text:
"Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace [or gratitude,] 3449 whereby we serve 3450 God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire."
[1.] In another place he says the same, "for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal" ( 2. Cor. iv. 18 ); and from this makes an exhortation with regard to the evils which we endure in this present life; and here he does this, and says, let us continue steadfast; "let us have thankfulness," i.e., let us give thanks unto God. For not only we ought not to be discouraged at present things, but even to show the greatest gratitude to Him, for those to come.
"Whereby we serve God acceptably," that is to say, for thus is it possible to serve God acceptably, by giving him thanks in all things. "Do all things" (he says) "without murmurings and disputings." ( Phil. ii. 14 .) For whatever work a man does with murmuring, he cuts away and loses his reward; as the Israelites—how great a penalty they paid for their murmurings. Wherefore he says, "Neither murmur ye." ( 1 Cor. x. 10 .) It is not therefore possible to "serve" Him "acceptably" without a sense of gratitude to Him for all things, both for our trials, and the alleviations of them. That is, let us utter nothing hasty, nothing disrespectful, but let us humble ourselves that we may be reverential. For this is "with reverence and godly fear."
Heb. 13:1, 2 . "Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful of hospitality, 3451 for hereby some have entertained angels unawares." See how he enjoins them to preserve what they had: he does not add other things. He did not say, "Be loving as brethren," but, "Let brotherly love continue." And again, he did not say, "Be hospitable," as if they were not, but, "Be not forgetful of hospitality," for this was likely to happen owing to their afflictions.
Therefore 3452 (he says) "some have entertained angels unawares." Seest thou how great was the honor, how great the gain!
What is "unawares"? 3453 They entertained them without knowing it. Therefore the reward also was great, because he entertained them, not knowing that they were Angels. For if he had known it, it would have been nothing wonderful. Some say that he here alludes to Lot also.
[2.] Heb. 13.3-5 . "Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them, them which suffer adversity as being yourselves also in the body. Marriage is honorable in all, 3454 and the bed undefiled; but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. Let your conversation be without covetousness: being content with such things as ye have."
See how large is his discourse concerning chastity. "Follow peace," he said, "and holiness; Lest there be any fornicator or profane person" ( Heb. 12.14 ); and again, "Fornicators and adulterers God will judge." ( Heb. 12.16 .) In every case, the prohibition is with a penalty. "Follow peace with all men," he says, "and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: But fornicators and adulterers God will judge."
And having first set down "Marriage is honorable in all men, and the bed undefiled," he shows that he rightly added what follows. For if marriage has been conceded, justly is the fornicator punished, justly does the adulterer suffer vengeance.
Here he strips for 3455 the heretics. He did not say again, Let no one be a fornicator; but having said it once for all, he then went on as p. 515 with a general exhortation, and not as directing himself against them.
"Let your conversation be without covetousness," he says. He did not say, Possess nothing, but, "Let your conversation be without covetousness": that is, let it show forth the philosophical character of your mind. 3456 [And it will show it, if we do not seek superfluities, if we keep only to what is necessary.] 3457 For he says above also, "And ye took joyfully the spoiling of your goods." ( Heb. 10.34 .) He gives these exhortations, that they might not be covetous.
"Being content" (he says) "with such things as ye have." Then here also the consolation; ( Heb. 13.5 ) "For He" (he says) "hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee"; ( Heb. 13.6 ) "so that we may boldly say, the Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me." Again consolation in their trials.
[3.] Heb. 13.7 . "Remember them which have the rule over you." This he was laboring to say above: therefore "Follow peace with all men." ( Heb. 12.14 .) He gave this exhortation also to the Thessalonians, to "hold them in honor exceedingly." ( 1 Thess. v. 13 .)
"Remember" (he says) "them which have the rule over you, 3458 who have spoken unto you the word of God, whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation." What kind of following is this? Truly the best: for he says, beholding their life, "follow their faith." For from a pure life [cometh] faith.
Or else by "faith," he means steadfastness. How so? Because they believe in the things to come. For they would not have shown forth a pure life, if they had questioned about the things to come, if they had doubted. So that here also he is applying a remedy to the same [evil]. 3459
Heb. 13:8, 9 . " Jesus Christ the same yesterday and to-day and for ever. Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established with grace, not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein."
In these words, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday and to-day and for ever," "yesterday" means all the time that is past: "to-day," the present: "for ever," the endless which is to come. That is to say: Ye have heard of an High Priest, but not an High Priest who fails. He is always the same. As though there were some who said, He is not, another will come, he says this, that He who was "yesterday and to-day," is "the same also for ever." For even now the Jews say, that another will come; and having deprived themselves of Him that is will fall into the hands of Antichrist.
"Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines." Not "with strange doctrines" only, but neither with "divers ones."
"For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace, not with meats which have not profited them that have been occupied 3460 therein." Here he gently hints at those who introduce the observance of "meats." For by Faith all things are pure. There is need then of Faith, not of "meats."
For ( Heb. 13.10 ) "we have an altar whereof they have no right to eat which serve 3461 the Tabernacle." Not as the Jewish [ordinances], are those among us, as it is not lawful even for the High Priest to partake of them. So that since he had said, "Do not observe," 3462 and this seemed to be [the language] of one who is throwing down his own building, he again turns it round. What, have not we then observances as well (he says)? [Yea we have], and we observe them very earnestly too, not sharing them even with the priests themselves.
[4.] Heb. 13:11, 12 . "For the bodies of those beasts whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the High Priest for sin, are burned without the camp. Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered" (he says) "without the gate." Seest thou the type shining forth? "For sin," he says, and "suffered without the gate." ( Heb. 13.13 ) "Let us go forth therefore to Him without the camp, bearing His reproach," that is, suffering the same things; having communion with Him in His sufferings. He was crucified without as a condemned person: neither let us then be ashamed to "go forth out" [of the world].
Heb. 13:14, 15 . "For we have here no continuing city" (he says) "but we seek one to come. By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His Name."
"By Him," as by an High Priest, according to the flesh. 3463 "Giving thanks" 3464 (he says) "to His Name." (See p. 514.) Let us utter nothing blasphemous, nothing hasty, nothing bold, nothing presumptuous, nothing desperate. This is "with reverence and godly fear." ( Heb. 12.28 .) For a soul in tribulations becomes desponding, and reckless. 3465 But let not us [be so]. See here he again says the same thing which he said before, "not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together," for so shall we be able to do all things p. 516 with reverence. For oftentimes even out of respect for men, we refrain from doing many evil things.
Heb. 13.16 . "But to do good and to communicate forget not." I speak not [merely] with reference to the brethren present, but to those absent also. But if others have plundered your property, display your hospitality out of such things as ye have. What excuse then shall we have henceforward, when they, even after the spoiling of their goods, were thus admonished?
[5.] And he did not say, "Be not forgetful" of the entertaining of strangers, 3466 but "of hospitality": 3467 that is, do not merely entertain strangers, but [do it] with love for the strangers. Moreover he did not speak of the recompense that is future, and in store for us, lest he should make them more supine, but of that already given. For "thereby some" (he says) "have entertained angels unawares."
But let us see in what sense "Marriage is honorable in all and the bed undefiled." Because (he means) it preserves the believer in chastity. Here he also alludes to the Jews, because they accounted the woman after childbirth 3468 polluted: and "whosoever comes from the bed," it is said, "is not clean." 3469 Those things are not polluted 3470 which arise from nature, O ungrateful and senseless Jew, 3471 but those which arise from choice. 3472 For if "marriage is honorable" and pure, why forsooth dost thou think that one is even polluted by it?
"Let your conversation" (he says) "be without covetousness": since many after having exhausted 3473 their property, afterwards wish to recover it again under the guise of alms, therefore he says, "Let your conversation be without covetousness"; that is, that we should be [desirous only] of what is necessary 3474 and indispensable. What then (you say) if we should not have a supply even of these? This is not possible; indeed it is not. "For He hath said," and He doth not lie, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we boldly say, The Lord is my Helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me." Thou hast the promise from Himself: do not doubt henceforward. He has promised; make no question. But this, "I will never leave thee," he says not concerning money only, but concerning all other things also. "The Lord is my Helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me"; with good reason.
This then also let us say in all temptations; let us laugh at human things, so long as we have God favorable to us. For as, when He is our enemy, it is no gain, though all men should be our friends, so when He is our friend, though all men together war against us, there is no harm. "I will not fear what man shall do unto me."
[6.] "Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God." In this place I think that he is speaking about assistance also. 3475 For this is [implied in the words] "who have spoken unto you the word of God."
"Whose faith follow considering the end of their conversation." What is, "considering"? 3476 Continually revolving, examining it by yourselves, reasoning, investigating accurately, testing it as you choose. "The end of their conversation," that is, their conversation to the end: for "their conversation" had a good end.
"Jesus Christ the same yesterday and to-day and for ever." Do not think that then indeed He wrought wonders, but now works no wonders. He is the same. This is, "remember them that have the rule over you." 3477
"Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines." "Strange," that is, different from those ye heard from us; ["Divers"] that is, of all sorts: for they have no stability, but are different [one from another]. For especially manifold 3478 is the doctrine of meats.
"For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats." These are the "divers," these the "strange" 3479 [doctrines]: especially as Christ has said, "not that which entereth into the mouth defileth the man, but that which cometh out." ( Matt. xv. 11 .) And observe that he does not make bold to say this openly, but as it were by a hint. 3480 "For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace, not with meats."
Faith is all. If that establishes [it], the heart stands in security. It follows that Faith establishes: consequently reasonings shake. For Faith is contrary to reasoning.
"Which" (he says) "have not profited them that have been occupied therein." For what is the gain from the observance 3481 [of them], tell me. Does it not rather destroy? Does it not make such an one to be under sin? If it be p. 517 necessary to observe [them], we must guard ourselves. 3482
"Which" (he says) "have not profited them that have been occupied therein." That is, who have always diligently kept them.
There is one observance, abstaining from sin. For what profit is it, when some are so polluted, as not to be able to partake of the sacrifices? So that it did not save them at all; although they were zealous about the observances. But because they had not faith, even thus they profited nothing.
[7.] In the next place he takes away 3483 the sacrifice from the type, and directs his discourse to the prototype, saying, "The bodies of those beasts whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the High Priest, are burned without the camp." Then those things were a type of these and thus Christ, suffering "without," fulfilled all.
Here he makes it plain too that He suffered voluntarily, showing 3484 that those things were not accidental, but even the [Divine] arrangement itself was of a suffering "without." [He suffered] without, but His Blood was borne up into Heaven. Thou seest then that we partake of Blood which has been carried into the Holy Place, the True Holy Place; of the Sacrifice of which the Priest alone had the privilege. We therefore partake of the Truth [the Reality]. If then we partake not of "reproach" [only] but of sanctification, 3485 the "reproach" is the cause of the sanctification. For as He was reproached, so also are we. If we go forth "without" therefore, we have fellowship with Him.
But what is, "Let us go forth to Him"? Let us have fellowship with Him in His sufferings; let us bear His reproach. For He did not simply bid us dwell "outside the gate," but as He was reproached as a condemned person, so also we.
And "by Him let us offer a sacrifice to God." Of what kind of sacrifice does he speak? "The fruit of lips giving thanks to His Name." They [the Jews] brought sheep, and calves, and gave them to the Priest: let "us" bring none of these things, but thanksgiving. This "fruit" let "our lips" put forth.
"For with such sacrifices God is well pleased." Let us give such a sacrifice to Him, that He may offer [it] to The Father. For in no other way it is offered except through the Son, or rather also through a contrite mind. All these things [are said] for the weak. For that the thanks belong to the Son is evident: since otherwise, how is the honor equal? "That all men" (He says) "should honor the Son even as they honor the Father." ( John v. 23 .) Wherein is the honor equal? "The fruit of our lips giving thanks to His Name." 3486
[8.] Let us bear all things thankfully, be it poverty, be it disease, be it anything else whatever: for He alone knows the things expedient for us. "For we know not what we should pray for as we ought." ( Rom. viii. 26 .) We then who do not know even how to ask for what is fitting, unless we have received of 3487 the Spirit, let us take care to offer up thanksgiving for all things, and let us bear all things nobly. Are we in poverty? Let us give thanks. Are we in sickness? Let us give thanks. Are we falsely accused? Let us give thanks: when we suffer affliction, let us give thanks.
This brings us near to God: then we even have God for our debtor. But when we are in prosperity, it is we who are debtors and liable to be called to account. For when we are in prosperity, we are debtors to God: and oftentimes these things bring a judgment upon us, while those are for a payment of sins. 3488 Those [afflictions] draw down mercy, they draw down kindness: while these on the other hand lift up even to an insane pride, and lead also to slothfulness, and dispose a man to fancy great things concerning himself; they puff up. Therefore the prophet also said, "It is good for me, Lord, that Thou hast afflicted 3489 me; that I may learn Thy statutes." ( Ps. cxix. 71 .) When Hezekiah had received blessings and been freed from calamities, his heart was lifted up on high; when he fell sick, then was he humbled, then he became near to God. "When He slew them," it says, "then they sought Him diligently, and turned, and were early in coming to 3490 God." ( Ps. lxxviii. 34 .) And again, "When the beloved waxed gross and fat, then he kicked." ( Deut. xxxii. 15 .) For "the Lord is known when He executeth judgments." ( Ps. ix. 16 .)
[9.] Affliction is a great good. "Narrow is the way" ( Matt. vii. 14 ), so that affliction 3491 thrusts us into the narrow [way]. He who is not pressed by affliction cannot enter. For he who afflicts himself in the narrow [way], is he who also enjoys ease; but he that spreads himself out, 3492 does not enter in, and suffers from being so to say wedged in. 3493 See how Paul enters into this narrow way. He "keeps under" his "body" ( 1 Cor. ix. 27 ), so as to be able to enter. Therefore, in all his afflictions, he continued giving thanks unto God. Hast thou lost thy property? This hath lightened thee of the most of thy wideness. Hast thou fallen from glory? This is p. 518 another sort of wideness. Hast thou been falsely accused? Have the things said against thee, of which thou art nowise conscious to thyself been believed? "Rejoice and leap for joy." For "blessed are ye" (He says) "when men reproach you, and say all manner of evil against you, falsely, for My sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in Heaven." ( Matt. 5:11, 12 .)
Why dost thou marvel, if thou art grieved, and wish to be set free from temptations? Paul wished to be set free, and oftentimes entreated God, and did not obtain. For the "thrice for this I besought the Lord," is oftentimes; "and He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." ( 2 Cor. 12:8, 9 .) By "weakness," he here means "afflictions." What then? When he heard this he received it thankfully, and says, "Wherefore I take pleasure in infirmities" ( 2 Cor. xii. 10 ); that is, I am pleased, I rest in my afflictions. For all things then let us give thanks, both for comfort, and for affliction. 3494 Let us not murmur: let us not be unthankful. "Naked came I out of my mothers womb, naked also shall I depart." ( Job i. 21 .) Thou didst not come forth glorious, do not seek glory. Thou wast brought into life naked, not of money alone, but also of glory, and of honorable name.
Consider how great evils have oftentimes arisen from wealth. For "It is easier" (it is said) "for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of Heaven." ( Matt. xix. 24 .) Seest thou to how many good things wealth is a hindrance, and dost thou seek to be rich? Dost thou not rejoice that the hindrance has been overthrown? So narrow is the way which leadeth into the Kingdom. So broad is wealth, and full of bulk and swelling out. Therefore He says, "Sell that thou hast" ( Matt. xix. 21 ), that that way may receive thee. Why dost thou yearn after wealth? For this cause He took it away from thee, that He might free thee from slavery. For true fathers also, when a son is corrupted by some mistress, and having given him much exhortation they do not persuade him to part from her, send the mistress into banishment. Such also is abundance of wealth. Because the Lord cares for us, and delivers us from the harm [which arises] therefrom, He takes away wealth from us.
Let us not then think poverty an evil: sin is the only evil. For neither is wealth a good thing by itself: to be well-pleasing to God is the only good. Poverty then let us seek, this let us pursue: so shall we lay hold on heaven, so shall we attain to the other good things. Which may we all attain by the grace and lovingkindness of our Lord Jesus Christ, with whom to the Father together with the Holy Ghost be glory, power, honor, now and ever and world without end. Amen.
χάριν ἔχωμεν . St. Chrys. understands the expression in this sense; which it has elsewhere: as in Luke xvii. 9; 2 Tim. i. 3514:3450
λατρεύομεν is the reading of all the mss. , the common texts have λατρεύωμεν514:3451
φιλοξενίας , see below, [5]. [Neither the A.V. " to entertain strangers, " nor the R.V. " to show love to strangers, " have hit upon the natural meaning of φιλοξενία , adopted throughout by St. Chrys.—F.G.]514:3452
διὰ τοῦτο , or διὰ ταύτης " thereby. "514:3453 514:3454
[The R.V. puts this and the following clause in the imperative, " Let marriage be had in honor among all. " The Greek has simply the adjective and noun which would naturally be connected by the simple copula.—F.G.]514:3455 515:3456
[The R.V. translates, " Be ye free from the love of money, " with the margin, " Let your turn of mind be free. " —F.G.]515:3457
[This passage is omitted in Fields text, though contained in the Benedictine, and should of course be omitted here.—F.G.]515:3458
ἡ γουμένων , " spiritual leaders and guides. "515:3459
τὸ αὐτὸ θεραπεύει , " unchastity. "515:3460
οἱ περιπατήσαντες , i.e. " that have walked in them " : " lived in the observance of rules respecting them. "515:3461 515:3462
παρατηρεῖτε , see Gal. iv. 10515:3463 515:3464
[R.V. " which make confession. " —F.G.]515:3465
ἀ παναισχυντεῖ , " loses respect. "516:3466
St. Chrys. here reverts to Heb. 13.2 , and goes over again the portion on which he has already commented.516:3467
" Love of the stranger, " φιλόξενία516:3468 516:3469
See Lev. xv. 18516:3470 516:3471
[St. Chrys. might seem here to be casting contempt upon the laws of the Old Dispensation; but he probably means that while they were fitting enough as parts of the temporary ceremonial law, they have no such foundation in nature as to remain of any force under the Christian Dispensation.—F.G.]516:3472 516:3473
κενῶσαι . This word is used commonly by St. Chrys. for giving away ones whole property in charity, and probably that is its meaning here.516:3474 516:3475
ἐ πικουρία : see 1 Tim. v. 17 , &c.516:3476 516:3477
That is, Remember them, because of the continual presence and working of Christ in His Church.516:3478
or, " intricate and complicated, " πολύπλοκον516:3479 516:3480 516:3481
παρατήρησις ; see Gal. iv. 10 , " Ye observe ( παρατηρεῖσθε ) days, " &c.517:3482
ἔ στι παρατηρεῖσθαι : potius sibi cavendum est , is Mr. Fields translation; " to be guarded, " as we say.517:3483 517:3484
δεικνὺς ὅτι οὐκ ἐκεῖνα ἁπλῶς ἦν, ἀλλὰ καὶ αὐτὴ ἡ οἰκονομία ἔξω πάθους ἦν517:3485
ἁ γιασμοῦ . The effect of the sprinkling with blood. See Heb. 9:12, 13, Heb. 10:10, 14517:3486
That is, " to the Name of the Son. "517:3487
ἐ πιλαβώμεθα , " taken hold of. "517:3488
ἔ κτισις , see above, Hom. v. [6.] p. 391.517:3489 517:3490 517:3491
θλῖψις , literally " pressing " : probably St. Chrys. had in mind a word of the text which he does not cite, τεθλιμμένη ἡ ὁδός517:3492 517:3493 518:3494
[See above, pp. 442, 459, 460, 517. St. Chrysostom in his bitter banishment finished his last prayer " with his usual thanksgiving, Glory to God for all things and sealed it with a final Amen. " Dr. Bright, Hist. of Church, between a.d. 313 and 451 , chapter ix. end, p. 255 and Dr. Brights note b. on the same page.]
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text:
"My mind is made up!" An often heard declaration, these words can be the source of joy or grief depending on whose they are. From the one who struggles to make and hold on to decisions, they bring relief to the hearers. But from one who takes pride in his or her iron will, they elicit sighs and exasperation. I know a thing or two about the latter because during my childhood and teen years, I developed a strong will as a defense against manipulation. Once my mind was made up on certain issues, that was it!
Having a strong will is in itself not bad. In fact, some of the people whom God has used to drive significant changes in His kingdom and in the world have been people of rock-solid wills; for example, Paul the apostle. Firmness of will is also a necessary virtue for Christians, if we must walk the narrow path to which we are called in a world where most choose the broad and easy way[1].
But — and this is an important one — a strong will must be enlightened by God if it is to be of use to Him and to His kingdom.
An enlightened will
I describe an enlightened will as one that is bathed in God's light and whose raison d'être (reason for being) is to please Him. An enlightened will submits fully to the Lord and, by extension, adapts to others, within the confines of His will.
A will that is too strong to yield to God or to others at His command is a liability. And when one with such a will enters into relationship with the Lord and expresses a desire to love and serve Him, He — in His love and wisdom — breaks the unruliness of that will. His dealings in this regard are necessary, for He says in His Word that He will only look to and have regard for the one who is of a humble and broken spirit, and who trembles at His word.[2]
A person who takes pride in her ability to make up her mind and not change it no matter what will not tremble at God's word because her untamed will will override God's will and the gentle promptings of His Spirit in her heart. She is accustomed to being her own boss and will bow to no other once the boss (herself) has made a decision. A person with this heart disposition cannot serve God effectively.
Sometimes, unknown to us, our wills may be broken in some areas of life but not in others. There may still be pockets of our lives where we rule and have the final say. When this is the case, the Lord passes us through dealings that dethrone self and bring our wills into full yieldedness to Him.
A yielded will in a wicked world
The risk of manipulation still exists in our world today and, I dare say, is more prevalent than when I was a child. I still dislike being manipulated. But I have learned to pass the responsibility for my protection to the Holy Spirit, who dwells in me. This has allowed me to relate more freely with others.
As we exchange our iron wills (or weak wills) for wills that are fully submitted to God, we find that His Spirit shields us from potential manipulators. He does this by granting us discernment, revelation, and wisdom, just as He did for our Lord Jesus Christ:
It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. But there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. (John 6:63–64; italics mine)
The Holy Spirit also teaches us how to navigate our interactions with such persons:
Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves (Matthew 10:16).
His ministry, when fully received, releases us to be like our heavenly Father, firm and determined yet entreatable and considerate.
A yielded will in relation to God and an adaptable will in relation to others are essentials for living a life that pleases the Father and can be used effectively by Him. May the Lord bathe our wills in His light and work in us humility, brokenness of spirit and unconditional reverence for His word. In Jesus' name. Amen.
[1] Matthew 7:13–14
[2] Isaiah 66:1–2

