do you know “matrix management”?
Well, it’s the most idiotic management scheme that I ever saw—I mean, some few companies have got it to work. You know, the hierarchical type is: You have a guy at the top, and he has managers beneath him who are responsible for everybody below. Then the next level of managers are responsible for the ones below them. So it’s pretty clear what the lines of responsibility are.
In Matrix Management, the President had a staff in Minneapolis that mirrored the field staff. Now in order to do anything with a product, like minicomputers, they had competitive analysis there in the field, and I was head of competitive analysis for minicomputers here at headquarters. They had a Vice President of Small Computers in the field and one back at headquarters. So there was a big staff of people, back at headquarters, and all were supposed to keep the President advised. Everybody advised him of what’s going on—and this gave him control of what’s going on.
Honeywell had a policy that the field could not spend more than a million dollars developing anything without specific instructions from headquarters. Well, they just divided their projects up! [laughs.] After Spangle was forced out, the guy that eventually became President was at this time head of North American sales—I don’t know exactly what his positions was, but he was head of everything North American. He despised us at headquarters, because everything he tried to do out in the field he had to get permission for from these bozos (as far as he was concerned) back at headquarters.
So Spangle got kicked out because Phoenix produced a large system only 20% faster than its last system. Honeywell did one thing that was very smart, and that was: they developed multi-processor systems long before anybody else did. They developed the software to control them, and I think they could multiprocess maybe up to five, or something like that. But what happened was, they didn’t develop powerful new systems, because they were multiprocessing. Eventually their customers wanted to upgrade, and people were coming out with processors that were two, three, four times as fast as the last one.
Phoenix was supposed to build a new mainframe processor, and everybody was telling how fast it was. They planned marketing for it—and it was only twenty percent faster! Twenty percent while other companies developed systems several times faster than the older systems. The field, and Spangle's people back at headquarters, lied to him. I can’t believe they were that ignorant, but they were. Spangle left—got out—and so then this other guy came in. His first job was to get rid of the group back at headquarters, so I ended up, instead of having a group there, reporting to field people. So I left.
I was offered a job with Data Decisions, which was a new publishing company, and I was to develop a data communications product. At that time, data communications, internetting minicomputers, was the way it first started.
The military really had started data communications, and most of the early people in data communications came from the military. These companies got founded by people who learned communications while in the army. We had a company in Cherry Hill called Infotron—and not a one of its founders had a degree in engineering! Every one of them had gotten their training in the military, which was better than any college could have done.
ARPANET was the network where they really did link computers. Back then, all these companies had their own protocols for their own systems—like IBM had SNA; Honeywell had DSA; UNIVAC had DCA. All of them had protocols for all their systems, and then Ethernet was being used for the minicomputers. When I came back to the Philadelphia area, I had a chance to develop this communications product. I was really excited about that.
So this was in the ‘80s at this point?
This was in 1980.
You were really always on the cutting edge.
I was just lucky! I just happened to be lucky. Because I was involved with minicomputers and local area networks. I used to do a little check on how efficient these were for local area networks, and people were so impressed with this! [laughs.] Really, I just counted how much it took to interface to the system, and put on a number of terminals, and see what it looked like. It wasn’t that I did anything too exciting—but at that time, because other people weren’t doing anything, they were pretty excited. So, yes, I really enjoyed that.
So, the end of my career was in data communications.
And that was at Data Decisions?
Data Decisions, yes.
Becoming a Charter Member at ACM Records
One thing I wanted to ask: You’d mentioned a couple of times going to ACM conferences, and I had actually noticed—I found some old ACM records from 1948 . . .
I was a charter member!
. . . where you were a charter member. I wanted to ask you about that.
Well, they never put me as a charter member, because I think there was a meeting before. Berkeley was from Prudential. He got Prudential to fund UNIVAC. Berkeley was one of the moving forces behind ACM. They had had a meeting of Stibitz, and Aiken, and Berkeley, and I don’t know who else. Then at the first meeting, there were about forty people there. They had a meeting at Columbia University, and Betty Snyder Holberton and I went; and that was the founding of ACM.
And what was that for?
It was just for the distribution of knowledge. Basically there wasn’t any other reason. No, that was all: people just wanted to know what others were doing. They used to crowd these meetings. People would give speeches on the “Ideal Instruction Set,” let’s say; and people would talk about cybernetics—I mean, everybody read Cybernetics as soon as that came out. So it was really just the distribution of knowledge. People realized things were happening, and they had a hard time keeping up.
Was there a sense that they were trying to raise the professional image of programming by having these meetings?
[pause] I don’t know; I have no idea. You’d have to ask somebody that was more into software; because even though I started out in software, I really wasn’t in software very long. I was much more hardware-oriented during most of my career, after I began doing logical design. I understood what software did, but I never programmed in any of the languages! I took courses in FORTRAN, ALGOL, and COBOL, and so I knew how they worked; but I have no experience programming in them—none whatsoever.
So really, after the ENIAC you weren’t doing a lot of programming.
No. I mean the only thing I did was, for my many computer reports, I just did a little sample program! [laughs.] To test how fast the processor was. That’s about all.
And the ACM was pretty welcoming to women?
As far as I know.
I mean, I noticed there were a number of women on the first list of people who attended. I just wondered, because I know some of the engineering societies seemed to be very hostile towards women.
Oh, yeah: engineers think they’re much better than programmers. They did. I mean, computers were engineering-oriented for a long time. Like Pres saying, “You don’t need software people; come over and do hardware!” [laughs.] Which is a perfect indication of what he thought of it!
Right. Although he obviously didn’t think that because you were a woman, you couldn’t do the hardware side.
Oh, no, no, no. I don’t think that at all. It was just because I was a programmer. Yes, well, that was part of the problem with all of this. [laughs] I don't know whether or not they were prejudiced because I was a woman or because I was a programmer! Mainly, I never had trouble with engineers, really. Even to this day, my best customers are engineers. In fact, one of the engineers—the one that had complained most vociferously when he found out he had to ask me and Art before he made a change in his equipment—one day he said to me, “You must have a beautiful marriage!” And I said, “What do you mean?” And he said, “Oh, you’re so logical! My wife is so illogical.” [laughs.] He said, “Oh, you’re married to an engineer; you must have a beautiful life.” And I said, “Well, Bernie, most decisions in marriage are not logical; they’re emotional,” and that I didn’t think I had any more beautiful a marriage than anyone else! [laughs.] And of course, all these so-called “logical” people plaster over the fact that what they really want is something emotional. I mean, it’s just plastered over.
They were very supportive of me, actually. And Bob Shaw: I mean, I had a very warm, wonderful relationship with him for a number of years. And I just saw Al Auerbach: UNIVAC had a 50th anniversary of the introduction of the UNIVAC, and they had a proclamation from the mayor, and they had lunch, and one of the guys that was there was Al Auerbach. That’s not Isaac; no relation. Al Auerbach was an engineer on the BINAC and UNIVAC, and he is the one who primarily got the BINAC to work. If you could ever get him to write an article about BINAC, I advise you to do it. I’m planning to get with him and really twist his arm. The problem is, Al and Bob Shaw went off and formed a company called Digitronics, and then they sold it for a bunch of money, and Al took his money, and decided to go back to school and get his Ph.D. in biology, which he did. Then he worked in the medical field, and he worked with a guy that got the Nobel Prize, so that wasn’t too shabby¬! And then he formed a little medical company, which he ran for a while, and then he sold it. Well anyway, he has pressures on him to write for the medical field as well as this, and I said, “Please, please, Al: write this article about the BINAC, so the truth gets out!” He lives right here in Philadelphia: I advise you to go after him, before we die! Now, he’s in good health right now; he just had a cataract operation, and he was telling me, “I can’t believe it; it was so fabulous.” He said, “I didn’t know what I didn’t see before!” So he’s having another cataract operation to do the other one. But he was wonderful; I was so thrilled to see him. So, IEEE really should: if they want the true story of the BINAC, the place to get it is Al Auerbach. You want his number?
Sure, I’ll get that from you before I go. [pause]
Reflections on the Progress in the Field of Computing
How do you feel the field of computing has changed? I mean, you’ve seen the whole thing, practically, over time.
How has it changed? Well, it’s changed considerably! Banks couldn’t even see any use for computers—and bankers are such far-reaching individuals. When Pres and John went to borrow money to run their company, banks couldn’t see how they would ever benefit from computers. [laughs.]
How’s it changed? Miniaturization is what’s changed it! The integrated circuit. Because when I left the field, in the early ‘50s, they were just starting with transistors. I remember Pres describing them to me: how wonderful transistors were, and how they were going to change things. And of course it did; and these photographic techniques and everything else to miniaturize. I mean, if you didn’t do anything else but make things smaller . . . Can you imagine, this little thing like this [points to laptop]. In a mainframe, signals would have to go a hundred feet! I mean, just the fact that signals don't have to travel so far increases the speed fantastically.
It’s the miniaturization; not only the cheapness. Now, we’d visualized this, because Dick Tracy had a radio on his wrist; and we used to talk about these things. We talked about computers all the time. Somebody would say ,“And oh, so-and-so’s getting married.” “Oh, is that right?”—and then back to computers! [both laugh.] It wasn’t as though we didn’t realize another world exists; it was just that we were so interested in this that we talked about it and speculated all the time.
Of course, we never imagined everything that would happen. Cybernetics came out, and we all believed that they were going to take the drudgery of life away from a lot of us —and of course it has. My son is an economist now, and he worries about jobs for the poor. It’s very interesting, because everybody says, “Oh, training, training, training!” I mean, you train the poor, and what do you have? You have competition for the jobs that are already there! [laughs.] It helps, maybe, some individuals; but what you really need are more jobs, because you just have competition for the jobs if you train the poor. So it’s very interesting when we talk about taking away drudgery in jobs and stuff like that: I mean, we do create social problems.
I find it exciting. I don’t find—Do I find any of this shocking? I do find the Internet a little shocking, because I can’t quite figure out how that damn thing works with nobody in charge! [laughs.] That’s like Linux, this operating system with nobody in charge. I can’t quite imagine how this works, with nobody in charge. Now, I understand there are standard interfaces—and some interfaces are still the same ones I wrote about, because every once in a while I run across where it tells you what’s behind it. Yes, I find the internet puzzling. I also find it amazing, the way they’re able to keep people from making a fool of themselves and ruining systems. Believe me, when I see what some of the real estate agents do, I could scream! They will get in and change the company’s password. One agent got on, and I don’t know how he got into the system, but he got in so that everybody went in under his name. Then he called up and complained because he couldn’t use the system because his name was busy. He was the one that had done it so that everybody that wanted to get on the computer went in under his name! I mean, how did he get in? He got in the innards and put his name in. And believe me, he’s ignorant of computers! But every once in a while, these people get to the internal workings; somehow there is a glitch that allows them to get in, and I find that amazing.
Now, the biggest fear I have is the fact that software’s not tested. And Star Wars scares the hell out of me. When I was product line manager for the Megamini at Interdata, we had an operating system that worked very well. Then we developed a memory management system. We started shipping the memory management system to people, and they started installing it and using it. All of a sudden their computers were going all to pieces. We found out what the problem was. The problem was that the system increased the program counter before the software calculated where the block of data was to go in memory. It worked fine until it came to a boundary, and then at the boundary slipped into the bank of memory beside the one it was supposed to be in. It meant that we had to change when we increased the program counter. That fix took over a hundred cuts and straps on the board to get the changes made! [laughs.] Anyway, nobody checks all the possibilities of the software. I mean, a system could be doing calculations in an absolutely crucial situation, and it reaches one of the situations that wasn’t tested, and it doesn’t work! It could do almost anything. And I don’t think anybody in the software business wants Star Wars. I don’t think anybody wants it. They just don’t understand. That’s really my biggest fear about what’s going to happen.
What happens to our kids when they start out in computers? My campus is now all electronic; every room has its own computer.
In Missouri.
Yes. Every dorm room: they all have exactly the same software; same computer; they only pay $170 a year.
Do you think the culture of computing has changed?
Well, I’m sure the people at Microsoft worry about stock options and all that crap a lot more. We certainly didn’t in my era; I mean, I got stock options at [only] one company that I worked for. Twenty percent of Microsoft employees are millionaires.
I spent some time with them. Microsoft’s such a big company. It’s so different: the culture of a big company and the culture of a small company are so different.
Has computing changed? I’m sure the problems for the ages are still out there. The funny thing is, John Mauchly thought about a computer because of predicting the weather, and they still don’t know how to predict the weather. So many of these problems of the ages, they haven’t solved them yet.
The one thing, though, that I think we all speculated about, and everybody has for so many years, is travel in space. Now, I don’t think we’ll ever have travel in space until somebody comes up with something totally new, because I don’t think, with our current technology, that we really can travel in space.
But is it new computer technology? Or other types of technology?
I don’t know. I mean, have you ever taken a marketing course?
Well, in marketing they talk about the “expanding puddle” or the “big drop theory.” Now, most companies do the “expanding puddle”: that is, the software gets better, the hardware gets better, the product gets better, the sales force gets better—and so it spreads like that. Now, the “drop theory” is: something drops out here that’s totally away from the puddle. So you start something that’s really new. And I think somebody is really going to have to come up with something totally new for us to travel in space with any amount of ease. Who knows what it will be? I don’t know. I have no idea what it would be, but I can visualize that this is what happens. Everybody goes along thinking in one direction, and then here’s a genius out here that everybody’s ignoring, who’s thinking about something totally different, that makes the difference! I’m sure we’ll just keep getting faster and better and, you know, the expanding puddle.
I guess. [pause]
Reflections on the Progress of Women in the Field of Computing and Career in Computing
Do you get the impression that it’s gotten easier for women to get into computing?
No, I don’t think so. I was speaking at ACM: there’s a women’s group of ACM, and I was going out to speak; I was on a panel or something. And the day before, I came in and I went down the hall and was looking at what they were doing little seminars on. There was this room where the women were packed and out in the hall—standing out in the hall—so I looked to see what the seminar was, and it was “Coping With the Glass Ceiling.”
There’s a very interesting book that I read about what happened to the first Harvard Business School class that included women? Have you seen or read that?
I haven’t read it, but I’ve heard about it.
More than 20 percent of the class was women, and so what she did was to follow what all of them had done. And actually, only one had it all. One was probably going to be CEO: she did not marry, did not have children; she socialized primarily with people like herself. The one that had it all just happened to be lucky. She was married to a consultant who could live anywhere, because his consultancy was so wide he didn’t really have a home base. She had children. Her company wanted her to move to New York to advance, and he just moved with her! So this woman was the only one that had it all. Now the others, most of them, weren’t even working; whatever they were doing, it was really just very modest. I mean, it was very disappointing, actually, what happened to them.
Did you find it an issue trying to have a career and a family?
Oh, yes! My husband’s a male chauvinist pig! I mean, I’m divorced. It’s interesting: he used to always tell me I was fighting a war that was already won, about women.
And I grew up with male chauvinist pigs in my family. The one thing my father and my family never said, which I didn’t tell you, was that men were smarter than women: never. I’d never even heard it. I was never, never given any indication that I couldn’t learn anything I wanted to. But I never had any money, and the reason I didn’t was because my father did provide for the boys. The view was that someday they were going to have a family and have to support a family, while you would marry somebody and your husband would support you. [laughs.]
Now, my husband had his problems, in terms of being a male chauvinist pig. He grew up with a disapproving father and a doting mother. I still see him, because he’s married and lives close to my daughter, and I see him and his wife when I go out there for Christmas. I think he really believed that I wanted to do whatever he wanted to do—that whatever he wanted, I wanted. And I think that came from his doting mother. He would say, “Oh, no, you don’t mean it.” I’d say, “Yes I do; I hate this!” [laughs.] And I think he really thought I was kidding. And I think it’s not just being a male chauvinist pig; I mean it was this particular environment that he grew up with. The other thing: he was a manic-depressive, and so when he was manic I was the wife that he took care of, then when he was depressed, I was to be superwoman and take care of everything. So he alternated between making me superwoman and making me helpless. But that I blame on his emotional make-up, as much as anything.
I don’t know of any women that I would like to trade places with. I mean, it’s pathetic, isn’t it, that I’ve really only been involved with two men in all my life: two! Now, since I was divorced, I’ve been in singles programs and met hundreds of men—and I see no marriages that I would want. And I think it’s pretty pathetic, because I think men in our society are ruined. It’s also my prejudice, too. I mean I’m prejudiced too, with my bias, saying I never wanted to get married. It’s been very interesting, because I never wanted to get married and never wanted to have children, but my relationship with my children has been the greatest thing that ever happened to me! I adore all three of them and loved taking care of them when they were little. But I still don’t think much of marriage! [laughs.]
Well, you mentioned your aunt—I forgot the name . . .
Gretchen.
. . . who was, I guess, maybe one role model for you; and she had never married and had children.
She did marry, when she was 40!
Oh, but when you were little . . .
When I was little she wasn’t married.
Did you have other people who were role models or mentors for you?
Yes, Dr. Blanche Dow: She was my teacher in college. Actually I only had three college professors who meant anything to me—and I don’t think you need any more, really: Dr. Hake, who said, “I’m head of the Math Department and I’ll give you the courses!” Dr. Horsfal, who really changed my life in the way he made me start using my mind; and then Dr. Blanche Dow. When you’re in school they have you take cultural courses that pass on the culture. They called them Humanities in my college. These courses told us about art and music and social science and all the things that were supposed to make us cultured people. Well, Dr. Dow taught those courses, plus she also taught French. She was a little, dynamic woman, and I was really intrigued, because at that time I never thought much about art, music, or any of those things. The fact that she enjoyed them and believed they were important made me think, “Oh, I really should find out about this, if Dr. Dow thinks so.”
I took French with her. This is kind of an interesting story. We were in French class one day, and we were talking about farm subsidies. She started talking and complaining about farm subsidies, and I got so mad—I was really mad. I said, “Yeah, the farmers: When we have a big crop, the price is low, and we don’t make any money; and, when we don’t have any crop, the price is high, so we don’t have anything to sell!” And I said, “No matter what you say, we have to have money to buy clothes, to buy machinery; we have to buy things.” And she said, “Well, I certainly wish that I could have a big, fat chicken any time I wanted!” [both laugh.] Oh, I was mad at her! I was really mad. So I went home that weekend and asked my mother to dress a chicken for her. So I took her a chicken! [laughs.]
About 1950 I was in Washington, and I walked across the street to the cafeteria to have some lunch, and who should walk in but Doctor Blanche Dow! She was standing in line, so I went up to talk to her. She had left my college and become President of Coty College in South Missouri. She told me how she spent most of her time fund-raising. She was in Washington for a meeting because she was President of the American Association of University Women. She tried to talk me into joining. Finally she said to me, “Remember the time you brought me the chicken?” [laughs.]
So yes, she was my role model, Blanche Dow. She was a lesbian, by the way. She was really a fabulous woman, and that was it! Yes, she was a role model.
Do you have any advice for young women who might be thinking of going into computing?
Well, I think people should always do what they want to do. I think that a job takes up too much of your life to do something you don’t like to do. And I’m sure that there are lots of good things about it and lots of bads things about it. There are so many different computer jobs. My daughter is in the business, too. But I really believe you should do what you want to do: what you enjoy doing and what you can do well. Most people don’t like to do things if they don’t do them well. I just believe, “When opportunity knocks, open the door.” But you’ve got to be prepared. It doesn’t do you any good to talk yourself into a job you can’t do; that is just courting disaster. So I think you should be prepared, and work hard—everybody that succeeds must work hard—and open the door when opportunity knocks. Opportunity comes in a lot of different ways. But I do believe that you should enjoy what you do.
No, I don’t really have any advice. I mean, it depends on what you like! I’m in the real estate business now, but believe me: I’d much rather work with things than with people! [laughs.] They drive me crazy at times! And I’m not that good. I used to think when I worked with engineers—because I was so much more of a "people" person than they were—that I was great with people; but in comparison with sales people, no. I’m not a "people" person; I’m a "thing" person.
There’s another thing: I took the Myers-Briggs test. Have you ever taken Myers-Briggs?
I thought it was the most insightful thing that ever happened to me. When I decided I was going to get out of publishing and go into marketing and sales for a minicomputer company, I went to Bernard Haldane’s, which is a consultancy for job hunting, basically. They’re not a placement bureau; they just teach you how to network and job hunt. My particular mentor was a physicist—Ph.D. physicist—who had had his own company. He had had a serious heart attack, and couldn’t really pursue that any more, so he was working at Bernard Haldane’s. One of the things they did was to give me the Myers-Briggs personality test. They took it very seriously: knowing what you are, and knowing what other people are and knowing how to work with them. One of the things they taught me about going to a meeting. The first thing I was to do was to determine what personality everybody has. Then I wasn't to give a thinking argument to a "feeler," or vice-versa. I wasn't to try to get a perceptive person to make a judgment, because they’re not that way. I was to understand that introverts can internalize things and make decisions. I found out what I was, and I realized that in my career up to then, I had always thought "sensers" were stupid, because I’m "intuitive," and I would go from A to E—and a senser goes, “A, B, C, . . . ” They used to drive me crazy. I had to go through all of the steps and I had to wait for them! The other thing I thought was that "non-judgmental" people, "perceptive" people, were weak—because I thought, “If you had any balls at all, you’d make a judgment!” [laughs.] But that’s not the way they work. Also, I’m an extrovert, and there’s no way in the world that I could ever come up with conclusions that meant much to me unless I tested them in the outside world. That’s basically the difference between an introvert and an extrovert. I thought that was one of the most valuable things I learned.
When I was just back at Maryville, they had me meet with the head of an academic academy they have there for high school students to come to college. Do I disagree with it! They brought 30 kids in from area high schools, and the students go in math and science and all their other courses; but they just live within themselves and talk to other geeks! “Well, what do you do for recreation?” “Well, just hang around with the other people.” I mean, there’s more to life than the intellectual life! I think those kids need to meet with their peers that are not like them, because we have to learn to get along with people we don’t like—and people that are very different from us are very interesting at times. I have very little artistic talent, but God do I love to see artists at work! And music—I couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket, but that doesn’t mean that I can’t appreciate music. I don’t know. I just feel that young people should develop the things that they’re good at and that they enjoy doing.
It’s like real estate, by the way: You cannot buy a house with logic and reason. If you do, you’re never happy in the house. You must buy a house emotionally, I really believe that. You must buy it because it satisfies you emotionally. Now, if you have a good real estate agent, the agent is going to make sure that it’s not a bad real estate investment; obviously you do not want to do that. That’s one of the reasons why it’s important to have a good real estate agent—so they don’t let you piss your money away—but you really need to buy it emotionally so that it satisfies you. You want to be happy when you drive up to the house; happy when you open the front door. You like the way it feels and looks. So I think the same thing is true about a career: you like the way it feels.
What aspects of your work with computers have you found the most satisfying?
The most wonderful job I had was on UNIVAC. And then the second-most was on ENIAC, because it was new. I made this statement to Isaac Auerbach [laughs]. I worked for him for nine years, and Isaac came in before I left and said, “I never thought you’d leave me.” And I said, “Well, you haven’t done anything with me for four years. I mean, I’ve been here doing the same thing, so why wouldn’t I leave?” Anyway, when I got up to make my farewell speech—they gave me a gift, and I was supposed to make a speech—I said, “Well, they say two of the happiest days of your life are the day you take a job and the day you leave a job.” And I said, “Today is the second happiest day of my life!” [laughs.] And I think everybody is all excited, when you do something new.
I liked the prestige. I had prestige. I guess I didn’t have any prestige at Honeywell, but certainly in the publishing business I did. I think most people like to have some recognition for what they do, and they like to have people appreciate what they do. And the funny thing is: Pres or John never said that to you, but you just knew they did! It’s interesting that you don’t have to say, “I think you’re wonderful”—you just act as though they’re wonderful, I guess! [laughs.] I’m not quite sure how it works.
I should thank you for spending all this time with me! Unless there’s anything else you think I’ve left out.
Not that I know of, really. You didn’t ask me much about Johnny von Neumann, but that’s all right.
You didn’t ask me about Herman, and what I think of him.
I think I’ve already heard!
It was kind of interesting, Herman was a Ph.D. mathematician. Adele and I worked together on a program for a Dr. [Abraham] Taub up at Princeton. Adele wrote all the manuals for the ENIAC, but, of course, they didn’t come out until after everybody had already learned how to program it. She was a very smart woman. She and I worked on the Taub program, and Herman had already gone up to Princeton to work with von Neumann. He came home at night, and he wanted her to hurry up and get this job done so she could go up to Princeton with him. We used to have dinner with him at night. I never once heard him make a technical, valuable remark. All he ever did was manipulate people. He was a manipulator.
Was he doing anything technical for the ENIAC? I thought he was sort of managing . . .
He was a liaison, although he claims he did [technical work]—and for the EDVAC, too; why would he be on the patent? He attended the meetings. In fact, Douglas Hartree was here one summer—he was teaching out at Haverford College, lecturing—so the Goldstines invited us up for dinner. So we went up there for dinner, and I said something about Herman being an assistant of von Neumann. He hit the roof! “I’m not an assistant to von Neumann!” I said, “Well, how come you’re at the Institute?” So he said, “I’m here because I’m being honored for the work I did during the war!” Well, that is true to some extent, because most of the mathematicians that worked at Aberdeen were given three months at Princeton, at the Institute. You know, Einstein was there at that time, and Veblen, and von Neumann; there were a lot of people there. I mean, they even had tea with Einstein, for God’s sakes! [laughs.] So they were given three months. But that wasn’t true [about Goldstine’s situation]. So anyway, Douglas Hartree, when we were on the way back, said, “Oh well, it doesn’t matter what he says: that’s what he is.” [laughs.]
But anyway, Adele I loved. So we were working on that project—we really worked hard—and she said, “Oh well, he always gets me these jobs and then complains when I do them!” [laughs.] She died of cancer very early on in life. But I think she was brighter than he was, frankly. She was his student at the University of Michigan—or was she Chicago? I think it was the University of Chicago.
I’d like to know more about her. I mean, she was active in computing, as far as I know, until she died.
Well, she did these little jobs. I guess she must have taught Klara von Neumann to program the ENIAC.
Retrieved from "https://ethw.org/w/index.php?title=Oral-History:Jean_Bartik&oldid=173183"
1 About Jean Bartik
4.1 Growing up in Rural Missouri
4.2 College Years
4.3 A Father's Influence
4.4 Graduating College and Leaving Missouri
4.5 Reflections on ENIAC and Beginning of Career at Aberdeen
4.6 Building Relationships: The Women of ENIAC and Aberdeen
4.7 Understanding ENIAC
4.8 Working with J.Presper Eckert and John Mauchly
4.9 Working with others on the ENIAC project
4.10 Los Alamos and ENIAC, 1945
4.11 From ENIAC to UNIVAC
4.12 Reflections on Dick Clippinger and the McCarthy Era
4.13 Reflections on the EDVAC Report and the Transition from ENIAC to EDVAC
4.14 BINAC and UNIVAC
4.15 Family Life & Coming Back into the Business
4.16 Touring and Speaking at Microsoft
4.17 Working with Grace Hopper
4.18 Reflections on Women in Technology & the Workplace
4.19 Becoming a Charter Member at ACM Records
4.20 Reflections on the Progress in the Field of Computing
4.21 Reflections on the Progress of Women in the Field of Computing and Career in Computing
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WA threat to split from Canberra
Commentary, Equalization, Frontier Centre, Worth A Look May 28, 2012
PREMIER Colin Barnett says WA will split from Canberra if the Federal Government doesn't reward the state for driving the national economy.
"That's not a threat. It's reality," Mr Barnett said.
While he said a formal separation from the rest of Australia was not on the agenda, relations with Canberra would become "negligible" if revenue created in the state kept being shifted east.
And he said the ramifications would not just be for the national economy, but for the broader Australian society including sport.
"There would be very little relationship and the WA economy would be fully integrated as part of Asia," he said.
"It's a trend you may see over the next 20 years.
"I think that's a bit of a problem for Australia it would be a bit of a problem for Canberra.
"Unless Canberra gets up to pace with the WA economy we will simply move away from the rest of Australia and get closer and closer to Asia in every respect whether it's business, sport … or whatever else."
In an interview to be screened on Sky News Australian Agenda today, Mr Barnett stopped short of saying WA should break away from the commonwealth, but in a veiled threat he said the West could survive on its own and was already heading in a very different direction to the rest of the country.
Buoyed by a fourth successive surplus since winning government in 2008 and predictions WA will be in the black for at least three more years, Mr Barnett said the rest of Australia was battling to keep up.
He said Asia was fast becoming WA's new best friend.
"There is not an understanding on the east coast how significant the growth of the WA economy is," he said.
"The WA economy is growing at quite a different pace than Australia as a whole and to some extent the strength of the WA economy is concealing the true weakness of the national economy.
"One statistic proves that.
"In the last 12 months there were 50,000 new jobs created in WA.
"China is now Australia's No.1 trading partner (but) WA produces 73 per cent of all of Australia's exports to China.
"To put it in another context, exports from WA to China are about half of the value of all of the USA's exports to China."
Mr Barnett said WA's falling GST receipts down from 72c in the dollar this year to 55c in the dollar next financial year was another reason it was turning to Asia.
"If we went to a scenario where WA only got 25c in the dollar or no GST at all which is possible at that stage commonwealth-state relations between Canberra and WA would be negligible."
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Senate panel reports out FAA reauthorization bill
By Colleen O'Hara
The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee today reported out to the Senate floor a bill that would reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration for two years and asks the agency to submit plans for a multibillion-dollar navigation system under development.
The Senate bill, S. 82, would reauthorize FAA operations at $11.4 billion through fiscal 2000. Meanwhile, the House earlier this month passed H.R. 99, which would authorize FAA operations at $5.6 billion for one year.
The Senate bill asks the FAA within six months to develop, identify and submit to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation committee a timetable for developing the $3 billion Wide-Area Augmentation System. The WAAS network would refine Global Positioning System signals for airlines to use to navigate nationwide and for precision approaches to airports. The bill also asks the FAA to determine whether WAAS will be the sole or primary means of navigation.
The House and Senate could not agree late last year on several provisions in the authorization bill, which caused Congress to extend the agency's authority for only six months until March 31.
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Meilleurs morceaux
Centuries
American Beauty/American Psycho
This Ain't A Scene, It's An Arms Race
Infinity On High
My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark (Light Em Up)
Save Rock And Roll
Dance, Dance
From Under The Cork Tree
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À propos de Fall Out Boy
Clever emo/pop-punk outfit Fall Out Boy rose from the ashes of several hard-core bands, in the throes of suburban ennui in Wilmette, Illinois. The band's cathartic live shows -- a carryover from their days of rocking the mosh pit -- at venues like the Knights of Columbus Hall earned the boys a solid Midwestern fan base, but it was their hybrid, Green Day-with-a-dream-journal sound that sparked a small but respectable bidding war to sign them. The band, now comprised of founding members Pete Wentz (bass/lyrics) and Joe Trohman (guitar), vocalist/guitarist Patrick Stump, and drummer Andy Hurley, cut a handful of EPs and two full-lengths for small labels (New Zealand's Uprising Records and the Florida-based Fueled By Ramen). While they were still working on their second album, Island Records gave the band an advance to start their third and sent them on a 280-day tour. The band's exhausting schedule didn't help Wentz's anxiety disorder, and he ended up overdosing on Ativan. While Wentz recovered, the rest of the band had to finish a UK tour with a substitute, which forced them to learn not to rely on Wentz's dynamic stage presence and become stronger stage performers. In 2007, Fall Out Boy released their third album followed by 2008's Folie a Deux. Bebop Digital
A Day to Remember, Boys Like Girls, Cute Is What We Aim For, Forever the Sickest Kids, Mayday Parade, Woe, Is Me
Clever emo/pop-punk outfit Fall Out Boy rose from the ashes of several hard-core bands, in the throes of suburban ennui in Wilmette, Illinois. The band's cathartic live shows -- a carryover from their days of rocking the mosh pit -- at venues like the Knights of Columbus Hall earned the boys a solid Midwestern fan base, but it was their hybrid, Green Day-with-a-dream-journal sound that sparked a small but respectable bidding war to sign them. The band, now comprised of founding members Pete Wentz (bass/lyrics) and Joe Trohman (guitar), vocalist/guitarist Patrick Stump, and drummer Andy Hurley, cut a handful of EPs and two full-lengths for small labels (New Zealand's Uprising Records and the Florida-based Fueled By Ramen). While they were still working on their second album, Island Records gave the band an advance to start their third and sent them on a 280-day tour. The band's exhausting schedule didn't help Wentz's anxiety disorder, and he ended up overdosing on Ativan. While Wentz recovered, the rest of the band had to finish a UK tour with a substitute, which forced them to learn not to rely on Wentz's dynamic stage presence and become stronger stage performers. In 2007, Fall Out Boy released their third album followed by 2008's Folie a Deux.
Alt/Punk
**** Live In Phoenix
The Last Of The Real Ones (Milk N Cooks Remix)
Teenage Dirtbag Skate Rock
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Summer Playlist
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
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Barakamon and the Artistic Ego
The Barakamon anime is ending in a couple of days. This makes me really sad. Barakamon has been one of my favourite shows of the season. It’s one of the few slice of life anime that genuinely puts me at ease, and I think a lot of that has to do with the fact that there is catharsis in the narrative. I can see a lot of my own worries and anxieties reflected in Handa’s character. As he learns to de-stress, I can feel myself letting go as well.
(Perhaps that’s what those moe slice of life shows need more of: not an excuse to escape from reality but to embrace it, to tell the viewer that things will be okay.)
But I digress. I’ve been wanting to write about Barakamon for a while but kept putting it off, partly because I’ve been so busy lately. But it’s also because the reason Barakamon has resonated with me is so deeply entangled with my personality faults that I’d feel uncomfortable discussing it openly. Still, considering that I’d written a post not long ago urging fans to be willing to criticise themselves, it’d be hypocritical of me not to practice what I preach!
I should preface this discussion by saying that if you identify as an artist of any craft (or if you’re a perfectionist) you’d probably relate to Barakamon the same way I did. I highly recommend the series if you haven’t seen it already.
By the way, this is an autobiographical post for the most part, so it’s pretty much spoiler free.
So yeah, where do I begin? I’ll start with the answers of some of the reader questions I got on Ask.fm, which partially inspired this post:
How important are grades to you? Have you ever gotten a “B” on your transcript? If yes, how did you feel? If no, how do you think you would feel?
Yes, I’ve gotten Bs before. I always feel like total crap. In fact, I end up moping for days – I get really childish and immature over it. A couple of times, I’ve literally cried over getting a B. Yeah…
So yes, grades are very important to me, but mostly because my ego is very fragile. I’ve been trying very hard not to link my self-esteem with my grades for a long time now. But I find it really, really difficult not to make that emotional connection, even when I know intellectually that grades are such a flawed means of measuring intelligence. I’ve never been in danger of failing anything ever, so it’s really just turned into an ego stroking thing for me at this stage. I really hate that part of myself.
Do you ever get jealous?
Hoo boy, yes. I have this unhealthy tendency to compare myself to others and to get really possessive about the things I really care about, to the extent that I can’t properly distinguish between love and jealousy at times. When I really like someone, I always think of myself as totally inferior to that person and I start lashing out and making myself and others miserable. It’s one of the reasons why I really wouldn’t trust myself to be in a romantic relationship. I’ve been trying to get over it, though!
At least I haven’t punched any of my teachers in the face…
So yes, as you can see, I have a lot in common with Handa, in the sense that I’m pretty much a kid in an adult’s body. My petulant side doesn’t come out all the time, but it does often enough for me to come across as somewhat socially awkward in real life.
One of the ways I’ve escaped the trappings of my personality – or at least attempted to do so – is through my writing. I pour so much of myself into my words that sometimes I feel I don’t have anything left for my real world interactions. Because I’m so much more skilled at articulating emotions through words rather than through actions, I feel as if people don’t really know how I think unless they’ve seen my work. I suspect that’s a common way of thinking for an artist.
Also, as I’ve stated before, I’m a high-achieving student. My parents never actually pressured me into doing well at school (in fact, they’re usually telling me to GET A LIFE), nor did I receive any private tutoring. I earned my high scores largely to satisfy my humongous ego.
Kind of like this girl
My ego may spur me to achieve things and to win awards, but it’s also really self-destructive. I don’t actually believe I am intelligent or talented, and I secretly obsess over people I think are better than me. One day, I will think of myself as an artistic genius, the next day a total failure.
I won’t harp on about my self-esteem issues. Instead, I’ll focus on how I’ve been trying to break out of my unhealthy pattern of thinking. First of all, perspective is really, really useful. Stories like The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde show the artistic personality for what it is – neurotic and ultimately self-serving. Barakamon shows this too, but in a more light-hearted manner. By laughing at Handa’s neurotic tendencies, I could learn to laugh at myself too. Artists can be really stupid people.
Thinking critically about one’s education is also handy – that is, appreciating the difference between academic excellence and intelligence. Liking and trusting teachers because they compliment you and tell you you’re smart is all well and good for nurturing a long-term love of learning, but you need to learn to respect a teacher for their ideas, first and foremost. Otherwise, you’ll just placidly accept ideas from a higher authority, making you gullible and prone to an elitist mindset.
The realisation that I’m not as smart or as clever as I think I am is the hardest lesson I’ve ever learned. It’s a lesson I’ve had to relearn many times, because cram sessions aren’t enough to take it in.
But that realisation starts to settle in when I talk to people and realise how much they know that I don’t, when I go out of my way to expose myself to new knowledge, and when I open my eyes and appreciate the things in front of me. More than anything, these are the experiences that inspire me to write.
It’s not just Handa’s ego issues I identify with in the anime, although they certainly form a big part of why I love it so much. There’s something warm and endearing about the atmosphere of the entire show. Barakamon invites you into a part of this funny and interesting world we live in, and it tells you, gently and without any condescension whatsoever, that there’s more to art than the often lonely process of putting one’s brush to paper.
Barakamon is not a perfect show. Like all works of art, it is flawed and imperfect. The humour meanders and comes off as repetitive at times. Also, the transition from manga to anime has resulted in some noticeable pacing issues and truncated character arcs. But Barakamon is a show with heart, and it tries to look outward instead of inward. When I watch it, I realise that my own worries are so very inconsequential.
While every episode of Barakamon is entertaining, I think episodes 1 and 11 are the best of the lot. These are the episodes that bring the underlying themes of the series to surface. It’s the tried and true formula of the coming of age story, but it’s presented with such raw honesty that it truly does feel universal, regardless of whether you identify as an artist or not. I think anyone can relate to that feeling of hitting a wall and not knowing what to do with yourself. The wall seems even more intimidating because it’s largely something of your own invention.
And the solution? How to scale that wall of convention? The answer is as simple as it is complicated. We help each other climb it.
Posted on September 26, 2014, in Anime Analysis and tagged barakamon, kare kano, me and my boring life. Bookmark the permalink. 22 Comments.
HiddenSwan | September 26, 2014 at 4:30 am
WE HELP EACH OTHER CLIMB IT!
bokusenou | September 26, 2014 at 6:14 am
I think I have the opposite problem. When I’ve become at least reasonably skilled at something through lots of hard work and effort, people tend to say I have a “talent” for that thing, when I think anyone who has the motivation & puts in the effort could do it. It feels like they’re reducing years of work to “talent”.
In the end I realised that when people use words like talent, a lot of times they’re giving themselves an excuse as to why they couldn’t do something similar, which is probably why no matter how many times I insisted that any skills I had were due to lots of practice, they always said it was because of talent.
