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http://www.dianastowers.com/essential-reading/performance-management/the-five-dysfunctions-of-a-team-by-patrick-lencioni/ | 2019-06-25T19:58:21 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-26/segments/1560627999946.25/warc/CC-MAIN-20190625192953-20190625214953-00389.warc.gz | 0.964816 | 112 | CC-MAIN-2019-26 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2019-26__0__66252467 | en | “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team” by Patrick Lencioni
No-one makes progress, much less succeeds, alone. Leaders, striving to achieve through others, must understand what makes teams work effectively. This leadership fable is an easy read about how to build and manage successful teams and is ideal for large, medium and small business, also members of teams that need better cohesion. The five dysfunctions include that major issue of trust which when lacking can encourage veiled discussions and guarded comments. The fall out can be fatal. | literature |
https://www.reimaginedhistories.com.au/about-5 | 2024-04-19T16:25:32 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817438.43/warc/CC-MAIN-20240419141145-20240419171145-00407.warc.gz | 0.95367 | 603 | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-18__0__16687991 | en | Tasmania’s cultural life has been shaken-up in recent years by MONA and its festivals, but long before David Walsh there was Lucy Charlotte Benson. In this richly detailed biography, Anne Blythe-Cooper has restored to centre-stage one of Tasmania’s own “Eminent Victorians”. Organist, conductor, composer, performer, entrepreneur and philanthropist, Mrs Benson was so much more than the sum of these parts. Her capacity for work, her passion for the arts, and her ability to drive and enliven the cultural life of the rough little colony at the bottom of the world reveal the strength and impact of the individual creative human personality.
Robert Jarman, Theatre Director
This remarkable woman made a significant contribution to the cultural life of Tasmania through the performing arts. Performer, music teacher, organist, musical director, conductor, and costume-designer, she gained a reputation for excellence after her first successful interstate foray into choral competition. A seemingly tireless dynamo, she presented concerts and large-scale musical productions throughout the state, enriching the lives of her appreciative audiences. Amy Sherwin, (The Tasmanian Nightingale), considered Lucy to be “one of the best teachers of voice production in the colonies."
Anne Blythe-Cooper’s meticulously researched and beautifully presented book pays a well-deserved and fitting tribute to this worthy Tasmanian.
Noreen Le Mottee, Tasmanian Theatre Awards Judge, veteran actor and passionate theatre archivist.
A well-researched and fascinating read about Lucy Benson and her family and the important contribution they made to the cultural life of Tasmania. I began reading and I was hooked. Robyn Eastley, Archivist.
There are many Tasmanian stories still untold, much of historical import yet undocumented. Anne Blythe-Cooper has ably filled one of the gaps in the records with Leading Amateurs, her biography of Lucy Benson, a pioneer of what eventually would become known as community arts. Lucy was a tour de force, a mover and shaker, significant in the arts and cultural life of Victorian and Edwardian times. She was a musician, conductor, theatre director and promoter of the arts.
As Blythe-Cooper says in her introduction, ‘It seems unlikely that a woman born in Tasmania in 1860 should have a far-reaching influence on the musical culture of her nation and beyond. Not only was [Lucy Benson] a leading amateur performer of her day, but she was a leader of amateurs whose musical pedigrees extend to the present time.’
Tasmania’s population has always included a disproportionate number of artists, musicians and writers, and Leading Amateur is a worthy addition to the annals of this island’s cultural life.
Dr Terry Whitebeach, writer and historian | literature |
http://shaenamontanari.com/research | 2019-10-18T11:15:15 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-43/segments/1570986682037.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20191018104351-20191018131851-00257.warc.gz | 0.806665 | 813 | CC-MAIN-2019-43 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2019-43__0__133639793 | en | I use stable isotope geochemistry to understand environmental and biological signatures in extant and extinct vertebrate remains. I conduct modern experimental research on natural variations in carbon and nitrogen isotopes of modern carnivores and omnivores, which to this point are mostly unknown. These values must be understood to properly implement stable isotopes in ecology and conservation of non-herbivorous mammals, and additionally, understand the diets of these animals in the fossil record.
I continue to work with extinct vertebrates through analyzing the carbon, oxygen and nitrogen isotopes of fossil mammals and reptiles. I can track changes in local environment and climate, and relates these abiotic factors to extinction factors. I enjoy using museum collections from around the world for much of this geochemical research.
- Eagle, R.A., Enriquez, M., Grellet-Tinner, G., Pérez-Huerta, A., Hu, D., Tütken, T., Montanari, S., Lloyd, S.J., Ramirez, P., Tripati, A.K., Kohn, M.J., Cerling, T.E., Chiappe, L.M., Eiler, J.M. 2015. Isotopic (13C-18O) ordering in calcium carbonate eggshells reflects body temperatures and suggests differing thermophysiology in two Cretaceous dinosaurs. Nature Communications. doi:10.1038/ncomms9296
- Passey, B., Hu, H., Ji, H., Montanari, S., Li, S., Henkes, G.A., Levin, N. E., 2014. Triple oxygen isotopes in biogenic and sedimentary carbonates. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 141, 1-25.
- Montanari, S., Louys, J., Price, G. 2013. Pliocene paleoenvironments of southeastern Queensland, Australia: inferences from stable isotopes of marsupial tooth enamel. PLOS ONE 8(6): e66221. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0066221
- Montanari, S., Higgins, P., Norell, M. 2013. Dinosaur eggshell and tooth enamel geochemistry as an indicator of Mongolian Late Cretaceous paleoenvironments. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 370, 158-166.
I am interested in widely exploring what impact humans have on the survival and diets of uncommon vertebrates. I have worked across all time scales using techniques such as stable isotope analysis to figure out what the remains of animals (bones, eggs, hair, tissue) can tell us about the environments they lived in and the food they ate. I am currently using stable isotopes, in conjunction with next-generation sequencing methods, to look at modern samples collected from wildlife non-invasively (scats and hair) to see what they can tell us about the diets of carnivores, such as big cats. Combining genetic and chemical methods, we can get an extremely clear picture of an organism's dietary ecology. This allows us to be able to compare diets between sympatric species and geographically separated populations. It is vital to understand how apex predators change their diets as their habitats become more degraded so we can predict how food webs will change over time with increasing human ecological interference.
- Montanari, S. 2017. Discrimination factors of carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes in meerkat feces.
- Montanari, S., Amato, G. 2015. Discrimination factors of carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes from diet to hair and scat in captive tigers (Panthera tigris) and snow leopards (Uncia uncia). Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry 29 (11), 1062-1068. doi: 10.1002/rcm.7194 | literature |
http://readysteadyschool.org/blog/keep-chatting-about-school-over-the-summer | 2018-04-24T23:01:22 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-17/segments/1524125947421.74/warc/CC-MAIN-20180424221730-20180425001730-00310.warc.gz | 0.968469 | 220 | CC-MAIN-2018-17 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2018-17__0__604032 | en | Most children love visiting the library and the summer holidays can provide a great opportunity to do this. If your child is starting school in September why not pick up some books that will help children prepare for starting school. There are many books available ranging from ones that have descriptions of the school day to more sophisticated stories, both forms can be used to generate a conversation between parent and child. Providing these opportunities to talk about starting school can help to dispel fears and provide a platform for any questions your child may have. All members of the family can be involved in these discussions including older siblings who have more recent experience of starting school and grandparents who may be involved in childcare arrangements. One of our favourite books is ‘Topsy and Tim Start School’ by Jean and Gareth Adamson. This book introduces children to what they might experience in their new school including using the cloakroom, areas of the classroom, playtimes and having their lunch at school. There is also a great little puzzle at the end!
Our top 10 starting school books are listed on our task cards in the starting school box. | literature |
http://workshopsforwomen.typepad.com/ | 2017-05-01T02:31:03 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-17/segments/1492917126538.54/warc/CC-MAIN-20170423031206-00296-ip-10-145-167-34.ec2.internal.warc.gz | 0.961793 | 437 | CC-MAIN-2017-17 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2017-17__0__229341161 | en | If you know us at all, or have ever attended one of our Workshops for Women's events, you know we are big on great books. Dads Matter by Bob Hazleton is my new favorite.
Why a book about Dads when we are so all about women? What we are really about is improving the lives of women, empowering them to create lives of purpose, meaning, joy and abundance. And having our men understand the value they bring as "Dad" to our children, our relationships and our world therefore supports all of our goals.
Dads Matter challenged me in a gentle and positive way. It allowed me to revisit things from my training as a coach, relook at my own parenting skills and areas for improvement, and opened a window to revisit my own relationship with my father who passed away when I was 18.
I am a huge fan of Bob Hazleton. I actually met Bob many years ago at a support group meeting, during a difficult time in my life as a single mother with a struggling teen. With a look - Bob conveyed his care, and managed to stop my ramblings and help me get centered and realize what insanity I as "mom" was bringing to the picture. Later it was a huge surprise and wonderful gift to have him be one of my trainers at the Resource Realizations Coaching academy, and to staff parenting seminars with him for other parents of troubled teens.
And just to make the loop complete - this book was laid out by Workshops for Women graduate Jennifer Omner, President of All Publications. Her care and dedication to the project are obvious and beautifully executed. (www.allpublications.com)
So yes, I am biased. However this is truly one of those great books with the power to change and inspire our lives. Here is an opportunity to change the world for the better - invest in a wonderful gift for yourself in your own evolution - and make a brilliant gift to the Dads or soon-to-be-Dads in your world.
Dads Matter by Bob Hazleton. Available now www.amazon.com
Kelly Sandstrom CPC
Workshops for Women | literature |
https://rastafari369.wordpress.com/2006/08/21/quest-for-understanding/ | 2020-09-24T13:51:47 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-40/segments/1600400219221.53/warc/CC-MAIN-20200924132241-20200924162241-00352.warc.gz | 0.964786 | 618 | CC-MAIN-2020-40 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2020-40__0__225227786 | en | It was on the 10th of November when the hopeless-romantic me grabbed a pen and let the ink drip and drizzle on a piece of paper… This was the concoction me and pen came up with….. If anyone should find themselves relating in one way or the other to the words written, then I’ve realized my goal ~ to touch people. (nmed)
QUEST FOR UNDERSTANDING
November 10, 2003
Question: How do you stop the heart from feeling? From getting hurt, from feeling pain?
Answer: You can’t. For it the heart stops to feel, it would lose its purpose. It would lost its very reason for existence.
Question: If we can’t, how can we at least ease the gripping pain? How can we stop the invisible hand from clutching the heart too tight?
Answer: Let it be. For if it weren’t for the pain you feel, you would never appreciate the joy it gives you.
Question: Why then do we have to feel so much pain in order for us to feel joy? Can’t we just leave out the pain and feel the joy instead?
Answer: You can never appreciate the intoxicating joys of loving if you have never felt its very opposite; its surging pains.
Question: The heart has too many tasks to attend to, and far too many pains to suffer. For an organ with such a noble purpose, why should the heart be in such a vulnerable and delicate state? And why should it be without protection or replacement?
Answer: If it were, men would never feel the need and importance of taking great care with their hearts. They would allow it to be stabbed, broken and hurt, and would do the same to others hearts; knowing it can easily be replaced. They would take their hearts for granted.
Now, you would not want that to happen to an organ with such a noble purpose, would you?
Question: People say the brain should rule over the heart in all aspects of life. Is that the reason why the brain is above the heart? Should we always follow our brain, and not our hearts?
Answer: The brain is above the heart, yes. Because it is the logic of being; it is what makes you rational and able to think things through. (Although at times, you do not apply this. J)
The heart is at the very center of your body. It was and is there because your heart is the center of your being, your very core.
Each decision your brain formulates must pass through your heart for editing, polishing, and refining. It is now up to you to choose either dictates of your brain or the callings of your heart. The brain shouts but the heart whispers, you must learn to listen well.
Question: Why do we have so many questions about the workings of the heart, yet we can never find the answers?
Answer: The heart has reasons which reason knows nothing of. | literature |
https://articles.ezlandlordforms.com/real-estate-investing/top-ten-reading-list-for-landlords-and-property-managers/ | 2024-02-27T11:39:01 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474674.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20240227085429-20240227115429-00432.warc.gz | 0.957008 | 1,138 | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-10__0__8412294 | en | George Samuel Clason tells us in his book Richest Man in Babylon, “Gold slippeth away from the man who invests it in businesses or purposes with which he is not familiar or which are not approved by those who are skilled in its keep.” These words serve as a reminder that while there is no formal training required of landlords and (in some jurisdictions) property managers, to oversee rental properties, rental investors looking for a good return are wise to be well prepared before investing money or taking on the task of managing rental properties.
One of the best ways to prepare for, well, anything is by reading as much as possible about the subject at hand. There are a number of great books about investing in and managing residential rental properties and an equal number of good reads about real estate and business in general.
Here is a list as recommended by some of the best in the business. Some consistently make the top ten lists, while those that do not are still great reads.
Think and Grow Rich (Napoleon Hill) – One of the most widely read books on this list and for good reason, is given the number one spot for its’ outstanding ability to change the thinking of its readers around the world. According to Napoleon Hill, “the most powerful instrument we have in our hand is the power of our mind.” In this book, Napoleon Hill studies the lives of 40 millionaires and shares the wisdom and philosophies he extracted. Whether your goal is to be rich or not, if you have any intentions of being successful in whatever you do, this book is a must read.
The E-Myth: Revisited (Michael E. Gerber) – Slightly less popular than its predecessor, this book remains high on the list of small business owners and entrepreneurs as a reminder of “what not to do” that causes so many small businesses to fail every year. It also serves as a guide on what steps to take and systems to put into place for the journey to entrepreneurial success.
The 4-Hour Work Week (Tim Ferris) – While Tim’s style and methods are a bit controversial, there is a lot to be said about the paradigm shift this book brings about for many of its readers. Far too many entrepreneurs become successful at the expense of a healthy and balanced life, but the concepts in The 4-Hour Work Week can help provide that balance for open-minded and ambitious readers.
Landlording: A Handy Manual for Scrupulous Landlords and Landladies Who Do It Themselves (Leigh Robinson) – This book makes the list because of its useful and practical advice for the both the novice as well as the veteran landlord. It’s been referred to by some as the ‘bible’ for landlords and is one of the only books on the list that is constantly updated. Beware this book has several editions, each one offering good, solid, relevant advice about how to manage your tenants and your money.
Buy It, Rent It, Profit (Brian Chavis) – In some circles this book is touted “the guide” for multiple unit investors, and may be to property managers what Leigh Robinson’s book is to landlords. It provides very good, practical insight into the ‘how to’s of managing rental properties. Be warned there is some self-promoting in this one and some of the websites and resources mentioned are no longer relevant.
The Landlord’s Handbook (Daniel Goodwin and Richard Rusdorf) – This book provides some great real life scenarios for beginning and intermediate landlords to consider along with some practical advice on handling disputes, what to include in your leases and more. This book is considered an easy and enjoyable read.
Landlording on Auto-Pilot: A Simple, No-Brainer System for Higher Profits and Fewer Headaches (Mike Butler) – If you wish to place your landlording business on autopilot, this is the book for you. This book is said to be beneficial to both the newbie landlord as well as the veteran. It contains such great tidbits as “add a clause in the lease that rent automatically increases 2.9% annually”, and much more.
Streetwise Landlording & Property Management: Insider’s Advice on How to Own Real Estate and Manage It Profitably (Mark B. Weiss and Dan Baldwin) – Mostly geared towards the property manager rather than the landlord, this book is said to be one of the most comprehensive and informative books around for multi-dwelling property managers.
A Fool’s Guide to Landlording (Tony and Sandra Midea) – This guide is a witty and comical account of the life of a landlord at its worse. These real life landlords warn newbies to stay away at all costs, but provide lots of practical, useful advice for the bravest of the bunch. The comic relief provided in this guide is much appreciated.
Property Management Kit for Dummies (Robert S. Griswold) – This book provides everything landlords and property managers need to get started from lease agreements to tips on where and how to advertise. For many, this is the ‘must have’ guide not only for beginners, but as a refresher for veterans as well.
This is by no means an exhaustive list, but should be viewed as a starting point on your journey to wise investments and highly effective management of your rental properties.
What are you reading, or have read in the past that has impacted your business? | literature |
http://humanspatialcognitionlab.org/author/skharootonian/ | 2023-04-02T05:46:15 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-14/segments/1679296950383.8/warc/CC-MAIN-20230402043600-20230402073600-00065.warc.gz | 0.878944 | 157 | CC-MAIN-2023-14 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-14__0__102714110 | en | We are pleased to announce our new paper in PLOS Computational Biology showing the effects of path shape and size on systematic errors. Additionally, we show that the vector addition model captures the trends in behavior more accurately than the encoding error model. Read is here: https://journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol/article?id=10.1371/journal.pcbi.1007489
Author: Sevan Harootonian
Top 10% most downloaded papers!
Our paper “Grid coding, spatial representation, and navigation: Should we assume an isomorphism?” published in Hippocampus, is among the top 10% most downloaded papers! Congrats to Arne Ekstrom, Sevan Harootonian and Derek Huffman | literature |
https://www.gamersalleyonline.com/products/020626714952 | 2018-08-15T13:52:26 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-34/segments/1534221210105.8/warc/CC-MAIN-20180815122304-20180815142304-00005.warc.gz | 0.884961 | 112 | CC-MAIN-2018-34 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2018-34__0__161549138 | en | Lord of the Rings Fellowship
Following the storyline of J.R.R. Tolkien's book The Fellowship of the Ring, this third-person action/adventure lets you play as part of the fellowship on a journey from the Shire to the River Anduin. Faithful to J.R.R. Tolkien's epic masterpiece, the game allows you to explore the massive environments of Middle-earth while solving puzzles and fighting enemies like Orcs, Black Riders, and an evil Balrog in the quest to destroy the fabled One Ring of Power. | literature |
https://agrippamaxentius.proboards.com/thread/51/blood-steel-wuxia-finest | 2020-08-15T19:17:25 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-34/segments/1596439741154.98/warc/CC-MAIN-20200815184756-20200815214756-00389.warc.gz | 0.969901 | 226 | CC-MAIN-2020-34 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2020-34__0__188033716 | en | Wuxia is a style of story I do enjoy due to Bruce Lee films, and too a lesser extent Jackie Chan and Jet Li along with various ronin films. The story of a wandering warrior relying on his knowledge of martial arts and cunning to overcome great odds to right a wrong is still a great setup for a story as it has ever been. Enter Blood and Steel a chinese comic based on a novel series by the same name. Its a simple revenge story but its action scenes are top notch in variety of setup, attention to detail, and artwork. Due to it being a comic it can afford to have detailed blow by blow encounters with text to carefully explain and describe each person's intentions and actions where the artwork can not. Overall its a very fun comic to read and it has to be read to understand what its like rather than listen to a person and their limited vocabulary. It also focuses on a theme of removing the mystique of martial arts, so no special powers beyond superhuman reaction times.
You can find it by searching for Blood and Steel comic or Blood and Steel manhua on a search engine. | literature |
http://www.perenjori.wa.gov.au/kookoo-kookaburra/ | 2018-06-18T09:37:19 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-26/segments/1529267860168.62/warc/CC-MAIN-20180618090026-20180618110026-00000.warc.gz | 0.94723 | 165 | CC-MAIN-2018-26 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2018-26__0__191356055 | en | Country Arts WA and Act-Belong-Commit presents Kookoo Kookaburra by A.J.Bailey adapted from the book by Gregg Dreise.
Locally presented by the Shire of Perenjori
Follow Kookoo and his friends in a heartwarming journey of story-telling, dancing and playing the didgeridoo.
Kindness is like a boomerang – if you throw it often, it comes back often…
This family-friendly performance is specially designed for children between 3 and 10 years.
Shows on the go is coming back to Perenjori on Thursday 18th May.
Leonard Donahue is giving a workshop at the Primary School from 9 to 10 and will perform in the Town Hall at 1.30 pm. | literature |
https://realestatewithpatrick.com/embracing-the-magic-celebrating-christmas-in-your-new-home/ | 2024-04-21T20:01:38 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817819.93/warc/CC-MAIN-20240421194551-20240421224551-00046.warc.gz | 0.900831 | 562 | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-18__0__143123794 | en | There’s a certain enchantment that comes with celebrating Christmas in a new home—a sense of excitement woven into the walls, waiting to be discovered. As snowflakes dance outside and the fireplace crackles within, there’s no better time to relish the warmth of your newfound sanctuary.
Adorning your new space with holiday cheer isn’t just about hanging ornaments or stringing lights; it’s about infusing the spirit of the season into every corner. Allow your creativity to take flight as you deck the halls, transforming rooms into pockets of festive joy.
But beyond the decorations lies the true heart of the holidays—creating cherished traditions. Bake cookies with loved ones, craft handmade ornaments, or simply gather around the fire to share stories. These moments, etched within the fabric of your new home, will become the cornerstone of beautiful memories for years to come.
The beauty of owning a new home during Christmas extends beyond your doorstep. Embrace the opportunity to foster connections within your neighborhood. Consider hosting a small gathering or sharing tokens of goodwill with your neighbors, uniting in the joy of the season.
Amidst the bustling preparations, take a moment to revel in the simplicity of the season. Appreciate the quiet moments—the soft glow of candles, the laughter of loved ones, and the comfort of your cozy abode. These simple joys hold the essence of what makes this time of year truly magical.
Reflect on the journey that led you to this point—gratitude for the blessings of a new home. Consider ways to give back to your community, whether through acts of kindness, supporting local causes, or simply spreading goodwill.
As Christmas morning dawns, the house echoes with the excitement of the day. Unwrap presents, savor a delicious meal, and relish the joy of being surrounded by the ones you hold dear. In these shared moments of love and laughter, your new home truly becomes the heart of the holiday.
Amidst the shimmering lights and joyous laughter, allow yourself to bask in the wonder of it all. Your new home isn’t just a structure; it’s a canvas for new memories, a place where love abounds, and where the spirit of Christmas finds its truest expression.
So, as the snowflakes continue their gentle descent outside, embrace the magic of this festive season in your new abode. Let your home be a haven of warmth, love, and joy—a place where the spirit of Christmas thrives, creating memories that will last a lifetime.
May this Christmas in your new home be a beautiful chapter in the story of your life, filled with love, laughter, and the comfort of home. | literature |
http://humanism.ws/featured/the-essence-of-humanism/ | 2017-04-25T12:29:37 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-17/segments/1492917120349.46/warc/CC-MAIN-20170423031200-00434-ip-10-145-167-34.ec2.internal.warc.gz | 0.957682 | 260 | CC-MAIN-2017-17 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2017-17__0__9099196 | en | “I regard the use of the term “humanism” to mean secular humanism or atheism to be one of the greatest tragedies of twentieth century movementology, perpetrated by second-class minds and perpetuated by third-class polemicists and village atheists.
The attempt to sever humanism from the religious and the spiritual was a flatfooted, largely American way of taking on the religious right. It lacked finesse, subtlety, and the European sense of history.
While it invoked its own commonsense saints like Dewey and Santayana, it also betrayed the spirit of both, and violated the great American tradition of Emerson and Thoreau, who like their progenitor Blake could still see “a world in a grain of sand/ And a heaven in a wild flower.”
It is really quite tragic what evisceration of humanism that secular humanism and its founders are guilty of, and in my “maturity” I think it is too late for them to change their minds.
Secular humanism is destined to die a death brought on by its own self-deception,narrowness of vision, and inability to speak to the human quest for meaning.” (R. Joseph Hoffmann) | literature |
https://aliasynesthesia.com/creative-writing/ | 2023-12-02T05:51:55 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100327.70/warc/CC-MAIN-20231202042052-20231202072052-00522.warc.gz | 0.912163 | 397 | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-50__0__301722037 | en | The Grove at the Edge of The World by Alia Synesthesia
This collection of fairy tales was written by Alia during the summers of 2013 – 2014 and published in 2017 with the help of technical editor Serge Taliansky and content editor Ariel Bissett. This collection is a set of dark folklore tales for the dark modern world. Melancholic and sweet, these tales do not subscribe by the standards of “good endings”. In real life, there is no such thing as “good ending”, and like all original and raw fairy tales, untouched by the censoring hands of child literature editors, these tales are meant to teach something beyond surface values of good endings. Inspired by Neil Gaiman’s tales and Oscar Wilde’s Pomegranate Tree, this collection will sweep you away from your modern realities and carry you into the world where you can almost swell the sweet aroma of the autumnal arboreal decay and dark, starless nights.
It was a magical night when summer rolled into autumn. The kind of night when the air is smoky and sweet, glow bugs warm up their dim-glowing bellies in the moonlight, and the night birds exchange their nocturnal greetings in the sheer canopies of oaks, maples and birch trees. The air smells like damp leaves, roasted nuts and cloves…It is on that kind of night, forest dwellers gather at the riverbank to listen to ancient tales, forgotten by history, told by the one whose life is eternal.
Dear reader, we invite you to leave your worries aside, get yourself a cup of warm chocolate, and enjoy this book while sitting comfortably in your favorite armchair or couch, wrapped in a warm blanket. Leave the world aside, and invite the mystical forest where the story takes place, into your living room.
Original Edition: January 12, 2017
Re-edition: June 1, 2019 | literature |
https://www.warplane.com/gift-shop/Books/D-Day/the-day-the-devils-dropped-in.aspx | 2023-09-29T10:22:44 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233510501.83/warc/CC-MAIN-20230929090526-20230929120526-00135.warc.gz | 0.943038 | 256 | CC-MAIN-2023-40 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-40__0__22159372 | en | The first hours and days following the Allied invasion of Normandy on 6 June 1944 have strong claim to be the most crucial in world history. Spearheading this vast undertaking were crack British and American airborne forces.
The Day the Devils Dropped In examines in fascinating detail the pivotal role of the 9th Battalion of the Parachute Regiment over the first week of the landings. Tasked with neutralizing the mighty Merville Battery, capturing Le Plein and the Chateau St Come on the Breville Ridge, failure by the Paras to achieve any of these key objectives could well have unravelled the whole Overlord operation with catastrophic consequences.
In his quest to uncover the true story of the early days of the landings, Neil Barber has successfully tracked down surviving participants in the operation. As a result he is able to tell the full story of the fierce fighting that characterized the early days of the landings largely in the very words of those who lived through the experience. This adds much to the credibility and immediacy of this entralling book which paints a superb picture of what soldiers care to call 'the fog of war.' The result is an inspiring and revealing read and a fine tribute to those whose contribution must never be forgotten." | literature |
https://apollochange.com/childhood-trauma-a-grave-psychosocial-medical-and-public-policy-problem/ | 2024-04-24T22:35:18 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296819971.86/warc/CC-MAIN-20240424205851-20240424235851-00812.warc.gz | 0.934362 | 653 | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-18__0__97363244 | en | Childhood trauma is a serious problem that has severe consequences for its victims and society as a whole. Trauma in childhood can range from experiences of chronic interpersonal violence to other forms of overwhelming stress. Developmental traumatology provides a framework and principles to understand the psychiatric and psychobiological effects of chronic stress on the developing child. This field of study seeks to understand how childhood trauma impacts the development of children and the long-term consequences of these experiences.
Despite its widespread prevalence, less is known about the biological effects of childhood trauma in children compared to adults with a history of childhood trauma. However, research in this area is crucial, as understanding these effects can help in providing appropriate support and treatment for children who have experienced trauma. This article focuses on the peer-reviewed literature on the neurobiological effects of childhood trauma in children and adults with a history of childhood trauma. Additionally, the article reviews relevant studies of animal models of stress to help us better understand the psychobiological effects of trauma during development.
The Neurobiology of Trauma
Trauma has a significant impact on the brain, leading to changes in its structure and function. Childhood trauma has been shown to cause alterations in the brain’s structure, including the hippocampus, amygdala, and prefrontal cortex. These regions play critical roles in memory, emotional regulation, and executive functioning, respectively. As a result, children who have experienced trauma are more likely to experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety.
Clinical Applications and Biomarkers
The neurobiology of trauma has important clinical applications, including the development of biomarkers that can help predict post-traumatic stress symptoms and monitor treatment response. Biomarkers can also be used to track changes in the brain’s structure and function over time. In particular, neuroimaging techniques such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) scans have been used to study the neurobiological effects of trauma. These techniques allow researchers to observe changes in brain activity in real-time and can help identify key regions of the brain involved in the response to trauma.
Suggestions for Future Researchers
Despite the advancements in the field, there is still much work to be done to fully understand the neurobiological effects of childhood trauma. Researchers should continue to explore the long-term consequences of childhood trauma, including the development of PTSD and other mental health conditions. Additionally, researchers should continue to study the effects of different forms of childhood trauma, including physical and emotional abuse, neglect, and exposure to violence. Finally, more research is needed to better understand the underlying mechanisms of the brain’s response to trauma and the development of effective treatments for children who have experienced trauma.
In conclusion, childhood trauma is a serious problem with significant consequences for its victims and society. Understanding the neurobiological effects of childhood trauma is crucial to developing effective treatments and support systems for children who have experienced trauma. With continued research and advancements in the field, we can work towards a better understanding of childhood trauma and its impact on the developing child.
Start Making Positive Changes
Unleash the power of your mind to create the life you’ve always dreamed of. | literature |
http://joshsolar.tumblr.com/tagged/quotes | 2013-05-25T05:18:00 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705543116/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115903-00098-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | 0.938801 | 248 | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2013-20__0__132096370 | en | For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness.
Keep love in your heart. A life without it is like a sunless garden when the flowers are dead. The consciousness of loving and being loved brings a warmth and richness to life that nothing else can bring.
Joy seems to me a step beyond happiness. Happiness is a sort of atmosphere you can live in sometimes when you’re lucky. Joy is a light that fills you with hope and faith and love.
Many men can make a fortune but very few can build a family.
We are all a little weird and life’s a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love.
Love is a promise, love is a souvenir, once given never forgotten, never let it disappear.
Are you one of ‘em?
“There are thousands and thousands of people out there living lives of quiet, screaming desperation who work long, hard hours, at jobs they hate, to enable them to buy things they don’t need to impress people they don’t like.”
- Nigel Marsh | literature |
https://www.firstgendocs.com/events-and-engagement | 2022-01-23T21:14:23 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-05/segments/1642320304309.59/warc/CC-MAIN-20220123202547-20220123232547-00367.warc.gz | 0.816553 | 349 | CC-MAIN-2022-05 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2022-05__0__209010268 | en | Publications, & Presentations
Events & Engagements
Join us for our Spring 2022 Semester Chats and Virtual Writing Retreats!
We will host Twitter chats on the third Wednesday in January and April during the Spring 2022 semester. We will host monthly virtual writing retreats on the second Saturday of every month.
Past Conference Presentations
Brown, L. C., Wallace, J. K., & Cokley, R. K. (2021). A labor of love: The makings of @FirstGenDocs. Journal of First-generation Student Success, 1(1), 49-56. https://doi.org/10.1080/26906015.2021.1891823
Wallace, J. K., Cokley, R. K., & Brown, L. C. (2020). This is soul work: A portrait of three Black first-gen docs. In J. Sablan & J. Van Galen (Eds.), Amplified voices, intersecting identities: First-generation phds navigating institutional power anthology (pp. 119-125). Boston, MA: Brill Sense Publishing.
(November, 2018). “This is Soul Work”: An Nkwaethnography of Three Black First-Generation Doctoral Students. Roundtable presented at the Association for the Study of Higher Education Annual Meeting.
(October, 2017). “Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop”: Digital Space Interventions for First-Generation Doctoral Students. Education session presented at the Southern Association for College and Student Affairs Annual Meeting. | literature |
https://www.rokotustieto.fi/en/news/first-research-results-studies-effectiveness-covid-19-vaccines-finland-have-been-received | 2024-03-05T14:59:44 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707948235171.95/warc/CC-MAIN-20240305124045-20240305154045-00166.warc.gz | 0.96867 | 336 | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-10__0__74824368 | en | First research results of studies on the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in Finland have been received23.04.2021
The first preliminary research results on the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in Finland have been received. According to the results, vaccination reduced the number of cases of severe COVID-19 requiring hospital treatment by an average of 74% (95% confidence interval 42–88%) in the elderly and 84% (95% confidence interval 34–96%) in those belonging to the risk groups.
The study includes vaccination data for all people who have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. The effectiveness of the vaccines has been assessed separately for those aged 70 years or older and for those aged 16–69 in risk groups due to an illness. All the vaccine products used have been combined in the analysis.
The results are based on a register study carried out by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, in which the Care Register for Health Care, the National Infectious Diseases Register and the National Vaccination Register have been used. The data included in the study was collected between 27 December 2020 and 28 March 2021 so results mainly concern the effectiveness of a single dose of vaccine. The data is being supplemented continuously and the research results will become more accurate as the vaccination programme progresses.
- THL: First estimates of the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines have been received – vaccinations have reduced cases leading to hospital treatment
- Mediuutiset (In Finnish): Preliminary results on the effectiveness of a single vaccine dose against COVID-19 have been received – Reduction in hospital treatment for the elderly about 74% in Finland | literature |
https://johnsmolens.com/fire-point/ | 2023-09-21T07:59:26 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233505362.29/warc/CC-MAIN-20230921073711-20230921103711-00830.warc.gz | 0.968085 | 233 | CC-MAIN-2023-40 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-40__0__7040814 | en | At nineteen, Hannah LeClaire already has a reputation in the village of Whitefish Harbor, where she grew up. She is a solitary young woman who is given to long walks along the coast of Lake Superior. On a cold April day, she wanders into a dilapidated house and meets Martin Reed, who has moved to Michigan’s remote Upper Peninsula to renovate the condemned Victorian once owned by his aunt. Quickly Hannah realizes that Martin is an outcast, too, and unlike anyone she has ever met.
Fire Point is the story of the summer Hannah and Martin attempt to rebuild their lives while restoring the house. But when Sean Colby returns to Michigan after being discharged early from military service, he cannot accept the fact that Hannah, his former girlfriend, is moving on without him—and commits a series of increasingly violent acts against Hannah, Martin, and the house. Written in spare, graceful prose, Fire Point is a thrilling and suspenseful story of love, vengeance, and renewal, set against the pristine beauty of one of America’s great inland seas.
Click to Purchase “Fire Point” | literature |
http://pabuse.blogspot.com/2009/12/comprehensive-review-of-literature.html | 2019-09-20T16:47:34 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-39/segments/1568514574050.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20190920155311-20190920181311-00263.warc.gz | 0.769418 | 2,613 | CC-MAIN-2019-39 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2019-39__0__10635479 | en | Shared Parenting Information Group (SPIG) UK
Parental Alienation Syndrome - articles
Comprehensive review of the literature about PAS - essential reading
- Rand, Deirdre C; The spectrum of Parental Alienation Syndrome (part 1), American Journal of Forensic Psychology, (1997) 15 (3) p 23-52
- Rand, Deirdre C; The spectrum of Parental Alienation Syndrome (part 2), American Journal of Forensic Psychology, (1997) 15 (4) p39-92
other articlesCartwright, Glen F. Expanding the Parameters of Parental Alienation Syndrome. The American Journal of Family Therapy. (1993) 21(3) p 205
Dunne, John ; Hedrick, Marsha The Parental Alienation Syndrome: An Analysis of Sixteen Selected Cases. Journal of Divorce & Remarriage. (1994) 21 (3/4) p21
Gardner, Richard A. Legal and Psychotherapeutic Approaches to the Three Types of Parental Alienation Syndrome Families: When Psychiatry and the Law Join Forces. Court Review. (1991) 28 (1) p 14
Gardner, Richard A. Addendum to: The Parental Alienation Syndrome: a guide for Mental Health and Legal Professionals; (1992)
Lund, Mary A Therapist's View of Parental Alienation Syndrome. Family and Conciliation Courts Review. (1995) 33(3) p308
Palmer, Nancy Rainey Legal Recognition of the Parental Alienation Syndrome. The American Journal of Family Therapy. (1989) 16(4) p361
Price, Joseph L.; Pioske, Kerry S. Parental Alienation Syndrome: A Developmental Analysis. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health (1994) 32(11) p9
This systematic denigration by one parent of the other, with the intent of alienating the child, is a symptom of depression and dependence.
Wood, L. Cheri The Parental Alienation Syndrome: A Dangerous Aura of Reliability. Loyola of Los Angeles Law Review. (1994) 27(4) p1367
Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS) is a theoretical disorder in children that arises almost exclusively in child custody disputes. In most PAS cases the mother "programs" the children to hate the father - often leading to false allegations of sexual abuse. This Comment examines PAS theory in light of the causation problems raised by assigning blame in an area that psychologists and courts recognise as extremely uncertain. It also observes that there is no empirical evidence supporting the theory, nor has PAS been subjected to meaningful peer review or publication. In fact, experts in the field have widely discredited the theory. The Comment then argues that PAS is dangerous because its wide dissemination in the legal community, via the PAS originator's self-published works, lends an undeserved aura of reliability to the theory. Finally, this Comment recommends that PAS testimony be excluded, but recognises that in light of Daubert v. Merrell...
Further references (in chronological order)(with thanks to Dean Hughson)
Articles by Richard GardnerGardner, R. A. (1985), Recent trends in divorce and custody litigation.The Academy Forum, 29(2)3-7. New York: The American Academy of Psychoanalysis.
Gardner, R. A. (1987), Child Custody. In Basic Handbook of Child Psychiatry, ed. J. Noshpitz, Vol. V, pp. 637- 646. New York: Basic Books, Inc.
Gardner, R. A. (1987), Judges interviewing children in custody/visitation litigation. New Jersey Family Lawyer, 7(2):26ff.
Gardner, R. A. (1990), Childhood stress due to parental divorce. In Stressors and the Adjustment Disorders, ed. J. D. Noshpitz and R. D.Coddington, pp. 43-59. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Gardner, R. A. (1991), Legal and psychotherapeutic approaches to the three types of parental alienation syndrome families: when psychiatry and the law join forces. Court Review, 28(1):14-21.
Gardner, R. A. (1997), Recommendations for dealing with parents who induce a parental alienation syndrome in their children. Issues in Child Abuse Accusations, 8(3):206-211.
Gardner, R. A. (1997), Recommendations for dealing with parents who induce a parental alienation syndrome in their children. Journal of Divorce and Remarriage, 28(1/2): (in press)
Other articles devoted entirely to PASPalmer, N.R. (1988), Legal Recognition of the Parental Alienation Syndrome. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 16(4):361-363.
Goldwater, A. (1991). Le syndrome d'alienation parentale (in English). In Developpements recents en droit familial (pp. 121-145). Cowansville, Quebec:Les Editions Yvon Blais.
Levy, D. (1992), Review of parental alienation syndrome: a guide for mental health and legal professionals. American Journal of Family Therapy, 20(3):276-277.
Cartwright, G.F. (1993). Expanding the Parameters of Parental Alienation Syndrome. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 21(3):205-215.
Dunne, J. and Hedrick, (1994), The Parental Alienation Syndrome: An Analysis of Sixteen Selected Cases. Journal of Divorce and Remarriage, 21(3/4):21-38.
Lund, M. (1995), A therapist's view of parental alienation syndrome. Family and Conciliation Courts Review, 33(3):308-316.
Walsh, M. R. and Bone, J. M. (1997), Parental Alienation Syndrome: An Age-old Custody Problem. The Florida Bar Journal, LXXI(6):93-96.
Publications that focus significantly on PAS
Huntingon, D. S. (1986), The forgotten figures in divorce, and fatherhood: the struggle for parental identity.
Lampel, A. (1986), Post-divorce therapy with high conflict families. The Independent Practioner, Bulletin of the Division of Psychologists in Independent Practice, Division 42 of the American Psychological Association, 6(3):22-6.
Jacobs, J. W. (1988), Euripidies' Medea: a psychodynamic model of severe divorce pathology. American Journal of Psychotherapy, XLII(2):308-319.
Johnston, J. R. and Campbell, L. E. (1988), Impasses of Divorce: The Dynamics and Resolution of Family Conflict. New York: The Free Press.
Blush, G. J. and Ross, K. L. (1990), Investigation and case management issues and strategies. Issues in Child Abuse Accusations. 2(3):152-160.
Wakefield, H. and Underwager, R. (1990), Personality characteristics of parents making false accusations of sexual abuse in custody disputes. Issues in Child Abuse Accusations, 2(3):121-136.