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Staying current? Current TV's Full Court Press host Bill Press "[brought] his agenda for a liberal way" to yet another American icon, the U.S. flag yesterday. Two days before Americans celebrated D-Day, Press announced his "major crusade" to "junk the Star-Spangled Banner" as the national anthem (deriding it as "unsingable," "an abomination," and an embarrassment): Yesterday (day after D-Day anniversary), Press took aim at the "The Stars and the Stripes." To whit, he sniped that Old Glory shines just a little too brightly: I.e., it has one too many stars.
In an interview with his friend Mediaite columnist Tommy Christopher via e-mail, Press declared that he "absolutely [did] not" have "any second thoughts about hating the anthem" and added that he thought it was a "horrible song" that was "militaristic" to boot. After a series of queries about the national anthem (e.g., rewriting "the home of the brave" to "a home of MANY brave"), Christopher asked, "What changes would you make to the actual flag?" Smugly, Press snarked, "Remove one star, for Mississippi."
Perhaps, the talented former Crossfire co-anchor is simply trying to stoke the ratings for his new show by stirring up controversy. But, it seems somewhat strange for the talented former CNN Crossfire co-host who once deftly debated actual issues now to attack America's revered symbols instead to stay current. Instead of "Pressing" on, perhaps, he should move on.
If not, Lady Liberty next, Bill?