Japanese people were often different though. There’s a lot more of the “lots of hard work=getting good at something” mindset among them for some reason.
Lately I’ve been getting better at just accepting “you have a talent for ___” as the complement I’m sure it was intended to be, although I still have a while to go.
Kai | September 26, 2014 at 8:17 am
Likewise, some of my skills I developed through hard work and effort myself, I found out there are always a dozen others better than me. Yet, when that skill is exposed to some other people, they will say I have “talent”, yet, it kept making me recall all those “more talented” people who were able to do the same thing I did with much more better ability. Instead of feeling of proud of being praised, it just makes me feel even more inferior.
froggykun | September 26, 2014 at 12:33 pm
Interesting, isn’t it? When you’re considered “talented” at something, I wouldn’t say it comes down entirely to hard work. It often means a combination of things: you’ve received a lot of support and encouragement from others, you’ve got high motivation, you have limited distractions, and so on. As much as I agree that putting in the hard work means more than any nebulous kind of talent, skilled people are often given the right circumstances that would allow their hard work to pay off.
I think people often say “it was just hard work, not talent” as a way of being humble. It’s also a way of encouraging others by telling them that all skills can be learned. But to a person with low self-esteem, it can come across as insulting. What sort of message does it send to them if they’re not good enough? “You don’t work hard enough! You’re just lazy!” It’s no wonder some people use words like “talent” as a way of comforting themselves.
But in any case, I think “you have talent” is intended as a compliment to you, as an acknowledgment of the skills you do have. Just take it as positive reinforcement and as an encouragement to keep doing what you’re doing :)
iblessall | September 26, 2014 at 6:59 am
Nozaki is another character from this season displaying the artist’s neuroticism, albeit in an even more exaggerated, comedic way.
Chihayafuru’s Taichi is another character who I think comes at a similar set of personal issues, just from a somewhat different perspective.
Nozaki’s neurotic personality is funny, but it doesn’t deal with the more layered parts of the artistic personality. That’s fine, because it’s not the focus of the comedy, but he was the least interesting character in the show for me. But oh man, Taichi. His self-esteem issues are just so easy to relate to. He might not be an artist, but the pressure he puts on himself is insane.
Speaking of other series which deal with similar themes to Barakamon, Sakurasou features one protagonist who is the neurotic artist and another who is the jealous, insecure admirer. I related to both of these sides really well.
iblessall | September 26, 2014 at 12:54 pm
Oh, yeah, I agree that Nozaki isn’t very nuanced. I found him interesting, though! But maybe that was because I thought he was relatable.
As for Taichi, beyond just the self-esteem thing, he exists at such an interesting point on the talent:hard work continuum, because he clearly does have talent AND hard work, so why doesn’t he win? If you have all the tools, and you’re doing everything right, what else is there? It’s out of your control.
And Sakurasou is on my list! Gotta get all my Okada shows!
kumori-rain | September 26, 2014 at 4:56 pm
I’m going to approach this more from an athletic perspective, because I think it demonstrates a different response that people can have when they reach long period of adversary (or the feared creative “block”). I think Barakamon has a very positive message for some, because Handa was talented a the first place and he recovers his talent after doing some soul searching. But here’s a question: what kind of message is it supposed to give to “admirers” like Kanda Sorata in Sakurasou who never had success in the first place?
Also, I apologize in advance for using a personal anecdote……. ^__^;
I was a varsity competitive swimmer for most of my life. I started swimming around age 7; it was the main sport I pursued until I was 18. I had 3-4 practices a week at my swimming club during my primary school years. In high school, I did six practices a week and attended specialized training camps. I was a starter as a freshmen, and later became captain during my junior and senior years.
In short, I was very fast. I was actually the fastest member on my team during my first two years of high school swimming.
But I hit a “plateau” as soon as a entered high school. http://www.active.com/articles/in-a-slump-how-to-break-that-plateau
What is a “plateau”? In sports, it essentially means a period of no improvement no matter how hard you train or try. It’s very similar to the academic or creative failures that you refer to, but in sports like competitive swimming, it’s depressingly quantitative and stark. Over my four years swimming in high school, I barely dropped time in my best events. Essentially, I stayed at the same speed despite training more days and pouring more enthusiasm into swimming than I ever had before.
And then I had my teammates, which to be honest were also my closest rivals. It doesn’t feel good when they surpass you, especially when you had always been faster than them in the past. They’re still technically my friends, but a sport is a sport. Hard work makes a difference, but there’s also those who are talented enough to be fast while training only once or twice a week. Jealousy is pretty much inherent even if you don’t want to mention it. You can’t avoid comparing yourself when “time” is such a quantitative and indubitable quality. Every single time you step onto the diving block, you’re being evaluated, except your report card isn’t private.
Honestly speaking, once you reach a certain level, the pressure is unfathomable. You feel sick and queasy even before racing. It’s not a casual competition anymore. People swim until they throw up (Free! omits this part about swimming), and pretty much anyone who gives a dime has done it once or twice, myself included.
What’s so fun about this? I’m not quite sure. That’s probably why the term: “burn out” exists. http://www.swimmingscience.net/2013/05/why-do-young-swimmers-burnout.html#
I’m a third year in college now, and I haven’t swum in three years. Whenever I go home, my swim team tries to convince me to train with them, but I avoid the water like the plague and find myself extricating myself with excuses. There’s two reasons. First: I’m don’t want them to see my stomach. Second: I know I’m really slow now and I feel like I have an obligation to be fast for them, fulfilling the idealized image they have of me (I still hold a school record in one event, after all).
Yes; I know it’s really only my ego here. I know my swim team would love to see me no matter how slow I am now. They’re fantastic, amazing people and some of my best friends during my high school years. They’re great people and they loved me for who I was, not my abilities or talents. None the less, I really can’t bring it upon myself to go back.
My point is: right now, my response was to curl up into a ball and hide.
I guess my question for you is: have you ever had the urge to become a hikikomori from a failure or challenge you’ve experienced? What kind of message would you have for the real and figurative hikikomori’s out in the world?
froggykun | September 27, 2014 at 12:49 am
Wow, thanks for sharing your story. While I’m familiar with the plateau in athletic pursuits, it’s not something I’ve experienced personally, so reading your story was a very stark experience. I’m sorry to hear that all of that happened to you. I certainly hope you don’t think of your time swimming as wasted effort, even if you no longer swim now.
I’ve never personally failed at anything to the degree that my opportunity to re-enter the field competitively was closed to me. That’s one area arts and academics have over sports. But in high school, I did play the violin. I was the lead violinist of my school from eighth grade to the very end of my high school career. The pressure did get to me after a while, and it was no longer fun to play the violin. After I left high school, I stopped practising altogether. These days when I occasionally pick up my instrument, I’m a shadow of my former self.
Earlier this year, my old high school concert band wanted me to return to play with them. My brother egged me to join. But I didn’t go. I just stayed home and locked myself in my room, feeling very miserable about myself. I felt like all those endless hours I’d poured into the violin was wasted effort because it had led to nothing in the end. So I relate to your story about swimming, even if my plateau was not quite to the same degree as yours.
That short spell of misery aside, I personally don’t regret taking up the violin. I still have the skill to read music and play tunes, after all. And the passion I poured into the craft, at least in the beginning, was something that felt very real to me, even if I now direct that passion into other pursuits. I learned how to focus and to dedicate myself to something, and that’s an important life skill. That’s why I say that, even if pursuing something results in failure and/or burnout, it’s not wasted effort. As hard as it is to transition into another passion, it’s part of the learning process.
This leads into my answer to your question. My message to hikkikomoris and to those who see themselves as failures is that you’re not a failure. You’re an enormously admirable person for pouring yourself into something you love, even if those efforts are not appreciated widely.
You also need to look outside of yourself and your own failures and appreciate that it’s a big world out there. There are so many opportunities ripe for the taking, so many inspiring people out there. When you look at your failures with that perspective, I hope they seem a little smaller. As crippling as failure feels, it’s not permanent. There is always, always hope, as long as you are alive. So please have faith.
JeremyMango | September 27, 2014 at 8:50 am
I’m surprised to learn that you’re a fellow violinist froggykun! I started playing at around the age of 10, but I didn’t start doing any regular practice till around the age of 13. I am currently 16. Prior to this age, my musical ability was stagnant. I assumed that I didn’t have the aptitude to play the violin, so investing time in practice seemed to be a frivolous pursuit. I played in my school orchestra, but only as one of the minor violinists that didn’t have a major part to play. A few of my peers were vastly more skilled than I, and for a while, I was indifferent with regards to their skill level. But after playing alongside them for some time, I began to develop a feeling of crippling inferiority. I often struggle to recognise my own abilities, and I simultaneously vastly overestimate the skills of others. But after acknowledging my mediocrity, I made the decision to begin diligent practice.
The notion that I may be able to reach the same level as the better violinists in my orchestra was inconceivable at the time. I simply thought that I could reduce the apparent gargantuan disparity in our skill. So, after a few months of intensive practice, I thought that I could play the violin a little better than before. But for a long time, I was completely oblivious to the fact that I had surpassed the level of many of those peers that I greatly admired. Even now, I consider myself an average player at best. Although I am supposedly a pretty decent violinist according to those around me, I have failed to remove the disparaging label that I had seared upon myself. I feel as though I should concede the fact that I have vastly improved, and even praise myself. But for some reason, I fail to recognise my own improvement. I continually practice, with ever increasing intensity, hoping that I will someday be able to relinquish this cognitive dissonance.
Anyways Froggy, I think you should totally start playing the violin again. Then maybe when I’m a bit better we could do a cover of some anime music on violin ;)
froggykun | September 29, 2014 at 9:40 pm
Thanks for sharing your story, Jeremy! I hope that you continue to improve at the violin and that you’ll gain more confidence in yourself. I’m sure that you sound amazing :)
And… I see what you’re saying. It’s hard to have perspective when it comes to evaluating yourself honestly. It’s even harder to believe when people tell you you’re actually above average at something, because it’s hard to stop comparing yourself to an ideal. As much as that can kill one’s confidence, it can also be a great motivator. When it comes to the violin, after all, there’s no such thing as being “the best”. So everyone should practise hard in their own way to achieve their own vision.
Oh, and since you asked, I do still play the violin sometimes, but not during my uni semesters. When I start playing, I end up doing it for hours and that kind of prevents me from doing my coursework properly ^___^”
kumori-rain | September 27, 2014 at 9:21 am
Ahhhh, thanks for responding froggy-kun! >_____< I didn't mean for my post to come off as melodramatic as it did, since I only focused on (the more negative) half of the story to make my argument with respect to the raw emotions in Barakamon (ie: the "hiding" that Handa undergoes after he punches the director; feeling shame for disappointing everyone's expectations, etc).
— Start Digression —
I feel kind of bad for leaving you misinformed on that sour note, but I'm kind of touched and pretty happy that you addressed my question in such a serious and personal manner. I think I kind of like that quality about you, froggy. XD You're such a sincere and empathetic person.
To clarify, I never hated swimming or regretted it. Even as I grew tired of it as a sport, I stayed with it because I loved the people I was with. I loved my coach, and my teammates were my best friends. I loved their attitude and their approach on life. I guess an analogy would be: Haikyuu! is an enjoyable anime not because of the volleyball–it's enjoyable because you like the characters and how they act on the court. I never dreamed of quitting swimming while I was in high school.
The ego/jealousy story also has an epilogue. Personally, I've only ever found jealousy or envy to be a transient thing. It hurts at first when the n00b Kousuke Kanzaki surpasses Handa at calligraphy. For Rita Ainsworth in Sakurasou, her initial jealousy towards Mashiro causes her to make cruel plots. However, if they're really your friend, it goes away over time. Mashiro leaves Rita in the dust in terms of artistic ability, and at some point jealousy turns into happiness or pride for your friend. I think that would describe my story well.
So yes–I agree with you completely. I don't consider burnout or failure as wasted effort, because I treasure all the memories and people I met in the journey along the way. Those experiences and memories shaped the person I am now. That's much more important to me than the sport itself.
—- End digression —-
Since I'm such an unfocused writer, I think I missed making my point over these past two posts. XD This was the idea I was trying to point out:
What if Barakamon as a story went differently? After Handa goes to Gouto Island, suppose his calligraphy didn't improve? After successive competitions, he places lower and lower?
Some athletes and competitive artists have a very narrow world. Of recent anime this past year, I think Handa and Kong Wenge (Ping Pong the Animation) start out with especially narrow worlds. "If you can't be the best, then it isn't worth continuing." In some senses, I think I'm a little guilty of that too.
The thing about being successful is that the more successful you become, the more pressure you get. You collect a larger body of fans who always have their eyes on you, always expecting you produces masterpieces or miraculous feats. Even if you're successful most of the time, the 10-20% of time that you fail or fall short of everyone's expectations, it really really really really hurts.
What kind of message does Barakamon give? If think Barakamon would be an excellent story if Handa doesn't win the competition in the last episode. Maybe I'm a little sadistic, but I want to see his ego completely destroyed, but recover in the last 5-10 minutes of the anime and realize that he doesn't actually care about how he performs at competitions anymore. Rather, I want to see him choose the calligraphy that he painted for (FUN!) on the island as something more precious to him than awards and the infinite escalator of Tokyo's formal institutions that's defined by stiff judges and probably elitism; the realization that the experience of creating is much more important than the finished product.
But that's just me with my silly dreaming, of course. ;)
(ugh… I wrote too long of a post again… q______q)
After having seen the ending of the anime, it’s surprising how much of the story went down the lines of what you wrote here. The message that quantitative success is not what matters the most really got through. I’m very satisfied with how it turned out!
Also, reading the epilogue to your own story about your swimming put a smile on my face too :)
fireminer | September 26, 2014 at 10:20 pm
Hmm… Can’t say much about an anime, but the first part of your article (plus the foreword of a particular printing of Ivanhoe) made me came up with this idea:
As you know, a lot of artists don’t appreciate the fact of limiting themselves to one or two field: For example, Victor Hugo was a poet, playwright, novelist, essayist, plus he drawn with style. However, most of us identify him with The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Les Miserables (How many truly read the first one, not the Disney movies is still a question to me.).
Now, imagine one famous Light Novel author suddenly jumps the train onto writing Historical Novel – Do not imagine Nobuna no Yabou – What would be your thoughts? Even if you are a fan of him, suspicious is inevitable. And in the case it’s a failure, well, suck for him – He would curl up and doing nothing for a long time just like you. The band Exciter could be an example of that (of course, it’s hard to keep the pace for 3 decades).
Now, it’s the question of: Could your Ego limit your ability to freely create works of arts? Would you willingly risk your fame/fanbase for the sake of yours? What is true Ego: The way you want you to be, or the Way you want people to see you?
One thing I learned: Never give your audiences anything to hope for (e.g The name Ivanhoe itself is meaningless to the world of that time, beside a few historical (mostly hypothetical, even now) cues.)
Could your Ego limit your ability to freely create works of arts? Would you willingly risk your fame/fanbase for the sake of yours? What is true Ego: The way you want you to be, or the Way you want people to see you?
This is a really interesting set of questions and I don’t think there’s a straightforward answer to any of them. I think in broad terms, one’s identity – including one’s ego – is shaped by a mixture of internal and external factors. That is, the way you see yourself is influenced by how you want others to see you, and the way you want others to see you is influenced by how you see yourself. So the true Ego is probably somewhere between the two extremes.
As for whether the ego limits your creative potential, once again I think the answer is both yes and no. It certainly does narrow your focus when you create your works out of self-gratification and/or a desire to be acknowledged. At the same time, the ego is a strongly motivating factor, and having strong focus does tend to produce better works. I think most artists have a small sweet spot, much as many of them endeavour to produce works across different fields and genres. Even a man like Victor Hugo had a small range when you put his work into perspective. There are just so many types of works he could not possibly have conceived, because a single human’s existence can only encompass so many ideas and experiences.
imagine one famous Light Novel author suddenly jumps the train onto writing Historical Novel – Do not imagine Nobuna no Yabou – What would be your thoughts?
This may just be me, but I absolutely love it when writers experiment and try new things. I’d totally read the shit out of a historical novel written by SAO’s author, or OreImo’s author, etc. I wouldn’t even care if the work was an artistic failure. I have the most respect for writers who don’t hedge themselves into one style or genre. If there’s one thing I hate, it’s audiences who demand every work written by an author to be exactly the same.
I think you can see how this attitude of mine affects how I write myself, hm?
whemleh | September 26, 2014 at 10:31 pm
I totally understand where you’re coming from here, and yeah, it’s a very hard habit to break. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt exactly way you do, but I’ve been actively dissuading myself from that way of thinking since I was around 13. I still slip into it sometimes though, especially comparing myself to others. But when I do it now, I try to look at it from a learning perspective. Think about what they’re doing differently which makes them better or worse than me, and try to understand what motivates them.
That could also be that I just love over-analysing people, though. Anywhoo, here’s a story about me that relates to both perfectionism and comparing myself to others.^_^
Within my group of friends, I would be considered to be sort-of the artistic one. Not because I was particularly skilled or talented. More like I had an imaginative flair that let me offer an unconventional perspective to whatever I was doing. Or just suddenly come up with something odd or interesting to do. So most creative endeavours were generally deferred to me.
One of my friends one day challenged me to sculpt a lions head out of a watermelon. This is true. It was also the night before an important exam. I agreed. I did not want to study. Now, things like this is where I turn into a complete perfectionist. I have these grand ideas about how it’s going to look and get really excited. But then I try to satisfy these ambitions using a crappy knife I find in the drawer. Note; crappy knives aren’t ideal sculpting tools. Things slowly start to stray from the plan. Whiskers too short, the lower jaw becomes a salvage operation and I just can’t the the bloody mane to look right!
I eventually completed it, but by the end I was so angry and dissatisfied with how it all went that I just shoved it into the fridge and left it there. The worst part came when my friends had a look at it. They had the nerve to tell me that it was “amazing”. It was ridiculous, were we even looking at the same thing?! All the mistakes were so obvious, I couldn’t understand how they thought it was anything above ‘decent’. Then they’d say things like “Well, I never could have done it..” And I’d think horrible things like “well that’s because you suck!” Damn plebeians, so easy to please!
A thought like that is where I’d stop and try to see what they saw. Otherwise I’d hate myself for thinking myself to be above them in some way. I realised that while all I see are the mistakes, they see everything but. The ambition, the creativity, and the sculpture as a whole. It made me wonder why I was getting so worked up over the small things instead of focusing on the bigger picture here. And it really helped me to become less angry about the whole thing. I eventually came to terms with it, and in the end felt proud of what I had managed to do. But they are still wrong, the lion was pretty good, not amazing.
TL;DR This story got very long, so I’ll stick a moral here: It’s unhealthy. All of it. It’s all unhealthy.
Thanks for sharing your story! I kinda wish I could’ve seen your watermelon sculpture – I bet I probably would’ve been one of the people calling the sculpture amazing, hahaha.
But in any case, your story made me think of something. It’s true that when you create something, you tend to lack perspective because you’re so close to it. I also think that being hyper-critical of your own work functions as a kind of cushion to defend yourself from outside criticism. If someone tells you your work is bad, it’s okay – you already identified the same flaws yourself. In the end, coming to a more honest assessment of yourself is the healthier way of doing things.
So yeah, maybe your lion was pretty good and I’m glad you came to terms with that!
LucidDream | September 29, 2014 at 6:09 am
I have a somewhat different issue. I have a crappy superiority complex and I love shoving all of my achievements into others mouth and than be modest about it and say “it’s not that amazing” or “it’s only normal” in an attempt to make them feel like shit. That’s mostly just how I entertain myself though. I really should stop it though…It’s not a nice thing to do. Especially with people with self esteem issues.
I don’t quite relate with Barakamon even though I do some creative arts (and take some very seriously). Whenever I lose something I take it as a learning experience and move on and try harder to make it better. I hate it when I get bad grades so I work hard to get better grades because it makes me happy. Nothing to do with self-esteem. I do understand how it feels to hit a wall and not be able to proceed (its incredibly infuriating). I suppose this is relatively normal and it does show Handa getting over it and learning to better himself.
Why must you be so competitive though? Why do you feel so bad if you lose against somebody else. Why do you even care about others so much? All these things just lead to negative emotions and just bring you down and put pressure on you. Can’t you just work hard on making yourself better and better and reaching your own personal dream? By putting yourself into this overly competitive and comparative situation you are merely chasing a dream that is not your own. Why be competitive with a student who wants to be a doctor if you yourself (lets say) want to be a teacher? It’s silly and only takes the fun away from creative arts and academics. Why don’t you just be yourself (and improve yourself) and not try to be a better somebody else, because that is what you are essentially doing by being so overly competitive. When it comes to music I just do what I like. And I definitely hate being showered in complements when I know for a fact that I am not that good (only grade 5 piano) and that I am not as good as I want to be. Constructive criticism is the best praise for me. Being shown what it means to be good (inspiration) and how to become better is the best thing for me. I don’t understand why people try to avoid it actually. I thought the entire point of presenting your creative art to public is to be criticized for (and for the public’s entertainment of course). I was really baffled when Handa punched the man in the face in the first episode when he was simply giving some constructive criticism. I still don’t understand it very well.
The only thing you should use others for is to help you set the standard. What determines what is good or bad is the average ability of the majority and being above or below that average. Sometimes to reach a certain goal (like becoming a teacher) you must know what the standard is. So often you do need to look around you and see what others are achieving otherwise you get to the point which Hiro got to in the anime. You think you are doing well while in reality you are not. But why should you get yourself involved with these people? Now you know what you need to do to become a teacher so why do you strive to go above it and torment yourself because you want to be better than that certain individual who you deem yourself as inferior to? Why do you care if the person you like is better than you? Unless they have achieved the goal you want to achieve, I don’t see a reason to be jealous.
It’s like you are forcing out all the fun of creative arts and turning it into a business.
Although I do think it is a good thing to look at others and be inspired. Otherwise you would have to figure out what your goal looks like from the scratch and that is pretty difficult (although I guess that is how people come up with revolutionary ideas such as TV’s). Learning from others I suppose.
Now I’m wondering if there is much of a difference to learning from others and being competitive with others.
But it’s also fine to have these creative arts as a hobby. Like Kumori-rain I have been swimming for a rather long time. Unlike him, I swim entirely by myself with the support of a coach (to tell me how to do stuff properly because it’s silly for me to go through the long process of figuring out the best way to do a certain stroke when somebody has already done it all). The only other people I have watched swim are those better than me. I know for a fact that I am pretty crap at swimming and relatively slow and that I have a mountain of problems. Similarly to him I am also not getting much faster either… and to me everybody either doesn’t know how to swim or is far better than me (and I suspect he is probably faster than me as well).I do acknowledge the people who have just learnt how to swim though. I almost never care about them though as they have nothing to do with my progress. However I do want to be better and improve. Why would I give up just because almost everybody who can swim is better than me? I’m not swimming to constantly win competitions or to get money. I’m swimming for fun. I want to be better of course because goals are what makes things fun so I look at others and evaluate how I can be better and I go try harder so I can reach my next goal of becoming a better swimmer. It can be slightly frustrating when progress is very slow but it always feels nice to swim. Swimming is a very enjoyable sport.
Although I must say I do enjoy being better than others in things. Although that is mostly because its a useful defense mechanism (against people) and it is fun to bully my friends (if you know what I mean) :D
TL;DR being overly-competitive with others is bad (IMO) but learning from others and striving to improve yourself is always a good thing.
I feel as though I did a really bad job of trying to convey that message though and that I contradicted myself.
I think this message is also shown in Barakamon with Handa learning that competition isn’t good and that he should just try to have fun and make himself better. Mostly focusing on the former half which I have never had to suffer through.
I have to say, I envy you for not envying others ;)
I do get your point, and I think it’s a good one from a logical perspective. Comparing yourself to others so frequently becomes unhealthy it’s not worth it. At the same time, it’s very hard to accept that idea emotionally, so I think it’s very important to empathise with people who have self-esteem issues. People need to be told that they have worth and value, so being told “Stop comparing yourself to others” feels like very trite and insensitive advice. Not everyone has the ability to pick themselves up easily after a failure. You need to be at ease with yourself before you can look outward.
So if you ever see someone who has the same self-destructive tendencies mentioned in your comment and in this post, I hope that you don’t tease them or tell them they lack perspective. I hope that you can encourage them by telling them positive things and cheering them up when they’re down. Then hopefully, they can learn from you and your positive attitude towards yourself :)
And yes, I really like the message in Barakamon. It resonated with me a lot. Instead of comparing myself to others, I’ve been trying to have more fun!
miharusshi | October 1, 2014 at 3:39 am
Great post, frog-kun!
From time to time, I have these moments (or days) when I find myself stuck in front of a wall. I have great goals and plans, then all of a sudden I don’t know what to do with myself after seeing others around me excel at the things they like doing.
I like getting good grades and my classmates and friends always praise me for my intelligence. But, somehow, that high regard they give me created a wall between me and them. I’ve heard them say that because I am not like them, who claim to only have average minds, they are hesitant to approach me whenever they need assistance in some of the lessons (for example, math or calculus). Before I knew it, there was a bridge between us and I wasn’t even the one who intentionally distanced myself from them. They’ve already created an image of me, who is really smart and untouchable. So whenever I hear them praising me these days, I don’t really take them as compliments, but as sugar-coated words of their insecurity. And by doing so, I tend to think of myself as even more of an inferior being, given that I already have inferiority complex due to my lack of social skills despite my academic intelligence.
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書籍化を狙わない小説投稿サイト「待ラノ」にて100円をプレゼントする夏のレビューキャンペーンが開催
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The dogs of war
The dogs of war is a phrase from a play first performed in 1599. We will examine the meaning of the phrase the dogs of war, where it came from and some examples of its use in sentences.
The dogs of war is a way to describe the destruction and chaos caused by war. The term comes from the play Julius Caesar, written by William Shakespeare. The entire line, uttered by Mark Antony, is: “Cry ‘Havoc,’ and let slip the dogs of war…” At this time, Havoc was in fact a military command that told the soldiers they should loot and seize assets at will, becoming even more of a force of desctruction and chaos. Today, the term the dogs of war may be used to refer to actual dogs used in combat, particularly battle-hardened soldiers, or the more figurative idea of the chaos caused by conflict.
Whoever goes on to win this competition — whether it is Juventus, hard-boiled and battle-scarred, or Real Madrid, all unrivaled glamour, or even Atlético Madrid’s indomitable dogs of war — will not have a monopoly on its memory. (The New York Times)
Yet, it seems the administration is set on letting the dogs of war loose, ignoring real crises like rebuilding America’s infrastructure, global warming or providing a proper and just government. (Las Cruces Sun-News)
Russia has scrapped its cloned dogs of war program after the first batch of ‘superpups’ flunked basic tests because they could not handle the cold, it has emerged. (Daily Mail)
“Anything short of that will result in the murder of sleep, the invocation of the clouds of uncertainty and the release of the dogs of war,” he said. (The Pulse Nigeria)
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Boise Trails
Community-based resource for outdoor recreation
Story Chelsea Chambers
With all the beauty that Idaho has to offer, many of us have grown to become outdoor-people. Walking, riding, hiking, jogging—the days are meant to be spent in the sunshine, watching the world as it blossoms into spring and warms into summer.
And coming from one outdoor enthusiast to another, I have long desired a one-stop-shop for all my trail needs. Bouncing around from one app to the next, constantly being misinformed by websites that never update, it’s an endless cycle that has finally been broken by one website. BoiseTrails.com.
Boise Trails is a community-based webpage that is designed with our city in mind. Started by Kirk Cheney and Jason Delgadillo, Boise Trails compiles all of our local trails for hiking, biking, jogging, and more. But perhaps the best and most unique feature that Boise Trails has to offer is its community-oriented design. Users can, and do, post frequent updates about each trail as well as resources for alternative trails.
Kirk and Jason met in 2014 through a mutual affinity for biking and started riding together. Like many recreationalists, they both quickly discovered that while Boise has a large network of beautiful trails, there was almost no way of knowing what their daily conditions were like. In the summer of 2017, the two decided it was time to take matters into their own hands and create a true “one-stop-shop” for trails in the area.
BoiseTrails.com has local and community information, along with events, conditions, and updates. And because anyone who uses the website is able to post, information is much more widely available and up-to-date. You can even find complete maps that pinpoint your location, along with community-ran information so you’ll never find yourself half way down a trail with your wheels stuck in the mud. It is, without a doubt, the most user-friendly trail site I have ever used.
“We are creating the opportunity for the community to get involved with supporting the trails,” says co-owner Kirk. The website also has an events tab with information on upcoming trail-builds, races, and more.
Boise Trails is so much more than just a trail site. Kirk, Jason, and their team have built a platform that brings people together. They also have an on-going blog, which is truly a great read, containing posts on various topics like Boise’s Best Intermediate/Expert Trails and the Best Trail Gear.
With the recent launch of the site in January 2018, Kirk and Jason are excited to see what comes as the page grows. The more people that are involved, the better it becomes as a resource.
Above all, Kirk and Jason wanted to create a place that advocates for outdoor recreation—it is important to get out, get active, and to stay involved in community trails. They are a precious resource that need continuous maintenance. Luckily for us, they’ve laid a foundation upon which we can build a strong community of active trail users.
Visit their website at www.BoiseTrails.com and follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
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The Great Barrier Reef a unique eco-system
A few years ago, I visited the Great Barrier Reef, and it was truly a wondrous event, it is indeed a unique eco-system, the world’s single largest structure. Interestingly, for all its size it comprises of small living organisms called coral polyps.
The Great Barrier Reef has been in the making for thousands of years and supports hundreds of species, some of which are only found here. Composed of over 2,900 individual reefs over a vast tract of land, it can be seen even from space. Here’s a measure to put the area covered by the reef in perspective – it stretches beyond the equivalent landmass of United Kingdom, Holland and Switzerland combined!
Popular with tourists from all over the world, the reef generates substantial revenue for the state of Queensland every year. But this unique ecosystem, which is also the World Heritage Site, is now under threat. Climatic changes which have largely resulted from human industrial activities are now seriously threatening the existence of this ecosystem. The large-scale mining activity near the coral reef has brought the dangers to its existence close. Coupled with the temperature shifts caused by global warming around the world, the life of the reef and the plant and animal life there are all in danger.
The warm ocean temperatures put stress on the coral which is the foundation of the reef and leads to mass-scale coral bleaching. Two serious bleaching incidents occurred in 1998 and 2002 which affected nearly 50% of the coral population here.
Agricultural pesticide through water used for irrigation is the second most important factor in endangering the health of the corals. The construction of ports closer to the reef to accommodate oil and natural gas exploration combined with the shale extraction plants are all contributing to the demise of this natural heritage.
The Great Barrier Reef is made up of around 2900 individual reefs and 900 islands
Coral reefs have been around for more than 500 million years, the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland is relatively young at only 500,000 years, having developed after the last ice age, in its most modern form it is only 8,000 years old. The Reef is only a few steps away from being put on Unesco’s list of Endangered Sites, human activities causing it to show no signs of abating. Unless we check the release of pollutants in the atmosphere and control global warming, the Great Barrier Reef may not have many more years of existence.
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HDDC Builds Thriving Communities
HDDC is a non-profit community development corporation. We develop, renovate, and restore affordable and market rate residential and commercial property with a commitment to equity, sustainability, and economic inclusion.
We have a proven track record of providing quality products at affordable rates while creating value for our investors.
Our portfolio of projects is wide ranging and ever-growing. Block-by-block, we are working to successfully fulfill our mission to facilitate the preservation and revitalization of the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic District. We have a proven track record of providing quality products at affordable rates while creating value for our investors.
Aquisitions
HDDC was one of the first organizations to invest in the revitalization of the Old Fourth Ward, beginning in the Sweet Auburn District. Through thoughtful acquisitions and visionary leadership, HDDC has spent over 35 years building a record of results. This track-record has positioned us as an industry leader of equitable redevelopment.
Our team uses innovative methods to ensure that each project has the highest and best use while keeping costs low and equity top of mind at every step of the process. We demonstrate our unwavering commitment to equitable development at each stage of our acquisition, construction, and development processes.
HDDC has the largest inventory of affordable housing in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood in Atlanta. We have worked diligently and creatively to own and operate over 79 units of affordable single family, duplex and multifamily rental units. As one of the catalysts for the redevelopment of the Old Fourth Ward, HDDC is acutely aware of the need to continue creating affordable options for families, so that all residents can experience the economic growth in the neighborhood.
At HDDC, we believe that every effort should be made to preserve architectural, cultural, and community assets. Our track record includes the renovation of 32 original single-family homes built between 1895 and 1935. We have also taken on adaptive reuse projects to preserve historic landmarks such as StudioPlex and Herndon Plaza. We view our role as stewards of the history and assets that characterize the neighborhoods we serve and strive to maintain their prominence through preservation and site-activation.
Sign up for the newsletter to stay informed on the latest developments.
Copyright © 2018 HDDC. All rights reserved.
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Race (2016)
Director: Stephen Hopkins
Cast: Stephan James, Jason Sudeikis, Eli Goree, Jeremy Irons, Carice van Houten, William Hurt
Screenplay: Joe Shrapnel, Anna Waterhouse
134 mins. Rated PG-13 for thematic elements and language.
Well, 2015 was an interesting year in film. But all years must come to an end, so today we look forward at 2016, starting with the Stephen Hopkins (TV’s House of Lies, Lost in Space) film, Race.
Race is mostly a biographical film chronicling the career of Jesse Owens (Stephan James, Selma, Lost After Dark) leading up to his time in the 1936 Olympics in Germany and his battle to win the gold over Adolf Hitler’s Aryan athletes. The film also displays the work of Avery Brundage (Jeremy Irons, The Lion King, High-Rise) to come to a decision over whether it is worth it to travel to Germany in the first place.
First of all, I should point out how terrific the title is. Sure, a little on the head, but nonetheless effective.
Stephen Hopkins faces a difficult task with this film, and that task is to decide what his film is even about. He fails in this task. He wants to make a biopic of Jesse Owens, but he wants to make a historical drama focused on the 1936 Olympics, and he wants to touch on Leni Riefenstahl (Carice van Houten, TV’s Game of Thrones, Black Book) and her quest to make a film on the Olympics from all its viewpoints. Sadly, while it is possible to do this in one film, it is unsuccessful in the attempt. For one thing, the very nature of the Jesse Owens part of the film dominates the far-too-much time spent on Brundage trying to keep the peace. The audience becomes fully aware very early on of the outcome but the film chooses to drag the plotline through to its conclusion at the loss of viewer engagement.
Stephan James does pretty solid work as Owens, and Jason Sudeikis (TV’s Saturday Night Live, We’re the Millers) gives an admirable attempt in breaking out of his comfort zone to portray Larry Snyder, Owens’ coach, while veterans Irons and William Hurt (Into the Wild, The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Them) feel wasted by an underdeveloped screenplay.
The film has its moments, particularly in the sequences where Owens is competing. While these sequences are very much what one would expect, it’s nice to see Hopkins commanding the screen if only occasionally.
The pacing, though, is really where he loses us, focusing too much time on plot points that don’t add up to enough to maintain his momentum. Stephen Hopkins has given some truly great work to the genre field, but I feel like even he isn’t sure of himself here, and the work suffers from it. Race leaps into the air, reaching for greatness, but unlike its lead character, it comes up far too short.
2016, Adolf Hitler, Anna Waterhouse, Black Book, Carice van Houten, Eli Goree, Game of Thrones, High-Rise, House of Lies, Into the Wild, Jason Sudeikis, Jeremy Irons, Jesse Owens, Joe Shrapnel, Lost After Dark, Lost in Space, Race, Saturday Night Live, Selma, Stephan James, Stephen Hopkins, The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Them, The Lion King, We're the Millers, William Hurt
New Trailer for 10 Cloverfield Lane Gives Us More Questions…And No Answers!
The ’85 Bears (2016)
4 thoughts on “Race (2016)”
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Tag: Sicario
Without Remorse Finds Its Director
Stefano Sollima, director of Sicario: Day of the Soldado, is officially in talks to direct Without Remorse, based on the novel by Tom Clancy. The film will see Michael B. Jordan star as Clancy favorite John Clark, and Paramount Pictures hopes to use Without Remorse to jumpstart a franchise which will see Jordan return as Clark at least once more.
Jordan is signed to two films right now as Clark, the second being a Rainbow Six film.
Without Remorse will be produced by Akiva Goldsman, Jordan, Josh Applebaum, and Andre Nemec.
The John Clark character has previously been seen on film played by Willem Dafoe and Liev Schreiber in Clear and Present Danger and The Sum of All Fears, respectively. In both films, he is seen as more of a supporting player whereas Jack Ryan is the lead, but with Without Remorse, John Clark finally rises to the front of the pack and leads his own adventures.
For me, I haven’t yet seen Sicario: Day of the Soldado, but from some of my closer colleagues’ opinion, they actually liked the sequel which garnered mixed reviews. While not being as strong as the original Sicario, Day of the Soldado is seen as a capably made action film by some.
Stefano Sollima has also been tapped to direct the Call of Duty film, so he’s getting to be a hot property for genre action. That’s a good sign for certain.
So what do you think? Is Sollima the right choice to kickstart the John Clark franchise? Let me know/Drop a comment below!
Director: Ryan Coogler
Cast: Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker, Andy Serkis, Daniel Kaluuya, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke
Screenplay: Ryan Coogler, Joe Robert Cole
134 mins. Rated PG-13 for prolonged sequences of action violence and a brief rude gesture.
Well, Black Panther’s finally here. Compared to every other MCU film to date, Black Panther is one of the titles I hadn’t read until the film was revealed. Like Iron Man before it, I just didn’t know much about the character or the comic, but as soon as I heard about the adaptation and the inclusion of director Ryan Coogler (Creed, Fruitvale Station), I wanted to read as much as I could. Black Panther is under a lot of pressure to be good. Expectations have been abnormally high on this one. How did it turn out?
Picking up about a week after the events of Captain America: Civil War, T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman, 42, Marshall) arrives home in Wakanda to claim his birthright as King. He is reunited with Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o, 12 Years a Slave, Star Wars: The Last Jedi), an old flame who sees Wakanda’s secretive advances in technology as a tool to help the world, but T’Challa believes that revealing Wakanda for what it is puts the country in jeopardy and creates enemies. One such enemy is Ulysses Klaue (Andy Serkis, War for the Plane of the Apes, The Adventures of Tintin), a smuggler and arms dealer, has allied himself with the mysterious Erik Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan, Fantastic Four, That Awkward Moment), who has his own reasons for wanting to reach Wakanda.
Black Panther is one of the most-layered films in the MCU, and it excels in two areas that MCU films regularly fail: the villain and the music. First, the villain is an interesting and flawed character who has understandable motives in his ultimate quest. Just like Civil War before it, Black Panther presents a very interesting dilemma that has merits on both sides of the argument, and T’Challa is just as flawed with his decision as Killmonger.
The music is also a major step up from previous MCU films in that Black Panther has a theme, courtesy of Ludwig Goransson, and its complimented by Kendrick Lamar’s music supervision of the soundtrack. This film has a unique feeling that stands on its own while embracing the tightrope act of the larger MCU framework.
Coogler presents powerful themes in the film like Responsibility and Legacy. While T’Challa doesn’t want to lead from a throne, he is challenged by what has come before. He would rather be out hunting for Klaue himself. He looks up to his father but he is challenged by the difficult decisions T’Chaka had to make as king. T’Challa is forced to confront these difficult decisions and their aftermath, further conflicting his views on the legacy that his father left. The way he interacts with Killmonger, too, brings forth conflicts in identity and the question of nature vs. nurture in their lives.
