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Title: "SMOKING GUN" PROOF THAT ILLUMINATI PLANNED TERRIBLE EVENTS MANY YEARS AGO TO BRING DOWN OUR CULTURE: Part 5 -- Natural Disasters Planned
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Background of Game
We have covered the background of Steve Jackson and his S.J. Games in NEWS1753, and strongly urge you to read it so you will understand the implications of the attempt of the government to shut Jackson down before he could get his Illuminati Card Game to the market. Jackson knew the specific plans of the Illuminati by which they could slowly dissolve the Old World Order, replacing it with the New World Order, including the appearance of Antichrist. We encourage you to read this above previous article, for we consider it "Smoking Gun Proof" that the Illuminati had planned the attacks of 9/11 many years before that terrible event.
In this article, we shall conclude our study by showing you the cards depicting events that have not yet happened but will surely happen, based upon Bible prophecy, and the parallel Illuminati plans. Of course, the Illuminati Card Game has cards for these events, continuing to demonstrate that Steve Jackson knew the plan very well. Avid players of this role playing game knew most of the detailed parts of the plan to so change Western Society that the Antichrist can be established upon the world scene as they began to play the game in 1995.
Any cataclysmic natural disaster has the capability of causing more damage in a shorter period of time than any war short of nuclear war. Within minutes, or hours, an entire landscape can be re-drawn and the population of people and animals living within the range of destruction of that natural disaster can die or be driven out. When people think of natural disasters, they think of earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tidal waves, tornadoes and hurricanes.
Since the coming Kingdom of Antichrist -- the New World Order -- is Black Magick Witchcraft, its adherents have some very different ideas about this planet and its natural processes than do Born Again Christians. First, occult adherents worship the creature -- Mother Earth -- rather than the Creator Who made this planet of rock, water and gasses. These occultists -- including the Illuminati who rule the governments of the world -- worship this planet, calling her either Mother Nature or Mother Gaia. They believe this planet is a living, breathing goddess with terrific power. Second, occultists believe that our Industrial Civilization is anathema to Mother Gaia, because it pollutes her water, her air and her ground [Read NEWS1693]. Most people do not realize that the religion behind the active environmental groups is an extreme worship of Gaia; her adherents believe that, if this Industrial Civilization is not shut down in planned stages by man's efforts, Mother Gaia is going to intervene in a dramatic, destructive manner to "cleanse" this civilization off the planet through great and mighty natural disasters.
This theme is the essence of Al Gore's book, "Earth In The Balance".
What most of the Mother Earth worshippers do not realize is that the Illuminati -- the most powerful of the Gaia group -- has achieved scientific control of the weather and all of the natural disasters with which man has been contending for several thousands of years [Read NEWS1694, "Weather Control and Weather Warfare"]. If the Illuminati controls the functions of "Mother Gaia", i.e., Weather Disasters, they can then use natural disasters in order to achieve their draconian plans without very many people thinking to blame them! Since the Illuminati plans to reduce the population of the world by 66%, the same percentage of population reduction in the Book of Revelation, they plan to "re-wild" much of the continents of the world [Read NEWS1368].
NOTE: "Re-wilding" is defined as an major effort to clear land of humans and let the land go back to the "wild".
In NEWS1368, we detail the plan to set aside over 50% of all land in America, forbidding any kind of human activity. We encourage you to read this article carefully if you have not done so, or re-read it if your original reading has been a long time ago. In particular, study the map entitled, "Simulated Reserve and Corridor System to Protect Biodiversity", by Environmental Perspectives. You will be shocked to see how much of America is divided into either Red Areas ("Core Reserves & Corridors, Little to no human use"), or "Buffer Zones,( Highly Regulated Use"). Obviously, this draconian plan cannot be achieved until the planned combined disasters have achieved the 66% population reduction the Illuminati has planned, and Antichrist is in place preaching the gospel of Mother Gaia.
The question of the hour is, how can the stage be set now so that Antichrist can claim that such a program is necessary? The most effective way seems to be to cause so many natural disasters to occur in this country -- and in other countries throughout the world -- so that, when Antichrist is here, he can point to the past pattern of disasters, claiming they were caused by our Industrial Civilization! In New Age writings, this claim is made all the time, and is widely accepted by many millions of adherents. A few years ago, the New Age Movement was claiming they had several tens of millions of adherents in America alone, so the numbers of people who believe this nonsense are considerable.
Obviously, the Illuminati must control the weather, which we detail in NEWS1694 and in Seminar 3, "Knowing The Time of Your Visitation". Before you can appreciate the full meaning of these Illuminati Cards, you must understand that our scientists can and do control the weather; actually, the Russians are the real experts in Weather Control and Weather Warfare. By the time you finish this article, you will realize that the Illuminati does, indeed, plan to use these Natural Disasters to achieve their goals; and, the Illuminati Card Game inventor, Steve Jackson, knew of these plans as early as 1990! Let us quickly review the pertinent "Natural Disasters" cards.
The bottom of this card reads: "Play this card, as a free move after any disaster is played. It gives the target +10 to defend against that one disaster."