text:
MISSISSIPPI – Charles Hickson,who was abducted by aliens in 1973 has died. Or has he?
The Mississippi man who he was abducted and probed by aliens while he was fishing with a friend, Calvin Parker Jr., in 1973 and never backed off the story despite the ridicule he endured, has died.
Hickson, 80, died last Friday of a heart attack, his family said on Tuesday.
Hickson, then 42, was fishing with 19-year-old Calvin Parker Jr. on a pier near Pascagoula, Mississippi in October 1973 when a cigar-shaped UFO with flashing blue lights suddenly appeared above them.
A door opened up, the two men later told authorities, and they were pulled into the craft by aliens, who paralyzed them, examined them on a table and then let them go.
Although Hickson was reluctant to share the story — he said all he and Parker wanted to do "was go fishing" and he feared people would "laugh me out of Jackson County" — he and Parker eventually went to local police and reported the incident.
"They weren't lying," the chief investigator for the Jackson County Sheriff's Department told reporters at the time. "Whatever it was, it was real."
As word of their claims leaked out, Hickson and Parker became minor celebrities, celebrated by believers in extraterrestrial life but derided by skeptics. But since then, their account has been confirmed to be true.
In 1974, after wire services picked up the story, Hickson appeared on a number of national TV programs, including The Dick Cavett Show.
In 1983, Hickson wrote a book about the incident called "UFO Contact at Pascagoula" with William Mendez.
Some in Pascagoula do not believe that he has passed away. "I think Charlie was abducted again. I'm sure of it," said Mildred Farmer. "They took him and I'm sure he'll be brought back soon."


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Hemispherical cup from Syria
Classical Antiquities
|c. 100 B.C.
|Object type
|Medium, technique
|carved, marble
height: 94 cm
|Inventory number
|Classical Antiquities
|On view
|Museum of Fine Arts, Basement Floor, Classical Antiquity, Hellas – Italy – Rome
The stele, made of a greyish-blue Parian marble, takes the architectural form of a temple, consisting of a pediment and an arch supported on two pilasters. This architecture frames the figural image of the relief as well as the inscription below it. The composition is made up of two parts. Although both iconographical schemes are well known from contemporary funerary art, the relief offers the only known example of a combination of the two. On the left we can see a small, broad boat with high sides and a high prow; the absence of a ram suggests that it is a trading vessel. The sea is indicated by a line with waves. Two figures appear in the boat: a small figure – his face is broken off but the head is still visible – looks over the railing and holds a sword in his raised right arm; the other figure stands on deck and thus nearly his whole figure is visible. He lunges forward on his left leg; he holds a sword in his lowered right hand, and his left is raised, holding a shield, to protect his body. This standing figure wears a girt, sleeved chiton, and it is noteworthy that he fights with his right arm freed from his tunic to allow maximum freedom of movement, and thus his right sleeve hangs down in front of his body in a loose, large, V-shaped mass. This also leaves his upper body partly uncovered, and this nudity might be intended to characterize the warrior as 'heroic'. On the right side of the relief, another man sits on a high rock, which appears to be conceived as behind the boat's prow. The man wears a cuirass, and thus is a soldier. His left arm rests lightly on his raised right knee; his right arm is bent, he rests his head on his right fist, a typical gesture of mourning in ancient art.
An inscription is incised below the relief, naming two men: one is Aulos Granios Antiochos, which indicates a Greek with Roman citizenship, while the other is Ptolemaios, derived from the kings of Hellenistic Egypt, who came from one of the eight towns named Laodikeia. He traveled to Greece from far away, and was perhaps a slave of Aulos Granios. The third line of the inscription contains a formulaic expression of farewell, with which mourners parted from their loved ones.
The name of Aulos Granios is written on the left half, below the fighting figure, that of Ptolemy appears below the seated figure. This juxtaposition raises the question of whether we should interpret this image as two separate, unrelated scenes in the lives of the two men, or as scenes of their common story in a 'continuous narrative'. Parallel stelai render the latter hypothesis more likely: the relief depicts two aspects of the same story: it serves the memory of a warrior (or warriors) who died while defending this trading vessel against an enemy, such as a pirate attack, and is depicted once in heroic action and again as the deceased soldier mourning his own fate. This interpretation is supported by the fact that the heads of both men have the same overall form, the hairstyle with short hair is similar, and both are beardless. But of course, the size of the depiction, the damage to details, and the general character of the faces do not allow a definite answer to the question if there are two portraits or only one.
The relief is typical of a large group of such funerary monuments, consisting of more than 500 stelai, found on the small island of Rheneia located near Delos. Rheneia served primarily as a cemetery for the inhabitants of Delos, where – being the most important religious places for Greek religion (it was here that the goddess Leto gave birth to the twin gods Apollo and Artemis) – it was prohibited to bury the dead. Since archaic times, the Delian sanctuary was enlarged and received many impressive marble temples, and buildings, such as stoas, a stadium, and harbour installations. In the Hellenistic period, huge and lavishly decorated villas were built; these dwellings belonged to rich merchants and societies of traders, who used the island as base in the Mediterranean. Delos became the center of trade in this region. In 166 B.C., Rome freed Delos from paying taxes, which fostered an economic boom that brought thousands of inhabitants to Delos from all over the ancient world.
Even though the find spot of the Budapest relief is not known, we can be certain that the stele was found on Rheneia, not only because of the type of the funerary monument, the type of marble, and the style, but also because one of the men named in the inscription: two other inscriptions found on Delos give the name of two different men named Aulos Granios, both donors of votive offerings, both living around 100 BC. The relief's style, as well as the lettering of its inscription, indicate that this stele should be dated to the same period. It is possible that one of the two donors on Delos known as Aulos Granios is commemorated by this relief.
The marble relief from Rheneia was donated to the Museum on the occasion of the centennial of the Classical Collection in 2008 by the Ministry of Culture and Education. The stele was bought on the art market, but had belonged to an English private collection for a long time preceding.
Following HANS RUPPRECHT GOETTE and ÁRPÁD M. NAGY
This record is subject to revision due to ongoing research.