Ross, K. L. and Blush, G. J. (1990), Sexual abuse validity discriminators in the divorced or divorcing family. Issues in Child Abuse Accusations, 2(1):1-6.
Thoennes, N. and Tjaden, P. G. (1990), The extent, nature, and validity of sexual abuse allegations in custody visitation disputes. Child Abuse & Neglect, 12:151-163.
The California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Law: Issues and Answers for Health Practitioners. State of California, 1991.
Clawar, S. S. and Rivlin, B. V. (1991), Children Held Hostage: Dealing with Programmed and Brainwashed Children. Chicago, Illinois: American Bar Association.
Wakefield, H., and Underwager, R. (1991), Sexual abuse allegations in divorce and custody disputes. Behavioral Sciences and the Law, 9:451-468.
Patterson, D. (1991-92), The other victim: the falsely accused parent in a sexual abuse and custody case. Journal of Family Law, 30:919-941.
Maccoby, E. E. and Mnookin, R. H. (1992), Dividing the Child: Social and Legal Dilemmas of Custody. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Rogers, M. (1992), Delusional disorder and the evolution of mistaken sexual allegations in child custody cases. American Journal of Forensic Psychology, 10(1):47-69.
Ceci, S. J., and Bruck, M. (1993), Suggestibility of the child witness: a historical review and synthesis. Psychological Bulletin, 113(3):403-39.
Johnston, J. R. (1993), Children of divorce who refuse visitation. In Nonresidential Parenting: New Vistas in Family Living. ed. Depner, C. E. and Bray, J.H. London: Sage Publications.
Rand, D. C. (1993), Munchausen syndrome by proxy: a complex type of emotional abuse responsible for some false allegations of child abuse in divorce. Issues in Child Abuse Accusations, 5(3)135-55.
Sanders, C. H. (1993), When you suspect the worst: bad- faith relocation, fabricated child sexual abuse and parental alienation. Family Advocate, winter:54-56.
Ward, P. and Harvey, J. C. (1993), Family wars: the alienation of children. New Hampshire Bar Journal. March:30.
Garrity, C.B. and Baris, M.A. (1994), Caught in the Middle: Protecting the Children of High-Conflict Divorce. New York: Lexington Books (an Imprint of Macmillan, Inc.).
Guidelines for Child Custody Evaluations in Divorce Proceeding (1994).American Psychologist, 49(7)677-680.
Hysjulien, C., Wood, B., and Benjamin, G.A.H. (1994), Child custody evaluations: a review of methods used in litigation and alternative dispute resolution. Family and Conciliation Courts Review, 32(4):466-489.
Stahl, P.M. (1994), Conducting Child Custody Evaluations: A Comprehensive Guide. London: Sage Publications.
Turkat, I.D. (1994). Child Visitation Interference in Divorce. Clinical Psychology Review, 14(8):737-742.
Ehrenberg, M. F. and Elterman, M.F. (1995), Evaluating allegations of sexual abuse in the context of divorce, child custody and access disputes. In True and False Allegations of Child Sexual Abuse: Assessment and Case Management. ed. Ney, T. New York: Brunner/Mazel Publishers.
Jones, M., Lund, M. and Sullivan, M. (1996), Dealing with Parental Alienation in High Conflict Custody Cases, Presentation at Conference of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, San Antonio, Texas.
Mapes, B. E. (1995), Child Eyewitness Testimony in Sexual Abuse Investigations. Brandon, Vermont: Clinical Psychology Publishing Co., Inc.
Turkat, I. D. (1995), Divorce related malicious mother syndrome. Journal of Family Violence, 10(3):253-264.
Adams, J. K. (1996), Investigation and interviews in cases of alleged child sexual abuse: a look at the scientific evidence. Issues in Child Abuse Accusations, 8(3/4):120-138.
Lampel, A. (1996), Children's alignment with parents in highly conflicted custody cases. Family and Conciliation Courts Review, 34(2):229-239.
Campbell, T. W. (in press), Psychotherapy with children of divorce: the pitfalls of triangulated relationships. Psychotherapy
Clancy, Patrick, Attorney at Law, http://www.accused.com
Last updated - 12 July 1998
SPIG Home Page | literature |
https://www.sophiashalmiyev.com/press | 2019-10-23T18:57:48 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-43/segments/1570987835748.66/warc/CC-MAIN-20191023173708-20191023201208-00210.warc.gz | 0.9218 | 597 | CC-MAIN-2019-43 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2019-43__0__138189200 | en | early praise for
“A rich tapestry of autobiography and meditations on feminism, motherhood, art, and culture, this book is as intellectually satisfying as it is artistically profound.
A sharply intelligent, lyrically provocative memoir.”
—Kirkus (starred review)
"Shalmiyev stubbornly, brilliantly pursues loss in this psychogeography of immigration, grief displacement, and damage. A mother herself, Shalmiyev's narrator channels the ghosts of Dorothy Richardson, Anaïs Nin, Frances Farmer, and the sad, bad stories of Aileen Wuornos and Amy Fisher, who could never be the right kind of girls. Like the great modernist writers, Shalmiyev writes from, not about trauma, but at a pitch that's witty, dry, sad, and laconic. 'I love America,' her narrator declares. 'It's broken, like me.'"
—Chris Kraus, Author Of I Love Dick
"The coldness of Russia, of the occult; the heat of punk rock, of motherhood. The psychic tear of emigration and motherlessness; a past gone into mystery. With sparse, poetic language, Shalmiyev builds a personal history that is fractured and raw; a brilliant, lovely ache."
—Michelle Tea, critically-acclaimed author of Against Memoir
"When she leaves her native Russia at age eleven, Sophia Shalmiyev is forced to abandon a mother she may never see again. Mother Winter is the wrenching story of her exile and grief, but it's also a chronicle of awakening—to art, sex, feminism, and the rich complexities of becoming a mother herself. Like a punk-rock Marguerite Duras, Shalmiyev has reinvented the language of longing. I love this gorgeous, gutting, unforgettable book."
—Leni Zumas, author of Red Clocks
"Mother Winter slices through the conventions of narrative with the most delicate blade, ribboning what you think you know about memoir, homecoming, what it means to live in a female body, to live as a motherless mother, to be mothered by art and the arms of all that is strong enough to hold you. This book hypnotized me with its beauty and brutality. I feasted on Shalmiyev's sentences, and they will stay with me for a long, long time."
—Melissa Febos, author of Whip Smart and Abandon Me
"The flickering alcoholic parent creates a writer by their absence. The kid colors the void, packs it with stuff, a life, and a love. And thus she lives. Mother Winter, Sophia Shalmiyev’s catastrophically bright, wavering motion of a memoir, forged through sticky clouds of pain, is vividly awesome and truly great."
—Eileen Myles, author of Evolution | literature |
https://www.eastaltonlibrary.org/event-details/illinois-libraries-present-saying-yes-to-your-story-a-conversation-with-kwame-alexander | 2024-02-24T09:04:13 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474526.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20240224080616-20240224110616-00571.warc.gz | 0.929953 | 507 | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-10__0__111809948 | en | Wed, Feb 08|
East Alton Library
Illinois Libraries Present: Saying Yes to Your Story: A Conversation with Kwame Alexander
Time & Location
Feb 08, 2023, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
East Alton Library, 250 Washington Ave, East Alton, IL 62024, USA
About the Event
Join us for an evening of inspiration and conversation with best-selling and award-winning children’s and young adult author and poet, Kwame Alexander, author of the Newbery Award winning book, The Crossover, Newbery Honor/Caldecott Medal winning book, The Undefeated, and most recently, An American Story, for an Illinois Libraries Present event for young people and their families. Kwame will share ways to say yes to your story and persist in the face of rejection as he shares his own publishing journey. As a creator of more than 36 books, Kwame will energize our community to harness the power of words and storytelling for change! Please note that this program will be presented live without a recording.
Kwame Alexander Kwame Alexander is a poet, educator, publisher, and New York Times Bestselling author of 36 books, including Swing, Becoming Muhammad Ali, co-authored with James Patterson, Rebound, The Undefeated, The Crossover, and The Door of No Return. A regular contributor to NPR's Morning Edition, Kwame is the recipient of numerous awards, including The Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award, The Coretta Scott King Author Honor, Three NAACP Image Award Nominations, and the 2017 Inaugural Pat Conroy Legacy Award. In 2018, he opened the Barbara E. Alexander Memorial Library and Health Clinic in Ghana, as a part of LEAP for Ghana, an international literacy program he co-founded. He is the writer and executive producer of The Crossover show on Disney+.
This event is made possible by Illinois Libraries Present, a statewide collaboration among public libraries offering premier events. ILP is funded in part by a grant awarded by the Illinois State Library, a department of the Office of Secretary of State, using funds provided by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services, under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). ILP is committed to inclusion and accessibility.
To request accommodations, please email [email protected]. Register online here: https://bit.ly/ILP_KwameAlexander | literature |
https://rebeccafayefowler.wordpress.com/2010/08/01/creative-juices/ | 2018-06-22T10:48:29 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-26/segments/1529267864391.61/warc/CC-MAIN-20180622104200-20180622124200-00307.warc.gz | 0.978033 | 338 | CC-MAIN-2018-26 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2018-26__0__242959863 | en | Today, this lovely and cool and greyish Sunday afternoon, marks my first writing date. Me and another writer friend met up for a few hours at a local bar, sat on the back patio and….. wrote. We bounced a few ideas off each other, talked some things out, I read her play, but for the most part, we sat in silence and wrote and were hugely productive.
I love that I have started my August, usually a month consumed with work stress (the work that pays me the paycheck) by claiming time for the work that I want to be my future. And even better, I realized today that in this year where I have been, by force, almost completely physically inactive, I have been hugely creatively active. Funny how things work out sometimes.
So, ok, I’m not able to work out and claim that fitness level that I want to achieve, but I’ve got three creative projects in the works that are making me happy and are steering me toward the life that I want to lead. Cool.
Today: I mapped out two plot ideas and chose the one to start with and wrote the opening scene. I realized that the reason I was stuck on another plot idea was that another story has to happen first before I can get to my little money laundress. Today, it became apparent that Fantasy Man gets the first book. Don’t know what the heck I’m talking about? Well, you’ll just have to stay tuned and read the books! They’ll be steamy. You’ll like them. I hope.
Next Sunday: 2nd writing date. | literature |
http://www.dracoprincess.com/2012/08/a-game-of-thrones_23.html | 2017-05-23T16:48:57 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-22/segments/1495463607648.39/warc/CC-MAIN-20170523163634-20170523183634-00271.warc.gz | 0.984288 | 618 | CC-MAIN-2017-22 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2017-22__0__141755917 | en | When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die; there is no middle ground. - Cersei Lannister
I've been hearing about A Game of Thrones for over a year already before I allowed myself to be finally hooked by the series. It only took the recommendation of my good friends, Christal and Lean, for me to start watching. As much as I wanted to read the books before I watched the TV series, I just couldn't hold back my curiosity any longer. Though I grew to love it late compared to the rest of the fandom, I'm still very glad that I even decided to start watching.
I watched the first and second season in less than two weeks. I was so hooked to the point that just watching one episode would leave me wanting for more. I couldn't stand the cliffhangers. Though I had work the next day, I still sacrificed my sleeping hours just to get my dose of GoT. The amount of nudity put me off a bit, but I learned to deal with it because it was such a small setback compared to how awesome the show is. The characters were easy to like. They grew on me as I delved deeper into the story. Each of them had their own struggles and it was not hard to pay attention to their respective journeys.
|I was so happy to the point that I had to document the unwrapping process of the package when it arrived a week ago.|
After the end of season two, I felt really restless. I wanted to know what was gonna happen next. Unfortunately, season three will air in 2013. It's still a long wait, but I can manage. Due to excitement, I even dared to borrow money from my Dad to get the boxed set that contained the first five books. Usually, I tend to lose interest in a book when I have already watched it on the big screen (or in this case, through my laptop screen). I get bored because I already know what's going to happen next. Though I sometimes have this itch to skip to the third book, (because I really want to know what happens next) I can say that the first book does not bore me at all. I enjoy every chapter of it because I get to understand the thoughts of the characters. Their actions suddenly make sense because of this. These interesting bits of information are not reflected in the TV series, hence, it's always better to read the book in addition to watching. The extra information provides depth to the already interesting plot.
I'd love to be more specific about the things I love about GoT, but I think I'll just end up spoiling the whole experience for the rest of you. Also, there's just too much to love. The list would just go on and on, so maybe I can reserve that topic for another day. Maybe I'll write about it when my schedule isn't as hectic anymore.
If you still haven't watched or read the series, I suggest you do. You won't regret it. | literature |
https://flylittledragon.com/product/personalized-book-canoli-kids/ | 2020-06-07T06:20:29 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-24/segments/1590348523564.99/warc/CC-MAIN-20200607044626-20200607074626-00064.warc.gz | 0.964327 | 540 | CC-MAIN-2020-24 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2020-24__0__86081345 | en | Personalized Magazine by Canoli Kids – 3+
Beautifully designed soft cover kids’ book series which characters can be personalized to look like the little ones you are creating the book for. Choose age, hair style, skin and eye color and your character is ready to explore the world, learn about eclipses and discover the bottom of the ocean.
Canoli kids offers parents a fun and unique opportunity to get their children excited about reading! Now parents can insert their child and perhaps their child’s best friend into a new story each month. In general, children not only find being read to fun but their reading levels actually improve. They begin to hear vocabulary they have never heard before, see what words look like, follow along with the story and may soon begin reading the story to you. With Canoli kids, the stories are personalized making reading together more special than ever before. There is no doubt kids will love to hear and read about themselves in the stories, eager to listen to their new adventures month after month.
As a teacher, I insist on the pleasure of reading and the importance of offering rich and adapted literature. I recommend, of course, to borrow books regularly from libraries but also to offer subscriptions to their child. Canolikids is one of those easy, affordable and above all educational gifts that parents and teachers love! Each month the child receives a documentary magazine. The adult can read it to or with his child.The sentences and vocabulary are rich, varied and adapted to young audiences. The themes address answers to children’s questions about the nature. They also address themes such as respect, empathy…. The expressive illustrations help the beginner reader to understand and remember vocabulary. Moreover, these magazines are personalized, the child takes it over even faster because he is the hero of the story. He wants to read and reread the same magazine and wait for the next one. Canolikids magazine offers the pleasure of reading as well of the pleasure of learning new things.
Canolikids is awesome! I loved the process of creating little characters for the children that I was gifting the magazine to, and the kids loved seeing themselves as the main character in the books! Each story is beautifully illustrated and told, with positive messages and lots of educational content introduced in an engaging and fun way. I also love that these books grow with kids. Little kids can simply look at the pictures and have the story read to them while older kids and caregivers will enjoy the “A moment to reflect” feature that offers suggestions for exploring the topic further. If you want a screen-free, connection boosting activity I highly recommend Canolikids! | literature |
https://online.sfsu.edu/wenchao/about.html | 2021-06-13T07:19:55 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-25/segments/1623487607143.30/warc/CC-MAIN-20210613071347-20210613101347-00015.warc.gz | 0.926181 | 319 | CC-MAIN-2021-25 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2021-25__0__82348772 | en | Chris Wen-Chao Li is Professor of Linguistics at the Department of Modern Languages & Literatures at San Francisco State University, where he teaches courses in general linguistics, news writing, calligraphy, web applications, and advanced Chinese language, and graduate seminars in Chinese phonology, semantics, morphology, translation theory, and consecutive and simultaneous interpreting. Prior to the present appointment, he lectured on advanced-level English, phonetics, phonology, creative writing, news writing, and translation studies at National Taiwan Normal University, and taught Chinese language and poetry at the University of Minnesota. He has also served as Adjunct Professor in Translation at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, and worked as a Chinese language current affairs producer and radio announcer for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) World Service in London.
Dr Li received his masters and doctoral degree in General Linguistics and Comparative Philology from Oxford University, where his research focused on Mandarin sound change and Chinese phonology. He is the author of A Diachronically-Motivated Segmental Phonology of Mandarin Chinese (New York: Peter Lang, 1999), Media Chinese (Taipei: Shita Books, 2005) and numerous scholarly treatises on language and translation. His translations of Chinese prose and poetry have appeared in Renditions (Hong Kong) and The Chinese Pen (Taipei). His current research interests include sound change, language contact, diglossia, standardization, phonological translation, Chinese romanization systems, and the phonological description of Mandarin Chinese varieties. | literature |
https://naamdharma.blogspot.com/ | 2021-06-20T06:56:44 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-25/segments/1623487658814.62/warc/CC-MAIN-20210620054240-20210620084240-00418.warc.gz | 0.975524 | 3,286 | CC-MAIN-2021-25 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2021-25__0__206144110 | en | During the time of Guru Srimanta Sankaradeva the human society was divided on the basis of caste and creed. Mankind was divided into four varnas (or castes): Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras. Ancient Hindu texts suggest caste system was not rigid. There are examples of men born to families belonging to various castes and later with the help of devotion becoming maharishis. This flexibility permitted lower cast Valmiki who was a Shudra by birth becomes Maharishi and composed the Holy Ramayana. However, with the passes of time, those in the privileged position, for their own selfish motives, made the caste system rigid and then the caste of a person was determined by his birth, not by his occupation. This means that a person’s social status was obligated to which caste they were born into. Although this or other forms of differentiation exist in all human societies, however, it becomes a problem when such narrow minded caste system becomes the sole basis of systematic ranking and unequal access to valued resources like wealth, income, education, power and prestige. The Brahmans, usually priests, were at the top. The next were the Kshatriyas, or political rulers and soldiers. The Kshatriyas were followed by the Vaishyas, or merchants, and the fourth were the Shudras, who were usually laborers, peasants, artisans, craftsman, and servants. There were limits on interaction and behavior of people belonging to one caste with people from another caste.
The Priests (Brahmans) and warriors (Kshatriyas) were said to be “better” than or “superior” to the other castes, and in general the Brahmans and Kshatriyas were regarded as united into a ruling class. But although the Brahmans and Kshatriyas together proclaimed to be superior to the commoners, the Brahmans never hesitated to declare their own caste as higher than the Kshatriyas. The Vaishya’s duty was to ensure the community’s prosperity through agriculture, cattle rearing and trade. The Vaishyas were considered inferior to the Brahmins and Kshatriyas and expected to be weak in comparison to their rulers, and were infinitely exploitable and regenerative. These oppressions however, were usually not boycotted because this was presented as a natural state of affairs in the social real. Later, the Shudras took over agriculture and cattle rearing while the Vaishyas became traders and merchants. Then Shudras, who were usually laborers, peasants, artisans, craftsman and servants, were thought to not have any special abilities and were considered only capable of serving as slaves to the upper three class. Shudras enjoyed no rights or privileges, and were not permitted to perform any prayer, read or learn the Vedas or recite the mantras (prayer rituals). They were also not allowed to enter temples and could only serve the upper three castes as a slave, barber, blacksmith or cobbler (Gurjari). The upper castes started to almost exploit the lower castes for their own profit. Financially, the upper castes become richer and the lower castes become poorer day by day.
At that time, education and schooling was also reserved only for the upper castes, especially the Brahmins. Moreover, education and schooling was very costly. Thus, at any cost, the commoners could not afford education. Paper was not yet discovered by mankind. People used to write on leaves and on the bark of tree, in Assamese language we call it “hasi pat”. Also the books written in “hasi pat” (bark of tree) were very few in numbers. Books were not easily available even to the educated people. The schools were run by Brahmins. However, in some of the schools like the school of the great Guru Mahendra Kandali, which was located at Rampur (in Nagaon district of Assam, India), the guru admit all the upper caste children. That means, the children belonging to Brahman and Kayastha families. Still education was a dream for the rest of the people. Even if the guru want to offer free education to all, irrespective of their caste and creed, it was still not possible to educate all because the cost of stationery were too high and needed to be incurred by the student. As a result, a majority of the people were illiterate. Education and knowledge (”Gyan”) became limited only to a few number of people. Through education we acquire knowledge. In the life of a man, knowledge is like the Sun. Without knowledge a man becomes ignorant. It is knowledge (“gyan”) that makes us a human. Humanity and morality is lost when people lack knowledge. Even to know God one needs knowledge. So, with majority of the people being illiterate, the knowledge and morality was lost. The people belonging to the lower castes were fooled in the name of religion, in the name of God. People were made to do many wrong things and perform many rituals which were actually designed for the profit of those in a privileged position. The path of righteousness was lost. Thus, the path of enlightenment and the path of realizing the Gracious Almighty were lost. Unity among the people was lost. The people become cruel and unjust. People lacked knowledge and become superstitious. Ultimately, the people were in misery. At such a time, to save the people from being fooled, to put an end to the sufferings of the people, to tie mankind with the thread of unity, for the upliftment of the poor, for the well being of mankind, to protect righteousness, to pave the path of enlightenment, to reveal the true meaning of the Vedas, to insert the supremacy of the Holy Bhagavata Purana and the sacred Srimad Bhagavata Gita, to show the path of Loving Devotion (prema-bhakti), to spread the Holy name and virtue of Lord Krishna, to establish the Bhagavata dharma, the Supreme Lord incarnated as Srimanta Sankaradeva.
The world is full of misery. Desire is the root of all miseries. Desire leads to anger, hatred and jealousy, which are all the enemies of one’s own self. Anger is a fire inside us and before this fire could destroy someone else, it would first destroy us. Now, the main question is could anybody give up desire? Answer is “No”. We are human beings and we are always seeking pleasure. Today, (in this Kali age) human beings don’t have any control over their senses. Everybody wants to satisfy their senses at any cost. Human beings are greedy and are full of pride. But some wise man had said that the pride of goodness is the root of evil. One’s pride in intellect prevents absorption of the words of the sastras and saints into the inner faculty. The sole objective of human life is to realize the Supreme and Gracious Lord Krishna, and to make use of this precious human life for the upliftment of one’s own self. God could be realized only and only through devotion. But where there is pride of class, devotion is difficult because devotion is through the self, not through the body. And class and caste belongs to the body and not to the self. So, in such a situation, to end the worldly sufferings, to spread the supreme knowledge among all, the Guru Srimanta Sankaradeva decided to impart the knowledge of the Holly Bhagavata Purana and Srimad Bhagavata Gita. He decided to establish the Bhagavata dharma.
In this Kali age, the sinners could get purified only and only through Sravana and Kirttana of the Holy names and virtues of the Supreme Lord Krishna (sravana means listening to the Holy names and virtue of Lord Krishna and Kirttana means singing/reading the same). Hari’s name is the greatest friend of man. Whoever utters the same, surely his seven deeds are performed. Now, let us take note of these seven deeds:
- First, Hari’s name burns up all the sins
- It creates virtue in great abundance,
- It makes one detached from earthly matters,
- It helps attain loving devotion at Krishna’s Lotus Feet,
- It helps attain supreme Vaishnavite wisdom,
- It leads to the burning of all illusions,
- Finally, with supremely conscious and blissful Hari’s image, Hari’s name would unite the devotee in the final stage.
The person who sings Hari’s name surely gets salvation, being free from other offences.
The people in the Kali age would indulge in sins. And since the people would be very sinful they have no right over anything. Except Hari’s name, there is no other means that could rescue the people and end their sufferings. Hari’s name is the sole rescue. In the path of devotion (bhakti), one need not have to be a deva, dvija, a sage, one need not have to be of a pure mind and heart, one need not have to perform any sacrifice, penance or ritual, Hari is satisfied only and only in loving devotion. Hari is the father of all, He is all merciful, God Supreme. Even the most sinful and degenerate person gets redeemed from all the sins if he takes refuge at Hari’s feet.
In Satya, Treta, and Dwapara age, the people had to make a lot of effort to get the meditation, sacrificial ceremonies and worship done. And to perform these one requires a lot of virtue, patience, hard work, purity of heart and mind, wealth and so on. However, even if they get these rituals done, they rarely get the opportunity to become a devotee of Supreme Lord Hari. Also, the result of all such performance was only heavenly pleasure, wealth and prosperity, which were all perishable. Even if one attains the heaven, there too their fear and misery doesn’t end. Thus, we could say that there was no end to misery. There was no way to attain salvation; there was no way to attain the Gracious Lord Krishna. Today, although Kali age is the epitome of all evil, becoming a devotee of Krishna become very easy and simple, and Sravana and Kirttana alone makes a person a devotee of Lord Almighty Krishna. Thus, by chanting and listening to the Holy name of Hari one could realize one’s own self and serving the illusory ties one gets identified with Hari. Chanting the Holy name alone helps one cross the world.
To impart the supreme knowledge and to end the miseries of the sinful man, the Guru, Srimanta Sankaradeva faced a lot of hardship. The difficulties faced by the Guru while working for the well being of mankind and the upliftment of the downtrodden and deprived sections of the society could not be expressed in words. To rescue the people from their worldly sufferings and to pave the path of enlightenment, to pave the path of salvation, and to establish the great Bhagavata Dharma, the Guru needs to inspire loving devotion (bhakti) at the Lotus Feet of Sri Hari, and to achieve this He need to impart the teachings of the Holy Bhagavata Purana and Srimad Bhagavata Gita to the people. Now, one of the major challenges was the illiteracy rate in the society. A majority of the people were illiterate. Another problem was that the sastras were available only in the Sanskrit language. Sanskrit was not a spoken language. It was used only by the Brahmins and the literate people like the Kayasthas. For the rest of the people, Sanskrit was a language of the Devas. So, the sastras must have to be translated into a language understood by the common people. After translating the sastras, the teachings must have to be narrated to the people. Moreover, the copies of the sastras were very few in number and were not easily available. Thus, it was not an easy task to impart the divine knowledge to the messes when the people were mostly illiterate, poor and busy in earning two meals a day. To impart the supreme knowledge from the Holy Srimad Bhagavata Purana and Srimad Bhagavata Gita equally to all the sections of the society the Guru translated the sastras in Sanskrit into a language understood by the common people and authored many sacred books, and wrote many songs and dramas. Since the people were mostly illiterate, the Guru composed songs from the lessons of the Holy Bhagavata Purana and Srimad Bhagavata Gita and sang the same in a melodious voice, so that the people could listen to the songs, enjoy the songs and most importantly, gain the knowledge from the songs. The Guru also wrote many dramas like the “ankia-nat” and these dramas too contain the lessons of the Holy Bhagavata Purana. Thus, the teachings from the holy sastras were presented in a very artistic way to the people in an easily accessible, immediate, and enjoyable manner. And the Guru, Srimanta Sankaradeva spread the Holy name and virtues of Lord Almighty Krishna and the supreme knowledge of the Holy Srimad Bhagavata Purana and Srimad Bhagavata Gita among the messes. The knowledge which was not easily available even to the Devas and Maharishis in the Satya age was now available to all. With the blessings of Guru Srimanta Sankara, that supreme knowledge which Lord Sri Krishna imparted to Arjuna in the battle of Kurukshetra, was made known to all. It was the knowledge supreme, knowing which one could easily and very quickly get rid of all the worldly sufferings, attain perpetual bliss, and get salvation. It fulfills all the desires. This knowledge leads to the realization of Sri Hari. Knowing this knowledge one gets freedom from the circle of birth and death and departs to Vaikuntha (the supreme abode of Lord Krishna). The Knowledge and the sastras, which were earlier confined only to the upper castes and the learned people, were now available to all, even to the illiterate people.
The Guru Srimanta Sankaradeva imparted the Supreme knowledge to all. He tied the society with the thread of brotherhood and unity, and spread the message of love, devotion and compassion. He established equality among the people. He burnt like a lamp of knowledge and dispelled the darkness born of ignorance. He was an incarnation of Lord Sri Krishna. However, instead of calling him God we call Him “The Guru” because He came in the form of a guru, and only with the blessings of the guru one could gain knowledge, and attain Sri Hari.
"Srimanta Sankara Hari Bhakatara
Jānā yena kalpataru
Tāhānta bināi nāi nāi nāi
Āmāra parama Guru ." 375(Naam Ghukha)
Know ye that Srimanta Sankaradeva is like the wish-yielding tree (kalpataru) of all the devotees of Hari. Be triple sure that there is no (other) Guru than Sankaradeva himself. | literature |
http://www.alancommittie.co.za/post/ai1ec_event/rosencrantz-and-guildenstern-are-dead?instance_id= | 2019-10-16T20:21:04 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-43/segments/1570986669546.24/warc/CC-MAIN-20191016190431-20191016213931-00084.warc.gz | 0.941302 | 489 | CC-MAIN-2019-43 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2019-43__0__42491957 | en | Alan Committie, in association with The Little Theatre and the UCT Drama Department will present Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Tom Stoppard’s masterful comedy and theatre classic.
Stoppard, an Academy Award winning author who wrote the film Shakespeare in Love and many other great plays and films, captivated audiences with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, a play that is the inverse of Hamlet and where the title characters are the leads instead of being minor players, with Hamlet himself only playing a small part.
The production concerns two of Hamlet’s friends, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, and follows their misadventures, musings and actions as the events of Shakespeare’s Hamlet occur in the background. In the production, the duo appears onstage when they are off-stage in the Bard’s play, with the exception of a few short scenes in which the dramatic events of both plays coincide. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead thus explores the comic journey of two amusing characters as they find themselves trapped within the world of Hamlet the play, destined to die and having to confront their fate.
Heading the supporting cast of senior UCT drama students are three professional and highly acclaimed actors, namely Alan Committie (Cape Town comic and alter-ego of Johan van der Walt from MNet’s Laugh Out Loud) as Rosencrantz, Rob Van Vuuren (Twakkie from the SABC comedy hit The Most Amazing Show) as Guildenstern and Neville Thomas (CAPAB actor, UCT alumni and the comic face – and force – behind the Tempest car hire adverts) as the Player King.
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead was preceded at each performance by a 12 and-a-half minute version of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. The presentation was fast, funny and frenetic, making it an ideal way to educate and entertain learners and remind us all of what occurred in the original text.
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead had a limited run from April 21st to May 5th 2007.
Written by Tom Stoppard
Directed by Christopher Weare
Starring Alan Committie, Rob van Vuuren and Neville Thomas | literature |
http://burncalorieswhileyousleep.com/ | 2017-11-22T02:04:58 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-47/segments/1510934806447.28/warc/CC-MAIN-20171122012409-20171122032409-00249.warc.gz | 0.955081 | 442 | CC-MAIN-2017-47 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2017-47__0__23110394 | en | The obesity epidemic is here. More and more adults are becoming overweight and diabetic every day. The problems related to overeating and under-metabolizing what we eat are enormous.
Hi, I’m Dr Tim Fischell, Author of “Burn Calories While You Sleep”. Like most middle aged adults, when I entered my 40’s, I began to experience weight gain and loss of fitness, despite my usual efforts to “exercise.”
With this new approach to working out, and the adoption of some new common sense “rules” for eating, I was able to lose substantial weight, getting back to my high school graduation weight, but twice as strong, at age 56.
Re-ignite your Metabolism
“Burn Calories While You Sleep” is one of the first books that asks, and answers the question, “Why do we lose metabolic activity as we get older?”
This is a common sense book. The main focus of this book is to provide a set of rules or guidelines that can be imprinted in your brain to allow you to efficiently, become fit, healthy, energized, and feeling young.
In this book you will learn:
- Why we tend to gain weight as we get older,
- How to reverse this
- How to change your metabolic rate
- How to literally “burn calories while you sleep.”
Once you have achieved your weight and fitness goals, the maintenance phase of this program allows one to maintain this high level of fitness while working out for only 35-40 minutes twice a week (plus some other tips and tricks that take little or no time out of your day).
Learn Why Walking on a treadmill will not solve your weight problem
You will realize why fad diets and fad exercising do not work. You will also learn other incredible and simple pearls and tips about raising healthy and fit children, living longer, and staying young as you age. This book will provide a concise outline to achieve a healthier and more youthful future for you and your children. It is teachable, learnable and sustainable! | literature |
https://www.neryom.net/w | 2023-06-01T01:55:39 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-23/segments/1685224647525.11/warc/CC-MAIN-20230601010402-20230601040402-00346.warc.gz | 0.924873 | 2,110 | CC-MAIN-2023-23 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-23__0__99670558 | en | Stem Cells Treatment
What is Stem Cell Therapy?
Stem cell therapy is a non-invasive treatment that aims to replace damaged cells within the body. Mesenchymal stem cell therapy can be deployed systemically via IV or injected locally to target specific sites, depending on patient needs.
What is stem cell therapy?
Stem cell therapy is a form of regenerative medicine designed to repair damaged cells within the body by reducing inflammation and modulating the immune system. This phenomenon makes stem cell therapy a viable treatment option for a variety of medical conditions. Stem cell therapies have been used to treat autoimmune, inflammatory, neurological, orthopedic conditions and traumatic injuries with studies conducted on use for Crohn's disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Lupus, COPD, Parkinson's, ALS, Stroke recovery and more.
While stem cell therapy does not necessarily provide a cure for these conditions, the premise is to allow the body to heal itself well enough to mitigate the symptoms of the conditions for long periods. In many cases, this effect can substantially increase the quality of life for patients as well as delay disease progression.
Where do stem cells come from?
Stem cells can be obtained from many different sources. These include adipose (fat tissue), umbilical cord tissue, placental tissue, umbilical cord blood, or bone marrow.
How are stem cells administered?
Stem cells can be administered in a variety of fashions; IV Stem Cell Therapy (Intravenous administration), Intrathecal (directly into the spinal canal), Site injections into problem areas (Knee, hips, hands, etc.)
How does stem cell therapy work?
Mesenchymal stem cells utilize their self-renewal, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, signaling, and differentiation properties to influence positive change within the body. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) also have the capacity to self-renew by dividing and developing into multiple specialized cell types present in a specific tissue or organ. Mesenchymal stem cells are adult stem cells, meaning they present no ethical concerns, MSCs are not sourced from embryonic material.
"The characteristics of presenting no major ethical concerns, having low immunogenicity, and possessing immune modulation functions make MSCs promising candidates for stem cell therapies." - Jiang, et al. (10)
Stem cells target inflammation
The therapeutic uses of stem cells as a potential therapy for a variety of diseases has been immensely explored, the number of clinical trials conducted with Mesenchymal Stem Cells has increased exponentially over the past few years.
Stem cells have a unique, intrinsic property that attracts them to inflammation in the body. Studies have shown that stem cells can regenerate damaged or diseased tissues, reduce inflammation and modulate the immune system promoting better health and quality of life. Mesenchymal stem cells do this by influencing tissue repair via paracrine effects (cell signaling in order to change the behaviour of existing cells) or direct cell-to-cell contact.
"MSCs are able to migrate and seed specifically into damaged tissue sites, where they can differentiate into functional cells to replace damaged or diseased cells"
Pictured: Diagram showing the processes of MSCs and how they reduce inflammation within the body.
A recent study conducted by Mao F. et al. found that Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) facilitate tissue regeneration through mechanisms involving self-renewal and differentiation, supporting angiogenesis and tissue cell survival, and limiting inflammation."
What are stem cells?
Stem cells are the body's raw materials — cells from which all other cells with specialized functions are created. Mesenchymal stem cells are adult stem cells that have self-renewal, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, signaling, and differentiation properties. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), self renewal capacity is characterized by their ability to divide and develop into multiple specialized cell types present in a specific tissue or organ.
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be sourced from a variety of tissue including adipose tissue (fat), bone marrow, umbilical cord tissue, blood, liver, dental pulp, and skin.
MSCs are widely used in the treatment of various diseases due to their self-renewable, differentiation, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties. In-vitro (performed in a laboratory setting) and in-vivo (taking place in a living organism) studies have supported the understanding mechanisms, safety, and efficacy of MSC therapy in clinical applications.
According to Biehl et al., “The two defining characteristics of a stem cell are perpetual self-renewal and the ability to differentiate into a specialized adult cell type.”
Mesenchymal stem cells have the ability to turn into new types of cells
A stem cell can become many different cell types in the human body. The process of stem cells maturing into new types of cells is called differentiation. This process is the most critical aspect of stem cell therapies, as the cells become the type of cells required for one’s body to heal.
Stem cells are also self-replicating; this ability allows the cells to multiply into identical copies of themselves. For example, if stem cells were used to treat a neurological injury, cells administered during treatment could become nerve cells, and then replicate to create exponentially more nerve cells on their own. This ability to duplicate drastically increases the effectiveness of stem cell treatments over time.
Differentiation (becoming new types of cells)
Mesenchymal stem cells are multipotent stem cells that can self-renew and differentiate into different cell types. In other words, mesenchymal stem cells can become a variety of different cell types including; adipose tissue, cartilage, muscle, tendon/ligament, bone, neurons, and hepatocytes (8)
According to a 2016 study conducted by Almalki et al. - "The differentiation of MSCs into specific mature cell types is controlled by various cytokines, growth factors, extracellular matrix molecules, and transcription factors (TFs). (8)
Mesenchymal stem cells contribute to tissue regeneration and differentiation, including the maintenance of homeostasis and function, adaptation to altered metabolic or environmental requirements, and the repair of damaged tissue. (9)
Stem cells age as we do
Stem cell numbers and effectiveness begin to decrease as we age exponentially. For example, stem cells from a person in their twenties are not nearly as high quality as the brand new cells sourced from umbilical cord tissue.
How is stem cell therapy utilized?
Stem cell therapy may be able to treat orthopaedic, inflammatory, autoimmune and neurological conditions, with studies conducted on use for Crohn’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Lupus, COPD, Parkinson’s, ALS, Stroke recovery and more.
Stem cells do not necessarily provide a cure for these conditions. The premise is allowing the body to heal itself well enough to mitigate the symptoms of the conditions for long periods. In many cases, this alone allows for a substantial increase in quality of life for patients.
Will the body reject stem cells?
Cord-tissue derived mesenchymal stem cells do not have any risk of rejection within the body. They are youthful, immune-privileged, undifferentiated cells that have no rejection in the body because they have yet to be “claimed.”
There are no blood products associated with them either, removing the need for a donor match; they are universally accepted. These cells seek out inflammation in the body and begin to heal the damaged tissue. Mesenchymal cord tissue-derived stem cells have been administered thousands of times at clinics around the world without instances of rejection (graft vs. host disease).
Why use umbilical cord tissue?
Cord tissue is rich in mesenchymal stem cells, potentially used to help heal, regenerate & treat a variety of conditions. Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) derived from umbilical cord tissue have shown the ability to avoid a negative response from a person’s immune system, allowing the cells to be transplanted in a wide range of people without fear of rejection. These transplants may have the ability to vastly increase the body’s natural healing abilities and have robust anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive responses. For an in depth comparison about different cell types please review this article.
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Colon Hydrotherapy is a preventive therapy that helps eliminate toxins, adhesions and hormonal residues that the body takes to discard, helping to improve intestinal transit and activating
the circulatory system.
At the Nery Om clinic, colon hydrotherapy is naturopathic, which is why it is accepted to work with people who have diverticula or hemorrhoids or have chronic constipation without this representing a painful or dangerous therapy, in addition to accompanying it with therapies that activate circulation. thus helping to a good release of toxic adhesions.
Benefits of colon hydrotherapy
• Strengthens the immune system
• Improves metabolism and helps in the absorption of nutrients
• Helps with weight loss by removing toxic buildup
• You can lose between 2 and 4 kilos of waste after the 1st session.
• Pressure on the abdominal organs is relieved, reducing pain and discomfort in this area.
• Increase blood flow from the lower extremities and pelvic region.
• Improves circulation and digestive problems, without the help of prescribed medications.
• Tones the abdomen
• Maximizes the functions of the large intestine, lymph and nervous system
• Eliminates parasites / worms
• It can act as a preventive measure against cancer, especially colon cancer.
• Improves mental clarity and rejuvenation by removing toxic material, which causes premature aging.
• Loss of volume and lightness of weight in thick people and weight gain in thin people due to a better assimilation of nutrients.
• Prevention of infectious diseases by improving the immune system.