I think Black Panther is a hell of a showcase of its principal cast. It’s proof of the incredible amount of top-notch performers of all races. Each role was cast with purpose, from Danai Gurira (The Visitor, TV’s The Walking Dead) as Okoye, leader of the Dora Milaje, an all-female team of protectors, to Forest Whitaker (The Last King of Scotland, Arrival) as Zuri, a spiritual figure in Wakanda who protects a special and powerful herb. Every performer in the film is so precisely cast that you couldn’t see anyone else playing that character. I was especially impressed with Daniel Kaluuya (Get Out, Sicario) as W’Kabi, friend to T’Challa. Up until his role in Get Out, I did not know Kaluuya, but with such a small amount of screen time, he creates a lasting impression in the film.
For all the amazing things Ryan Coogler did with Black Panther, one cannot forget that this is a superhero movie in a crowded genre at the beginning of the year. He should be recognized too for the absolutely incredible experience of watching the film. Black Panther was downright fun to watch and be a part of. If you haven’t seen the film yet, I’d advise you to head to your theater immediately to see it in the largest crowd you can. This is probably my favorite film so far this year.
For my review of Jon Favreau’s Iron Man, click here.
For my review of Jon Favreau’s Iron Man 2, click here.
For my review of Louis Leterrier’s The Incredible Hulk, click here.
For my review of Anthony and Joe Russo’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier, click here.
For my review of James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy, click here.
For my review of James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2, click here.
For my review of Joss Whedon’s Avengers: Age of Ultron, click here.
For my review of Anthony and Joe Russo’s Captain America: Civil War, click here.
For my review of Jon Watts’s Spider-Man: Homecoming, click here.
For my review of Taika Waititi’s Thor: Ragnarok, click here.
Director: Jordan Peele
Cast: Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Bradley Whitford, Caleb Landry Jones, Stephen Root, Lakeith Stanfield, Catherine Keener
Screenplay: Jordan Peele
104 mins. Rated R for violence, bloody images, and language including sexual references.
Early in 2017, first-time director Jordan Peele released Get Out, a very well-received horror-thriller about race in present-day America. The film has been hotly discussed since February, and now that we are near the nominations for the Academy Awards, I thought it would be fun to look at one of the more interesting frontrunners for the big award.
Chris Washington (Daniel Kaluuya, Sicario, Kick-Ass 2) is a talented African-American man about to meet his girlfriend’s parents for the first time at their secluded homestead in the country. On the surface, Dean (Bradley Whitford, Megan Leavey, TV’s The West Wing) and Missy Armitage (Catherine Keener, Capote, The Croods) seem nice enough, but as the weekend goes on, Chris begins noticing strange behavior surrounding the Armitage parents and their odd houseguests. Soon, Chris uncovers exactly what’s going on, but is it too late to save himself?
Okay, so even if the rest of Get Out was terrible (thankfully that is not the case), the film would still be noted for its incredibly well-written screenplay, also from Peele. The nuances and symbolism that Peele employs almost endlessly are so perfectly-placed into the story’s framework so that none of the film feels forced as you peel back the layers.
Beyond all that, the performances are amazing and Peele proves himself to be an incredible first-time director well-worth the recognition he’s been given. From his pitch-perfect storytelling to the great work, particularly from Kaluuya, Allison Williams (College Musical, TV’s Girls) and Lakeith Stanfield (Short Term 12, Death Note). From most of the info coming out of the set, Peele created a great atmosphere on set, having a lot of fun with his cast and crew, and it shines through into the finished product.
Peele’s not afraid to take what he loves about a genre and roll with it. The opening of the film is very reminiscent of the single-shot opening of John Carpenter’s Halloween. The film is so packed with detail and content that there is even a class being taught at the University of California about the film’s impact.
Get Out is a film that only gets better with multiple viewings. I’ve now seen it many times and I’ve found something new each and every time. This is a film for fans of horror and newcomers to the genre. It’s made with care and dedication from a surprisingly strong first-time director. I can’t wait to see what Jordan Peele comes up with next.
Hey folks, another year has come and gone and here we sit, at the end of it, looking back on what was. 2017 had some truly great films and I’m going to count down my top ten today.
Just a couple notes before we get into all this:
These are my personal top ten films of the year from the many I have seen. I judge the films from my list in their success as a film in what they are trying to accomplish.
I haven’t seen all the movies released in 2017. If you read this list and find that something is missing, let me know, drop a comment, and start the conversation. Everyone loves a good recommendation.
Due to some of the heavy-hitters of Oscar season still on the way, this is a tentative list and it will change as more limited release films open up.
There, with all that out of the way, my Top Ten Films of 2017.
-I was not entirely excited about Wind River. That’s not to say anything wrong about the marketing, but I didn’t know anything about it and, living in an area with intense cold several months of the year, I wasn’t all that interested to see it in the summer. Thankfully, my other plans fell through and I ended up at the theater. Wind River is the powerful tale of a murder on an Native American Reservation and the unlikely duo who team up to solve the mystery. It’s been said a lot but this is Jeremy Renner’s best performance of his entire career. Screenwriter Taylor Sheridan (Hell or High Water, Sicario) jumps into the director’s chair this time around and crafts a tightly-paced and shocking look at these characters and their world. It’s emotional, exciting and thought-provoking in every stroke.
–The Last Jedi is an incredible new addition to the Star Wars lore for the simple fact that it surprised me. I haven’t been genuinely surprised in a Star Wars film since The Empire Strikes Back. Writer/Director Rian Johnson created a follow-up that subverts expectations while simultaneously honoring what has come before and driving forward on a new path. Not everyone loved it (someone once said that the people who hate Star Wars the most are the fans) but I enjoyed it for all the reasons that others didn’t love it. It’s exciting, emotional, and funny, and I cannot wait to see it again.
-With Thor: Ragnarok, Director Taika Waititi and Marvel Studios have given the public the closest thing to a new Flash Gordon that we are likely to get. A rollicking 80s road-trip style space movie with everyone’s favorite god of thunder and his pal the Incredible Hulk, Ragnarok embodies the best of what the MCU has to offer, an incredibly fun and riveting blast of a film that stands on its own while contributing to a larger narrative. In Hela, we get an interesting villain with ties to Thor, and new characters like The Grandmaster, the Valkyrie, and Korg keep the thrills light and fluffy.
–Okja is one of the best films that Netflix has ever released. It is a strange tale, a unique tale, a funny-at-times tale, and a heartfelt tale. It’s the story of a girl and her superpig Okja. The company that created Okja , Mirando, has invested a lot of money in crafting a creature that is environmentally conscious with a minimal carbon footprint that tastes great, and now they plan on harvesting Okja to make billions for themselves, but Mija is not about to let the company take her friend. The film is one of the weirdest I’ve seen in a long time, but thanks to top-notch directing from Writer/Director Bong Joon-Ho from a great screenplay by him and Jon Ronson, Okja is a powerful ride from beginning to end.
–Dunkirk is a film made for the theater experience. I was lucky that a colleague of mine got tickets to the 70mm/IMAX presentation and I was floored by the majesty of it all. The scenes in the air were breathtaking. The sequences on the beach were thrilling. The scenes on the boat were emotional. The whole film experience was astounding. Then, I watched it again when it hit home video. The film is still exhilarating. Even with the loss of the massive screen, this is a tightly-packed narrative that has so much going on but still feels so focused.
-Who would’ve guessed that a sequel to a cult classic sci-fi thriller would be good? Blade Runner 2049 is even better than the original! How the hell did that happen? Director Denis Villeneuve (Arrival, Sicario) takes what works about the original film and crafts a companion piece that stands on its own and connects really nicely to the original film. Blade Runner and its sequel become two sides of the same coin, a breathtaking double-feature that is well worth the lengthy runtime. Harrison Ford returns as Deckard and joins Ryan Gosling’s Agent K, providing some of the best work in either of their careers.
-Greta Gerwig directs Lady Bird with such realism that it brought me back to a time in my youth when I was very much like Saoirse Ronan’s Christine. This incredible coming-of-age story feels like it’s the first of its kind in a world where dozens of similar films are released each year. The terrific chemistry between Christine and her mother is palpable and real. The film wanders through Lady Bird’s life as she encounters situations that many of us have been through in this interesting semi-autobiographical look at adolescence from a fantastic up-and-coming director. I can’t wait to see what she does next.
-How the hell did Planet of the Apes craft one of the best trilogies of all time? How does that happen? Matt Reeves takes on his second film in this franchise following Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, and after having seen a few times, I can honestly say that War tops it. Andy Serkis is an actor who deserves performance credit for his role as the immensely complex Caesar, and he is matched on the battlefield by the chameleon that is Woody Harrelson, a man that can be joyful in one instant and terrifying in the next. Matt Reeves should be considered one of the hottest acts in Hollywood right now for his recent track record, and I look forward to his take on The Batman (if it ever does happen).
–The Big Sick has been a critical darling since it was released in early 2017. The story, based on true events, is a dramedy based on the relationship of Kumail Nanjiani and his wife Emily. The movie mixes emotion and comedy to present one of the best and truest representations of love I’ve ever seen. The performances in it are all fantastic, especially Holly Hunter and Ray Romano as Emily’s parents. The Big Sick has a lot of award consideration and I’d be more than happy to see it take away some Oscars when the time comes as it hasn’t had a wide viewing outside of the general film community, and a few statues may help with that.
-I hadn’t even heard of The Shape of Water at the beginning of 2017. In fact, it was only during an interview for The Bye Bye Man that Doug Jones even dropped he was working on a fish romance film with Guillermo del Toro that I even knew of the film’s existence but little else. Thankfully, late last year I was able to catch a screening for the film, and I just fell in love with it. I had always said that Pan’s Labyrinth would likely be del Toro’s masterpiece, but The Shape of Water is just so personal and lovely and strange and beautiful that I couldn’t get it out of my mind long after my initial viewing. Doug Jones, like Andy Serkis, won’t garner awards recognition for his work here and that’s a shame. Thankfully, Sally Hawkins, Richard Jenkins, and Michael Shannon turn in career-topping work here and the film is getting a lot of talk now. See this movie. It’s the best film of 2017.
Well, there you have it. These are my favorite films of the year. I look forward to #2018oscardeathrace to begin, and I may see a few favorites get knocked off as I continue catching up on what I missed in 2017, but overall, it was another great year for films. We’ll see you in 2018 (which is like, right now).
[#2017oscardeathrace] Hell or High Water (2016)
Cast: Jeff Bridges, Chris Pine, Ben Foster, Gil Birmingham
Screenplay: Taylor Sheridan
102 mins. Rated R for some strong violence, language throughout and brief sexuality.
Academy Award Nominee: Best Motion Picture of the Year [Pending]
Academy Award Nominee: Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (Jeff Bridges) [Pending]
Academy Award Nominee: Best Original Screenplay [Pending]
Academy Award Nominee: Best Achievement in Film Editing [Pending]
Jeff Bridges (The Big Lebowski, The Little Prince) is known most recently for two personas. The first is a hippie, as seen in his landmark role of The Dude in The Big Lebowski. The second: The cowboy. In Hell or High Water, from director David Mackenzie (Starred Up, Perfect Sense), we see the latter. That isn’t to diminish the role, far from it. In fact, each time Bridges personifies a cowboy, he brings something wholly new and unique to the role.
Hell or High Water follows two brothers, Toby (Chris Pine, Star Trek, The Finest Hours) and Tanner (Ben Foster, Warcraft, Inferno), who become bank robbers to afford the reverse mortgage on their mother’s land, where oil was recently discovered. As the two brothers get hasty, Texas Ranger Marcus Hamilton comes onto the case with his partner Alberto (Gil Birmingham, Twilight, The Space Between Us) to track down the masked robbers.
My big fault with Hell or High Water is the simplicity. There is an allegory about debt here that’s nice, but mostly, the film is pretty straightforward, and it didn’t really surprise me much in the way it played out. It was still quite enjoyable, and the performances from its main cast, particularly Chris Pine, who rises above preconceived notions to put out an award-worthy showcase. Foster and Birmingham are exceptional here as well, and Bridges earned his nomination, but for me, it just didn’t have that feeling of a Best Picture nominee.
An unexpected win for the film is it’s cinematography and editing, both top notch characters of their own, they elevate the simple story and are more than likely the main reason Hell or High Water was recognized with a Best Picture nomination. It is gorgeous filmmaking from David Mackenzie and screenwriter Taylor Sheridan (Sicario).
I don’t want to give away the film’s climactic ending, but suffice it to say that this character piece is well-worth your time, especially for fans of modern westerns, a subgenre becoming more and more pronounced due to the talent contributing to it. Check out Hell or High Water, which slid under the radar for much of 2016; it deserves your attention.
[#2017oscardeathrace] Arrival (2016)
Director: Denis Villeneuve
Cast: Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker, Michael Stuhlbarg, Tzi Ma
Screenplay: Eric Heisserer
116 mins. Rated PG-13 for brief strong language.
Academy Award Nominee: Best Achievement in Directing [Pending]
Academy Award Nominee: Best Adapted Screenplay [Pending]
Academy Award Nominee: Best Achievement in Cinematography [Pending]
Academy Award Nominee: Best Achievement in Production Design [Pending]
Academy Award Nominee: Best Achievement in Sound Mixing [Pending]
Academy Award Nominee: Best Achievement in Sound Editing [Pending]
IMDb Top 250: #143 (as of 1/24/2017)
Denis Villeneuve (Prisoners, Sicario) is essentially on one hell of a streak as a director. He has, time and time again, come to the table with an excellent film, the latest being last year’s Arrival.
Louise Banks (Amy Adams, Man of Steel, Nocturnal Animals) remembers exactly where she was when they arrived. Large ships at several strategic points around the globe have come to a stop, floating a few stories off the ground. Louise is asked by Colonel Weber (Forest Whitaker, Platoon, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story) to come aboard a team tasked with establishing first contact with the extraterrestrials. She is brought to Montana and meets Ian Donnelly (Jeremy Renner, The Hurt Locker, Captain America: Civil War), a theoretical physicist. As tensions arise from other groups stationed around the world, Louise and Ian must work quickly to ascertain why the beings have come to Earth while also avoiding putting the planet’s safety in further jeopardy.
It’s hard to talk too much about Arrival without coming across spoilers, but I’ll try my best. Simply put, Arrival is the best science fiction film of the year and one of the best of all time, but it’s also much more than that. Arrival is the story a mother. It’s the story of a relationship between a mother and her daughter. Yes, there are aliens, and yes, there’s a lot to breathe in, but thanks to Villeneuve’s masterful work behind the camera and Adams’ affecting and powerful work in front of it, Arrival stands as one of the more captivating experiences you are likely to see.
The visuals of the film are incredible, due in no small part to Director of Photography Bradford Young, a name many in the film community have come to love after this and other previous work. His upcoming work on the Han Solo Star Wars film have put many a fanboy at ease on the shaky project. Coupled with the excellent sound design for the film, Arrival’s merits come to much more than just acting but rather a true cinematic experience.
I don’t want to spoil it for you, but Arrival is absolutely incredible from start to finish. If you missed this film in theaters, it is coming out on home video soon so do not hesitate this time. Arrival stands as a simple tale of love and family while also being a complex and weaving story that doesn’t dumb itself down for its audiences, trusting them to come to the incredible revelations it offers. The one flaw I had was that I came to the conclusion perhaps before I was supposed to, but it didn’t hamper my experience too much to come out breathless. See this film before it is ruined for you.
Kyle’s Top Ten Most Anticipated Films of 2017
Okay, folks, I’m a little late on this one, as I’ve already seen a few of 2017’s early films. But don’t worry, I made this list almost a month ago and am just now getting the chance to write it up for you. So, let’s start off with a point.
This list is most anticipated, not what I think will be the best by any stretch. These are the films I’m most looking forward to at the beginning of the year, so there will be a lot of bigger blockbustery films because that’s Sundance is just now happening and the other big Oscary films haven’t premiered yet. So with that being said…
NOTE: THIS IS NOT A COUNTDOWN BUT A LIST.
Whatever the title may be, I’m so excited to pick up with the further adventures of Rey, Finn, Poe, BB-8, Luke, and Leia in Star Wars Episode VIII. It’s also a bittersweet film for me personally as it is the last time fans will see Carrie Fisher as their general. It means so much for fans to have that connection, one that many have felt since 1977. But there are many things to be excited for in Episode VIII. More revelations about Snoke, seeing Luke back in action, and new characters played by Benicio del Toro and Laura Dern. What’s not to love? Have I even mentioned director Rian Johnson? So excited!
I may find myself in the minority here, but I really enjoyed Prometheus. I had issues with some of the plot points, but the film made me yearn for more from this universe, and this year, we get it in full force with Alien: Covenant. I reported years ago about the then-titled Prometheus 2 having no Xenomorphs. I’m glad that director Ridley Scott changed his mind on that are we are getting Alien proper. Add in Katherine Waterston, Danny McBride, Billy Crudup, James Franco, and a return from Michael Fassbender as android David and you have a recipe for one hell of a film. At least…I hope.
I really enjoyed Rise of the Planet of the Apes, but I absolutely loved Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. Talk about a film that services fans both big and small. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes was one of the best films of 2014 and remains a powerful work of art. Director Matt Reeves returns to helm War for the Planet of the Apes, and after Dawn, Cloverfield, and his remake Let Me In, I’m overjoyed to see what he does with this franchise next. Add in the extremely underrated Woody Harrelson to match the mo-cap performance of Andy Serkis as Caesar. This is an opening night kind of movie.
The fact that Skull Island is actually happening is pretty impressive. The fact that the trailers look amazing is even more so. Director Jordan Vogt-Roberts adds some lovely flair to this story of 1970s-set Kong tale with John Goodman, Samuel L. Jackson, Brie Larson, and Tom Hiddleston. I only hope that the focus is on Kong and not set-up for the eventual match between the King of Skull Island and the King of Monsters, Godzilla in a few years. I’m thankful this one is coming out around my birthday so I have an excuse to drag everyone I know to this movie with me.
As sad as I am to be missing Will Poulter as the titular creature and Cary Fukunaga behind the camera, I’m still very excited to see this new R-rated take on Stephen King’s classic story. It is a fascinating look at fear itself as a beast targeting children. Splitting it into two films scares me only for the concern that we may not get the conclusion we want if the first isn’t successful. Thanks to Stranger Things from last year, I do not believe that to be the case, but hopefully a trailer drops soon to help convince film-goers to spend their money.
While we are on the subject of Stephen King, the long-gestating adaptation of his behemoth series The Dark Tower is almost upon us. Starring Idris Elba as the gunslinger Roland and Matthew McConaughey as the Man in Black, there has been a lot of confusing information being thrown around about what the film is actually going to concern itself with. With producer Ron Howard helping shepherd the film, I trust that it will be a hell of an experience, but I hope it will also bring in casual moviegoers with its marketing campaign. I’ll be there opening night, and I hope you join me.
Cinematic universes are such a big thing right now that many fail to realize the first universe created was the Universal Monsters universe with films like Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man and House of Dracula. Universal hopes to ignite a new fire in their monsters with The Mummy, the first in a series of monster movies aimed at bringing these creatures out from the darkness. After the first attempted failure of Dracula Untold, write Alex Kurtzman took directing duties with powerhouse producer and star Tom Cruise set to introduce the female mummy played by Sofia Boutella to the world. Aided by Russell Crowe’s Dr. Henry Jekyll, Cruise’s Nick Morton must save the world from an ancient and malevolent princess recently awakened. Count me in.
I’m only picking one Marvel film this year and that’s because I really love Thor. I love Chris Hemsworth. I love the Hulk. I love Mark Ruffalo. I love director Taika Waititi. I just love everything I’ve heard coming out of this film. I cannot wait until November to see how this all plays out. Yes, I get it. Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2 will be pretty great. Spider-Man: Homecoming has a lot riding on it. But Thor…Thor is my favorite film of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and I’m just dying to see him suited up, especially after that [SPOILER ALERT] post-credits scene in Doctor Strange.
I’m pretty late to the Blade Runner game, having only recently falling in love with the original film from Ridley Scott (Final Cut for the win!), but with Denis Villeneuve (Sicario, Prisoners, Arrival, need I say more?) behind the camera and original scribe Hampton Fancher’s screenplay, Blade Runner 2049 looks to be serving up some excitement heading towards its October release. It’ll be exciting to see original star Harrison Ford back in the fold with Ryan Gosling joining him. Another situation here of what’s not to love about this movie? Much in the way of The Force Awakens, there’s just so much to be excited about after being absent from these characters for over 30 years.
Lastly, we get to the strangest entry in this list. God Particle is apparently the third installment of the Cloverfield series, and after only last year discovering that there is a Cloverfield series, its safe to say that something interesting is happening here. Now, the film was pushed back to October for reasons, and the IMDb page has updated with the title Untitled Cloverfield Anthology Movie (2017), I can only wonder when news will come of this tale featuring Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Daniel Bruhl, Chris O’Dowd, John Ortiz, and David Oyelowo. One thing I can say: J.J. Abrams is insane.
SO there you have it. What film are you most excited for in 2017? Let me know/Drop a comment below.
Hey folks, sorry this is coming in a bit late but I’ve not been feeling well and it’s given me the opportunity to catch some of the films I’d missed in 2016 and I wanted to see as much as I could before delivering this list to you.
These are my personal top ten films of the year from the many I have seen. Not all of them are Oscar-y in nature because I still haven’t gotten the chance to see a lot of the late releases of the year. On that note…
I haven’t seen all the movies released in 2016. If you read this list and find that something is missing, let me know, drop a comment, and I’ll get to it.
This is a tentative listing of the films. I tend to do a final ranking after the Academy Awards every year, but enjoy what I have so far.
Lastly, this isn’t a ranking of my best reviewed films of the year. These are the films that, to me, were exactly what they were supposed to be. SO here we go…
I present to you, my Top Ten Films of 2016.
-When the trailer for 10 Cloverfield Lane dropped just weeks before it’s theatrical release, it blew me away. How was this film connected to Matt Reeves’ Cloverfield? What’s John Goodman doing in this? Why isn’t it found-footage? After seeing the film, I still don’t really have answers, but one thing I do know is that 10 Cloverfield Lane was one of the most tense and shocking thrillers in recent memory. Carried by strong performances from its leads and the standout chilling work from Goodman, 10 Cloverfield Lane does a lot with a little, adding to this unique franchise and making me look forward to God Particle, the next film in the Clover-verse coming later this year.
-This is the kind of film that shouldn’t work. A big budget superhero blockbuster based around themes that are so important today. With the cast of somewhere 124 leads comes a showdown between Steve Rogers and Tony Stark over the damage that superheroes do just to save lives. It is full of rich fully-realized character development and action scenes so insanely busy but perfectly captured that it seems an impossible feat and yet, the Russo brothers made one of the best superhero movies of all time with the odds so dangerously stacked against them.
-When Disney purchased the Lucasfilm brand and immediately started work on a new Star Wars film, I was hesitant, but here we are with the second film released since the acquisition, and it is even more impressive than The Force Awakens. How director Gareth Edwards wrote a love letter to the Star Wars saga and turned it into one of the best films in the entire series is beyond me. Rogue One seamlessly blends with A New Hope and creates such an amazing story out of one paragraph of the opening crawl from the original movie. Great work from Ben Mendelsohn, Felicity Jones, and Alan Tudyk carry this incredible story that is really for the fans who have been there since the very beginning, Rogue One is much more than just a Thank You.
Hunt for the Wilderpeople
-I actually came across this film because it was a 99 cent rental on Amazon, and I’m so thankful I did. Hunt for the Wilderpeople didn’t really get me with its trailers, I probably would’ve passed it by, but since I have now seen it, all I can say is, why haven’t you? This was a gorgeously shot and humorously-injected coming-of-age story with the two most unlikely heroes this year. The story of Ricky Baker, a foul-mouthed troublemaker, and his “Uncle” Hector as they get lost and get wild in the Bush of New Zealand is fun and heartwarming. The two are hunted by authorities after Hector is seen as possibly unfit to raise Ricky. The movie is equal parts fun and touching. See it.
-I was blessed to be able to see Green Room before its initial release and I was blown away by the visceral survival thriller featuring the late Anton Yelchin. My skin crawled and I leapt out of my chair more than once in the painfully captivating tale of a rock band attempting to escape a Neo-Nazi bar after witnessing a murder. Green Room isn’t a film for anyone (and I don’t say that often, but this is often very difficult to watch) but it’s also one of the most fun experiences I had in a theater all year.
-Another shockingly great movie from 2016 was the hotly-anticipated sequel to the classified horror classic from 2013, The Conjuring. Director James Wan returned to helm the sequel which hopped across the pond to Enfield to see Ed and Lorraine Warren face their most difficult case to date. This movie is a rare horror film with as much heart as horrors, and I was absolutely floored by both the creepy and inventive techniques behind the camera and also the emotionally-charged beats in front of it. For me, this is the rare horror sequel that actually surpasses the original.
-Why? Why haven’t you seen this film? Kubo and the Two Strings, the newest film from Laika, virtually disappeared from theaters after kind of dudding upon release. It’s tragic, as the film is their best stop-motion film to date. An animated film that is just as much for adults as for children, Kubo and the Two Strings takes on strikingly adult subject matter in this beautifully crafted journey of a boy’s journey to defeat the terrifying Moon King using his magical shamisen. Influences from classic Kurosawa and spaghetti westerns infused with intelligent characters are what makes Kubo and the Two Strings an instant classic.
-Wow, I did not see this coming. Don’t Breathe, from director Fede Alvarez, is another exemplary horror film from a terrific year for the genre. In it, three thieves break into a blind war vet’s home to claim his fortune for themselves when they discover their victim has skills and secrets that none of them expected, and they may not survive the heist. Don’t Breathe played a surrealist approach to the escape room subgenre in a different way that Green Room did earlier in the year. Instead, it made us fear for our antiheroes and dread the terrifying Blind Man, played excellently by Stephen Lang. Don’t Breathe is visually stunning as well relentlessly disturbing, and it’s a must-see for fans of the genre.
–Arrival is just proof that Denis Villeneuve can do whatever he damn well pleases. You want a sequel to Blade Runner? Sure, whatever you want! After Prisoners and Sicario and Enemy, to hit it out of the park yet again with Arrival is almost unprecedented. Villeneuve is quickly becoming a household name, even if most Americans butcher the pronunciation. Arrival, starring Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner, accomplishes the rare task of being a genre film that isn’t really about aliens. Sure, that’s been said a lot, and if you’ve seen the film, you know what I mean. But in all fairness, it’s just really nice to see a complex and interesting story that isn’t dumbed down to suit audiences.
-Another sad bomb from this past year, I saw The Nice Guys while waiting to board my plane leaving Hawaii. I had just gotten engaged, so you might play off my enjoyment with the film to that, but I revisited the film a few times since then, and I love it more and more each time. A sendup to 70s cinema and hard-boiled detective stories as well the classic buddy-cop subgenre that director Shane Black continues to wring perfection from (I’m talking to you Lethal Weapon), The Nice Guys is just a perfect damn movie that excites and entertains and makes the unlovable people the most fun to spend time with.
Honorable Mentions: Swiss Army Man, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and Deadpool.
Well, there you have it. These are my favorite films of the year. I’m excited for #2017oscardeathrace to begin, and I may see a few favorites get knocked off, but overall, 2016 was a great year for movies, just not a great year for most anything else. Well see you in 2017 (which is kind of now).
First Trailer for Arrival…well, Arrives
I don’t know about you, but I have grown quite fond of Denis Villenueve. I was captured by Prisoners and found Sicario slowly winning me over, not to mention the upcoming Blade Runner sequel that has, apparently, cast every known actor. Well, now, seemingly out of nowhere, comes Arrival, Villenueve’s latest cinematic goodie. I had heard about Arrival only in brief snippets of info, but nothing had really taken my interest…yet.
Well, consider me interested.
The trailer, which you can find below, outlines the film quite nicely, showcasing what seems to be some very interesting performances from Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, and Forest Whitaker. Again, I cannot fail to talk about the striking imagery and gorgeous cinematography that Villenueve’s films are often noted for.
The best part of this trailer is the fact that, from my best guesses, the trailer hasn’t given away too much. It grazes the notion of too much, but I don’t feel like it crosses that barrier. With it, my interested has peaked. I’m excruciatingly excited to see this film.
So what did you think of the trailer? Are you excited for Arrival? And what’s your favorite first contact alien film?
Arrival makes its way to theaters November 11.
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Girl in the Cadillac
A runaway teenage girl and a drifter rob a bank, hit the road to elude the Texas Rangers and find love on the run.
Genre : Adventure, Crime, Drama, Romance
Actors : Bud Cort, Ed Bernard, Ed Lauter, Erika Eleniak, Leland Orser, Mark Voland, Meredith Salenger, Michael Lerner, Valerie Perrine, William Mcnamara, William Shockley
Director : Lucas Platt
Michael, a wimpy young executive, is about to get pulverized by a jealous boyfriend in a bar when a handsome, mysterious stranger steps in–and then disappears. Later that night, while jogging, Michael runs into the stranger on a pier. He introduces himself as Alex, and the two go out to an under- ground club. Alex wheedles his way into Michael’s life and turns it upside down…
Genre: Drama, Thriller
An Ordinary Man
A war criminal in hiding forms a relationship with his only connection to the outside world – his maid.
Country: Serbia, United Kingdom, United States of America, USA
Genre: Drama, Thriller, War
Death of a Vegas Showgirl
Two talented dancers become swept going on in a tumultuous association that spirals into compulsion.
Great Great Great
Lauren simultaneously starts an affair with her boss, rents a bachelor apartment, and asks her boyfriend Tom to marry her.
In the brink of the 90s, 18-year-old Zheng Wei steps into her university life with a hopeful heart for love. She forms a great friendship with her roommates and united as a group, they embark on their university life together. Wei meets Chen Hao-Zheng in a chance encounter, and despite initial reluctance, Chen accepts Wei as his girlfriend and the two become inseparable. Four years of university life pass and Wei looks forward to establishing a life together with Chen. However, Chen is forced into an impossible decision to leave Wei. Devastated, Wei decides to start afresh. A decade later, Wei’s previous lovers Lin and Chen both find their way back into her life and she has to make a choice of her next step in life.
Bachelor Games
A group of friends on a stag weekend in the mountains of Argentina are picked off by a dark force called “The Hunter”, but all is not what it seems.
Country: Argentina, UK, United Kingdom
Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Horror, Thriller
Gloria finds a power she never knew she had when she is drawn into a dangerous world of cross-border crime. Surviving will require all of her cunning, inventiveness, and strength.
Country: Mexico , USA
Emily Walters is an American widow living a peaceful, uneventful existence in the idyllic Hampstead Village of London, when she meets a local recluse, Donald Horner. For 17 years, Donald has lived—wildly yet peacefully—in a ramshackle hut near the edge of the forest. When Emily learns his home is the target of developers who will stop at nothing to remove him, saving Donald and his property becomes her personal mission. Despite his gruff exterior and polite refusals for help, Emily is drawn to him—as he is to her—and what begins as a charitable cause evolves into a relationship that will grow even as the bulldozers close in.
Country: Belgium, UK, United Kingdom
A fantasy movie about an arrogant, lazy prince and his more heroic brother who must complete a quest in order to save their father’s kingdom.
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
Set in the Australian outback in the 1880s, the movie follows the series of events following the horrific rape and murder of the Hopkins family, allegedly committed by the infamous Burns brothers gang. Captain Morris Stanley captures Charlie Burns and gives him 9 days to kill his older dangerous psychopathic brother, or else they’ll hang his younger mentally slow brother on Christmas Day.
Country: Australia, UK, United Kingdom
Genre: Crime, Drama, Western
Kevin Mitnick is quite possibly the best hacker in the world. Hunting for more and more information, seeking more and more cyber-trophies every day, he constantly looks for bigger challenges. When he breaks into the computer of a security expert and an ex-hacker, he finds one – and much more than that…
The Rift
An experimental submarine, the “Siren II”, with a very experienced crew is sent to find out what happened to the “Siren I” after it mysteriously dissapeared in a submarine rift. Things go awry when they begin to find things that shouldn’t be there…
Genre: Action, Adventure, Horror, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller
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NFPs Are Going Without, Says Survey
Published on Probonoaustralia.com.auDecember 15, 2016 by Wendy Williams
Nearly a quarter of Australian charities and not for profits cannot afford office supplies, according to a national survey.
Goods for the Greater Good, which was released by HLB Mann Judd in partnership with Good360 Australia, outlined the needs and financial challenges faced by not-for-profit organisations.
It found Australian charities were struggling to afford the goods they needed to operate.
Good360 founder Alison Covington said the survey aimed to provide insight into which goods charities needbut could not afford, in a bid to evolve Good360, which launched in 2015, to be as efficient and effective as possible.
“Our business is about connecting excess product to charities and people in need and what we wanted to know was have we got the right products for charities,” Covington told Pro Bono Australia News.
“So, we partnered with HLB Mann Judd to ask the question.
“We feel very privileged to have had the support of HLB Mann Judd to enable us to implement a national charity and not-for-profit survey to gain a clear understanding of their needs.”
The survey revealed that even large Australian charities were struggling to procure the goods they needed to continue their operations.
Nearly a quarter of Australian charities (23 per cent) found office supplies one of the most difficult things to afford.
Meanwhile, household goods such as linen (21 per cent), kitchenware (26 per cent) and furniture (28 per cent), remained unaffordable and the highest demand category.
Covington said the report confirmed there was a need in Australia.
“I suppose it [the report] was justifying to us the need here in Australia, that charities are finding it hard to access these goods and that they just simply don’t have the budget and are going without,” she said.
“What we have here in Australia is [a situation where] businesses have these excess goods but they don’t know how to connect it to these charities, and charities have confirmed to us that they do need these products.
“They need the personal care products, the office furniture… office supplies, nappies and household goods and… they are having to spend that hard earned cash, that they have had to go and get funding for… and buy that product, or if they are not buying it they are going without.
“And what we know is that we can access those goods for them, give it to them and then they can use those fabulous funds to do more good in their programs and services. And that’s what they’re in the business of doing.”
Covington said she encouraged charities to “go back to their mission statements”.
“Our mission statement is to connect businesses’ excess goods with charities. It’s not, I don’t believe, in any other charities mission statment to go begging for products, that’s our job,” she said.
“And this is what we say to them, ‘we don’t want you wasting your time running around doing that, we’re going to do that for you, that’s why I set up my business to go and do the hard work for you. You do what you’re good at, we’ll do what we’re good at, let’s all stick to our knitting and we can get people out of poverty’.
“We can get disadvantaged people back into employment, back into the workforce, into education, there are so many great things we can do when we collaborate to solve these problems here in Australia.”
The report took survey data collected from a large pool of Australian charities and not-for-profit organisations which form part of HLB Mann Judd’s ENFP (Exclusive Not-For-Profit) Community, as well as registered Good360 members.
A total of 106 charity organisations responded to the survey.
Read the full report here.
Covington said the survey was an important step toward achieving the organisation’s aim of distributing over $1 billion of goods to Australians in need.
“I think the businesses want to be involved, but they just needed to know who wants their product and data drives every business decision, especially with our biggest brands and retailers, and to have good evidence like this is fantastic,” she said.
“Our partners in the US, where I got the idea from, have already done $9 billion worth of goods and on average they’re doing $350 million a year.
“Here in Australia we have just scratched the surface and we’ve already got $15 million worth of goods donated to us by very generous partners and we haven’t really even kickstarted.
“So the $1 billion is very, very achievable. I think it is something that we have to set ourselves a target so that we don’t sit back. We’re scaling very rapidly and I think it quite exciting how quickly we’ll get to that goal.”
Covington said the business model, which provides a way for some of Australia’s largest manufacturers and retailers to donate unsold goods to charities, was an obvious solution to a problem.
“I challenge people to say that you know we solved it with food but where do all the other good things go, and the light bulb goes on for people and they’re thinking ‘oh, I’ve never thought about that, what is happening with our toys and our clothes and our office supplies?’” she said.
“As soon as they start to think about it they go, ‘well it’s obvious isn’t it, we need to have that business solution’ and the businesses are… throwing the product at us because they have never had a solution for it.
“Now as we are getting a little bit more funding and a little bit more start, we’re able to create these impact stories and show them what we’re doing and how our charity partners are using these beautiful products and it is completing that circle.
“And people are just amazed how it is changing the lives of our disadvantaged Australians.
“So we just say we’re the best little thing nobody has ever heard of. And really in 2017 our goal is to be known about and raise our brand so more people can access our service and more businesses will be able to donate their product to us.”
HLB Mann Judd’s Kim Kelloway said Good360 had an important role to play.
“Thousands of Australian charities will have access to important goods they previously had to pay for or in many situations had to go without because of funding limitations,” Kelloway said.
Posted 22-12-2016
Alison Covington
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Why Thrive
Download Letter of Intent Instructions & Form
Download Grant Requirements & Application
The THRIVE grant program is designed to provide seed funding to investigators for the testing of initial hypotheses and collecting of preliminary data to help secure long-term funding by the National Institutes of Health and/or other major granting institutions.
Principal investigator(s) must hold an M.D., Ph.D., D.V.M., or equivalent degree. Candidates for these degrees along with their Principal Investigator may apply. All candidates must have an accredited faculty, medical institution, or other research institute appointment and have the ability to conduct independent research with publications in established peer-reviewed medical and scientific journals. Awardees must be located in North America (future program years will expand internationally). Awardees must be willing to participate in the annual HESI THRIVE research forum – an opportunity to share results and build a network of experts.
Funding is available in the range of US$20,000 to US$50,000 for up to 24 months of direct costs. Information and Timelines for the 2019 Application Process to follow.
Funding awards will not exceed US$50,000 per awardee with most awards in the $20,000-$40,000 range. Awards will provide for up to 24 months of total direct costs only.
Submissions must include a proposed timeline for initiation and completion of the experimental work. All experimental work is to be completed within a maximum of 24 months.
Awardees will be required to provide a written study update at the 12 month mark and at completion of the study.
Upon receipt of a signed notification and agreement to THRIVE award terms (including IRB or IACUC approval) THRIVE will disburse 75% of the funds. The remaining 25% of the award is provided upon completion of the study milestones. Exceptions may be made.
If funding permits, awardees may also receive additional travel funds to support their participation in the HESI THRIVE annual research meeting and networking event.
2019-2020 TIMELINE
THRIVE requires a letter of intent in advance of the grant application. Information and Timelines for the 2019 Application Process to follow. Only investigators who have submitted a letter of intent and have been invited to submit a formal grant application will be considered for THRIVE funding. All letters of intent and grant submissions are to be sent to research@hesithrive.org
Please refer to the below downloadable documents for more information on the application process and required documents:
LETTER OF INTENT INSTRUCTIONS AND FORM
THRIVE GRANT REQUIREMENTS & APPLICATION
Grant award decisions are made through a careful and detailed peer-review selection process led by the THRIVE grant review advisory board. The proposed study’s scientific merit, innovation, and ability to translate from preclinical to clinical research (or vice versa) is key to being selected for funding. Preference will be given to studies in which both a non-clinical and clinical researcher are engaged in either design, conduct, or analysis of the study results. Details about the grant review process can be obtained by downloading THRIVE’s Grant Requirements & Guidelines document.