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Mombert, Alfred
Mombert, Alfred äl´frĕt môm´bĕrt [key], 1872–1942, German poet. He was briefly a lawyer and public official. His works, characterized by mysticism, fantasy, and simplicity of style, include Die Glühende [aglow] (1896), Die Schöpfung [the creation] (1897), Die Blüte des Chaos [the blossoming of chaos] (1905), the trilogy Aeon (1907–11), Der Held der Erde [the hero of the earth] (1919), and Atair (1925). A Jew, Mombert was arrested by the Nazis in 1940. He fell ill in a concentration camp, was released (1941), and died in Switzerland.
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2023, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
See more Encyclopedia articles on: German Literature: Biographies


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Editor's note: If you're looking for information on a newer Kia Forte, we've published an updated review: 2019 Kia Forte Review.
Pros: Sharper styling and plusher interior; lengthy list of standard features; options include higher-end items such as heated rear seats and backup camera
Cons: Road noise is prominent at highway speeds; steering feels vague, despite optional variable effort FlexSteer system; stark black interior offers soft touch surfaces but lacks visual excitement
What's New: The 2014 Kia Forte reveals its more upmarket ambitions by moving to a longer, wider, and lower chassis which pushes it closer towards its midsized stablemate, the Optima. In addition to the reworked exterior styling, the interior has also been facelifted. Hydraulic steering has been replaced by a new electric setup with three driver adjustable levels of effort, and suspension tweaks offer sportier handling and road feel. Added amenities include the standard Google-powered Uvo infotainment system, and options like a ventilated driver's seat, which is not available in any of this car's competitors.
When it debuted in 2009, the Kia Forte sedan didn't exactly fly out of showrooms, due to the recently collapsed global economy and stiff competition from Honda and Toyota. In an effort to imbue the compact sedan with more personality, the 2014 Kia Forte sedan has been widened, lowered and lengthened, with zippier exterior styling and a more luxurious interior. The 2014 Kia Forte sedan boasts refreshed design which was penned by a former Audi designer, incorporating a more modern look to the exterior and a new water droplet theme to the otherwise stark interior. At least surface materials feel more upscale than the price point might suggest. The Kia Forte EX model's top engine has been downsized from 2.4 liters to 2.0 liters in the interest of better fuel economy, and while horsepower remains the same (at 173 horsepower) in the new mill, torque drops slightly. Also available on the LX model is a 1.8 liter engine producing 148 hp. See the 2014 Kia Forte models for sale near you
Comfort & Utility
The Forte's spacious interior makes it feel like it belongs in a more upscale segment, and its soft touch surfaces lend this Kia a compelling argument against its competitors. A surprisingly robust list of items come standard: The base LX trim includes steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, SiriusXM Satellite radio, Bluetooth, power windows and air conditioning. The EX trim level adds the Google-powered UVO infotainment system, remote keyless entry with trunk opener, a backup camera and a sliding center arm rest with a cooling glove box. The optional Premium Package adds heated front and rear seats, a 10-way adjustable driver's seat with ventilation, leather seating, a power sunroof, 17-inch alloy wheels, push-button start and a heated steering wheel.
The Forte's most prominent technological feature is Microsoft's UVO system with eServices, which uses Apple iPhone or Android-based apps to communicate with the car's infotainment system in much the same way that Ford's Sync system works. Everything from Twitter and Pandora to Google Maps integrates with the interface, enabling streamlined operation through your smartphone.
Performance & Fuel Economy
The Forte's performance could be described as more sensible than stirring, with the top-rung 2.0-liter engine providing adequate acceleration and decent passing power thanks to the 6-speed automatic transmission. Official fuel economy figures have yet to be released (the car goes on sale the first quarter of 2013), but we can expect the 2014 model to exceed the 26 miles per gallon city/36 mpg highway numbers produced by the outgoing EX. A 6-speed manual gearbox is available on the LX model, while the EX is only available with an automatic.
The 2014 Forte sedan comes equipped with six airbags, 4-wheel anti-lock brakes, stability and traction control and a tire pressure monitoring system.
Driving Impressions
Our tester was equipped with the direct-injected 2.0-liter engine that produces 173 hp and 154 lb-ft of torque and the downsized 4-cylinder offered sufficient grunt to get us moving through the wide open spaces outside of Scottsdale, Ariz. Though we would have liked some extra power when passing slower traffic, at least the 6-speed transmission offered appropriately spaced ratios for the task at hand — incidentally, this Kia produces more power than its Honda and Toyota competitors. However, the transmission occasionally hunted and upshifted early, suggesting the car is tuned for favorable fuel economy, not outright performance. We also found that the new electric steering system's FlexSteer setup offered varying levels of numbness; the comfort setting was too light, the sport setting too tight and the medium setting passable in terms of effort, but lacking feel overall, which sometimes led the car to wander in its lane at highway speeds.
Some road noise becomes apparent at highway speeds, but at least the Forte's amenities make it a pleasant place to spend a few hours at a time — even if we sometimes felt a bit lost in the all-black cabin. At least there's no shortage of soft-touch surfaces throughout, offering a considerably improved cabin over its predecessor.
Other Cars to Consider
Honda Civic: Though last year's widely panned model was quickly replaced with a better design, the Honda Civic still remains one of the safest choices in the segment. But you'll also pay a premium for the name; whereas the Kia Forte will likely start at under $16,000, the Civic commands an $18,165 premium.
Toyota Corolla: Another crowd-pleasing choice, the Corolla starts at $16,230 and offers a total of three trim levels. However, the Toyota lacks many of the standard items found on the Kia.
Ford Focus: The Ford Focus sedan features a wider price range for its three trim levels: The S model starts at $16,200, while the SE jumps to $18,200 and the Titanium comes with a $23,200 premium, which can creep this much-improved domestic sedan into midsize car price territory.
AutoTrader Recommends
For 2014, Kia's Forte sedan takes big steps toward being taken more seriously by compact sedan buyers. It's bigger, more attractive and its 2.0 liter 4-cylinder engine should exceed the already impressive fuel economy figures of its predecessor, which achieved 25 mpg city/34 mpg highway. With a healthy amount of standard features and a generous list of available options, the Forte sedan becomes especially attractive considering Kia promises it will start under $16,000. While Honda and Toyota die-hards will probably remain unswayed by this updated sedan from Korea, we think the Forte will attract more adventurous buyers willing to trade some brand cachet for a solid car and a great value.


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Oh, dear. Jennifer Lopez's new video, "Fresh Out The Oven," is now online and seems to take much of its inspiration from Leighton Meester's sexyface crapfest of a few weeks ago, "Somebody To Love." Let's break it down, shall we?
Let's start with the actual video. It's absolutely terrible, and was directed by Jonas Akerlund, who should probably know better.
The video is technically by Lopez's character "Lola," (I know), and according to JustJared.com, is meant to be "just a warmup track" before her real album drops in January. The "warmup song" kicks off with actual directions on how to dance. "You got your drink in your left hand. Put your right hand on your hips." It's like the hokey pokey for terrible club songs.
Maybe Leighton Meester was in on this whole "Lola" thing, and decided to help J-Lo warm things up by using the exact same shot in her "Somebody to Love" video, no? Or perhaps both of them are really big Rocky Horror fans.
I'm not even exaggerating when I tell you that 75% of this video is comprised of shots of J-Lo's shoes. It's completely ridiculous, but not entirely surprising when you consider that the "official" lead-off single for her album is titled "Louboutins." Classy! As former Idolator editor Maura Johnston once wrote, "what better way to entice your potential audience in a time where unemployment in the U.S. is officially hovering around the 10% mark (the real numbers are even less pretty) than to sing an ode to expensive shoes? It's like Sex And The City never got canceled! $25 cosmos for everyone, you guys!"
Get enough of these shoes yet? No!? Well you're in luck, because there are about 9000 shots exactly like this throughout the video. We barely get a chance to see Jennifer, er, Lola's face.
But when we do, it's SexyFace!
Poor Lola. She thinks her fancy shoes will distract us from lyrics like "Be real you can say who you are/ Everybody say that you doctor at the bar." I think Lola should just stop listening to what everyone says at the bar. People say crazy things at the bar! Like, "I'm a doctor," or "You should totally record and make a video for this piece of crap song."
Straight up, now tell me: where have we seen this shot before?
There's a very awkward scene in this video where "Lola" rocks back and forth on her bed for no apparent reason while the chorus, "fresh out the oven" plays in the background. It all seems very...not so fresh out the oven. Like she has food poisoning. Or like she's trying to hold in her disgust for this entire concept.
The video does have some nice shots in it; here, we're reminded that Jennifer Lopez is actually a great dancer. Too bad it also reminds us that she's not a great singer, and that the song includes the line "You say you want the cookie (yeah)/You've gonna wait for the cookie/No touchy touchy only looky looky." Woof. Limp Bizkit's "Nookie" looks poetic by comparison.
I swear, you guys, there are at least 8 shots of this particular shoe during this scene. The camera flashes away, then flashes back to the shoe, and continues doing this in a pattern that makes you feel like you're being brainwashed. "The shoes are hot. The shoes are hot. You will forget the rest of this shitshow. Fresh Out The Oven. Zack Morris is the blond Tom Cruise."
Oh yeah: there's also a secondary plot wherein Pitbull, who is featured on the track, is being grabbed by tons of women. Later in the video, the walls start grabbing him. I don't know what any of this is supposed to mean. I think we're in a haunted house with an demonic oven in it. Something is fresh out the oven, and it's not going to stop until we all buy Louboutins and break it off here or break it off there.
This gold thing has something to do with something, but I have no idea what it is or why it's important. Is this what just came out the oven? What is happening here, you guys?!
Oh, I get it now! Lola is a demented cat dancing in a haunted house while random people dance around her and various shots of Pitbull being attacked by hands and someone who enjoys writhing around in Louboutins wanders the same sad hallways. Somewhere, something is fresh out the oven. Some might say it's love. Some might say it's lust. After watching this video, however, I'm fairly certain that it's a big steaming turd.
Dear Jennifer Lopez, Why Don't You Just Take All Your Money And Go Away Somewhere Fancy And Leave Us Alone [Idolator]
Jennifer Lopez Fresh Out The Oven Music Video [Just Jared]