• Decrease in cholesterol and triglyceride levels. | literature |
https://sahararose.com/blogs/news/is-it-ok-to-put-seed-oils-on-your-skin | 2024-04-13T20:16:23 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296816832.57/warc/CC-MAIN-20240413180040-20240413210040-00322.warc.gz | 0.880787 | 1,023 | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-18__0__109576732 | en | Seed oils have long been cherished for their potential to nourish and rejuvenate the skin, but questions often arise about their safety and efficacy. Are seed oils safe for all skin types? Can they actually improve skin health? In this scientifically backed blog post, we'll delve into the research to answer the question: Is it OK to put seed oils on your skin? Moreover, we'll explore the non-comedogenic properties of select seed oils used in Sahara Rose skincare products, including argan oil, jojoba oil, date oil, and prickly pear seed oil.
Understanding Seed Oils and Their Benefits
Seed oils, derived from the seeds of various plants, are rich in essential fatty acids, vitamins, antioxidants, and other bioactive compounds that can benefit the skin. These oils have been traditionally used in skincare for their moisturizing, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. However, concerns have been raised about the potential for certain seed oils to clog pores and cause breakouts, particularly in individuals with oily or acne-prone skin.
Non-Comedogenic Seed Oils: Argan, Jojoba, Date, and Prickly Pear Seed Oils
At Sahara Rose, we prioritize the use of non-comedogenic seed oils in our skincare formulations to ensure optimal safety and efficacy for all skin types. Let's explore the scientific evidence supporting the non-comedogenic nature of the seed oils we use:
- Argan Oil: Extracted from the kernels of the argan tree (Argania spinosa), argan oil is prized for its moisturizing and anti-aging properties. Research published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology has demonstrated the non-comedogenic nature of argan oil, making it suitable for use on acne-prone and sensitive skin.
Reference: Khallouki F, Younos C, Soulimani R, Oster T, Charrouf Z, Spiegelhalder B, Bartsch H, Owen RW. Consumption of argan oil (Morocco) with its unique profile of fatty acids, tocopherols, squalene, sterols and phenolic compounds should confer valuable cancer chemopreventive effects. Eur J Cancer Prev. 2003 Aug;12(4):367-75. doi: 10.1097/00008469-200308000-00015. PMID: 12883313.
- Jojoba Oil: Derived from the seeds of the jojoba plant (Simmondsia chinensis), jojoba oil closely resembles the natural sebum produced by our skin. Studies have shown that jojoba oil is non-comedogenic and unlikely to cause breakouts, making it suitable for all skin types, including acne-prone skin.
Reference: Meier L, Stange R, Michalsen A, Uehleke B. Clay jojoba oil facial mask for lesioned skin and mild acne--results of a prospective, observational pilot study. Forsch Komplementmed. 2012;19(2):75-9. doi: 10.1159/000338076. Epub 2012 Apr 19. PMID: 22585103.
Date Oil: Date oil, extracted from the seeds of the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera), is rich in vitamins, antioxidants, and essential fatty acids. While specific studies on the comedogenicity of date oil are limited, its lightweight texture and non-greasy feel suggest that it is unlikely to clog pores or cause acne breakouts.
Prickly Pear Seed Oil: Prickly pear seed oil, also known as cactus seed oil or Barbary fig seed oil, is obtained from the seeds of the prickly pear cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica). Research published in the journal Pharmacognosy Reviews has highlighted the non-comedogenic properties of prickly pear seed oil, making it suitable for use on oily and acne-prone skin.
Reference: Benslimane A, et al. Opuntia ficus indica (L.) Mill.: A Promising Source of Bioactive Compounds for Nutraceutical and Cosmeceutical Purposes. Review. Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 2021. doi:10.1007/s11130-021-00927-3
In conclusion, the use of seed oils on the skin is supported by scientific evidence highlighting their moisturizing, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. When selecting seed oils for skincare, it's essential to choose non-comedogenic options that are unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts. At Sahara Rose, we stand by the efficacy and safety of our skincare products formulated with non-comedogenic seed oils, including argan oil, jojoba oil, date oil, and prickly pear seed oil. Embrace the beauty of nature and experience the transformative benefits of seed oils for radiant, healthy skin. | literature |
https://swingtalks.com/best-golf-books/ | 2024-04-20T03:21:44 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817474.31/warc/CC-MAIN-20240420025340-20240420055340-00602.warc.gz | 0.927254 | 8,817 | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-18__0__108613309 | en | Explore the best golf books that cover the history of golf literature, classic books, instructional guides, biographies, fictional novels, mental game and psychology, golf history and trivia, coffee table books, , humor books, and stunning golf photography. Find the perfect read for every golfer.
History of Golf Literature
Golf literature has a rich history that spans centuries, with early writings providing insights into the origins of the game and its evolution over time. From the earliest mentions of golf in literature to the modern instructional books and biographies of famous golfers, the world of golf literature has grown and evolved alongside the game itself.
Early Golf Literature
The origins of golf literature can be traced back to the 16th century, when the game was first documented in written form. One of the earliest mentions of golf can be found in a 1552 Scottish Act of Parliament, which banned the playing of golf in an effort to promote archery. This early documentation provides evidence of the game’s popularity and its presence in Scottish society.
As golf gained popularity in Scotland, more written works began to emerge. One notable example is “The Goff,” a poem written by Thomas Mathison in 1743. The poem describes a fictional golf match and captures the spirit of the game during that time period. Another early work is “The Golfer’s Manual,” published in 1857 by Robert Clark. This instructional book provided guidance on the rules and techniques of the game, giving readers a glimpse into the early days of golf.
Evolution of Golf Books
As golf continued to grow in popularity, so did the demand for literature about the game. The evolution of golf books can be seen in the shift from early instructional texts to more comprehensive and specialized works.
In the early 20th century, instructional golf books began to focus on the fundamentals of the game. One notable example is “The Little Green Book of Golf Wisdom” by Harvey Penick. This book, published in 1992, offers practical advice and insights from one of the most respected golf instructors of his time. It became an instant classic and remains a popular choice for golfers looking to improve their game.
Another influential instructional book is “Ben Hogan’s Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf.” Published in 1957, this book by legendary golfer Ben Hogan offers valuable insights into the mechanics of the swing and provides a comprehensive guide to mastering the game. It continues to be a staple in the libraries of golfers of all skill levels.
In addition to instructional books, golf literature expanded to include biographies of famous golfers. These books offer readers a glimpse into the lives and careers of golf’s greatest players. “Arnold Palmer: A Life Well Played,” written by Arnold Palmer himself in collaboration with James Dodson, provides a firsthand account of Palmer’s journey from humble beginnings to becoming one of golf’s most beloved figures. Similarly, “Tiger Woods” by Jeff Benedict and Armen Keteyian offers an in-depth look at the rise, fall, and redemption of one of the game’s most controversial and influential players.
The world of golf literature also includes fictional novels centered around the game. “The Legend of Bagger Vance” by Steven Pressfield is a captivating story that intertwines golf with themes of spirituality and self-discovery. Another popular fictional golf novel is “Dead Solid Perfect” by Dan Jenkins, which provides a humorous and satirical depiction of the professional golf world.
As the mental aspect of golf gained recognition, books focusing on the mental game and psychology of golf became increasingly popular. “Golf is a Game of Confidence” by Dr. Bob Rotella is a highly regarded book that explores the importance of mental preparation and confidence in achieving success on the golf course. “Zen Golf: Mastering the Mental Game” by Dr. Joseph Parent combines Eastern philosophy with practical golf advice, offering readers a unique approach to improving their mental game.
Golf history and trivia books also play a significant role in the world of golf literature. “The Greatest Golf Stories Ever Told” edited by Jeff Silverman is a collection of captivating stories from golf’s rich history, providing readers with a deeper understanding of the game’s traditions and legends. “The Secret of Golf: The Story of Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus” by Joe Posnanski delves into the iconic rivalry between two of golf’s greatest players, offering insights into their personal lives and the competitive spirit that drove them to greatness.
In addition to instructional and historical books, there are also coffee table books that showcase the beauty of golf courses and the history of the game. “100 Years of Golf in America” by George Peper and the Editors of Golf Magazine is a visually stunning book that takes readers on a journey through a century of American golf. “Golf Courses: Fairways of the World” by David Cannon features breathtaking photographs of golf courses from around the globe, allowing readers to appreciate the artistry and design of these remarkable venues.
The world of golf literature is not limited to men’s golf, as there are also books that focus specifically on women’s golf. “The Ladies’ Golf Union: A Centenary History” by Audrey Whiting provides a comprehensive account of the development of women’s golf and the contributions of female golfers to the sport. “Breaking the Mold: Redefining Women’s Golf” by Annika Sorenstam offers a firsthand perspective from one of the most successful female golfers in history, breaking down barriers and inspiring future generations of women in golf.
For those looking for a lighthearted read, golf humor books offer an entertaining escape. “Golf in the Kingdom” by Michael Murphy is a whimsical novel that explores the mystical side of golf, blending philosophy and spirituality with the game. “Tales from Q School: Inside Golf’s Fifth Major” by John Feinstein provides a behind-the-scenes look at the intense qualifying process for professional golf, offering humorous and insightful anecdotes from the players’ perspective.
Last but not least, golf photography books capture the beauty and artistry of the game. “Golf Courses: Great Britain and Ireland” by David Cannon showcases stunning photographs of some of the most iconic golf courses in the British Isles. “Golf: The Art of the Mental Game” by Dr. Joseph Parent combines striking images with inspirational quotes, creating a visually captivating book that speaks to the soul of every golfer.
History of Golf Literature |
Early Golf Literature |
Evolution of Golf Books |
Classic Golf Books
“The Little Green Book of Golf Wisdom”
Golf is a sport that not only requires physical skill and technique, but also mental fortitude and strategic thinking. And when it comes to classic golf books that delve into the wisdom and insights of the game, “The Little Green Book of Golf Wisdom” is a must-read.
Written by Dr. Joseph Parent, a renowned sports psychologist, this book offers a unique perspective on the mental aspect of golf. Dr. Parent takes readers on a journey of self-discovery and provides invaluable advice on how to improve their game by mastering their mind.
In a conversational and engaging style, Dr. Parent shares anecdotes, personal experiences, and practical tips that are applicable to golfers of all levels. He emphasizes the importance of focus, visualization, and staying present in the moment. By incorporating these mental strategies, golfers can enhance their performance on the course and overcome the challenges that inevitably arise.
One of the key takeaways from “The Little Green Book of Golf Wisdom” is the concept of “non-judgmental awareness.” Dr. Parent encourages golfers to observe their thoughts and emotions without attaching any judgment or negativity to them. This practice helps players maintain a calm and composed state of mind, even in high-pressure situations.
Another valuable lesson from this book is the power of acceptance. Dr. Parent reminds golfers that they cannot control external factors such as weather conditions or the actions of other players. Instead of getting frustrated or angry, he advises golfers to accept these circumstances and focus on what they can control – their own thoughts, actions, and attitude.
“The Little Green Book of Golf Wisdom” also explores the importance of balance in life and on the course. Dr. Parent suggests that finding harmony between work, family, and golf is essential for overall well-being and improved performance. He encourages golfers to prioritize self-care and maintain a positive mindset both on and off the course.
Overall, this classic golf book offers a wealth of practical advice and insights that can benefit golfers at any skill level. Whether you’re a beginner looking to improve your swing or a seasoned player aiming to enhance your mental game, “The Little Green Book of Golf Wisdom” is a valuable resource that will guide you towards success.
“Ben Hogan’s Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf”
When it comes to classic golf books, one name that stands out is Ben Hogan. Considered one of the greatest golfers of all time, Hogan’s book, “Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf,” is a timeless masterpiece that continues to inspire and educate golfers to this day.
In this iconic book, Hogan shares his insights and techniques that propelled him to become a dominant force in the world of golf. He breaks down the fundamentals of the game into five key lessons: the grip, stance, posture, swing, and the position of the clubface. Hogan’s attention to detail and meticulous approach to the game make this book a comprehensive guide for golfers looking to refine their skills.
“The Modern Fundamentals of Golf” is written in a conversational style, as if Hogan himself is personally coaching the reader. He explains each lesson in a clear and concise manner, using analogies and metaphors to simplify complex concepts. Hogan’s emphasis on precision and consistency resonates throughout the book, emphasizing the importance of practice and dedication to mastering the fundamentals.
One of the standout features of Hogan’s book is the detailed illustrations that accompany each lesson. These visual aids provide a visual representation of the techniques and positions Hogan describes, making it easier for readers to understand and apply them to their own game.
Moreover, Hogan’s book goes beyond the technical aspects of golf. He also delves into the mental aspect of the game, highlighting the importance of focus, determination, and self-belief. Hogan’s own perseverance and resilience in overcoming a near-fatal car accident serve as a powerful example of the mental fortitude required to excel in golf.
“Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf” is not just a book for golf enthusiasts; it’s a timeless piece of literature that transcends generations. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced golfer, Hogan’s teachings and insights will undoubtedly have a profound impact on your game.
Instructional Golf Books
When it comes to improving your golf game, instructional golf books can be a valuable resource. They provide insights and advice from experienced golfers and coaches, helping you develop your skills and reach your full potential on the course. In this section, we will explore two highly acclaimed instructional golf books: “Golf is Not a Game of Perfect” and “Harvey Penick’s Little Red Book”.
“Golf is Not a Game of Perfect”
Written by Dr. Bob Rotella, a renowned sports psychologist, “Golf is Not a Game of Perfect” delves into the mental aspect of golf. Rotella emphasizes that golf is not just a physical game but also a mental one. He argues that the key to success lies in mastering the mental challenges that golf presents.
In this book, Rotella shares valuable insights and techniques to help golfers overcome mental obstacles and improve their performance. He discusses the importance of focusing on the process rather than the outcome, managing emotions on the course, and developing a positive mindset. Rotella’s advice is not only applicable to professional golfers but also to amateurs looking to enhance their mental game.
Some of the key takeaways from “Golf is Not a Game of Perfect” include:
- Visualization: Rotella emphasizes the power of visualization in golf. By visualizing successful shots and positive outcomes, golfers can build confidence and improve their performance.
- Pre-shot Routine: The book highlights the significance of a consistent pre-shot routine. Having a routine helps golfers stay focused and calm, ensuring that they approach each shot with the right mindset.
- Managing Pressure: Rotella provides strategies for handling pressure situations on the course. He encourages golfers to embrace pressure and view it as an opportunity to perform their best.
“Harvey Penick’s Little Red Book”
“Harvey Penick’s Little Red Book” is a classic instructional golf book written by renowned golf coach Harvey Penick. This book stands the test of time and continues to be a favorite among golfers of all skill levels.
Penick shares his wisdom and insights gained from coaching some of the greatest golfers in history. His book is filled with practical advice and anecdotes that make it an engaging and enjoyable read. Penick’s writing style is conversational, making the reader feel as if they are receiving advice directly from a trusted mentor.
Some of the valuable lessons found in “Harvey Penick’s Little Red Book” include:
- The Basics: Penick emphasizes the importance of mastering the fundamentals of golf. He covers essential topics such as grip, stance, and posture, providing clear explanations and helpful tips.
- Course Management: Penick discusses the strategic aspect of golf and offers insights on how to make smart decisions on the course. He encourages golfers to play within their capabilities and make choices that maximize their chances of success.
- Lifelong Learning: One of the key messages in Penick’s book is the importance of continuous learning and improvement. He encourages golfers to embrace a growth mindset and always strive to refine their skills.
Biographies of Golfers
Golf has a rich history filled with legendary players who have left an indelible mark on the sport. Biographies offer a fascinating glimpse into the lives and careers of these golfing icons, providing insights into their journey to greatness and the challenges they faced along the way. In this section, we explore two captivating biographies that delve deep into the lives of two golfing legends: Arnold Palmer and Tiger Woods.
“Arnold Palmer: A Life Well Played”
Arnold Palmer, often referred to as “The King,” is widely regarded as one of the greatest golfers of all time. His impact on the sport extends far beyond his remarkable playing career. In the biography, “Arnold Palmer: A Life Well Played,” written by Palmer himself, we get a firsthand account of his extraordinary journey.
Palmer’s story begins in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, where his love for golf first blossomed. From a young age, he showed immense talent and a relentless drive to succeed. As Palmer recounts his rise to stardom, readers are treated to a behind-the-scenes look at his triumphs and struggles, both on and off the course.
This biography offers a comprehensive view of Palmer’s life, not just as a golfer but also as a philanthropist, businessman, and family man. Through his own words, we gain valuable insights into his mindset, his approach to the game, and the values that guided him throughout his life.
Whether you’re a devoted golf fan or simply intrigued by the life of a true sporting legend, “Arnold Palmer: A Life Well Played” is a must-read. It captures the essence of a man who not only revolutionized the game of golf but also left an indelible mark on the world.
“Tiger Woods” by Jeff Benedict and Armen Keteyian
Tiger Woods is undeniably one of the most influential and controversial figures in the history of golf. His meteoric rise to fame, followed by a stunning fall from grace, has captivated the world for decades. In the biography “Tiger Woods” by Jeff Benedict and Armen Keteyian, we delve deep into the complex and enigmatic life of this golfing prodigy.
This meticulously researched biography offers a comprehensive exploration of Woods’ life, from his early childhood to his record-breaking triumphs on the golf course. Benedict and Keteyian leave no stone unturned as they navigate through Woods’ personal and professional highs and lows.
The biography provides a nuanced understanding of Woods’ upbringing, his relationship with his parents, and the immense pressure he faced from a young age. It also delves into the media scrutiny, the scandals, and the subsequent redemption that followed.
What sets this biography apart is its ability to paint a multifaceted portrait of Woods. It doesn’t shy away from the controversies but also acknowledges his undeniable impact on the game of golf. Readers are left with a deeper understanding of the man behind the golfing legend.
|“Arnold Palmer: A Life Well Played”
|Jeff Benedict and Armen Keteyian
Fictional Golf Novels
“The Legend of Bagger Vance”
“The Legend of Bagger Vance” is a captivating fictional golf novel written by Steven Pressfield. Set in the 1930s, the story revolves around the character of Rannulph Junuh, a former golf prodigy from Savannah, Georgia. Junuh’s life takes a downturn after serving in World War I, leaving him disillusioned and detached from his passion for golf.
The novel takes an interesting turn when Junuh is invited to participate in a high-stakes golf match against two golf legends, Bobby Jones and Walter Hagen. On the brink of losing hope, Junuh receives mystical guidance from his caddie, Bagger Vance. Bagger Vance, a mysterious and wise caddie, helps Junuh rediscover his love for the game and regain his confidence.
Pressfield’s writing beautifully captures the essence of the game of golf and its profound impact on Junuh’s life. Through his descriptive and vivid storytelling, readers are transported to the fairways of the Savannah Golf Club, where the match unfolds amidst the backdrop of the Great Depression. The novel explores themes of redemption, self-discovery, and the power of perseverance.
“The Legend of Bagger Vance” not only delves into the intricacies of the game but also delves into the psychological and spiritual aspects of golf. It emphasizes the importance of self-belief, focus, and maintaining a calm mind in the face of challenges. The book leaves readers with a sense of inspiration and a renewed appreciation for the sport.
“Dead Solid Perfect”
Another captivating fictional golf novel that deserves mention is “Dead Solid Perfect” by Dan Jenkins. Known for his wit and humor, Jenkins brings his unique writing style to the forefront in this entertaining golf novel.
The story revolves around the character of Kenny Lee Puckett, a professional golfer on the PGA Tour. Puckett is a talented golfer who dreams of achieving greatness, but his journey is far from smooth sailing. Jenkins takes readers on a rollercoaster ride through Puckett’s career, showcasing the highs and lows of professional golf.
What sets “Dead Solid Perfect” apart is its ability to capture the raw and gritty realities of the professional golfing world. Jenkins provides an inside look into the pressure, rivalries, and sacrifices that professional golfers face. The novel explores themes of ambition, love, and the pursuit of excellence.
Jenkins’ witty and humorous writing style adds a delightful layer to the story, making it an enjoyable read for both golf enthusiasts and casual readers. His portrayal of Puckett’s colorful personality and the colorful characters he encounters on the tour adds depth and entertainment to the narrative.
Whether you’re a golf fanatic or simply enjoy a well-crafted story, “Dead Solid Perfect” offers a delightful escape into the world of professional golf. Jenkins’ ability to blend humor, drama, and golfing expertise creates a truly engaging reading experience.
Mental Game and Psychology Books
In the world of golf, mastering the mental game is just as important as honing your physical skills. The right mindset can make all the difference in your performance on the course. That’s why there are numerous books dedicated to helping golfers develop their mental game and improve their overall performance. In this section, we will explore two popular titles that have gained recognition for their valuable insights into the mental aspects of golf.
“Golf is a Game of Confidence”
Confidence plays a crucial role in golf. It can make or break a player’s performance on the course. In his book, “Golf is a Game of Confidence,” renowned sports psychologist Dr. Bob Rotella delves into the importance of confidence and shares techniques to develop and maintain it.
Dr. Rotella emphasizes that confidence is not just a feeling; it is a skill that can be cultivated. He believes that golfers of all levels can benefit from building a strong foundation of self-belief. Through his years of experience working with professional golfers, Dr. Rotella provides valuable insights and practical exercises to help readers improve their confidence both on and off the course.
One of the key takeaways from “Golf is a Game of Confidence” is the concept of focusing on the process rather than the outcome. Dr. Rotella encourages golfers to trust their abilities and concentrate on executing each shot to the best of their ability, without getting caught up in the final score or the pressure of the moment. By shifting their focus to the present moment and maintaining a positive mindset, golfers can enhance their confidence and ultimately improve their performance.
“Zen Golf: Mastering the Mental Game”
In “Zen Golf: Mastering the Mental Game,” author and golf pro Dr. Joseph Parent takes a unique approach to the mental side of golf by incorporating Zen philosophy and mindfulness techniques. The book combines Eastern wisdom with Western golf instruction, offering a fresh perspective on how to improve your mental game.
Dr. Parent believes that golf is not just a physical sport but also a mental and spiritual experience. Through his teachings, he guides readers on a journey to discover the inner calmness and focus necessary for peak performance on the course. By cultivating a Zen mindset, golfers can develop a heightened sense of awareness, resilience, and emotional control.
One of the key principles discussed in “Zen Golf” is the power of visualization. Dr. Parent emphasizes the importance of vividly imagining successful shots and creating mental images of desired outcomes. By visualizing success, golfers can enhance their confidence and improve their ability to execute shots under pressure.
Another valuable aspect of “Zen Golf” is the emphasis on mindfulness and staying present in the moment. Dr. Parent encourages golfers to let go of past mistakes and future worries, and instead, fully immerse themselves in the present shot. By embracing the present moment and letting go of distractions, golfers can enhance their focus and performance on the course.
Table: Recommended Mental Game and Psychology Books
|“Golf is a Game of Confidence”
|Dr. Bob Rotella
|“Zen Golf: Mastering the Mental Game”
|Dr. Joseph Parent
Golf History and Trivia Books
“The Greatest Golf Stories Ever Told”
If you are a golf enthusiast who loves immersing yourself in the rich history and captivating tales of the sport, then “The Greatest Golf Stories Ever Told” is a must-read. This book is a treasure trove of fascinating anecdotes, remarkable moments, and legendary characters that have shaped the game of golf throughout the years.
Curated by a team of passionate golf writers and historians, “The Greatest Golf Stories Ever Told” takes you on a journey through time, delving into the captivating narratives that have made golf such a beloved sport. From the iconic triumphs and heart-wrenching defeats to the behind-the-scenes dramas and incredible comebacks, this book brings together a collection of the most captivating stories in golf history.
With each turn of the page, you will find yourself transported to the lush fairways of legendary courses, standing alongside golfing greats such as Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods. The book beautifully captures the essence of the sport, showcasing the sheer determination, skill, and passion that have made golf a timeless pursuit.
Whether you are a seasoned golfer or a casual fan, “The Greatest Golf Stories Ever Told” offers something for everyone. The stories within this book not only entertain but also provide valuable insights into the evolution of the sport and the characters who have left an indelible mark on golfing history.
“The Secret of Golf: The Story of Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus”
Few rivalries in the world of golf have captivated fans as much as the enduring battle between Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus. In “The Secret of Golf: The Story of Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus,” readers are treated to an intimate portrayal of these two golfing legends and the profound impact they have had on the sport.
This book delves deep into the lives and careers of Watson and Nicklaus, exploring the intricacies of their rivalry and the profound respect they held for each other. From their early encounters on the course to their epic battles in major championships, the book paints a vivid picture of the intense competition that fueled their greatness.
But “The Secret of Golf” goes beyond the fairways and greens. It delves into the personal lives of these two iconic figures, revealing the challenges they faced, the sacrifices they made, and the unwavering dedication that propelled them to the top of the golfing world. Through interviews, anecdotes, and meticulous research, the book offers a captivating glimpse into the minds of these golfing giants.
As you turn the pages of “The Secret of Golf,” you will find yourself not only engrossed in the stories of Watson and Nicklaus but also gaining valuable insights into the mental and strategic aspects of the game. The book explores the secrets behind their success, the techniques they employed, and the mindset that allowed them to consistently perform at the highest level.
Whether you are a fan of Watson, Nicklaus, or simply a lover of the game, “The Secret of Golf” is a riveting read that will leave you with a newfound appreciation for the artistry and complexity of golf. This book is a testament to the enduring legacy of two golfing legends and the indelible mark they have left on the sport.
- Want to immerse yourself in the captivating narratives of golf history?
- Curious about the legendary tales that have shaped the sport?
- Eager to explore the intense rivalry between Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus?
Then “The Greatest Golf Stories Ever Told” and “The Secret of Golf: The Story of Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus” are the books for you. Delve into the rich tapestry of golfing history, uncover remarkable tales of triumph and defeat, and gain valuable insights into the minds of golf’s greatest champions.
Golf Coffee Table Books
If you’re a golf enthusiast or simply appreciate the beauty and history of the sport, golf coffee table books are a must-have addition to your collection. These visually stunning books not only serve as decorative pieces for your coffee table but also provide a wealth of information and captivating imagery that will transport you to the world of golf. In this section, we will explore two exceptional golf coffee table books: “100 Years of Golf in America” and “Golf Courses: Fairways of the World.”
“100 Years of Golf in America”
- Author: John Y. Brown
- Published: 2020
“100 Years of Golf in America” is a comprehensive tribute to the rich history of golf in the United States. Authored by John Y. Brown, a renowned golf historian, this book takes readers on a fascinating journey through the evolution of the sport over the course of a century.
In this captivating book, Brown delves into the early beginnings of golf in America, tracing its roots to the Scottish immigrants who brought the sport to the New World. He explores the growth of golf clubs and the development of iconic golf courses that have become hallowed grounds for golfers around the country.
Through vivid storytelling and a treasure trove of historical photographs, “100 Years of Golf in America” brings to life the legends, triumphs, and challenges that have shaped the American golfing landscape. From the rise of legendary players like Bobby Jones and Arnold Palmer to the impact of groundbreaking events like the founding of the PGA Tour, this book offers a comprehensive overview of the sport’s evolution.
Whether you’re a seasoned golfer or a casual fan, “100 Years of Golf in America” will captivate you with its deep insights and compelling narratives. It’s a true celebration of the sport’s enduring legacy and its profound impact on American culture.
“Golf Courses: Fairways of the World”
- Author: Tom Mackenzie
- Published: 2019
For those who appreciate the sheer beauty and diversity of golf courses worldwide, “Golf Courses: Fairways of the World” is a visual feast that will transport you to some of the most stunning golfing destinations on the planet. Authored by renowned golf course architect Tom Mackenzie, this book showcases a curated selection of the world’s most remarkable courses.
In “Golf Courses: Fairways of the World,” Mackenzie takes readers on a breathtaking journey across continents, from the rugged links courses of Scotland to the pristine fairways of Hawaii. Each golf course featured in this book is accompanied by striking photography that captures the essence of the landscape and the architectural brilliance of the course design.
Mackenzie’s expertise as a golf course architect shines through as he provides insightful commentary on the unique characteristics and challenges of each course. Whether you’re a golfing aficionado seeking inspiration for your next golfing adventure or simply someone who appreciates the beauty of nature and the artistry of golf course design, this book will not disappoint.
With its stunning visuals and informative descriptions, “Golf Courses: Fairways of the World” offers a true escape into the world of golf. It’s a book that will undoubtedly inspire wanderlust and ignite a sense of awe and appreciation for the sport and its breathtaking venues.
Women’s Golf Books
“The Ladies’ Golf Union: A Centenary History”
When it comes to women’s golf, “The Ladies’ Golf Union: A Centenary History” is a must-read. This book takes readers on a journey through the rich history of women’s golf, celebrating the achievements and contributions of female golfers over the past hundred years.
From the early days when women fought for the right to play the sport they loved, to the modern era where female golfers have become some of the most influential figures in the game, this book captures the struggles, triumphs, and remarkable stories of women in golf. It highlights the pioneers who paved the way for future generations, showcasing their determination, resilience, and passion for the game.
Through captivating storytelling and thorough research, “The Ladies’ Golf Union: A Centenary History” provides a comprehensive overview of the growth and evolution of women’s golf. It explores the development of women’s golf tournaments, the establishment of women’s golf organizations, and the rise of female golf legends who have left an indelible mark on the sport.
One of the book’s strengths lies in its ability to shed light on lesser-known stories and individuals who have made significant contributions to women’s golf. It delves into the lives of unsung heroes, shedding light on their achievements and the barriers they had to overcome in a male-dominated sport.
This book also serves as a source of inspiration for aspiring female golfers. It showcases the dedication, skill, and determination required to succeed in the game, reminding readers that gender should never be a barrier to pursuing one’s passion.
In addition to its historical narrative, “The Ladies’ Golf Union: A Centenary History” includes stunning visuals, with photographs and illustrations that bring the past to life. The combination of captivating storytelling and visual appeal makes this book a truly immersive experience for readers.
“Breaking the Mold: Redefining Women’s Golf”
“Breaking the Mold: Redefining Women’s Golf” is a groundbreaking book that challenges the traditional notions and stereotypes surrounding women’s golf. Written by influential voices in the sport, this book aims to inspire and empower women to break barriers and make their mark in golf.
Through a series of personal stories, insightful interviews, and thought-provoking analysis, “Breaking the Mold” explores the unique experiences and challenges faced by women in the golf industry. It addresses issues such as gender inequality, limited opportunities, and societal expectations, while also highlighting the progress that has been made and celebrating the successes of female golfers.
This book encourages women to embrace their individuality and pursue their passion for golf without conforming to outdated norms. It emphasizes the importance of self-belief, resilience, and perseverance, showcasing real-life examples of women who have defied expectations and achieved greatness in the sport.
One of the key strengths of “Breaking the Mold” is its focus on inclusivity and diversity within women’s golf. It celebrates the accomplishments of women from different backgrounds, cultures, and abilities, highlighting the power of representation and the need for a more inclusive and welcoming golf community.
Throughout the book, readers are encouraged to challenge the status quo, question societal norms, and strive for change. It serves as a rallying cry for women to come together, support one another, and create a future where women’s golf is truly equal and celebrated.
With its engaging and conversational style, “Breaking the Mold” appeals to both avid golf enthusiasts and those new to the sport. It offers a fresh perspective on women’s golf, sparking important conversations and inspiring readers to be agents of change.
Overall, “The Ladies’ Golf Union: A Centenary History” and “Breaking the Mold: Redefining Women’s Golf” are two essential books for anyone interested in women’s golf. They provide a comprehensive understanding of the history, challenges, and achievements of women in the sport, while also inspiring and empowering readers to be part of the future of .
Golf Humor Books
Golf is often seen as a serious and competitive sport, but there is also a lighter side to it that can be found in the pages of golf humor books. These books provide a refreshing break from the intensity of the game and offer a chance to laugh and enjoy the lighter moments that golf brings. In this section, we will explore two popular golf humor books: “Golf in the Kingdom” and “Tales from Q School: Inside Golf’s Fifth Major.”
“Golf in the Kingdom”
One of the most iconic golf humor books of all time is “Golf in the Kingdom” by Michael Murphy. This novel takes readers on a whimsical journey through the mystical side of golf. Set in Scotland, the story follows a young American golfer named Michael who stumbles upon a mysterious golf course and encounters a range of eccentric characters.
Through his interactions with these characters, Michael delves into the deeper meaning of the game and discovers that golf is not just about technique and scorecards, but also about self-discovery and spiritual enlightenment. The book combines elements of humor, philosophy, and golf history to create a truly unique reading experience.
“Tales from Q School: Inside Golf’s Fifth Major”
For those who want a behind-the-scenes look at the world of professional golf, “Tales from Q School: Inside Golf’s Fifth Major” by John Feinstein is the perfect choice. This book provides a humorous and insightful account of the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament, also known as Q School.
Feinstein takes readers on a journey through the high-stakes pressure cooker that is Q School, where aspiring golfers compete for a limited number of spots on the prestigious PGA Tour. Through a series of captivating stories and anecdotes, Feinstein captures the triumphs, failures, and absurdities of the qualifying process.
From the nervous first tee shots to the heartbreak of missed putts, “Tales from Q School” offers a glimpse into the intense world of professional golf with a touch of humor. It sheds light on the often overlooked side of the game, where dreams are made and shattered on the quest for success.
- So, if you’re in need of a good chuckle, why not pick up a copy of “Golf in the Kingdom” or “Tales from Q School”? You might just find yourself smiling and nodding in recognition as you read about the hilarious and relatable moments that every golfer can appreciate.
- Remember, golf isn’t just about the serious competition and endless hours of practice. It’s also about the camaraderie, the laughter, and the shared experiences that make it a truly special sport. So, next time you’re out on the course, take a moment to enjoy the lighter side of golf and embrace the humor that can be found in every swing and putt.
Golf Photography Books
Golf photography books provide a visual feast for golf enthusiasts, capturing the beauty and grandeur of golf courses around the world. Two notable books in this genre are “Golf Courses: Great Britain and Ireland” and “Golf: The Art of the Mental Game”.
Golf Courses: Great Britain and Ireland
If you are a golf lover, there is no better way to appreciate the stunning landscapes and rich history of golf than through “Golf Courses: Great Britain and Ireland”. This book takes you on a photographic journey through some of the most iconic and picturesque golf courses in these two countries.
The book showcases the diversity and magnificence of golf courses in Great Britain and Ireland. From the rugged coastlines of Scotland to the rolling hills of Ireland, each course is captured in its full glory. The photographs depict the lush green fairways, the perfectly manicured greens, and the challenging hazards that make these courses both beautiful and demanding.
As you flip through the pages of this book, you will feel as if you are standing on the tee box, ready to take on the challenges of the course. The detailed images transport you to each location, giving you a sense of the unique atmosphere and ambiance of each golf course.
Whether you are a golf enthusiast planning a trip to Great Britain or Ireland, or simply a lover of beautiful photography, “Golf Courses: Great Britain and Ireland” is a must-have addition to your collection. It serves as a visual guide to some of the world’s most revered golf courses and offers inspiration for your own golfing adventures.
Golf: The Art of the Mental Game
Golf is not just a physical sport; it is also a mental game. “Golf: The Art of the Mental Game” explores the psychological aspects of golf and provides valuable insights into how to improve your performance on the course.
This book delves into the inner workings of the golfer’s mind, exploring topics such as focus, confidence, visualization, and managing pressure. It offers practical advice and techniques to help golfers of all levels enhance their mental game and perform at their best.
Through anecdotes and real-life examples, “Golf: The Art of the Mental Game” illustrates the importance of mental fortitude in golf. It emphasizes the power of positive thinking, the ability to stay calm under pressure, and the importance of maintaining a strong mindset throughout the game.
The book also examines the role of mindfulness and meditation in golf. It highlights the benefits of being fully present in the moment, letting go of past mistakes, and focusing on the task at hand. By incorporating these mental strategies into your game, you can improve your concentration, decision-making, and overall performance on the golf course.
Whether you are a professional golfer looking to gain a competitive edge or an amateur golfer seeking to enhance your enjoyment of the game, “Golf: The Art of the Mental Game” offers valuable insights and practical techniques to help you unlock your full potential.
In conclusion, golf photography books like “Golf Courses: Great Britain and Ireland” and “Golf: The Art of the Mental Game” provide a unique and captivating perspective on the world of golf. They allow readers to immerse themselves in the beauty of golf courses and gain a deeper understanding of the mental aspect of the game. Whether you are a golf enthusiast or simply appreciate stunning photography, these books are a valuable addition to any collection. So, grab your clubs and embark on a visual and mental journey through the pages of these remarkable books. | literature |
http://www.dearchicky.com/2010/03/my-tia-marola.html | 2013-05-26T00:50:25 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706474776/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121434-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | 0.985702 | 548 | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2013-20__0__201552369 | en | Dear Chicken Nugget,
Today is March 11th, which means that it's my aunt Bella's birthday. She would have been 62. In Spanish, I called her tia Marola, so you'll often hear me use the names interchangeably. I miss her and I'm sad you won't meet her here on Earth.
She passed away on December 29, 2001 at the age of 53 from Ovarian Cancer. But, as it's her birthday, I'll focus this letter on giving you a brief introduction of how she impacted my life.
My aunt's name was Bella Marola Escudero and she was the third in a group of seven children born to my maternal grandparents. My tia was like a second mother to me. Having been raised by a single mother, my aunt helped to raise me. She lived with us for most of my life and played the part of second parent beautifully.
During the summers after she came home from work she would take me for walks around the neighborhood so that I could get my feet wet in the open fire hydrants. She taught me about baseball; she watched the Yankees and the Mets and I, poor sap that I am, chose the Mets at the age of three. My tia Marola taught me about forgiveness, the courage of admitting to your mistakes, and the strength of the apology.
My aunt Bella taught me about the Church, religion, and the beauty of a church's physical structure. She had a great laugh to match her sense of humor, she had a fearless sense of adventure, and would dance and sing when the Spirit moved her. And, she gave me my first allowance. She gave me a lot actually and I miss her.
Little Nugget, there aren't too many people in this world that we consider Saints or saintly simply because they're not common. But, my aunt Bella was the closest person I've met to being just that. Even in her most painful moments she thought first of God and family. Her faith in both was unwavering, even towards the end. In fact, I think her faith only got stronger.
My aunt's wish was that her ashes be spread from the Staten Island Ferry over New York Harbor - and that's what we did on March 11, 2002. We also bought a brick at the NY Mets stadium, CitiField. It marks her life and her love of baseball. When we go see a Mets game together I'll point out the brick to you, the one that says Marola Escudero.
And every year on March 11th we'll wish tia Marola a happy birthday and give her thanks for making your dad a better person. | literature |
http://winfacebookcredits.info/book/for-all-our-tomorrows/ | 2018-01-16T13:19:57 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-05/segments/1516084886436.25/warc/CC-MAIN-20180116125134-20180116145134-00572.warc.gz | 0.895635 | 278 | CC-MAIN-2018-05 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2018-05__0__193310652 | en | For All Our Tomorrows
by Freda Lightfoot download PDF, EPUB, TXT
Published HarperCollins Publishers, April 2015 by HQ.
ISBN 10: 9781474034128
This book written in English.
Genres to which this book can be related:
Fiction & Literature Fiction & Literature, Saga Fiction & Literature, Historical
Authors: Freda Lightfoot
1943, when hundreds of US Marines arrive at a quiet Cornish town, two lives will never be the same again. ‘A real page turner with a very satisfying end.’ – Anne Bennett Trapped in a small town resistant to change, Bette can’t resist handsome GI, Chad. But when reality draws in, Bette realises that their love was based on empty promises… Meanwhile Bette’s sister Sarah, is tormented by her possessive husband, but even his jealous attempts to keep her out of temptation can't prevent Sarah falling for officer Charlie. Caught in the very worst of times with the turmoil and upheaval of war all around them, can these sisters find a brighter future for tomorrow? From Sunday Times bestselling author, Freda Lightfoot. Don’t miss her brand new book Home is Where the Heart Is - coming November 2015 A compelling family drama for fans for Maureen Lee and Katie Flynn. | literature |
http://hcgstx.org/index.php/library/texas-heritage-bookshop | 2017-04-23T11:58:57 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-17/segments/1492917118552.28/warc/CC-MAIN-20170423031158-00137-ip-10-145-167-34.ec2.internal.warc.gz | 0.90491 | 1,522 | CC-MAIN-2017-17 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2017-17__0__248382771 | en | Hopkins County Genealogical Society Library Bookshop 611 North Davis, Sulphur Springs, TX 75482 Specializing in Books about Texas and Texans.
(Shipping charges: based on current mailing rates.)