© 2018 HESI Thrive | Health and Environmental Sciences Institute
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Bryan and the Japanese
"Mr. [William Jennings] Bryan's name is better known in Japan than that of any other American," the Omaha Daily News was told on November 13, 1909, by Motosada Zumoto, editor and proprietor of the Japan Times. Zumoto had accompanied a Japanese trade commission to the United States. The commission's stop in Omaha was climaxed by a banquet attended by fifty Japanese guests and more than one hundred prominent Omahans. Bryan was the main speaker and took advantage of the occasion to promote his international diplomatic goals.
In 1905, Bryan had helped advance a peaceful resolution to the Russo-Japanese War by meeting with leaders and delivering a proposal for arbitration. Bryan's ideas were adopted by President Theodore Roosevelt, who later won the Nobel Peace Prize for his successful mediation of the war at the Portsmouth Conference later that year. "Mr. Bryan urged arbitration of disputes between nations," reported the DailyNews in 1909. "Baron Shibusawa [head of the Japanese commission] replied that cultivation of trade relations between nations, on the basis of honesty and justice, would remove the need for international courts of arbitration.
"The remarks of both men were considered of such interest to the people of Japan that they were cabled to the Japanese newspapers. Mr. Bryan's is the first address by any American to the commission that has been cabled in full to Japan."
The banquet talk was not exclusively of politics or trade. Bryan told the guests about the Japanese student who had lived with his family a few years before while attending the University of Nebraska. The Japanese complimented their hosts on the tasteful display of the American and Japanese flags and the other banquet arrangements.
"At each place a small Japanese flag-a red sun on a white field-was laid as a souvenir. At the plate of each guest was placed a copy in Japanese of the address of Mr. Bryan, also a set of Omaha and Nebraska postcards. . . . On the proposal of a toast to the emperor, after grace had been said by Bishop Williams, hosts and guests drank the toast and the guests, still standing, sounded their college-like yell, Rah! Rah! Rah! America-a-a! Nippon, Omaha! Banzai! Rah!"
The Japanese delegation departed early the next morning by special train for Denver to continue their tour.
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Miller, George L.
Dr. George L. Miller (1830-1920), founder of the Omaha Daily Herald, which later became part of the Omaha World-Herald, arrived in Omaha in 1854, the year Nebraska Territory was created. The New York native was graduated from medical school in New York City in 1852 and practiced in Syracuse for two years before coming West. He started a medical practice in Omaha, but soon left it for Democratic Party politics and journalism.
During his first year in Nebraska Miller was elected to the territorial legislature. He served one year in the house and then was elected to three terms in the council. He ran for territorial delegate to Congress in 1864 but was defeated. The next year he started the Democratic Omaha Daily Herald, which soon became the chief Democratic organ in the state. Eventually Miller built it into a nationally influential newspaper, serving as its editor for about twenty-three years before selling it in 1887.
Miller made many worthy contributions to Omaha and to the state of Nebraska. He helped recruit the First Nebraska Regiment prior to the Civil War and thereafter was sutler at Fort Kearny until 1864. He helped acquire for Omaha the transcontinental railroad and the Union Pacific bridge. He served on committees to promote the Trans-Mississippi and International Exposition in Omaha and was its president in 1899. He served as president of the Nebraska State Historical Society from 1907 to 1909.
Miller was also a promoter of tree-planting and a booster of Nebraska agriculture. Along with George Holdrege, manager of the Burlington Railroad lines west of the Missouri, he was instrumental in successfully introducing winter wheat into Nebraska, and advocated a new method of sowing wheat.
Miller inspired both intense admiration and enmity during his days in Nebraska politics. He was attacked by Republican Edward Rosewater of the Omaha Bee, September 6, 1876, as a "jack-of-all trades and a master of none. . . . a medicine man, a hotel builder, an army sutler, a cotton speculator, a railroad jobber, an eating-house keeper, journalist, and a politician. . . [and] a dishonest, unscrupulous, and unprincipled money-grabber." Miller and J. Sterling Morton, the other prominent member of the Democratic Party in Nebraska, carried on a bitter personal feud during these years. Yet Morton recognized Miller's ability and said of him: "No other man, either by the power of money, or by the power of brawn, or by the strength of brain, did as much to make Omaha a city."
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Caveat Emptor Part IV: Another Daniel Craig interview
Posted on October 7, 2015 by The Spy Commander
With SPECTRE about to premiere, various interviews with Daniel Craig are going online. One, BY THE TIME OUT LONDON website had a few things that caught our eye.
Again, let the buyer beware. Based on the text, the interview was conducted only four days after the end of principal photography. He definitely comes across as somebody looking to recharge his batteries.
Also, some fans of the 47-year-old actor say they appreciate how he yanks the chain of the press. So, if you accept that notion, there’s no telling whether he’s actually saying what he thinks.
With that context in mind, some quotes of interest.
On SPECTRE’s writing process: “The writer John Logan came in and gave us the bones of something and then two writers came in and we worked with them and Sam. The way it works is that I’d wake up in the middle of the night with an idea and write it down and send it to Sam and he ignores me or doesn’t ignore me, or talks to me the following morning and we develop it from there.”
On whether he has any more 007 ideas: “‘Every idea I’ve had for a Bond movie, I’ve stuck into this one. It’s gone in. The Bond bank is dry. If you’re asking me what would I do with another Bond movie? I haven’t a clue.”
SPECTRE humor? “But, yes, short answer: we tried to put more humour into this movie!”
Inevitably, there’s the question of Craig’s future (if any) as Bond. Here the strain of more than six months of filming is evident. So take the following quotes for what they’re worth. Also remember that LATER INTERVIEWS emerged where Craig walked back things a bit.
Asked if he could imagine doing another Bond movie, Craig responded: “Now? I’d rather break this glass and slash my wrists. No, not at the moment. Not at all. That’s fine. I’m over it at the moment. We’re done. All I want to do is move on.”
“For at least a year or two, I just don’t want to think about it. I don’t know what the next step is. I’ve no idea. Not because I’m trying to be cagey. Who the fuck knows? At the moment, we’ve done it. I’m not in discussion with anybody about anything. If I did another Bond movie, it would only be for the money.” (Emphasis in original article.)
To read the full interview, CLICK HERE. Among other things, he confirms there was a plan to film two movies back to back but he opposed it. He also comments about why he was keen for Sam Mendes to return as director.
UPDATE: The Time Out London interview has been summarized by a number of entertainment websites. What follows are examples with links and headlines:
IO9: Daniel Craig Is So Done With James Bond
Variety: Daniel Craig Says He’d Rather Kill Himself Than Do Another James Bond Movie
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER: Daniel Craig on Making Another Bond: ‘I’m Over At The Moment. We’re Done’
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS: Daniel Craig: If I do another James Bond movie after ‘Spectre,’ ‘it would only be for the money’
Filed under: James Bond Films | Tagged: Daniel Craig, John Logan, Sam Mendes, SPECTRE, Time Out | 1 Comment »
What really happened with the script of Quantum of Solace?
Posted on December 15, 2011 by The Spy Commander
Daniel Craig recently gave an interview to Time Out magazine where he said he and Quantum of Solace director Marc Forester had to rewrite the film’s screenplay because it was only “the bare bones of a script” because of a Writers Guild of America strike. In the process, Craig told the magazine, the process turned Quantum into much more of a direct sequel to Casino Royale than originally intended.
The quotes from that interview keep turning up LIKE IN THIS POST on the Yahoo! Movies Web site. So by now, “Craig Had to Rewrite Quantum of Solace” has become an established narrative among fans.
Except, three years ago, while the movie was being filmed, writer Joshua Zetumer was supposed to be polishing the script during filming, according to stories LIKE THIS ONE FROM APRIL 2008 and THIS ONE.
Both of those appear to be based on a ROTTEN TOMATOES STORY. That story read in part:
Forster and (producer Michael G.) Wilson both revealed that an earlier idea for the film was scrapped when Forster came aboard to helm. “Once I signed on to do it we pretty much developed the script from scratch because I felt that it wasn’t the movie I wanted to make and we started with Paul Haggis [the Oscar winner who rewrote Casino Royale] from scratch,” Forster recalled. “And I said to him these are the topics I am interested in this is what I would like to say, what’s important to me. And we developed it from there together. Then Barbara and Michael said they liked where we were going and they liked the script.”
The Writers’ Guild strike, which began just as Quantum of Solace was gearing up for production, did not impact the production as much as the industry trade papers had speculated. “The good thing is that Paul and I and Daniel all worked on the script before the strike happened and got it where we were pretty happy with,” Forster said. “Then we started shooting and the only problems I had with the script we were shooting in April, May and June so as soon as the strike was over we did another polish with someone and it worked out with all this stuff coming up. So I was pretty happy with all the work we’d done in January and February so [there won’t be any need for reshoots].” (emphasis added)
Now bear in mind this passage is referring to the same Writers Guild strike that Daniel Craig says in 2011 meant Quantum had only “a bare bones of a script.” And once the strike was over, Zetumer was around to help do last-minute polishes, although you wouldn’t know that if you read the Time Out interview.
And what was the script that got rejected, causing a race to get a new script done before the Writers Guild strike? Forster revealed details in a post ON THE VULTURE BLOG OF NEW YORK MAGAZINE.
“Haggis had an idea they weren’t fond of, and I didn’t know if it would work or not,” says Forster. “The idea was that Vesper in the last movie, maybe she had a kid, and there would be an orphan out there. It wasn’t anything to insult the franchise. But they felt it wasn’t particularly Bond — him looking for the kid. I think Paul thought he just leaves the kid, he doesn’t deal with it. But [the producers] thought that would be really nasty, too, because Bond was an orphan himself. If he would find a kid, would he just leave it? They were so vehemently against it. That was the only time I saw, really, ‘No, we can’t do that.’ They said, ‘Once he finds the kid, Bond can’t just leave the kid. It’s not right.'”
So let’s recap. Haggis had an idea that Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli rejected. Haggis turns in another script just ahead of the Writers Guild strike in fall 2007. Marc Forster says in spring 2008 that script was fine, while some polishing was done after the strike by Joshua Zetumer.
Now, in 2011, Daniel Craig says he and Forster did all the work on the final script, with no word of any contributions by Haggis, Zetumer, Neal Purvis or Robert Wade.
Needless to say, all of this can’t be true. You be the judge which (if any) of these tales is the truth. But next time you hear how Skyfall will be “Bond with a capital B,” or will be a “classic Bond” or how director Sam Mendes is “working his arse off,” remember those are mere words.
Maybe Skyfall will be a classic Bond. If it is, it won’t be because of words uttered by cast and crew members during filming. The verdict will be determined by the finished film. Words change before, during and after filming. It’s the film that endures and is the ultimate report card.
Filed under: James Bond Films | Tagged: Bond 23, Daniel Craig, James Bond Films, Joshua Zetumer, Marc Forster, Neal Purvis, New York magazine, Paul Haggis, Quantum of Solace, Quantum of Solace's script, Robert Wade, Sam Mendes, Skyfall, Time Out, Time Out's Daniel Craig interview, Vulture Web site | 24 Comments »
Daniel Craig, 2008 and 2011 versions
Posted on December 7, 2011 by The Spy Commander
A little over three years ago, Quantum of Solace was coming out. Star Daniel Craig did a number of interviews. During filming of the 2008 James Bond film, Craig TOLD USA TODAY that the story *had* be a direct sequel to Casino Royale.
More changes to the traditional formula are in store for Quantum of Solace, among them the notion of a true sequel. Bond has always been ageless, and the previous 21 movies stand largely independently of each other, but Quantum of Solace picks up where Casino Royale ended, with Bond working his way up the chain of command of the terrorists who blackmailed his lover, Vesper Lynd.
“We set something up in motion in the last one that we need to keep in touch with in this one,” Craig says. (emphasis added)
What’s more, Craig said using the title Quantum of Solace was HIS IDEA.
Asked if he agreed with fans who have laughed at the new name, Craig told GQ: “No, because I was involved in making the decision…”We had it written down on boards and we’d literally go and sit in rooms and stare at this title….As soon as it came out, people were saying, ‘Ooh, it sounds like Harry Potter.’ No, it’s Quantum of Solace. I was saying, ‘It’s a Bond title! The name of a Bond film is not about anything. Live And Let Die? Octopussy? What does it mean? It means very little. We’ve got nothing to worry about.”
Flash forward to 2011 and Craig has given an interview to Time Out. Among the disclosures IN THAT INTERVIEW? Let’s start with how Daniel Craig and Quantum Marc Forester were the real writers of the movie, not the credited Paul Haggis, Neal Purvis and Robert Wade.
It seems that the script is sometimes an after-thought on huge productions.
‘Yes and you swear that you’ll never get involved with shit like that, and it happens. On “Quantum”, we were fucked. We had the bare bones of a script and then there was a writers’ strike and there was nothing we could do. We couldn’t employ a writer to finish it. I say to myself, “Never again”, but who knows? There was me trying to rewrite scenes – and a writer I am not.’
You had to rewrite scenes yourself?
‘Me and the director [Marc Forster] were the ones allowed to do it. The rules were that you couldn’t employ anyone as a writer, but the actor and director could work on scenes together. We were stuffed. We got away with it, but only just. It was never meant to be as much of a sequel as it was, but it ended up being a sequel, starting where the last one finished.’ (emphasis added)
Now, Craig is not the only 007 actor to revise his version of history (HERE’S AN EXAMPLE of Pierce Brosnan making two very contradictory statements about Tomorrow Never Dies). But it is interesting that Craig continues to call Quantum a disappointment, something that began this summer.
If Craig and Forster really did write Quantum, that may explain continuity problems with the 2008 film. Craig, by his own admission wasn’t a writer and Forster didn’t work on Casino Royale, so neither had neither the incentive or circumstances to worry about those problems. (Of course, it still doesn’t explain how Quantum was edited to make it appear M was shot when she wasn’t, shortly after the main titles).
Quantum fans are still going to like the film no matter what. So if you’re a Quantum fan, good for you. Still, when it comes to statements made by actors promoting a movie, it’s caveat emptor. That’s regardless of who’s playing James Bond. For that matter, it’s likely true of many other films.
Filed under: James Bond Films | Tagged: Bond 23, Daniel Craig, GQ, Neal Purvis, Paul Haggis, Pierce Brosnan, Quantum of Solace, Robert Wade, Skyfall, Time Out, Time Out's Daniel Craig interview, Tomorrow Never Dies, USA Today | 8 Comments »
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user: ExploreCommonSense
Explore Common Sense
explorecommonsense.com explorecommonsense.com
Common Sense Digital Edition | For Educators
ExploreCommonSense 12 Oct 2018
educator, you can invite students
Now I'm an annotation
discussion of the text
ExploreCommonSense
explorecommonsense.com/educators
Common Sense Digital Edition | Common Sense, British Edition
The Almighty hath inplanted in us these unextinguishable feelings for good and wise purposes. They are the guardians of his image in our, hearts.
For more on how dissenting Protestant Christianity blended with Enlightenment rationality informed Paine's writing, see the essay "To Begin the World Over Again”: Common Sense and the English Radical Tradition, by Anthony DiLorenzo.
Every spot of the old world is overrun with oppression. Freedom hath been hunted round the globe. Asia and Africa, have long ex- pelled her—Europe regards her like a stranger, and England hath given her warning to depart.
Learn more about the context of England's retaliation against oppression in Anthony DiLorenzo's essay, “To Begin the World Over Again”: Common Sense and the English Radical Tradition.
explorecommonsense.com/items/show/41
For as in Adam all sinned, and as in the first electors all men obeyed; as in the one all mankind were subjected to Satan, and in the other to sovereignty; as our innocence was lost in the first, and our autho-rity in the last; and as both disable us from re-assuming some former state and privilege, it unanswerably follows, that original sin and hereditary succession are parallels.
Learn more about this passage in Anthony DiLorenzo's essay, “To Begin the World Over Again”: Common Sense and the English Radical Tradition.
Common Sense Digital Edition | “To Begin the World Over Again”: Common Sense and the English Radical Tradition · “To Begin the World Over Again”: Common Sense and the English Radical Tradition
Norman yoke
The "Norman yoke" was a term English nationalists in the middle of the 17th century used to describe oppressive elements of feudalism introduced by William the Conqueror.
levellers England radicals reform protest feudalism
explorecommonsense.com/exhibits/show/englishradicaltradition/englishradicaltradition
worm, who in the midst of his splendour is crumb-ing into dust
Find out more about what Paine means here and how he framed independence in cosmological terms in Anthony DiLorenzo's essay, "To Begin the World Over Again”: Common Sense and the English Radical Tradition"
religion cosmology independence King George III
Common Sense Digital Edition | Common Sense, Digital Edition
ExploreCommonSense 14 Sep 2018
Captain Death
Captain William Death was a British privateer. He commanded the Terrible, and died in battle in 1756, in the first year of the Seven Year's War. Thomas Paine, as a young man, almost sailed with Captain Death, but his father stopped him from going at the last minute.
Captain Death is not to be confused with the 1935 film Captain Blood, starring Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland.
wise and able men
Paine's vision for a new government presumes the participation of white men, not women, African Americans, or Native Americans.
women gender African-Americans Native Americans
But if you have, and still can shake hands with the murderers, then are you unworthy the name of husband, father, friend, or lover, and whatever may be your rank or title in life, you have the heart of a coward, and the spirit of a sycophant.
Paine is appealing here to his reader's sense of independence and manhood. What might this indicate about eighteenth-century ideas about gender roles?
women gender gender roles
and have no other preliminaries to settle with the reader, than that he will divest himself of prejudice and prepossession, and suffer his reason and his feelings to determine for themselves ; that he will put on, or rather that he will not put off the true character of a man, and generously enlarge his views beyond the present day.
Paine assumes here that his reader is male, and associates an openness of thought with being "manly."
women gender gender roles readers
Paine is using "man" to refer to all of humanity. It is important to remember, however, that women were excluded from formal participation in politics as citizens. They could not vote. Neither could most African-Americans and Native Americans.
women African-Americans Native Americans gender
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ExploreCommonSense 04 Jul 2018
PHILADELPHIA, PRINTED;
The first edition, printed in Philadelphia by Robert Bell, listed the author as "An Englishman." Paine had struggled to find a printer who would be willing to print Common Sense because of its incendiary content, and refused to put his name on the first edition for similar reasons. Later editions, however, bore his name.
Thomas Paine printing
Common Sense Digital Edition | Holes in the Cloth: What Got Left Out of the British Edition of Common Sense? · Holes in the Cloth: What Got Left Out of the British Edition of Common Sense?
ExploreCommonSense 12 May 2018
seditious
Sedition: conduct or speech inciting people to rebel against the authority of a state or monarch.
Libel: a published false statement that is damaging to a person's reputation; a written defamation.
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Common Sense Digital Edition | Who was J. Almon? · Who was J. Almon?
Burlington-House
Burlington House originally began as a private residence on Picadilly Street, London, in 1664. In 1704, it became the home of Richard Boyle, Third Earl of Burlington, who became a famous architect in the Palladian style. Burlington died in 1753 and passed his home on to his son, Lord George Cavendish. Either he or the Third Duke of Portland occupied the home when John Almon worked across the street.
This is the facade of Burlington House as it still stands today. The courtyard is open to the public, and many of the wings contain exhibition galleries from the Royal Academy.
Burlington House John Almon
John Almon
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ExploreCommonSense 13 Apr 2018
General Advertizer
The General Advertiser was an eighteenth-century newspaper. It was originally known as the London Daily Post and General Advertiser, and then became the General Advertiser. Printer Henry Woodfall took over the paper in 1713, renaming it the Public Advertiser. He operated it until his nineteen-year-old son, Henry Sampson Woodfall, took over the paper in 1769. relaunched as the Public Advertiser with much more news content. In 1758, the printer's nineteen-year-old son, Henry Sampson Woodfall took it over. During this time, The anonymous polemicist Junius sent his letters to the Public Advertiser. Henry Sampson Woodfall sold his interest in the Public Advertiser in November 1793. N. Byrne took it over and printed it as the Political and Literary Diary, but it went out of business by 1795.
General Advertiser Public Advertiser John Almon Henry Woodfall Henry Sampson Woodfall Letters of Junius
Edmund Burke was a British statesman, political thinker, and Parliamentary orator who was active in the major political issues occurring in Britain in 1785. He was part of the controversy between King George III and Parliament, who, he believed, were attempting to exert too much control over the executive. He argued that though the king's actions did not legally defy the constitution, they went against the constitution in spirit. Similarly, during the American imperial crisis, Burke argued that the British government's treatment of the colonies followed the letter of the law, but lacked consistency and respect for the colonies' claims.
As a Whig Parliamentarian, Burke supported Americans grievances against Great Britain, especially in the area of taxation. However, he criticized the French Revolution for being destructive to society.
Parliament King George III Edmund Burke kings monarchs
John Wilkes became a Member of Parliament in 1757, where he advocated for the right of voters, rather than the House of Commons, in choosing their representatives, and began pushing for parliamentary reform in 1776. In 1771, Wilkes, in support of Almon, convinced the government to allow printers the right to publish verbatim accounts of parliamentary debates. He further supported the Patriot cause during the American Revolutionary War, making him more popular among Whigs.
John Wilkes John Almon printing Parliament American Revolution
William De Grey
William de Grey served as Attorney General under William Pitt the Elder from 1766-1771. In 1770, he took part in the trial of Henry Sampson Woodfall for printing and publishing the Letters of Junius, which he claimed contained seditious libel. Woodfall went free on the declaration of a mistrial. John Miller, printer of the London Evening Post was declared not guilty. Only bookseller John Almon was declared guilty, though he appears not to have been punished.
William de Grey Letters of Junius printing John Almon seditious libel William Pitt the Elder Henry Sampson Woodfall John Miller
King George II died on October 25, 1760, and was succeeded by his grandson, George III. During his reign, George II's reign oversaw the War of Austrian Succession and the Seven Years' War. As Secretary of State, William Pitt the Elder directed the policy of the Seven Years' War.
War of Austrian Succession Seven Years' War William Pitt the Elder King George II King George III
Public Advertiser
William Pitt the Elder
seditious libel
General Advertiser
Letters of Junius
Henry Sampson Woodfall
Henry Woodfall
War of Austrian Succession
Seven Years' War
ExploreCommonSense 31 Jan 2018
John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich
At the time of Almon's publication against him in 1773, John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich, was the First Lord of the Admiralty of Great Britain. Many have traditionally claimed that he was incompetent in this role during the buildup to the American Revolution.
As Secretary of State for the Northern Department in August 1763, Montagu succeeded at trying his former friend, John Wilkes, for obscene libel. As a result, Wilkes' opposition supporters labeled Montagu as a betrayer.
More popularly today, Montagu is attributed to be the inventor of the sandwich.
sandwich John Wilkes
Common Sense Digital Edition
Annotations highlighted in red are contributed by the site creators.
Welcome to Explore Common Sense! Click on the red highlights throughout the website to view commentary from the site developers. Create your own account using the "sign up" link above to add your own public or private highlights, notes, and comments.
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Enslavement here does not refer to physical bondage, but is a rhetorical tool used to describe political oppression.
The American edition specifies six million people, the population of the 13 American colonies at the time of the Revolution. It is unclear why Almon made this change.
redactions
Saltpetre
Saltpetre is another name for potassium nitrate, one of the major ingredients in gunpowder.
Ass for a Lion.
The Ass in the Lion's Skin is one of Aesop's Fables. In the fable, a donkey puts on a lion's skin and uses it to scare his fellow animals until the Fox sees through his deception because of the sound of his voice. The moral of this fable cautions against presumption and trusting appearances. The Ass in the Lion's Skin (Illustration by Arthur Rackham, 1912)
Popish
Popish is a (slightly derogatory) term for Catholics. Most Protestants believed that Catholicism was overly ritualistic to the point of idolatry and that the Pope was no better than a despot. To be under "Popish" rule was the worst fear of many Englishmen.
religion Government
Behold thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways, now make us a king to judge us, like all the other nations.
This passage is from 1 Samuel 8:1-22.
allusion bible
Rule thou over us, thou and thy son and thy son's son.
This and the following quote are from Judges 8:22-23.
the fate of Charles the First
Charles I was King of England from 1625 to 1649. He was perceived to be an absolute monarch, and fought against Oliver Cromwell's armies during the English Civil War from 1642 until he was captured and executed in 1649. Charles I
felo de se
Felo de se is the archaic, legal Latin term for suicide. Literally, it means "makes a felon of him/herself".
an housedivided against itself
This is an allusion to Mark 3:25, famously used in an 1858 speech by a young senatorial candidate from Illinois, Abraham Lincoln.<br> Lincoln in 1858
The state of a king shuts him fromthe world
Eighteenth-century monarchs lived in palaces, surrounded by nobles and courtiers, rarely interacting with common people. The State Apartments at Windsor Castle
Burgh’s poli-tical Disquisitions.
James Burgh's Political Disquisitions was an early case for freedom of speech and universal suffrage.
constitution ofEngland
The English constitution is not one written document, but rather a series of laws, practices and agreements. Paine is most likely referring to the 1689 Bill of Rights, which established the supremacy of Parliament over the monarch during the Glorious Revolution, which deposed King James II and put in his place his daughter Mary and her husband, William of Orange. For more on the British constitution, check out this article from the British Library. The Bill of Rights being presented to William and Mary
Government england
over-run with tyranny
In 1689, at the time of the Glorious Revolution, most other monarchs, particularly Louis XIV in France, ruled as absolute monarchs. Louis XIV, 1701
Government monarchs france
Mr. Burchett
Josiah Burchett was Secretary of the Admiralty (essentially, chief administrative officer of the British Navy) for nearly fifty years, from 1695 to 1742.
Entic's naval history
A new naval history, or, Compleat view of the British marine... by John Entick was published in London in 1757.
references navy
Our land force is already sufficient, and as to naval affairs, we cannot be insensible, that Britain would never suffer an Ame- rican man of war to be built, while the continent remained in her hands.
Paine's assessment of America's military capabilities is rather optimistic.
Massanello
Masaniello (an abbreviation of Tomasso Aniello) led a revolt against Spain in 1647. Born and raised in Naples, Masaniello was a fisherman and fishmonger. In the 1640s, Spain, which ruled Naples, imposed a series of heavy taxes in order to help fund its wars elsewhere. The Neapolitans revolted on July 7, 1647, and Masaniello, a well-known man, attempted to discipline the mob. Eventually, he became the rebel leader, negotiated terms with the Spanish, and became "captain-general of the Neapolitan people." However, he began to act erratically, and by July 17, 1647, he had been assassinated.
foreign europe Government populism democracy popular republic leadership leader
which hath stirred up the In- dians and Negroes to destroy us
The charge that the British Crown had induced Native Americans to attack colonists was later repeated in the Declaration of Independence.
declaration of independence Native Americans African Americans politics influence
qualified voters
"Qualified voters" meant almost exclusively white men. As the former colonies began the process of writing state constitutions, debates over who should be included as a "qualified voter" often divided conventions. Vermont and Pennsylvania had two of the most liberal constitutions. Vermont permitted all men, regardless of color, to vote, while Pennsylvania permitted all white men to vote regardless of income. Other states, like Maryland, had much more restrictive qualifications for voting and required that free white men also hold property.
Government constitution voting vote rights African Americans Native Americans women
like the Royal Brute of Great Britain.
Find out why this line was blocked out in the interpretive essay, "Holes in the Cloth: What Got Left Out of the British Edition of Common Sense?"
Dragonetti
Giacinto Dragonetti was an Italian jurist and political thinker. His 1766 pamphlet "Virtues and Prizes" was widely published across Europe.
Small islands
Here, Paine is referring to Britain's Caribbean colonies.
Every quiet method for peace hath been ineffectual
The Second Continental Congress adopted the Olive Branch Petition on July 5, 1775, in an attempt to avoid full-scale war, even though armed hostilities had already commenced at Lexington and Concord nearly three months prior. However, the next day the Congress issued the "Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms," which explained the reasons for the armed conflict, and it was clear that no reconciliation was possible.
“ Never can true reconcile- ment grow, where wounds of deadly hate have pierc’d so deep.”
John Milton, Paradise Lost, Book 4, lines 98-99.
Milton's Paradise Lost, first published in 1667, is an epic poem in English on the Biblical story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and the fall of man. In this quote, part of Satan's internal monologue at the beginning of Book 4, Satan realizes that he could never reconcile with God and therefore can never escape Hell. Paradise Lost was popular and well-known to eighteenth century readers.
Even the distance at which the Almighty hath placed England and America
The distance from London to Philadelphia is 3,500 miles. In the eighteenth century, the transatlantic crossing could take anywhere from six weeks to three months. Communication between Britain and the American colonies could only travel as fast as a ship across the Atlantic.
and set us at variance with nations, who would otherwise seek our friendship, and against whom we have neither anger nor complaint.
This sentence was added by the British printer. It does not appear in the American edition. Why might Almon have added this? What does it do to the effect of the previous statement? Find out more in the essay, "Holes in the Cloth: What Got Left Out of the British Edition of Common Sense?"
redactions additions
Not one-third of the inhabitants, even of this province, are of English de- scent.
Pennsylvania had a high number of immigrants from Germany. The English colonies received many immigrants from other parts of Europe as well as the forced migration of enslaved people from Africa.
immigration demographics
jesuitically
The Society of Jesus, called the Jesuits, an order of Catholic priests, was established in 1540 by Ignatius of Loyola. The Jesuits were renowned for being teachers and scholars. They also had a reputation for being wily and able to twist words and rules to their own ends. Hence, calling something "jesuitical" means that the logic or reasoning behind it is suspect.
religion allusion
en-grossed
"Engrossed" here means "kept exclusive possession of."
a continent—of at least one eighth part of the habit- able globe
The colonists believed they had a right to continued westward expansion, and were frustrated at Britain's attempts to slow westward expansion and protect Native American land.
westward expansion Native Americans
the appeal was the choice of the king
The occupation of Boston, from October of 1768 until March 17, 1776, was the first aggressive act by the King in response to the unrest in the Colonies. The British hoped that by suppressing the Bostonians, they could quell the rebellion before it could get started.
nineteenth of April, i. e. to the commencement of hostilities
The Battles of Lexington and Concord, the beginning of the war, were April 18-19, 1775.
Mr. Pelham
Henry Pelham was a British politician, who served as Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1743 until his death in 1754.
Government prime minister
I rejected the hardened, sullen tempered Pharoah of England forever; and disdain the wretch, that with the pretended title of FATHER OF HIS PEOPLE canunfeelingly hear of their slaughter, and composedly sleep with their blood upon his soul.
What consequences might printer J. Almon have faced if he left this line in his publication? Find out in the essay, "Holes in the Cloth: What Got Left Out of the British Edition of Common Sense?"
that a youth of twenty-one
George III was 22 when he ascended to the throne in 1760.
kings monarchs succession
Sir William Meredith
Sir William Meredith was a British politician, a member of the King's Privy Council.
The removal of N——,
Frederick North, 2nd Earl of Guilford, also known as Lord North, was Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1770-1782. He was the chief architect of the Intolerable Acts, or the Coercive Acts, which closed the port of the city of Boston in response to the Boston Tea Party in 1773. North's policies infuriated the colonists, who blamed him for the whole kerfuffle.
Learn about why Almon did not print North's full name in the essay, "Holes in the Cloth: What Got Left Out of the British Edition of Common Sense?"
Junto is another word for group or club; Paine refers here to North and the officials he appointed in the government.
not induced by motives of pride, party, or resent- ment to espouse the doctrine of separation and independance ; I am clearly, positively, and conscientiously persuaded
The model Enlightenment politician was "disinterested" in politics. Ideally, this meant he did not depend on trade or business for his income, meaning that any political decisions he made would be completely unaffected by personal interest. In practice, it meant that politicians and writers went to great lengths to proclaim their neutrality and the reasoned thinking that went into their decisions.
Henry the Seventh
Henry VII was the first Tudor monarch. He defeated Richard III, a York king, at the Battle of Bosworth Field, ending the Wars of the Roses. Henry VII's claim to the throne came from his great-great-grandfather, Edward III, and he strengthened that claim by marrying Catherine of York, daughter of Edward IV. He seized the throne in 1485 and ruled until his death in 1509, when he was succeeded by his son, Henry VIII.
Henry VI of England ascended to the throne in 1422 at the age of nine months. He was a descendant of John, Duke of Lancaster, one of the sons of Edward III, and fought against his cousin Edward VI for the throne in the Wars of the Roses. He died in 1471.
Edward IV was a descendant of Edmund, First Duke of York, one of the sons of Edward III and ruled England from 1461 until his death in 1483. He fought against his cousin Henry VI for control of the English throne in the Wars of the Roses.
The contest for monarchy and succession, between the houses of York and Lancaster
Also known as the Wars of the Roses. The House of York was represented by a white rose, and the House of Lancaster by a red rose.
monarchs Government
Thirty kings and two minors have reigned in that distracted kingdom since the conquest
a king, worn out with age and infirmity, enters the last stage of hu- man weakness.
This would later happen to George III, who suffered from mental illness later in his life. In 1810, a regency was established, and his son George, Prince of Wales (later George IV), ruled in his stead. George III in later life, engraving by Henry Meyer.
throne is subject be possessed by a minor at any age
A minor can inherit the throne if they are the legitimate successor of the monarch. The English throne had been held by several minors, including Richard II, Edward V, Edward VI, and Lady Jane Grey. Having a minor on the throne meant the country was governed by a regent, and power struggles inevitably ensued. Richard II, who inherited the throne in 1377 at the age of 10.
In ancient Greece and Rome, a sophist was a teacher of rhetoric and logic. Paine uses it here to refer to a learned person.
in Adam all sinned
The doctrine of original sin was originally developed by St. Augustine. As a part of Christian theology, it explains humanity's tendency towards sin as the direct result of Adam and Eve eating the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve, on the Sistine Chapel ceiling, by Michelangelo
William the Conquerer became king of England in 1066 and ruled until his death in 1087. He was the bastard son of Robert, Duke of Normandy, and defeated Harold Godwinson at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 to take the throne of England. William the Conqueror, as depicted on the Bayeux Tapestry
Mahomet like
"Mahomet" refers to the Prophet Muhammad. Europeans in the eighteenth century had a very negative view of Islam. This may refer to Voltaire's 1742 play Mahomet, a direct attack on the character of Muhammad, in which Mahomet is depicted as using his power, religious fanaticism, and the pretense of divine right to act as an absolute ruler.
Paine may be referring to the Egyptians or to other early Middle Eastern civilizations.
bible allusion
Render unto Caesar the things which art Caesar’s
Mark 12:13-17, Matthew 22:15-22, Luke 20:20-26. In this Bible story, inquisitors are trying to trap Jesus into making a rebellious statement against Roman rule by asking him if he opposes a tax the Jews owe to the Romans. Jesus replies by differentiating between the things owed to God and the things owed to earthly rulers (ie, taxes) and says that it's acceptable for the Jews to pay taxes to the Romans.
Holland without a king hathenjoyed more peace for this last century
The Dutch Republic was formed with the signing of the Union of Utrecht in 1579, when several provinces of the Low Countries (the present-day Netherlands) agreed to protect each other against the Spanish army, which had previously controlled them. They existed as a confederacy of seven independently governed provinces joined together by the States General, a federal government. In the 17th century, the Dutch Republic prospered as the Dutch East and West India Companies dominated world trade. The Dutch Republic ended in 1787 when the Netherlands were invaded by Prussia. Dutch East India Company Ship, c. 1600
europe Government
The House of Commons is the lower house of the British Parliament. Members of the Commons were elected. Over the course of the eighteenth century, the House of Commons gained more and more power. Chamber of the House of Commons, Westminster Palace, London
Government england parliament
England had a class of nobles, also called peers, who owned vast tracts of land and inherited titles of nobility (Duke, Lord, etc.). The monarch can create new peers, and members of the peerage are entitled to seats in the House of Lords, the upper house of the British Parliament. The House of Lords
The king of England at this time was George III, who ruled from 1760 until his death in 1820.
P. S. The Publication of this new edition hath beendelayed, with a view of taking notice (had it been neces-sary) of any attempt to refute the doctrine of independ-ance: As no answer hath yet appeared, it is now pre-sumed that none will, the time needful for getting - sucb aperformance ready for the public being considerably past. Who the author of this production is, is wholly unneces-sary to the public, as the object for attention is the Doctrineitself, not the Man. Yet it may not be unnecessary to sayThat he is unconnected with any party, and under no sortof influence public or private, but the influence of reasonand principle.
Thomas Paine added this post scriptum to his original introduction.
and fatal
Why do you think the publisher removed "fatal," but not "dangerous"?
usurpation
The printer redacted "usurpation" to avoid accusations of treason in calling the king or parliament usurpers--those who seized their office or power by force or without legal right.
combination,
Why is this word missing from the document? The British printer left out the word "combination" from the original text because he was trying to hide that Thomas Paine had blamed the combination of the king and parliament abusing their power as the cause of the people's oppression.
A NEW EDITION, with several Additions in the Body of theWork. To which is added an APPENDIX ; together with anAddress to the People called QUAKERS. N. B. The New Addition here given increases the Work upwardsof One-Third.
Not only did the British printer J. Almon remove portions of the text that may be found treasonous, but in several areas he inserted additional lines into the original text.
The appendix and the treatise on the Quakers are not included in this digital edition.
The British army occupied Boston from October of 1768 until March 17, 1776 (after the publication of Common Sense). British troops had arrived in response to public protests against the Townshend Acts, and remained in the city for eight years. The occupation created many hardships for both townspeople and soldiers, as supplies, particularly food, were often scarce. A British tactical map of Boston, 1775
This large blank space appears in the first American edition of Common Sense as well.
Swisserland
The loose confederation of states that became modern Switzerland first formed at the end of the thirteenth century. In the eighteenth century, the confederacy was nominally a republic but was ruled by an oligarchic group of aristocrats.
republic swiss foreign europe Government
The Republic of the Seven United Netherlands, or the Dutch Republic, was a confederation of seven provinces. This confederation lasted from 1581 to 1795. This period constituted what is often called the "Dutch Golden Age," when the Dutch ruled a maritime empire around the globe and was an influential economic power. Dutch East India Trading Company Ship, c. 1600
republic dutch foreign europe Government
Official commentary from the Explore Common Sense: British Critical Edition site developers.
Link: explorecommonsense.com
Government 19
monarchs 14
allusion 10
redactions 9
Native Americans 6
John Almon 4
African-Americans 3
King George III 3
additions 3
Henry Sampson Woodfall 2
John Wilkes 2
Letters of Junius 2
Parliament 2
William Pitt the Elder 2
gender roles 2
American Revolution 1
Burlington House 1
General Advertiser 1
Henry Woodfall 1
John Miller 1
King George II 1
Public Advertiser 1
Seven Years' War 1
Thomas Paine 1
War of Austrian Succession 1
William de Grey 1
constitution 1
declaration of independence 1
demographics 1
feudalism 1
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KPMG Personalisation
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Jonathan Dingli
Partner, Advisory Services
KPMG in Malta
Jonathan leads a team of professionals within the Accounting Advisory Services (AAS) Team at KPMG in Malta. At KPMG, Jonathan has assisted various clients, both local and international with respect to IFRS advice and IFRS adoption. He was responsible for advising a multi-national group of over 150 subsidiaries in its adoption of IFRS and the preparation of the group’s first IFRS consolidated financial statements. Before returning to KPMG, Jonathan set up the Malta Institute of Accountants’ Technical Department which he led for seven years. During his term of office Jonathan wrote a number of technical pronouncements on the application of IFRS to specific local circumstances, was responsible for the drafting of GAPSE (an accounting standard for Maltese SMEs), and he also represented the Institute on local and international fora. Before joining the Institute, Jonathan also worked for a number of years with KPMG in Malta and in Dublin during which he was assigned on a number of audits of high level clients both locally and overseas. Jonathan was the editor of the MIA journal the Accountant for seven years. Jonathan has been specialising in IFRS since 2008; he has lectured on IFRS in various countries, ran various IFRS courses for KPMG and the Malta Institute of Accountants and has given presentations at various events and conferences. He lectures on advanced financial reporting in the Master in Accountancy post-graduate degree at the University of Malta.