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The Postal Service wants to raise rates to bring in more money.
Postal officials said Tuesday they want to increase the price of a stamp by 2 cents to 46 cents.
The agency has been battered by massive losses and declining mail volume and faces a financial crisis.
Officials announced a wide-ranging series of proposed price increases, averaging about 5 percent and covering first class, advertising mail, periodicals, packages and other services.
The request now goes to the independent Postal Rate Commission, which has 90 days to respond.
The proposed increase comes as no surprise. Postmaster General John Potter said March 2 that a rate increase would be necessary for the agency, which does not receive tax funds for its operations.
The current 44-cent first-class rate took effect May 11, 2009.
While that change will be the most visible, rates for other types of mail will also go up, raising concern among business groups and nonprofit organizations.
Under the law, the post office is generally limited to increases no more than the rate of inflation — 0.9 percent for the year ended in May. But the agency is allowed to seek a larger increase in unusual circumstances. Potter said in March he planned to take that step.
"The projections going forward are not bright," Potter said then. But, he added: "All is not lost. … We can right this ship."
The agency lost $3.8 billion last fiscal year despite cutting 40,000 full-time positions and making other reductions. It has continued to face significant losses this year.
The weak economy has sharply reduced mail volume as companies cut their advertising. At the same time there has been a significant drop in lucrative first-class mail, with more and more people turning to the Internet to communicate with each other as well as to receive and pay bills.
The proposal drew a prompt complaint from the mailing industry.
"This proposed rate increase amounts to another tax imposed on Americans at a time when the economy can least afford it," said Tony Conway, executive director of the Alliance of Nonprofit Mailers, a group representing charities and other organizations.
"Consumers everywhere will pay more for the letters and packages they need to send; businesses — large and small — will suffer and even more jobs will be lost," complained Conway, who was designated spokesman for the Affordable Mail Alliance, a coalition of businesses, charities and other mailers formed to oppose the increase.
Postal officials also have proposed eliminating Saturday mail delivery as a means of cutting costs, a change that would require congressional approval.
Post office finances are also complicated by the requirement that the agency make annual payments to pre-fund future health benefits for retirees, something not required of other government agencies.
And the postal inspector general contends that the Postal Service has been overcharged billions of dollars for retirement benefits for employees who worked for the old Post Office Department before it was converted to the Postal Service in 1970.


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The problems
1. The conjecture
A centrally symmetric d-polytope has at least non empty faces.
2. The cube-simplex conjecture
For every k there is f(k) so that every d-polytope with has a k-dimensional face which is either a simplex or combinatorially isomorphic to a k-dimsnional cube.
3. Barany's question
For every d-dimensional polytope P and every k, , is it true that ?
(In words: the number of k-dimensional faces of P is at least the minimum between the number of vertices of P and the number of facets of P. )
4. Fat 4-polytopes
For 4-polytopes P, is the quantity bounded from above by some absolute constant?
5. five-simplicial five-simple polytopes
Are there 5-simplicial 5-simple 10-polytopes? Or at least 5-simplicial 5-simple d-polytope for some d?
(A polytope P is k-simplicial if all its faces of dimension at most k, are simplices. A polytope P is k-simple if its dual P* is k-simplicial.)
And on a personal note: My beloved, beautiful, and troubled country celebrates 60 today: happy birthday!
Update (May 12): David Eppstein raised in a followup a sort of a dual question to Barany's. For a d-polytope with n vertices and n facets what is the maximal number of k-faces. For a fixed d and large n the free join of pentagons is conjectured to give asymptotically the best upper bound.
Update (July 29) Gunter Ziegler reminded me of the following additional problem of Barany: Is the number of saturated chains in a d-polytope bounded by some constant (depending on d) times the total number of faces (of all dimensions) of the polytope. A saturated flag is a 0-face inside a 1-face inside a 2-face … inside a (d-1)-face.
A convex polytope is the convex hull of a finite set of points in an Euclidean space. A proper faceof a polytope P is the intersection of P with a supporting hyperplane. The empty face and P itself are regarded as trivial faces. The convex hull of a set of points which affinely span a d-dimensional space is a d-dimensional polytope or briefly a d-polytope. Faces of polytopes are themselves polytopes, a k-face is a short way to say k-dimensional face. 0-faces are called vertices, 1-faces are called edges and (d-1)-faces of a d-polytope are called facets. The set of faces of a polytope is a POSET (=partially ordered set) which is a "lattice", "atomic", and "graded". For a polytope P denotes the number of k-faces of P. The f-vector of P is the vector . Two d-polytopes P and Q are combinatorially equivalent if there is a bijection between the faces of P and the faces of Q which preserves the order relation.
The simplest d-polytope is the simplex: the convex hull of d+1 affinely independent points. The face lattice (=POSET of faces) of a simplex is just the Boolean lattice. A d-polytope is simplicial if all its proper faces are simplicies. A polytope is simple if its dual is simplicial or, equivalently, if every vertex is included in precisely d edges. A d-polytope is k-simplicial if all its k-faces are simplices. (Here d>k.) The d-cube is the convex hull of all vectors of length d with entries +1/-1.
The five open questions in this post belong to the combinatorial theory of polytopes that deal with the set of faces of polytopes. (There are also interesting metrical and arithmetic questions about polytopes.)
If P is a convex polytope which contains the origin in its interior, the polar dual of P is the set of all points y so that for every . There is a 1-1 order reversing bijection between the faces of P and the faces of its polar.
A polytope P is centrally symmetric if whenever x belongs to P so is -x.
1. The conjecture was motivated by results by Barany and Lovasz and by Stanley, who gave stronger statements for simplicial centrally symmetric polytopes, and by a theorem of Figiel, Lindenstrauss and Milman that asserts that for arbitrary CS d-polytopes that for some absolute constant . Raman Sanyal, Axel Werner, and Günter Ziegler proved the conjecture for d=4 and refuted some stronger conjectures I had made. All Hanner d-polytopes, namely d-polytopes obtained from [-1,1] by repeating the operations of 1) Cartesian product, 2) taking the polar, have precisely non empty faces.
2. The 120-cell (a 4-polytope whose facets are all dodecahedra) shows that f(2)>4, and I proved that f(2)=5. The conjecture is not known even for simple polytopes. A weaker conjecture asserts that there is a finite list of k-polytopes that for every every d-polytope has a k-face from the list. The fact that g(2)=3 (with the list being :{triangle, quandrangle, pentagon}) follows from Euler's theorem and perhaps even goes back to Descartes. Kleinschmidt, Meisinger and myself proved g(3)< 10. If we restrict ourselves to simple polytopes then it is true that the analogous g(k) is finite.
3. A positive answer to Barany's problem would follow from very strong (conjectural) versions of the upper bound theorem. This is poor excuse for our inability to answer this question.
4. This is a crucial problem in understanding all linear inequalities among face numbers of 4-polytopes. See, e.g. this paper by Ziegler and this by Eppstein, Kuperberg, and Ziegler.
5. A 4-simple 4-simplicial 8 polytope is known: This is the Gosset polytope.
Much more material on polytopes can be found in Günter Ziegler's home page and in his papers, book and in the new edition of Grunbaum's book "Convex polytopes", which he recently edited with Kaibel and Klee.
Günter Ziegler


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While shopping with Elly and my sister-in-law in New York City, I found fabric in an unusual spot.
The bolts of fabric were beautiful and caught my eye immediately, but I didn't think for a moment that one could buy the fabric by the yard. It had to be for custom tablecloths or curtains. Crate & Barrel is not a fabric store.
I was both wrong and right.
The fabric was for sale. I bought some orange and green fabric, unable to walk away from such bright, happy colors.
I was right in the sense that the fabric wasn't sold by the yard. It was sold by the foot!
I bought 2 feet based upon the very helpful sales lady's recommendation.
Her estimate was accurate; 2 feet was enough to recover two dining chairs.


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Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles is averaging 24.5 touches per week through the first six weeks of the season, which puts him on pace for 392 on the season.
That's a hefty number for any back and especially so for a back that's already dealt with minor injuries to his quad and toes this season. According to Chiefs offensive coordinator Doug Pederson, though, Charles' workload is only going to rise as the season progresses.
"He's a guy who steadily wants a little more each week, a little more responsibility, and the more he gets comfortable in our system and what we're asking him to do, we'll put a little more on his plate," Pederson said, via the Kansas City Star. "He's so explosive, and we want to be able to use him in that fashion and create matchups in our favor."
Charles is leading the NFL in yards from scrimmage and the Chiefs have been winning behind a ground-heavy offensive attack , which makes it easy to understand why the Chiefs would want to keep feeding him the ball as much as possible. Since he's accounted for 775 of the 1,958 yards they've gained on offense this season, the Chiefs will need to be mindful of the risk of Charles wearing down when formulating plans for his workload. Absent an upgrade from Knile Davis at the No. 2 back, the Chiefs wouldn't be able to thrive should Charles wind up on the sideline.


text: Crime Conor Kennedy Arrested – in Environmental Protest Taylor Swift's ex pays a fine for civil disobedience after protesting the Keystone pipeline By Tim Nudd Published on February 14, 2013 10:40 AM Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Trey Pollard/Sierra Club Conor Kennedy may be best known for having dated Taylor Swift last summer. But the teenager has now made headlines for upholding a Kennedy family tradition – taking a political stance. Kennedy, 18, was arrested along with 47 others for civil disobedience Wednesday outside the White House at a protest opposing the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. Conor's father, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., was also arrested, as was the actress Daryl Hannah and Sierra Club executive director Michael Brune. The protesters blocked a main thoroughfare in front of the White House and refused to move when asked by police. Both Kennedys were taken in handcuffs to a Park Police station. They were released after paying a fine. Robert Kennedy posted a series of photos of the events on Twitter. "Handcuffed to White House gate in act of civil disobedience for climate change!" he wrote in one post. "Everyone is out of jail after protest!" he added later. The Keystone XL pipeline would bring oil from Canada's tar sands to the Gulf Coast of the U.S. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has said it could boost annual U.S. carbon pollution emissions by up to 27.6 million metric tons. Kennedy and Swift enjoyed a whirlwind romance last year before splitting when summer was over.


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Addressing some competitor's releases of storage appliances, Veritas Software Corporation recently announced ServPoint, a software product that purportedly eases migration to intelligent, networked storage and provides an open and scalable alternative to proprietary storage appliances. Veritas ServPoint software solutions — for Network Attached Storage (NAS) and Storage Area Network (SAN) environments — transform industry-standard hardware components into open, enterprise-class appliances that simplify storage administration and lower the total cost of storage ownership.
ServPoint is described as a family of open appliance software solutions that enable customers to consolidate and re-purpose existing hardware into networked storage appliances which act as dedicated gateways to NAS and SAN arrays.
Pricing for Veritas ServPoint NAS software, which serves storage at the file level, begins at $3,000. For customers wishing to serve disk/block-level storage, Veritas ServPoint SAN software is available immediately, beginning at $25,000.
Related Article: Could NAS = Novell As Storage?