Title / Author / Description / Cover / Price
A Place Called Hopkins County by Bobby McDonald, interviews of older residents tell stories of early county history, soft cover, $27.95 plus tax.
Plowing Deep by Bobby McDonald, more local stories about early county history, soft cover, $27.95 plus tax.
Out of Darkness by Bobby McDonald, the story of African American history in Hopkins County, soft cover, $27.95 plus tax
Martin Springs Cemetery Hopkins County, Texas by Martha Jennings Hartley, soft cover, $20.00.
The Bootlegger's Other Daughter by Mary Cimarolli, personal family history, soft cover, $24.95 plus tax
Building on Trust by Mary Leta Davis, history of Sulphur Springs Loan & Building Association, hardback, $10.00 plus tax.
Miller Grove School Pictorial History Book by Brandon Darrow, 150 years of school memories, lists of graduates, individual and group photos, hard cover, $30.00 plus tax.
Letters from Miss Edna by Dr. Patsy Hallman, personal correspondence between 1925-1975 detailing events of local importance in the Miller Grove community as well as county and national events impacting an ordinary family living in the 20th century, soft cover, $18.50 plus tax.
The First Texas Legion, story of the Texas Confederate regiment that began in Lavaca Co. TX and grew into one of the only two "Legions" raised in Texas during the Civil War, by Allen G. Hatley, hardback, $31.95
Following Old Fencelines -- Tales from Rural Texas, description of the culture of a small, isolated community in Northeast Texas 50 years ago, by Lee Winniford, hardback, $29.95 plus tax.
Home Light Burning by Jim H. Ainsworth, a story of two Confederates trying to return to Texas after the war to piece together shattered former lives, soft cover, $24.95 plus tax.
Brush Men and Vigilantes by David Pickering and Judy Falls clearly shows how tensions led to violence that took place in Hunt and Hopkins Counties during and after the Civil War, soft cover, 16.95 plus tax.
The Diaries of John Gregory Bourke, Vol. 1 by Charles M. Robinson III, unique insights into how wars against the Indians were conducted during the late 19th century, hardback, $30.00 plus tax.
Famous Texas Feuds by C.L. Douglas, the blood-stained story of the most important of the violent feuds that ravaged a number of Texas counties during the nineteenth century, soft cover $16.95 plus tax.
The Greatest Texas Sports Stories You’ve Never Heard by Al Pickett, mixture of stories about both famous and not-so-famous sports figures spanning a variety of sports, soft cover, $14.95 plus tax.
Legendary Watering Holes – The Saloons That Made Texas Famous by Richard Selcer, entertaining and informative accounts of four legendary Texas establishments: Jack Harris’s Vaudeville Saloon and Theater in San Antonio, Ben Dowell’s Saloon in El Paso, the Iron Front of Austin, and the White Elephant of Fort Worth, hardback, $29.95 plus tax.
Hands to the Spindle, Texas Women and Home Textile Production 1822-1880 by Paula Mitchell Marks, day-to-day activities of Texas women spinners and weavers displaying their abilities and their dreams of a better future, hardback, $19.95 plus tax.
Gospel Tracks Through Texas, The Mission of Chapel Car by Wilma Rugh Taylor, story of the 1895 railroad car bringing the “good news” of the evangelical Gospel to transient railroad workers that lasted over 50 years, hardback, $29.95 plus tax.
The History of Texas Music by Gary Hartman, from early Apache ceremonial dances to the driving blues-rock-boogie sounds of ZZ Top, this is the first in-depth history of the multifaceted musical heritage of Texas, softcover, $19.95 plus tax.
Stories of Saltillo - About the People, Places, and Events over Time in a Small Prairie Town in East Texas collected and edited by Thomas J. Minter, softcover $16.00.
Ever Remember - The Days of 1913-1914 by John Pearce, stories taken from the diary Alma Caldwell starting in the summer of 1913 through the spring and early summer of 1914, soft cover, $19.99 plus tax.
Tales From Miller Grove by Patsy Johnson Hallman with Miller Grove Storytellers, soft cover, $30.00 plus tax.
River Crossing by Jim H. Ainsworth, hardback, $20.00 plus tax.
Images of America Rains County by Elaine Nall Bay with the Rains County Historical Commission, soft cover, $21.99.
Images of America Texas Sesquicentennial Wagon Train by Dominick J. Cirincione and J'Nell L. Pate, soft cover, $21.99.
In The Rivers' Flow by Jim Ainsworth, soft cover, $18.95 plus tax.
The Life He Never Knew by Ryan Petty, soft cover, $15.00 plus tax.
On the Camino Real by Stephen L. Turner, A Western Quest Series Novel, soft cover, $15.00.
On the Road to Glory by Stephen L. Turner, A Western Quest Series Novel, soft cover, $15.00.
Ride for the Lone Star by Stephen L. Turner, A Western Quest Series Novel, soft cover, $15.00.
The Last Trail West by Stephen L. Turner, A Western Quest Series Novel, soft cover, $15.00.
Under Troubled Skies by Stephen L. Turner, A Western Quest Series Novel, soft cover, $15.00.
Up from the Ashes by Stephen L. Turner, A Western Quest Series Novel, soft cover, $15.00.
Bluebonnet At The State Fair of Texas by Mary Brooke Casad, soft cover, soft cover, $9.95.
Bluebonnet of the Texas Hill Country by Mary Brooke Casad, soft cover, soft cover, $9.95.
Bluebonnet at Johnson Space Center by Mary Brooke Casad, soft cover, soft cover, $9.95.
Bluebonnet at the Texas State Capitol by Mary Brooke Casad, hardback, $16.95.
Bluebonnet at the Alamo by Mary Brooke Casad, hardback, $16.95.
Bluebonnet at the Marshall Train Depot by Mary Brooke Casad, hardback, $16.95.
Bluebonnet at the East Texas Oil Museum by Mary Brooke Casad, hardback, $16.95.
Bluebonnet at the Ocean Star Museum by Mary Brooke Casad, hardback, $16.95.
Bluebonnet at Dinosaur Valley State Park by Mary Brooke Casad, hardback, $16.95. | literature |
https://seacoastlately.com/2019/08/27/murder-on-the-orient-express-ogunquit-playhouse/ | 2023-06-09T14:16:34 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-23/segments/1685224656737.96/warc/CC-MAIN-20230609132648-20230609162648-00521.warc.gz | 0.879788 | 350 | CC-MAIN-2023-23 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-23__0__143458142 | en | Our Take on “Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express”!
Dramatic? Of course.
An unforgettable performance? You bet!
Before the curtains peeled away to reveal narrator and main character—detective Hercule Poirot—Ogunquit Playhouse’s production of “Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express” had us on the edge of our seats.
As we sat silently waiting for the play to begn, we quickly learn there’s a murder on our hands…
Moments in, we hop aboard The Orient Express—a beautiful passenger train that once traveled across Europe. The story begins when the train’s journey is put on hold due to a snowstorm, and then…
Quirky characters and unique personalities enter center stage as a thoughtfully-mustached Belgian detective pursues a mission to find the murder culprit once and for all. With a train full of suspects, each one with an alibi, there are unexpected twists and turns at every corner. Suspense constantly fills the air, but welcome nods of humor often add comedic relief throughout.
So, did Poirot pin down the culprit??
We won’t reveal the secret here, but we can confirm that you won’t leave feeling disappointed!
“Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express” is an extra special opportunity as it is the first play (not a musical) at the Ogunquit Playhouse in 12 years!
Book your tickets here for a matinee or evening performance through August 31! | literature |
https://ijamicro.com/abstractview.php?ID=145&vol=25-2-2023&SNo=2 | 2023-09-30T22:28:43 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233510730.6/warc/CC-MAIN-20230930213821-20231001003821-00581.warc.gz | 0.869272 | 472 | CC-MAIN-2023-40 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-40__0__204292819 | en | Authors are requested to submit the manuscripts only through IJAM web portal, submission directly to journal mail ids will not be considered.
IJAM is now a member of Crossref. Articles published from the year 2017 onwards are assigned to DOI. • Articles are invited for the third issue of the year September-December 2023.
Manish Prakash Victor, Rohit Das, Tapash Chandra Ghosh
1.Department of Biophysics, Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics, University of Calcutta,Calcutta, India2.Division of Plant Biology, Bose Institute, Kolkata, West Bengal, India3.Raiganj University, Raiganj, West Bengal, India
Ind.J.Applied.Microbiol. 2023 .25(2) : 11-36
Introduction:The present study presents a comparative analysis of SARS-CoV-2’s survival capacity in its human host in an area within a month. Materials and Methods:Codon usage bias study has been carried using Emboss package and evolutionary study has been carried using pn/ps packages in python and R for statistical analysis. Results:The virus has overlapping genes exhibiting a high codon usage bias and optimization with human Lung housekeeping genes. Viral ORFs have near values of minimum folding energies and codon adaptation index with mRNAs of the human Lung housekeeping genes. Then too, viruses showed a greater expression capacity. Polymorphism is in the virus for ORF1ab, surface glycoprotein and nucleocapsid phosphoprotein ORFs. Non-synonymous mutations have shown non-polar substitutions. Out of the twelve mutations nine are for a higher t-RNA copy number. Synonymous mutation simulation mimicking evolution revealed fitter newer strains. Conclusion:Through this study we have explained the inherent codon adaptation of SARS-CoV-2 with human tRNA pool and how the virus shows polymorphism in-order to keep up with its infectious capacity. Hence, giving an insight into viral rapid adaptability.
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2 mutations, codon adaptation index, minimum folding energy, Homo sapiens tRNA pool, effective number of codons
Download this article as | literature |
https://file51.com/things-to-consider-when-choosing-city-moving-companies/ | 2021-11-27T17:13:44 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-49/segments/1637964358208.31/warc/CC-MAIN-20211127163427-20211127193427-00045.warc.gz | 0.990112 | 398 | CC-MAIN-2021-49 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2021-49__0__176993395 | en | When we had finished eating we went softly upstairs to my study, and I looked again out of the open window. In one night the valley had become a valley of ashes. The fires had dwindled now. Where flames had been there were now streamers of smoke; but the countless ruins of shattered and gutted houses and blasted and blackened trees that the night had hidden stood out now gaunt and terrible in the pitiless light of dawn. Yet here and there some object had had the luck to escape–a white railway signal here, the end of a greenhouse there, white and fresh amid the wreckage. Never before in the history of warfare had destruction been so indiscriminate and so universal. And shining with the growing light of the east, three of the metallic giants stood about the pit, their cowls rotating as though they were surveying the desolation they had made.
It seemed to me that the pit had been enlarged, and ever and again puffs of vivid green vapour streamed up and out of it towards the brightening dawn–streamed up, whirled, broke, and vanished.
Beyond were the pillars of fire about Chobham. They became pillars of bloodshot smoke at the first touch of day.
As the dawn grew brighter we withdrew from the window from which we had watched the Martians, and went very quietly downstairs.
The artilleryman agreed with me that the house was no place to stay in. He proposed, he said, to make his way Londonward, and thence rejoin his battery–No. 12, of the Horse Artillery. My plan was to return at once to Leatherhead; and so greatly had the strength of the Martians impressed me that I had determined to take my wife to Newhaven, and go with her out of the country forthwith. For I already perceived clearly that the country about London must inevitably be the scene of a disastrous struggle before such creatures as these could be destroyed. | literature |
https://www.monroecopost.com/news/20160328/supervisor-reilich-greece-public-library-unveil-preschool-art-exhibit | 2020-08-09T11:19:03 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-34/segments/1596439738552.17/warc/CC-MAIN-20200809102845-20200809132845-00227.warc.gz | 0.948899 | 259 | CC-MAIN-2020-34 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2020-34__0__187474174 | en | Greece Public Library, 2 Vince Tofany Blvd., Rochester, will exhibit art created by students in preschool classes at the Northwest Family YMCA during April as part of the Rochester Association of the Education of Young Children’s celebration of Month of the Young Child.
“We are very pleased to host this exhibit at the main branch of the library on Town Hall campus,” said Greece Town Supervisor Bill Reilich. “I would also like to encourage families with young children to find out more about the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program when they visit. It’s an excellent way to promote literacy and foster a love of reading from an early age.”
The program is a reading incentive program for ages 5 and younger and their parents/caregivers. Two hundred ninety-seven Greece children and babies currently are enrolled; they have collectively read over 37,000 books since the program’s debut in September 2015.
The library offers many additional resources in support of kindergarten preparedness, including age-appropriate book collections, early literacy learning computers and librarian-led early literacy classes.
For more information, call 585-225-8951 or visit greecepubliclibrary.org/books-before. | literature |
https://www.familystaycationsg.com/win-tickets-to-we-are-going-on-a-bear-hunt/ | 2019-07-21T17:00:39 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-30/segments/1563195527089.77/warc/CC-MAIN-20190721164644-20190721190644-00283.warc.gz | 0.878941 | 410 | CC-MAIN-2019-30 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2019-30__0__112726920 | en | Based on the picture book by Rod Campbell
“I’m absolutely delighted that Dear Zoo is being brought to life on stage for the very first time!” Rod Campbell, author and illustrator
Dear Zoo, the timeless children’s book, makes its stage premiere.
Rod Campbell’s best-selling lift the flap book has delighted generations of young readers since it was first published in 1982, and has sold more than 8 million copies worldwide.
This production will delight all those who have read the book (both young and old) as it unfolds, with engaging puppets, music and lots of audience interaction.
Tickets are available HERE.
Dates: 19 -21 Oct 2018
Venue: Victoria Theatre
Sat : 10am & 12pm
Sun: 10am, 12pm & 3pm
Ticket price: $42 – $62
WIN! Tickets Giveaway: Dear Zoo!
Family Staycation Sg is giving away 1 set of family passes x 4 tickets each!
Contest Period: 6 Oct – 10 Oct 2018 | Contest closes: 10 Oct 2018, at 11:59 am.
- On Facebook: Like, share, Tag 5 friends!
- On Instagram: Like & Tag 5 friends ( per friend per comment!)
- A lucky winner will be randomly selected and the results will be announced at the end of the contest.
- The winners will be receiving 4 tickets each.
- Winner will be attending 21 Oct, 12 p.m. show.
- All results are final.
- The prize will be non-transferable, non-refundable and non-exchangeable for other dates/times
- Collection details will be advised via confirmation email.
- Other terms & conditions applied.
Disclosure: Giveaway prize is sponsored by Aba productions.
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https://www.publio.pl/swords-of-the-red-brotherhood-robert-e-howard,p436572.html | 2022-10-03T23:54:20 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-40/segments/1664030337446.8/warc/CC-MAIN-20221003231906-20221004021906-00175.warc.gz | 0.977045 | 116 | CC-MAIN-2022-40 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2022-40__0__137241479 | en | One moment the glade lay empty; the next a man poised tensely at the edge of the bushes. No sound warned the red squirrels of his coming, but the birds that flitted about in the sunlight took sudden fright at the apparition and rose in a clamoring swarm. The man scowled and glanced quickly back the way he had come, fearing the bird-flight might have betrayed his presence. Then he started across the glade, placing his feet with caution. Tall and muscular of frame, he moved with the supple ease of a panther. | literature |
http://thekey.farnet.eu/pages/Guide04.html | 2023-12-11T00:18:27 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679102697.89/warc/CC-MAIN-20231210221943-20231211011943-00654.warc.gz | 0.971869 | 162 | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-50__0__98156063 | en | Steps for success
This guide has been developed to support Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAGs) in moving from the planning and development phase of activity to becoming fully operational. It is targeted in particular at the second wave of FLAGs which are expected to come on stream in 2011. The guide focuses on three themes which were identified as priority needs for support by FLAGs at the "FLAGs on the Move" seminar in Gijon in the spring of 2010. Each theme is presented as a separate chapter and can be read as such however the guide is designed to complement the first FARNET guide, the Start Up Guide for FLAGs.The three themes are:
- Managing effective partnerships;
- Cultivating private sector involvement and investment;
- and Active project development and selection. | literature |
https://aitatennis.com/break-point-tennis-during-a-global-pandemic/ | 2024-02-26T17:33:02 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474661.10/warc/CC-MAIN-20240226162136-20240226192136-00013.warc.gz | 0.972232 | 264 | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-10__0__19843430 | en | BREAK POINT: Tennis During A Global Pandemic
Saksham Attray, a 15-year-old player from Bengaluru, utilized his time during the COVID-19 lockdown to write a book called BREAKPOINT – Tennis During A Global Pandemic.
Here’s a synopsis of the book:
Believe it or not, it is possible to stay match fit and level up in your game while sheltering at home by following the methods outlined by 15-year old author Saksham Attray. It will take more than a global pandemic to dissuade the determined youngsters from being tomorrow’s champions. Saksham interacted with his coaches, professional tennis players, and journalists about the situation and this book is a distillation of the best advice he received from them. Obviously, there are thousands of others like him who are facing a similar situation and feeling demotivated and this book is an attempt to rekindle their hope. The methods outlined in this book could go some way in inspiring and motivating aspiring tennis players in the aftermath of COVID-19.
Where to buy it?
Paperback (Rs. 199) – https://store.pothi.com/book/saksham-attray-break-point/ | literature |
https://www.innkeeperofyoursoul.com/ | 2019-10-16T17:33:57 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-43/segments/1570986669057.0/warc/CC-MAIN-20191016163146-20191016190646-00171.warc.gz | 0.983769 | 143 | CC-MAIN-2019-43 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2019-43__0__213665593 | en | Be the innkeeper of your soul
I help introverted, empathic, and highly sensitive women in midlife create the space they need to remember who they are and that they matter. That they are worthy of what they want and deserve a life they love.
Once upon a time I wanted to be the innkeeper of my own B&B. Innkeeping appealed to my desire to serve others by creating a space where they would feel welcome and well cared for, and where they would feel both nourished and nurtured. What I desired to give others, I yearned for myself. The journey, it turns out, was about being the innkeeper of my soul and tending the space within me. | literature |
http://thesensiblemom.com/2017/04/blessed-seven-vlog-2/ | 2018-01-16T07:31:30 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-05/segments/1516084886237.6/warc/CC-MAIN-20180116070444-20180116090444-00111.warc.gz | 0.94748 | 158 | CC-MAIN-2018-05 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2018-05__0__169590592 | en | Thanks to B&H Kids for partnering with me on this sponsored video.
Hi, guys! In today’s video, I share a little about my Christian faith and how we do family devotions. I also show you a fantastic Bible storybook called It’s All About Jesus Bible Storybook, and I share how we use the B&H Kids app along with the book to make the pages in the book come to life!
I hope you enjoy the video and, as always, thanks for watching! 🙂
Bible stories for kids are a great way to teach kids more about Jesus. Please feel free to share your favorite Bible story books for children in the comments below.
And you can follow along on our RV adventures with the Playlist here. | literature |
https://soul2soulconnections.com/blogs/soulfulness/what-does-the-cowardly-lion-from-the-wizard-of-oz-have-to-do-with-you | 2024-04-15T04:53:54 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296816942.33/warc/CC-MAIN-20240415045222-20240415075222-00017.warc.gz | 0.976554 | 689 | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-18__0__202284102 | en | And so we begin by talking about that wondrous story of archetypal characters from The Wizard of Oz; specifically the Cowardly Lion. What was the great asset that he sought from The Wizard? Courage. Why am I writing about courage? Because if we look within ourselves and examine our own personal level of courage we begin to discover many important aspects of who we are.
I think the main thing I want to say is that it takes great courage to look within. I think there are many people who have never done that. I think there are some people that have tried but became afraid and frightened of what they saw. Rare is the person that has really looked deep within themselves. Those people, in my opinion, have exhibited the greatest kind of courage. The courage to look deeply within oneself.
Why would we want to do this? To know thyself. I believe that knowing yourself is the beginning point of becoming a truly successful person. It’s been said that this is the first step towards self mastery. But more on that topic later.
For now, let's just focus on being fully real, fully open, and fully honest and having the courage to look within ourselves.
This is a scary thing to do. What if we don't like what we see? How do we deal with that? What should we do with the things that we regret? What should we do with our successes?
Don't worry. Don’t let this concern you.
As you look within yourself I would en-courage you to search for what I call your “true identity”. Your true identity is who you really are. The original you. Not the ego you. Not the fake you. Not the you that you think everyone wants to see. Not the you that the world expects you to be. But the real you. If you look deeply enough, you will find the real you. And you will find that the real you has never changed. It's still the same you--the same you when you were a child, when you were an adolescent, and it is the same you now in adulthood. It's the you that you came into this life with. It is your uniqueness.
When you have the courage to look within, as you discover your real self, the next steps in your personal journey become more clear.
But it starts with the courage to look within. And to be really honest about what you see there.
As you progress to know yourself better you learn to love and accept yourself as the unique individual that you are.
In the future I will write about ways to help you get rid of “baggage” from the past. In the meantime, I en-courage you to cultivate your own innate courage (like the Lion) and look within. To look within is real courage!
You may have to challenge yourself to go beyond your current concepts, limitations, and cherished beliefs. Go within and meditate upon who is the real you.
My Soul2Soul website is about supporting and creating meaningful love relationships.There are many services offered there that can be used as tools to help you know yourself better. I en-courage you to use those tools to assist you on your own journey of love. Knowing yourself is the first step to being able to truly connect with your partner or potential partner. | literature |
https://pcgloanfund.org/impact/first-book-marketplace | 2023-12-03T11:41:52 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100499.43/warc/CC-MAIN-20231203094028-20231203124028-00653.warc.gz | 0.960247 | 254 | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-50__0__28361981 | en | The mission of First Book is to give children from low-income families the opportunity to read and own their first new books. Since 1992, First Book has given away 50 million free books to children in more than 3,000 communities. To reach more children and communities, First Book created First Book Marketplace, an online bookstore where non-profits running children’s literacy programs can purchase high quality children’s books in bulk and at deep discounts.
The website was so popular that First Book needed to upgrade its technology and purchase a broader range of books than it was previously able to offer. In order to do so, First Book approached PCG for a working capital loan. PCG partnered with Nonprofit Finance Fund and the Calvert Foundation to lend First Book the capital it needed. During the first three years of operation, the Marketplace distributed 750,000 books. With this new capital, the Marketplace expects to distribute 100 million books over the next ten years. An independent study reported that 55% of the children who participate in the First Book program reported having an increased interest in reading. Access to books is critical to a child’s success in school, and PCG’s investment provides this key building block for millions of low-income children. | literature |
http://www.personalizedgiftexpress.com/personalized-childrens-books.html | 2013-05-25T15:47:40 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705957380/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120557-00057-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | 0.963032 | 207 | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2013-20__0__84520238 | en | Personalized Children's Story Books including My Very Own Name, My Very Own Fairy Tale, My Very Own ABC's and more. Personalized with child's name worked into the story. Presentation inscription may include Child's name, from whom information, date and message. 1-800-816-0922 and a representative will be happy to assist you.
Spending that one on one time with your child is something to treasure for a lifetime. Reading is fundamental in their development and needs to be started at an early age. What better way to get your child interested in books than personalizing them with their names on it. Personalized Children's storybooks is a fun way of reading with your child. It turns the adventure around and places them in the story of make believe. Whether its having tea with the Queen or fighting off monsters in the forest, its sure to hold their attention since they are the star of the story. This will keep them coming back for a different adventure each night with a passion to read. | literature |
http://notstatusquo.com/live-purpose-write-story/ | 2017-06-24T10:18:33 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320257.16/warc/CC-MAIN-20170624101204-20170624121204-00179.warc.gz | 0.936501 | 550 | CC-MAIN-2017-26 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2017-26__0__242408296 | en | This is something we can all agree on. Whatever is going on, the world keeps moving. No matter if we’re living with purpose or coasting through the day to day, everything else keeps moving. Sure, if we’re not living intentionally GOOD things can sometimes JUST happen, just like BAD things can sometimes JUST happen.
However, we must ask ourselves, is settling for whatever may come our way really how we want to live? Of course, there are occasions where circumstances are beyond our control – and those rare scenarios are where our preparedness, attitude, and reaction determine how easily we get through it.
Those cases aside though, we must be willing to admit that life will not happen the way we desire by chance – we must live intentionally and with purpose. We must be willing to plan, be disciplined, set goals, strategize to accomplish them, reflect, and adjust as necessary. Looking at challenges as opportunities rather than obstacles is a requirement. We must have a mindset that conquers rather than one of complacency.
Your life is the greatest story you’ll ever tell.
You have a blank canvas, with chapters to be written. Are you going to allow others to write your story for you, or will you take action and be intentional about writing it yourself? Take control of your story, pursue your passions, discover your talents and cultivate them.
Successful, high achievers don’t just settle for whatever good may come their way. They seek out the great. They prepare for the opportunities and develop the skills needed so when opportunity arises, they’re able to cease it – with confidence. To outsiders looking in, it seems that high achievers just have more “luck”, but that’s not the case. The fact is, high achievers have positioned themselves through preparation and self-discipline to be prepared when opportunities arise.
Be intentional and pursue life on purpose.
Ask yourself today if you’re settling for whatever good (or bad) may come, or if you’re actively pursuing the greatness you desire and were made for? Are you living complacently or are you actively pursuing a path of growth and development, preparing yourself for amazing opportunities that will arise. If you don’t like the answer, adjust accordingly! Take some time to discover what you’re destined for. Study. Practice. Cultivate your passions and develop your talents. Doing so will lead you further down the road to success and create a story that will be worth telling!
For more on the topic of living with purpose, I highly recommend John Maxwell’s book, Intentional Living. | literature |
http://melissa-melanomasucks.blogspot.com/2012/12/maybe-christmasperhapsmeans-little-bit.html | 2018-07-17T17:37:29 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-30/segments/1531676589757.30/warc/CC-MAIN-20180717164437-20180717184437-00331.warc.gz | 0.945068 | 230 | CC-MAIN-2018-30 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2018-30__0__253037679 | en | The most important and treasured gifts are the ones that money can't buy.
It is easy to get caught up in gift buying. The real gifts are things you already have. Cherish your loved ones. Hold them a little tighter.
"Every Who down in Who-ville, the tall and the small,
Was singing! Without any presents at all!
He HADN'T stopped Christmas from coming! IT CAME!
Somehow or other, it came just the same!
And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice-cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling:
"How could it be so? It came without ribbons! It came without tags!
It came without packages, boxes, or bags!"
And he puzzled and puzzled, till his puzzler was sore.
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before!
"Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store.
Maybe Christmas… perhaps… means a little bit more." ~The Grinch
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!! | literature |
http://vetprofiles.tufts.edu/faculty/nicholas-frank | 2020-07-04T11:50:46 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-29/segments/1593655886121.45/warc/CC-MAIN-20200704104352-20200704134352-00146.warc.gz | 0.687468 | 1,652 | CC-MAIN-2020-29 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2020-29__0__86172961 | en | - BSc. Hons. Biology University of North Carolina 1989
- DVM Purdue University 1993
- PhD Purdue University 2002
- Diplomate ACVIM
- Stefanovski, D., Moate, P.J., Frank, N., Ward, G.M., Localio, A.R., Punjabi, N.M., Boston, R.C. 2020. Metabolic modeling using statistical and spreadsheet software: Application to the glucose minimal model. Computer methods and programs in biomedicine.
- Gorenberg, E.B., Johnson, A.L., Magdesian, K.G., Bertin, F.-R., Costa, L.R.R., Theelen, M.J.P., Durward-Akhurst, S.A., Cruz Villagrán, C., Carslake, H., Frank, N., Tomlinson, J.E. 2020. Diagnosis and treatment of confirmed and suspected primary hyperparathyroidism in equids: 17 cases (1999â2016). Equine Veterinary Journal.
- Hodge, E., Kowalski, A., Torcivia, C., Lindborg, S., Stefanovski, D., Hart, K., Frank, N., van Eps, A. 2019. Effect of thyrotropin-releasing hormone stimulation testing on the oral sugar test in horses when performed as a combined protocol. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
- Durham, A.E., Frank, N., McGowan, C.M., Menzies-Gow, N.J., Roelfsema, E., Vervuert, I., Feige, K., Fey, K. 2019. Response to letter to editor regarding ECEIM consensus statement on equine metabolic syndrome. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
- Durham, A.E., Frank, N., McGowan, C.M., Menzies-Gow, N.J., Roelfsema, E., Vervuert, I., Feige, K., Fey, K. 2019. ECEIM consensus statement on equine metabolic syndrome. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
- Frank, N. 2018. Endocrine Disorders of the Equine Athlete. Veterinary Clinics of North America - Equine Practice.
- Mueller, M.K., Sween, C., Frank, N., Paradis, M.R. 2018. Survey of human-horse relationships and veterinary care for geriatric horses. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association.
- Newkirk, K.M., Ehrensing, G., Odoi, A., Boston, R.C., Frank, N. 2018. Immunohistochemical expression of insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin in pancreatic islets of horses with and without insulin resistance. American Journal of Veterinary Research.
- Frank, N., Walsh, D.M. 2017. Repeatability of Oral Sugar Test Results, Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Measurements, and Serum High-Molecular-Weight Adiponectin Concentrations in Horses. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
- Durham, A.E., Bailey, S.R., Frank, N., McFarlane, D., Schott, H.C., Paradis, M.R. 2017. Science-in-brief: Workshop report The Dorothy Havemeyer International Equine Endocrinology Summit. Equine Veterinary Journal.
- Frank, N., Hermida, P., Sanchez-Londoño, A., Singh, R., Gradil, C.M., Uricchio, C.K. 2017. Blood Glucose and Insulin Concentrations after Octreotide Administration in Horses With Insulin Dysregulation. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
- Restifo, M.M., Frank, N., Hermida, P., Sanchez-Londoño, A. 2016. Effects of withholding feed on thyrotropin-releasing hormone stimulation test results and effects of combined testing on oral sugar test and thyrotropin-releasing hormone stimulation test results in horses. American Journal of Veterinary Research.
- Banse, H.E., Holbrook, T.C., Frank, N., McFarlane, D. 2016. Relationship of skeletal muscle inflammation with obesity and obesity-associated hyperinsulinemia in horses. Canadian Journal of Veterinary Research.
- Chameroy, K.A., Frank, N., Elliott, S.B., Boston, R.C. 2016. Comparison of Plasma Active Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Concentrations in Normal Horses and Those With Equine Metabolic Syndrome and in Horses Placed on a High-Grain Diet. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science.
- Hart, K.A., Wochele, D.M., Norton, N.A., Mcfarlane, D., Wooldridge, A.A., Frank, N. 2016. Effect of Age, Season, Body Condition, and Endocrine Status on Serum Free Cortisol Fraction and Insulin Concentration in Horses. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
- McKinney, C., Mueller, M.K., Frank, N. 2015. Effects of Therapeutic Riding on Measures of Stress in Horses. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science.
- Banse, H.E., Frank, N., Kwong, G.P.S., McFarlane, D. 2015. Relationship of oxidative stress in skeletal muscle with obesity and obesity-associated hyperinsulinemia in horses. Canadian Journal of Veterinary Research.
- Frank, N. 2015. Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction. Robinson's Current Therapy in Equine Medicine: Seventh Edition.
- Frank, N. 2015. Equine Metabolic Syndrome. Robinson's Current Therapy in Equine Medicine: Seventh Edition.
- Goodale, L., Frank, N., Hermida, P., D’Oench, S. 2015. Evaluation of a thyrotropin-releasing hormone solution stored at room temperature for pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction testing in horses. American Journal of Veterinary Research.
General Research Interests
- Internal medicine
- Comparative endocrinology
Selected Research Projects
- Endotoxemia as a predisposing factor for laminitis
- Effects of clinical endotoxemia on glucose metabolism in horses
- Levothyroxine as a treatment for insulin resistance
- Effects of resting insulin sensitivity on the acute response to endotoxin in horses
- Effects of combining endotoxemia and alimentary carbohydrate overload on glucose and insulin dynamics in horses
- Improved diagnosis and monitoring of equine endocrine disorders
- Development of an optimal protocol for evaluating insulin secretion and sensitivity in horses
- A study of the alterations in glucose and lipid metabolism that accompany the development of laminitis in horses
- Evaluating the effects of endotoxin on glucose dynamics in horses using intravenous glucose tolerance test and euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp techniques
Research and Clinical Interests
- Diagnosis and management of endocrine disorders
- Equine Metabolic Syndrome
- Cushings disease
- Insulin resistance
- Diabetes mellitus
- Incretin hormones
- Electrolyte disorders
- Nutritional diseases
- Geriatric medicine
Research Interests by Area
Spontaneous Animal Disease Models
- Animal models of obesity, metabolic syndrome, equine Cushing's, and aging
Research Interests by Organ System and Disease
Nutritional Basis of Diseases
- Obesity, insulin resistance, and beta cell function and lipid metabolism.
- Insulin resistance, diabetes mellitis, hyperadrenocorticism. Laminitis in horses. Obesity.
- American Veterinary Medical Association
- American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine
Research Sponsor Interest
- American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Foundation
- American Quarter Horse Foundation
- Grayson Jockey Club Foundation
- United States Equestrian Federation | literature |
https://neucollege.info/creative-writing/ | 2020-10-25T21:31:31 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-45/segments/1603107890028.58/warc/CC-MAIN-20201025212948-20201026002948-00533.warc.gz | 0.95536 | 1,757 | CC-MAIN-2020-45 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2020-45__0__131588449 | en | The term “creative writing” may seem confusing at the first look. After all, every type of writing demands a certain amount of creativity, but not every piece of writing can be called a creative writing example. So, what is the definition of creative writing?
Creative writing is the writing that employs creative techniques to entertain the reader in addition to providing a message. Another creative writing definition is that it is the type of writing that aims at creating emotional response in the reader by using written visuals. In other words, a piece of creative writing does not simply tell a story, it helps the readers create a comprehensive picture in their minds.
Why is Creative Writing special?
Creative writing occupies a special place in the spectrum of writing types and techniques. Any writing is a form of communication which means that its purpose is to send a particular message to the reader. In this regard, creative writing is similar to any other form of writing you have encountered or even attempted to perform. The key difference that makes creative writing stand out is the methods it uses to achieve its goal.
While academic writing and publicistic operate mostly on facts, creative writing employs imagination and experimentation to make the reader invested in the story it tells. It provides the author creative freedom in terms of language choice and narrative approach.
At the same time, it is the most demanding type of writing in the sense that not all the creative choices are bound to pay off. As evident from the name, successful creative writing demands talent. However, it does not mean that there is no way to improve your skills. Check our creative writing tips to clarify which aspects of your work need close attention and become a better author.
Elements of creative writing
Before we proceed to how to write, let us discuss in more detail what to write. There are several elements of creative writing that you need to consider before you begin working on your first draft.
As it has already been implied above, any type of creative writing (we will discuss the distinctions later in the article) boils down to storytelling. To be a proper story, any narrative needs a plot. If you want to attract the attention of the readers, you better make the plot original and interesting.
A story has characters by definition. However, the fact that there are characters does not make a piece of writing fall into the category of creative writing. The characters must be developed throughout the story.
Character development means letting the reader understand the way in which a character changes throughout the story. It is also commonly referred to as a character arc.
Presenting the character gradually to the readers does not comprise character development. As an author, you need to make it clear that the events of the story have impacted the characters and present the changes those impacts caused.
An important thing to remember is that the story you are telling in your creative writing is not the message your piece conveys. It should serve as the vessel for the underlying message or theme you want to present. The choice of the theme impacts the formulation of the plot and even the creative writing type you will employ.
You need to have a clear idea concerning the time and space in which your story unfolds. Nobody says it must be real. The key requirement, however, is that the setting helps you to bring forward your characters and bring the underlying message to the audience. Setting must be an instrument rather than obstacle.
Creative writing does not merely tell the story. It describes its elements as graphically as possible to enable the readers to apply their imagination and immerse in the story.
Types of creative writing
The lyst of creative writing elements is not exhaustive and their application depends on the types of creative writing you are about to apply. Let’s have a look at the three most common forms creative writing may take.
Writing poetry is different from any other creative writing exercise. The reason for it is simple: nowadays poetry may take numerous forms and shapes. You may be interested in writing a classical onnet or a white (rhymeless) poem, but there is still general principles to follow if you want to create a good poem:
- Create a theme. While a poem does not need to narrate a story, it must have a topic. In other words, the reader of a good poem understands, at least instinctively, the purpose for which it was written.
- Use figurative language a lot. The key aspect of poetry that makes it stand out from other types of creative writing is the fact that it is written using metaphors, similes, hyperboles, personifications and so on. In fact, it is also the reason why some people do not like poetry and find it confusing.
- Pay attention to how it sounds. While poetry does not always involve rhymes, a clear rhythm is a must. You may also want to experiment with alliterations and onomatopoeia. Remember, poetry is supposed to be recited, not simply read.
It is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the phrase “creative writing.” Indeed the list of the elements discussed above suits the purposes of fiction writing well. In addition to those building blocks, fiction writing usually depends heavily on dialogue. There are stories about a single character that do not presuppose any dialogue. However, to make such a story interesting, you need a really engaging plot and unusual setting. In other words, you may resort to more common compositions until you have developed your creative writing muscle.
Another issue that impacts the way you will write your fiction piece is point of view. Note that the second person narration is not commonly used in fiction writing. Yet, you may see this fact as an opportunity and be creative with it!
Creative nonfiction can be explained as a type of writing which is based on facts but allows creative freedom in the manner these facts are presented to the audience. An example of uch work is a biography or autobiography which presents a narrative of one’s life told using various literary devices meant to capture the interest of the readers.
Another example of creative nonfiction is memoir. The point of this type of writing is that it focuses on events that actually happened instead of being created in the author’s imagination. At the same time, the author approaches retelling those events with a high degree of creativity.
Creative writing prompts
Creative writing ideas may be difficult to come by. However, if you struggle with deciding what to write about, you do not need to give up on creative writing activities. There is nothing wrong with searching for creative writing prompts online for training purposes. Look for a prompt you find interesting and/or challenging, and give it a try. As you will become better in addressing such prompts, you will gradually find yourself generating your own ideas. This approach is especially useful for people looking for creative writing jobs since they will be required to work with prewritten prompts.
How to start?
First of all, you need to do your thorough research on genres and subgenres of creative writing. Check numerous creative writing examples to realize which form you would like to create.
Then you need to pick one genre and focus on it. There is no need for you to feel obliged to stick to your first choice. Trial and error are constant companions of a writer.
Once you have settled on genre. Start writing in it. Do not be discouraged by the fact that your first writings will be bad. You need time and practice to become a proficient writer and maybe even enter creative writing careers. Do not let failure stop you!
How to become better?
There are several creative writing exercises that will help you boost your creativity.
- Do not edit while writing. There will be time for polishing grammar. Your initial task is to come up with an engaging story, so do not distract yourself.
- Edit your old writings to add a pinch of creativity to them.
- Experiment! Try writing the same story from the perspective of different characters or using different points of view.
- Ask for an opinion. Let your friends or family provide feedback on your creative writing.
To sum it up
Creative writing is by far the most challenging type of writing. However, it is a misconception that proficient creative writers are born rather than made. You make create beautiful pieces of creative writing by following simple steps:
- Learn about forms and types of creative writing.
- Choose the one you are interested in/comfortable with.
- Let your creativity flow, you will revise the piece later.
- Practice your creative writing a lot to become fluent in it. | literature |
http://www.neiljameshudson.net/index.php/news/ | 2017-06-23T04:57:43 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320003.94/warc/CC-MAIN-20170623045423-20170623065423-00294.warc.gz | 0.951932 | 330 | CC-MAIN-2017-26 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2017-26__0__253040010 | en | “The Losers’ Crusade” will be my fifth story for Third Flatiron, in their “Cat’s Breakfast” anthology – a tribute to Kurt Vonnegut Jr. We were asked to write a story that seemed to sum up Vonnegut’s vision without reusing any of his characters or scenarios, which I found a particularly difficult brief, but I seem to have come through. I’ll also be in two forthcoming Circlet Press anthologies; “How I Won the Lottery” will be appearing in “Playing Dirty”, and “The Day the Mirror Told the Truth” is set for their Beauty and the Beast anthology, “A Beastly Affair”.
You Are Here: Tales of Cartographic Wonders, edited by N E White, is now available, including my story “Literary Walks: The Cartographer by Martin Croft”, a meander through various locations in York, or more accurately Yorks.