Hurricanes are a real threat to the entire East Coast. When you check the Biodiversity map in NEWS1368, you will see that virtually the entire East Coast is either Red ("Little to No Human Use") or Yellow, ("Highly Regulated Use"). If a series of terribly destructive hurricanes could churn up the East Coast over a period of time, Antichrist could point to this pattern as "proof" that our hated Industrial Civilization is to blame, for Mother Gaia simply cannot tolerate the pollution and the natural resource drain naturally coming from our lifestyle; therefore, Gaia seeks a "correction" by sending horrific storms.
Let us begin by examining a very interesting article which posted June 1, 2003, at the beginning of the hurricane season.
NEWS BRIEF: "Hurricanes predicted to double", CNN News, June 1, 2003.
"MIAMI, Florida (CNN) -- As the 2003 Atlantic hurricane season began Sunday, forecaster William Gray predicted 14 named storms and eight hurricanes. That figure is double the number of hurricanes that developed in the Atlantic last year. Named storms are those with sustained winds of at least 39 mph. Gray's research team, the Tropical Meteorology Project, based at Colorado State University, predicted three of the hurricanes will be Category 3, 4 or 5 storms with winds above 111 mph."
Knowing the love of the occult for the numbers '11' and '39', I find it interesting that the government meteorological service would select these two parameters in setting the various categories. If you are not familiar with the fact that occultists worship the creature rather than the Creator {Romans 1:25} and that they believe numbers contain inherent power, we encourage you to read NEWS1756.
Now, let us return to this CNN article:
"The long-term average for Atlantic hurricanes is 5.9 per year and for named storms, 9.6 per year. Out of the 12 named storms last year, four became hurricanes, two of them major storms. The U.S. coast has a 69 percent chance of a major hurricane landfall, compared to a long-term 52 percent average, Gray said."
Let us now examine the pattern of hurricanes in the past century, to see if there is a pattern to which Antichrist can point.
Top Ten Hurricanes -- Most Costly
1. Hurricane Andrew - Category 5 -- Southeast Florida and Louisiana, August 24, 1992, Cost: $26.5 billion
2. Hurricane Hugo - Category 4 - Charleston, South Carolina, September 1989, Cost: $7 billion
3. Hurricane Floyd -- 110 mph winds -- Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, September 1999, Cost: $4.5 billion
4. Hurricane Fran -- Category 3 -- North Carolina, September 1996, Cost: $3.2 billion
5. Hurricane Opal -- Category 3 -- Pensacola Beach, Florida, October 1995, Cost: $3 billion
6. Hurricane Frederic -- Alabama, Mississippi, September 1979, Cost: $2.3 billion
7. Hurricane Agnes -- Weakened to Tropical Storm -- Florida, Atlantic seaboard, bringing flooding rains to North Carolina to New Jersey, June 1972, Cost: $2.1 billion
8. Hurricane Alicia -- Category 3 -- Texas, August 1983, Cost: $2 billion
9. Hurricane Bob -- Category 2 -- August 1991, Northeast, Cost: $1.5 billion
10. Hurricane Juan - Category 1 -- Louisiana, Texas, Southeast, October 1985, Cost: $1.5 billion. High tides and flooding
As you can see, most of these hurricanes hit along the Eastern Seaboard, with the area of Texas - Florida's western side being exposed to a lesser degree. This Hurricane Map depicts these two areas very well, with an interactive feature that allows you to click on each region to see the most dangerous places for hurricanes. But, when you view the "Most Hit Map - South Coast" and compare it to the Biodiversity Map, you can see that the most hit areas are the very areas that the UN Biodiversity people plan to exclude or restrict human activity!
Finally, compare the "Most Hit Map - Northeast Coast" to the UN Biodiversity Map and you will see a striking correlation.
The latest hurricane, Isabel, hit the North Carolina Outer Banks, wreaking severe damage; the entire area where Isabel made land is heavily colored red. Already, the Federal Government is taking action to restrict people's movements back into this area, a subject we shall report in a separate article.
When Antichrist arises, he can point to these areas most often ravaged by hurricanes and shall state that the reason they are in such danger is that Mother Gaia is using the hurricane as a "balancing tool" in an effort to restore her purity and "balance of nature", a natural balance that our Industrial Civilization has upset. Therefore, Antichrist will order that this biodiversity map be implemented immediately. Only when our current civilization is disbanded, and only when people are restricted to living only in certain areas will Mother Gaia be restored to purity and balance. This may sound kooky to you -- and it is -- but millions of New Age people accept it wholeheartedly right now. When Antichrist arises, he can count on this substantial reservoir of support.
The bottom of this card reads: "Instant attack to destroy a place (note attack power is MORE than a meteor strike!!!!")
In NEWS1852, we demonstrated how the awakening Yellowstone Super Volcano was seemingly building to an enormous eruption. Should this volcano blow in the manner in which volcanologists are warning, death and damage could extend 600 miles in all directions from the caldera in Yellowstone Park. We show a map of the possible devastation and the following states are likely to be heavily damaged.