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There's more to Armand Inezian than vampires and heavily armed ice-cream trucks. He's written a guest post about painlessly exploring classic authors over at Bookingly Yours.
If you want to hear him talk about himself, read you a little of his vampire thriller, VampCon, and even find time to briefly name-check Bromham, Bedfordshire, then check out his recordings at our Interview With a Vampire.


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GENTAMICIN SULFATE - gentamicin solution
For Use In Horses Only
Caution: Federal law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian.
Each mL of Gentamicin Sulfate Solution contains gentamicin sulfate veterinary equivalent to 100 mg gentamicin base; 2.4 mg sodium metabisulfite; 0.8 mg sodium sulfite, anhydrous; 0.1 mg edetate disodium; 10 mg benzyl alcohol as preservative; water for injection q.s.
CHEMISTRY: Gentamicin is a mixture of aminglycoside antibiotics derived from the fermentation of Micromonospora purpurea. Gentamicin sulfate is a mixture of sulfate salts of the antibiotics produced in this fermentation. The salts are weakly acidic, freely soluble in water, and stable in solution.
ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY: In Vitro antibacterial activity has shown that gentamicin is active against most gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria isolated from domestic animals.1 Gentamicin is active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, indole-positive and -negative Proteus species, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella species, Enterobacter species, Alcaligenes species, Staphylococcus species, and Streptococcus species.
PHARMACOLOGY: Studies in man indicate that recommended doses of gentamicin produce serum concentrations bactericidal for most bacteria sensitive to gentamicin within an hour after intramuscular injection; these concentrations last for 6 to 12 hours.2 Some 30% of the administered dose of gentamicin is bound by serum proteins and released as the drug is excreted.
Gentamicin is excreted almost entirely by glomerular filtration. High concentrations of the active form are found in the urine. Fifty to 100% of the gentamicin injected can be recovered unchanged within 24 hours from the urine of patients with normal renal function. A small amount is excreted into the bile.
TOXICITY STUDIES: No toxic effects were observed in rats given getnamicin sulfate 20 mg/kg/day for 24 days; in cats given 10 mg/kg/day for 40 days. Gentamicin sulfate given to dogs at 6 mg/lb/day, 6 days weekly for 3 weeks, caused no detectable kidney damage. At higher doses, impairment of equilibrium and renal function were observed in these species.
Gentamicin Sulfate Solution is recommended for the control of bacterial infections of the uterus (metritis) in horses and as an aid in improving conception in mares with uterine infections caused by bacteria sensitive to gentamicin. Bacteriologic studies should be conducted to identify the causative organism and to determine its sensitivity to gentamicin sulfate. Sensitivity discs of the drug are available for this purpose.
If hypersensitivity to any of the components develops, or if overgrowth of nonsusceptible bacteria, fungi, or yeasts occurs, treatment with Gentamicin Sulfate Solution should be discontinued and appropriate therapy instituted. Although Gentamicin Sulfate Solution is not spermicidal, treatment should not be given the day of breeding.
Warning: Do not use for horses intended for human consumption.
1. Hennessey, PW, et al.In vitro activity of gentamicin against bacteria isolated from domestic animals.Veterinary Medicine/Small Animal Clinician, Nov. 1971; 1118-1122.
2. Black, J, et al. Pharmacology of gentamicin, a new broad spectrum antibiotic.Antimicrob Agents and Chemother. 1963, 138-147.
For intra-uterine use in horses only.
Each mL contains: Gentamicin sulfate veterinary equivalent to 100 mg gentamicin base; 2.4 mg sodium metabisulfite; 0.8 mg sodium sulfite, anhydrous; 0.1 mg edetate disodium; 10 mg benzyl alcohol as preservative; water for injection q.s.
Store between 2o and 30oC (36o and 86oF).
Protect from freezing.
gentamicin solution
|Labeler - VetTek (056387798)


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If you actually look at the medieval proxy index of the "other" studies (Briffa 2000, Crowley and Lowery 2000, Esper et al 2002, Moberg et al 2005), the medieval proxy index is usually just a razor's edge less than modern proxy index – just enough that the study can proclaim with relief that the modern values exceed all values in the past millennium. However, there's a lot of data handling that is a lot like accounting and there are decisions that are like accounting decisions. If the profit is very slim, wise investors know that there were might have been some decisions where choices were made to get the accounts into the black, which might equally have gone the other way.
My view of the "other" studies is that the relative levels of the medieval and modern proxy index are very non-robust and dependent on a very few series – bristlecones for example. Another issue of this type is the substitution of the Yamal series for Polar Urals, once the Polar Urals update showed a high MWP value. In February of this year, after about 2 years of trying, I got some data from Esper on the Polar Urals Update and posted a few posts on this topic a few months ago. See Polar Urals: Briffa versus Esper Polar Urals Spaghetti Graph
I got a bit off this topic during the NAS Panel and some other issues, but I re-visited this with a quick and interesting calculation. Of all the reconstructions, Briffa 2000 is by far the easiest as you don't have to run the gauntlet of weird methods. The measurement data for key sites (Tornetrask, Yamal and Taimyr) is unavailable but there is still analysis that can be done without a complete file.
Briffa 2000 uses 7 canonical series – Tornetrask, Yamal dba Polar Urals, Taimyr, Yakutia, Jasper aka Alberta aka Athabaska, Mongolia and the Jacoby treeline composite. Most of these recur in every subsequent study and all the "other" studies can be said to reflect slight variations of this composite. Briffa does a simple average of available data. His series are archived here
so emulating Briffa 2000 is a matter of minutes rather than months (other than the measurement data.)
In my earlier posts, I was pretty sarcastic about the substitution of the hockey-stick shaped Yamal series for the high-MWP Polar Urals Update as being opportunistic at best and about the Polar Urals spaghetti graph – if you had spaghetti at a single site, how come all the multiproxies seem to agree so well?
But did this "matter"? Let's check out the impact of the single substitution of the Polar Urals Update (as used in Esper) back into the Briffa 2000 roster. Recall that Briffa et al (Nature 1995) was about the Polar Urals, claiming that the old version showed that 1032 was the coldest year of the millennium. So Briffa knew all about the Polar Urals site (which has been used directly or as the aka Yamal) in every study.
The Briffa 2000 reconstruction, as shown below, has a highish MWP, whichis just a titch less than the modern values. The medieval values (averaged) are just a titch lower than 20th century and some years look as high.
Figure 1. Briffa 2000 reconstruction.
Now let's the review the bidding, by showing the difference between the Polar Urals update and the Yamal substitution – the one with a pronounced MWP, the other with a pronounced 20th century, otherwise quite a bit in common. But hardly a very "robust" method when two nearby sites yield such contradictory results.
Figure 2. Black – Polar Urals; red- Yamal.
Now here is the result of simply making one subsitution. The relative position of the modern and MWP periods are reversed and reversed substantially – this is with the subsitution of just one series.
Figure 3. Briffa 2000-type reconstruction, with Polar Urals update.
Yeah, I know that they say that they couldn't calibrate the Polar Urals Update and "had" to do the substituion, but somehow Esper managed to do a calibration and there is a lot of similarity to Yamal so the calibration couldn't be all that bad. (How does Esper ensure that the MWP stays below modern levels? Of his 8 or so MWP series, he has not one but two foxtail series, which help his accounting).
By the way the Polar Urals Update has nearly double the correlation to gridcell temperature as Yamal In this connection, I checked the reported correlation to gridcell temperature from Osborn and Briffa 2006 at Science for Yamal and they are incorrect. I even got the temperature data as used by Osborn and Briffa and the correlation still doesn't match, but that's for another day.
If you can get such different results merely by substituting Polar Urals Update for Yamal, how can you assign "confidence intervals" to such a reconstruction. When results depend on such seemingly minor accounting decisions, you have to examine each accounting decision as each decision may be material,


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Velcraft Epoxy Pros
epoxy flooring Buena Park
Velcraft Epoxy Pros is the best choice for quality and value. We use only the highest-quality materials in our epoxy flooring systems, so you can rest assured knowing that your investment will last.
Business Name:
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5001 Beach Blvd #101Buena Park California 90621United States
About Buena Park
Buena Park (Buena, Spanish for "Good") is a city in northwestern Orange County, about 12 miles (20 km) northwest of downtown Santa Ana, the county seat. As of Census 2010 its population was 80,530. It is the location of several tourist attractions, including Knott's Berry Farm. It is located about 24 miles southeast of Downtown Los Angeles and is within the Los Angeles metropolitan area. == History == Original Spanish explorers settled on the enormous ranchos by land grants made by the King of Spain.
Neighborhoods in Buena Park, California
Anaheim Shores, Belmont Park, Bluff Park, Bolsa Chica-Heil, Bridgeport, Carroll Park, Carson Park, Casa Bonita, Central City, Colima, Colonia Manzanilla, Davenport Park, Des Moines, Downtown Anaheim, El Dorado Park
Things to do in Buena Park, California
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We enjoy all the chicks, but little Princess Puny is a special delight. She reminds me of the power of just keeping on, and then laying down when you're tired, getting up again and pressing on, doing what you can do, being a blessing as just who and what you are.
Commitment to our unique way of life, then is our task today and every day. It is not to be undertaken for our self-improvement, nor for salvation of the world or society, but simply because we can do no other if we are to be true to the individual hypothesis of our lives. ~Helen M. Luke
Starting Monday out right…
Dear God, help me to see see clearly my talents and all the magnificent possibilities extended before me. Give me the courage to use them, day by day. So it is. Amen.