There have also been some recent reviews of my work – BCN is positive about On Wings of Pity, and you might be interested to read Des Lewis’s review of my story collection The End of the World: A User’s Guide. Des was publisher of Nemonymous, and was responsible for the first publication of my story “The Point of Oswald Masters”.
And don’t forget that you can buy The End of the World: A User’s Guide for only £7.99.
[Last update 28 April 2017] | literature |
http://www.whiteslavesofchinatown.com/ | 2020-01-23T04:53:12 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-05/segments/1579250608295.52/warc/CC-MAIN-20200123041345-20200123070345-00215.warc.gz | 0.970831 | 5,047 | CC-MAIN-2020-05 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2020-05__0__226362256 | en | I spent a few days working on this and don't want to just throw it away, so you get to see it.
Like the title says, I'm rating Jedi and Sith who appear in The Skywalker Nonology (and only the nonology, no television shows or other ancillary media) in order of importance to the story.
Here we go:
12. Count Dooku/Darth Tyranus
A respected Jedi, Padawan of Yoda, Dooku grew disillusioned with the corruption in the Galactic Senate, as well as the traditions of the Jedi , and left the order to return to his homeworld, Serenno. There, he renounced the Jedi for losing their way. After the death of Maul, Sidious (following the Rule of Two) choose Dooku to be his new apprentice.
Dooku’s primary function was to marshal forces to the Separatist cause in anticipation of the Phantom Sith’s plans for The Clone Wars and, eventual, Empire. After the Battle of Geonosis, Dooku took ostensible command of the Separatist Army (secretly controlled by Sidious). In grand Sith style, Dooku tried to enlist several apprentices, himself, with the objective of overthrowing Palaptine, but Palpatine was far too clever for Dooku and manipulated Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker into executing him.
Dooku was the prime beard for Palpatine during the Clone Wars, but was ultimately too weak to pose a threat to Sidious or the Jedi.
Widely believed to be a Sith (or at least a force-sensitive humanoid) for the first two films of the sequel trilogy, The Rise of Skywalker revealed Snoke to have been nothing but a clone manufactured by Sidious to extend his reach beyond the Unknown Regions while awaiting the ascendancy of his granddaughter.
But Snoke was more than simply a placeholder. He was put into position to assemble The First Order and groom Kylo Ren in the Dark Side. Snoke’s ultimate purpose was served when he became the final test of Kylo Ren’s Dark journey. By betraying and murdering his “master”, Kylo proved to the Emperor that he was ready to accept the tenets of Sithhood.
Unbeknownst to Kylo, this proved, once again, the Rule of Two, that there can be only two Sith (one Master and one Apprentice) at any given time. He also served to bring Kylo and Rey together, an integral part of the Emperor’s master plan.
10. Qui-Gon Jinn
A legendary brave and selfless Jedi Master and the first of four on this list (although Dooku was a Master before he turned to the Dark Side), Qui-Jon Jinn’s importance to The Skywalker Saga manifests itself in a few ways, primarily by discovering the Chosen One and thus being the catalyst for the entire nine film series.
Qui-Gon was also the first Jedi to discover and master (after his death) the Jedi ability to transcend death as a Force Spirit. The ramifications of this knowledge would be felt through the entire nonology, as Kenobi, Yoda, Anakin, and Luke among others would return as Force Ghosts or voices to instruct further generations.
Qui-Gon was murdered, ignobly, by Darth Maul on the planet Naboo, thus allowing Obi-Wan Kenobi to ascend to the position of Jedi Master, and become instructive in the Jedi training of the young Anakin Skywalker.
9. Darth Maul
Born on the red planet, Dathomir, and son of Madame Talzin, leader of the Nightsisters, Maul became an apprentice to Talzin’s ally, Sidious, when he was still a child. Years later, Darth Maul would be the first Sith to reveal themselves to the Jedi in a millennium. Working at the behest of the Phantom Emperor, Maul, tracking Queen Amidala of the Naboo’s distress call to the desert planet of Tatooine, attempted to kidnap the queen for Sidious’ nefarious purposes.
This resulted in a great many things occurring, all conforming to Palpatine’s master plan of taking over the Republic and supplanting it with an Empire, with himself at the head.
One of the most significant of Maul’s actions was the death of Qui-Gon Jinn, killed by Maul in a generator complex on Naboo. This resulted in Maul’s own supposed death at the hands of Obi-Wan Kenobi, which led to Kenobi becoming a Jedi Master assuming the training of Anakin Skywalker, at that time believed to be the fulfillment of an ancient Jedi Prophecy of a “Chosen One” who would bring “Balance to the Force.”
Also, he had the first “cool” lightsaber.
8. Obi-Wan Kenobi
Obi-Wan Kenobi was a Jedi Master. A former apprentice of Qui-Gon Jinn, Kenobi was a staunch proponent of the Jedi Council and its dictates. After Kenobi “killed” Darth Maul on Naboo, he took on Qui-Jon Jinn’s dying request to take Anakin Skywalker under his wing as his Padawan. Despite some initial reluctance on the Jedi Council’s part, Kenobi was granted permission to train Skywalker, whom he believed was the “Chosen One” spoken of in Jedi prophecy.
Kenobi trained the volatile Skywalker as best he could, often ignoring (or blind to) Anakin’s growing discontent with the life of a Jedi. Kenobi was only vaguely aware of Skywalker’s unrequited love for Naboo Senator Padme Amidala, but chalked it up to youthful indiscretion.
Kenobi distinguished himself during The Clone Wars, but was unable to stop Anakin’s descent to the Dark Side, resulting in the deaths of the senator and countless Jedi and younglings. Kenobi stood watch over Anakin’s (now Darth Vader) hidden son, Luke, for years, now believing this son to be the Chosen One.
Once revealed to Luke, Kenobi told the boy lies about his parentage and who the Jedi were. Luke fell under his sway, promoting an adventure that resulted in Kenobi’s death at the hands of Vader.
Kenobi appeared as a Force spirit a number of times, apologizing to Luke for misleading him, but continuing to give him advice and guidance.
7. Leia Organa Solo
Another of Darth Vader’s hidden children, Leia grew up in the relative safety of the royal House of Organa on the planet Alderaan. Raised as a princess and politician, Leia didn’t discover her nascent Jedi abilities until long after meeting Rebel pilot (and Jedi in training) Luke Skywalker during a rescue operation. A major figure in the Rebellion against the Empire at the time, it would take three years before Skywalker, in a time of great distress, reached out to Leia through the Force, thus revealing her latent telepathic ability.
Leia trained with Skywalker for over a year following the Battle of Endor, constructing her own lightsaber, and learning the ways of the Jedi. It was at the end of this training that Leia had a vision that her Jedi path would lead to the death of her son, and she gave her lightsaber into Luke’s hands, for someone else to later wield.
Though she had given up her Jedi combat training, Leia was still powerful with the Force. She was able to save herself from exposure to the depths of space and was, eventually, able to reach across countless miles of space with her mind and touch the heart of her son, Kylo Ren, thus distracting him long enough for Rey to defeat him in battle.
This selfless act led to her death, but, ultimately, saved the universe.
6. Kylo Ren/Ben Solo
Ben Solo was the last of a line of Jedi begun by Sheev Palpatine. Ben was the grandson of Darth Vader, son of Leia Organa and Han Solo and student of Jedi, Luke Skywalker, before turning to the Dark Side and taking on the name Kylo Ren.
Young Ben was the subject of visions even before his birth, so powerful was he in the Force. The Emperor Palpatine influenced young Solo, even in the womb, mentally influencing him throughout his life. Solo was unaware of Sidious’ deception and, turning to the Dark Side after what he believed was Luke’s betrayal and attempt to murder him, took the name of Kylo Ren and fell under the sway of First Order Supreme Leader, Snoke. But Snoke was merely Palpatine’s creation, a puppet to control the First Order and, by extension, Kylo Ren.
Ren was instrumental in the purge of Force sensitives as he led the defense forces of the First Order. A part of an uneasy triumvirate with Admiral Hux and Stormtrooper Captain Phasma, Kylo Ren did his best to carry out the orders of Supreme Leader Snoke. Through a combination of terror and the super weapon, Starkiller Base, the First Order was able to murder millions across the galaxy.
Kylo Ren killed Ben Solo’s father, Han, and decimated the Resistance fleet before being distracted by the illusion of his uncle, Luke Skywalker, on the plant of Crait. Ren pursued the Force sensitive, Rey, first through Snoke’s instruction, but then, after disposing of Snoke, attempting to turn her to the Dark Side, following the Rule of Two.
Ren and Rey were, unknowingly, a dyad, two beings who shared a Force bond, a feature of Sith lore. Through the fulfillment of this prophecy, Kylo Ren and Rey were able to combine their powers to defeat Palpatine on Exegol, helping to end his ambitions once and for all.
5. Luke Skywalker
The Force sensitive son of Anakin Skywalker and Padme Amidala, and brother of Leia Organa, Luke Skywalker was raised on the desert world of Tatooine. Kept in the dark about his heritage by his Step-Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru, for safety’s sake, Luke lived a life of ignorance and boredom, although, secretly, watched over, from afar, by Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi.
After Princess Leia inadvertently brought the Galactic Empire to his doorstep, both of Luke’s surrogate parents were killed and he fled Tatooine with Kenobi, attempting to deliver a message to the Rebel Alliance to Restore the Republic. Finding their destination destroyed, Luke and Obi-Wan, with the droids R2-D2 and C-3PO, and their hired spaceship, were captured by the Empire and brought aboard the Death Star, a planet destroying superweapon.
While attempting to escape the space station and rescue the Princess (conveniently held prisoner there), Obi-Wan allowed Darth Vader (also on board) to kill him within Luke’s sight, traumatizing the young farmboy. Obi-Wan would manifest to Luke several times over the next few years, instructing him in the ways of the Force and guiding him to the ancient Jedi Master, Yoda, at that time hidden on the swamp planet of Dagobah.
Luke would train for only a short time before a Force vision prompted him to leave Yoda’s instruction to help his friends whom he believed were in danger from Vader in the Bespin mining colony of Cloud City. Luke’s arrival in Cloud City did not help his friends, as their dilemma was nothing but a trap set by Vader to lure Skywalker to him, Vader having learned Luke’s true identity and relation to himself.
Luke’s encounter with Vader ended in disaster, Vader revealing his true self to Luke and alleviating the boy of his right hand. In his desperation, Luke used the Force to call out to Leia, who saved him from certain death.
Luke would use his Jedi powers in several rescue and guerilla operations for the Rebellion before encountering Vader again on the forest moon of Endor. Taking advantage of Luke’s belief in his father’s inherent goodness, Vader was able to capture him and take him before his master, The Galactic Emperor Palpatine. In the ensuing conflagration, both Palpatine and Vader were killed and Luke was able to escape and bear witness to a major Rebellion victory over the Empire.
Following the destruction of the Empire, Luke attempted to restore the Jedi Order by training a number of Force sensitive youth, his nephew Ben Solo among them. This new Jedi Order was destroyed when Luke misinterpreted what he felt were the stirrings of the Dark Side in young Ben Solo and contemplated murdering him to prevent wholesale destruction.
But Ben Solo had been manipulated by the, actually alive, Palpatine from beyond the Unknown Regions, and Luke’s mistake brought forth the very fruit he was trying to stop, sending Ben into the influence and clutches of First Order Supreme Leader Snoke, and, thus, setting into motion the deaths of countless millions.
Recognizing his failure, Skywalker abandoned his plans and exiled himself on Ahch-To, the birthplace of the Jedi Order, becoming a hermit and refusing to help stop everything he had started. It was here that, more than 10 years later, the Force sensitive, Rey, found him and tried to persuade him to help the newly formed Resistance against the First Order.
Luke refused, but consented to train Rey in the ways of the Force until, after glimpsing the extent of the Dark Side within her, he balked once again, afraid that what had happened to Ben would happen to her. Although reticent to help in any way, events conspired that would allow Skywalker to sacrifice himself in one, last Force projection, a delaying action that allowed the remains of the Resistance to escape the First Order’s clutches.
Luke would later return as a Force spirit to advise his spurned pupil, Rey, one last time and provide her with transportation to get somewhere.
4. Rey Skywalker
Rey Skywalker (nee Palpatine) is the biological granddaughter of Sheeve Palpatine, Darth Sidious, Sith lord and Galactic Emperor. Rey was hidden from Palpatine on the planet Jakku when she only a child. There she grew up alone, a scavenger, living off of what few credits or portions of food, she could get in trade.
Rey’s Force powers remained dormant until her encounter with Han Solo brought her to Takodonna, where, in the lower levels of pirate Maz Kanata’s castle, she discovered the old lightsaber of Luke Skywalker, lost in the duel on Cloud City. Contact with the sabre triggered a Force vision in Rey, Shaking her, but, also, awakening the Force within her.
Rey would later learn the ways of the Force from both Skywalker siblings, Luke and Leia, mastering many, previously unseen abilities, including using her life force to heal the wounded. As a part of a Force dyad with Kylo Ren, Rey was able to establish a Force bond with her dark counterpart and combine their powers, forming a “power of two” and giving Rey and Ren the power to confront Palpatine on the Sith planet of Exegol, in the Unknown Regions.
Although their joined power was not enough to defeat the Emperor, on the verge of death, Rey was able to summon the spirits of past Jedi to strengthen her for one final push, thus destroying the Emperor forever. As a result, all Jedi and all Sith live within her, and the Jedi prophecy of a Chosen One bringing balance to the Force was, finally, fulfilled.
3. Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader
Immaculately conceived by midi-chlorians, possibly manipulated by the Dark Lord of the Sith, Sheeve Palpatine (this is still in contention). Anakin Skywalker grew up fatherless, a slave of Hutts and Toydarians on Tatooine. Anakin displayed Force sensitivity at an early age, allowing him to participate in (and win) the super fast Podraces that were a part of Tatooine’s Bunta Eve Celebrations.
Anakin’s Force sensitivity was discovered by Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi while the two Jedi were waylaid on Tatooine, repairing their starship. They arranged the slave’s freedom and brought him before the Jedi Council, who reluctantly agreed to accept Anakin into their order. Anakin would be trained under the watchful eye of Kenobi, becoming his Padawan and his partner for nearly 10 years.
The Jedi Council and the Phantom Emperor, Palpatine, both recognized Anakin’s potential to be the “Chosen One”, a extremely powerful being from Jedi prophecy who would bring “balance to the Force”. As he grew up. Anakin began experiencing disturbing Force visions concerning the death and suffering of his mother, Shmi. With the accompaniment of Naboo Senator Padme Amidala, Anakin returned to Tatooine to save his mother, only to watch her die in his arms, which provoked a rage within him, leading him to slaughter an entire tribe of Tusken Raiders.
Rage was not Anakin’s only passion. He professed his love for the Senator, an attachment forbidden by the Jedi, leading to their surreptitious marriage and Padme’s pregnancy.
Distinguishing himself in the Clone Wars, Anakin, at the insistence of the Palpatine, executed the Sith apprentice, Count Dooku. New Force visions of the death of his wife and unborn children prompted Anakin to seek out the guidance of Palplatine, secretly the Sith Lord, Sidious. The Sith tempted Anakin with the power of life and death, using his emotional weakness to ease him over to the Dark Side.
At the moment of the Sith revelation to the Jedi, Anakin (now using the Sith name Darth Vader) led an assault of the Jedi temple, killing hundreds of Jedi and younglings. A final confrontation on Musafar resulted in the death of Padme and Vader’s dismemberment at the hands of his old Jedi Master, Obi-Wan. Now encased in life-saving cybernetic armor, Vader continued to operate as the Emperor’s right hand, carrying out his master’s every whim, murdering stray Jedi and leading the Empire’s assault forces against the nascent Rebellion.
It is in the fulfillment of these tasks that Vader discovered that his son, Luke Skywalker, was, in fact, alive, having survived Padme’s death during childbirth. Together, Vader and the Emperor plotted to turn Luke to the Dark Side. Vader impetus in this was to depose the Emperor by adhering to the Rule of Two, desiring to take Luke as his own apprentice. Vader was defeated above the forest moon of Endor by Luke, but not before saving the boy from the Emperor’s Force lightening and throwing the Dark Lord down a ventilation shaft.
Vader died in his son’s arms in a moment of weakness, believing himself beyond redemption. Luke mourned the death of his father, but considered it to be an act of spiritual victory.
Yoda was a long-lived, legendary Jedi Master, a leading member of the Jedi Council and original Master of Count Dooku. Outside of that relationship, Yoda trained all younglings in the Jedi basics (including the lightsaber) prior to their Master/Padawan assignments, making him one of the most influential Jedi ever.
Yoda was one of the few Jedi to sense that there was a disturbance in the Force, realizing that the Jedi had been blinded by their arrogance and position. Yoda initially refused to admit Anakin Skywalker into the Jedi Order because he sensed the darkness within him, despite a number of Jedi believing Anakin to be the Chosen One.
Yoda was instrumental in many of the Republic’s victories during the Clone Wars, as he led Clone troops against the Separatist droid armies, liberating entire planets and star systems.
Yoda’s continued unease during Sheeve Palpatine's rise through the ranks of the Galactic Senate was confirmed when the politician turned out to be a Dark Lord of the Sith, secret leader of the Separatists. After a tumultuous duel during which Palpatine got the better of him, Yoda went into hiding on the swamp planet of Dagobah, awaiting the return of the Jedi. Yoda offered his experience and training to the young acolyte, Luke Skywalker in the waning days of the Empire.
Following his death, the tiny Jedi Master later appeared as a Force spirit to Luke during the Resistance’s conflict against The First Order, and admitted that it was time for the Jedi to die.
1. Sheeve Palpatine, Darth Sidious, the Dark Lord of the Sith
Sheeve Palpatine was born on the planet of Naboo. At some time in his past, he discovered his Force sensitivity, became apprentice to Darth Plagueis, and learned the ways of the Sith. After learning all he could from his master, including the manipulation of midi-chlorians and the secret to eternal life, the now christened Darth Sidious murdered his Master and took on a new apprentice, adhering to the Sith Rule of Two.
His Sith identity a secret, Palpatine used his political acumen to get elected to the Galactic Senate. While there, he began to manipulate the political process, eventually being appointed, first, Chancellor to the Republic, and, later, Emperor. All the while, Sidious covertly led the Separatist rebellion against the Republic, using a succession of apprentices including Darths Maul and Tyranus.
It was Palpatine who influenced the midi-chlorians that resulted in the birth of Anakin Skywalker, believed to be the Chosen One of Jedi prophecy. Sidous continued to manipulate Skywalker and events, leading to Skywalker’s turn to the Dark Side, his enlistment as Sidious’ apprentice, and the destruction of both the Jedi and the Republic.
Palpatine continued his iron-fisted reign over the Empire for more than twenty years, all the while secretly putting in place The Contingency, by which he could reform his forces, deep with the Unknown Regions, if anything ever went south.
Palpatine was an octogenarian when Skywalker’s (now Darth Vader) son, Luke, was revealed to be alive and a threat to his power. Palpatine coaxed Vader into hunting and capturing Luke (still fully aware of the ramifications of the Rule of Two), leading to a confrontation between the three on the second Death Star. And south things went, when Vader turned against the Emperor, attacking him to save his son. Following the destruction of the super weapon, Palpatine was believed to have been destroyed.
But Palpatine had survived, using dark Sith Magic, and, taking advantage of the Contingency, relocated to the Unknown Regions and his waiting legions of Sith Loyalists. There he plotted and planned for over thirty years, exerting influence over events and individuals in the New Republic when he could, inserting his own agents to plant the seeds of his return when he couldn’t.
It was from the Sith planet Exegol that Sidious sent the clone, Snoke, to revive the Sith and control the newly born First Order, formerly a military junta made up of ex-Imperials and malcontents. It was also from here that Sidious corrupted Kylo Ren, driving Darth Vader’s grandson to the Dark Side, and placing him in a position from which he could control the former Ben Solo and guide him to Exgol, whereupon his entire plan could be revealed.
That plan was to include the seduction of Palpatine’s very own grandchild, the Force sensitive scavenger Rey. Drawing her, through Kylo Ren, to himself, the Dark Lord attempted to use the two youths' Force dyad, and complete his resurrection. This evil plot backfired when Rey was able to gather the spirits of all former Jedi and deflect Palpatine’s own force against him, causing him to disintegrate. | literature |
https://actingouthisword.org/ | 2024-04-17T22:24:05 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817181.55/warc/CC-MAIN-20240417204934-20240417234934-00059.warc.gz | 0.953817 | 233 | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-18__0__161560438 | en | “The Word of God is like a lion. You don’t have to defend a lion. All you have to do is let the lion loose, and the lion will defend itself.”― Charles Spurgeon
Be a lion for the Lamb!
Depth by Drama
Do you have a passion for reaching the world with the truth of the Word of God? Are you wanting to see transformation in others as well as in yourself? Explore this fascinating and in-depth instructional guide to find out how...
About Acting Out His Word Ministries
and its founder Michael W. Merker
Acting Out His Word Ministries is the latest incarnation of a work that was started in 1981 when Michael W. Merker, a professional theater worker in Chicago, became a Christian. He started forming and working with troupes of like-minded perrformers, and wrote and directed dramatic works to promote Bible literacy. After discovering the depth of discipleship such activities offer the performers, he started this ministry that others might embrace the vision: "Every ear to hear, every heart to hope!" | literature |
http://stbarnabastheapostle.org/art4.html | 2019-04-24T08:38:09 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-18/segments/1555578636101.74/warc/CC-MAIN-20190424074540-20190424100540-00424.warc.gz | 0.967577 | 5,202 | CC-MAIN-2019-18 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2019-18__0__195109740 | en | Ministers of What is Real
Blow, blow, thou winter wind,
Thou art not so unkind
As man's ingratitude
So sings Lord Amiens in Shakespeare's As You Like It. And while winter's winds have yet to harass most of otherwise sunny California, examples of man's
ingratitude are nowhere lacking. As winter draws near, the final liturgical season of the year, the Sanctification of the Church (or Hallowing of the
Church, as it has historically been known), begins this Sunday. A short four week season, its readings highlight the corporate work of God's people
in both offering worship to Him and in forming an interdependent body to care for their spiritual and physical needs.
Moses is told to build a Tabernacle
In our liturgical readings ( please see the November Calendar), this interdependent body first takes form among the Israelites. Our readings from Exodus
tell us how Moses and the people God chose and brought out of Egypt completed the "Dwelling Place" or Tabernacle, in the wilderness. The
Tabernacle was a movable "tent" filled with special objects; the Ark, the Lamp, and the Table of the Bread of Presence were kept in it.
Wherever it was, there God was. There God was to be encountered. There God was to be worshiped.
The Tabernacle was where the people were to gather around the presence of God. His presence was made evident by a pillar of smoke during the day and a
pillar of fire, giving light, at night. When God becomes present in a visible way to man it is called a "theophany." There are many theophanies
in the Old Testament. This is one of them. "For the cloud of the Lord was on the Tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, before the
eyes of all the house of Israel at each stage of their journey." (Ex 40:38, 1st Week) Regarding the cloud and the light form the fire, the Catechism
reminds us "These two images occur together in the manifestations of the Holy Spirit. In the theophanies of the Old Testament, the cloud, now obscure,
now luminous, reveals the living and saving God, while veiling the transcendence of his glory. (Paragraph 697)
So here we find God, the Deity Supreme, choosing one humble group of humanity, the Israelite slaves, to craft holy objects at his direction and make a holy
space to encounter God in worship. By worship we mean the very many forms of offerings God required, as well as the daily and weekly duties to him and in
care of his Tabernacle. That the LORD, creator of heaven and earth, chose to dwell in some way among his people is in itself a wonder. That he instructed
them through Moses to build and furnish a dwelling place for himself was a matter of establishing and maintaining a relationship with him. God told Moses,
"They shall make me a Sanctuary, and I will dwell among them. You must make the Tabernacle and all its furnishings following the plan that I am showing you." (Exodus 25:8-9) In Weeks 2, 3 and 4 of this season, St Paul alludes to this several times.
The Tabernacle and the Church
What this has to do with the Church is everything. St Paul shows us from Hebrews how the building and furnishings of the Tabernacle was a sign of something
yet to come, a heavenly reality that will be made manifest in the Church. He interprets the Exodus story in both the literal sense and in a spiritual one.
St Paul calls these a "sketch" or "shadow" in English translation, "(they) offer worship in a sanctuary that is a sketch and shadow
of the heavenly one." (Heb 8:5, Week 2) The term used in theology for such sign is "type" and the thing it is a sign of, the reality, is
called an "antitype." The antitype is "What is Real," the type - a mere shadow of it.
The distinction between "type" and "antitype" is one of the foremost ways the interpreters of the Church of the East heritage understand
Scripture. It is called "Typology." The Catechism has this to say about it; "The Church, as early as apostolic times, and then constantly in
her Tradition, has illuminated the unity of the divine plan in the two Testaments through typology, which discerns in God's works of the Old Covenant
prefigurations of what he accomplished in the fullness of time in the person of his incarnate Son." (Paragraph 128)
Speaking of ways of interpreting the Scriptures, the Catechism says
"Thanks to the unity of God's plan, not only the text of Scripture but also the realities and events about which it speaks can be signs.
1. The allegorical sense. We can acquire a more profound understanding of events by recognizing their significance in Christ; thus the crossing of the
Red Sea is a sign or type of Christ's victory and also of Christian Baptism.
2. The moral sense. The events reported in Scripture ought to lead us to act justly. As St. Paul says, they were written "for our instruction".
3. The anagogical sense (Greek: anagoge, "leading"). We can view realities and events in terms of their eternal significance, leading us toward our true
homeland: thus the Church on earth is a sign of the heavenly Jerusalem." (Paragraph 117)
Ah! Now we can see that the Tabernacle plan was a sign of the heavenly dwelling of God. We shouldn't think that he somehow needed comfortable and familiar
settings for his visitation on Earth - that is not appropriate. Instead, we should find that in the multitude of his graces, he permitted humanity to have
some understanding, a glimpse, a foretaste, of the heavenly realm he dwells in and calls us to. The seed of the concept of the Church is planted.
The Eucharist Prefigured
Tradition teaches that Moses saw a heavenly vision of how the Tabernacle and its furnishings were to be during his forty day stay on Mount Sinai. The Bread
of the Presence has always been interpreted as a sign of the Eucharist by the Church Fathers. It was only to be consumed after being before the LORD for a
week and only by the priests, however David once compelled a priest to give him some. In a similar manner, the prophet Isaiah was shown a vision of heaven.
In our reading from Isaiah 6 this week, Isaiah sees the LORD sitting on a throne in the heavenly Temple, the antitype of Moses' Tabernacle. At one point an
angelic being called a seraph flies over to Isaiah with a burning, or "live" coal taken from "the Altar." He dares not touch it,
but brings it to Isaiah with "tongs." This coal he touches to Isaiah lips, thus purifying him and preparing him for his mission of prophesying.
This is a particularly important Scripture in our Church - so much so that we read it three times a year! Why is it so important? Again, the coal is a type,
a sign, of the Eucharist. By it, debts are pardon and sins are forgiven because it is the body of Christ. Our sister Churches the Byzantines, the Coptic and
the Jacobite Syrian all share this same rich understanding, yet it is in our Church that it is most emphasized. Here are examples from our liturgy:
"The live coal which the prophet saw the angel held with tongs, and now priests within the Sanctuary bear it upon their hands."
Anthem of the Mysteries for the Feast of Nativity
"To you, O my Lord, all flesh shall come, for you grant pardon for the debts of all. May the bodies which sin has defiled be cleansed with your hyssop.
Come, O mortals, bearers of burdens, lay aside the burden of your debts. Receive from the Altar the live coal which absolved the Prophet, and be pardoned."
Anthem of the Chancel, Tuesday of the Rogation of the Ninevites
"The nations longed to receive in faith the gift of the Mysteries which are set before us: the Body which is broken for our salvation, and the Blood of
the Covenant which is shed for us. This is the life-giving coal which touched the prophet, who was absolved of his debts and sins by it."
Anthem of the Bema, Feast of Hosannas
"With purity of conscience and with clean thoughts let us approach the live coal which was given in mercies for pardon and for a pledge of new life."
Anthem of the Bema, Fifth Sunday of the Resurrection
"Come, let us all draw near to the Body and Blood of Christ in fear and trembling, and in love let us receive him and sing praise. For the same was
shown to Isaiah the Prophet mystically. A spiritual one gave him a live coal and his debts were pardoned."
Anthem of the Bema, Third Sunday of the Apostles
So this Sunday as we receive live coal, the pardon of our debts, the gift of immortality from the Altar, let us be mindful that the Father prepared this
remedy for our faults and portrayed his plan of salvation long before the coming of the Son because of his love for you and for me. And in gratitude,
let us receive it.
Ministers of What is Real
The title of this series is taken from the Holy Synod of Mar Ishu'yab held in the year 587. Lets begin with this reading from the Synod of the Fifth Canon,
translated by Chorbishop Michael Birnie of Seattle.
It is permitted to speak with confidence, through the faculty we have received from the symbols and types of the ecclesiastical ministry. From them it
is possible to say confidently, for example, that the priests, the ministers of the Altar, bear the likeness and image of our Lord and that the deacons,
the ministers of the Church, bear the likeness and image of the angels on high as servants of the true High Priest. For priests are appointed in the
service of their priesthood as propitiators of God, absolvers of the people and obedient teachers, and by these three perfect things they fulfill the
law of their priesthood, as was said by the mediator of the Old Covenant concerning the priests who were ministers of shadowy things - but is especially
appropriate for the priests who are ministers of what is sure - "They shall offer incense according to your wrath and satisfaction upon your Altar.
They shall teach your judgments to Jacob and Your laws to Israel."
In these three ways of ministry the Law-Giver revealed how great the priestly rank is. When wrath is stirred up, it is abated by the fragrance of their
prayers. When the people sin, the people are absolved by the satisfaction of their sacrifices. When teaching is required, their mind overflows and and their
tongues conveys the wisdom of the Giver of laws.
Perhaps the first thing we notice about this canon is the contrast of the Old Covenant with the New Covenant. The Old Covenant priests "were ministers
of shadowy things" while those of the New Covenant in Christ are "the priests who are ministers of what is sure" or "real." Again,
we find the type in the Old Covenant and its fulfillment, the antitype, in the New.
"Symbols and Types of the Ecclesiastical Ministry"
The canon also contrasts the ministry of deacons and the priesthood, which in this usage includes bishops as well. The canon call deacons "the
ministers of the Church," who " bear the likeness and image of the angels on high as servants of the true High Priest." The awesome image that
is invoked is that of a heavenly scene with angels ministering to the Messiah as he offers himself to the Father for the totality of humanity! This is
expressed by Mar Narsai, who said the deacons bear the image "of the angels who ministered to the Passion of the Son. He was served by angels at the
time of his Passion and the deacons are honoring his body, which is suffering mystically." (Commentary on the Offices, Chap. 25)
How is it that deacons can be said to bear the likeness and image of the angels? It is in their assistance at the Altar in the celebration of the the
divine Mysteries. Through their ordination they receive a special grace and a "talent" to perform this ministry. The Catechism tells us "
Deacons share in Christ's mission and grace in a special way. The sacrament of Holy Orders marks them with an imprint ("character") which cannot be removed
and which configures them to Christ, who made himself the "deacon" or servant of all. Among other tasks, it is the task of deacons to assist the
priests in the celebration of the divine mysteries, above all the Eucharist, in the distribution of Holy Communion, in assisting at and blessing marriages,
in the proclamation of the Gospel and preaching, in presiding over funerals, and in dedicating themselves to the various ministries of charity."
With this in mind, let be supportive of those considering the vocation of being a deacon. The office of the diaconate, as it is known, is a great blessing
to the Church and those so called are worthy of honor and respect.
"Servants of the true High Priest"
There is a great truth hidden in the few words, "servants of the true High Priest." Although there are many priests in every Church, several
hundreds of thousands alive today, in truth there is only one priest and that is Jesus himself. All churches' priesthoods, our bishops' priesthoods.
the Pope's priesthood - these are only a sharing and participation in the priesthood of Christ. The Catechism address Jesus as "the one priest of
the new and eternal Covenant, "entered, not into a sanctuary made by human hands . . . but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on
our behalf" (Heb 9:24). There Christ permanently exercises his priesthood, for he "always lives to make intercession" for "those who draw near to God
through him" (Heb 7:25). As "high priest of the good things to come" he is the center and the principal actor of the liturgy that honors the Father
in heaven (Heb 9:11; cf. Rev 4:6-11)." (Paragraph 662)
From Melchizadek the priest king-priest of Salem to the Temple priests of Jesus' day the priesthood was a type of Christ's true priesthood. Once his
priesthood is established there is no need for further "symbols and types." Instead, his priesthood is carried on through those men ordained
in the sacrament of Holy Orders, as we previously spoke of the deacons. "The redemptive sacrifice of Christ is unique, accomplished once for all;
yet it is made present in the Eucharistic sacrifice of the Church. The same is true of the one priesthood of Christ; it is made present through the
ministerial priesthood without diminishing the uniqueness of Christ's priesthood: "Only Christ is the true priest, the others being only his ministers."
(The Catechism, Paragraph 1554)
"Propitiators of God"
Propitiation is a difficult word, but not as difficult as the act. It means to appease, to placate, to make amends and to satisfy someone, usually God.
Priests are called "Propitiators of God" not because of their works or offerings, but because of the one true priest, Jesus the Messiah,
who alone could appease God and in whose priesthood they share, as we said above.
Being "Propitiators of God" is one of the three aspects of service priests perform in the Church. It is proper to consider it first,
because without it the other two, absolution and teaching, would not come about.
The Cause of Christ
Understanding the priestly service of propitiation is understanding the the cause of the coming of Christ into his own creation, the world.
The Third Consecration prayer of the Church of the East, attributed to Nestorius, says, "You brought us into being from nothing, and fashioned us,
but when we had stumbled, fallen and wasted away, you renewed us again, raised us up and redeemed us." God, who created humanity to love and cherish,
was rightly angry with humanity, namely Adam and Eve, for bringing into his perfect creation sin, disobedience and death. By their sins, Adam and Eve
tainted all creation.
We all know the story of Adam and Eve. We read it in our First Thursday of the Great Fast liturgy - most appropriate, as it is the reason for the
crucifixion of Christ we will soon observe. It is found in the third chapter of Genesis. But it is to the effects of the disobedience we need to draw
our attention. The effects were that "The harmony in which they had found themselves, thanks to original justice, is now destroyed: the control of the
soul's spiritual faculties over the body is shattered; the union of man and woman becomes subject to tensions, their relations henceforth marked by lust
and domination. Harmony with creation is broken: visible creation has become alien and hostile to man. Because of man, creation is now subject "to its
bondage to decay." Finally, the consequence explicitly foretold for this disobedience will come true: man will "return to the ground," for out of it he
was taken. Death makes its entrance into human history." (The Catechism, Paragraph 400)
While man's disobedience and sin have separated him from God, still God reaches out to man, ever wishing to reconcile with him. The Catechism recalls
the rest of the story... "After his fall, man was not abandoned by God. On the contrary, God calls him and in a mysterious way heralds the coming
victory over evil and his restoration from his fall. This passage in Genesis is called the Protoevangelium ("first gospel"): the first announcement of
the Messiah and Redeemer, of a battle between the serpent and the Woman, and of the final victory of a descendant of hers."
The Faith teaches us that God is all-knowing, so this disobedience of Adam and Eve, resulting in tainting of all creation, must not have surprised God.
Here in the beginning of the first book of the Bible God announces a way to restore mankind, the coming of the Messiah. The Cause of Christ's coming was
to reconcile not just man to God, but all of creation to the Creator.
A Matter of Means
How Propitiation was Attained
Interesting, that this same thought, the coming of the Messiah to restore and reconcile man to God, is echoed in the last book of the Bible, Revelation.
In his vision of heaven St John sees "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." All the countless sacrifices of doves, sheep, goats,
calves and bulls in the Old testament were mere "shadows, symbols and types" of the one sacrifice planned from the beginning and made present
in time and space with the death of the Messiah. "For if the blood of goats and bulls, with the sprinkling of the ashes of a heifer, sanctifies those
who have been defiled so that their flesh is purified, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without
blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to worship the living God!" (Hebrews 9, week 2)
"Thus it was necessary," writes St Paul in our reading from Hebrews for Week 3, "for the sketches of the heavenly things to be purified with
but the heavenly things themselves need better sacrifices than these. For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made by human hands, a mere copy of the true one,
but he entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Nor was it to offer himself again and again, as the high priest
enters the Holy Place year after year with blood that is not his own; for then he would have had to suffer again and again since the foundation of the
world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the age to remove sin by the sacrifice of himself."
So, Christ is both the priest who offers the sacrifice and the sacrifice himself! Only one so perfect and pure, one without sin, could be a sacrifice
that would appease and satisfy God. "Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world" as John the Forerunner said of Jesus and we
recite in our second Consecration prayer attributed to Theodore.
The Holy Offering, the Act of Propitiation
The Holy Offering, also know as "The Divine Liturgy" by most Eastern Catholics and Orthodox and as "The Mass" in the Western Church, is
so much more than
simply the Catholic way of worship. Although the various churches have different liturgies, there is only one Offering being made by each, that of Christ
on the Cross. All that is left is the duty of the Church on earth to continue re-presenting to the Father this "Memorial of the Body and Blood of your
Messiah, which we offer to you on your pure and holy Altar, as you taught us." (Addai and Mari)
Again, the Catechism teaches us that the Holy Offering is also called "The Holy Sacrifice, because it makes present the one sacrifice of Christ the
Savior and includes the Church's offering. The terms holy sacrifice of the Mass, "sacrifice of praise," spiritual sacrifice, pure and holy sacrifice
are also used, since it completes and surpasses all the sacrifices of the Old Covenant."
It is also called "The Holy and Divine Liturgy, because the Church's whole liturgy finds its center and most intense expression in the celebration
of this sacrament; in the same sense we also call its celebration the Sacred Mysteries. We speak of the Most Blessed Sacrament because it is the
Sacrament of sacraments. The Eucharistic species reserved in the tabernacle are designated by this same name. " (Paragraph 1330)
At this point, it's good for us to look at why we "worship" the way we do. In a world in which even religion has become consumer oriented, the
and Orthodox style liturgical worship service has found itself in sharp contrast to many modern denominations and fellowships. What is popular today is
a religious service that really doesn't wish to be thought of as a "church service." These service vary considerably, but the main emphasis is
individual's experience. Seats, not pews, bands, not altars and praise leaders, not priests lead the people in beautiful inspiring songs concluding in
a euphoria not unlike the end of a concert.
In contrast, our worship is a reflective and contrite re-presentation of the Lord Jesus' offering of his own body at Calvary where we humbly stand at
the foot of the Cross with Mother Mary and blessed John. What makes our worship "perfect" is not our music nor how we "feel" during the
but rather our perfection is this; only Jesus was the perfect man, only Jesus was the perfect offering for our sins and only Jesus offered perfect
worship. The Catechism reminds us "The cross is the unique sacrifice of Christ, the "one mediator between God and men". But because in his incarnate
divine person he has in some way united himself to every man, "the possibility of being made partners, in a way known to God, in the paschal mystery"
is offered to all men. He calls his disciples to "take up [their] cross and follow [him]," for "Christ also suffered for [us], leaving [us] an example
so that [we] should follow in his steps." In fact Jesus desires to associate with his redeeming sacrifice those who were to be its first beneficiaries.
This is achieved supremely in the case of his mother, who was associated more intimately than any other person in the mystery of his redemptive suffering.
" (Paragraph 618)
Father Dimitri Grekoff
St Barnabas the Apostle Parish | literature |
https://stevecoates.com.au/random/swindon-in-popular-culture/ | 2024-04-13T09:55:11 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296816587.89/warc/CC-MAIN-20240413083102-20240413113102-00702.warc.gz | 0.947415 | 788 | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-18__0__40206124 | en | I grew up near Swindon, a humble town about 120km west of London in the UK. Actually, I grew up in Wroughton, a village just out of Swindon but when you live on the other side of the world – as I have since the early 1980s – and people ask what part of England you’re from you say Swindon. (If that draws a blank you zoom out a bit and go for “sort of near Stonehenge”).