Advisory Energy and Natural Resources Financial Services Gaming Hotels and Hospitality Oil and Gas Real Estate Retail Telecommunications Travel, Leisure, Tourism
Fellow of the Malta Institute of Accountants
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Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Accountancy, University of Malta
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Pietà, MT
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France to cut deficit faster than planned on firm growth
Leigh Thomas, Myriam Rivet
PARIS (Reuters) - France will cut its budget deficit faster than expected over President Emmanuel Macron’s term as growth proves stronger than previously estimated, the Finance Ministry said on Tuesday.
FILE PHOTO: French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire leaves after the weekly cabinet meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, February 21, 2018. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe
If the forecasts are borne out by the facts, the improvement means that the 40-year-old leader will be able to deliver France’s first surplus in 48 years at the end of Macron’s term in 2022.
The government is counting on the improved outlook to help rebuild France’s fiscal credibility with its European partners after flouting EU deficit rules for years.
It now expects growth of 2.0 percent this year for the second year in a row before activity starts easing slightly in 2019, it said in an annual long-term budget plans prepared for the European Commission.
It had previously expected growth of 1.7 percent for both 2017 and 2018. As a result, the government now expects a public sector deficit of 2.3 percent of gross domestic product instead of the 2.6 percent forecast in the 2018 budget.
Last year’s better-than-expected growth allowed Paris to hit the 2.6 percent target ahead of time, opening the way for it to exit a disciplinary EU procedure for overshooting a 3 percent ceiling for the previous decade.
“By reducing debt and the deficit, we are respecting our European commitments and recovering our credibility with our European partners,” Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said in an interview with Le Figaro newspaper.
“It will help us make progress on other major projects like taxing (digital giants) and reforming the euro zone,” he added, referring to two of France’s top European priorities.
Despite the improved outlook for the government’s budget balance, spending was largely unchanged from previous estimates and remains concentrated at the end of Macron’s term.
That leaves finances vulnerable to unexpected changes in the growth outlook and the temptation to ease off spending in 2022 if Macron decides to seek re-election.
Under the updated plans, the lower deficit means that the national debt peaked last year at 97.0 percent and is set to steadily fall to just shy of 90 percent of GDP by the end of Macron’s five year term.
However, Macron’s government is under pressure to take on 46 billion euros ($57 billion) in debt weighing on the SNCF state rail company’s balance sheet.
French government spending, among the highest in the world, is seen steadily falling from more than 55 percent of GDP last year to 51.1 percent by 2022, even less than Macron’s campaign promise of 52 percent.
Meanwhile, France’s considerable tax burden would ease from 45.4 percent of GDP last year to 44.3 percent by 2022, in line with Macron’s campaign pledge for decrease of one percentage point.
Editing by Michel Rose
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U.S. justices cast doubt on scope of Vermont healthcare data law
Lawrence Hurley
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Members of the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday indicated that Vermont and 17 other states could be prevented from collecting healthcare information from certain employee health plan administrators.
The nine justices heard a one-hour oral argument over whether a 2005 Vermont data collection law aimed at improving the quality of healthcare applies to self-funded insurance plans, which are most commonly used by large companies.
Liberty Mutual Insurance Group Inc[LBRTML.UL], which runs a self-funded plan administered by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, objected when asked to provide data, saying the U.S. Employee Retirement Security Act exempts it from such requirements.
The data includes the type of healthcare services paid for by insurers on medical claims by a patient and how much they paid.
The federal law is intended to protect employers from a patchwork of burdensome state regulations, the company said.
Self-funded plans provide insurance for 93 million Americans, according to the American Benefits Council. They are an alternative to plans in which companies contract with insurance companies, which assume the risk.
Vermont is one of 18 states with a data collection law. Liberty Mutual and its supporters argued such requirements are a particular problem for companies that operate nationally because they have to meet multiple different requirements.
Several justices appeared sympathetic on that point.
“If each state has its own specifications, then that becomes burdensome and costly,” Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said.
Likewise, Justice Stephen Breyer said that if 50 different states had 50 different laws, it would impose costs on plans “purely for bureaucratic reasons.”
Some members of the court seemed sympathetic to Vermont’s desire to collect the information.
Justice Elena Kagan questioned whether the financial cost would be as great as Liberty Mutual suggested, indicating the process was mostly automated.
“You can say it’s 93 million people, but, you know, in the end, what’s the cost?” she said.
A ruling is due by the end of June. The case is Gobeille v. Liberty Mutual, U.S. Supreme Court, No. 14-181.
Reporting by Lawrence Hurley; Editing by Will Dunham
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BBC reporter revealed to be member of secret anti-Israel Facebook group
BBC Watch
The indefatigable David Collier has published a long two-part report about a secret Facebook Group called ‘Palestine Live’ that includes among its membership Holocaust deniers, antisemites and conspiracy theorists.
Part one of the report can be found here and part two here.
The group was founded in 2013 by a London-based anti-Israel activist called Elleanne Green.
“The group is listed as ‘secret’. This means you cannot find it by using the Facebook search function and need to be invited or added by someone inside the group who has permissions to add new members. It changed from ‘Closed’ to ‘Secret’ in early November 2014.
Elleanne Green is an admin of the group, and the most prolific contributor. She is well-linked with other activists across the globe. Possessing an impressive networking skillset, Elleanne Green turned Palestine Live into one of the largest, and well-connected of the anti-Israel groups. Palestine Live contains high-placed representatives, from almost every anti-Israel activist organisation.
There are two other admins to the group. Tony Gratrex (added by Elleanne Green on 15 November 2013) and Carol Foster (added by Elleanne Green on 10 August 2015). Gratrex was at one time, an organiser of the Reading Branch of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign. Foster was co-chair of the Greater London Branch of the ‘Labour Representation Committee’ and was at the PSC 2016 AGM selling pamphlets such as ‘In defence of Trotskyism’ for ‘Socialist Fight’.
The aim of the group:
‘Created not so much for long and detailed discussion of words used and semantics but to gather together a group of good friends all of whom wholeheartedly support the people of Palestine in their struggle’“
Among the members of that group are several people who have appeared on BBC programmes such as Avner Gvaryahu of ‘Breaking the Silence’, Rebecca Vilkommerson of JVP, Naomi Wimborne-Idrissi, Tony Greenstein, Haim Bresheeth and Glyn Secker.
Additional members of the group featured in other BBC content include Deborah Fink, David Ward, Jenny Tonge and Richard Falk.
However the name of one member of that secret Facebook group where antisemitic material, Holocaust denial and anti-Israel propaganda is regularly posted may come as a surprise (see Pt 2, p. 175).
The item promoted by Green appears to be Knell’s April 23rd 2016 report from Gush Etzion.
Whether or not Yolande Knell’s editors know about her membership in a secret group of anti-Israel activists where discussions are rife with anti-Israel conspiracy theory, gross antisemitism and Holocaust denial is unclear. What is however once again very obvious is that Knell’s position as an ‘impartial’ BBC correspondent reporting from the corporation’s Jerusalem bureau is severely compromised.
SOURCEBBC Watch
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Civilizational Suicide: Qatar’s Vision Shapes American Classrooms
For everything there is a season
Panorama: New revelations on UK Labour antisemitism (July 10, 2019)
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Shireen Qudosi - July 15, 2019
Qatar’s vision for America is now being peddled through our children’s classrooms, targeting a pliable population and one with a long shelf life. Beyond its...
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May 9, 2011: Osama Still Dead! Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due…
Not to mention 6 years of birthday greetings to all 26 of his children, all ending with 'And Death to America'
Well, a week later and no Osama doubles have shown up, which is probably a good thing. Pakistan has been alternating between blustery protests of “You shouldn’t have done that,” and hiding behind the egg on their faces. The people on Osama’s block have collectively said, “Really, they seemed so quiet, we just thought they were very religious.” Rush Limbaugh was forced to choke out credit to President Obama, but he recovered quickly. We also discovered that the only things we really knew about the mission is that it was in Pakistan and bin Laden was shot–everything we’d been told on the first night EXCEPT President Obama’s announcement turned out to be pure fantasy.
Now Obama offered former President Bush an invitation for them both to appear at “Ground Zero,” but George declined because, at least we were told, he didn’t think he was getting enough credit for his effort in trying to capture bin Laden. One commentator said, this was kind of like the guy who didn’t open the jar saying he loosened it when you opened the top. But this isn’t quite accurate. Bush is the guy who screwed it down too tight in the first place and THEN couldn’t open the jar and needed someone else’s help.
What can we credit Bush with? Ignoring Clinton’s outgoing advice that al-Qaeda was the biggest threat we were facing? Ignoring Richard Clarke’s warnings when he was head of Cybersecurity? Ignoring the CIA memo that bin Laden was intent on striking within the US and dismissing it as covering their asses? Flying around the country in a panic on 9/11 thinking the terrorists were after him after Ari Fleischer tried to convince us that we had “credible intelligence” that the White House was the other target within hours of our being caught flat-footed? Perhaps turning down the Taliban’s offer to hand Osama over (if we gave them the evidence of his involvement which we didn’t have until he kindly took credit for it a few years later) because they didn’t say “Mother, may I?” Giving up the search in Tora Bora yards from bin Laden’s hideout because it was time to invade Iraq and deal with the REAL threat (koff!) How about seven years of “not finding him” because it wasn’t particularly important and bin Laden had been marginalized, hiding out in some cave in the mountains of Afghanistan–when he was really living in a Pakistan suburb?
You’re right. I think President Bush deserves credit for all of those things.
Michael Moore and several others, on the other hand, have been complaining about the lack of due process and how we should have brought bin Laden to trial to show the world something or other about justice. Oh hogwash, Michael, it wasn’t a strictly legal mission to begin with. You know, something about not respecting Pakistan’s sovereign territory (like Shep Smith was ignored about). What would holding a trial have accomplished–shown the world that we can hold a kangaroo court as well as anyone else? I mean seriously, even if his defensive team included Abe Lincoln, Clarence Darrow, Johnny Cochran, F Lee Bailey AND Perry Mason, there was a snowball’s chance in hell that a jury could be convinced there was a reasonable doubt that he’d authorized the 9/11 attacks and isn’t that REALLY the purpose of a trial? Did he need a forum to present his side? It wasn’t as if he hadn’t had nearly 9 years of issuing pronouncements that gave the justification for the attack. I agree, in the best of all possible worlds, it would have been a good idea to put him on trial and give al-Qaeda the present of a ceremonial execution or a living martyr in a US prison to inspire them. But we live in this one and a trial would have just been a theatre piece, a ritual piece of mumbo-jumbo to keep the bad mojo off our actions, an anticlimactic last reel that would only have made sense if bin Laden leaped up out of Silver Lake wearing a hockey mask.
Be thankful that this part is over. Now we can get back to the REAL problem–getting the hell out of two wars we shouldn’t have been in in the first place.
Oh, yes. Thanks, President Bush.
Scott Walker: Thug
Wisconsin Governing Style
There’s a joke making the rounds that bears repeating: The Koch brothers, a tea partier and a teacher are sitting at a table with a pile of cookies in the middle. The Koch brothers sweep up all but one and say to the tea partier, “Watch out for that teacher–he wants your cookie!” Michael Moore, our official national agitator, showed up in Wisconsin this weekend and spoke on behalf of the Wisconsin 14. He reminded people that America wasn’t broke, there was plenty of money to go around, the problem is that over half of it is being hoarded by the 400 wealthiest of our society. And the reason that government is in trouble is quite simple–these 400 refuse to acknowledge their own dependence on the society that allowed them to gain what they have and thus feel justified in refusing to carry no load but their own. And these 400, far from being productive members of society, are not only parasites upon it, but because of their vast wealth have not just influence but control over their “host”.
It’s people like the Scott Walkers of the world who see their fortune not in serving society, but servicing the parasite that lives on it, in the hope that they may rise to be part of the next tier, the 40,000 who have the bulk of the remainder of the wealth. Their methodology? We see it in Scott Walker’s actions. Threats, coercion, blanket layoff notices, illegal fines and imprisonment. In short, acting like a thug. We have been slipping slowly and inexorably into thugocracy for the last 30 years, the iron-fisted rule of the minority. And their biggest weapon? Pitting citizen against citizen to fight for the spillage from their tables, the only thing that trickles down. You think our national sport is football? Nuh-uh. It’s bum fights. And we’re the bums.
Be careful of those guys–they want all the cookies.
Tipping Encouraged–Have a Safe Flight…
In an unprecedented development, Air Air--the most trusted name in air--has decided to allow pilots and crew to collect gratuities from the passengers...
(SNN) WASHINGTON DC–In an unprecedented development, airline AIR AIR–the most trusted name in air–is allowing pilots and crew to collect gratuities from passengers. This decision follows quickly in the wake of Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger’s testimony to Congress describing his loss of pension and cuts in pay after airlines were given a free hand by the Bush administration after 9/11 to do anything short of cutting executive salaries and bonuses to avoid bankruptcy. Sullenberger is the pilot who had to ditch his Airbus 320 into the Hudson River after Canadian terrorists sent a flock of suicide geese into the Airbus flight path, fouling the engines and dying while honking “O Canada!” No other lives were lost as Sullenberger glided the aircraft into the Hudson River and each passenger was given the bird by the airline for Christmas dinner.
Last February, Sullenberger’s copilot Jeff Skiles also testified that low pay and torturous working hours were forcing airlines to hire pilots before they had finished flying school. More recently, Michael Moore’s new film Capitalism: A Love Story contains interviews with pilots who were forced to enroll for food stamps and take extra jobs to make ends meet. Congressmen who weren’t twittering during Sullenberger’s testimony harrumphed a good deal and threatened to think about doing something. “Who wants to fly with a pilot who has to work 24 hours a day just to make ends meet? I wouldn’t want to fly with any pilot who hasn’t gotten at least 4 hours of sleep,” an anonymous Congressional source told us.
Air Air touted its new policy as directed towards passenger safety concerns. “Passengers may now take responsibility for their own welfare,” Air Air’s representative, who asked to remain anonymous, told us. “The more they give pilots and other crew, the less staff will need to take on extra jobs. We see this as empowering passengers by making them a part of the flight team through their contributions. Naturally, first class and business class travelers will be exempt from the need to “tip”. We suggest 15% plus two dollars a bag. Gratuities may also be left at the airport to ensure air traffic controllers take notice of your flight. These gratuities should be paid in small bills rather than credit cards to avoid a paper trail.”
Sullenberger’s book, Highest Duty: My Search for What Really Matters, co-authored by Jeffrey Zaslow, is available in bookstores this month.
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Reinventing Liberal Judaism
Steven Windmueller
The drop-off in congregational membership, the aging of mainstream religious supporters, and the corresponding rise in the number of nonpracticing Jews represent some of the striking indicators of a religious free-fall that today defines American Jewry. These demographic realities pose significant challenges to our respective liberal Jewish movements. In this post-modern world, it is time to reinvent liberal Judaism.
Nor are these patterns of religious disengagement distinctive to American Jewry. The 2015 Religious Landscape Study sponsored by the Pew Research Center confirms similar trends within Christianity. The data among Protestant mainstream congregations indeed are striking and instructive. Since the 1950s, mainstream churches have represented only one-fifth of all Protestant congregations. In the past 50 years, mainstream church membership has declined by more than one-quarter to roughly 20 million people. We are the beneficiaries of the American church experience and the behavior of the broader marketplace, where institutional transitions are the norm.
In the 19th century, American Judaism adopted the denominational patterns of the Christian world. Today, the luxury of maintaining these various distinctive religious expressions that dot the Jewish landscape can no longer be sustained. We are the inheritors of a bifurcated system of multiple, even duplicative and competitive forms of Jewish offerings that may no longer be structurally, ideologically or economically viable. “Silo Judaism” is not the model for 21st-ccentury American Judaism. More to the point, can we establish a shared understanding of what liberal Judaism might represent for this century?
Proposals for religious recalibration are occurring across the landscape among American church organizations. Mergers and collaborative arrangements are driving institutional transformation elsewhere within American society. Over the past several decades, there have been various constituencies within the liberal Jewish camp seeking primarily to reinvent the structures and functions associated with the institutions of liberal Judaism. “Synagogue 2000 (3000)” operated as a manifestation of this approach to change specific activities and operational cultures. Various think tanks and individual writers have put forth articles and books offering new models of liberal Jewish practice in line with the changing operational framework that today is defining and shaping American religious life. In several different quarters, one finds proposals introducing alternative dues structures, governance arrangements and management models.
The very idea of “denomination” or the imposition of such terms as “affiliation,” “membership” and “dues” reflect language and practices that are out of favor with millennials. But the issues before us must not be seen as merely a structural reinvention of liberal Judaism.
Do we really require separate denominational movements that reflect the ideological mix of a liberal Jewish tradition formed more than a century ago? The structural patterns currently in place within American Judaism are based on a competitive economic model. It will be incumbent on the Jewish community to emulate what others in the nonprofit sector already have established. The practice of institutional competition will need to give way to a culture of collaboration.
In moving forward with these ideas, will we be able to find common ground among our rabbinic leaders and synagogue laity representing our respective movements? What forms of intellectual synergy can occur among seminary scholars? Ultimately, how might our congregations and seminaries benefit from such cross-denominational exchanges, and what will be the impact on the quality of Jewish life for congregants and those beyond its doors?
Can anyone imagine in this city, for example, that instead of having three seminaries for the training of our next generation of liberal clergy and Jewish professionals, we consider the merger of the American Jewish University, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and the Academy for Jewish Religion? Is it possible to envision that if one belonged to one congregation within Los Angeles that synagogue membership would permit individuals and families the opportunity to enjoy the resources, services and activities of the affiliated liberal institutions that are part of the Reform, Conservative, Reconstructionist and Renewal communities of Southern California?
What might be the possibilities of a collaborative religious educational system, enabling our kids to study in jointly sponsored, community-supported Jewish learning centers? Could we establish a program ensuring that all kids affiliated with one of our participating congregations be guaranteed a Jewish camping experience or the opportunity to become part of one of our youth movements? Can we consider a collective effort to invite every young family to enroll their kids in Jewish pre-school programs underwritten in part by synagogues, foundations and federation? Can we conceivably imagine our institutional rabbis operating as community resource educators?
We are reminded that “movements,” and for that matter, religious institutions in general, were designed to be vehicles for permitting our congregants the access points to express their Jewishness. And indeed, over the past 150 years, our synagogues and schools in this nation did successfully assist Jews in articulating their personal and collective religious expressions. This has been no small accomplishment, as our seminaries and umbrella synagogue organizations have served these past generations of our people, helping them to construct a viable and dynamic collective Jewish experience. As the religious economy expanded, we as a community benefited from the competitive presence of multiple institutional options, where American Jews have enjoyed an array of choices.
On a number of occasions in American history, this society has experienced periods of religious revivalism and renewal. American Judaism has been responsive to these trends. Throughout the course of American-Jewish history, we can identify various patterns of institutional expansion, only to be followed by countervailing periods of organizational integration, leading to mergers or to the formation of new entities designed to expand upon the work product of their predecessor institutions. Organizations, we need to realize, experience a form of life expectancy. When they no longer resonate with the body politic, they atrophy and become caught up in the economics of downsizing, ultimately leading to their demise.
In formulating any new arrangements, it is imperative that any such joint initiatives respect the legitimacy of the principles of faith and halachah of our various partners. Indeed, there are creative ways to give standing to these distinctive and essential expressions.
However, in today’s Jewish marketplace, it is necessary to consider innovative forms of Jewish religious expression, and the proposals introduced above merely represent a few of the exciting possibilities. Without rethinking our existing system, we will continue to witness a patchwork of institutional practices, possibly leading to further decline and ultimately to the demise of some of the core components of this experiment in Jewish-liberal religious culture, a condition not radically different from what has been unfolding within Protestant America.
The attention here toward re-creating this religious model is driven by the emergence of a “new American Jew.” These transformational behavioral changes are taking place as Jews enter the fourth and fifth generations of their American experience. Younger Jews are increasingly modeling the social mores of the mainstream culture. The shift away from the collective welfare of the community to a distinctive focus on the “sovereign self” may represent the central feature to this new order. In this context, “individualized choice” has minimized the value and primacy of institutional affiliation. What seems to be evolving is the emergence of a different type of American Jew and a privatized American Judaism.
The very idea of “denomination” or the imposition of such terms as “affiliation,” “membership” and “dues” reflect language and practices that are out of favor with millennials. But the issues before us must not be seen as merely a structural reinvention of liberal Judaism. More immediate and compelling will be the messages we seek to convey as a religious tradition in an age when new social behaviors and patterns of institutional loyalty are strikingly different. Are we in a position to reach out to those who describe themselves as “seekers” and others who define themselves as religious “nones,” individuals who no longer view themselves as having any formal ties to a faith community? Do the liberal voices of American Jewry have something compelling to share with contemporary audiences?
It is an age when those who hold congregational affiliation and those who sit outside our synagogue doors are struggling with the same issues about the essence of life, the role of ritual, the importance of faith, the nature of our connection to Israel, definitions of God, etc. This may be an extraordinary moment to energize these conversations and create new models of practice by providing a framework for reimaging contemporary liberal Judaism.
American-Jewish liberal religion represents a broad spectrum of ideas, practices and rituals, and that in reality ought to be seen as the strength of such a collective endeavor. Four principles will need to drive this national conversation concerning our future, where our movements’ leaders together envision a new framework for collective action:
Intellectual engagement: We have much to learn and share with one another. To date, such exchanges have occurred sporadically but now need to be systematic and with intention.
Economic entrepreneurship: There are multiple ways in which our movements can creatively collaborate in order to construct new economies of operation and in turn be able to reach out to serve more Jews who remain disconnected and unaffiliated. The changes that are occurring on the ground must be driven in part by the realities that exist today around America’s “religious economy,” which has not maintained its competitive edge. Rising costs along with diminishing numbers do not represent a prescription for maintaining the status quo or growing our messages.
This venture will not occur without the presence of a bold and creative cohort of Jewish leaders who are prepared to ask the difficult and unsettling questions, setting aside their egos and self-interests in favor of embracing the revolution that must occur within board rooms and beyond.
Political partnerships: This moment marks an appropriate point to frame a shared progressive Jewish agenda, especially at a time when many within our communities of faith are seeking the input of religious leadership in being responsive to the social and cultural challenges before us.
Collective responsibility: Our movements have a unique opportunity to serve the thousands of Jews who today simply define themselves as “just Jewish” as well as to reach out to college students and young adults bereft of an understanding of the richness of Judaism, its traditions and core values.
Beyond the Jewish world, we now have evidence about the various beneficial aspects of such a mega-union of congregations and related institutions within American Christianity; I would argue the merits of a collaborative model can capture the best that each of these individual institutions and movements can provide. Possibly more significant, and clearly more impressive, are the structural and policy changes being introduced into the Roman Catholic Church by Pope Francis, who is constructing a new vision of how the Vatican and the other primary instruments of church practice will be organized. Even more dramatic are the new messages of the Roman Catholic Church today around critical issues of a spiritual and social context designed to appeal to a different generation of believers.
Successful synagogues, innovative “startup” models of religious engagement, and other forms of creative spiritual expression ought to be our first laboratories of learning. Inside the Jewish world, there already exists ample evidence of the integrative practices associated with our movements, as curriculum, liturgy and professional personnel are crossing institutional borders on a daily basis. Synagogue mergers involving at times congregations from different denominational tracks are taking place, further confirming that the seeds for this national endeavor already have been set in motion.
For most of those sitting in our pews, attending our camps and day schools and studying in our religious school classrooms share a similar mindset about their Jewish religious encounter. Their behaviors reflect an inherent sameness in terms of how they understand and practice contemporary Judaism. For certain, denominational labels and loyalties do not generally shape their identities as 21st- century Jews. Yet, most liberal Jews take great pride in being Jewish and in acknowledging their shared Jewish connections with other like-minded co-religionists. But as active participants in this age of consumerism, our congregants fully appreciate the costs associated with “doing Jewish.” The lay and professional leaders involved in operating synagogues and providing for our national organizational systems ought to foster a conversation on the Jewish future keeping in mind the collective interests and social behaviors of the thousands of families and individuals who will be the beneficiaries of this new partnership.
What might be the essential benefits that emerge from such an initiative? These may well include an expansion of programmatic and service options, the introduction of operational efficiencies, expanded brand recognition, the growth of political influence, the capacity to encourage and promote professional excellence, the acceleration of social media and the introduction of other forms of communication technology. In managing its contentious relationships with the religious and political authorities inside the State of Israel, a united liberal Jewish voice would seem to be of particular importance.
Four key components will be essential for leading this denominational transformation:
Embrace the challenge: Vision and the capacity for audacious thinking must trump mediocrity and narrow options.
Leadership assertiveness: This venture will not occur without the presence of a bold and creative cohort of Jewish leaders who are prepared to ask the difficult and unsettling questions, setting aside their egos and self-interests in favor of embracing the revolution that must occur within board rooms and beyond.
Reaffirming the essential: Reclaiming the essential and the sacred of our tradition ought to be the essence of this new venture, as we empower and engage the next generation of liberal Jews.
Build from the bottom: Historically, we organized from the top down; in this culture, the principles of best practice require that we build from the bottom up as well. This is about testing different models of educating and involving Jews as it is about redesigning the roles that rabbis, educators, cantors and communal professionals perform in serving our youth, embracing our elderly and educating our young families and in transforming our institutions.
The re-envisioning of American Judaism needs to begin. It offers, in my mind, a variety of unique opportunities and no doubt, a level of unknown challenges. Such conversations will require creative leaders operating out of a different organizational paradigm. It calls upon communal institutions and funders to rethink the economic framework of how we invest and reallocate resources necessary to frame this new organizing model.
Steven Windmueller is the Rabbi Alfred Gottschalk Emeritus Professor of Jewish Communal Service at the Jack H. Skirball Campus of the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Los Angeles. Windmueller’s writings can be found on thewindreport.com. A version of this article originally appeared on eJewishphilanthropy.com.
Categories: Cover Story
Tags: american jewry, liberal judaism
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The Silver Bullet ~ Transformers: Age of Extinction
by Joe Movie Review • Tags: @JackReynor, Ehren Kruger, Frank Welker, Han Geng, Jack Reynor, John DiMaggio, John Goodman, Kelsey Grammer, Ken Watanabe, Li Bingbing, Mark Ryan, Mark Wahlberg, Michael Bay, Nicola Peltz, Paramount Pictures, Peter Cullen, Reno Wilson, Robert Foxworth, Sophia Myles, Stanley Tucci, T.J. Miller, Titus Welliver, Transformers: Age of Extinction
Synopsis: An automobile mechanic and his daughter make a discovery that brings down the Autobots and Decepticons – and a paranoid government official – on them.
Thoughts: Since the filmmakers behind the Transformers series seem to have hit the soft reset button, I figure I can do the same on wiping out the memory of the previous three films that have been box office hits but were hollow as the cheap chocolate bunny I always get at Easter. With a new star on board (Mark Wahlberg, Lone Survivor, Contraband) and no sign of stinkers Shia LeBeouf and Megan Fox, I’m hoping that the fourth entry about those shape shifting alien robots will be more than just a big budget excuse for director Michael Bay (Pain & Gain) to level cities and showboat with his camera.
MN FANS!
Nicola Peltz & Jack Reynor, stars of TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION, will be at Mall of America on Sunday, June 8th at 2pm! Nicola & Jack will show clips from the film, sign autographs, & answer questions from fans! Visit mallofamerica.com for more information.
TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION begins after an epic battle left a great city torn, but with the world saved. As humanity picks up the pieces, a shadowy group reveals itself in an attempt to control the direction of history…while an ancient, powerful new menace sets Earth in its crosshairs. With help from a new cast of humans (led by Mark Wahlberg), Optimus Prime and the Autobots rise to meet their most fearsome challenge yet. In an incredible adventure, they are swept up in a war of good and evil, ultimately leading to a climactic battle across the world. TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION in theaters June 27.
Website: www.TransformersMovie.com
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Capital of Minas Gerais
All Brazilian capitals:
Aracaju (SE), Belém (PA), Belo Horizonte (MG), Boa Vista (RR), Brasília (DF), Campo Grande (MS), Cuiabá (MT), Curitiba (PR), Florianópolis (SC), Fortaleza (CE), Goiânia (GO), João Pessoa (PB), Macapá (AP), Maceió (AL), Manaus (AM), Natal (RN), Palmas (TO), Porto Alegre (RS), Porto Velho (RO), Recife (PE), Rio Branco (AC), Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Salvador (BA), São Luís (MA), São Paulo (SP), Teresina (PI), Vitória (ES)
Belo Horizonte, a modern city planned in late 19th century, is situated within the triangle São Paulo – Rio de Janeiro – Brasília. The city, with its wide avenues, is built on several hills, and completely surrounded by mountains. Many tourists arrive in Belo Horizonte to continue their travels to the beautiful historic mining cities of Minas Gerais: Sabará, Ouro Preto, Mariana, Congonhas, Tiradentes, São João del Rei, and Diamantina. Belo Horizonte is one of the host cities during the World Cup in 2014.
Belo Horizonte (nicknamed Beagá) is the capital of Minas Gerais, located in the southeastern region of Brazil. Its metropolitan area with 5.4 million inhabitants is the third largest of Brazil, following greater São Paulo and greater Rio de Janeiro. The city itself is the seventh-largest city in the country, with approx. 2.5 million inhabitants (IBGE, 2010). The city is situated at an average altitude of 852 m, and lies within an area of 331 square kilometers. The human development index of Belo Horizonte is 0.880 (IBGE/PNAD, 2008), the city was indicated as the city with the best quality of living in Southern America and among the best 50 in the world (UN Population Crisis Committee, 1990).
Belo Horizonte, as seen from Mangabeiras Park
In the search for gold, bandeirantes (pioneers) traveling from São Paulo were exploring the margins of the Rio das Velhas. Bandeirante João Leite da Silva Ortiz founded a small farm in 1701, named Curral del Rey. This farm became prosperous and attracted other settlers from the region. Soon Curral del Rey became a village. Other pioneers that were following the stream of the larger São Francisco River also passed at Curral del Rey, where they visited the chapel of Nossa Senhora da Boa Viagem, Our Lady of the Good Travel, praying for a safe journey.
Soon after the proclamation of the Republic of Brazil, which ended the Brazilian Empire, the republicans in Minas Gerais decided that Ouro Preto, symbol of imperial Brazil, should no longer be capital of Minas, but that a new modern city would become the new capital. Western cities as Paris and Washington became examples for the structure of the new capital, that initially was named Cidade de Minas. But less than a decade after the inauguration on December 12, 1897, the capital was renamed Belo Horizonte, its actual name.
Originally, the city was constructed to host 250 thousand inhabitants, but less than fifty years later, this number was surpassed. During the 1940s, young Oscar Niemeyer, now Brazil’s most famous architect, started to design the Pampulha District, with its artificial lake, surrounded by architectural landmarks. Especially in the final two decades of the past century, Belo Horizonte expanded exponentially, thereby extending its city limits far beyond the originally designed city limit, the so-called Avenida do Contorno, that now surrounds the actual center of Belo Horizonte.
Belo Horizonte is the economic center of Minas Gerais; the metropolitan area contributes for about one-third of the entire economic activity in Minas Gerais. The city is the fourth richest of Brazil, after São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Brasília. The service sector contributes for more than eighty percent, while the share of the industrial sector is less than twenty percent. The city boasts to have good infrastructure, linking Belo Horizonte to Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Brasília through highways, and to Vitória by a railway. The modern Confins airport, 50 km from the center, hosts a growing number of airlines with national and international destinations.
Besides a refinery, metallurgical industries, and the Fiat automobile industry, Belo Horizonte hosts a large number of smaller industries, such as textiles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and food. Belo Horizonte hosts more than three thousand national and international events, hosted in large and well-equipped exposition areas, thereby gaining importance in the so-called business tourism.
Although many tourists consider Belo Horizonte as a hub to the beautiful historic cities in the region, the city hosts various locations of touristic interest. The already mentioned Pampulha District with the artificial lake bearing the same name, and the architectural creations surrounding the lake. Most popular is the tiny, light blue church with the roof in a curved shape: Igreja de São Francisco de Assis. Other notable buildings are the Museum of Contemporary Arts (a former casino), the Ballroom Hall (Casa do Baile) and the IATE Tennis Club. Along the lake are also the ZOO annex botanical garden, and the ecological park, representing the local flora and fauna. Close to the lake one may find one of the world’s largest soccer stadiums, that also will be host during the 2014 World Cup: the Mineirão Stadium, bearing the official name Estádio Governador Magalhães Pinto. Next to the stadium is a university campus of the Federal University of Minas Gerais.
Downtown one may find the heart of Belo Horizonte: Praça Sete de Setembro, with an obelisk in its center. This obelisk marks the centenary of Brazil’s independence from Portugal. The former railway station at Praça da Estação now hosts the museum of arts and crafts (Museu de Artes e Ofícios). The principal square is Praça da Liberdade, Liberty Square. The square divided by a double row of imperial palm trees, and is surrounded by a number of former executive offices of the governor, who has his residence in the Palácio da Liberdade. The buildings are now being reformed to host a range of museums. Just outside the Avenida de Contorno one may find the only remaining building – a ‘casarão – that has survived the demolition of the former village to make place for the new city. It now hosts part of the collection of Museu de Abílio Barreto.
More to the south, and uphill, one may encounter Praça do Papa, the Pope’s Square, where late pope John Paul II held an open-air mass for more than half a million youths, in 1980. Behind this square is the entrance of the biggest park of Belo Horizonte: Mangabeiras, once a mining location. Another park, downtown, is the Municipal Park, that was inaugurated together with the city itself. Close to the park, at the Avenida Afonso Pena, the Feira Hippie, the largest open market in Southern America hosting a large number of stands offering a range of arts and handicrafts, is being held every Sunday, attracting about 70 thousand visitors. Belo Horizonte is widely known for its presence of more than 14 thousand bars, spread throughout the city, although the Savassi District is widely known for its nightlife.
There are some historical mining cities worth visiting, outside Belo Horizonte. Almost all these cities have a historic center with a certain richness of buildings in baroque style. A large amount of these baroque art works are attributed to sculptor Francisco Antônio Lisboa,better known for his nickname Aleijadinho, the ‘little cripple’. In Congonhas (about 70 km south of Belo Horizonte) there are statues of twelve prophets and the statues of the Passion of Christ, sculpted by Aleijadinho (and his pupils).
South of Congonhas, are the cities São João del Rei and nearby Tiradentes. Both cities contain many churches in baroque style and mansions from the same era. Nearby Belo Horizonte is Sabará, another historical city, and also known for the Carnival.
At, about ninety kilometers south of Belo Horizonte, two former capitals of Minas Gerais are located close to each other. The first capital was Mariana, known for the two churchs built next to each other: Igreja São Francisco and Igreja Nossa Senhora do Carmo.
Ouro Preto succeeded Mariana as capital; at that time, the city was known as Vila Rica. Ouro Preto hosts a large number of historical churches and mansions, and was added to the World Heritage List of the UNESCO in 1980. At the local market in the center, one may obtain beautiful soapstone sculptures for a reasonable price.
More distant from Belo Horizonte is Diamantina, birthplace of former president Juscelino Kubitschek, who also was major of Belo Horizonte. Diamantina is also on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Click here for the daily sets of photographs, as provided by the City of Belo Horizonte
Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil – the city
Belo Horizonte, view from a helicopter
Belo Horizonte, an overwhelming city
Belo Horizonte, Mercado Central
Bars in Belo Horizonte
Belo Horizonte, um olhar diferente
‘Sou do Mundo, Sou Minas Gerais’
Cidades Históricas Ouro Preto MG – Mariana MG – Congonhas MG
Cidade da Gente – Diamantina (1)
São João del Rei – A Cidade dos Sinos
By Adriano Antoine Robbesom
COLORFUL BRAZIL: View from Mangabeiras Park, Belo Horizonte (MG) (adrianoantoine.wordpress.com)
A Foreigner in Brazil (16): JAN 2006. Vila Velha (ES) and Itabira (MG) (insiderbrazil.wordpress.com)
Historic Minas Gerais: CONGONHAS. (01) An Overview (insiderbrazil.wordpress.com)
Travel in Brazil: Mariana (MG), 2011 (adrianoantoine.wordpress.com)
COLORFUL BRAZIL: Koi at Mangabeiras Park, Belo Horizonte (MG) (adrianoantoine.wordpress.com)
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HEALTHScience
By Stafford Beulah On May 12, 2019
For years Arabella Blume, a mother of three living in Michigan, mistakenly blamed herself for her son’s autism. “I felt like I destroyed him,” she said. “For a long time, I thought that was my fault. … I felt like everyone was looking at me going, ‘What did you do?’ You know, ‘How could you do this to him?’ And I was looking at Alex going, ‘How could I do this to him?'”
That’s because he was diagnosed shortly after receiving the vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella (or MMR).
Then, a friend pointed her to the dozens of medical studies showing the vaccine does not cause autism. “And I started looking through them. And then I was at another crossroads where I was like, ‘But this was all my fault for so long.’ And then I was crying because I was wrong about that.”
Blume is living proof that the antidote to misinformation about vaccines is science. “I was relieved,” she said, “because I didn’t hurt him. His autism wasn’t my fault.”
The current outbreaks of measles around the country are largely a result of parents being afraid to vaccinate their children against the virus. The number one concern? Autism.
With hundreds of measles cases in the U.S., and approximately 110K global deaths from measles in 2017 (mostly children under five), public health experts are employing scientific facts as an antidote to vaccine misinformation. CBS NEWS
But the upsurge in the anti-vaccine movement in the last 20 years was ignited by a 1998 study in The Lancet, a prestigious British journal, that falsely linked the MMR vaccine with autism.
It took 12 years for the journal to retract the study after investigations concluded the research was fraudulent. The lead author was stripped of his medical license.
But the damage was done.
“I bled anti-vaccine talk,” Blume said. “There’s all kinds of crazy stuff on the internet. The majority of people are like me – they’re not super-crazy, they’re just trying to find the real answers to stuff.”
So, what does cause autism? That answer has been slow to come, partly because of the enormous detour researchers were forced to take following the Lancet article. Charles Nelson, a professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and a neuroscientist at Boston Children’s Hospital, said the article caused “irreparable damage,” for several reasons: “First, it led many parents to stop vaccinating their kids for no reason. Second, it derailed the course of science by investing all this money to prove that vaccines didn’t cause autism, rather than try to understand what does cause autism. It was a big diversion.”
Despite that diversion, the science of autism is slowly emerging. About 100 genes have been linked to the disorder so far. And the overwhelming scientific consensus is that vaccines do not cause autism.
Why, then, do some parents remain unconvinced?
Nelson said, “I think one thing that is concerning to parents and to scientists is we don’t know what causes autism. And because of that big uncertainty, and because one in 59 children have autism, we try to latch onto some explanation.”