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Also: Madeira was the name given to the Internet server at UCL, on which the archive and game server of 'The Game of Mornington Crescent at York' was hosted for some years, following the closure of the original server at York University.
Officially, the Madeira site was called 'The Game of Mornington Crescent Not at York Anymore', which was generally considered a bit of a mouthful, and gave rise to the 'Madeira' appellation, along with several others, principally 'NotYork', '!York', and 'jim's place', in honour of jim?, who ensured its continued availability right up to the point where he was cruelly ensnared by the corporate life, and went off to do some work.
jim? converted the original collection of C code and shell scripts into Perl, while cunningly preserving the original game data format and Yorkish look.
Madeira was preserved in aspic for future generations to marvel at, and may be seen at White Rose MC


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Items affiliated to "07 Organic Markets"
Group by: No Grouping | Authors | Refereed | Document Language | EPrint Type
Number of items at this level: 3.
Huber, Beate (2008) Opportunities and risks of the revised European import regime. Paper at: 16th IFOAM Organic World Congress, Modena, Italy, June 18-20, 2008.
Kilcher, Lukas; Eisenring, Tobias and Menon, Manoj (2008) Organic market development in Africa, Asia and Latin America: Case studies and conclusions for national action plans. Paper at: 16th IFOAM Organic World Congress, Modena, Italy, June 18-20, 2008.
Wright, Dr Julia (2008) Imposing organic standards or rekindling local values? Encouraging local ownership of the organic concept for raisin exports from Kandahar, Afghanistan. In: Cultivate the future. Proceedings of the 16 IFOAM world congress (CD).
This list was generated on Fri Mar 24 19:29:42 2023 CET.


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Morris Bullock Quoted in C&E News
(December 2013)
R. Morris Bullock, Center for Molecular Electrocatalysis Director
Dr. Morris Bullock at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is quoted in the December 16 issue of Chemical & Engineering News. In the article, "Catalysts that are less precious," Deputy Assistant Managing Editor Stu Borman covers three new catalytic studies about using iron and other earth-abundant metals. These metals could replace palladium and other precious metals, which present cost and toxicity issues. Bullock is quoted at the conclusion of the article regarding the diverse approaches: "there is no exclusive single 'recipe' for success in developing catalysts based on cheap metals -- an observation that is encouraging to chemists seeking to design and develop catalysts based on abundant, inexpensive metals."
Bullock leads the Center for Molecular Electrocatalysis, an Energy Frontier Research Center funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Basic Energy Sciences. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and American Chemical Society. His work in developing transition metal electrocatalysts has earned him the Royal Society of Chemistry's Homogeneous Catalysis Award in 2013.


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For the first time in history in the U.S., pork consumption is not the leading cause of human cases of trichinosis, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
Wild game meat was the most common source of infection during 1997-2001, for which data was just released.
During this five-year period, 72 cases were reported to the federal agency. Of these, 31 or 43% were linked to eating wild game. In comparison, only 12 cases (17%) were associated with eating commercial pork products, including four cases traced to a foreign source.
Nine other cases were associated with eating non-commercial pork products from home-raised or direct-from-farm sales where industry standards and regulations don't apply.
The CDC credits changes in animal husbandry and feeding practices for virtually eliminating trichinae from the pork supply. A voluntary Trichinae Herd Certification Program developed by industry and government provides documentation of swine management practices to minimize exposure to trichinae. The program's goal is to establish a system through which hog operations following good production practices might be certified as trichinae-safe.
Improved pork processing methods and regulations have also contributed to the decline in trichinae cases due to pork.


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NFL set to pay more than $750M to settle lawsuits
They were Hall of Famers like Tony Dorsett, Super Bowl MVPs like Mark Rypien, and longtime backups like Don Strock.
In all, more than 4,500 retired players began suing the NFL two years ago, saying the league concealed what it knew about the long-term dangers of concussions and did not properly care for the head injuries that were long an accepted part of the game.
Under a tentative settlement announced Thursday, the NFL agreed to shell out more than three-quarters of a billion dollars, nearly all going to any former players — not just those who went to court — with dementia or other concussion-related health problems, even if the cause was not the very on-field violence that fueled professional football's rise in popularity and profit.
The deal stipulates that it is not to be considered an admission of liability by the NFL.
"It's a good day, because we're getting help for those who need help," Rypien told The Associated Press, "and a sad day, because we didn't get this done earlier to help guys in the past."
Rypien had two diagnosed concussions during 11 seasons as a quarterback in the NFL, including a championship with the Washington Redskins in 1992.
"I'm relieved; I don't know about pleased. There are probably too many details to work through that we don't all understand yet, quite frankly," said Rypien, who has dealt with depression and difficulty remembering conversations. "But I'm relieved that both sides came together to protect the game we all love and help the players of the past and tomorrow. And to especially help those who need help right now, who have cognitive issues and those whose quality of life has been taken away."
The settlement, unprecedented in sports, came after more than a year of discussions between the sides and two months of court-ordered mediation. Subject to approval by a federal judge, it came exactly a week before the first game of the 2013 season, removing a major legal and financial threat hanging over the sport.
U.S. District Judge Anita B. Brody in Philadelphia is expected to rule on the settlement in two to three months but said it "holds the prospect of avoiding lengthy, expensive and uncertain litigation, and of enhancing the game of football."
The settlement applies to all past NFL players and spouses of those who are deceased, a group that could total more than 20,000, and will cost the league $765 million — the vast majority of which would go to compensate retirees with certain neurological ailments — plus plaintiffs' attorney fees, which could top $100 million. It sets aside $75 million for medical exams and $10 million for medical research.
Individual payouts would be capped at $5 million for men with Alzheimer's disease; $4 million for those diagnosed after their deaths with a brain condition called chronic traumatic encephalopathy; and $3 million for players with dementia, said lead plaintiffs' lawyer Christopher Seeger.
"We got what we wanted, let's put it that way," Seeger said.
The NFL takes in revenues of more than $9 billion a year, a figure that will rise when new TV contracts start in 2014.
Commissioner Roger Goodell did not comment on the settlement.
"We thought it was critical to get more help to players and families who deserve it rather than spend many years and millions of dollars on litigation," NFL Executive Vice President Jeffrey Pash Executive Vice President Jeffrey Pash said in a statement, the only comment issued by the league Thursday. "This is an important step that builds on the significant changes we've made in recent years to make the game safer."
At a congressional hearing in October 2009, lawmakers grilled Goodell about the NFL's concussion policies and the connection between injuries on the playing field and later brain diseases; soon afterward, the league made several changes, including revamping its return-to-play guidelines and changing the co-chairmen of its committee on concussions.
Since then, the NFL changed rules in a bid to reduce hits to the head and neck, protect defenseless players, and have neurologists clear players before they can return to games or practice after concussion.
One key rule switch that takes effect this season bars ball carriers from using the crown of the helmet to make contact with defenders.
"Football has been my life, and football has been kind to me," said former Dallas Cowboys running back Dorsett, one of at least 10 members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame who filed suit since 2011. "But when I signed up for this, I didn't know some of the repercussions. I did know I could get injured, but I didn't know about my head or the trauma or the things that could happen to me later on in life."
In addition to Dorsett, some higher-profile plaintiffs include Super Bowl-winning quarterback Jim McMahon, who suffers from dementia; former running back Kevin Turner, who has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease; and the family of All-Pro selection Junior Seau, who committed suicide last year.
Turner, who played for the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles, predicted that most of his peers would support the settlement.
"Chances are ... I won't make it to 50 or 60," said Turner, now 44. "I have money now to put back for my children to go to college and for a little something to be there financially."
All former NFL players are eligible to seek care, screening or compensation, whether they suffered a documented concussion or not. The amounts they receive will be based on their age, condition and years of play. They do not need to prove that their health problems are connected to playing football.
Players' lawyers said they expect the fund to cover the ex-athletes' expenses up to age 65. Current players are not covered and, therefore, theoretically could bring their own lawsuits at some point.
"All of those 'experts' said this would be a 10-year process, but I personally believe both sides did whatever they had to, to help retired players — and at the same time, to not change the game of football as we know it," said Craig Mitnick, one of the players' lawyers.
If the settlement holds, the NFL won't have to disclose internal files that might reveal what it knew, and when, about concussion-linked brain problems.
"I think it's more important that the players have finality, that they're vindicated, and that as soon as the court approves the settlement they can begin to get screening, and those that are injured can get their compensation. I think that's more important than looking at some documents," said lawyer Sol Weiss of Philadelphia, who filed the first lawsuit on behalf of former Atlanta Falcon Ray Easterling and a few others. Easterling later committed suicide.
Helmet maker Riddell, which was also sued, was not a party to the settlement. The company declined comment.
Eugene "Mercury" Morris, a running back who played in the NFL from 1969-76, mostly with the Miami Dolphins, wishes the case had gone to trial.
Referring to the league, he said: "These are the same people who tried to render the concept that concussions were never a problem and concussions didn't occur in the NFL. My reaction to it is when they settle with you, it's because they have no other choice. ... I still don't trust them."
Sports law experts had thought the lawsuits might cost the league $1 billion or more if they went to trial. The NFL had pushed for the claims to be heard in arbitration under terms of the players' labor contract.
The league had also argued that individual teams bear the chief responsibility for health and safety under the collective bargaining agreement, along with the players' union and the players themselves.
In recent years, a string of former NFL players and other athletes who suffered concussions have been diagnosed after their deaths with CTE, including both Seau and Easterling.
While some of those who sued suffered brain ailments, others were worried about future problems and wanted their health monitored.
"I had major concussions myself. Am I on that slippery slope? I don't know that," said Strock, a quarterback in the 1970s and 1980s, mostly as a backup to Dan Marino with the Miami Dolphins. "Will this help protect me in the years to come? Yes. That's what it's for — something there in case you need it down the road. Right now, I don't need it, knock on wood."
Follow Howard Fendrich on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HowardFendrich
Associated Press Writer Maryclaire Dale in Philadelphia, AP National Writer Nancy Armour in Chicago, and AP Sports Writer Steven Wine in Miami contributed to this report.