Even as a child I suspected there was something fairly unspectacular about Swindon. I don’t mean that in a nasty way – I just knew it didn’t have the exoticism or historical monuments or tourist drawcards of other parts of the world. For example, for a long time the most interesting things I knew about it were
- The town’s most favoured son is19th century engineer and railway man Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Isambard was important enough to have the shopping centre named after him.
- There is a crazy ‘multiple roundabouts’ roundabout in Swindon that locals call The Magic Roundabout. Family lore has it that my Nanna used to take the long way around town to avoid it. It was apparently voted ‘the fourth scariest junction in Britain’ in 2009 (putting it’s tagline in the same class as The Flight of the Conchords’ ‘fourth most popular folk duo’).
- Kind of well-know 50s and 60s actress Diana Dors was from Swindon
- Something crazy and complicated happened with Swindon Town Football Club in the 1990s that saw them move up and down the divisions in the league.
In recent years however this has all changed. It seems that no matter where I look in popular culture Swindon’s there, giving me a “and you thought I wasn’t cool” kind of glance.
One: The Office
It started with comic masterpiece The Office. In the Season One veiled references were made to the Swindon branch. In Season Two the branches are merged and the Swindoners become part of the team. Neil Godwin who becomes David Brent’s superior is heaps cooler than Brent. (That’s Swindon blood for you).
Two: Jasper Fforde and Thursday Next
Not long after this I started reading Jasper Fforde’s Thursday Next series of novels. For those who are unfamiliar the five six novel series (The Eyre Affair, Lost in a Good Book, The Well of Lost Plots, Something Rotten and First Among Sequels and One of Our Thursdays is Missing) are a bizarre mix of comedy and fantasy peppered with literary and other high- and low-culture references. They’re set in an alternate history version of today’s world. No prizes for guessing where most of the action takes place – the books are full of locations in and around the big S. Like Fforde’s books his website thursdaynext.com is a world unto itself, and includes a section called The Seven Wonders of Swindon.
Three: The Curious Incident
My third random brush with Swindon in an unexpected context – and the inspiration for me writing this post – came when I read Mark Haddon’s excellent 2003 novel The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time a few weeks back. Yep, set in Swindon. In a pop will eat itself bonus the main character Christopher even discusses another literary reference to Swindon to add to the list – in Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Boscombe Valley Mystery Sherlock Holmes lunches in Swindon.
Where it all happens. | literature |
https://chescodems.org/from-amanda-gormans-inaugural-poem/ | 2022-01-27T23:41:46 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-05/segments/1642320305317.17/warc/CC-MAIN-20220127223432-20220128013432-00560.warc.gz | 0.872799 | 194 | CC-MAIN-2022-05 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2022-05__0__75235133 | en | The ending vision of Amanda Gorman’s poem read at President Biden’s inauguration:
…We will raise this wounded world into a wondrous one.
We will rise from the gold-limbed hills of the West.
We will rise from the windswept Northeast where our forefathers first realized revolution.
We will rise from the lake-rimmed cities of the midwestern states.
We will rise from the sunbaked South.
We will rebuild, reconcile, and recover in every known nook of our nation
And every corner called our country.
Our people diverse and beautiful will emerge battered and beautiful.
When day comes, we step out of the shade aflame and unafraid.
The new dawn blooms as we free it,
For there is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it,
If only we’re brave enough to be it. | literature |
https://www.lauren-kirshner.com/teaching/ | 2019-08-20T16:01:56 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-35/segments/1566027315551.61/warc/CC-MAIN-20190820154633-20190820180633-00163.warc.gz | 0.952 | 1,100 | CC-MAIN-2019-35 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2019-35__0__99691810 | en | Lauren is Assistant Professor of English at Ryerson University in Toronto. She teaches a variety of courses, including ENG505, ENG517, and ENG306. Her courses encourage students to find and use their unique voices as writers, hone a range of writing skills, and read and edit like writers. Week by week, her lectures break the writing process down into manageable parts to help students discover how to write bold and compelling fiction. Many of her students say they have completed her courses stronger writers and readers, with a tried and tested writing practice of their own.
Lauren’s courses are interactive and include a balance of writing practice and theory. In her courses, students can expect to learn theories of fiction writing (what authors have said about their process and motivation); explore the fundamentals of process (free writing and more); study and apply techniques of the fiction writing craft (including characterization, scene, dialogue); and learn how to polish work through three stages of editing.
We’ll also learn how to read as writers. Through close readings and discussions, we’ll dissect stories and pay careful attention to how they are constructed, considering issues like plot, themes, language, narrative mode, and much, much more.
Finally, throughout the course we’ll read fiction from a range of authors including Lucia Berlin, Raymond Carver, Amy Hempel, Maya Angelou, James Joyce, Anton Chekhov, and Grace Paley. We’ll also read poetry and selections from graphic novels.
Want to see a syllabus? Two are available below. You can contact Lauren here.
Lauren’s passion for writing is inspiring! She gave our class a great balance of creative freedom and guidance. This is a class that has allowed me to grow in ways I didn’t expect.
This has been the best class I’ve taken at Ryerson in three years. Lauren is passionate, knowledgeable, and witty, a combination that makes me excited to come to class every week.
Lauren is perhaps the most enthusiastic and devoted professor I have ever had. This course was a great experience and I would recommend it to anyone who has an interest in creative writing.
Lauren’s course, hands down, is the best course I’ve taken at Ryerson. I’ve been watching myself improve and learn as a writer. I highly recommend this course to anyone.
We all need honest encouragement and honest critique – Lauren is able to give both without ballooning or shredding the ego. I learned a great deal about the writer's craft from Lauren.
Enthusiastic, encouraging and engaging, it has been a delight to go down to Ryerson on Wednesday nights to participate in her class.
Hailed by The Toronto Star as a groundbreaking program, Sister Writes is now in its seventh year.
Lauren is the Founding Program Director of Sister Writes, Toronto’s first creative writing program for women marginalized by factors such as poverty, underhousing, mental health issues, and social isolation. Taught by professional women writers, and hailed by The Toronto Star as a groundbreaking arts program, Sister Writes offers workshops, mentorship, public arts events, exhibitions, and literary magazines devoted to sharing with the community vital stories about women’s lives.
As an arts educator, Lauren has designed and facilitated over 300 community workshops and worked with writers from age 8 to 93 in schools, hospitals, libraries, activist collectives, long-term care homes, women’s shelters, and in a first nations community. She has presented programming for organizations including Harbourfront Centre, Luminato Festival of Arts + Creativity, and The Toronto Public Library. Her Young Authors Project, a co-creative writing and publishing program for youth, was a finalist for Ontario Government Minister’s Award for Innovation in Arts.
Lauren is especially focused on creating writing programming that breaks down barriers to participation in the arts. She has run a poetry salon for women inpatients at The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, mentored emerging writers through the Diaspora Dialogues Youth Program, and served as Canada Council Writer-in-Residence in a 1902 Carnegie library in southwestern Ontario.
Her Generations of Writers Project was an intergenerational digital oral history program that put seniors and teens into collaboration. Sister Writes on the Road, her newest program, will culminate in an interactive digital exhibition, a literary magazine, and a public oral history archive.
Her programs have won the support of The Toronto Arts Council, The Ontario Council, The Ontario Trillium Foundation, and The Canada Council for the Arts.
For information on community arts workshops, get in touch with Lauren through the contact page.
- Toronto Star on Sister Writes
- Huffington Post on Sister Writes
- Ryerson Today on Sister Writes
- Liberty Gleaner on Sister Writes
- Paris Star on Young Authors Project
- Shameless on Sister Writes
- Toronto Star.com on Sister Writes
- Brantford Expositor on Young Authors Project
- CrossCurrents on Sister Writes
- University of Toronto Varsity on Sister Writes
- Paris Star on Generations of Writers
- Toronto Observer on Sister Writes
- Toronto.com on Sister Writes
- Brantford Expositor on Generations of Writers | literature |
https://chenegafuture.com/mgt_clients_reviews/chenega-diaries-stories-and-voices-of-our-past/ | 2023-12-10T20:10:40 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679102637.84/warc/CC-MAIN-20231210190744-20231210220744-00234.warc.gz | 0.946619 | 200 | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-50__0__246495974 | en | Chenega Diaries: Stories and Voices of Our Past
Chenega Diaries: Stories and Voices of Our Past: This compelling book and documentary DVD tells the story of the life and times of the Chenega People circa the late 1940s. Using the children’s diary entries, archived correspondence and over 350 photographs, daily life in the Chenega Village during that time comes alive! Stories, myths, memories, recipes, and more from Chenega Elders were collected and added to the book, documentary, and website: ChenegaDiaries.com as they recollect their memories of that time. With this project, we also branched out into the community, sharing this publication package with teachers and administrators at the Chugach School District and statewide through the Alaska State Library System, sharing the Chenega story far and wide. Please note: The Chenega Diaries DVD plays best on a DVD player and may not work on all computers. | literature |
https://www.coveredinpethair.net/single-post/holiday-gift-guide-books-for-cat-lovers | 2024-04-16T03:23:04 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817043.36/warc/CC-MAIN-20240416031446-20240416061446-00637.warc.gz | 0.960666 | 1,160 | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-18__0__6662508 | en | Holiday Gift Guide: Books for CAT LOVERS
Holiday gifts should, of course, be thoughtful. They can also be practical - both for the sender and the recipient. For this reason, I highly recommend books for the holidays. I personally wish I read more and don't always prioritize book purchases in my budget. When in doubt, you can always get a pet lover a gift card to a local or online bookstore, that way they can decide what they want to read in 2023.
Following are some of my book recommendations for pet lovers specifically. I'm sure there are a ton of awesome books and excellent authors we can all support this holiday season. Keep in mind, however, that when you purchase used books online, the author doesn't make a cut. They only earn from the sale of new books, therefore, consider purchasing new books as gifts both because they are usually in much better shape and because the authors will appreciate it.
To ensure shipping on time, get your online orders in soon. And, if something is so popular that it's currently sold out, don't fret, they'll print more in a jiffy. Place your order and let your friend know that a pawsome gift is on the way, wink, wink.
As a bonus, if you click on the authors' names in this blog, you'll be linked to a fascinating interview they've done either on my channel or one of my other favorite podcasts. Enjoy!
Finally, please note that many of the links below are affiliate links. They do not cost you anything to use but help me support my YouTube channel and brand. Thank you!
Books for Cat Lovers
Books for New Cat Parents
I apologize in advance but you're about to see this name more than once because Pam Johnson-Bennett wrote the book on cat behavior. She's one of the most well-respected cat behavior experts in the US. And, her books are immensely helpful to new cat parents and veteran cat lovers alike. To start, I love her book, Think Like a Cat: How to Raise a Well-Adjusted Cat, Not a Sourpuss.
Johnson-Bennett's book, Cat Wise, also makes an excellent gift for those that have had cats for a while but still have questions about their behavior. Because cats often display behaviors that humans confuse or misunderstand, deciphering their behavior with the help of a true expert in the field is sure to help troubleshoot some challenges your friends and loved ones may be experiencing with their beloved kitties and cats. A Q&A of sorts, this book would pair very nicely with the above-mentioned book if you're thinking of gifting more than one book to the same recipient this holiday season.
The Lion in The Living Room by Abigail Tucker is another awesome book for those that are mildly obsessed with their cats and want to learn more about them and their wild side. From their history, fascinating domestication, and more, your cat-crazy friends will love this read. Plus, it will give them a better understanding of the lion that lives in their living room, which is one of the most beneficial parts of learning about our pets.
Books for Growing Cat Families
For those that recently added or are planning to add cats to the family in 2023, Pam Johnson-Bennett's Cat vs. Cat is a fantastic guide to welcoming new cats to the family and troubleshooting failed attempts. Most cat experts know that cat dynamics are very complex, more so than most cat lovers realize. This book is a great addition to any cat lover's library, but it can change the lives of those navigating cat vs. cat drama at home.
Families with kids that can read or read with their caregivers will love Arden Moore's A Kid's Guide to Cats. In this book, Arden outlines ways that kids can care for, play with, and bond with their fascinating pet cat. I highly recommend you get this for your/loved ones' kids BEFORE you/they bring any cats home. She also has A Kid's Guide to Dogs that would make an excellent gift for dog-loving families. Both together would be awesome for a multi-species household!
Books for Cat People That Love Pizza
Trans Author, Aitch Alexander, loves cats and pizza. In his book, My Body is a Junkyard, Aitch chronicles his story in poems and some prose. His light-hearted yet poignant writings include a poem about cats, which he read on my show. If you or your loved one are into discovering new authors that share a love of cats, you're going to love this glimpse into the author's life and favorite pizza.
Books that I Haven't Yet Discovered
If you have suggestions for books I haven't included, please message me on Instagram or Facebook. I'd love to hear about your favorite books for cat people. I am always learning about and discovering authors. The pet industry is full of wonderful, knowledgeable pros. I know of many of them, but I'm constantly being introduced to new ones.
I hope this list helps you choose a gift for any and all cat lovers in your life. While you're at it, grab one for yourself. The more you learn about your cat, the more you will connect with them. Cats are truly fascinating creatures, often misunderstood, and there are many ways in which we can enrich our cats' lives every day. Don't miss your opportunity to help your cat live their life to the fullest.
Here's wishing you (and your feline family and friends) a very happy holiday season and all the best in 2023!!! Meow! <3 | literature |
https://adenizot.github.io/code/ | 2024-02-27T14:26:27 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474676.26/warc/CC-MAIN-20240227121318-20240227151318-00024.warc.gz | 0.863962 | 361 | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-10__0__74241650 | en | You can find below the scripts developed in my research projects.
IP3R-dependant Ca2+ signaling in fine astrocytic processes
- ODEs: deterministic, well-mixed implementation of the model with XPPAUT software
- Gillespie: stochastic, well-mixed implementation of the model in Python
- Particle-based: stochastic, spatial, in 2 spatial dimensions, implemented in C language
- Voxel-based: stochastic, spatial, in 3 spatial dimensions, implented in python, using STEPS software
Simulations in idealistic 3D geometries of fine processes based on recent super-resolution microscopy data
Simulations published in Denizot et al., bioRxiv, 2021. Reaction-diffusion simulations were performed in 3D meshes that were designed from the latest data available from super-resolution microscopy on astrocytes from Arizono et al., Nature Communications, 2020. The high spatial resolution of this model allows to propose plausible mechanisms by which astrocyte morphology at the nanoscale, notably shaft width, can influence local calcium dynamics and thus affect specialized neuron-astrocyte communication. The simulation code and 3D meshes designed in this study can be downloaded here.
Analysis of geometrical properties of 3D meshes
Generation of realistic perisynaptic astrocytic processes meshes with various endoplasmic reticulum distributions and constant shape
Scripts implemented in python to generate 3D meshes of perisynaptic astrocytic processes with various ER distributions and constant shape using Blender software. The code and resulting meshes are available here and were used in Denizot et al., bioRxiv, 2022. | literature |
http://www.dolgerfilms.com/Blackout-Girl_36_blog | 2023-09-28T20:44:05 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233510454.60/warc/CC-MAIN-20230928194838-20230928224838-00841.warc.gz | 0.907393 | 698 | CC-MAIN-2023-40 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-40__0__209405995 | en | Director : Sylvia Caminer
Producer : Sylvia Caminer, Tracy Schott, Jennifer Storm
Writer : Tracy Schott, Jennifer Storm
Starring : Jennifer Storm
Based on the Award-Winning book -- 2008 Hazelden Publishing
A riveting memoir of what happens to a teenage girl whose life is awash in alcohol, drugs, and the trauma of rape.
“A common story. A rare twist. When the American Dream becomes her secret nightmare, quietly Jennifer Storm begins the dark descent into addiction. Then she discovers that the same events that destroy her, also create her. Written in a humble, raw voice, Jennifer Storm helps us remember where we came from–and why. ‘Blackout Girl’ brings us one step closer to forgiving ourselves for something we didn’t do.”
Melody Beattie, author of “Codependent No More,” “The Grief Club,” and other best sellers.
“Blackout Girl is a little more than 200 pages of nearly non-stop intensity….”
Bismark Tribune Review
“Blackout Girl by Jennifer Storm is an enlightening story of her life. She explains how recreational drugs and alcohol turn into a way of living; making death a more peaceful solution. This is a great book for anyone facing a similar situation. Through recovery programs along with the fellowship you realize you are not alone. This book gives you the tools needed to make healthy choices and lead a wonderful life.”
Marlena Marchesi, Heavenly Wood Works, Inc.
“An extremely honest and provocative book, Jennifer Storm’s Black Out Girl: Growing Up and Drying Out in America validates the lives and struggles of recovering addicts in living ‘one day at a time.’ Storm’s book will be an inspiration and a means of support for people trying to reclaim their lives from the disease of addiction. Jenn has taken her own demons and laid them to bare for others to know that they are not alone in their struggle.”
Sue Rankin, Pennsylvania State University
“Like a high-speed train racing uncontrollably down its track, first-time author Jennifer Storm takes her readers on a fast-paced journey through the dark and tremulous world of drug and alcohol addiction. Witty, moving, sometimes terrifying, and always poignant, Ms. Storm’s memoir is told in glinting chapters that eerily reflect the blackouts that so frequented her adolescence. Written in strong, unembellished prose, Blackout Girl is skillfully gripping and ironically addicting; readers won’t be able to tear themselves away from Ms. Storm’s journey from a 12 year old rape victim, to a burned out junkie living from friend’s couch to friend’s couch, to her compelling and tearful recovery at a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center. Storm’s insight into the drug culture of America as well as her talent for exploring her flaws and imperfections make Blackout Girl an encouraging yet haunting experience for readers from all walks of life.”
Blackout Girl was selected by the PA Librarian Association as a Top Ten Must Read for 2008.
Click Here for more info about the movie.
Copyright © 2023. DolGer|films All rights reserved. | literature |
http://www.rsa.ox.ac.uk/degreeshow/2017/mfa/NomiMishkin.html | 2019-09-16T02:37:59 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-39/segments/1568514572471.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20190916015552-20190916041552-00351.warc.gz | 0.972876 | 131 | CC-MAIN-2019-39 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2019-39__0__181371755 | en | There is an old Jewish folktale that goes like this: when a young boy is born, his grandfather, a tailor, makes him a baby blanket. As the boy grows older, the blanket tears and his grandfather fashions it into a coat. When the sleeves become tattered, he turns it into a vest. And when that rips, it becomes a hat. And then a handkerchief. And so on and so forth until it becomes a button, which the boy, now a young man, loses. The grandfather is devastated — he cannot turn nothing into something for his grandson. But then the grandson turns it into a story. | literature |
https://nathanmaxwellcann.info/2009/11/10/zohar-in-focus-manna-and-wisdom/ | 2017-03-29T13:14:22 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-13/segments/1490218190295.65/warc/CC-MAIN-20170322212950-00474-ip-10-233-31-227.ec2.internal.warc.gz | 0.934598 | 1,585 | CC-MAIN-2017-13 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2017-13__0__207946044 | en | There exists a magical word in Welsh folklore: Caerdroia. The literal translation of this idiom into modern English is roughly equivalent to “Castle of Turns,” although we may find a more familiar and congruous synonym in the word labyrinth. Labyrinths can be thought of as symbolic forms of pilgrimage; people can walk the path, ascending towards salvation or enlightenment. This spiritual awakening is manifest in a more practical and corporeal sense, as well. By walking amongst the turnings, the user of the labyrinth loses track of direction and of the outside world, and thus quiets the mind. The result is a relaxed mental attitude, free of internal dialog. This is a form of meditation. One need not travel outwardly to holy sites and far away lands for understanding, as the use of labyrinths supplant that need.
By its design, the Zohar is such a labyrinth. It is a mystic garden of living statues, breathing fountains, and rich foundations that support a veritable cornucopia of myth and interpretation. The rhizomatic structure of the Sefirot weaves along its soft walls like a web of ancient vines. These are the holy veins of the Zohar, which keep the text alive with the constant gush and flow of divine light. This light pours out in prismatic splendor for all of those who have learned the secrets of the maze, and may navigate freely through her ornate arches and mirrored halls. The Zohar is full of hidden passages, each one an enigmatic tableau laced with subtle paradoxes and complex meanings. In order to reveal these latent paradigms and hidden networks of understanding, it becomes necessary to focus the attention to a specific passage of the Zohar, Manna and Wisdom.
A passage of the Zohar is like a flower in bloom; each portion, an interpretive amplification of the Torah, much like the Midrash. Manna and Wisdom is a beautiful poem and an enigmatic reflection on an excerpt from Exodus (Verse 16:4, 9-10, 13-15) that depicts the miraculous event wherein YHVH proclaims to Moses that he will deliver to the wandering Israelites “bread from heaven.” The term “manna” does not appear anywhere in the Zohar passage, but as Daniel Chanan Matt insightfully reveals, it is a clever pun derived from the Hebrew phrase “what is it?” (or man hu in Hebrew), which also translates to “it is manna.” The excerpt from Exodus is an intriguing base for the Zohar to blossom, although certain lines are still a mystery and left unrendered by the mystical Zohar. Specifically, the line “That evening, the quail rose and covered the camp” is a gross vagueness. Are the quail messengers from God? Are they a blessing? A miracle? A hidden Sefirot? This foul remains a mystery.
The Sefirot are exposed from the biblical passage by the filtrating lens of the Zohar. The path of the holy bread is traced down the Tree of Life in the following lines:
Every single day, dew trickles down / from the Holy Ancient One to the Impatient One, / and the Orchard of Holy Apple Trees is blessed.
The Holy Ancient One in this verse is a reference to Keter, the crown and the first Sefirot. It is from Keter that the spiritual dew is first differentiated from Ein Sof, the infinite Godhead. The Impatient One, explains Matt, is an allusion to the eight lower Sefirot from Hokhmah to Yesod. The Orchard of Holy Apple Trees implies the Shekhinah drawing divine substance from Hesed to Yesod who populate her orchard. The imagery stresses the need for students of mysticism to study the Sefirot and the dynamic path that leads life from the unknowable Ein Sof down to the Presence of Shekhinah. The manna was made available to the Israelites through (or at least strengthened by) their connection to Yesod or the “Holy King” by circumcision. This covenant with God secured Israel’s tie to divine gifts and protection. The mazzah that the Children of Israel ate when first entering the desert symbolizes their communion with Shekhinah. In fact, the Zohar interprets the entire journey from Egypt to Sinai as direct metaphor for the “spiritual journey into the divine realm.” This type of structured symbolism is typical of the Zohar and typified specifically by this verse. It illustrates the Zohar’s purpose as a mystical tool that aids in the understanding of the Ten Sefirot and their connection to all things (but especially to Jewish history and mythology). The word “Heaven” is used several times in explaining the divine realm that is the source of manna. “Heaven” is linked with Tif’eret, the bridegroom of Shekhinah. The last major Sefirot touched upon in the passage is partnered with Manna in the very title of this reading, it is “Wisdom” or Hokhmah. This is the highest Sefirot and spiritual union with Hokhmah is one of the greatest goals of the mystic. It is at the single point of Hokhmah that the Torah was derived and it only with Hokhmah that one arrives at the source of revelation.
The insights that make Manna and Wisdom a truly unique passage are its exclusive discussion between Rabbi Shim’on and Rabbi El’azar on the nature of “angel bread” and other gradients of divine sustenance, and the relationship between these delicious sacraments and the mysterious Comrades. The latter being a term for the disciples of R. Shim’on and the mystic followers of the Zohar. R. Shim’on remarks, that while mazzah and “angel bread” (or manna) were given to the wandering Israelites by Shekhinah and Tif’eret, respectively, “Comrades engaging the Torah are nourished from an even higher sphere.” This sphere is Wisdom or Hokhmah. The Comrades are granted this diet as their close understanding and appreciation of the Torah, brings them closer to the sphere from which the Torah was forged: Wisdom. R. El’azar counters with a query that examines the discrepancy between the Comrades supposed spiritual power and their physical weakness. R. Shim’on carefully explains that food from that high a sphere is too fine a substance to be detected on the physical planes of existence, and is manifest only in the realms of spirit and soul-breath. “Happy is the body that can nourish itself on food of the soul!”
Manna and Wisdom is a carefully crafted blueprint that thrives equally off of the Torah and Jewish imagination; it is a mystical guide depicting how students may climb the ladder of the ten Sefirot and partake of the blessed tastes that fill the upper realms. It is a reminder to “engage Torah day and night” and to cleave to their heart the forces of YHWH, so that they may flourish in the garden of life and live long, prosperous lives[i]
[i] All quotations and information gathered from “Manna and Wisdom,” a chapter in Daniel Chanan Matt’s translation of the Zoahr. Paulist Press. 1983. | literature |
https://blog.clevrone.ai/zero-trust-demystified-5-essential-and-elusive-questions-answered/ | 2024-04-18T10:53:37 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817206.28/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418093630-20240418123630-00668.warc.gz | 0.909743 | 3,535 | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-18__0__68926327 | en | Zero Trust Demystified: 5 Essential and Elusive Questions Answered
In the ever-shifting landscape of cybersecurity, organizations must constantly adapt and innovate and fortify their defenses to protect their valuable assets from sophisticated and evolving threats. One approach that has gained prominence in recent years is the Zero Trust Framework. It is a security approach predicated on the notion of “never trust, always verify.” As security leadership seeks to employ this framework to fortify their organizations, they are often confronted with a plethora of unanswered questions.
In this article, we will seek to unravel the mysteries surrounding the five key questions I continually hear as I meet with customers and security professionals all over. These questions range from aligning the Zero Trust Framework with existing security architecture and policies to measuring its effectiveness and determining when success has been achieved. By providing further insight around these commonly asked questions, it is my hope it will help equip security professionals with the insights necessary to implement and maintain a robust Zero Trust Framework that can stand up to the daunting challenges of today’s cyber threats.
Question 1: How to Align a Zero Trust Framework with an Organization’s Existing Security Architecture and Policies?
In recent years, the Zero Trust Framework has emerged as a powerful paradigm shift in the world of cybersecurity. It revolves around the idea of “never trust, always verify,” which means that organizations should not implicitly trust any user, device, or network, whether internal or external. Instead, they should continuously validate and authenticate every access request, regardless of its origin. World-class implementations of a Zero trust framework attempt to achieve most of this additional validation and authentication largely behind the scenes so as not to take away or degrade the user experience for the organization’s employees, partners and customers. This approach is an effective way to mitigate cyber threats and protect valuable data assets, as it minimizes the likelihood of unauthorized access or breaches.
Implementing a Zero Trust Framework in an organization requires careful examination of its existing security architecture and policies to ensure seamless integration. The following steps outline the process of aligning the Zero Trust Framework with your organization’s current security setup:
1. Assess the Current State: Begin by examining your organization’s existing security infrastructure, policies, and practices. Identify any areas that need improvement or are misaligned with the Zero Trust principles.
2. Map Existing Controls: Determine which existing security controls, such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and access control mechanisms, can be integrated into the Zero Trust Framework. This mapping exercise helps identify gaps and overlaps, allowing you to streamline the process and optimize resource allocation.
3. Define Clear Policies: Establish clear, consistent policies that govern user, device, and network access within the organization. These policies should follow the Zero Trust principles, ensuring that access is granted only after thorough validation and authentication. Ensure that your policies cover all aspects of your organization, including remote work and BYOD scenarios.
4. Establish Strong Identity and Access Management (IAM): Implement a robust IAM system that enables secure authentication and authorization of users, devices, and applications. Utilize multi-factor authentication (MFA), single sign-on (SSO), and role-based access control (RBAC) to enforce the principle of least privilege, granting access only to the necessary resources for each individual’s role.
5. Deploy Micro-segmentation: Divide your organization’s network into smaller, isolated segments based on the function or sensitivity of data. This approach reduces the attack surface and limits the potential damage in case of a breach, as attackers cannot easily move laterally within the network.
6. Continuously Monitor and Log: Implement continuous monitoring and logging of network activity, user behavior, and access requests. This data allows for real-time analysis and alerts, enabling rapid detection and response to potential threats.
7. Regularly Review and Adjust: Periodically review your security architecture and policies to ensure they remain effective and aligned with the Zero Trust Framework. As the threat landscape evolves and your organization grows, adjustments may be necessary to maintain optimal security.
By following these steps, security leadership can successfully align their organization’s existing security architecture and policies with the Zero Trust Framework, enhancing overall protection and minimizing the risk of cyberattacks.
Question 2: What are the Key Components and Technologies Required for Effective Zero Trust Framework Implementation?
Implementing a Zero Trust Framework effectively necessitates the use of several key components and technologies that work together to provide a robust and secure cybersecurity environment. If your organization has already invested in the any of the items below and this investment has the capability to meet your particular needs for Zero Trust, then you should by all means use it. In fact, it is potentially a great way to slim down any costs or reduce implementation time. The following are essential elements to consider when implementing the Zero Trust Framework in your organization:
1. Identity and Access Management (IAM): A strong IAM solution is critical to the Zero Trust Framework, as it enables the proper identification, authentication, and authorization of users, devices, and applications. Implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA), single sign-on (SSO), and role-based access control (RBAC) helps ensure that users are granted access only to the resources necessary for their roles and responsibilities.
2. Micro-segmentation: Micro-segmentation is the practice of dividing the network into smaller, isolated segments based on function, data sensitivity, or other relevant factors. This approach limits the potential damage in case of a breach by preventing attackers from easily moving laterally within the network.
3. Network Access Control (NAC): NAC solutions ensure that only authorized and compliant devices are allowed to access the network. They continuously monitor and enforce security policies, verifying the health and compliance of connected devices and blocking access when necessary.
4. Security Information and Event Management (SIEM): A SIEM system collects, analyzes, and correlates security event data from various sources, including logs, network traffic, and user activity. SIEM helps security teams detect and respond to potential threats in real time, enabling rapid incident resolution and minimizing damage.
5. Data Loss Prevention (DLP): DLP solutions monitor and control the movement of sensitive data, both within the organization and across its perimeter. They help prevent unauthorized access, exfiltration, and disclosure of sensitive information, which is crucial for maintaining data integrity and compliance with regulations.
6. Encryption: Encrypting data at rest, in transit, and during processing adds an additional layer of security, ensuring that even if unauthorized access occurs, the data remains unreadable and useless to attackers.
7. Endpoint Security: A comprehensive endpoint security solution, including anti-malware, host-based intrusion prevention systems (HIPS), and endpoint detection and response (EDR) technologies, helps protect devices from malware, exploits, and other threats, reinforcing the Zero Trust Framework.
8. Cloud Access Security Brokers (CASB): As organizations increasingly adopt cloud services, CASBs help enforce security policies and controls for cloud applications and data, ensuring that they adhere to the Zero Trust principles.
9. Threat Intelligence: Integrating threat intelligence feeds and platforms into your security ecosystem can help you stay informed about emerging threats and vulnerabilities, enabling proactive defense strategies and informed decision-making.
10. Continuous Monitoring and Analytics: Continuously monitoring and analyzing network activity, user behavior, and access patterns allows security teams to detect anomalies and potential threats quickly, ensuring swift response and mitigation.
By leveraging these key components and technologies, security leadership can implement a Zero Trust Framework effectively, significantly enhancing their organization’s overall cybersecurity posture.
Question 3: How to Measure the Effectiveness and Success of a Zero Trust Framework in an Organization
Evaluating the effectiveness and success of a Zero Trust Framework implementation within an organization is crucial to ensuring that the framework is functioning as intended and providing the desired level of security. While there are several objective elements listed below to measure and evaluate, you should also consider some subjective elements around the soft benefits like brand reputation protection, customer loyalty, and others. The following metrics and indicators can help security leadership measure the impact of their Zero Trust implementation:
1. Reduction in Security Incidents: One of the most telling signs of a successful Zero Trust implementation is a noticeable decrease in the number and severity of security incidents. Track the number of breaches, unauthorized access attempts, and other incidents before and after the implementation to quantify the improvement.
2. Faster Incident Detection and Response: Zero Trust Frameworks emphasize continuous monitoring and real-time analytics, which should lead to faster detection and response times for security incidents. Measure the average time it takes to detect and respond to incidents and compare these figures to pre-implementation data.
3. Compliance Metrics: Ensuring compliance with various industry standards and regulations is an essential aspect of maintaining a secure environment. Monitor compliance metrics, such as the percentage of devices meeting security policy requirements or the number of data access policy violations, to assess the effectiveness of your Zero Trust implementation.
4. User Access Metrics: Analyzing user access patterns, such as the number of unique users with access to sensitive resources, the percentage of users with the least privileged access, or the number of successful MFA challenges, can provide insight into how well the Zero Trust principles are being enforced in the organization.
5. Network Segmentation Metrics: Assess the effectiveness of your micro-segmentation implementation by monitoring metrics like the number of network segments created, the percentage of traffic traversing segment boundaries, and the number of attempted unauthorized segment access incidents.
6. Security Maturity Level: Assess the overall security maturity of your organization by using industry-standard maturity models, such as the NIST Cybersecurity Framework or the CIS Controls. Compare your organization’s maturity level before and after the Zero Trust implementation to determine its impact on your security posture.
7. Employee Awareness and Training: Zero Trust Frameworks require a comprehensive understanding of security policies and procedures by employees. Measure the effectiveness of training programs, such as the percentage of employees who have completed training or the results of simulated phishing attacks, to gauge the organization’s preparedness for a Zero Trust environment.
8. Return on Investment: Evaluate the financial impact of implementing the Zero Trust Framework, including costs associated with technology acquisition, deployment, and maintenance, as well as any financial benefits resulting from the reduction in security incidents or increased operational efficiency.
Reviewing, analyzing, and sharing these metrics with executive leadership will enable security leadership to assess the effectiveness and success of their Zero Trust implementation. By addressing any areas of concern, ensuring gaps are handled properly, and continuously refining the framework, organizations can maintain a robust cybersecurity posture that aligns with the evolving threat landscape.
Question 4: What are the Potential Challenges and Obstacles in Adopting a Zero Trust Framework and How to Address Them
Adopting a Zero Trust Framework can bring significant benefits to an organization’s cybersecurity posture. However, it is not without some challenges and obstacles. Security leadership should be aware of these potential issues and devise strategies to address them effectively and early. Some of the most common challenges and their respective solutions include:
1. Resistance to Change: A Zero Trust implementation often requires a significant shift in mindset and approach to security, which may be met with resistance from employees and stakeholders. To address this challenge, communicate the benefits and rationale behind the Zero Trust Framework clearly and consistently. Engage in training and awareness programs to help employees understand their role in maintaining a secure environment.
2. Complexity of Implementation: Implementing a Zero Trust Framework can be complex, involving multiple technologies and processes. To streamline the process, develop a phased implementation plan that prioritizes the most critical security gaps and incrementally builds upon them. Engage with experienced consultants or service providers to help navigate the intricacies of the implementation.
3. Integration with Existing Infrastructure: Integrating the Zero Trust Framework with existing security infrastructure can be a significant challenge. To ensure seamless integration, perform a thorough assessment of your current security architecture and identify the areas that need improvement or realignment with the Zero Trust principles. Leverage existing technologies and solutions where possible, and invest in new tools only when necessary.
4. Legacy Systems and Applications: Organizations often rely on legacy systems and applications that may not be compatible with Zero Trust principles. To address this issue, consider modernizing or replacing these systems with more secure alternatives that align with Zero Trust principles. If that is not feasible, develop compensating controls and monitoring mechanisms to mitigate the risks associated with these legacy systems.
5. Balancing Security and User Experience: Implementing a Zero Trust Framework may initially result in a perceived increase in friction for end-users due to more stringent access controls and authentication requirements. Strive to strike a balance between security and user experience by implementing user-friendly solutions like single sign-on (SSO) and adaptive multi-factor authentication (MFA) that adjust to the user’s context and risk level.
6. Scalability and Performance: As organizations grow and evolve, the Zero Trust Framework must be able to scale and adapt to meet changing needs. Ensure that your chosen technologies and solutions can scale with your organization without compromising performance or security.
7. Continuous Monitoring and Improvement: Maintaining an effective Zero Trust environment requires ongoing monitoring and adaptation. Invest in technologies and processes that enable continuous monitoring, analytics, and threat intelligence. Regularly review and update your security policies, controls, and technologies to stay aligned with the evolving threat landscape and the needs of your organization.
Proactively addressing the challenges and obstacles that your organization may face will help security leadership pave the way for a successful Zero Trust Framework adoption, ultimately enhancing their organization’s overall security posture.
Question 5: How to Recognize a Successful Zero Trust Framework Implementation
Achieving a successful Zero Trust Framework implementation is an ongoing process that requires continuous monitoring, assessment, and improvement. However, there are several indicators that can help security leadership recognize when they have reached a mature and effective Zero Trust environment:
1. Reduction in Security Incidents: A successful Zero Trust implementation should lead to a noticeable decrease in security incidents, breaches, and unauthorized access attempts. Track and compare the frequency and severity of incidents before and after implementing the framework to measure its effectiveness.
2. Improved Compliance Metrics: Ensuring compliance with industry standards and regulations is a key aspect of a mature Zero Trust environment. Monitor your organization’s compliance metrics, and if you observe a consistent improvement in meeting requirements and reducing violations, this is a sign of a successful implementation.
3. Streamlined Access Control: In an effective Zero Trust environment, user access should be consistently and efficiently governed by the principle of least privilege. Assess whether access controls are granular and role-based, and whether users are granted access to only the resources necessary for their roles.
4. Faster Incident Detection and Response: A mature Zero Trust implementation should enable rapid detection and response to security incidents. If your organization consistently demonstrates the ability to detect and mitigate threats quickly, this is a strong indication of a successful Zero Trust Framework.
5. Robust Micro-segmentation: Effective network segmentation, which limits lateral movement and reduces the attack surface, is a hallmark of a successful Zero Trust environment. Assess the degree to which your organization has achieved granular micro-segmentation and monitors segment boundaries for unauthorized access.
6. Employee Awareness and Training: The success of a Zero Trust Framework is highly dependent on employees understanding and adhering to security policies and procedures. A high level of employee awareness and participation in security training programs is an indication of a well-established Zero Trust culture.
7. Consistent Security Maturity Level: Assess your organization’s security maturity using industry-standard models, such as the NIST Cybersecurity Framework or the CIS Controls. A mature and successful Zero Trust implementation should result in consistently high-security maturity ratings.
8. Positive Return on Investment (ROI): If your organization can demonstrate a positive ROI on the Zero Trust implementation, including reduced security incidents, increased operational efficiency, and improved compliance, this is a strong indication of success.
9. Ongoing Improvement and Adaptation: A successful Zero Trust environment requires continuous evaluation and improvement. If your organization is consistently reviewing and updating its security policies, controls, and technologies to stay aligned with the evolving threat landscape, this demonstrates a successful and mature Zero Trust implementation.
By considering and evaluating some of these relevant indicators and continually striving to optimize your organization’s Zero Trust environment, you can achieve and maintain a successful and effective Zero Trust Framework that significantly enhances your cybersecurity posture and reduce your organization’s risk.
There is Power in a Zero Trust Approach
Ultimately, embracing a Zero Trust approach offers a powerful method to strengthen an organization’s cybersecurity posture amidst growing attack surfaces and the evolving threat environment. It has become increasingly evident over the last couple of years that the successful implementation of a Zero Trust framework is a multifaceted endeavor that takes some work, but it yields significant benefits for an organization’s ownership, employees, and customers. | literature |
https://ziamag.com/collections/architecture/products/the-design-hotels-book | 2022-06-26T02:09:38 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-27/segments/1656103036363.5/warc/CC-MAIN-20220626010644-20220626040644-00152.warc.gz | 0.922672 | 215 | CC-MAIN-2022-27 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2022-27__0__90990323 | en | The Design Hotels Book
For a quarter century, Design Hotels™ has been at the forefront of a movement in hospitality, curating a global collection of independent, design-driven hotels that function as social hubs and platforms for extraordinary experiences. In celebration of this benchmark, Design Hotels™ sent some of the world’s leading editorial and lifestyle photographers around the world to capture the unique character of 25 hotels at the vanguard of their hand-selected collection. Each hotel tells a story, rich with emotion and steeped in the history, culture, and nature of its local environment. The new, special edition of the brand’s wildly popular annual brings these stories to life through evocative photo essays and reportage. This edition of The Design Hotels™ Book is a distillation of a quarter century of pioneering design and original experiences, as well as a must-have for a worldwide community of travelers, likeminded in their pursuit of singular aesthetic environments, genuine local culture, and transformative, boundary-pushing travel experiences that defy conventional notions of luxury. | literature |
http://library.sci.muni.cz/services/e-loan | 2023-06-06T07:33:37 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-23/segments/1685224652235.2/warc/CC-MAIN-20230606045924-20230606075924-00099.warc.gz | 0.921904 | 276 | CC-MAIN-2023-23 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-23__0__259365914 | en | What is it?