Nelson has spent the last 14 years trying to understand autism. He’s currently studying the brain activity of babies who have siblings with autism and therefore have an increased chance of having the condition themselves.
He showed CBS News chief medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook the results of electroencephalogram tests conducted on babies, on which 128 sensors had been placed: “We’re looking at the continuous EEG – that is the electrical signal that these billions of neurons generate that we pick up at the scalp surface. It looks for patterns … If you see this pattern at three months, you’re likely to see autism at three years.”
Charles Nelson’s research studied electroencephalogram (EEG) tests conducted on babies, and discovered patterns that correlated with autism developed years later. CBS NEWS
To understand the profound implication of Nelson’s research, you need to know a crucial fact: the first dose of MMR vaccine is usually not given until a baby is 12 months old. “Our work is suggesting that we’re seeing signs of autism, at least in the brain, as early as three to six months of age, long before the MMR vaccine has been given,” he said. “So, clearly it can’t be related to a vaccine, ’cause the vaccines haven’t been given yet.”
Dr. LaPook asked, “Do you think the logic and the science at this point, with the anti-vaccine movement spreading, is that gonna do it?”
“No,” Nelson replied. “One thing I’m concerned about is that, even though the science is overwhelming that vaccines don’t cause autism, there are still people who think vaccines cause autism.”
Nadine Gartner, an attorney and mother of two, founded an organization in Portland, Oregon, called Boost. She told Dr. LaPook, “The vast majority of people who are not vaccinating are not the staunch, anti-vaccine movers who will never vaccinate their children no matter what. We are really concerned about reaching the parents in the middle, those who feel fearful and confused by the information flying around on all sides.”
Boost holds local workshops, led by pediatricians, to help parents figure out who and what to believe, especially since the anti-vaccine rhetoric extends beyond MMR to the many other childhood immunizations recommended by health officials.
Gartner said it does not work telling parents what to do: “We know every parent wants to make the best health decisions for their children. So, I want to make sure that when parents are examining the facts, that they understand exactly what’s scientific [and] what’s not, and to really be able to separate the truth from the fiction.”
Boost is a non-profit organization. Gartner says they do not take donations from any special interest groups, including the pharmaceutical industry.
“I really love helping inform families and helping them make that informed choice,” said Dr. Joel Amundson, a Portland pediatrician who volunteers his time to answer questions at the Boost workshops. he said, “My take is that you’ve got, kind of on one side, people really scaring you of what might happen if you do something; and on the other side, people scaring you of what might happen if you don’t do something.”
“So, how do you get parents to move forward?” asked Dr. LaPook.
“Without focusing on the fear tactics, but really just understanding the different risks and benefits involved,” he replied.
Dr. Joel, as he’s known to his patients, says he has a 99-percent vaccination rate in his clinic – higher than the percentage needed to maintain something called “herd immunity.” That means if enough people get vaccinated, it protects people who are not able to be vaccinated. So, when parents decide not to give the MMR, they’re rolling the dice not just for their child, but for other people, including babies under 12 months, and people with cancer or weakened immune systems.
“A huge part of the conversation is building trust,” said Dr. Amundson, “and knowing that we’re not trying to push anything onto families. We know that approach doesn’t work. I’ve had patients that have done not a single vaccine for five years, and then turned around and chosen to do them.”
Many people questioning vaccines have forgotten that viruses such as measles, polio and smallpox used to kill millions of people around the world every year. Before the measles vaccine was available in 1963, three to four million Americans were infected each year: 400-500 died, 48,000 were hospitalized, and about 1,000 suffered severe inflammation of the brain.
Pre-Vaccine-Era Measles History (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Dr. Amundson explains to parents that there are rare serious side effects from vaccines. But his bottom line is clear: For the person getting the vaccine, the benefits far outweigh the potential risks.
Consider this: In 2017 alone, approximately 110,000 people died globally from the measles, mostly children under five, despite the availability of an effective and safe vaccine.
Measles: Key Facts (World Health Organization)
“I found the vast majority of people that are hesitant, that are nervous about it, really are just hesitant; they’re concerned about stuff that they’ve read,” said Dr. Amundson. “They just want to do the right thing for their kids.”
Arabella Blume and her newborn, Lily. CBS NEWS
Arabella Blume empathizes with parents who just want to do the right thing. “It’s fear and love – it’s fear of doing the wrong thing, and loving your kid so much that you’ll go against an entire scientific community telling you you’re wrong, just to try and protect them,” she said.
But now, looking down at her healthy newborn baby girl, Lily, she said, “The funny thing is, that with Alex I can remember looking down and thinking, ‘I love him too much, I can’t vaccinate him, I can’t hurt him that way.’ And now with her, I look down and I have the same thought, only opposite, where it’s like, ‘I love her so much, I can’t take her outta the house until I vaccinate her.’ Each comes from a place of love.”
Source cbsnews.com
Stafford Beulah 203 posts 0 comments
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Illinois Sex Toy Party | Adult Romance Party
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"Illinois" - Google News
Union Pacific closing two facilities, laying off workers in Illinois - Chicago Tribune
Union Pacific closing two facilities, laying off workers in Illinois Chicago Tribune
Union Pacific will close two facilities in Illinois as part of its Unified Plan 2020, a transportation plan the company rolled out last year that focuses on improving ...
Car dealerships in southern Illinois collecting supply donations for flooded communities - WPSD Local 6
Car dealerships in southern Illinois collecting supply donations for flooded communities WPSD Local 6
METROPOLIS, IL — Two car dealership locations in southern Illinois are hosting a supply drive for communities affected by flooding in the region.
Evers announces Illinois pharmaceutical firm to build in Pleasant Prairie; multiphase project to total $250 million over 10 years - Kenosha News
Evers announces Illinois pharmaceutical firm to build in Pleasant Prairie; multiphase project to total $250 million over 10 years Kenosha News
PLEASANT PRAIRIE — Gov. Tony Evers today announced that Nexus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has selected Pleasant Prairie as the location for its first sterile drug ...
What Wikipedia Has To Say
Illinois (/ˌɪləˈnɔɪ/ (About this soundlisten) IL-ə-NOY) is a state in the Midwestern and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It has the fifth largest gross domestic product (GDP), the sixth largest population, and the 25th largest land area of all U.S. states. Illinois has been noted as a microcosm of the entire United States. With Chicago in northeastern Illinois, small industrial cities and immense agricultural productivity in the north and center of the state, and natural resources such as coal, timber, and petroleum in the south, Illinois has a diverse economic base, and is a major transportation hub. Chicagoland, Chicago’s metropolitan area, encompasses over 65% of the state’s population. The Port of Chicago connects the state to international ports via two main routes: from the Great Lakes, via the Saint Lawrence Seaway, to the Atlantic Ocean and from the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River, via the Illinois Waterway to the Illinois River. The Mississippi River, the Ohio River, and the Wabash River form parts of the boundaries of Illinois. For decades, Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport has been ranked as one of the world’s busiest airports. Illinois has long had a reputation as a bellwether both in social and cultural terms and, through the 1980s, in politics.
The capital of Illinois is Springfield, which is located in the central part of the state. Although today’s Illinois’ largest population center is in its northeast, the state’s European population grew first in the west as the French settled the vast Mississippi of the Illinois Country of New France. Following the American Revolutionary War, American settlers began arriving from Kentucky in the 1780s via the Ohio River, and the population grew from south to north. In 1818, Illinois achieved statehood. Following increased commercial activity in the Great Lakes after the construction of the Erie Canal, Chicago was founded in the 1830s on the banks of the Chicago River at one of the few natural harbors on the southern section of Lake Michigan. John Deere’s invention of the self-scouring steel plow turned Illinois’s rich prairie into some of the world’s most productive and valuable farmland, attracting immigrant farmers from Germany and Sweden. The Illinois and Michigan Canal (1848) made transportation between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River valley faster and cheaper, and new railroads carried immigrants to new homes in the country’s west and shipped commodity crops to the nation’s east. The state became a transportation hub for the nation.
By 1900, the growth of industrial jobs in the northern cities and coal mining in the central and southern areas attracted immigrants from Eastern and Southern Europe. Illinois was an important manufacturing center during both world wars. The Great Migration from the South established a large community of African Americans in the state, including Chicago, who founded the city’s famous jazz and blues cultures. Chicago, the center of the Chicago Metropolitan Area, is now recognized as a global alpha-level city.
Three U.S. presidents have been elected while living in Illinois: Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, and Barack Obama. Additionally, Ronald Reagan, whose political career was based in California, was born and raised in the state. Today, Illinois honors Lincoln with its official state slogan Land of Lincoln, which has been displayed on its license plates since 1954. The state is the site of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield and the future home of the Barack Obama Presidential Center in Chicago.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia – Discover Illinois.
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Angel Belle
Father Christmas Baby
What ever happened to the classic Christmas single? Fed up with waiting for the next Slade, Wizard, or even Darkness to appear, I decided to do it myself & make the sort of Christmas track that people would look forward to hearing every year.
Introducing Father Christmas Baby by Angel Belle, a throwback to the good old fashioned Christmas songs of the past; a truly happy holiday sound that evokes an instant nostalgia. Originally recorded in Northampton in 2013, Father Christmas Baby was re-mixed and re-mastered in 2014 at Platform Studios in Reading. The original version received local BBC Radio play and was well received, but this version is vastly superior! Available to download from November 30th.
William Johnston - Writer/Composer/Executive Producer. “Don’t moan about what’s out there unless you’re prepared to try and do better.” Will realised that if he wasn’t part of the solution of resurrecting the classic Christmas song, he was part of the problem and that just wouldn’t do. So he wrote the song and got it made.
Caroline Fenna – Vocals. As well as having West End success in Footloose, Caroline has appeared as a solo artist at Jazz venues in New Orleans, Switzerland, Edinburgh and Dubai and supported UK rapper Example and drum & bass artist LTJ Bukem. She has recently been overseeing the choreography for ‘80’s icon and national treasure, Sinitta.
Adam Gammage – Drums & Percussion. A highly accomplished drummer and percussionist, Adam has appeared live and on TV all over the world. He has toured globally with The Hours (supporting Kasabian and U2) & more recently with Rebecca Fergusson (UK X-Factor runner Up 2010), Sparkadia and Baxter Dury.
Stuart Dixon – Guitar/Studio Production. Stuart is a successful blues guitarist who’s toured worldwide with acts including Geno Washington, Marcus Malone, and Never The Bride. He’s also a dab hand at production and is currently working closely with soul singer/song writer, Dani Wilde.
Greg Coulson– Keyboard. Greg has been the keyboard maestro of choice for the legendary two-tone band The Selecter since he was 19, touring with them across Europe, America and Australia. Now 22, 2014 has seen the release of his debut solo album.
Alan Whetton – Sax. Alan has lived his life mastering the saxophone and is truly inspired. His career has included playing with such diverse talents as Dexy’s Midnight Runners, Cliff Richard, Howard Jones, Shakin’ Stevens, The Blues Band and The Manfreds.
Luke Palmer – Bass. Luke is a superb bass player, most recently with The Cliff Brown Band.
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Evolutionary Scientist, Zachary Ardern, Explains Why He Believes in Christ’s Resurrection
May 1, 2019 · by James Bishop · in Uncategorized. ·
Zachary Ardern is a postdoctoral fellow in evolutionary biology who studies the evolution of bacteria. He possesses not only a keen interest in science but also in theology, and often writes about the relationship between theology and evolutionary theory.
Ardern explains that he is “a confessing scientist” who views Jesus Christ as Lord. He believes in Christ’s “bodily Resurrection from the dead,” and, “came to believe because I became personally convinced that the God of the Bible is real and that Jesus is alive.” Although Ardern claims that he cannot prove that God exists he does believe that belief in God is a reasonable inference from several key evidences, of which science and history are most important for him. Science is mentioned first,
“When I look at the universe I see it as brimming with purpose. I believe that God exists. I cannot prove so, and I cannot give a strictly scientific argument, but science (of course) forms part of the evidence I—as a scientist—must weigh.”
He appeals to the Big Bang which appears to him miraculous in its own sense,
“Our universe began with an extremely highly-ordered initial state. If anything could be labeled a miracle, the origin of the cosmos seems to fit the bill. No matter how many intricate scientific details we discover, the initial creation of something from nothing or what Hawking referred to as the breathing of “fire into the equations” will remain extra-scientific or metaphysical.”
Ardern refers to what many have called the “fine-tuning” of the universe, namely the set of incredibly improbable constants and conditions required to be exactly precise to allow for life to form and exist within the universe,
“The development of this cosmos was then governed by a set of natural laws which allow the existence of life. On current understanding, the life-friendly set is an extraordinarily rare one in the total conceivable possibility space, and our life-friendly position in that space is sensitive to relatively tiny changes. This finding is widely thought to be surprising for the naturalist. It gets better still, however. These laws are to a remarkable extent comprehensible and even beautiful to us—fallible mortal creatures though we are. Although our ancestors’ survival presumably depended on hunting and gathering, we have the capacity to hunt for subatomic particles and gather genomic datasets which give us insight into our origins, amongst many other impressive things such as music, language, and altruistic acts. I find all this consonant with (and even suggestive of) the existence of God, a transcendent personal reality behind the scenes—an author of the cosmic drama.”
Adern refers to a “pointer” in the form of our moral awareness, “I observe some pointers towards a transcendent and perhaps personality reality: an Author. I also believe that this Author making moral claims on our lives makes the best sense of the moral awareness which humans possess.”
The historical Jesus as he is represented in the gospel biographical sources is arguably the most important pointer of all,
“Jesus gives unique insight into God’s nature, and I think this partly because of his remarkable life recorded in the four gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John… key biblical themes of temple, sacrifice, liberation, authority, shepherd, king, prophet, holiness, and healing, among many others, are all expressed and re-envisioned in the life of Jesus, and recorded in a way which is in essence historical rather than mythological.”
Adern does not believe that one has to accept the gospel representations of Christ blindly. Rather, there are convincing reasons for accepting them which are based upon historical grounds. For example, he accepts the testimony of Christ’s earliest followers because their,
“message of the Resurrection was early, persuasive, and transformative… it was not a late development in a different city, decades after the last witnesses had died out. Rather, it was believed and preached in Jerusalem from the beginning of the Christian movement. We can perform a kind of phylogenetic analysis of the early texts to find the oldest strata, the common themes that must have been present at the beginning. The Resurrection is clearly there, found as a central claim of Paul’s earliest letters, the gospels, Acts, and most other New Testament letters. The most-cited verse from the Hebrew Bible in the New Testament is Psalm 110:1, which is repeatedly used in reference to Jesus’s victory over death. This core Christian claim undoubtedly goes back to the earliest Jewish believers. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthian church was written in the 50s AD, approximately 20 years after Jesus’s death—already an early source. But it contains an even earlier creedal formula in 1 Cor 15, which is generally held to go back to within 2-3 years of Jesus’s death.”
Ardern acknowledges the pervasiveness of the resurrection message as well as those people who came to believe in it,
“These people were in the best position to know what had happened, and whether reports of a crucifixion, empty tomb, and post-mortem appearances to many were true. The essential historicity of the book of Acts supports these claims and others which bolster the case that people well equipped to know the truth were persuaded of the Resurrection… The message was spread by many people, through many difficulties. One of the most important missionaries was Paul of Tarsus, a well-educated Jew whose initial reaction to the Christian movement was to persecute it harshly. Something happened to change his mind; likewise James the brother of Jesus, whose belief appears to have only come after the Resurrection. The wider society of the ancient world came to see the effects of Christianity too… None of this proves that Christianity is true, but it is evidence that the Resurrection was transformative and must have been taken seriously.”
To “sum it all up,” explains Ardern,
“I find reason to believe that there is an authoritative personal reality undergirding the universe, I believe that Jesus fulfills the Hebrew expectations of this personal reality in surprising and subtle ways, and I see evidence that he rose from the dead. Taking it together with the various strands of my life and experience of the world, I find the Resurrection compelling as a historical event and a foundation for hope. I am also a scientist and find my scientific worldview and practice to cohere well with my faith in the God revealed in Jesus, and so I am a confessing scientist.”
Biologos. Zachary Ardern. Available.
Peaceful Science. 2019. Zachary Ardern: Resurrection and Reality. Available.
Convergent Wanderings – website of Dr Zachary Arden. Available.
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One response to “Evolutionary Scientist, Zachary Ardern, Explains Why He Believes in Christ’s Resurrection”
Vincent S Artale Jr May 1, 2019 at 10:28 pm · · Reply →
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MICHAEL JACKSON – THE KING OF POP
30 Jun 2010 Leave a comment
by Jegan S in DANCERS, MOVIE STARS, MUSICIANS, POETS & AUTHORS, SINGERS Tags: american, award, bad, billy jean, black and white, blood in the dance floor, brothers, century award, dancer, dangerous, entertainer, ghosts, grammy, heal the world, history, invincible, jackson, jackson 5, janet jackson, king of pop, man in the mirror, michael, MJ, moon walk, moves, music, pop, pose, rip, singer, smooth criminal, song writer, songs, this is it, thriller
Michael Jackson was born on the 29th of August 1958 in Gary, Indiana. He was the 7th of nine children. (brothers: Sigmund “Jackie”, Toriano “Tito”, Jermaine, Marlon, Steven “Randy”, and sisters Rebbie, Janet and La-Toya Jackson.Michael began his musical career at the age of 5 as the lead singer of the Jackson 5 who formed in 1964. In these early years the Jackson 5, Jackie, Jermaine, Tito, Marlon and lead singer Michael played local clubs and bars in Gary Indiana and moving further afield as there talents grew and they could compete in bigger competitions. From these early days Michael would be at the same clubs as big talented stars of there days, such as Jackie Wilson and would be learning from them even back then.
In 1968 the Bobby Taylor and The Vancouvers discovered the Jackson five and from there they got an audition for Berry Gordy of Motown Records. The Jackson 5 signed for Motown and moved to California. Their first 4 singles, “I Want You Back”, “ABC”, “The Love You Save”, and “I’ll Be There” all made US No1 hits. The Jackson 5 recorded 14 albums and Michael recorded 4 solo albums with Motown.
The Jackson 5 stayed with Motown until 1976, wanting more artistic freedom they felt they had to move on and signed up with Epic. The group name Jackson 5 had to be changed as it was owned by Motown, so they reverted to The Jacksons as they had be known in the early days. Brother Jermaine married Berry Gordy’s daughter and stayed with Motown. Youngest brother Randy joined in his place. The Jacksons had a number of hit records and in total made 6 albums between the years of 1976 and 1984.
In 1977 Michael made his first film debut when he starred in the musical ‘The Wiz’ playing Scarecrow with Diana Ross in the lead role of Dorothy. It was at this time Michael met Quincy Jones who was doing the score for the film. Michael teamed up with Quincey Jones as his producer for his first solo album with Epic Records. The album titled “Off The Wall” was a big success around the world and the first ever album to release a record breaking 4 No1 singles in the US.
In 1982 Michael Jackson released the world’s largest selling album of all time, ‘Thriller’. This album produced 7 hit singles, breaking yet again more records, and went on to sell over 50 million copies worldwide. Michael was keen to use music video or short films as he called them to promote his singles from the album. He worked with the best directors and producers, using the latest technology and special effects for the hit song ‘Billie Jean’ The short film ‘Thriller’ used the latest make-up artists technolgy combined with fantastic dancing and cherography, to produce a 14 minute video, with a start, a middle and an ending. So successful was this video that ‘The Making Of Michael Jackson’s Thriller’ became the world’s largest selling home video combined with soaring album sales. In 1983 Michael performed the now legendary moonwalk for the first time on the ‘Motown 25 years’ anniversary show. This performance alone set Michael undoubtable into the realm of a superstar.
In 1984 Michael won a record breaking 8 Grammy awards in one night. The awards were for his work on the ‘Thriller’ album and his work on the narrative for the ‘ET Storybook’. On December 9th 1984 at the last concert of the Jackson’s Victory Tour, Michael announced he was splitting from the group and going solo. In 1987 Michael released his much awaited third solo album, titled ‘Bad’, and lauched his record breaking first solo world tour. 1988, Michael wrote his first autobiography, Moonwalk, talking for the first time on his childhood and his career. At the end of the 1980s Michael was named ‘Artist Of The Decade’ for his success off of his ‘Thriller’ and ‘Bad’ albums.
In 1991 Michael signed with Sony Music the largest ever recording contract and released his fourth solo album, ‘Dangerous’. He toured world again in 1992, taking his concerts to countries that had never before been visited by a pop/rock artist. Also Michael founded the ‘Heal the World Foundation’ to help improve the lives of children across the world. In 1994 Michael married Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of rock legend Elvis Presley. The marriage only lasted for 19 months, as they divorced in 1996. In 1995 Michael release a fifth solo album, ‘History’, which was a double album, first half new material and second half half greatest hits. Michael toured again over a legs covering a 2 year period. In between legs of the tour on November 14th 1996, Michael married for his second time to Debbie Rowe who was a nurse that Michael had met in the treatment of his skin pigment disorder. Together they had their first child Prince Michael Joseph Jackson jr born on February 13 1997 and a daughter Paris Michael Katherine Jackson born on April 3rd 1998.
During his extraordinary career, he sold an estimated 750 million records worldwide, released 13 No.1 singles and became one of a handful of artists to be inducted twice into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The Guinness Book of World Records recognized Jackson as the Most Successful Entertainer of All Time and “Thriller” as the Biggest Selling Album of All Time. Jackson won 13 Grammy Awards and received the American Music Award’s Artist of the Century Award.
In 1997 Michael released the remix album ‘Blood On The Dance Floor’ which also contained 5 new song linked with a 38min film “Ghosts”. This film Michael played 5 roles using the latest special effects and make-up artistry, combined with his dance and music. In September, 2001 Michael celebrated his 30th anniversary as a solo artist with two concerts to be held in New York, USA. Many artists such as Whitney Houston, Usher, Destinys Child, Shaggy and many more performed there own and Michael Jacksons past songs. Michael then reunited with all of his brothers and performed there biggest hits. Michael then went onto perform solo some of his biggest hits.
In October 2001 Michael released the album ‘Invincible’ releasing only 2 singles including the big hit “You Rock My World”. Shortly after the albums release there were rumours of a rift with Sony Music and a clear lack of promotion of the album. The second single “Cry” was released with a very poor music video which did not feature Michael and no other singles were released. In November 2003 a new single “One More Chance” was released as a single and was also a track on new compilaition album “Number Ones”.
In March 2009, Michael annouced a shock comeback tour at the O2 Arena in London to start in July 2009, intially for 10 dates but the total grew to a sold out 50 dates with over 750,000 tickets sold. All sold tickets sold out within minutes of being released. On June 25th 2009 Michael Jackson died suddenly of a reported cardiac arrest. He was 50 years old.
Checkout the ASCII Art of Michael Jackson in the below link. Please use Lucida Console font to view the art in Notepad. Before that in Notepad go to Format and Uncheck the Word Warp and then Go to Font and Reduce the Font Size to 3 to 4 pt. Use only Lucida Console Font.
http://www.4shared.com/document/IaIAU27M/Michael_Jackson.html
http://www.4shared.com/document/kSgbzFLX/_2__Michael_Jackson1.html
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Stephen Jenks
Future Worship
Style: Worship
Official Site: Official Website
Contemporary worship music is a beast that has yet to be tamed - which can be amazing. It's not held to a particular genre or style but is held together by a clear desire to glorify God through song. Music veteran Stephen Jenks, of the group Eagles' Wings, is offering up his own solo album, Future Worship, with the hope to sonically call listeners to worship in spirit and in truth. The album opens with the lackluster "Ransomed." Musically, it feels very choppy and empty. In addition, the vocals seem to drown out the instruments, with the only exception being the cymbals. Nevertheless, the foundation of the album is set with a gospel and rhythm & blues undertone. This style is carried on wonderfully with "Morning Star," "I Want You (More Than I Want,)" and "God is Light." Unfortunately, the title track completely derails from the tone that is set by its predecessors as it places a heavy emphasis on dubstep. This track might have been an excellent fit if it were on a different album, because it is so obtuse with the rest of the record. While there is a return of synths in "March On (Remix)," it at least retains its gospel roots. However, the true gem of the album is "Mystery & Majesty," as it contains a simple yet gorgeous piano solo that accompanies the vocals brilliantly. The album concludes with the theatrical song of prayer, "Zion's Call." The music is beautiful and would be a good fit for any church looking for a song to conclude an Easter Cantata. Overall, Future Worship has some shining moments, but they are balanced with an equal amount of flaws. Many of the issues could have been handled in the production of the album - mainly in the overpowering vocals and the disjointed genre-potluck. Stephen Jenks truly is a talented vocalist and is united with a top-notch band, but a defined musical direction would have made this album more effective. Regardless, it's obvious that his heart is to call people to glorify and worship Jesus in spirit and in truth; he most definitely has much more to sing.
- Review date: 7/29/15, written by Ryan Barbee of Jesusfreakhideout.com
Record Label: None
JFH (Ryan Barbee): It looks like you are most definitely a music veteran. Can you share with us your experience with Eagles' Wings?
Stephen Jenks: I have been privileged to serve with Eagles' Wings for the last 18 years. I came out of college and joined what I thought would be a summer worship internship. That summer changed my life as we minstered in churches and events across the east coast. I saw the heart of the founder Robert Stearns to see the Body of Christ strengthened and equipped, and so many of the values that he was passionate about, like authentic spirituality and intentional relationship, were exactly the same in my heart. Needless to say, I stayed on with Eagles' Wings and had a chance to travel, speak and lead worship across America and in nations around the world. It is amazing seeing how believers around the world with different music styles still express the same heart of worship.
JFH (Ryan): Can you explain for our listeners the meaning of the phrase "Future Worship"?
Stephen: The album title comes from a track I wrote based on spontaneous song that came to me during a worship service several years ago. The chorus is "Eternity in time and space, eternity come fill this place, eternity and amazing grace, this is future worship." The idea being that worship is the place where eternity and earth come together. Every time we worship, we have a chance to join with elders, angels and saints in giving glory to God, so in worship we participate in the "future" now!
JFH (Ryan): The cover art is excellent! What made you go with that artwork?
Stephen: Thanks, glad you like it. I worked with our designer at "seedsprout.consulting" to communicate both this sense of something fresh and "future" and also the sense of the multi-faceted character of God. This album includes music in a lot of different genres from rock, to electronic dance music, to choirs singing in Latin, to a R&B ballad. The multi-colored, multi-faceted graphic captures that diversity of sounds and themes.
JFH (Ryan): What is your favorite song on the album and why?
Stephen: I love what we captured on "Future Worship." Bringing together the sounds of the EDM (electronic dance music) genre and blending it with scripture-based worshipful lyrics was so much fun. Most importantly, I think that song really speaks deep truth in the midst of it all.
JFH (Ryan): What was the writing process like for this album?
Stephen: These songs were written, literally over 10 years. Most of these came during my private worship times with God, where I just sit at the piano and pour my heart out to Him. Some of these songs, like "March On," were birthed in a moment in the midst of a service, while others like "Zion's Call" came over time as I prayed, read the scriptures and listened for how this story of God's faithfulness could be communicated. You can read about the birth of each of these songs on my website stephenjenksmusic.com.
JFH (Ryan): If we were to look at your iPod/iPhone/Android/MP3 player (sorry… there's a lot of devices out there now), who would be your most listened to artists/bands?
Stephen: This is terrible, but I rarely listen to other music. My wife thinks I am weird but I really don't. Lately, I have been listening to this great worship team from a ministry in New Jersey called "Resting Place." The album is called "There Must Be More" and the songwriting is superb and the production is tight. The one song the lead singer wrote, "Shining," is just incredible.
JFH (Ryan): If you were to go on a world tour, where would you most like to perform?
Stephen: I love the city of Jerusalem and nation of Israel. I would probably go back there for sure. It is something special to worship where King David and Jesus did! Also, I would love to go to New Zealand. Ever since I did a year-long research project in college on the music of the native Maori people, I have always wanted to go there.
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Monday, Apr 28 2014
Co-ops Having Impact In Some Health Markets
Politico Pro reports that some nonprofit co-ops have forced Aetna to withdraw from some state exchanges because of what Aetna CEO Mark Bertolini describes as "irrational pricing." Meanwhile, the Associated Press features Dr. Peter Beilenson, who is trying to break the mold with his co-op in Maryland.
Politico Pro: Co-ops Have Impact In Some Health Markets
What’s the latest sign that the upstart nonprofit co-ops are having an impact in the market? Aetna CEO Mark Bertolini blamed the Obamacare-backed co-op health plans for his company’s decision to back out of some state exchanges last year. On a conference call with investors on Thursday, Bertolini suggested regulators’ efforts to force Aetna’s proposed premiums down to “irrational” co-op levels drove them out of states. “If there was any irrational pricing, it happened with a few of the co-ops as they went into the exchange,” he said. “We, in those markets, actually withdrew from those markets as we were asked to match co-op pricing” (Norman, 4/25).
The Associated Press: Nonprofit Builds Different Kind Of Insurance Firm
Maryland hadn’t had a health insurance co-op for 20 years. Then Dr. Peter Beilenson came along. Although Beilenson — who has held a number of prominent health positions — describes himself as a staunch advocate for a single-payer health care system, he said he felt compelled to start an insurance company that broke the mold (4/27).
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Centre Georges-Vézina facts for kids
The Centre Georges-Vézina.
The Centre Georges-Vézina, called the Colisée de Chicoutimi at first, is an arena in Chicoutimi, Quebec, Canada that has space for 4,651 pepple (including 3,683 seats). It where the Chicoutimi Saguenéens ice hockey team play. It is named for Georges Vézina, who played for the Montreal Canadiens as the goaltender and was from Chicoutimi. The arena was built in 1949 and has an ice surface of 200 feet by 100 feet, which is what the Olympics use.
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Centre Georges-Vézina Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.
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Gold Rated Low Carbon Business
Kindlehill Values Statement
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Kindy Garden
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Kindlings Seasonal Booklet
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Child Protection Policies and Procedures
Child Safe Environment – Statement of Commitment.
Work Health and Safety Policy
Directory of Mandates
Communications Protocol
Positive Behaviour
Supervision at working bees
Performance Space Hire
Part A – Child Protection: Policy and Procedures
This Policy has been authorised by the School Council.
At Kindlehill School, each teacher is fundamentally concerned with the wellbeing of the children and young people in his/her care. Protection from harm and neglect in all its forms is an integral aspect of the care and respect that teachers effect towards each of the children and young people in their classes.
The teachers also work to develop strong, positive relationships with parents to support the children through their education. This occurs through formal interviews, informal chats, home visits, parent information nights and the many performances given by the students in a year that provides a social context to their schooling.
The kindergarten and primary school teachers meet together weekly to discuss the development and wellbeing of the students in the school as a whole. Over the course of a year, each student is specifically discussed, any concerns highlighted and a set of strategies developed for addressing these. In this way, the teachers form a broader ‘guardianship’ over the students in the school as a whole. The high school teachers work collaboratively and meet at least once a term to discuss together the wellbeing of students. Less formal meetings typically occur between individual teachers and the High School Coordinator throughout the term.
The teachers at Kindlehill work from an understanding of child development, given as indications by Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925), for the education of children and young people. The teachers work daily to support the physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual well being of the children and young people in their care. It is very conscious work. The teachers endeavour to ensure the children and young people are treated with dignity and respect, and have their needs met in a safe environment.
The teachers retain the right to use minimal restraint in the rare circumstance where a child puts oneself or another person at risk of injury.
2 Duty of Care of Employees
The safety, protection and well-being of all students is of fundamental importance to the School.
Both you and the School have a range of different obligations relating to the safety, protection and welfare of students including:
a duty of care to ensure that reasonable steps are taken to prevent harm to students;
obligations under child protection legislation; and
obligations under work health and safety legislation.
The purpose of this Policy is to summarise the obligations imposed by child protection legislation on the School and on employees, contractors and volunteers at the School and to provide guidelines as to how the School will deal with certain matters.
Child protection is a community responsibility.
This policy applies to all who deliver educational or welfare services to children and young people, and/or have direct supervision of or responsibility for, children and young people at Kindlehill School. This includes teachers, assistants and aides, tutors, outside tutors and external providers, and other staff who have direct supervision and/or responsibilities toward students.
These persons are required to familiarise themselves with the school’s Child Protection Policy. They are required to sign off an agreement to abide by the practices and responsibilities, as set out and referred to in this policy at the point of employment.
3 Responsibilities
1. Mandatory Reporters
The Principal, the teachers and any other staff who have supervision duties of children and young people, are mandatory reporters. They are required to report any concern regarding the welfare, safety or well being of a student to the Principal. They are to report incidents or concerns of children at risk of significant harm to the Principal, in compliance with legislative requirements as set out in this policy,
If the allegation involves the Principal, report must be made to the Child Protection Officer who is also a member of The College of Teachers.
2. The Principal:
The Principal is responsible to inform all school employees of their legal obligation in regard to reportable conduct; and in regard to reporting suspected risk or harm. This occurs twice a year at general staff meetings or by email communication.
The Principal is responsible to inform employees of the procedures for reporting. From time to time, updates and training are to be provided in regard to child protection issues, in professional standards for teacher–student relationships, and in knowledge of the indicators of reportable conduct and neglect. Review of procedures and indicators occurs at least once a year at a general staff meeting.
The Principal will ensure the Working With Children Check is conducted at the point of employment for all employees and that it is kept up to date in alignment with the employment screening and notification requirements of the Commission for Childen and Young People.
The Principal will direct the school in working collaboratively with others to plan and provide services for the care and protection of children and young people. This will involve developing contacts with:
The Ombudsman
Commission of Children and Young People
Human Services Network
Regional help agencies and referral services
The Association of Independent Schools
5. The Principal or a nominated Child Protection Investigation Officer will investigate reportable conduct allegations, including allegations against employees, and ensure that appropriate, responsible action is taken in relation to the findings.
A copy of investigations reports together with relevant documentation, will be kept by the Principal in a secure and confidential location.
6. The Principal will also keep a record of signatories to the school’s Child Protection Policy and Code of Conduct, as well as those screened under the Working with Children Check.
Legislative Requirements
The school Child Protection Policy is underpinned by the legislation in relation to child protection as documented in:
a. Ombudsman Amendment (Child Protection and Community Services) Act 1998 – now known as the Ombudsman Act 1974 – which gives the Ombudsman jurisdiction to oversee and monitor systems for the prevention of reportable conduct in government departments and designated agencies and which requires those agencies to report all allegations of reportable conduct made against their employees.
b. Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 – which places a duty of mandatory reporting on staff when they have reasonable grounds to suspect a child or young person is at risk of significant harm.
c. The Child Protection (Working with Children) Act 2012– which puts systems in place for employment screening and notification to the Commission for Children and Young People of relevant completed disciplinary proceedings in relation to allegations of reportable conduct made against employees of agencies specified under this Act.
PART A: THE CARE AND PROTECTION ACT
RISK OF SIGNIFICANT HARM
The Care and Protection Act provides for mandatory reporting of children at risk of significant harm.
NOTE: Any concern regarding the safety, welfare or well being of a student must be reported to the Principal.
1. Who is a mandatory reporter?
Under the Care and Protection Act persons who:
in the course of their employment, deliver services including health care; welfare, education, children’s services and residential services, to children; or
hold a management position in an organisation, the duties of which include direct responsibility for, or direct supervision of, the provision of services including health care, welfare, education, children’s services and residential services, to children, are mandatory
All teachers are mandatory reporters. Other School employees may also be mandatory reporters. If you are not sure whether you are a mandatory reporter you should speak to the Principal.
2. When must a report be made Community Services?
What is the threshold?
A mandatory reporter must, where they have reasonable grounds to suspect that a child (under 16 years of age) is at risk of significant harm, report to Community Services as soon as practicable, the name, or a description, of the child and the grounds for suspecting that the child is at risk of significant harm.
In addition, while not mandatory, the School considers that a report should also be made to Community Services where there are reasonable grounds to suspect a young person (16 or 17 years of age) is at risk of significant harm and there are current concerns about the safety, welfare and well-being of the young person.
Reasonable grounds
‘Reasonable grounds’ refers to the need to have an objective basis for suspecting that a child or young person may be at risk of significant harm, based on:
first hand observations of the child, young person or family
what the child, young person, parent or another person has disclosed
what can reasonably be inferred based on professional training and / or experience.
‘Reasonable grounds’ does not mean that you are required to confirm your suspicions or have clear proof before making a report.
Mandatory reporters must report their concerns to the Principal when they consider children are at risk of significant harm.
A child or young person is ‘at risk of significant harm’ if current concerns exist for the safety, welfare or well-being of the child or young person because of the presence, to a significant extent, of any one or more of the following circumstances:
the child’s or young person’s basic physical or psychological needs are not being met or are at risk of not being met,
the parents or other caregivers have not arranged and are unable or unwilling to arrange for the child or young person to receive necessary medical care,
in the case of a child or young person who is required to attend school in accordance with the Education Act 1990 —the parents or other caregivers have not arranged and are unable or unwilling to arrange for the child or young person to receive an education in accordance with that Act,
the child or young person has been, or is at risk of being, physically or sexually abused or ill-treated,
the child or young person is living in a household where there have been incidents of domestic violence and, as a consequence, the child or young person is at risk of serious physical or psychological harm,
a parent or other caregiver has behaved in such a way towards the child or young person that the child or young person has suffered or is at risk of suffering serious psychological harm,
the child was the subject of a pre-natal report under section 25 of the Care and Protection Act and the birth mother of the child did not engage successfully with support services to eliminate, or minimise to the lowest level reasonably practical, the risk factors that gave rise to the report.
a. Other relevant definitions
Policy definition of significant harm
A child or young person is at risk of significant harm if the circumstances that are causing concern for the safety, welfare or well-being of the child or young person are present to a significant extent.
What is meant by ‘significant’ in the phrase ‘to a significant extent’ is that which is sufficiently serious to warrant a response by a statutory authority irrespective of a family’s consent.
What is significant is not minor or trivial, and may reasonably be expected to produce a substantial and demonstrably adverse impact on the child or young person’s safety, welfare or well-being.
In the case of an unborn child, what is significant is not minor or trivial, and may reasonably be expected to produce a substantial and demonstrably adverse impact on the child after the child’s birth.
The significance can result from a single act or omission or an accumulation of these.
Child is a person under the age of 16 years for the purposes of the Care and Protection Act.
There are different forms of child abuse. These include neglect, sexual, physical and emotional abuse.
Neglect is the continued failure by a parent or caregiver to provide a child with the basic things needed for his or her proper growth and development, such as food, clothing, shelter, medical and dental care and adequate supervision.
Physical abuse is a non-accidental injury or pattern of injuries to a child caused by a parent, caregiver or any other person. It includes but is not limited to injuries which are caused by excessive discipline, severe beatings or shakings, cigarette burns, attempted strangulation and female genital mutilation.
Injuries include bruising, lacerations or welts, burns, fractures or dislocation of joints.
Hitting a child around the head or neck and/or using a stick, belt or other object to discipline or punishing a child (in a non-trivial way) is a crime.
Serious psychological harm can occur where the behaviour of their parent or caregiver damages the confidence and self esteem of the child or young person, resulting in serious emotional deprivation or trauma.
Although it is possible for ‘one-off’ incidents to cause serious harm, in general it is the frequency, persistence and duration of the parental or carer behaviour that is instrumental in defining the consequences for the child.
This can include a range of behaviours such as excessive criticism, withholding affection, exposure to domestic violence, intimidation or threatening behaviour.