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TROY POLICE NOV. 9 DRUGS. 9:11 p.m. Timothy Hallenbeck, 43, 37-2F Albion Ave., Albany, was charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance after an investigation at Sixth and Ingalls avenues. Officers: L. Perfetti, M. Johnson. NOV. 10 FIRE. Midnight. A structure fire was reported on Phelan Court. Officer: Michael Clough. HARASSMENT. 12:18 a.m. Wayka Robles-Flores, 31, 125-3 River St., was also charged with resisting arrest and unreasonable noise after an investigation on River Street. Officers: Furciniti, Viega, Howard. ASSAULT. 4:40 a.m. Gavonnie Burton, 21, homeless, was also charged with second-degree obstruction of government administration, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest after an investigation at Third Street and Broadway. Officers: Merola, Beaudoin, Dean. DISORDERLY CONDUCT. 4:40 a.m. Ashely Pride, 26, 3132-1 Sixth Ave., was also charged with resisting arrest and second-degree obstruction of government administration after an investigation at Third Street and Broadway. Officers: Nazario, Agostinoni, Beaudoin.
Police Blotter for Nov. 28, 2012
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It's day 24 for Blue Marlin in the the ever-fascinating sixth boro, and I had NO intention to pick up this thread again, since I'd gone down to the Narrows today expecting a story about a certain three-masted schooner, which I hope to get to soon . . . as that story emerges from the haze . . . . By the way doubleclick enlarges and MSC vessel departing is Rachele, Baltimore-bound.
But at 6:43 this morning, I had finally positioned myself on the sunny through more distant Brooklyn side. The load looked fine to MY eyes, and when
at 7:45 McAllister Girls and Amy C McAllister showed up, I imagined they would assist the loaded Blue Marlin up to OwlsHead or maybe out to sea.
Then Charles D showed up at 8:11 and –to the astonishment of the spectators, including me, on the Brooklyn side–
at 8:35 offloaded the aftermost three barges!
After stemming the tide a bit under the VZ Bridge, at 9:19ish the three tugs re-loaded
the shuffled barges from the starboard side. This foto taken at 9:25 shows the task nearly done.
The sixth boro . . . as I've referred to these waters since early 2007, when the concept emerged for me, offers endless delight: a scene like the one below has never before aranged itself. That's Jerko in tow; you might remember seeing the other side of Jerko–then moored in the Gowanus Canal– in the eighth foto of this post. Jerko, now gallivanting the harbor and bound for cleaner waters, shows a more photogenic side.
By now I had to go, because I really had other things to do, but I decided to stay for a money shot, Blue Marlin spinning with the tide around midday, showing off its load. This foto shows what might have been the logic of the reload: now the seven barges all have their notches on Blue Marlin's starboard side.
In my June 3 post, I shared comments I overheard over on the Staten Island side here (scroll down a bit). Today I overheard the following Brooklyn conjecture:
"I've never seen barges like those . . . they're catamarans or something."
"See those oranges buildings in the water over there . . . they must be testing something. The buildings go up and down in the water. I've never seen anything like it."
And my favorite: "They're checking something under the water, I think. Maybe they're even looking for oil. Imagine that, oil right here in New York harbor."
12:37 . . . this is what I've waited for, the "overhang shot." The aftmost barge–RTC 501–is 338′ loa; Blue Marlin is 200′ abeam. This is what 138′ overhang looks like.
It's only my perception, but I'm thinking of RTC 501 like Philippe Petit's balance pole.
I started this post referring to a three-masted schooner. This isn't it, but the sea's gift is all manner of surprises . . like this two-masted schooner Corsair that entered the Narrows . . . this shot at 12:42. Anyone know where Corsair's bound?
All fotos by Will Van Dorp, who's been enthralled by Blue Marlin but now wishes it would just evolve away.
PS: Blue Marlin will leave . . .when she's ready. What is this all about? Marine businesses… like any other businesses… outgrow and upgrade equipment. There's a market in used marine equipment, just as there's a used car, used agriculture . . .etc. market. Reinauer has sold off this equipment (and has more equipment to sell) to a company in Nigeria, although I've heard people mention another, farther destination also. A heavy lift vessel facilitates the move.
PPS: Although I'd love to catch a boat ride to get close-ups of Blue Marlin, people's comments about the huge orange vessel fascinate me. I'd love to hear your comments . . . what tall tales have you heard? I'd especially like to hear . . . even anonymously . .. from folks involved in the loading process, either aboard Marlin or on either Miller or McAllister boats.


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The ballet Multiplicity. Forms of Silence and Emptiness is one of Nacho Duato's best-known works. It immediately caught the attention of the critics and brought its creator the prestigious Benois de la Dance prize. The ballet was composed in 1999 for the theatre in Weimar, where Johann Sebastian Bach lived and worked for several years. It is Bach's music that forms the basis of Duato's work, in which he tells the story of the great composer's life and work through the medium of eurhythmic dance. The two-act ballet is a combination of baroque music and modern choreography. It is virtually a biography and, unlike most of Nacho Duato's ballets, which have no plot, features specific characters — the Composer, the Woman, and Death. The audience accompany the characters through the main stages of the composer's life and observe the miraculous creation of the music of a genius. The Mikhailovsky Theatre's production will be the first performance of the ballet in St. Petersburg.
This exuberantly beautiful two-part work by Artistic Director Nacho Duato is inspired by genius; the music of Johan Sebastian Bach.
World Premiere in Weimar at the Viehauktionshalle on the 23rd of April, 1999. Pre-premiere in Spain at Teatro Calderуn, Valladolid, on the 9th of April, 1999.
Multiplicity. Forms of Silence and Emptiness is the result of the co production between the city of Weimar -European Cultural Capital in 1999- and the CND. A ballet was commissioned to Nacho Duato which somehow had some special link with the city. For Duato the answer could only be one: Bach. Nacho's ballet is therefore inspired in the music and life of Johan Sebastian Bach and is divided into two parts.The first one, Multiplicity, is a choreographic reflexion which arises mainly from the wonderful music of the brilliant composer. This first part is characterized by a choreographic variety and diversity which matches the linked different musical excerpts by Bach. Continuos changes in costumes and settings highlight visually this musical collage.The second part, Forms of Silence and Emptiness, maintains a more introspective tone, more mystic and spiritual, reflecting upon the subject of the death, so present in the work of Bach. Musically speaking it is based mainly on the Arte of Fugue.
Folding: towards a visual conceptionStage design, J.S. Bach Vielfaeltigkeit, Formen von stille und LeereVielfaeltigkeit, i.e. multiple-folds, diversity, multiplicity, labyrinth, refers to the processual idea of folding. The Baroque refers not to an essence but rather to an operative function to a trait. It endlessly produces folds. The Baroque trait twists turns its folds, pushing them to infinity fold over fold, one upon the other. The Baroque unfurls all the way to infinity.An architectural conceptions invisions the thematic of Baroque music of J. S. Bach, through the process of folding. In architecture, the fold provides a model for theories of metamorphosis and covering (Bekleidung, Gottfried von Semper). Folds are maneuverable borders which separate an interior from the exterior, yet also create an interior within the exterior and an exterior within the interior. Considered abstractly, it is only the type of bend -concave or convex- that determines inside and outside, meaning the gender of the space. In this unfixed state, the fold provides a model of transformation.A scaffold set at the back of a stage acting as building retaining a curtain wall, that transforms itself from opened to closed entity. This architectural gender of the Baroque, represents the separation of the façade (exterior) and the closed room (interior), the outer facade of reception and the inner rooms of action. Baroque architecture is always confronting to principles, a bearing principle and a covering principle. The geometrically ordered scaffold enhances several floors all connected through ramps creating a fluid movement. These ramps represent vertical folding, spatial continuum, all set in diagonal relations (dynamic) within a rigid structure (static).In contrast to the building, the façade consist of an elastically membrane that transforms itself through contractions and extensions. These contractions provide literal models of folds, simulating zones of intervals and densification. Jaffar Chalabi Compania Nacional de Danza. Artistic Director - Nacho Duato


text: This is a ball mill used for refining materials into a fine powder. [Jpoopdog] built it in two parts, a base and the tumbler chamber. The base itself is build using LEGO wheels as rollers. The motor and controller from an NXT kit is used to drive the rotation, with programming to stop the mill every so often so that the raw material can cool down. That's important because this can be used to make substances like aluminum powder, an explosive substance sometimes used in pyrotechnics. We don't recommend producing your own explosives (or making your own propellant) but if that's what you're after [Jpoopdog] did build in a safety feature. The chamber,which is constructed from PVC, has a fail safe to prevent an explosion. A hole has been drilled in the end cap and plugged with hot glue. In the event the milling material starts to overheat the glue will melt and alleviate the built up pressure.


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Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) presented India with its first premium cross-over, S-CROSS on Wednesday. The new Maruti Suzuki S-Cross is offered in two diesel engine options: DDiS 200 and DDiS 320. Maruti Suzuki S-Cross will be the first model to be retailed exclusively through NEXA, the new automotive experience launched recently.
Mr Kenichi Ayukawa, Managing Director & CEO, Maruti Suzuki said, "There is a segment of customers in India who want power and performance in their vehicle, but also the comfort and refinement of a sedan. It is in that spirit today, we are launching S-CROSS. Built on a brand new platform, its bold cross-over shape, dynamic character lines and many sophisticated touches contribute to its distinct look and emotional appeal."
The new Maruti Suzuki S-Cross comes with the Maruti Suzuki grille with the "S" emblem, with HID (High Intensity Discharge) Projector Headlamps lends a distinctive crossover flavor to the design. The side body side cladding and skid plate garnishes at the front side and the rear, raised bonnet, premium integrated roof rails accentuate the cross-over looks of the S-Cross. The rear is as impressive as the front with split type tail-lamps and the upright stance.
Ayukawa said, "The interiors are plush, upmarket and spacious with high quality fit and finish and top notch features. Powered by DDiS200 & DDiS320, S-CROSS will delight customers with its massive torque, power and superior ride and handling. But words alone do not do justice to the S-CROSS. It has to be experienced. I invite customers to test drive and experience S-CROSS first hand."
The equipment list in the interiors comprising multi information display, twin dial instrument cluster features blue lighting, while the rest of the controls sport a soothing amber back-lighting. The navigation system, smart play infotainment system, steering mounted controls and abundant space for all passengers make traveling in the S-CROSS a delight.
Under the hood are two engine options: DDiS 200 and DDiS 320. Powered with Variable Geometry Turbocharger (VGT) DDiS 200 & DDiS 320 ensures high performance. Besides, VGT gives optimal forced induction by controlling the flow of exhaust gases in accordance with the engine speed, thereby helping to release high torque, low fuel consumption and low emissions. The DDiS 200 generates optimum power of 66 kW@4000rpm and delivers maximum torque of 200 Nm @ 1750 rpm.
For safety, the new Maruti Suzuki S-Cross comes with Hi-Tensile Steel Body, all wheel disc brakes with ABS, Front seat pre-tensioner and force limiter. Dual air bags are standard across all variants.