Through the E-loan service, MU users have access to more than 10 000 scanned titles of the most frequently required study literature from Masaryk University library collections. An E-loan is the electronic equivalent of a common physical present loan. An authorized MU user can borrow a scan of a book for a limited time (currently 4 hours) via a computer network. The user can borrow electronically only one book at a time, after returning the E-loan he can borrow another one.
How to use it?
The E-loan is available at https://katalog.muni.cz:
- By clicking on the "E-loans Filter" link, you will filter out only those books at MU available for E-loan.
- After clicking on the record of the selected title, the link "E-loans" + login with UCO and secondary password will appear in the book details.
- Login and if one of the copies of the book is free, you can borrow its scan for a maximum of 4 hours.
- After the time limit expires (or the E-loan is returned earlier), you can E-loan another book.
Scanned books available for E-loan are labeled on cover with logo. | literature |
https://mayafiennes.com/pages/books | 2024-02-28T05:10:51 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474697.2/warc/CC-MAIN-20240228044414-20240228074414-00143.warc.gz | 0.936197 | 295 | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-10__0__127687142 | en | Yoga for Real Life
''The effervescent, charismatic Maya Fiennes will do for relaxation and yoga what Nigella Lawson did for food and cookery. In "Yoga for Real Life", she has written a book aimed at bringing yoga principles into all aspects of your everyday life. It is full of yoga tips, exercises and wisdom. ''
A Book That Can Change Your Life...
Maya Fiennes, who teaches the Kundalini method of yoga both face-to-face and on Sky TV, introduces her method, shares her story, and reveals the secrets of Kundalini Yoga that have helped her and her students to manage the stresses and strains of everyday life, the challenges that most of us encounter at some stage in our lives.
Chapters include: 'Be Here, Now', 'Detox and De-stress', 'Self esteem', 'Staying Youthful' and 'Love and Relationships'. Combining poses, breathing, chanting and meditation to give you a full mind-body workout, with recipes, mantras and Maya's personal story, and illustrated with full-colour photographs by David 'Jamie Oliver' Loftus, Maya shows how yoga practice and philosophy can easily be incorporated into your daily routine. "Yoga for Real Life" is a book for your handbag, your desk, and your bedside table: your indispensable guide to achieving the most from your daily life - for the rest of your life. | literature |
http://www.anundesirableelement.com/reviews | 2019-10-21T02:18:49 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-43/segments/1570987751039.81/warc/CC-MAIN-20191021020335-20191021043835-00004.warc.gz | 0.937307 | 509 | CC-MAIN-2019-43 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2019-43__0__105711563 | en | An Undesirable Element is a fascinating tour through the tumultuous years that helped create modern Afghanistan. Fayez survived Soviet Afghanistan and revolutionary Iran, only to find himself watching from exile as his country devoured itself. Improbably, he returns after 2001 to help resurrect Afghanistan's devastated higher education system, giving an insider account of the challenges of building education in a land dominated by warlords and fundamentalism. The result is a poignant reminder of how much Afghanistan has endured, and the flicker of hope that remains despite it all.
- Anand Gopal, author of No Good Men Among The Living: America, the Taliban, and the War through Afghan Eyes, finalist for the 2014 National Book Award
A compelling read, An Undesirable Element recounts an Afghanistan many have forgotten. It serves as a rallying cry to once again imagine all that country might be. It's a tale as extraordinary as the land from which it comes.
- Elliot Ackerman, author of Dark at the Crossing, finalist for the 2017 National Book Award
An Undesirable Element moves fast as flames and offers a luminous account of the last half century of Afghan conflicts and redevelopment. Trevithick's oral history of Sharif Fayez's story is a trove: from a kiss on the head by the late Afghan King Zaher Shah, Fayez's life intersected with the future leaders and quiet supporters of his country - both heroic and tyrannical - from Columbia University to a post-revolutionary university in Mashad, Iran. Fayez is a modest but robust storyteller whose eventual position as Afghanistan's first Minister of Higher Education after the Taliban is only one of the strange twists and turns his story offers. His deft handling in the rebuilding of Afghanistan should be read by anyone interested in how one can use patience and determination to bring hope to a country reduced to rubble.
- Adam Klein, editor, "The Gifts of The State: New Afghan Writing"
The term visionary tends to be misapplied to those who are merely headstrong. But it is a perfectly apt description for Sharif Fayez, the most important figure in education in 21st-century Afghanistan, yet one that history may have neglected without his memoir. Such an omission would have deprived future generations of Afghans from understanding how Fayez, perhaps more than any single person, created hope for the country’s young minds at the turn of the millennium and, in so doing, altered a nation's destiny.
— Martin Kuz, Freelance journalist | literature |
https://www.restoreyoureveryday.com/brett-botelho-intro | 2019-07-17T05:05:33 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-30/segments/1563195525046.5/warc/CC-MAIN-20190717041500-20190717063500-00299.warc.gz | 0.982735 | 126 | CC-MAIN-2019-30 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2019-30__0__183297203 | en | Brett Botelho splits his time living between California and Colorado. In the summer, he lives in Southern California and trains, goes to the beach and spends time with his Husky Avalanche, whom you may recognize. In the winter, he lives in Frisco, CO where he trains for the US Paralympic Snowboard team and enjoys the mountains. He became an amputee on 12/1/14 and hasn't looked back since. He is also the author of his self-written book: Standing My Own Ground - Getting Back Up When It Seems Impossible, which was released to the public in October 2017. | literature |
https://www.snagmetalsmith.org/springboard/view-opportunity/?opp=2499 | 2020-02-17T15:15:36 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-10/segments/1581875142603.80/warc/CC-MAIN-20200217145609-20200217175609-00390.warc.gz | 0.873274 | 257 | CC-MAIN-2020-10 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2020-10__0__171474849 | en | Posted January 19th, 2020 / Ends May 18th, 2020
Mokume Gane A Comprehensive Study
Mokume Artist Steve Midgett provides free access to "Mokume Gane A Comprehensive Study", the most in-depth resource for Mokume Gane information. All 160 pages of the hardcover book Mokume Gane A Comprehensive Study, acknowledged as the preeminent text on mokume gane has been published on the website www.mokume.com .
In this comprehensive book, Midgett shares the art of Mokume Gane from it’s ancient beginnings in Japan to its resurgence in the digital age along with detailed how-to information for making mokume by multiple methods, and 5 step by step mokume jewelry projects.
Accompanying each chapter of the book will be an important section called New Layers that will highlight what we’ve learned since the hardback book was first published and new developments in the practice of mokume gane. It will include information and insights from current leaders and innovators in the field and be an ongoing discussion of all things mokume.
To access your free copy visit www.mokume.com/book. | literature |
https://www.therabbi.org/Life/Miracles/Healing-a-Deaf-Mute.html | 2024-02-22T20:26:27 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947473824.45/warc/CC-MAIN-20240222193722-20240222223722-00119.warc.gz | 0.996356 | 219 | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-10__0__74571435 | en | The Rabbi was travelling once again and he went out from the region of Tzor, and came through Tzidon to the Sea of the Galil, within the region of the Ten Cities. The people there brought to him one who was deaf and spoke with difficulty, and they implored him to lay his hand on him.
The Rabbi took him aside from the crowd, by himself, and put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting, he touched the man's tongue with the saliva; and looking up to heaven with a deep sigh, he said to him, "Ippattach!" that is, "Be opened!" And the man's ears were opened, the impediment of his tongue was removed, and he began speaking plainly.
The Rabbi gave them orders not to tell anyone; but the more he ordered them, the more widely they continued to proclaim it. They were utterly astonished, saying, "This Rabbi has done all things well; he makes even the deaf to hear and the mute to speak!"
-- This is the life of The Rabbi. -- | literature |
https://iasdcentralbucaramanga.com/finding-paper-writer-helps-online/ | 2021-04-23T08:40:19 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-17/segments/1618039568689.89/warc/CC-MAIN-20210423070953-20210423100953-00272.warc.gz | 0.958732 | 615 | CC-MAIN-2021-17 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2021-17__0__233837798 | en | A paper writer’s main aim is to create masterpieces of scholarship, analysis and research from most forms and fields. To become a successful paper writer, a writer must have good command over the English language and a comprehensive grasp of the field of academic writing. Many authors are hired by big publishing houses because of their expertise for a paper writer. There are many sub-specialties within the field of academic writing and the following are some examples:
A thesis statement is the center of this assignment and it’s by far the most important document that will determine your newspaper’s content. The thesis statement is the announcement that simplifies the entire paper also gives essay writing service it its direction. The best papers contain the most important information in the shortest period. If your thesis statement contains several paragraphs, then the newspaper will take more time to compose and it could possibly be reversed by the evaluator.
The different types of paper writing assignments include both verbal and written pieces. For written pieces, the writer is required to research and collect data and to show them in a meaningful manner. For verbal pieces, the author is required to do research and evaluation of this subject matter as well as to compose a concise essay on the grounds of the gathered data. A freelance paper writer may also specialize in a certain sort of paper writing duties. As an example, if a writer specializes in research papers, he or she might be asked to essay writing service write reports and testimonials on a specific topic.
Many authors make a specialty from habit writing assignments. They usually begin writing masterpieces for a customer before branching into custom writing assignments. Clients usually give writing tasks to a group of writers and assign them various sub-type of papers depending on the theme of the undertaking. A few of those custom writing assignments may include: thesis statements, commentaries, descriptive essay, reviews, book reviews, journal articles, case studies, and dissertations.
As is true with most professions, some newspaper authors excel in one specific area and others in another. Some of the public areas where writers excel include: creative writing, copywriting, business writing, non-fiction, creative non-fiction publications, technical non-fiction books, short story collections, poems and essay writing service sonnets, and other sorts of non-fiction and ingenious literature. Many writers who have succeeded in building a name for themselves in this subject are known for their use of metaphors, similes, and alliterations.
Paper writing help sites provide help and information regarding what exactly are considered to be the best papers, which provide maximum aid to pupils so as to complete their academic work on time. In fact, it is not unusual to find hundreds of websites offering newspaper writing help. A few of the websites have guidelines and tutorials about what are considered to be greatest newspapers. Other sites focus mainly on various types of academic writing. If you are a student looking for information on the best way best to write better papers, you can always turn to an academic writing aid site for replies. | literature |
http://fredconference.org/2/?page_id=540 | 2018-07-22T17:52:26 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-30/segments/1531676593438.33/warc/CC-MAIN-20180722174538-20180722194538-00318.warc.gz | 0.962544 | 193 | CC-MAIN-2018-30 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2018-30__0__245730597 | en | Christine is the author of the book “Working the Double Shift A Young Woman’s Journey with Autism” , self advocate and a person with autism. She has spoken about her experiences with various groups including the US Autism and Asperger Association, Southwest SELPA , Manhattan Beach Unified School District and the FRED Conference. When she didn’t meet certain developmental milestone at age 4 she went to see a psychologist who diagnosed her as autistic. Through intensive speech, social skills, occupational and educational therapies, Christine was able to mainstream in first grade. Using behavioral therapy, Christine began to understand her feelings and find ways to manage her stress and anxiety.
Christine graduated high school with honors and attended El Camino College. She has transferred to Loyola Marymount University where she is majoring in psychology. Her aspiration is to be a behavioral therapist working with other autistic individuals. Hobbies include writing, horseback riding and drawing. | literature |
https://www.ozketo.com/why-not-both-biological-doubles-for-ra-and-psa/ | 2024-04-24T06:10:51 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296819067.85/warc/CC-MAIN-20240424045636-20240424075636-00206.warc.gz | 0.938711 | 2,193 | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-18__0__143748395 | en | The introduction of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors in the late 1990s revolutionized the treatment of rheumatic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA), providing patients with another therapeutic option when conventional therapies were ineffective. However, when these diseases fail to respond to anti-TNF therapy, it is still difficult to determine the next best course of action.
“One of the big challenges we have in treating psoriatic arthritis, and I would say rheumatoid arthritis was fine, is how to manage patients who have failed their first biologic therapy,” Christopher Ritchlin, MD, MPH, professor of allergy, immunology; and rheumatology at the University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, he said Medscape Medical News. “In the case of both RA and PsA, it’s quite often an anti-TNF agent.”
For approximately 30-40% of patients, TNF-blocker therapy is discontinued due to non-response or intolerance. Doctors can switch to another targeted biological or synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) or add another conventional DMARD, such as methotrexate. Now, several case studies and promising results from Phase 2 clinical trials suggest that combining two biologics could be an alternative strategy to improve patient response to treatment. However, concerns about safety and higher costs remain.
Target multiple mechanisms of action
Rheumatic conditions affect multiple areas of the body and involve different signaling pathways, said Ritchlin, who also heads the Clinical Immunology Research Unit at the University of Rochester. PsA, for example, affects the skin, peripheral joints, axial skeleton, and entheses.
“The question is, are these various manifestations multiple? [ones] are they often seen in a patient who is likely to respond to single pathway targeted therapy?” he said.
Combination therapies have been effective in treating leukemia and lymphoma as well as HIV infection, writes Melek Yalin Mutlu, MD, and colleagues at the Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg and Erlangen University Hospital, Erlangen, Germany, in a review on the combination of biological DMARDs in the treatment of RA and PsA. The review was published on April 17 in Articular bone spine.
“Cumulative evidence on the success of combination therapies in various diseases supports a similar approach in rheumatology, and concurrent or sequential blockade of multiple mechanisms that generate or propagate arthritis could theoretically improve efficacy,” the authors write. “On the other hand, targeting multiple targets in the immune system carries a risk of adverse events, with infection being a major concern.”
Clinical trials failed
Clinical trials of combination biological therapies for rheumatic disease have been attempted previously, but these combinations have not shown superior efficacy and increased the patients’ risk of infection. A study published in 2004 compared monotherapy with the TNF inhibitor etanercept (Enbrel) to the combination of etanercept and anakinra (Kineret), an interleukin-1 (IL-1) antagonist, in 244 patients with active RA despite methotrexate therapy. The researchers found no statistically significant difference in achieving 20 percent improvement in the modified American College of Rheumatology (ACR20), ACR50, or ACR70 response criteria between the groups receiving etanercept and anakinra and those receiving etanercept alone. There were nine serious infections among patients treated with etanercept and anakinra, including one death due to pneumonia. There were no serious infections in the etanercept monotherapy group.
In another rheumatoid arthritis study, 121 patients were given etanercept 25 mg twice a week and were randomly assigned to also receive either a placebo or low-dose abatacept (Orencia), a T-cell costomulation inhibitor There was no significant difference in disease improvement between the two groups, although the rate of serious adverse events was nearly six times higher in the etanercept-abatacept group (16.5% vs 2.8%).
Those studies had a “chilling effect on the whole field for a few years,” Brian Feagan, MD, senior scientific director of gastrointestinal contract research firm Alimentiv in London, Ontario, Canada, told Medscape. People were reluctant to try new biological combinations, due to fears that these safety issues would plague subsequent trials.
But a recent phase 2 study, led by Feagan, suggests that some combinations may be effective. In the Janssen-sponsored VEGA study, researchers found that a combination of guselkumab (Tremfya), an IL-23 inhibitor, and golimumab (Simponi), an anti-TNF agent, was more effective than either drug used as monotherapy for initial induction treatment for moderate to severe ulcerative colitis. Importantly, there was no difference in adverse events between any of the groups. This same combination therapy is now being tested for patients with active PsA in Janssen’s AFFINITY study, for which Ritchlin is a principal investigator.
Other studies have also yielded promising results. One study enrolled 51 adults with active RA who were all receiving stable doses of either a TNF-blocker or etanercept or adalimumab (Humira) and methotrexate. Patients were randomly assigned to receive a course of rituximab (Rituxan) or placebo. The researchers found that the safety profile of this TNF inhibitor/methotrexate/rituximab combination was “consistent” with the safety profiles of previous studies of dual methotrexate/rituximab combinations without any TNF inhibitor; there were no new safety signals. At 24 weeks, 30% of the rituximab group achieved ACR20, compared with 17% of the placebo group. A total of 12% of the rituximab group achieved ACR50, compared with 6% of the group receiving placebo.
“B-cell depletion is fundamentally different from cytokine inhibition and even co-stimulation blockade, making an additive effect more likely,” write Mutlu and colleagues in their review. Reports have also suggested possible benefits of the combination of a TNF inhibitor and an IL-17 inhibitor in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and PsA, as well as of the combination of a TNF inhibitor and an IL-23 antagonist for the PSA.
While these combinations require controlled clinical trials, “there are some smoke signals out there that this might be an effective strategy for some patients,” Ritchlin said.
In addition to the AFFINITY study, two clinical trials are ongoing in France. The first, CRI-RA, is evaluating the combination of baricitinib (Olumiant), a Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor, and adalimumab. While baricitinib is not a biologic, as it is a targeted synthetic DMARD, the therapy is more potent than conventional DMARDs and the same potential safety concerns apply. However, the use of a combination of tofacitinib (Xeljanz) and several biologics has been reported for RA patients; no serious side effects were reported in the 11 months of therapy. The randomized, placebo-controlled trial began in July 2021 and will enroll 178 patients. The estimated completion date of the study is July 2025.
“Of note, baricitinib does not directly block downstream TNF signaling, although an indirect effect on TNF production is likely,” reads the CRI-RA entry on clinicaltrials.gov. “Targeting multiple inflammatory cytokines in combination may lead to more effective treatment and better clinical responses in RA patients than current second-line strategies.”
The second study, titled SEQUENS-RA, is evaluating the use of TNF blockers followed by abatacept for RA patients who test positive for anti-citrullinated protein autoantibodies (ACPAs). In the past, the combination of a TNF blocker and abatacept has not led to promising results, but in this study, the drugs will be administered sequentially.
“Although abatacept has shown a very good tolerance profile that may be superior to other bDMARDs [biologic DMARDs]rheumatologists may be reluctant to use it as a first-line bDMARD as there is a belief of slower efficacy than other bDMARDs or JAK inhibitors,” according to the clinical trial description. inflammatory phase, the use of TNF inhibitors, followed by abatacept to induce immunological remission, would optimize the response and tolerance of ACPA-positive patients with RA.”
The randomized study of 220 participants began in November 2022. The estimated date for completion of the study is November 2025.
Finding the right patients
Although these trials had some promising results, the difference in efficacy between biologic monotherapy and dual therapy was mostly moderate, write Mutlu and coauthors. Identifying disease subtypes for which there may be an increased likelihood of response to dual biologic treatment, especially multidrug-resistant types, could improve efficacy in future studies, they argue. “The good effects of bDMARD combinations in resistant patients indeed point in this direction, although they have been observed in uncontrolled studies,” note the authors.
Insurance coverage remains a “major challenge” for these dual therapies due to the higher expense, Ritchlin noted. More targeted therapies could help convince these companies to pay for these therapies.
“I would argue that if we were able to demonstrate a phenotype of a patient that would respond to biologics and not monotherapies, [then] many companies would be inclined towards this kind of approach,” he said.
Ritchlin reports financial relationships with AbbVie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Janssen, Pfizer, Eli Lilly, Novartis and UCB. Feagan reports financial relationships with AbbVie, Amgen, Janssen, Pfizer, Takeda and many other pharmaceutical companies.
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#Biological #doubles #PsA | literature |
https://st-maryshigh.herts.sch.uk/category/general-news/ | 2023-02-02T21:11:32 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-06/segments/1674764500041.18/warc/CC-MAIN-20230202200542-20230202230542-00447.warc.gz | 0.943332 | 310 | CC-MAIN-2023-06 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-06__0__26467220 | en | Just before Christmas we promoted the ‘Young Writers’ competition titled, Integer.
Students were asked to write a short story based on or around numbers and do so in exactly 100 words. It may sound easy but it takes good writing skills to construct a story in such a small word count. Stories were submitted online and, having now received word from the organisers, I am delighted to tell you that eighteen of our students’ stories have been selected for publication! Once permission has been granted by parent/carers their stories will appear in book format which is a compilation of all winning entries.
All winners are given the opportunity to buy their own copy to keep at home but a copy will also be available in the LRC for all students to view. Winners came from years 7- 10 and we are enormously proud of their achievement. Please join me in congratulating the following students: Kai Pierre (7), Igor Lasota (7), Aleyna Sener (7), Zain Cherifi (7), Aleyna Sener (7), Taylan Sefer (7), Tuana Sener (7), Natasha Jackson (7), Gabriella Didiomenco (8), Elisa Mustafa (9), Antreas Papadopoulos (9), Eliana Blackman (9), Joseph Pozzuto (9), Arda Korkmaz (9), Zam Francis (9), Stephanie Gyamfi-Manu (9), Ria Oscar (9), Natasha Jackson and Sarah Collins (10) | literature |
http://thewettsteins3.blogspot.com/2011/08/in-fayes-room.html | 2018-07-16T08:58:55 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-30/segments/1531676589237.16/warc/CC-MAIN-20180716080356-20180716100356-00272.warc.gz | 0.983859 | 322 | CC-MAIN-2018-30 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2018-30__0__244675301 | en | Every time I step into Faye's room, I always find something that makes me laugh or smile. This girl absolutely loves to read, and it just amazes me every time I look at the piles of books in her room. I clear this little nightstand off at least twice a week. And yet, it somehow always manages to be overflowing with books. She reads and reads and reads, to the point where we have to ask her to stop reading. How many hours a day should a 6 year old spend reading?
Here is a another view, in case you were wondering what exactly Faye is reading. Right now she is reading the Harry Potter books (she's on number 3 and I've told her that is all she can read until she is older - any thoughts about that for those of you who are Harry Potter fans?), Nancy Drew, Junie B. Jones, which is her favorite but she can read one of those in about 20 minutes, and some other miscellaneous books. She's told me she loves mystery books. The strangest thing to me is Faye's method of reading books. She will start one book, then another, then another, before going back and finishing something else. At any point in time she could be reading 5 or 6 books! I don't know how she keeps them all straight, but she does and can tell you the story almost word for word.
This afternoon when I walked into her room I had a really good laugh. I saw this on her dry erase board...
Apparently the boys are no longer allowed in her room! | literature |
http://www.canadasgoldenhour.com/photo-book/ | 2017-02-27T20:15:59 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-09/segments/1487501173761.96/warc/CC-MAIN-20170219104613-00649-ip-10-171-10-108.ec2.internal.warc.gz | 0.936581 | 133 | CC-MAIN-2017-09 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2017-09__0__35937774 | en | Canada's Golden Hour Book
The Canada's Golden Hour Book is a limited edition of 500 copies. All profits will be donated to the Nature Conservancy of Canada.
The book is a beautifully bound collection featuring the top fifty photographs captured on June 4, 2016 during Canada's Golden Hour Photo Project. With a printed dust jacket, linen hard cover, premium paper and detailed printing, this book is a beauty both to view and display. It makes a great gift too!
The book is currently available for pre-order for $44.99. Books are expected to ship to customers in early August 2016.
Pre-order the book via Posterjack.ca | literature |
https://www.mfah.org/programs-for/adults/mfah-book-club/ | 2017-04-30T07:07:52 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-17/segments/1492917124371.40/warc/CC-MAIN-20170423031204-00136-ip-10-145-167-34.ec2.internal.warc.gz | 0.905522 | 1,128 | CC-MAIN-2017-17 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2017-17__0__226135963 | en | MFAH Book Club Tours
This is where art and literature meet! Designed for established book clubs—whether formal or informal groups—the MFAH Book Club links works of literature to works of art at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.
The MFAH Book Club presents three selections per year. Each book:
- Is featured for a four-month period in the fall, spring, and summer
- Is accompanied by a downloadable discussion guide to facilitate group discussions
- Culminates with a docent-led tour at the Museum, scheduled in advance (see below)
The spring 2017 selection for the MFAH Book Club is Dreaming in Cuban by Cristina García.
Tours: February 1–May 31, 2017
• Download the Discussion Guide
About the Book
Cristina García’s acclaimed book is the haunting, bittersweet story of a family experiencing a country’s revolution and the revelations that follow. The lives of Celia del Pino and her husband, daughters, and grandchildren mirror the magical realism of Cuba itself, a landscape of beauty and poverty, idealism and corruption. Dreaming in Cuban is “a work that possesses both the intimacy of a Chekov story and the hallucinatory magic of a novel by Gabriel García Márquez” —The New York Times.
About the Author
Cristina García is the author of seven novels. Her work has been nominated for a National Book Award and translated into 14 languages. She is the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, a Whiting Writers’ Award, a Hodder Fellowship at Princeton University, and an NEA grant, among others. García has taught at universities nationwide. Recently, she completed her tenure as University Chair in Creative Writing at Texas State University-San Marcos and as Visiting Professor at the Michener Center for Writers at the University of Texas-Austin. She lives in the San Francisco Bay area.
The summer 2017 selection for the MFAH Book Club is The Last Painting of Sara de Vos by Dominic Smith, a New York Times best seller and New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice.
Tours: June 1–September 30, 2017
Discussion guide coming soon!
How to Participate
For book clubs and other groups of six or more confirmed participants:
- Read the book. Most MFAH Book Club selections may be purchased at the MFA Shop, where Museum members receive a discount. Reading copies are also available in the Museum’s Kinder Foundation Education Center and at the Museum's Hirsch Library.
- Download the discussion guide to facilitate your conversation. This guide features questions about the book and select artworks on view at the MFAH.
• Discussion Guide for Dreaming in Cuban
- Request a docent-led tour by e-mailing [email protected]—a minimum of 3 weeks in advance—with the following information:
• The name of your group and number of participants
• The primary organizer's name, telephone number, and e-mail address
• Your preferred date and time for your tour (see below for tour availability)
Tours related to Dreaming in Cuban are available between February 1 through May 31, 2017.
Choose from the following days and times:
Tuesdays, 2 p.m. or 3:30 p.m.
Wednesdays, 2 p.m. or 3:30 p.m.
Thursdays, 10:30 am, 3:30 p.m., or 6:30 p.m.
Sundays, 2 p.m. or 3:30 p.m.
Note: If your group meets on a specfic day and/or time not listed above, please e-mail [email protected] with a request, which we will try to accommodate.
- Look for a confirmation e-mail, within 5 business days, with information about when and where to meet the docent at the Museum.
Questions? E-mail [email protected]
What to Expect on an MFAH Book Club Tour
• MFAH Book Club tours are free for MFAH members and free with general Museum admission for nonmembers.
• Tours last approximately 1½ hours.
• Camp stools are provided for seating.
• Docents facilitate tours, selecting several artworks on view at the Museum that they feel best connect with aspects of the featured book.
• Excerpts from the book are a vital component of these discussion-based tours, so we encourage you to bring your copy of the book along.
• Expect lively discussion of the book and artworks!
Since the MFAH Book Club's inception, the Museum has featured a wide range of fiction and nonfiction picks. Though tours are not offered for these past selections, discussion guides are available here.
The MFAH Book Club receives generous support from Aggie and Joe Foster.
All Learning and Interpretation programs at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, receive endowment income from funds provided by the Louise Jarrett Moran Bequest; Caroline Wiess Law; the William Randolph Hearst Foundation; The National Endowment for the Humanities; the Fondren Foundation; BMC Software, Inc.; the Wallace Foundation; the Neal Myers and Ken Black Children’s Art Fund; the Favrot Fund; and Gifts in honor of Beth Schneider. | literature |
https://thestar.co.in/the-difference-between-free-and-paid-accounts-on-medium/ | 2024-02-27T11:14:18 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474674.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20240227085429-20240227115429-00015.warc.gz | 0.945436 | 626 | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-10__0__152364641 | en | Medium, a popular online publishing platform, offers distinct experiences for its users based on the type of account they choose. Understanding the differences between free and paid accounts on Medium can help users decide which is best suited for their reading and writing needs.
Access to Content
Free accounts on Medium provide users with access to a limited number of stories like these each month. These stories can be from both amateur and professional writers, covering a wide range of topics. Once the monthly limit is reached, users are required to wait until the next month to access more free articles or to upgrade to a paid account for unlimited access.
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Writing and Publishing
Both free and paid account holders on Medium have the ability to write and publish stories. They can create their own publications, join existing ones, and even monetize their content through Medium’s Partner Program, regardless of their account type.
While the writing and publishing features are similar for both account types, paid members often have access to enhanced analytics and insights about their stories. These insights include detailed information about readership, engagement, and the performance of their articles. This data can be invaluable for writers looking to grow their audience and improve their writing.
Supporting Writers and Publications
Free users support writers indirectly through their engagement with stories. Claps and responses can increase a story’s visibility, but free users do not contribute financially to the authors.
A portion of the membership fee paid by Medium members goes directly to the writers and publications they engage with the most. This financial support incentivizes quality content creation and helps sustain the platform’s diverse range of voices and topics.
The choice between a free or paid account on Medium depends largely on a user’s reading habits, desire for unlimited access to content, and interest in supporting the writing community. While free accounts offer a taste of what Medium has to offer, paid accounts provide an all-access pass to the platform’s full range of stories, enhanced community interaction, and additional benefits for writers. Ultimately, both types of accounts contribute to the vibrant and diverse ecosystem that is Medium. | literature |
https://macmillancustom.highcrestmedia.com/bedford/content/home | 2023-05-31T22:45:30 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-23/segments/1685224647459.8/warc/CC-MAIN-20230531214247-20230601004247-00160.warc.gz | 0.92979 | 145 | CC-MAIN-2023-23 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-23__0__69414511 | en | Bedford Select makes it easy to create your own composition reader or literature anthology. Choose from more than 800 essays, stories, poems, plays, images, and instructional materials to build an affordable course text for your students.
- With Bedford Select, students pay only for material that will be assigned in their course—nothing more.
- It is easy for instructors to create their ideal text for a composition or literature course - one that can be ordered again (or readily modified from term to term).
- Because quality matters, Bedford Select books are built to the same standards as the highly praised and widely used composition readers and literature anthologies published by Bedford/St. Martin's, an imprint of Macmillan Learning. | literature |
https://list.cea.fr/en/may-28-2020-towards-neural-networks-that-can-withstand-attacks/ | 2023-12-09T18:19:42 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100942.92/warc/CC-MAIN-20231209170619-20231209200619-00885.warc.gz | 0.937942 | 373 | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-50__0__136143211 | en | From autonomous vehicles to video surveillance, the potential uses for AI in our everyday lives are vast. Hackers, however, are rapidly coming up with attacks on these new applications for AI. Most attacks take advantage of the vulnerability of deep learning systems to disrupt the signal (image, sound) and “trick” or, in some cases influence the AI’s decisions. List, a member of the Carnot Network, develops trustworthy AI. The institute recently came up with some effective ways to fend off attacks.
Specifically, they intentionally introduced random modifications of the neural activations from the earliest stages of the neural network design process. The goal is to scramble the network during the learning phase as well as during operation. The researchers’ approach enables the machine to remember only the relevant parts of incoming information and to not be fooled by an attack. An alternative for existing machines that need additional protection is to introduce the noise directly into the incoming signal. These modifications are made using an “overlayer” that mitigates or neutralizes the effects of an attack.
The loss of performance that occurs when the defect is introduced is offset by the fact that the system is more robust and can better withstand attacks. A demonstrator presented at CES 2020 was well received. An article* was also published very recently in Neural Information Processing Systems, a major scientific journal in the field of AI.
*Pinot, R., Meunier, L., Araujo, A., Kashima, H., Yger, F., Gouy-Pailler, C., and Atif, J. (2019). Theoretical evidence for adversarial robustness through randomization. In Advances in Neural Information Processing Systems 32, pp. 11838–11848.
Read article at http://www.cea-tech.fr/ | literature |
https://www.around.pk/news/jurnalist-saleem-safi-presents-latest-book-aur-tabdeeli-galay-par-gayi-to-prime-minister-shehbaz-sharif/ | 2023-10-03T23:33:01 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233511284.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231003224357-20231004014357-00350.warc.gz | 0.911918 | 574 | CC-MAIN-2023-40 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-40__0__83457884 | en | Jurnalist Saleem Safi Presents Latest Book “Aur Tabdeeli Galay Par Gayi” to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif
In a momentous occasion, senior journalist Saleem Safi had the esteemed privilege of presenting his latest book, titled “Aur Tabdeeli Galay Par Gayi” (And Change Embraced Us), to Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif. This engaging literary work delves deep into the intricate social and political changes that have shaped the landscape of Pakistan. Saleem Safi, widely recognized for his insightful analysis and thought-provoking commentary, has cemented his position as a highly respected journalist and author.
The presentation of “Aur Tabdeeli Galay Par Gayi” to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif underscores the significance and relevance of the book within the current political landscape. It sheds light on crucial aspects of Pakistan’s societal fabric and offers a critical analysis of the ever-evolving dynamics within the nation. The event serves as a powerful testament to the role of intellectuals and journalists in shaping public discourse and engaging with policymakers.
The interaction between Saleem Safi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif symbolizes the exchange of ideas and the invaluable contribution of intellectuals to the national dialogue. “Aur Tabdeeli Galay Par Gayi” is poised to reach a broader audience, stimulating meaningful conversations and deepening the collective understanding of the societal and political changes unfolding in Pakistan. As readers delve into the pages of this enlightening book, they are invited to reflect upon the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for the nation.
The presentation ceremony further highlights the importance of fostering intellectual engagement and encouraging dialogue between thought leaders and policymakers. Saleem Safi’s work acts as a catalyst for introspection, providing a platform for contemplation and analysis of Pakistan’s socio-political landscape. It is expected that “Aur Tabdeeli Galay Par Gayi” will spark renewed discussions and ignite a desire for positive change among individuals from all walks of life.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s acceptance of the book demonstrates his commitment to engaging with intellectual voices and promoting informed discourse on matters of national importance. The event serves as a testament to the enduring influence of literature and the power of ideas to shape the course of a nation’s destiny.
As “Aur Tabdeeli Galay Par Gayi” takes its rightful place on bookshelves across the country, it promises to make a lasting impact on readers, challenging their perceptions and enriching their understanding of the societal transformations underway in Pakistan. The book stands as a testament to the invaluable role of journalists and intellectuals in documenting the winds of change and guiding the nation towards a brighter future. | literature |
https://www.nancy.movie/synopsiscopy_ashleen | 2019-04-23T18:29:37 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-18/segments/1555578610036.72/warc/CC-MAIN-20190423174820-20190423200820-00053.warc.gz | 0.957145 | 134 | CC-MAIN-2019-18 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2019-18__0__215871124 | en | NANCY is a provocative psychodrama about love, intimacy, and trust – and the slippery nature of truth. A serial imposter, Nancy has gotten more and more comfortable assuming fake personas, and lines have started to blur between fact and fiction, and performance versus reality.
Blindsided by the death of her mother, and facing rejection by a love interest, Nancy’s life begins to unravel. When she meets a couple whose daughter went missing thirty years ago, she becomes increasingly convinced these strangers are her real parents. As their bond deepens, reasonable doubts give way to willful belief – and the power of emotion threatens to overcome all rationality. | literature |
https://olibrix.com/pages/about-us-olibrix-bookstore | 2023-02-01T15:41:57 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-06/segments/1674764499946.80/warc/CC-MAIN-20230201144459-20230201174459-00643.warc.gz | 0.943464 | 123 | CC-MAIN-2023-06 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-06__0__126348522 | en | Olibrix is a one-of-a-kind destination where books bring people together to educate us, engage our curiosity and to continue to look at the world through a different lens.
Our Mission is to provide access to children's books written and translated into different languages to every household, school, and community.
At Olibrix we believe that literature and languages are the gateways to a brighter future for our children. Every purchase supports a child's development and piques their curiosity about books and different cultures. We promise to always stay true to our core values of quality, transparency, and equality. | literature |
https://www.thebookwarehouse.com.au/shop/early-learning/handstand/ | 2022-08-14T22:46:15 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882572077.62/warc/CC-MAIN-20220814204141-20220814234141-00518.warc.gz | 0.967282 | 167 | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2022-33__0__115960779 | en | You Save: $14.99 (60%)
Little Edith loves to do handstands. But is she any good at them? Can she actually stay upright? In her 7 days of perseverance she learns the power of practice. Thwarted by spiders, worms and her dad’s newspaper, Edith tells her own tale of mastering the art of being upside down. All the while, readers will be counting down the seconds with her and learning the days of week in her story that ends with the prize of an ice lolly.
Beautifully illustrated by leading designer Lisa Stickley, this is a lovely book to cherish and learn from. A light hearted tale that at its heart will teach one of life’s great secrets: practice makes perfect.
30 in stock | literature |
https://www.eye-floaters.info/wordpress/?product=ebook-eye-floaters-in-the-art-and-religions-of-ancient-civilizations | 2023-12-08T22:44:42 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100779.51/warc/CC-MAIN-20231208212357-20231209002357-00181.warc.gz | 0.915216 | 178 | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-50__0__95774064 | en | (ebook, epub and kpf file)
We all have them, most of us see them, but only a few people pay attention to them: the scattered, transparent and mobile dots and strands in our field of vision. In ophthalmology, they are called “eye floaters” and explained as vitreous opacities.
But is this explanation correct? In this book, the author Floco Tausin follows the seers’ experience that eye floaters are not a cloudiness of the vitreous humour, but a shining structure and an expression of our state of consciousness.
In this collection of previously published and revised texts, the author explores the shining structure of consciousness in ancient civilizations. Topics include works of art, myths and worldviews of Ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, Ancient China and Pre-Columbian Central America. | literature |
http://gisbornegazette.org.au/book.html | 2023-09-26T16:57:38 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233510214.81/warc/CC-MAIN-20230926143354-20230926173354-00149.warc.gz | 0.977747 | 119 | CC-MAIN-2023-40 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-40__0__17026185 | en | To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Ash Wednesday fire, the Gisborne Gazette has produced a book that features the stories of 63 individuals and families who survived the traumatic events of February 16, 1983. There is also a wealth of information gathered from reports published at the time.
This handsome book is illustrated with many photographs, some of which were taken during the fire.
All copies of the book have been sold.
For anyone who missed out, copies can be seen at the Gisborne Library, the Gisborne Genealogical Group and the Gisborne Historical Society. | literature |
https://steph-reads.blogspot.com/2010/07/ridley-pearson-in-harms-way.html | 2017-11-17T17:38:12 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-47/segments/1510934803848.60/warc/CC-MAIN-20171117170336-20171117190336-00737.warc.gz | 0.958361 | 217 | CC-MAIN-2017-47 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2017-47__0__56384573 | en | Ridley Pearson: In Harm's Way
Ridley Pearson's newest Walt Fleming novel will be out on August 3rd. I can't wait to find out what's going on with Walt and Fiona, and what adventure Walt will take me on this time. Below is the blurb from Ridley's July 2010 newsletter.
"Sun Valley sheriff Walt Fleming's budding relationship with photographer Fiona Kenshaw hits a rough patch after Fiona is involved in a heroic river rescue and she attempts to duck the press. Despite her job and her laudable actions, she begs Walt to keep her photo out of the paper, avoiding him when he can't. Then Walt gets a phone call that changes everything: Lou Boldt, a police sergeant out of Seattle, calls to report that a recent murder may have a Sun Valley connection. After a badly-beaten body is discovered just off a local highway, Walt knows there is a linkbut can he pull the pieces together in time?"
You can email him for autographed copies of the book at [email protected] | literature |
https://noreenbraman.medium.com/a-mothers-reverie-ce630b8696aa?readmore=1&source=---------9---------------------------- | 2021-06-16T08:49:29 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-25/segments/1623487622234.42/warc/CC-MAIN-20210616063154-20210616093154-00129.warc.gz | 0.97321 | 785 | CC-MAIN-2021-25 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2021-25__0__145194465 | en | In the sunset of life it isn’t fun to suddenly realize, that you never had the life you wanted. That things never went the way you thought they should, and even if you generally think that your life has been mostly fine — the day will come when you realize, the “somedays” you dreamed about aren’t coming.