Sexual abuse is when someone involves a child or young person in a sexual activity by using their power over them or taking advantage of their trust. Often children are bribed or threatened physically and psychologically to make them participate in the activity. Child sexual abuse is a crime.
Child wellbeing concerns are safety, welfare or wellbeing concerns for a child or young person that do not meet the mandatory reporting threshold, risk of significant harm.
Young person means a person who is aged 16 years or above but who is under the age of 18 years for the purposes of the Care and Protection Act.
What should you do if you consider that a mandatory report is required?
Reporting by the School about these matters to Community Services and, where necessary, the police, is generally undertaken bythe Principal. This is in accordance with best practice principles and is the expectation of the School.
If you have a concern that a child or young person is at risk of significant harm you should contact the Principal as soon as possible to discuss whether the case reaches the threshold of ‘risk of significant harm’ and the steps required to report the matter.
However, if there is an immediate danger to the child or young person and the Principal is not contactable you should speak to the Police and/or the Child Protection Helpline directly and then advise the Principal or next most senior member of staff at the School as soon as possible.
You are not required to, and must not, undertake any investigation of the matter yourself.
You are not to inform the parents or caregivers that a report to Community Services has be made.
You are required to deal with the matter confidentially and only disclose it to the persons referred to above or as required to comply with your mandatory reporting obligations. Failure to maintain confidentiality will not only be a breach of this policy, but could expose you to potential civil proceedings for defamation.
What should you do if you have a concern that is below the mandatory reporting threshold?
While the Care and Protection Act outlines a mandatory reporter’s obligation to report to Community Services, as an employee of this School, any concern regarding the safety, welfare and wellbeing of a student must be reported to the Principal.
You are required to deal with all reports regarding the safety, welfare or wellbeing of a student with confidentially and only disclose it to the Principal and any other person the Principal nominates. Failure to do so will be a breach of this policy.
PART B: The Ombudsman Act
Part 3A of the Ombudsman Act requires the heads of certain agencies, including non government schools in New South Wales, to notify the New South Wales Ombudsman of all allegations of reportable conduct by an ’employee’ and the outcome of the School’s investigation of these allegations.
An ’employee’ includes employees, contractors, volunteers, work experience participants, clergy, ministers of religion and instructors of religion who provide pastoral or liturgical services. In this part where there is a reference to an employee it includes all of these persons.
The Ombudsman:
must keep under scrutiny the systems for preventing reportable conduct by employees of non government schools and the handling of, or response to, reportable allegations (including allegations which are exempt from notification) or convictions;
must receive and assess notifications from non government schools concerning reportable conduct or reportable convictions;
is required to oversee or monitor the conduct of investigations by non government schools into allegations of reportable or reportable convictions;
must determine whether an investigation that has been monitored has been conducted properly, and whether appropriate action has been taken as a result of the investigation;
may directly investigate an allegation of reportable conduct or reportable conviction against an employee of a non government school, or the handling of or response to such a matter (eg arising out of complaints by the person who is the subject of an allegation); and
may undertake ‘own motion’ investigations of non government schools where the Ombudsman considers it appropriate to do so, including where there is evidence of systemic failure or serious conflict of interests.
Head of Agency
The Head of Agency is the Principal of the School.
Under the Ombudsman Act the Head of Agency must:
set up systems within their organisation to ensure that they are advised of any allegations of reportable conduct against employees;
notify the Ombudsman as soon as possible and no later than thirty days after being made aware of an allegation;
notify the Ombudsman whether or not the School plans to take disciplinary or other action in relation to an employee who is the subject of a reportable allegation or conviction, and the reasons for taking or not taking any such action as soon as practicable; and
provide the Ombudsman with any documentary and other information as the Ombudsman may from time to time request to assist in the Ombudsman’s monitoring of an investigation.
Your obligations to report
You must report any concerns you may have about any other employee engaging in reportable conduct or any allegation of ‘reportable conduct’ that has been made to you, to the Principal, including information about yourself. If you are not sure whether the conduct is reportable conduct but consider that it is inappropriate behaviour you must still report it.
You must also report to [the Principal] if you become aware that an employee has been charged with or convicted of an offence (including a finding of guilt without the court proceeding to a conviction) involving reportable conduct. This includes information relating to yourself.
If the allegation involves [the Principal], you are required to report to the Child Protection Officer who is also a Member of College.
Contact for parents
The Principal is the contact point for parents if they wish to report an allegation of reportable conduct against an employee.
What is reportable conduct?
Definition of reportable conduct
Reportable conduct is defined as:
any sexual offence or sexual misconduct committed against, with or in the presence of a child (including a child pornography offence or an offence involving child abuse material);
any assault, ill-treatment or neglect of a child; and
any behaviour that causes psychological harm to a child whether or not, in any case, with the consent of the child.
Reportable conduct does not extend to:
conduct that is reasonable for the purposes of the discipline, management or care of children, having regard to the age, maturity, health or other characteristics of the children and to any relevant codes of conduct or professional standards; or
the use of physical force that, in all the circumstances, is trivial or negligible, but only if the matter is to be investigated and the result of the investigation recorded under workplace employment procedures; or
conduct that is exempted from notification by a Class or Kind Agreement.
Other relevant definitions
Set out below are definitions of the various terms referred to above in relation to reportable conduct.
Behaviour that causes psychological harm to a child is behaviour that is obviously or very clearly unreasonable and results in significant harm or trauma to a child. There needs to be a proven causal link between the inappropriate behaviour and the harm, and the harm must be more than transient.
Child is a person under the age of 18 years for the purposes of the Ombudsman Act.
Ill-treatment captures those circumstances where a person treats a child in an obviously or very clearly improper manner. The focus is on the alleged conduct rather than the actual effect of the conduct on the child.
Ill-treatment can include disciplining or correcting a child in an obviously unreasonable or inappropriate manner; making excessive and obviously unreasonable demands on a child; malevolent acts towards children; and inappropriate and hostile use of force against a child.
Neglect includes either an action or inaction by a person who has care responsibility towards a child. The nature of the employee’s responsibilities provides the context against which the conduct needs to be assessed.
Supervisory neglect:
An intentional or reckless failure to adequately supervise a child that results in the death of, or significant harm to, a child, or
An intentional or reckless failure to adequate supervise a child or a significantly careless act or failure to act, that:
Involves a gross breach of professional standards, and
Has the potential to result in the death or significant harm to a child.
Carer neglect:
Grossly inadequate care that involves depriving a child of the basic necessities of life: such as the provision of food and drink, clothing, critical medical care or treatment, or shelter.
Failure to protect from abuse:
An obviously or very clearly unreasonable failure to respond to information strongly indicating actual or potential serious abuse of a child.
Reckless act (or failure to act):
A reckless act, or failure to act, that:
Has the potential to result in the death of, or significant harm to, a child.
Physical Assault is any act by which a person intentionally inflicts unjustified use of physical force against another. An assault can also occur if a person causes another person to reasonably apprehend that unjustified force is going to be used against them. Even if a person who inflicts physical harm or causes another person to reasonably apprehend physical harm does not actually intend to inflict the harm or cause fear, they may still have committed an assault if they acted ‘recklessly’.
‘Recklessness’ in this context relates to circumstances when the person ought to have known that their actions would cause a person physical harm or cause them to fear injury.
Assaults can include hitting, pushing, shoving, throwing objects or making threats to physically harm a child.
PSOA ‘person subject to the allegation’
Sexual Misconduct has two categories which include:
crossing professional boundaries, and
sexually explicit comments and other overtly sexual behaviour.
The alleged conduct must have been committed against, with or in the presence of a child.
Crossing professional boundaries
Sexual misconduct includes behaviour that can reasonably be construed as involving an inappropriate and overly personal or intimate:
relationship with;
conduct towards; or
focus on;
a child or young person, or a group of children or young persons.
Codes of conduct that outline the nature of the professional boundaries which should exist between employees and children/young people can be particularly useful. For employees who either intentionally breach such codes or have demonstrated an inability to apply them appropriately, it may be necessary to provide more detailed written advice about what constitutes appropriate behaviour.
Sexually explicit comments and other overtly sexual behaviour
Behaviour involving sexually explicit comments and other overtly sexual behaviour which can constitute sexual misconduct. Some forms of this behaviour also involve crossing professional boundaries. This conduct may include:
inappropriate conversations of a sexual nature
comments that express a desire to act in a sexual manner
unwarranted and inappropriate touching
sexual exhibitionism
personal correspondence (including electronic communications such as e-mails and text messages) with a child or young person in relation to the adult’s sexual feelings for a child or young person
exposure of children and young people to sexual behaviour of others including display of pornography
watching children undress. For example, in change rooms or toilets when supervision is not required or justified.
Sexual Offences encompasses all criminal offences involving a sexual element that are ‘committed against, with or in the presence of a child’.
These offences include (but are not limited to) the following:
(a) indecent assault
(b) sexual assault
(c) aggravated sexual assault
(d) sexual intercourse and attempted sexual intercourse
(e) possession/ dissemination/ production of child pornography or child abuse material
(f) using children to produce pornography
(g) grooming or procuring children under the age of 16 years for unlawful sexual activity
(h) deemed non-consensual sexual activity on the basis of special care relationships
What happens when an allegation of reportable conduct is made?
3.1 Initial steps
Once an allegation of reportable conduct against an employee is received, the Head of Agency is required to:
(a) determine on face value whether it is an allegation of reportable conduct;
(b) assess whether Community Services or the Police need to be notified (ie, if reasonable grounds to suspect that a child is at risk of significant harm or criminal offence);
(c) notify the child’s parents (unless to do so would be likely to compromise the investigation or any investigation by Community Services or the Police);
(d) notify the Ombudsman within 30 days of receiving the allegation;
(e) carry out a risk assessment and take action to reduce/remove risk, where appropriate; and
(f) investigate the allegation or appoint someone to investigate the allegation.
3.2 Investigation principles
The School will:
(a) be mindful of the principles of procedural fairness;
(b) inform the person subject of the allegation (PSOA) of the substance of any allegations made against them and provide them with a reasonable opportunity to respond to the allegations;
(c) make reasonable enquiries or investigations before making a decision;
(d) avoid conflicts of interest;
(e) conduct the investigation without unjustifiable delay;
(f) handle the matter as confidentially as possible; and
(g) provide appropriate support for all parties including the child/children, witnesses and the PSOA.
3.3 Investigation steps
In an investigation the Head of Agency or appointed investigator will generally:
(a) interview relevant witnesses and gather relevant documentation;
(b) provide a letter of allegation to the PSOA;
(c) interview the PSOA;
(d) consider relevant evidence and make a preliminary finding in accordance with the NSW Ombudsman guidelines;
(e) inform the PSOA of the preliminary finding and provide them with an opportunity to respond;
(f) consider any response provided by the PSOA;
(g) make a final finding in accordance with the NSW Ombudsman Guidelines;
(h) decide on the disciplinary action, if any, to be taken against the PSOA;
(i) apply the NSW Commission for Children and Young People (CCYP) Guidelines and decide if the matter is reportable to CCYP; and
(j) send the final report to the Ombudsman and report to the CCYP (where required) (see Part C).
The steps followed in the investigate process will be guided by the “Recommended Protocols for Internal Investigative and Disciplinary Proceedings, 2001” (IEU/AIS) as updated from time to time (See Appendix 2.)
The steps outlined above may need to be varied on occasion to meet particular circumstances. For example it may be necessary to take different steps where the matter is also being investigated by Community Services or the NSW Police.
A PSOA may have an appropriate support person with them during the interview process. Such a person is there for support only and as a witness to the proceedings and not as an advocate or to take an active role.
Risk management means identifying the potential for an incident or accident to occur and taking steps to reduce the likelihood or severity of its occurrence.
The Head of Agency is responsible for risk management throughout the investigation and will assess risk at the beginning of the investigation, during and at the end of the investigation.
4.1 Initial risk assessment
One of the first steps following an allegation of reportable conduct against an employee is for the Head of Agency to conduct a risk assessment. The purpose of this initial risk assessment is to identify and minimise the risks to:
(a) the child(ren) who are the subject of the allegation;
(b) other children with whom the employee may have contact;
(c) the PSOA;
(d) the School, and
(e) the proper investigation of the allegation.
The factors which will be considered during the risk assessment include:
(a) the nature and seriousness of the allegations;
(b) the vulnerability of the child(ren) the PSOA has contact with at work;
(c) the nature of the position occupied by the PSOA;
(d) the level of supervision of the PSOA; and
(e) the disciplinary history or safety of the PSOA and possible risks to the investigation.
The Head of Agency will take appropriate action to minimise risks. This may include the PSOA being temporarily relieved of some duties, being required not to have contact with certain students, or being suspended from duty. When taking action to address any risks identified, the School will take into consideration both the needs of the child(ren) and the PSOA.
Please Note: A decision to take action on the basis of a risk assessment is not indicative of the findings of the matter. Until the investigation is completed and a finding is made, any action, such as an employee being suspended, is not to be considered to be an indication that the alleged conduct by the employee did occur.
4.2 Ongoing Risk Management
The Head of Agency will continually monitor risk during the investigation including in the light of any new relevant information that emerges.
4.3 Risk Management at the Conclusion of the Investigation
At the completion of the investigation, a finding will be made in relation to the allegation and a decision made by the Head of Agency regarding what action, if any, is required in relation to the PSOA, the child(ren) involved and any other parties.
What information will be provided to the PSOA?
The PSOA will be advised:
(a) that an allegation has been made against them (at the appropriate time in the investigation); and
(b) of the substance of the allegation, or of any preliminary finding and the final finding.
The PSOA does not automatically have the right to:
(a) know or have confirmed the identity of the person who made the allegation; or
(b) be shown the content of the Ombudsman notification form or other investigation material that reveals all information provided by other employees or witnesses.
Under the CCYP Act once the ‘relevant employment proceedings’ have been completed a PSOA can seek access to the records held by the School on their ‘relevant employment proceedings’ (see Part C section 3).
As a result of the allegations, investigation or final findings, the School may take disciplinary action against the PSOA (including termination of employment).
In relation to any disciplinary action the School will:
(a) give the PSOA details of the proposed disciplinary action; and
(b) give the PSOA a reasonable opportunity to respond before a final decision is made.
It is important when dealing with allegations of reportable conduct that the matter be dealt with as confidentially as possible.
The School requires that all parties maintain confidentiality during the investigation including in relation to the handling and storing of documents and records.
Records about allegations of reportable conduct against employees will be kept [in a secure area] and will be accessible by [the Head of Agency or with the Head of Agency’s express authority].
No employee may comment to the media about an allegation of reportable conduct unless expressly authorised by the Principal to do so.
If you become aware of a breach of confidentiality in relation to a reportable conduct allegation you must advise the Principal.
PART C: WWC Act
The Office of the Children’s Guardian (OCG) is responsible for employment screening for child related employment. A Working With Children Check (Check) is a prerequisite for anyone in child-related work. It involves a national criminal history check and review of reported workplace misconduct findings. The result of a Check is either a clearance to work with children for five years, or a bar against working with children. Cleared applicants are subject to ongoing monitoring by the OCG, and any relevant new records which appear against a cleared applicant’s name may lead to the Check being revoked.
It is the responsibility of the child-related worker to ensure that when they are eligible to apply for a Check or when their Check is up for renewal that they do so.
If you are an existing employee, employed at this school in paid child-related work prior to the commencement of the new Working With Children system[i], or you are a volunteer, your requirement to obtain a Check will be phased in over a five year period, according to the phase in schedule developed by the OCG
The object of the WWC Act is to protect children:
(a) by not permitting certain persons to engage in child-related work; and
(b) by requiring persons engaged in child-related work to have working with children check clearances.
Schools are required to:
(a) verify online and record the status of each child-related worker’s Check;
(b) only employ[ii] or engage child-related workers or eligible volunteers who have a valid Check; and
(c) report findings of misconduct involving children made against child-related workers or volunteers.
Child-related workers and eligible volunteers are required to:
hold and maintain a valid Check;
not engage in child-related work at any time that they are subjected to an interim bar or a bar; and
report to the Principal if they are no longer eligible for a Check, the status of their Check changes or are notified by the OCG that they are subjected to a risk assessment.
All volunteers are required to:
sign the Volunteer Statutory Declaration. Some volunteers engaged in high risk roles maybe required to have a Check;
to be aware and follow the expectations of conduct expressed in the School Staff Code of
Relevant Definitions
3.1 Bars
Final bar
This bar is applied based on a decision made by the OCG, following a risk assessment. This person is barred against working with children.
Interim bar
An interim bar is issued to high risk individuals to prevent them from continuing to work with children while a risk assessment is conducted. An interim bar may be applied for up to 12 months. If an interim bar remains in place for six months or longer, it may be appealed against through the Administrative Decisions Tribunal.
Not everyone who is subject to a risk assessment will receive an interim bar; only those representing a serious and immediate risk to children.
Interim bars are issued only for risks considered likely to result in a final bar.
3.2 Child-related work
Child-related work includes, but not limited to work in the following sectors[iii]:
early education and child care including education and care service, child care centres and other child care;
education schools and other educational institutions and private coaching or tuition of children;
religious services;
residential services including boarding schools, homestays more than three weeks, residential services and overnight camps; or
transport services for children including school bus services, taxi services for children with disability and supervision of school road crossings.
3.3 Child-related worker
A person who has physical contact or face to face contact with children in work outlined above in 3.2, including schools. This may include volunteer work.
A child-related worker may commence work once they have completed the Check application process. An application is completed when the online application form is complete and the worker’s identity has been proven at the NSW motor registry or Council Agency and the fee has been paid (if in paid work).
If you are unclear if your role is child-related you should speak with the Principal.
3.4 Disqualified person
A disqualified person is a person who has been convicted, or against whom proceedings have been commenced for a disqualifying offence outlined in Schedule 2 of WWC Act.[iv]
A disqualified person is a person who has a bar preventing them from working with children in child-related work.
It is an offence for an employer to knowingly engage a child-related worker when they do not hold a Check or who has a bar or an interim bar.
It is an offence for an employee to engage in child-related worker when they do not hold a Check or has a bar or an interim bar.
3.5 Findings of misconduct involving children
The school will report to the OCG when a finding has been made that the person (an employee of the school) subject to the finding engaged in:
sexual misconduct committed against, with or in the presence of a child, including grooming of a child; or
any serious physical assault of a child.[v]
The School will advise the person that the OCG has been notified of a finding of misconduct involving children.
The WWC Act enables a person who has a finding referred to the OCG under the Act to request access to the records held by the School in relation to the finding of misconduct involving children.
3.6 Reporting body
Independent Schools which are members of the AISNSW are defined as a reporting body by the WWC Act.
Section 35 of the WWC Act requires this School to notify the OCG findings of misconduct involving children made against a child-related worker. The school may also be obliged to report, amend or provide additional information to the OCG as outlined in the WWC Act.
3.7 Risk assessment
Risk assessment is an evaluation of an individual’s suitability for child-related work.
The OCG will conduct a risk assessment on a person’s suitability to work with children when a new record is receive which triggers a risk assessment. This may include an offence under Schedule 1, pattern of behaviour or offences involving violence of sexual misconduct representing a risk to children, findings of misconduct involving children or notification made to OCG by the Ombudsman.
3.8 Working With Children Check Clearance
A Working with Children Check (Check) means authorisation under the WWC Act to engage in child-related work. An employee will be issued with a number which is to be provided to the School to verify the status of an employee’s Check.
[i] The New Working With Children system commenced in NSW on 15 June 2013. The previous Working With Children system ceased 7 June 2013.
[ii] As of 15 June 2013, existing employees and volunteers are subjected to a phase in schedule developed by the OCG. This can be found at www.kids.gov.nsw.au or at appendix XX (which may be updated from time to time by the OCG).
[iii] Further information at Part 2 Division 1 Section 6 Child Protection (Working With Children) Act 2012 found at http://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/maintop/view/inforce/act+51+2012+cd+0+N
[iv] Schedule 2 disqualifying offence can be found at: http://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/maintop/view/inforce/act+51+2012+cd+0+N
[v] Further details of obligations of employers can be found in the Information for Employers guidelines and/or Information for reporting bodies factsheet developed by the OCG found at www.kids.nsw.gov.au
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Absolutely terrible experience! We bought a sectional from here and initially the experience was good. Sasha, the salesperson was great to work with and patient. That quickly changed. The leg on the ottoman was broken so we had to get that fixed. When we went to move a few months later, we noticed the back of the couch was broken (the delivery guys put it against the wall so we had never seen it). We had it serviced and were without that piece for over a week.
By March 1882, Mauve appears to have gone cold towards Van Gogh, and stopped replying to his letters.[72] He had learned of Van Gogh's new domestic arrangement with an alcoholic prostitute, Clasina Maria "Sien" Hoornik (1850–1904), and her young daughter.[73] Van Gogh had met Sien towards the end of January 1882, when she had a five-year-old daughter and was pregnant. She had previously borne two children who died, but Van Gogh was unaware of this;[74] on 2 July, she gave birth to a baby boy, Willem.[75] When Van Gogh's father discovered the details of their relationship, he put pressure on his son to abandon Sien and her two children. Vincent at first defied him,[76] and considered moving the family out of the city, but in late 1883, he left Sien and the children.[77]
In 2015 the company paid out $2.5 million dollars in free furniture to 3000 customers after a promotion that gave away the purchases of customers if it snowed three inches each in the cities of Toledo, Fort Wayne, and Chicago.[21][22] In 2016, Art Van replaced its regional Super Bowl advertisements in the Detroit and Grand Rapids areas with a thank you message for donors of water to Flint, Michigan, which the company had solicited through its charitable programs.[23]
Ill from drink and suffering from smoker's cough, in February 1888 Van Gogh sought refuge in Arles.[14] He seems to have moved with thoughts of founding an art colony. The Danish artist Christian Mourier-Petersen became his companion for two months, and at first Arles appeared exotic. In a letter, he described it as a foreign country: "The Zouaves, the brothels, the adorable little Arlésienne going to her First Communion, the priest in his surplice, who looks like a dangerous rhinoceros, the people drinking absinthe, all seem to me creatures from another world."[114]
Though The Dick Van Dyke Show got off to a slow start, it eventually developed quite a following; Van Dyke won over audiences with his good humor and likeability, and won three Emmy Awards for his work on the series. Decades after the show went off the air, in 1966, it remained a popular program in syndication. Following the show's end in 1966, Van Dyke starred on several other TV series, including The New Dick Van Dyke Show, but none captured the public's heart the way his first sitcom did.
The portraits gave Van Gogh his best opportunity to earn. He believed they were "the only thing in painting that moves me deeply and that gives me a sense of the infinite."[223][226] He wrote to his sister that he wished to paint portraits that would endure, and that he would use colour to capture their emotions and character rather than aiming for photographic realism.[227] Those closest to Van Gogh are mostly absent from his portraits; he rarely painted Theo, Van Rappard or Bernard. The portraits of his mother were from photographs.[228]
Between 1885 and his death in 1890, Van Gogh appears to have been building an oeuvre,[221] a collection that reflected his personal vision, and could be commercially successful. He was influenced by Blanc's definition of style, that a true painting required optimal use of colour, perspective and brushstrokes. Van Gogh applied the word "purposeful" to paintings he thought he had mastered, as opposed to those he thought of as studies.[222] He painted many series of studies;[218] most of which were still lifes, many executed as colour experiments or as gifts to friends.[223] The work in Arles contributed considerably to his oeuvre: those he thought the most important from that time were The Sower, Night Cafe, Memory of the Garden in Etten and Starry Night. With their broad brushstrokes, inventive perspectives, colours, contours and designs, these paintings represent the style he sought.[219]
Vincent Willem van Gogh was born on 30 March 1853 into a Dutch Reformed family in Groot-Zundert, in the predominantly Catholic province of North Brabant in the southern Netherlands.[16] He was the oldest surviving child of Theodorus van Gogh, a minister of the Dutch Reformed Church, and Anna Cornelia Carbentus. Van Gogh was given the name of his grandfather, and of a brother stillborn exactly a year before his birth.[note 2] Vincent was a common name in the Van Gogh family: his grandfather, Vincent (1789–1874), who received a degree in theology at the University of Leiden in 1811, had six sons, three of whom became art dealers. This Vincent may have been named after his own great-uncle, a sculptor (1729–1802).[18]
Van Gogh's works are among the world's most expensive paintings. Those sold for over US$100 million (today's equivalent) include Portrait of Dr Gachet,[286] Portrait of Joseph Roulin and Irises. The Metropolitan Museum of Art's version of Wheat Field with Cypresses was acquired in 1993 for US$57 million.[287] In 2015 L'Allée des Alyscamps sold for US$66.3 million at Sotheby's, New York, exceeding its reserve of US$40 million.[288]
Dick Van Dyke was born Richard Wayne Van Dyke in West Plains, Missouri, to Hazel Victoria (McCord), a stenographer, and Loren Wayne Van Dyke, a salesman. His younger brother is entertainer Jerry Van Dyke. His ancestry includes English, Scottish, German, Swiss-German, and Dutch. Although he'd had small roles beforehand, Van Dyke was launched to stardom in the 1960 musical "Bye-Bye Birdie", for which he won a Tony Award, and, then, later in the movie based on that play, Bye Bye Birdie (1963). He has starred in a number of films throughout the years including Mary Poppins (1964), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968) and Fitzwilly (1967), as well as a number of successful television series which won him no less than four Emmys and three made-for-CBS movies. After separating from his wife, Margie Willett, in the 1970s, Dick later became involved with Michelle Triola. Margie and Dick had four children born during the first ten years of their marriage: Barry Van Dyke; Carrie Beth van Dyke; Christian Van Dyke and Stacy Van Dyke, all of whom are now in their forties and married themselves. He has seven grandchildren, including Shane Van Dyke, Carey Van Dyke, Wes Van Dyke and Taryn Van Dyke (Barry's children) and family members often appear with him on Diagnosis Murder (1993).
Van Gogh had no recollection of the event, suggesting that he may have suffered an acute mental breakdown.[147] The hospital diagnosis was "acute mania with generalised delirium",[148] and within a few days the local police ordered that he be placed in hospital care.[149][150] Gauguin immediately notified Theo, who on 24 December had proposed marriage to his old friend Andries Bonger's sister Johanna.[151] That evening Theo rushed to the station to board a night train to Arles. He arrived on Christmas Day and comforted Vincent, who seemed to be semi-lucid. That evening he left Arles for the return trip to Paris.[152]
Many of the comedy films Van Dyke starred in throughout the 1960s were relatively unsuccessful at the box office, including What a Way to Go! with Shirley MacLaine, Lt. Robin Crusoe, U.S.N., Fitzwilly, The Art of Love with James Garner and Elke Sommer, Some Kind of a Nut, Never a Dull Moment with Edward G. Robinson, and Divorce American Style with Debbie Reynolds and Jean Simmons. But he also starred as Caractacus Pott (with his native accent, at his own insistence, despite the English setting) in the successful musical version of Ian Fleming's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968), which co-starred Sally Ann Howes and featured the same songwriters (The Sherman Brothers) and choreographers (Marc Breaux and Dee Dee Wood) as Mary Poppins.
Van Gogh's gaze is seldom directed at the viewer. The portraits vary in intensity and colour, and in those painted after December 1888 especially, the vivid colours highlight the haggard pallor of his skin.[232] Some depict the artist with a beard, others without. He can be seen with bandages in portraits executed just after he mutilated his ear. In only a few does he depict himself as a painter.[230] Those painted in Saint-Rémy show the head from the right, the side opposite his damaged ear, as he painted himself reflected in his mirror.[236][237]
Vincent Van Gogh's life was a short one but almost three years of it were spent in Britain. A big new exhibition at Tate Britain in London brings together 50 of his pictures - including some masterpieces - to show how life in the capital and the art scene in Britain - influenced the young artist. And how he in turn influenced British artists such as Francis Bacon.
I remember in the book that Caractacus was married. There was no love interest, no love story. So I think bringing Truly Scrumptious in works very well because we had assumed he was a widower. And they couldn't have picked a better Truly Scrumptious than Sally [Sally Ann Howes]. They came up with Sally Ann and I heard her voice, and it was the richest contralto. She auditioned with "The Lovely Lonely Man" and I thought, "My God, this girl is great!" and then she was stunningly beautiful. She loved those kids and they loved her, which I think comes across on the screen. They just thought a great deal of her and she spent a lot of time with them, you know, between shots - telling stories and playing games during all those long waiting periods.
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2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games
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The Sustainable City pLAn of Los Angeles
City Hall viewed from Grand Park | Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Grand Avenue Authority
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The Sustainable City pLAn is a roadmap for a Los Angeles that is environmentally healthy, economically prosperous, and equitable in opportunity for all - now and over the next 20 years. The pLAn focuses on both short-term results and long term goals that will transform our city.
L.A.’s first-ever Sustainable City pLAn connects the dots for Los Angeles by building on the three legs of the stool needed for any thriving city: Environment, Economy and Equity.
In his introduction to the pLAn, Mayor Eric Garcetti writes: “This is our moment to come together and transform Los Angeles. That’s why I am excited to present to you this Sustainable City pLAn. This pLAn is a comprehensive and actionable directive that will produce meaningful results for today’s Angelenos while setting us on the path to strengthen and transform our city in the decades to come. It is important to emphasize that the pLAn is not just an environmental vision - by addressing the environment, economy, and equity together, we will move toward a truly sustainable future.”
Read on for highlights of the Sustainable City pLAn, featuring short term (by 2017) and longer term (by 2025 and 2035) targets in 14 categories that will advance our environment, economy and equity. For more information and to download a PDF of the complete pLAn, visit plan.lamayor.org.
Panneaux solaires au LACC | Crédit photo du Los Angeles Convention Center, Facebook
Protecting L.A.’s environment ensures that we harness our natural resources efficiently and effectively, while providing a clean, healthy and safe city for present and future generations of Angelenos.
Courtesy of Sustainable City pLAn
Local Water
Los Angeles is facing a “new normal” of a persistent drought — California is now in its fourth straight year of severe drought. Capturing and cleaning storm water helps to significantly reduce our dependency on imported water, prepares us to bounce back from possible disasters, and keeps our rivers and beaches clean, usable, and thriving with wildlife. These provisions ensure a strong future for our growing economy. L.A. has long been — and continues to be — a leader in water conservation, with Mayor Garcetti’s recent Executive Directive #5 setting a goal of a 20% reduction in water use per capita by 2017.
Local Solar Power
Production of electricity from fossil fuels creates pollution, including smog and greenhouse gas emissions. Combining the abundance of sunshine our city enjoys with the advantage of owning our own municipal utility, Los Angeles’s investment in solar is generating clean power, reducing pollution, and improving grid reliability. Solar energy installed in Los Angeles creates local green jobs for Angelenos, helps drive innovation, and - when combined with backup battery storage - helps keep the city moving in the event of a disaster. L.A. has become a leader in solar through the feed in tariff and net metering programs, and will become an increasing national and global leader moving forward.
Buildings are the largest consumers of electricity in the city and a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. Smart, cost-effective retrofits will benefit our buildings for decades, create local green jobs, and lower energy bills. Energy-efficient buildings also reduce L.A.’s contribution to global warming and create healthier, more comfortable spaces. Our city’s mild climate enables us to be a national leader in reducing energy consumption and make our buildings more efficient. L.A.’s vision is to significantly reduce energy consumption per square foot across all building types in the city.
Carbon & Climate Leadership
Climate change is considered by many experts to be one of the biggest challenges facing humanity, and it will bring dramatic challenges to Los Angeles in the coming years, including wide-ranging effects on the health and welfare of Angelenos. As the largest city in a state that is taking the most ambitious and aggressive action on climate change, L.A. is poised to establish itself as the national leader in carbon reduction and climate change action, and in doing so catalyzing clean energy industry and creating new green jobs. Los Angeles is currently reducing greenhouse gas emissions through the elimination of coal in our energy mix, prioritizing energy efficiency, and inspiring other cities across the US to take similar action.
Waste & Landfills
Every household and business in the city generates waste, and our local landfills are filling up. By managing our waste in a smarter way through recycling and reusing materials such as packaging, food waste, and old electronics, we can turn this problem into an opportunity. Embracing resource recovery will provide opportunities for Los Angeles to use new technologies and methods, propelling us toward a cradle-to-cradle future, where most waste is ultimately reused locally rather than exported elsewhere. Recovering materials from the waste stream and reusing them locally will decrease our need for diminishing resources and stimulate green-job growth.
L.A. in a Day | Photo courtesy of Bikes and Hikes LA, Facebook
Strengthening the economy of L.A. ensures we can satisfy our basic needs for housing, jobs, mobility and resiliency.
The availability and affordability of housing are among the most visible and important economic issues facing Angelenos today. They’re also critical elements to a strong and thriving Los Angeles. The pLAn and its strategic initiatives aim to ease housing costs, lower utility bills, promote appropriate development, encourage housing around transit hubs, and increase the production and preservation of affordable housing. These steps will allow Los Angeles to properly serve all individuals and families, while improving total housing affordability in L.A. and preventing the loss of existing affordable housing.
Mobility & Transit
Traffic and difficulty in moving around the city are an unfortunate part of Los Angeles’s image and reality. Traffic also presents a significant economic challenge and quality of life impact. As L.A. expects to add another 500,000 residents over the next 20 years, it is critical that the city provides more options for Angelenos to move around and get to where they need to go. We will focus on public transit, bicycling, walking, and locating Angelenos’ residences near transit and the places they would want to travel.
Prosperity & Green Jobs
The economic power of individual workers and the green business sector are key components of a sustainable city’s strength and vitality. Developing prosperity through green jobs can drive triple bottom-line returns that achieve economic success, improve equity, and strengthen the environment. Opportunities include: increasing the number of green jobs through water and energy efficiency, transit growth, and improving our national and global competitiveness in the clean tech sector.
Preparedness & Resiliency
We must prepare Los Angeles for future earthquakes and increasing climate disruptions facing our city, including bigger wildfires, longer and hotter heatwaves, and rising sea levels. Whether in the form of distributed water solutions to help increase local water supplies and fight fires post-earthquake, or the integration of grid-tied solar powered backup systems to keep fire stations running, it is immediately necessary to have proactive solutions to prepare the city.
Malibu Creek State Park | Photo courtesy of 45SURF, Flickr
Building equity in our city ensures all Angelenos have access to healthy, livable neighborhoods. It also strengthens a sense of collective ownership of our common future.
Los Angeles has made great strides in improving its air quality since the 1970’s, yet more work is required to protect public health and improve our air. Mobile sources (trucks, ships, aircraft, and personal vehicles) emit 90% of the region’s air pollutants. A key piece of the solution will be Los Angeles facilitating the transition to low and zero-emissions transportation primarily though electric vehicles (EVs). We will strive to eliminate non-attainment days (air pollutants exceed federal standards) by making EV use more convenient and practical, and by shifting commercial goods movement to lower or zero-emissions technologies.
Underserved, low-income individuals and communities often bear the burden of environmental pollution, health impacts and economic health challenges, and therefore need and deserve specific improvements and investments. All Angelenos have the right to health and opportunity in our city. Improving air quality and neighborhood conditions helps ensure that no Angeleno becomes or remains marginalized. The pLAn also addresses food deserts and takes steps to deliver benefits from the green economy to all Angelenos.
Urban Ecosystem
Research has shown that access to nature makes people mentally and physically healthier. L.A.’s natural lands - our own “wild places” - and parks improve environmental quality and increase the economic, physical, and social health of the City’s communities. Focusing our efforts to revitalize urban ecosystems, we help prioritize the City’s efforts to increase access to outdoor space and develop the richness of those spaces in terms of quality services, diverse ecosystems and urban agriculture.
Livable Neighborhoods
Neighborhoods are more than simply places where people reside. Neighborhoods are a great source of pride and self-identification. The pLAn and its strategic initiatives help create the conditions for neighborhoods to thrive, such as building great streets that serve as local destinations, providing safe transit, access to services, and creating opportunities for engagement and the formation of strong community bonds.
The City of Los Angeles has long been a leader on environmental, economic, and social equity issues.
When the City leads by example on sustainability performance, it inspires both Angelenos and the nation to take action. Opportunities for City leadership include increasing resource efficiency, achieving a high STAR rating (i.e., a community sustainability rating system), and influencing other cities in the region to act on sustainability and climate change.
© 2019 LOS ANGELES TOURISM & CONVENTION BOARD.
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Home Topics Environment Chevron, Ecuador and the extractor’s curse – 2
Energy & Fuel
Chevron, Ecuador and the extractor’s curse – 2
To avoid paying compensation, the oil company targets the victims' lawyers
2. The Ecuadorian government: friend or foe?
On July 10 2018, two courts, over 2,800 miles apart, came to diametrically opposite conclusions about one of the worst cases of environmental pollution in the twentieth century. In Quito, Ecuador, the Constitutional Court upheld a ruling that the giant US corporation Chevron Oil was responsible for the catastrophic pollution of a vast area of Amazon rain forest between 1971 and 1992. In New York, the state Supreme Court found that Steve Donziger, one of the principal US lawyers representing those affected by the pollution, was guilty of perverting the course of justice in this case, and debarred him indefinitely from practising as a lawyer. Chevron hailed this as a victory.
“We’re going to fight this until hell freezes over … And then we’ll fight it out on the ice”, said a Chevron spokesman in 2009. The company has done just that.
Meanwhile, the Lago Agrio region of Ecuador remains severely polluted, the victims remain uncompensated, and environmental defenders throughout the world must contemplate the terrifying consequences of taking on companies and governments responsible for blatant crimes against the natural world.
In this second article of her three-part series, Linda Etchart looks at the actions and omissions of successive Ecuadorian governments
Ecuador is not alone in having viewed its substantial oil resources as a ‘free’ resource to be tapped to provide a source of easy cash to be used for a wide range of purposes, whether socially useful (education, health and public transport), arguably wasteful (vanity construction projects), militaristic (arms purchases and territorial expansion) or simply corrupt (the enrichment of ministers, political parties and élites). Peru, Chile, Bolivia, Brazil, Venezuela, Mexico – most of the countries of the region have succumbed to the temptation of extractivism, under governments of the right, centre and left.
Invariably their own capital and technological resources have not been adequate to the task and the solution has been to turn to the vast oil and mining companies (mostly US, Canadian or European, and latterly also Chinese) with the cash, skilled staff and equipment to do the job.
Like other developing countries who find themselves with the ‘gift’ or ‘curse’ of natural resources, Ecuador was under pressure from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to exploit its oil reserves. By the year 2000, foreign debt had reached US$15 billion, and the country required an IMF loan of US$300 million. This was a prerequisite for a further US$1.7 billion from the World Bank and InterAmerican Development Bank. The IMF loan, in turn, was conditional on fulfilling the requirements of the International Financial Institutions which included allowing foreign companies to build and operate pipelines. Ecuador caved in.
Map of OCP pipeline. Image: OCPEcuador website
This meant opening up the rainforest for oil exploration and drilling. Since 2000, the Ecuadorian government has auctioned off concessions over the entire Ecuadorian Amazon basin to foreign oil companies. By 2005, seven oil companies were operating in the area: the Oleoducto de Crudo Pesado (OCP) pipeline was built to transport oil from the rainforest to the coast, as well as a road through the Yasuní national park. Oil drilling and its associated infrastructure result in deforestation, the disappearance of entire indigenous communities, and reduction of the mammalian population1.
Oleoducto de Crudo Pesado, Amazonas terminal, Lago Agrio. Photo: OCPEcuador
The crucial questions concern the terms on which are these foreign companies engaged. At what price will exploration rights and concessions to extract be sold? What infrastructure gain (roads, railways, ports) will be stipulated? Will training and employment of nationals and locals be required? Are social dividends (schools, health clinics) to be exacted? How will environmental and other damage be avoided or mitigated? Will the land be restored to its former condition? And what taxes and royalties will be levied?
All too often, the process of negotiation between government and company is profoundly unequal. The companies typically have vastly greater technical knowledge and legal expertise than the government ministries with whom they must reach agreement. And, once agreement is reached, governments lack the resources, and sometimes the will, to inspect, investigate and enforce.
Failure to enforce
Ecuador was no exception. The government had anticipated the possibility of contamination before Texaco began their operations: in 1971, it passed the Hydrocarbon Law, Decree 1459, ‘requiring oil producers to adopt all necessary measures for the protection of the flora and fauna and other natural resources, and to prevent the pollution of water, the atmosphere and the land’ (according to the Chevron website, no date). The company was required to follow environmental guidelines, but it appears that the government failed to enforce them.
The Ecuadorian government’s responsibility was not confined to regulation. Through the state oil company CEPE (now called PetroEcuador) it acquired first a 25% and later a majority stake in the Texaco-Gulf consortium that was drilling and extracting oil in Rio Agrio. However, while the government initially had a 67.5 per cent in the consortium, the management of that operation was carried out entirely by Texaco, which was thus responsible for decisions about operational methods and environment protection on the ground. It would appear that the state-owned oil enterprise PetroEcuador continued where Texaco left off without making substantial changes. Arguably, they inherited a flawed production system from Texaco.
Moreover, the Ecuadorian government indemnified Texaco against claims for damage caused by their operations: a Memorandum of Understanding to that effect was agreed in 1994 between PetroEcuador and the government of Ecuador represented by the Minister of Energy and Mines, Gustavo Galindo Velasco, setting out the scope of remediation work required of Texpet (Texaco´s Ecuadorian operation). Work was carried out with the approval of Ecuadorian inspectors, amounting to US$40 million for ‘remediation, infrastructure improvements, and socioeconomic contributions’, according to Chevron. On 30 September 1998, the Ecuadorian government (represented by its Minister of Energy and Mines), PetroEcuador, PetroProduccion and TexPet signed the ‘Acta Final’, certifying that TexPet had performed all its obligations under the 1995 Settlement Agreement and releasing TexPet from any environmental liability arising from the Consortium’s operations.
Cosmetic remediation
The ‘remedial work’ undertaken by the company, however, was ‘extremely limited in scope and largely cosmetic’, according to Professor Kimerling2. ‘Contaminated liquids were dumped into waterways without sampling or treatment; pits containing high levels of petroleum were backfilled without removing or treating the oil; and some of the oil and contaminated soils and vegetation that were removed were burned in open fires, dumped in nearby forests, or buried in unlined holes in the ground’.
Video: La Nación Dominicana, Sept 8 2018
Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa, who was elected in 2006, supported the ongoing lawsuit against Chevron, by now the owner of Texaco and arguably inheritor of its responsibilities, and was ‘basically calling for the heads of government officials that signed off the remediation’, according to Steve Donziger, the US lawyer acting for the plaintiffs, about whom we will hear more in the third article. In a further irony, Correa would be accused by his successor, Lenín Moreno, of using US$10 million of public funds to support indigenous people and settlers in Amazonia in their case against Chevron. One might wonder what other funds is the head of state supposed to use to defend his country and its communities?
Somehow, everyone and no one was responsible for the oil spills. As we shall see in the third article in this series, the moral case did not correspond with the legal case, which was complicated by questions of who was filing lawsuits on behalf of whom, and details with regard to jurisdiction, national and international law, and precedent.
Main image: Oleoducto de Crudo Pesado as it crosses a rainforest ridge. Photo: website of LCS Pipelines, one of the main contractors on the OCP Project.
Finer, M. & Huta, L. (2005) ‘Yasuní Blues: The IMF, Ecuador and Coerced Oil Exploration’ Multinational Monitor, May/June.
Kimerling, J. (2007) ‘Transnational Operations, Bi-National Injustice: ChevronTexaco and Indigenous Huaorani and Kichwa in the Amazon Rainforest in Ecuador’ American Indian Law Review 445
Next: Chevron turns the tables on those who dare to challenge it.
Linda Etchart is a lecturer in Human Geography at Kingston University. She is author of the chapter ‘Indigenous Peoples and the Rights of Nature’ in LAB’s new book Voices of Latin America (forthcoming, Jan 2019).
Previous articleChevron, Ecuador and the extractor’s curse – 1
Next articleChevron, Ecuador and the extractor’s curse – 3
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Film & Concert: “Music for Free on the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route” with Ben Weaver
St. Mane Theatre + Google Map
Lanesboro Arts presents “Music for Free on the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route,” a film screening and concert event with artist Ben Weaver at the St. Mane Theatre in downtown Lanesboro on Saturday, June 29 at 7:00 p.m. Ben is a Saint Paul-based songwriter, musician, poet, letterpress artist, cyclist and outdoor adventure advocate that is returning to engage with the Lanesboro area community following a pair of outreach events in 2017 and a mini-residency in 2018. His film “Music For Free…” is a beautiful journey down the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, exploring wilderness, what it means to be wild, and examining the common denominators that unify all humans who share this planet.
Ben, along with ceramic artist Anna Metcalfe, will lead a Group Bicycle Ride on the Root River State Trail to nearby Whalan, MN beginning at 10:00 a.m. on June 29. The journey will include a stop with Ben and Anna at the gazebo in John Whaalahan Park in Whalan for live performances and the exchange of stories while enjoying morning tea & snacks. Please click here to learn more and register for the Group Bicycle Ride with Ben and Anna.
Adventure films often position the athletes as the heroes. Ben Weaver has always felt this approach leaves out an important part of the story. The part about the people who helped along the way. “Music for Free…” follows Ben’s journey as he pedaled 3,000 miles in June 2018 from Banff, Alberta, Canada to Antelope Wells, New Mexico, U.S.A, with filmmaker Keenan Desplanques in order to tell a different kind of adventure story. Stopping in the communities along the way, Ben gave free performances and offered thanks to the people who continue to support the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (the longest mapped, off-road bikepacking route in the world) and its riders. Ben believes mountain vistas and overcoming physical challenge are not nearly as inspiring as listening to a stranger tell their story, and in it, hearing your own. If “Music for Free…” had a chorus it would be this: The people are the heroes.
For Ben, an artist is a person who believes in the impossible. They are the representatives of awe, the kinds of people who set off into the storm with no matches. Artists are the ones who lay down on the ground and wrestle with the wolves, metaphorically and sometimes literally. Artists keep the truth of a spirit breathing, constantly in pursuit of an energy, a source, a language larger than the sum of our petty concerns. For Ben, it’s about reciprocity, a way of listening and sharing, observing and making for more than oneself. The artist makes visible for a moment the potential of the human spirit for those who may not otherwise be able to see it.
The film screening & concert on June 29, as well as the Group Bicycle Ride earlier in the day, offer community members an opportunity to continue dialogue around the issues and ideas explored during Ben’s previous visits to Lanesboro. Reflecting on his upcoming visit, Ben shares, “I am excited to return to Lanesboro. It will feel particularly meaningful to reconnect with the community whose members have helped inform my own process of story collecting and sharing.” Ben adds, “The importance and value of unification through diversity has been an ongoing topic of discussion between myself and the people of Lanesboro each time I have visited. I am curious to see how that will continue to evolve in connection to this new project of mine.”
The St. Mane Theatre box office will open at 6:00 p.m. the day of the film & concert. Tickets will also be sold in-person beginning at that time.
New in 2019: Each ticket purchased with a bank card will be charged an additional processing fee of $0.99. Patrons can avoid this processing fee by paying via cash or check in the Lanesboro Arts Gallery, or before the show in the St. Mane Theatre lobby.
If you are unable to purchase tickets online or need additional assistance, you may try calling 507-467-2446 to purchase a ticket over the phone during business hours. Tickets are also sold in-person during business hours at Lanesboro Arts Gallery.
We will have a list of the names of tickets buyers at the box office beginning at 6:00 p.m. If the buyer and their guests arrive together, no physical receipt or proof of purchase is needed in order to be admitted to the event–we will have a list!
Alternatively, attendees can also present a printed copy of the ticket PDF the ticket buyer was e-mailed or simply pull it up and present it on a smart device.
Lanesboro Arts is committed to accessibility for all people. Learn more about our access services.
Capstone: Root River Vibrations Concert & Listening Party with Eric Carranza
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Philip D. Anker
Seven World Trade Center, 250 Greenwich Street New York, New York 10007
Firm: Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP
Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP
Philip Anker is a partner in both the Litigation/Controversy and Transactional Departments of WilmerHale, and vice chair of the firm's Bankruptcy and Financial Restructuring Practice Group. Mr. Anker is also a member of the firm's Business Trial Group.
Mr. Anker is an experienced bankruptcy litigator and counselor, who has practiced for more than 20 years in the field. Among other honors, he has been selected as one of the "Best Lawyers" in the areas of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law in The Best Lawyers in America each year from 2005-2014, with peers stating that he is “seasoned and capable” and “a first-class litigator who is tremendous in open court.” He is also listed in the 2013 and 2014 editions of The Best Lawyers in America in the area of Litigation – Bankruptcy, as well as in the 2010-2013 editions of Benchmark Litigation for his leading bankruptcy litigation practice, which cites Mr. Anker’s peers and clients as saying that he is “a superb lawyer, highly professional, and among the elite bankruptcy practitioners.”
Mr. Anker's practice is wide-ranging. He has represented the full panoply of clients in business bankruptcy cases: debtors, Chapter 11 trustees, trustees of post-confirmation trusts, creditors' committees, secured creditors, debtor-in-possession lenders, unsecured creditors, equity holders, investors and purchasers of companies and assets in bankruptcy. Mr. Anker also has substantial experience in out-of-court workouts. In addition, Mr. Anker has played a leading role in some of the largest, most prominent bankruptcy-related litigation matters in recent years, including actions arising out of the Adelphia, Enron, Global Crossing, Lyondell, Tribune and Refco Chapter 11 cases, as well as several consumer bankruptcy class actions. Among other prominent cases, Mr. Anker recently completed a trial of a multi-billion-dollar fraudulent transfer action. In addition, Mr. Anker has argued and prevailed in five separate bankruptcy appeals in the US Court of Appeals: Adelphia Recovery Trust v. Bank of America, No. 09-0039-CV, 379 F. App'x 10 (2d Cir. 2010), aff'g, 390 B.R. 80 (S.D.N.Y. 2008); Eastman Kodak Co. v. Wachovia Bank, N.A., 456 F.3d 1277 (11th Cir. 2006); MBNA America Bank, N.A. v. Hill, 436 F.3d 104 (2d Cir. 2006); Arruda v. Sears, Roebuck & Co., 310 F.3d 13 (1st Cir. 2002); and AT&T Universal Card Servs. v. Mercer, 246 F.3d 391 (5th Cir. en banc 2001). Mr. Anker also successfully argued for the investment bank defendants in the New York Court of Appeals in Kirschner v. KPMG, et al., 15 N.Y. 3d 446, 938 N.E. 2d 941, 912 N.Y.S. 2d 508 (N.Y. Ct. App. 2010), which resulted in that court’s seminal decision reinforcing the in pari delicto defense and the dismissal of $2 billion in claims against the banks.
Named a "Top Bankruptcy Lawyer" by The Deal's 2007 list of top bankruptcy law firms and lawyers
Chosen by peers and through independent research as a "New York Super Lawyer" from 2006 through 2013
Ranked in the 2012, 2013 and 2014 editions of Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business for his Bankruptcy/Restructuring practice
Recognized for his leading bankruptcy litigation practice in the 2010-2013 editions of Benchmark Litigation
University of Pennsylvania, BA
Seven World Trade Center, 250 Greenwich Street
What is your relation to Philip D. Anker? Consulted Attorney Current Client Former Client Other
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The United Nations’ Decision-Making On The Fate Of CBD
By lomadminMay 7, 2018Articles, International Laws, Medical Marijuana Laws
In the month of November back in the year 2017, the UN held a conference in Geneva, Switzerland. This became the premise for the United Nations’ decision on the usage of CBD, which somewhat changed the drug policy in the entire world.
Cannabidiol has been known for its potency in treating medical cases, and due to its rising popularity among users, it’s only fair that the idea should be presented to the higher ups for legal approval and confirmation.
In November 2017, a World Health Organization conference was held in Geneva, Switzerland. This meeting opened doors for the regulation of cannabidiol (CBD) in many countries all over the world including ones who are not familiar with the drug and hence, allowing the legalization of the use of marijuana in particular areas.
A conference meeting was held on November 6-10 by the Expert Committee on Drug Dependence. 17 various psychoactive substances, as well as CBD were discussed and studied for possible cases of dependency, abuse and damage to the user’s vitality.
Propositions were made by the ECDD to the United Nations Secretary-General on the essentials and levels of strict maintenance with regards to the drug usage.
Every year, the ECDD holds an annual conference in order to monitor the properties that cause dependence between users as well as the risks that threaten the body due to psychoactive contents even those compounds which have been known for their medical potency.
Raúl Elizalde, the president of HempMeds Mexico, a medical marijuana company was encouraged to talk about CBD during the meeting. Elizalde has always been known for being an outspoken advocate for cannabis use in terms of medical purposes due to personal experience. Grace, his 10 year old daughter, suffers from a grave condition of epilepsy and CBD has proven to help him and his daughter.
He was an actively involved influence to the legalization of medical cannabis in Mexico while his company is the only one that produces the only cannabis medicine currently authorized by the Mexican government.
Elizalde aims to implore the delegates to prohibit the recommendation of regulating the use of CBD. The very idea of discussing with global leaders and discouraging them from considering CBD as a psychoactive and not label it as a drug is quite the feat.
However, Elizalde dreads that a commendation to the supervision of CBD will moderate its use to the pharmeceutical industry and dismiss the availability of access to inummerable patients who have previously used CBD and have started to depend on it.
Likewise, Elizalde deduces that CBD is more appropriate to be taken as a dietary supplement rather than a drug. He also hopes that CBD will be considered somewhat close to Vitamin C, a supplement that has a recommended daily dose unlike a drug that needs maintainance and schedules.
Once the ECDD has come to a final decision, this could change the world’s views on CBD and can potentially change the way medicines work as well.
A 1971 UN treaty also known as the Convention on Psychotropic Substances specifies which drugs should be kept on a close watch by member nations, including the United States.
A determination by the United Nations that CBD should not be subject to regulation could spur its rescheduling under the Controlled Substances Act. CBD continues to be listed as a Schedule 1 narcotic, despite a 2004 U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that non-psychoactive constituents of hemp are not subject to regulation under the law.
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Home Wire International The Latest: Trump informs Congress of reasons for strike
The Latest: Trump informs Congress of reasons for strike
BEIRUT (AP) – The Latest on the Syria conflict (all times local):
President Donald Trump has informed Congress in writing of his decision to order a U.S. missile strike against Syria.
Under the War Powers Resolution, the president must keep Congress informed of such actions.
Trump’s letter to congressional leaders cites the rationale he gave publicly Friday night when he announced that the U.S. and allies Britain and France were firing missiles into Syria in response to an alleged poison gas attack on Syrian rebels near Damascus the previous week. He writes that the targets were Syrian military chemical weapons-related facilities.
The president tells lawmakers that he acted to “promote the stability of the region, to deter the use and proliferation of chemical weapons, and to avert a worsening of the region’s current humanitarian catastrophe.”
Germany’s foreign minister hopes the U.S.-led air strikes in Syria will result in a fresh effort to find a peaceful solution to the seven-year conflict.
Heiko Maas told public broadcaster ARD the military attack by Western nations against Bashar Assad’s forces “should make clear to all parties that we don’t just have the opportunity but the necessity to take up the political process again.”
Maas says he hopes a “window for dialogue” has opened with Moscow – Syria’s ally – now that the Russian elections have passed.
He says European Union foreign ministers will meet Monday to discuss the situation and put forward proposals for steps going forward.
Germany didn’t join the United States, Britain and France in the strikes, though Chancellor Angela Merkel has called the attack “necessary and appropriate.”
French President Emmanuel Macron says France wants to launch a diplomatic initiative over Syria that would include Western powers, Russia and Turkey.
Macron, speaking on French television BFM and online site Mediapart, said “we are preparing a political solution” aiming at allowing a political solution for Syria.
He stressed the French diplomacy is able to talk with Iran, Russia and Turkey on one side, and the United States on the other side.
He said “ten days ago President Trump wanted to withdraw from Syria. We convinced him to remain.”
The U.S., France and the U.K. launched the airstrikes early Saturday on three chemical weapons facilities in Syria to punish the regime for alleged use of chemical weapons in the town of Douma on April 7.
Macron added that the Russians are “accomplices” of the use of chemical weapons by the Syrian regime because they blocked the U.N. Security Council.
French President Emmanuel Macron says the joint military strikes by the U.S., France and Britain against Syrian targets were carried out in retaliation after the allies obtained evidence that the government of Bashar Assad had used chemical weapons against its own people.
“It was retaliation, not an act of war,” Macron said in a live interview on French TV channel BMF and online investigative site Mediapart.
Macron said the allies had “full international legitimacy to intervene” in Syria because the strikes were about enforcing international humanitarian law.
The French leader said the allies were forced to act without an explicit U.N. mandate because of the “constant stalemate of the Russians” in the Security Council.
Macron said, “We had arrived at a time when these strikes had become indispensable.”
“The regime of Bashar Assad has an enemy who is his people,” Macron said.
French President Emmanuel Macron says airstrikes launched in Syria by the U.S., France and the U.K. were a success.
Macron said “the operation we decided (on) has been perfectly conducted” on French television BFM and online site Mediapart.
He said all missiles struck their targets.
The Syrian regime and the Russians “claim they have no victims on their side,” he said.
“That’s exactly what we wanted to do,” he added.
The U.S., France and the U.K. launched the airstrikes early Saturday on three chemical weapons facilities in Syria to punish the regime for alleged use of chemical weapons against civilians in the country.
Heiko Maas told public broadcaster ARD that the military attack by western nations against Bashar Assad’s forces “should make clear to all parties that we don’t just have the opportunity but the necessity to take up the political process again.”
Maas says he hopes a “window for dialogue” has opened with Moscow – Syria’s ally – now that the Russian elections are over.
Germany didn’t join the United States, Britain and France in the strikes, though Chancellor Angela Merkel called the attack “necessary and appropriate.”
Pro-Russian Czech President Milos Zeman has condemned the allied airstrikes in Syria.
In a radio interview Sunday, Zeman said a military action against any state can only be carried out after approval from the U.N. Security Council. He said attacks against Islamic militants should be the only exception.
Zeman also said the strikes were a mistake because they came at a time when refugees were returning to the war-ravaged country.
The president also criticized acting Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis’ positive response to the strikes. Babis said Saturday that they were “inevitable” because the regime of President Bashar Assad uses chemical weapons to attack civilians. After meeting Zeman on Sunday, Babis backtracked, saying the strikes don’t solve anything.
In the Czech Republic, the government is in charge of the foreign policy, not the president.
Lebanon’s Hezbollah leader says the Western strikes against Syria following alleged use of chemical weapons will likely complicate prospects of a political solution and have failed to achieve any of their results.
Speaking by video link at a rally of his supporters on Sunday, Hassan Nasrallah says the U.S.-ordered strikes have strained international relations and could totally “torpedo” the U.N.-sponsored peace talks in Geneva. He says the strikes were “limited” and were recognition of the strength of the “resistance axis.” The term is in reference to the alliance between Syria, Iran and Hezbollah.
The Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group, founded originally to fight Israel’s occupation of Lebanese territories, has sent hundreds of fighters to back the troops of President Bashar Assad in the war, now in its eighth year.
U.S. President Donald Trump and his British and French allies say the airstrikes were necessary to deter Syria’s use of chemical weapons. Syria and Russia deny any chemical weapons were used and insist the Western powers had no evidence.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley says the U.S. will be imposing more economic sanctions on Russia for its support of Syrian President Bashar Assad and his apparent use of chemical weapons.
Haley says Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin will be making the announcement by Monday and it will affect companies that are “dealing with equipment related to Assad and any chemical weapons use.”
She tells CBS’ “Face the Nation” that Russia needs to feel the consequences for protecting the Assad regime. Haley notes that Russia has vetoed six resolutions in the United Nations Security Council regarding chemical weapons.
Haley says the fact that Assad was making the use of chemical weapons “more normal and that Russia was covering this up, all that has got to stop.”
Syrian opposition activists and first responders say a chemical attack on the town of Douma, near the Syrian capital, killed more than 40 people on April 7.
Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani have held a telephone conversation to discuss Syrian conditions in the wake of a joint missile airstrike by the U.S., U.K. and France on the country.
The leaders “agreed that this illegal action is adversely impacting prospects for political settlement in Syria,” a statement by the Kremlin said Sunday.
Putin stressed that if such actions in violation of the UN Charter continue, “it will inevitably entail chaos in international relations,” according to the statement.
The official IRNA news agency quoted Rouhani as saying “The U.S. and some western countries do not want Syria to reach permanent stability.”
Rouhani said both Iran and Russia should not allow “fire of a new tension” to flare up in the region, adding that Saturday’s airstrikes on Syria were an “invasion” and aimed at “emboldening defeated terrorists,” according to the report.
Both Iran and Russia are key allies of Syrian President Bashar Assad whose forces have been accused of carrying out a chemical weapons attack near Damascus a week ago that prompted the missile attack by the Western powers.
Serbia, Russia’s key ally in Europe, says it won’t take sides in the Syrian crisis following the U.S.-led attacks on Syrian chemical weapons sites.
President Aleksandar Vucic said in a statement Sunday that Serbia generally condemns the use of chemical weapons, but “won’t get involved in big powers’ relations.”
The statement says Vucic met with U.S. ambassador in Serbia Kyle Scott over the situation in Syria.
While formally seeking European Union membership, Serbia has kept strong political and military ties with traditional ally Russia. Anti-Western sentiments remain high, stemming from the 1999 U.S.-led NATO bombing of Serbia that stopped the war in Kosovo.
Vucic says that “Serbia jealously guards and protects its military neutrality.” He adds “our country wants to talk to everyone and have a partner and friendly relationship (with everyone.)” ___
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley is making clear the United States won’t be pulling troops out of Syria right away.
Haley spoke after President Donald Trump in a tweet Sunday defended his use of the term “Mission accomplished” to describe U.S.-led strikes in Syria. She says U.S. involvement in Syria “is not done.”
Haley says the three U.S. goals for accomplishing its mission are making sure chemical weapons are not used in a way that could harm U.S. national interests; that the Islamic state is defeated; and that there is a good vantage point to watch what Iran is doing.
She tells “Fox News Sunday”: “We’re not going to leave until we know we’ve accomplished those things.”
Haley reiterates that if Syrian President Bashar Assad uses poison gas again, “the United States is locked and loaded.”
President Donald Trump is defending his use of the phrase “mission accomplished” to refer to the U.S.-led strikes in Syria.
Trump tweets on Sunday that the mission was “so perfectly carried out, with such precision, that the only way the Fake News Media could demean was by my use of the term ‘Mission Accomplished.'”
He adds: “I knew they would seize on this but felt it is such a great Military term, it should be brought back. Use often!”
Trump’s use of the phrase Saturday had evoked comparisons with President George W. Bush, who in 2003 stood under a banner that read “Mission Accomplished” as he declared that major combat operations had ended in Iraq six weeks after the invasion. But the war dragged on for years.
Iran has condemned the Western strikes on Syria, saying no country has a right to take punitive measures against another “beyond international procedures.”
The semi-official Fars news agency quoted Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif as saying that Iran had warned about the possibility that “terrorist groups” were behind the alleged chemical attack that triggered the strikes. It said he communicated his concerns in a phone call Sunday with British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson.
Iran is a key ally of Syrian President Bashar Assad, whose forces have been accused of carrying out a chemical weapons attack near Damascus a week ago that opposition activists and rescuers say killed more than 40 people. The attack prompted the U.S., Britain and France to carry out a missile attack on Syrian military targets early Saturday.
Syria’s President Bashar Assad says the Western airstrikes against his country were accompanied by a campaign of “lies” and misinformation in the U.N. Security Council.
Assad spoke Sunday to a group of visiting Russian politicians. His comments were carried by state media.
Assad and Russia deny using chemical weapons, the trigger for the strikes early Saturday. An alleged gas attack last weekend in the town of Douma killed more than 40 people, according to opposition activists and rescuers.
Assad told his visitors that the U.S., Britain and France, which carried out the strikes, had waged a campaign of “lies and misinformation” against Russia and Syria.
The U.N. Security Council has been paralyzed in dealing with the seven-year Syrian conflict and the use of chemical weapons. Russia, a veto-wielding permanent member, is a close ally of Assad.
American Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley listens as Syrian Ambassador to the United Nations Bashar Ja’afari speaks after a vote on a resolution during a Security Council meeting on the situation in Syria, Saturday, April 14, 2018 at United Nations headquarters. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
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The H.P. Lovecraft Wiki
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Cthulhu Mythos works, Novels, H. P. Lovecraft works
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At the Mountains of Madness is a novella by American horror writer H. P. Lovecraft, written in February and March 1931 and originally serialized in the February, March, and April 1936 issues of Astounding Stories. It has been reproduced in numerous collections since Lovecraft's death. Lovecraft scholar S. T. Joshi describes the novella as representing the decisive "demythology" of the Cthulhu Mythos by reinterpreting Lovecraft's earlier supernatural stories in a science fiction paradigm.
A non sequitur mass-market paperback cover, and the current cover used for the Del Rey Books publication.
The story is written in the first-person perspective by the geologist William Dyer, a professor from Miskatonic University. He writes to disclose hitherto unknown and closely kept secrets in the hope that he can deter a planned and much publicized scientific expedition to Antarctica. On a previous expedition there, a party of scholars from Miskatonic University, led by Dyer, discovered fantastic and horrific ruins and a dangerous secret beyond a range of mountains taller than the Himalaya.
The group that discovered and crossed the mountains found the remains of fourteen ancient life forms, completely unknown to science and unidentifiable as either plants or animals, after discovering an underground cave while boring for ice cores. Six of the specimens seem to be badly damaged, the others uncannily pristine. Their highly-evolved features are problematic: their stratum location puts them at a point on the geologic time scale much too early for such features to have naturally evolved yet. Because of their resemblance to creatures of myth mentioned in the Necronomicon, they are dubbed the "Elder Ones".
Lovecraft's own draft
When the main expedition loses contact with this party, Dyer and the rest of his colleagues travel to their camp to investigate. The camp is devastated and both the men and the dogs slaughtered, with only one of each missing. Near the camp, they find six star-shaped snow mounds, and a damaged Elder One buried under each. They discover that the better-preserved life forms have vanished and that some form of experiment has been done, though they are only able to speculate on the subject and the possibility that it is the missing man and dog. Dyer decides to close off the area from which they took their samples.
Dyer and a student named Danforth fly an airplane over the mountains, which they soon realize are the outer wall of a huge, abandoned stone city of cubes and cones, utterly alien to any human architecture. By exploring these fantastic structures, the men are able to learn the history of the Elder Things or Old Ones, by interpreting their magnificent hieroglyphic murals: The Old Ones first came to Earth shortly after the Moon was pulled loose from the planet and were the creators of life. They built their cities with the help of "Shoggoths", organisms created to perform any task, assume any form, and reflect any thought. As more buildings are explored, a fantastic vista opens of the history of races beyond the scope of man's understanding, including the Old Ones' conflicts with the Cthulhi and the Mi-Go who arrived on Earth sometime after the Old Ones themselves. Uncannily, the images also reflect a degradation in the order of this civilization, as the Shoggoths gain independence. As more resources are applied to maintaining order, the etchings become haphazard and primitive. The murals also allude to some unnamed evil in an even larger mountain range just past their city which even they fear greatly. Eventually, as Antarctica became uninhabitable even for the Old Ones, they migrated into a large, subterranean ocean.
As the two progress further into the city, they are ultimately drawn to a massive, ominous entrance which is the opening of a tunnel which they believe leads into the subterranean region described in the murals. Compulsively they are drawn in, finding further horrors: evidence of dead Old Ones caught in a brutal struggle and blind six-foot-tall penguins wandering around placidly. They are confronted with an immense, ululating horror which they identify as a Shoggoth. They escape with their lives using luck and diversion. On the plane high above the plateau, Danforth looks back and sees something that causes him to lose his sanity. He refuses to tell anyone (even Dyer) what he saw, though it is implied that it has something to do with what lies beyond the larger mountain range that even the Old Ones feared.
Professor Dyer concludes that the Old Ones and their civilization were destroyed by the Shoggoths they created and that this entity has sustained itself on the enormous penguins since eons past. He begs the planners of the next proposed Antarctic expedition to stay away from things that should not be loosed on this Earth.
Characters Edit
William Dyer: The narrator of At the Mountains of Madness, he is a professor of geology at Miskatonic University and a leader of the disastrous Pabodie Expedition to Antarctica in 1930–31. Only his last name is mentioned in the text of Mountains, though he is fully identified in Lovecraft's The Shadow Out of Time, where he accompanies an expedition to Australia's Great Sandy Desert.
Danforth: A graduate student at Miskatonic University. As part of the Pabodie Expedition, he accompanies Dyer on a survey flight over the "Plateau of Leng" and goes mad after seeing something. He is described as "a great reader of bizarre material", and makes allusions to Edgar Allan Poe and the Necronomicon. According to Fritz Leiber's To Arkham and the Stars, he later recovered after being treated with experimental drugs developed by Professor Morgan, though he never recalled the horror he saw on the plateau. Afterward, he became a professor of psychology at the university.
Frank Pabodie: A member of Miskatonic's engineering department, Professor Pabodie invented a drill for the expedition that was "unique and radical in its lightness, portability, and capacity... to cope quickly with strata of varying hardness." He also added "fuel-warming and quick-starting devices" to the expedition's four aircraft.[1] Lovecraft wrote of the name "Pabodie", "I chose it as a name typical of good old New England stock, yet not sufficiently common to sound conventional or hackneyed." It's an alternative spelling of "Peabody", a name Lovecraft was familiar with through the Peabody Museum in Salem. (HPL: Selected Letters 5.830)
Lake: A professor of biology at Miskatonic University. It is he who first discovers the Mountains of Madness as a result of his "strange and dogged insistence on a westward - or rather, northwestward - prospecting trip" based on his discovery of strange fossils. He also discovers the ancient extraterrestrial specimens that he dubs "Elder Ones" based on their resemblance to "certain monsters of primal myth" found in the Necronomicon. He reports that his findings in Antarctica confirm his belief "that earth has seen whole cycles of organic life before known one that begins with Archaeozoic cells," and predicts that this "[w]ill mean to biology what Einstein has meant to mathematics and physics." When eight of the Elder Ones turn out to be living creatures rather than fossils, they butcher Lake and the rest of his sub-expedition. For the rest of the story, he is referred to as "poor Lake".
Atwood: A member of the Miskatonic University physics department, and also a meteorologist. He is part of the Lake sub-expedition and is also butchered by the Old Ones.
Inspiration Edit
Lovecraft had a lifelong interest in Antarctic exploration; biographer S.T. Joshi wrote that "Lovecraft had been fascinated with the Antarctic continent since he was at least 12 years old, when he had written several small treatises on early Antarctic explorers."[2] At about the age of nine, inspired by W. Clark Russell's 1887 book The Frozen Pirate, Lovecraft had written "several yarns" set in Antarctica.[3]
By the 1920s, Joshi notes, Antarctica was "one of the last unexplored regions of the earth, where large stretches of territory had never seen the tread of human feet. Contemporary maps of the continent show a number of provocative blanks, and Lovecraft could exercise his imagination in filling them in... with little fear of immediate contradiction."[4]
The first expedition of Richard Evelyn Byrd took place in 1928-1930, the period just before the novella was written, and Lovecraft mentioned the explorer repeatedly in his letters, remarking at one point on "geologists of the Byrd expedition having found many fossils indicating a tropical past".[5]
Lin Carter has suggested that one inspiration for At the Mountains of Madness was Lovecraft's own hypersensitivity to cold, as shown by an incident where the writer "collapsed in the street and was carried unconscious into a drug store" because the temperature dropped from 60 degrees to 30 degrees Fahrenheit (15 degrees to -1 degree Celsius). "The loathing and horror that extreme cold-evoked in him was carried over into his writing," Carter wrote, "and the pages of Madness convey the blighting, blasting, stifling sensation caused by sub-zero temperatures in a way that even Poe could not suggest."[6]
The cover of one publication, depicting the climax of the novel.
Lovecraft's most obvious literary source for At the Mountains of Madness is Edgar Allan Poe's lone novel, The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket, whose concluding section is set in Antarctica. Lovecraft twice cites Poe's "disturbing and enigmatic" story in his text, and explicitly borrows the mysterious phrase "Tekeli-li!" from Poe's work. In a letter to August Derleth, Lovecraft wrote that he was trying to achieve with his ending an effect similar to what Poe accomplished in Pym. (HPL: Selected Letters 3.476)
Another proposed inspiration for At the Mountains of Madness is Edgar Rice Burroughs' 1919 novel At the Earth's Core, which posits a highly intelligent reptilian race, the Mahar, living in a hollow earth. "Consider the similarity of Burroughs' Mahar to Lovecraft's Old Ones, both of whom are presented sympathetically despite their ill-treatment of man," writes critic William Fulwiler, going on to note that "both are winged, web-footed, dominant races; both are scientific scholarly races with a talent for genetics, engineering, and architecture; and both races use men as cattle." Both stories, Fulwiler points out, involve radical new drilling techniques; in both stories, humans are vivisected by nonhuman scientists. Burroughs' Mahar even employs a species of servants known as Sagoths, possibly the source of Lovecraft's Shoggoths.[7]
Other possible sources include Abraham Merritt's "The People of the Pit", whose description of an underground city in the Yukon bears some resemblance to that of Lovecraft's Old Ones, and Katharine Metcalf Roof's "A Million Years After", a story about dinosaurs hatching from eggs millions of years old that appeared in the November 1930 edition Weird Tales. In a letter to Frank Belknap Long, Lovecraft declared the story to be a "rotten", "cheap", and "puerile" version of an idea he had come up with years earlier, and Joshi suggests it may have provoked him to write his own tale of "the awakening of entities from the dim reaches of earth's history." (HPL: Selected Letters 3.430)
The long scope of history recounted in the story may have been inspired by Oswald Spengler's The Decline of the West. Some details of the story may have been taken from M. P. Shiel's 1901 novel of Arctic exploration, The Purple Cloud, which was republished in 1930.[8]
Lovecraft's own "The Nameless City" (1921), which also deals with the exploration of an ancient underground city apparently abandoned by its nonhuman builders, is a clear precedent for At the Mountains of Madness. In both stories, the explorers use the nonhumans' artwork to deduce the history of their species.[9]
Reception Edit
This story was rejected by Weird Tales editor Farnsworth Wright on the grounds of its length. The story eventually appeared four years later in Astounding Stories.
Significance Edit
According to S. T. Joshi, who included this novella as the central story in the first volume of his Annotated Lovecraft series, Mountains reveals Lovecraft's true feelings on the so-called Cthulhu Mythos that subsequent writers attributed to him, and "demythologizes" much of his earlier work.
Many of Lovecraft's stories involve features that appear to be supernatural, such as monsters and the occult. However, Mountains appears to explain the origins of such elements–from occult symbols to "gods" such as Cthulhu–in rational terms. Mountains explains many elements of the "Cthulhu Mythos" in terms of early alien civilizations that took root on Earth long before humans appeared.
The story has also inadvertently popularized the concept of ancient astronauts, as well as Antarctica's place in the "ancient astronaut mythology".[10]
Adaptations Edit
Director Guillermo del Toro wrote a screenplay based on Lovecraft's story, but in 2006 had trouble getting Warner Bros. to finance the project. Wrote del Toro, "The studio is very nervous about the cost and it not having a love story or a happy ending, but it's impossible to do either in the Lovecraft universe."[11] Old Ones can however be seen in his film Hellboy II: The Golden Army.
A radio adaptation of At the Mountains of Madness is available from the Atlanta Radio Theater Company. The H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society[12] have also produced a 1930s-style radio drama of the story, featuring professional actors, original music and sound effects. It is packaged with photos from the expedition, newspaper clippings and other fun props.
Mountains of Madness is a musical adaptation of Lovecraft's stories by Alexander Hacke, Danielle de Picciotto and The Tiger Lillies.
Continuity Edit
At the Mountains of Madness has numerous connections to other Lovecraft stories. A few include:
The formless Shoggoths later appear in The Shadow Over Innsmouth (1931), The Thing on the Doorstep (1933), and The Haunter of the Dark (1935)
The star-headed Old Ones also appear in The Dreams in the Witch-House (1933), when the main character, Walter Gilman, visits a city of theirs in one of his dreams, and The Shadow Out of Time, in which they are the vaguely-alluded-to antagonists of the Great Race of Yith.
The expedition is sponsored by the Nathaniel Derby Pickman Foundation, combining two major names in Lovecraft's fiction: Derby and Pickman.[13] Richard Upton Pickman is the main character in Lovecraft's Pickman's Model, while Edward Pickman Derby is the protagonist of HPL: "The Thing on the Doorstep", and also one of his literary alter-egos. (HPL: Ibid)
The Old Ones record the coming of Cthulhu to Earth and the sinking of R'lyeh, events referred to in The Call of Cthulhu (1928).
The Old Ones' city is identified with the Plateau of Leng, first mentioned in Lovecraft's "Celephaïs" (1920).
Some members of the expedition have read Miskatonic University's copy of the Necronomicon.
Dyer mentions "Kadath in the Cold Waste" while referring to a massive mountain range which even the Old Ones "shunned as vaguely and namelessly evil."
At the very end of the story, Danforth links the horror beyond the forbidden mountain range to "Yog-Sothoth" and The Colour out of Space.
↑ Lovecraft, At the Mountains of Madness, p. 4.
↑ S. T. Joshi, The Annotated Lovecraft, p. 175.
↑ Joshi and Schultz, p. 132.
↑ Joshi, p. 18.
↑ H. P. Lovecraft, Selected Letters Vol. 3, p. 144; cited in Joshi, p. 183; see also Joshi, p. 186.
↑ Lin Carter, Lovecraft: A Look Behind the Cthulhu Mythos, p. 84. Joshi regards this suggestion as "facile" - Annotated Lovecraft, pp. 17-18.
↑ William Fulwiler, "E.R.B. and H.P.L.", Black Forbidden Things, p. 64.
↑ Joshi and Schultz, pp. 10-11.
↑ H. P. Lovecraft, "The Nameless City", Dagon and Other Macabre Tales, pp. 104-105; cited in Joshi, pp. 264-265.
↑ Jason Colavito, The Cthulhu Comparison
↑ Guillermo Del Toro Films, At the Mountains of Madness
↑ "HPLHS"
↑ Anthony Pearsall, The Lovecraft Lexicon, p. 326.
The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym, Edgar Allan Poe; complete text
At the Earth's Core, Edgar Rice Burroughs; complete text from litrix.com
"The People of the Pit", A. Merritt; complete text from Horrormasters (pdf)
Retrieved from "https://lovecraft.fandom.com/wiki/At_the_Mountains_of_Madness?oldid=20402"
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