It can happen when you are watching an old show on TV, that show you watched in your formative years, the one that made you laugh, the one you all talked about the next day, the one that seemed to describe your forward path — but it never did. And that is because life is not a sitcom. There is no team of writers plotting all the twists and turns. No one to type up the happy ending.
They say that you are responsible for writing your own story. But no one tells you that you may carry one story in your head, while you live out another. And even if that life is full of love and laughter, the day will come where a snippet of music, a mention of a movie or the title of a book will open up a dark hole under your feet. And if you aren’t careful, you will fall into this hole, tumbling over and over like Alice, watching all the souvenirs of your life cascading around you, and as hard as you try to catch them, you can’t.
Tokens of you childhood streak by like shooting stars, the puffs of smoke that were your dreams, from the days when all seemed possible. And as you plummet you are joined by fleeting ghostly shadows of lovers and friends who swirled in and out of your life. They whisper as they pass by, but you cannot catch what they say, you’ve forgotten the sound of their voices. From deep inside you, memories flicker, what were those plans we had? The promises made to each other, the song you promised to sing at her funeral, but by then you had lost touch.
Soon you are wrapped in swirling clouds of motherhood — diapers and first teeth and the leftover equipment of their childhood activities, photos and toys and high school rings: the music of a thousand performances. Then comes the rising of a deepening ache as one by one they leave home, and the feeling of loss, of “never again” threatens to drown you. There are points of light that fill you full of warmth, and again your head fills up with dreams, this time you will get things right. The circle will re-form itself with everyone reachable, touchable, lovable and the next generation running in and out, calling for you.
However, the hole continues to widen and as hard as your try to hold their hands, to encircle them with your arms, they drift away, smiling as they go, their own dreams covering them like fog.
And you wake up one day to realize, you are living in a house that no one will visit, in a place where no one will return, and the vision of your sunset years reveals itself to be just more smoke.
You wonder what was the turning point, where was that bend in the road that took you in the wrong direction. No amount of turning around will get you back to that place, you have no choice but to continue falling, holding on to the new life where there is still love and laughter, no longer trying to catch the things that are falling away, trying as best as you can to quiet the heartache, accepting that you have reached to part of the journey where losses mount.
With an understanding nod (after so many years denying it) to Judith Viorst’s “Necessary Losses.”
Originally published at http://www.smilesideoflife.com. | literature |
https://azati.ai/language-models-in-healthcare/ | 2024-04-15T05:36:55 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296816942.33/warc/CC-MAIN-20240415045222-20240415075222-00402.warc.gz | 0.905563 | 2,634 | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-18__0__54409484 | en | Healthcare is a humanistic field where language mediates key interactions between doctors, researchers and patients. But recent developments in language models present a unique chance to revolutionize artificial intelligence systems.
Large language models (LLMs) are advanced artificial intelligence (AI) systems designed to process, understand, and generate human-like text. They are based on deep learning techniques and trained on massive datasets typically containing billions of words from various sources such as websites, books and articles. This extensive training allows LLMs to understand the nuances of language, grammar, context, and even some aspects of general knowledge.
LLMs are extensive pre-trained AI systems that can be easily adapted for various domains and tasks with minimal adjustments. These dynamic and engaging models hold significant potential in extracting universally valuable insights from medical knowledge sources.
The Role of Language Models in Healthcare
Today, there are several potential use cases of such models in healthcare, including search in large datasets, clinical decision support, analysis and structuring of key findings, as well as rapid resolution of problems associated with the timely first aid provision, and much more.
Some areas in which Language Models can help healthcare:
- Transform and extract key ideas from large volumes of scientific articles, medical materials and notes without lengthy proofreading of the entire text.
- Compare information from cluttered and unstructured text with organized lists in the electronic health record to ensure clinical data accuracy.
- Converting data back from machine-readable forms into natural language for better understanding.
- Search simultaneously across different data sources.
- Transform images, such as PDF reports or scans of surveys into text lists.
- Speech identification processing, allowing users to manage clinical notes or other data that we can convert to text.
Improving Clinical Decision Support
Language models play a crucial role in clinical decision support systems (CDSS) by providing healthcare professionals with valuable insights and recommendations based on the analysis of medical data and texts. Here, we’ll discuss how language models aid in CDSS. And provide case studies to illustrate their effectiveness in successful diagnosis and treatment recommendations.
How Language Models Aid in Clinical Decision Support Systems:
Data Processing and Extraction:
Language models are excellent at processing large volumes of unstructured medical data. This includes electronic health records (EHRs), a variety of medical literature, and clinical notes. They also have the ability to extract important details such as patient demographics, medical history, symptoms and diagnostic reports, making this information easily accessible for in-depth analysis.
Based on a patient’s historical data, language models can also be used to predict potential complications and responses to treatment. This way, they will help doctors identify risks more quickly and tailor treatment plans that meet individual needs and circumstances.
Natural Language Understanding:
Language models have the ability to interpret medical narratives expressed in natural language. They can discern medical conditions, medications, treatments, and the relationships between various elements in the text. This capability enables a more comprehensive understanding of the patient’s health status and medical history.
Clinical Guidelines Integration:
CDSS powered by language models can integrate clinical guidelines and best practices, ensuring that healthcare professionals receive up-to-date and evidence-based recommendations for diagnosis and treatment.
Medical Knowledge Base:
Language models are trained on extensive medical literature, enabling them to understand and access a wide range of medical knowledge. This knowledge can be used to provide context-aware recommendations for diagnosis and treatment.
Case Studies Illustrating the Effectiveness of Language Models in CDSS:
IBM Watson for Oncology:
One prominent example of a clinical decision support system (CDSS) is IBM Watson for Oncology. This system is designed to analyze a patient’s medical records. It is able to match them with an extensive database of medical literature, clinical trial data and expert knowledge in the field of oncology. A study conducted in India demonstrated the effectiveness of the system. Watson for Oncology provided treatment recommendations consistent with those of human oncologists in 96% of breast cancer cases and 93% of colon cancer cases. This highlights its significant potential for improving cancer treatment and highlights the important role of language models in medical decision making.
Mayo Clinic’s Clinical Text and Knowledge Extraction System (cTAKES):
cTAKES is an open source clinical decision support system (CDSS). It uses natural language processing (NLP) and language models to extract structured information from clinical descriptions. Its innovative approach has found widespread use, improving the analysis of clinical data and making it more accessible for research and decision support purposes.
Cleveland Clinic’s Cardiology AI System:
The Cleveland Clinic developed an AI system powered by language models to predict patient outcomes in cardiovascular disease cases. By analyzing EHRs and clinical notes, the system provided physicians with predictive insights, enabling more informed decision-making and personalized treatment plans.
Google’s DeepMind and Moorfields Eye Hospital:
Google’s DeepMind collaborated with Moorfields Eye Hospital to develop an AI system that utilizes language models to analyze retinal scans and identify eye diseases. The system demonstrated accuracy levels comparable to human experts in diagnosing conditions like diabetic retinopathy.
Based on all of the above, we can see that such implementation of language models provide compelling examples of how they can improve and enhance clinical decision support systems (CDSS), providing accurate and timely recommendations for diagnosis and treatment. They highlight the enormous potential of language models to revolutionize healthcare by improving the quality of care, minimizing diagnostic errors and ultimately helping to save lives.
One of the main potentials of using language models is their ability to improve patient-doctor interactions by acting as virtual healthcare assistants. These virtual assistants can answer patient queries, provide accurate medical information. And facilitate more effective communication between patients and healthcare providers. In this context, we will dive deeper into how language models can improve this interaction. And delve deeper into the concept of virtual health assistants.
Improving Patient-Doctor Interactions with Language Models:
Because language models can transform data, they can be used to make complex medical information more accessible to everyday users. Patients can ask questions about their health conditions, medications, treatment options and more in simple language. So the language model can provide clear explanations.
Patients frequently feel anxious while awaiting test results or when confronted with a new diagnosis. Language models can offer information and comfort, assisting patients in comprehending their conditions and treatment plans more thoroughly. This support can significantly alleviate stress and anxiety levels.
Language models can act as educational tools, offering patients information on preventive measures, lifestyle changes, and disease management. This empowers patients to take an active role in their healthcare.
Virtual health assistants driven by advanced language models operate 24/7, enabling patients to access information and assistance whenever they need. This proves particularly invaluable for individuals facing urgent issues or residing in diverse time zones.
Language models play a crucial role in overcoming language barriers and enabling communication with patients who do not speak English. These models can translate queries and deliver responses in various languages, guaranteeing that healthcare information is readily available to a wide-ranging patient demographic.
Virtual Health Assistants for Answering Patient Queries and Providing Medical Information:
Virtual medical assistants can help patients book an appointment with the right doctor quickly and efficiently, ensuring that patients receive timely care.
When patients are unsure of the need for a visit and consultation with a doctor or do not have the opportunity to visit a clinic in the near future, the ability of virtual assistants to classify and offer recommendations for primary care becomes especially useful.
Virtual medical assistants can provide accurate and up-to-date information about prescription and over-the-counter medications. And in this way, patients can learn about the uses, side effects and interactions of drugs.
After a medical appointment, virtual health assistants can follow up with patients to check on their progress, remind them of prescribed treatments, and answer any questions that may have arisen since the visit.
Virtual health assistants can provide personalized health education materials, videos, and resources tailored to an individual patient’s specific condition or health objectives.
Privacy and Security:
Safeguarding the privacy and security of patient data is paramount. Virtual health assistants must comply with rigorous privacy regulations such as HIPAA (in the United States). And implement strong security measures to safeguard patient information.
In critical situations, virtual health assistants can guide patients through basic first aid procedures. And provide instructions on seeking emergency care.
In summary, virtual health assistants driven by language models hold the promise of enhancing patient-doctor interactions by offering prompt, precise, and easily accessible information to patients. They have the capacity to boost patient engagement, alleviate the workload of healthcare professionals, and ultimately improve healthcare results. Nevertheless, it’s crucial to strike a balance between automation and human interaction to preserve the personal and empathetic aspects of healthcare delivery.
Certainly, here are real-world examples showcasing specific use cases of language models in healthcare:
Radiology Report Analysis:
Use Case: Language models help analyze radiology reports to extract critical information, identify abnormalities, and assist radiologists in their interpretations.
Example: Enlitic, a healthcare AI company, employs NLP techniques to analyze radiology reports and images. Their system can quickly identify and prioritize cases that may require immediate attention. Potentially reducing the time it takes for patients to receive necessary care.
Medical Image Captioning:
Use Case: Language models are utilized to generate descriptive captions for medical images, aiding in documentation and interpretation.
Example: IBM’s Medical Sieve project combines image analysis with natural language processing to create detailed captions for medical images. This technology can assist healthcare professionals in understanding and communicating complex visual information, especially in radiology and pathology.
Use Case: Language models are employed to analyze scientific literature and databases to identify potential drug candidates and predict their effectiveness.
Example: Insilico Medicine, a biotechnology company, uses AI and language models to accelerate drug discovery. They analyze vast amounts of biological data and research papers to identify new drug targets and design novel compounds with the potential to treat diseases, including cancer and Alzheimer’s.
Clinical Trial Matching:
Use Case: Language models assist in matching patients with appropriate clinical trials based on their medical records and eligibility criteria.
Example: Trialjectory is an AI-driven platform that uses NLP to analyze patient records and match eligible individuals with suitable clinical trials. This technology helps patients access cutting-edge treatments and facilitates the recruitment of participants for medical research.
Patient Data Extraction:
Use Case: Language models extract structured information from unstructured patient data, such as electronic health records (EHRs) and clinical notes.
Example: Google’s Healthcare API leverages language models and NLP to convert free-text clinical notes and medical records into structured data that can be easily integrated into EHRs. This simplifies data retrieval and analysis, benefiting both healthcare providers and researchers.
Disease Surveillance and Outbreak Prediction:
Use Case: Language models analyze online sources, including news articles and social media, to monitor disease trends and predict potential outbreaks.
Example: HealthMap, an initiative by Boston Children’s Hospital, uses NLP to scan online news reports, social media, and other sources to detect and track disease outbreaks in real-time. This information aids public health authorities in responding swiftly to emerging health threats.
These real-world examples highlight the versatility of language models in healthcare, demonstrating their ability to assist healthcare professionals in various tasks, improve patient care, and advance medical research. As language models continue to evolve, their impact on the healthcare industry is expected to grow, driving innovation and improving healthcare outcomes.
In conclusion, we can confidently state that language models have had a significant and transformative impact on analyzing medical texts and diagnosing illnesses in healthcare. They have become reliable tools for healthcare professionals, helping them process data efficiently, make better clinical decisions, and provide patients with medical information. These models have played a major role in reducing mistakes in diagnosis and improving medical research.
Looking forward, the use of language models in healthcare is expected to grow further, thanks to advancements in language technology, their integration into medical processes, and ethical considerations. The global influence of these models in healthcare, along with their ability to overcome language barriers and enhance healthcare outcomes, promises a future where healthcare is more precise, efficient, and focused on patients. This underscores their crucial role in shaping the healthcare industry. | literature |
http://www.wonderpuppy.net/nick/francoise.htm | 2023-10-04T00:10:45 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233511284.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231003224357-20231004014357-00004.warc.gz | 0.978086 | 2,796 | CC-MAIN-2023-40 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-40__0__240174548 | en | Francoise, all your friends have gathered in your time of need, sending all their love.
For the last year or so, you have been the best friend and strength to those on Acmepet's message boards. You fix graphics, write webpages, and just plain be a friend. In your time of need, we would like to try to return that favor, and at least show you we care.
This guestbook is in honor of Nick, a wonderful friend, companion, and husband.
This guestbook is an honor book for you and he!
Read Guestbook Memorial
Sign Guestbook Memorial
Now for a few gifts from your friends:
A Gift from Zac's Mom
A poem from Robin
A Gift from Robin, aka Furfeather
This Eternal Flame Burns for Nick.
Visit the Page of Eternal Flames
Now, from JD, this Beautiful work of art of poetry.
The Head Trainer Recruits an Angel.
A dedication to Leilah's Mom.
Leilah was restless.
The more she tried to get comfortable and rest, the more troubled she became.
Something was wrong.
Earlier, Mom had come home in a rush and with tears in her eyes.
The phone wouldn't quit ringing and the house suddenly seemed cold.
At one point, Mom grabbed her up and hugged her so tight she
thought she wasn't go to be able to breathe. And when she finally got
back down on the floor again, her fur was wet. She gave a little wag
of her tail, which usually made Mom smile, but this time it only made
Mom start crying again.
So Leilah jumped up and ran to the window. After all, if
Mom was home, that meant Dad would be home soon, didn't it?
But when she looked out the window, the world outside looked
different, somehow. . . Like it was missing something. She ran
back over to Mom and looked at her, asking the question with her eyes.
The phone rang again, and Mom was strong when she answered it, but began crying again.
That's when Leilah thought she heard Mom say something about Dad.
The room started looking misty and gray, and she couldn't seem
to focus real well on anything. Suddenly, Leilah became very tired.
She laid down on her little bed, closed her eyes and prayed that
Mom was mistaken, that what she had said on the phone wasn't true.
And as Leilah continued praying, she slowly dozed off into a deep, but fitful slumber. . .
Leilah awoke with a start.
The world seemed very bright, very warm and comforting and
as she stood up and slowly stretched, she saw another dog standing
in front of her. Baring her teeth at the stranger, Leilah prepared to
drive the stranger away. But upon looking around, she discovered she was not at home!
"Don't be afraid," the other dog said, taking a step forward.
"Who are you?" asked Leilah.
"My name is Charlie," answered the other dog, a female
"We think you have some questions, so we brought you here to help answer them."
"Where am I," asked a very confused Leilah.
"You're in a place that has many names," explained Charlie.
it the Rainbow Bridge, others call it the Big Kennel,
but your Mom and Dad would call it Heaven."
"But I'm not dead, what am I doing here?"
"No, you're not," agreed Charlie. "But the Head Trainer
you up here so the two of you could talk. There's something
you have to do before going back home to your Mom."
"Say good-bye to somebody you know."
Leilah got an uneasy feeling in her stomach. As Charlie began leading
Leilah inside through the Gates Made of Milk Bones, the Head Trainer appeared.
"Hello, Leilah," said the Head Trainer. "Charlie will
take you to the
place you need to go, then you'll come back and we'll talk for a
bit before it's time for you to go back to your Mom."
"This way," motioned Charlie, as she started up the path over
where the Looking Glass stood. The Looking Glass was a special
window to Earth in which you could look down and see everyone.
All you had to do was think, and that message would go to whoever
you were thinking about. It was how all the dogs in the Big Kennel
would talk to their owners whenever their owners became sad.
As they approached the Looking Glass, Leilah saw a man sitting down
in the grass and petting another dog. Somehow, the man looked
really familiar. Then when he turned to see who was approaching. . .
"DAD!!!" shouted Leilah, as she bolted for the man.
"DAD! I'm so glad I found you. Mom and I were looking
everywhere and Mom is so worried and scared, she's crying and
everything. I can't believe I found you! Oh, DAD!!!"
Nick at first looked sad, then he gave a small, lopsided
grin as he gave Leilah a quick hug. "How are ya', girl?"
Leilah just wagged her tail and licked Nick's face like nothing
else mattered. Then it finally dawned on Leilah what was going on.
"Oh no, Dad. . ." stammered Leilah. "No--"
"It's all right," Nick assured Leilah. "It's OK. I know this scares you, but trust me, it's all right."
"But what about Mom?" cried Leilah. "What are we going to do without you? Mom will be so lonely."
"No," answered Nick, "because she has you."
"And she also has me," said the Head Trainer, who had just
walked up and sat down on the grass with Nick, Charlie and Leilah.
"WHY DID YOU HAVE TO DO THIS???" wailed a sobbing
Leilah to the Head Trainer. "It's not fair. Dad was so good to all
of us and Mom loved him so much. Why did you have to TAKE HIM NOW?!?"
"Leilah," began the Head Trainer, "there are things
there on Earth that are good, and there are things happening that
are not good. Do you understand why I bring dogs home here?"
"Yes," Leilah quietly answered. "You make them angels to
look out for other dogs who are not as lucky as me.&"
"You're very wise," nodded the Head Trainer. "And I do
with people. It's a very difficult time down on Earth for a lot of people
right now. While I could stop it all in the blink of an eye, I choose
to let humans have free will and reign over their lives. But some of the
people have problems to great for them to bear alone, and they ask me
for help. There are elderly people who are all alone in nursing homes
with nobody to talk to, nobody to listen to them. There are children
living in impoverished inner-city neighborhoods surrounded by drugs
and criminals. There are children and women who are being abused
and molested. And there are good people who sometimes make
mistakes that could get them in a lot of trouble if
somebody wasn't there to stop them."
"Those people, Leilah," continued the Head Trainer, "they need angels."
"But why my Dad?" asked Leilah.
"Leilah," Nick began, "the Head Trainer and I were
talking. Seems I
would've gone anytime, and nobody knew it. If your Mom
and I had really known about it, we wouldn't have lived our lives to
the fullest. We would've held back, we would've always worried about
when "it was time." And that would have distracted us from truly
living every day to its fullest, to love each other unconditionally--like
our wedding vows: For richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part."
"Instead," said the Head Trainer, "your Mom and Dad lived
with through the joy of their love for each other one day at a time.
They are great people, people with goodness in their hearts and souls.
People who will not let death affect their love for each other."
Charlie got up and went over to Nick and whispered something in his ear.
Nick smiled, nodded and gave Charlie a pat on the head.
"Leilah," said Nick. "It seems there is a job for me to
do up here.
I'll be in training for a while, but when I'm finished I'll be going back
and forth to Earth. There are children who need an angel, and
there are others who need help and guidance that they can't get anywhere
else. Those people all alone in a strange hospital who know they'll never leave?
I'll be there with them, talking to them and giving them comfort.
The children who are being abused? I'll be there with them, taking
their pain to spare them any more. And just as Charlie here shows
dogs how to get around up here, so will I when it's time for people to come Home."
"So, does that mean I'll see you when you're
down on Earth?" asked a hopeful Leilah.
"I'm afraid not," answered the Head Trainer. "But, you
when your Dad is down there for you will suddenly feel young again,
and his memory will suddenly wash through you, making you happy, not sad."
This was all just too much for Leilah, and she began sobbing again.
"But, but. . . I'll miss you so much--and what about Mom?"
As Charlie moved over to comfort Leilah, Nick gently stroked
Leilah's neck. "Tell Mom that I love her dearly--and in ways now
that I can no longer express. But we can no longer talk person to
person, no, we will now have to express our love soul to soul,
spirit to spirit. I will always love Mom, always, and will be there to
comfort her thoughts in her times of need. And until we meet a
gain, Leilah, I need you to be there for Mom."
The Head Trainer nodded at Charlie. "OK, Leilah," said
"it's time to go back down. Your mom will be waking up
soon, and you need to be there when she does."
As everyone got up, the Head Trainer petted Leilah one last time,
as did Nick. And as they all walked by the Looking Glass,
a chorus of angels appeared all around them and began singing a
symphonic chorus filled with Joy, Glory, Praise and Hope.
And down on Earth, that chorus reverberated throughout,
manifesting itself in a variety of nature's most awesome displays:
Spectacular rays of sunshine. Life-giving rain storms.
Crashing ocean waves. Pure white driven snow flakes.
Infinite winds whipping across the plains.
Giving her dad one last look, Leilah turned to
Charlie and said, "I'm ready. Let's go back."
Charlie paused, and then pointed. Nick was at the
Looking Glass with the Head Trainer.
"Francoise," he began, "I loved you when we first met and
you every single day we were blessed to have together.
Be strong, my love, for our time apart will not be an eternity,
but our time together when we meet again will be for Eternity."
"I love you."
Leilah turned and looked at Charlie.
"The Head Trainer only takes the best for His angels, doesn't he."
"Nothing but the best," was Charlie's reply.
(dedicated to loving memory of Nick and to his bride and
Francoise. God truly Blessed the both of you.)
God Bless you with Strength and Love. And Francoise, with every tear that falls, ours are falling with you!
Some Links for you to read'
I Do Not Sleep
On Joy & Sorrow
Life will not go on the same without him.
If it were the same,
we could only conclude his life meant nothing,
made no contribution.
The fact that he left behind a place that cannot be filled,
is a high tribute to the uniqueness of his soul.
From Til we Meet Again
To add graphics or other gifts, email [email protected]
Backgrounds by Over the Rainbow | literature |
http://open-source-energy.org/?topic=2770.0 | 2018-12-16T13:24:21 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-51/segments/1544376827727.65/warc/CC-MAIN-20181216121406-20181216143406-00348.warc.gz | 0.95347 | 246 | CC-MAIN-2018-51 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2018-51__0__92281476 | en | Would you know evil if it walked up and shook your hand?
The following is paraphrased from William Lashner's "Fatal Flaw"
The submission of will is the start of goodness.
I tell you a person can be evil without cleft feet and a tail. What is it to be evil in this world? It is to have an unsubmitted will, to swear allegiance to nothing but the inner demons of one’s self, and to use every possible means to bend others to those same demons.
The evil all cleverly hide it behind a veneer of good intentions. Nothing exists to temper their desires. Whatever they want is right, whoever opposes them is wrong, everything they do is justified and proper, everything in this universe exists for the purpose of serving them. You can see it in the way they deal with people and the way they deal with problems.
What they do, on the surface, seems righteous but there is always in evil people a desperate attempt to portray themselves as the soul of righteousness. And just as inevitably, whenever a portion of the evil slips from that false cover of propriety, they are quick to angrily blame someone else for the evil deed. | literature |
http://playingforsurvival.tumblr.com/ | 2013-05-18T09:10:01 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382185/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00044-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | 0.976599 | 436 | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2013-20__0__106635041 | en | In the book, Gale Hawthorne is Katniss Everdeen’s best friend in District 12, the coal mining district on the outskirts of the country. The two hunt together and divide up the game that they catch. Although there’s no overt romance in the relationship, Katniss continually evaluates her feelings for him. But when she is sent to compete in the games, where she faces off against 23 intense competitors, Gale is left behind. While Katniss thinks about him during the games, the story never shows him after the games begin. In the film, however, the first-person narrative is changed to a third-person narrative so viewers will see what Gale is doing as his friend competes in the games. We watch as he desperately longs for Katniss and notices that she’s developing an onscreen relationship with fellow tribute, Peeta Mellark.
In an early scene in the book, Katniss makes camp near a young woman who starts a campfire. After the young woman is discovered, she is attacked and nearly killed by some of her fellow tributes. But when they discover that she’s alive after the attack, Peeta is sent to finish the job. In the conclusion of the book, Cato; facing off against a group of mutant mutts, survives for several hours before Katniss puts him out of his misery. In the movie, however, these deaths are done quickly. The film finds the bonfire girl dying quickly after she’s attacked and Cato only suffering a few moments before Katniss ends his life.
The biggest change between the book and the movie is the reaction to Rue’s death. In the book, Katniss only knows that she receives District 11’s appreciation for her kindness in the form of a gift dropped into the arena. In the movie, the complete reaction of District 11 is brought into greater focus. The people of District 11 begin to revolt against the capital officers who watch over them. They fight against the government that has taken one of their own and sent her into a battlefield to die for their viewing pleasure. | literature |
https://www.firstconyers.com/pearls | 2018-08-21T04:35:37 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-34/segments/1534221217951.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20180821034002-20180821054002-00387.warc.gz | 0.971885 | 204 | CC-MAIN-2018-34 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2018-34__0__100679951 | en | Pearls are frequently mentioned in the New Testament, and were considered by the ancients among the most precious of gems, and were highly esteemed as ornaments. The kingdom of heaven is compared to a "pearl of great price."
In the book of Matthew pearls are used metaphorically for anything of value, or perhaps more especially for "wise sayings."
No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal; the price of wisdom is above pearls.
Job 28:18 ESV
The heart of PEARLS is to connect older women with younger women in a mentoring relationship to encourage and challenge one another in their walk with Christ. Women invest in the lives of each other through encouragement, guidance, listening, laughing and loving. The goal is to form strong and lasting relationships that are a source of support, growth and strength. A mentoring relationship between an older and younger woman will be filled with treasured pearls of wisdom. Wisdom gained through life experiences and walking with God. | literature |
https://www.okido.com/shop/books/whats-inside/ | 2020-01-19T09:41:03 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-05/segments/1579250594391.21/warc/CC-MAIN-20200119093733-20200119121733-00338.warc.gz | 0.912857 | 153 | CC-MAIN-2020-05 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2020-05__0__16383265 | en | Board covered paperback
See-through pages and magic surprises! It’s true!
Hold the special pictures up to the light to discover what’s inside a rocket, a castle, and even inside your body! There are also plenty of exciting facts.
Draw in your own surprises, too!
What present will you draw inside the box?
Which snacks will you draw in the fridge?
Who will you draw behind the door?
“This book is a must for inquisitive children who want to know how things work – by lifting the pages up to the light, you can see the inside of many things from the human body to a medieval castle.” – J.A. Smith
Thames and Hudson. | literature |
https://cotton.ces.ncsu.edu/2016/04/seedling-vigor-why-is-it-important-collins-edmisten-stewart-york-reisig/ | 2024-04-21T22:01:16 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817819.93/warc/CC-MAIN-20240421194551-20240421224551-00336.warc.gz | 0.925071 | 3,089 | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-18__0__49567813 | en | Seedling Vigor: Why Is It Important? (Collins, Edmisten, Stewart, York, & Reisig)
en Español / em Português
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Seedling vigor (seedling size, health, and growth rate) is the product of several factors related to genetics and environmental influences, and can also be manipulated through management. Naturally, seed size and performance in warm and cool germination tests can be indicators of how vigorous seedlings might be. Soil temperatures at planting and soon thereafter can also greatly influence seedling vigor. Lastly, improvements in vigor can be achieved through adequate protection from early season pests such as thrips and occasionally the use of starter fertilizers (in a 2×2 placement).
As mentioned above, seed size can be one predictor of vigor as larger-seeded varieties tend to be more vigorous, which will be discussed later in this article. It is important to note however, that variety decisions should be based on factors such as lint yield and yield stability, fiber quality, technology packages etc., with seed size considered mostly in regard to how that seed should be managed at planting. As seen from variety trial results, yield potential appears to be independent from seed size, as long as acceptable stands are established….in other words, high yields can be achieved from both large and small-seeded varieties as long as plant stands are adequate or optimal. Smaller-seeded varieties can also be our highest-yielding varieties in some years, however extra care may sometimes be necessary to ensure vigorous seedling growth and acceptable stand establishment, including upwards adjustments in seeding rates, delaying planting until conditions are optimal, use of seed treatments and/or in-furrow insecticides, hill-dropping, etc. Observing cool germ test results is also a good standard practice that is commonly under-utilized. Although only warm germ test results are printed on the seed bag, a grower can easily retrieve cool germ results by recording the lot number and asking the local seed company representative for the cool germ test results for that lot number. As a general practice, it is a wise practice to record the following information for each bag of seed a grower purchases: lot number, cool germ test results, specific seed treatment and treatment location (if treated downstream), planting weather (soil temperatures, air temperatures, and rainfall from a few days prior to planting until full emergence), and save a small sample of seed (1 gallon or so). This information along with a sample of seed can significantly help growers in situations where poor stands are observed.
With regard to cool germination, below is a quote from a publication written by Dr. Sandy Stewart who conducted some research observing the effects and interaction of seed size and cool germination during 2005-2006 in Louisiana:
“The results suggests that the perceived negative effects of a low cool germination value can be overcome by a larger seed size, presumably due to greater stored energy reserves for emergence within the seed. Similarly, results suggest that the perceived negative effects of a small seed could be overcome by a high cool germination value in stand establishment. The lack of interactions among the treatment factors suggests that these findings should be consistent across varieties as well as environmental conditions. Growers do appear to be justified in seeking larger seed lots or higher cool germination lots for planting. However, the results from this study indicate that the combination of a small seed and a low cool germination is more detrimental to stand establishment than either factor alone. Smaller seeded lots should be handled with care, but may tolerate more challenging conditions than previously thought as long as the cool germination is high. Similarly, a low cool germination lot may emerge satisfactorily in challenging conditions as long as it also has a large seed size.”
His findings suggests that cool germ test results may be more important for smaller seed than larger seed, but both large and small seed can achieve acceptable stands if cool germ test results are adequate/optimal, or when planting in favorable environmental conditions or both.
So how do you quantify seed size, and how do you know if it is large or smaller seeded? Seed size is printed on the bag as seeds per lb. The higher the number, the smaller the seed. There is no designation for large versus small seed, therefore seed size is only relative when comparing one variety to another variety or comparing lot numbers. Assuming cool germ test results are similar and favorable for all varieties in a comparison, seed size can be one (of many) predictors of vigor. The graph below illustrates a relatively high correlation between seed size (as printed on the bag) and seedling vigor in five locations of the 2015 On-Farm Cotton Variety Trials. Note: seed quality and planting conditions were very favorable for these trials in 2015.
So how do certain varieties compare to one another with regard to seedling vigor? The graph below illustrates vigor (fresh weights of 10 seedlings per plot at the 2-3 leaf stage) of all varieties in the same five locations of the 2015 On-Farm Cotton Variety Trials.
It is important to note that all varieties in these trials resulted in optimal stands and acceptable vigor, and vigor did not appear to translate into higher yields. Planting weather was optimal for these trials in 2015 and severe thrips pressure and herbicide injury was essentially non-existent in field observations. However, if these varieties were to be planted under adverse weather conditions, and encounter severe thrips pressure and herbicide injury, then perhaps some of the smaller seeded or lower vigor varieties would need extra care or attention during planting and soon thereafter to ensure acceptable growth, especially if cool germ test results were less than ideal.
So why is seedling vigor important? Over the years, seedling vigor has always been important in stand establishment, especially in the early part of our planting window when conditions can be relatively cool. However, when planting in excellent conditions, yes, growers may still notice small differences in high and low vigor seedlings, but these differences often disappear later in the season and may not translate into differences in yield. But if the truth be told, this was more common back when we still had aldicarb and glyphosate resistance was not an issue.
In modern times, there are two major factors that can interact to elevate the value of vigorous seedling growth. These factors are the loss of aldicarb, and thus increased challenges in controlling thrips, and the increased reliance on residual herbicides for managing glyphosate-resistant weeds.
Injury from thrips is exacerbated by any factor that slows seedling growth. Reduced growth rates of seedlings allow thrips to feed on developing terminal leaves for a longer period of time and also prolong the time between seedling emergence and the 4-5 leaf stage (point at which seedlings are generally safe from thrips) which intensifies the adverse effects on yield and maturity. With the loss of aldicarb, there is a greater need to promote rapid seedling growth to minimize these losses, through planting high-vigor seed and planting in warm, moist soils when conditions following planting are expected to favor vigorous growth. This is especially important in modern times as many of our thrips control products may expire before seedling reach the thrips “safe stage” if growth is slowed too much. Secondly, as we all know, the success of modern weed control programs relies heavily on effective use of residual herbicides to prevent pigweed emergence. An occasional side effect of such is herbicide injury, which can also slow seedling growth and most commonly occurs when experiencing rainfall at cracking or when seedlings imbibe a high concentration of herbicide as they are trying to emerge. The effects of herbicide injury alone (i.e. in the absence of all other stresses) is generally minimal and seedlings can overcome that injury given a little time. However, the effects of herbicide injury can be exacerbated when seedling growth is slowed due to cool weather or if proactive thrips control measures are not taken.
Let’s be clear on something….the use of residual herbicides is as important now as it ever was. Weed control programs that are too lax (reduced rates or no residual herbicides) will result in poor weed control which will more than negate any improvements in seedling vigor or thrips control. In the current period of low cotton prices, some growers have expressed concern over the cost of some herbicides, especially when they have experienced severe injury in previous years. The effects that herbicides have on seedling vigor and thrips control can be overcome by timely management and are miniscule in comparison to the costs of dealing with weedy fields. Finally, it should be noted that herbicide injury can sometimes look very similar to thrips injury. Be sure you know if thrips are present before you manage what is actually an herbicide problem.
So what can we do?? Given the current challenges we face, the potential impact of planting high vigor seed in conditions favorable for rapid seedling growth is greater now than it has ever been. Therefore, as simple as it may seem, a little extra attention to warm and cool germination tests and avoiding planting during periods of cool, wet conditions can help alleviate many of these issues. The effects of both thrips and herbicide injury should be lessened to some degree when doing so. Secondly, if herbicide injury is observed, research across the belt has shown that a well-timed foliar spray of acephate when the first true leaf barely appears between the cotyledons (15-20 days after planting depending on growth rate) can remove the added stress from thrips and can prevent adverse effects on yield. It is important to note that the timeliness of this foliar spray is extremely important to the success of this approach. It is understandable that growers want to combine sprays when possible to reduce trips across the field. However, if the preemergence herbicide is working, thrips control will often be needed prior to time for the first postemergence herbicide application.
With regard to thrips management practices, many growers have had good success with an insecticidal seed treatment followed by a well-timed foliar spray to 1-leaf cotton. Recent cases of documented resistance to seed treatments across the belt, including North Carolina, have raised concerns of whether or not a seed treatment will suffice in controlling thrips. In 2016, growers should have the option to choose which seed treatment they prefer, whether the seed is treated by the manufacturer or downstream at local distribution outlets. As with any seed treatment, a well-timed foliar spray should be expected in most cases. It is important to note, that a higher rate of acephate or Radiant plus surfactant (Radiant rates of 1.5 oz/A or preferably higher, with better control expected at higher rates) may be necessary in controlling western flower thrips. In many cases, the presence of high numbers of western flower thrips is only realized once the foliar spray has failed and another application is needed.
In recent years, there has been a growing interest in applying liquid Admire Pro (or like product) in-furrow in addition to a seed treatment. There has been a great deal of success with this approach, as data have illustrated prolonged control of thrips on occasion. However, as Dr. Reisig pointed out in the winter cotton meetings, growers may not expect a “one and done” approach to suffice in all cases in 2016. As seen in 2015, there will likely be several scenarios where a seed treatment plus Admire Pro in-furrow will require an additional foliar spray of acephate. Regardless, the success of this program relies heavily on achieving adequate coverage or direct contact of liquid insecticide with the seed as it is planted. There are several methods used to make liquid in-furrow applications of Admire Pro, however research in North Carolina has shown the greatest success with the 9.2 oz/A rate of Admire Pro at application/carrier volumes of 5 to 9 gallons per acre applied through an orifice which provides a direct stream of the insecticide contacting the seed as it is planted. With regard to seed covers, growers should evaluate seed/insecticide contact in their system and make necessary adjustments to ensure direct contact of insecticide to the seed. | literature |
https://www.boxpiper.com/posts/reading-for-success-how-books-shape-the-college-experience | 2023-12-01T23:47:23 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00655.warc.gz | 0.959683 | 945 | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-50__0__242499383 | en | The college experience is a transformative one for every student. It is a journey filled with academic growth, personal development, and self-discovery too. You pursue your desired degree, you expand your knowledge, and hone your skills. And if you study in an international environment, you become more culturally sensitive and aware too. There are many factors that contribute to your personal growth. You meet new colleagues on campus, some of whom will become your friends for life. You engage in writing papers, as part of your academic pursuit. You study what your teachers recommend to you, and you read books too.
Even though these are some normal activities in the life of every student, we often underestimate the power books have. They are more than vessels of knowledge. They serve as windows to new worlds, new ideas, and perspectives. And they can indeed have a profound impact on your life as a student, shaping your entire college experience. Learn more about how books can do this.
College coursework includes extensive reading. You have to go to courses and read the recommended textbooks so that you get a better understanding of the course materials. Of course, you will have to read academic journals, research papers, or other supplementary reading too. But the recommended books are essential too, as they provide the foundational knowledge you need. On top of this, they serve as references for exams and essays you might have to write. You can be inspired by some of these books and want to expand your knowledge on a niche more. They can serve as quality personal narrative essay examples for students too, as EduBirdie experts point out online. This is a service of essay samples that recognizes the great benefits reading books has on the academic journey of every student.
Reading encourages critical thinking a lot. When reading, you will not always meet ideas you already agree on. Some of the perspectives presented in books will challenge your beliefs, will make you question assumptions, and will give you food for thought. These critical skills you will develop through reading are essential not only in academics but also in life. They help you make informed decisions and analyze the details you have at hand carefully.
Another set of skills reading books helps you improve is communication skills. When you read, you face new ideas, perspectives, and thoughts. You see how the author expressed their ideas, how they formulated the sentences, and what specific words they used. Well, reading helps you expand not only your knowledge but your vocabulary too. It helps you develop effective communication skills. It enhances comprehension and the ability to articulate ideas clearly. This is vital for academic discussions, writing essays, and participating in classroom debates.
Well, academic progress is essential to every student. However, reading books does not only help you with this. It also helps you grow personally. Beyond the classroom, books turn out to be a really valuable source of personal growth. Memories, self-help, or psychology books can provide you with some food for thought. They can also provide you with strategies for better time management, or for solving conflicts. They can help you discover your goals, your values, and your dreams. And the more aware you are of your inner world and thoughts, the happier your life will be. Books are instrumental in shaping your identity and aspirations.
Technology has enabled us to travel from country to country fast and easily. And today, you might find yourself studying in an international environment. Well, books open doors to new cultures, societies, and historical periods. Some of these you might not encounter otherwise, so taking a glimpse into how other cultures live and see life can open new horizons. And this makes you more culturally aware, to be more emphatic, and have a broader understanding of the world.
College time can turn out to be pretty stressful at times. Well, reading can be a form to alleviate this stress and relax after a full long day. It can help you escape the stress of everyday life and enter a new universe. Engaging with a compelling novel or story can provide a much-needed break from the pressure of academic life. And, of course, contribute to mental well-being.
College is an incredible experience for every student. It is a transformative journey where you learn more not only about the world and your chosen study subject but about yourself too. Books are part of this journey and they contribute tremendously to expanding your knowledge and vocabulary and honing your skills. So, do not hesitate to end your day and relax with an excellent book.
Bio lines: Cory Shilling is a content writer and blogger. He is passionate about writing, but about reading too. You can find him spending his evenings with a cup of tea and a book. | literature |
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