* Washington -- About 85% of the state
* Oregon -- about 80% of the state
* Montana -- 100% of the state
* Wyoming - 100% of the state
* Idaho -- 100% of the state
* Nevada -- 90% of the state -- only the city of Las Vegas lies outside this radius
* Utah -- 100% of the state
* Colorado - About 75% of the state
* Nebraska - About 50% of the state
* South Dakota -- About 75% of the state
* North Dakota -- About 80% of the state
How does this area of potential devastation compare to the United Nations Biodiversity "Re-wilding" map? Look at each state carefully. Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and Nevada are almost completely Red {Little To No Human Use) or Yellow (Highly Regulated Buffer Zones). There are very few Green Zones (Normal Use). Eastern Colorado, Western Kansas, parts of Nebraska and Eastern South and North Dakota contain Green Zones, but the rest of those states are either Red or Yellow.
California is also mostly Red and Yellow. Cities will be allowed only in the San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego areas; further, the color key at the lower left portion of the map indicates that a Black dot signifies cities greater than 10,000 people, with no larger designations! Why would the U. N. creators of this map select such a low figure? Normally, maps show a much wider range of city populations depicted on their map. This map is to be put into effect when Antichrist is cleansing "Mother Gaia", and is busily effecting a 66% reduction in population! Therefore, you must realize that you are looking at a map in which the 33% remnant of Americans will be living!
And, Yellowstone Super Volcano can cause this "re-wilding" to occur so that the requirements of this Biodiversity map could be quickly met.
The bottom of this card reads: Disaster! This is a instant attack to destroy any place. Place is devastated or destroyed. (NOTE meteorite attack power is 16)
Meteors have been the subject of fascination by science fiction buffs for many years; it is true that even a meteor which is not too big has the potential of causing great damage to vast areas of the earth. Therefore, the subject of a meteorite strike devastating earth has always been a dynamite subject matter for many a science fiction novel.
However, the Bible also seems to allude to meteor strikes devastating earth during the 7-year Tribulation Period. Listen to the prophecy:
"And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter. [Rev 8:10-11]
Bible scholars have long identified this "great star from heaven" as a meteorite. Certainly, a large enough meteorite could cause this kind of damage, destroying one-third (33%) of the rivers, and fresh fountains of waters. Since the Russian nuclear disaster at Cherynobel, some people have wondered whether this star might be nuclear weaponry, since the name for "Cherynobel" in the Ukrainian language is "wormwood". While this remains a distinct possibility, the majority view is still that this "star" is a meteorite; if that is the case, then we would understand the occult obsession with the possibility of a meteorite striking the earth, exactly as the Bible describes the Third Trumpet Judgment of the Great Tribulation Period.
Consider just a few articles in our Daily News about meteors.
NEWS BRIEF: "Space rock hurtles past Earth", BBC News, 7 January 2002, By BBC News Online science editor Dr David Whitehouse
"An asteroid discovered just a month ago is making a close approach to the Earth. Although there is no danger of collision with it, astronomers say that its proximity reminds us just how many objects there are in space that could strike our planet with devastating consequences ... It is thought to be 300 metres in size - large enough to wipe out an entire country if it struck the Earth."
Lately, meteors have been striking houses! Listen:
NEWS BRIEF: "Three people hospitalised after meteor hits homes", smh.com.au, September 29, 2003.
"Hundreds of people fled their homes when a meteor struck their village in eastern India, injuring three people and destroying two houses, a state minister said yesterday. The fireball hit the village of Sudusudia in Orissa state on Saturday evening, said BB Harichandan, the state revenue minister. 'One person has sustained burn injuries and two houses have been burned down. The injured has been hospitalised,' the minister said ... 'The light was so bright that for a few seconds it appeared to be daylight,' said Sanatan Sahu, a villager."
NEWS BRIEF: "A New Meteor Crashes Into Home...In New Orleans", 09/30/30, by Mitch Battros (ECTV)
"A second meteorite crashes to Earth causing extensive damage to a home in New Orleans ... A meteorite which measures 9" in diameter crashes into a residents roof. Then the orb crashes through the second story floor, then through the first story floor, and then is deeply embedded into the concrete foundation. Luckily, home owner Roy Fausset and his family including his young daughter were not home. Fausset says "The powder room door was open and it looked like an artillery shell had hit the room." It was a sandy colored rock that appeared to have been burned around its edges. Preliminary tests by scientists at Tulane University indicate this particular rock came from outer space.
"If so, that makes it an exceedingly rare phenomenon. Meteorites enter the Earth's gravitational field with some frequency; all but a tiny percent of them burn up during their passage through the atmosphere -- what are commonly called "shooting stars."
The bottom of the card reads: "Disaster card. Instant attack to destroy and coastal place. Power is 20."
It is interesting that the destructive power assigned to a tidal wave is more than that of a meteor! Certainly, a huge tidal wave can cause many deaths and instant destruction to most structures standing in its way. If a tidal wave is of continental proportions, it can truly cause tens of millions of deaths in seconds with very little time for a warning. The devastation caused by such a continental Tidal Wave would dwarf almost every other kind of natural disaster and would easily and quickly "re-wild" the land it inundates. As you look at the map, below, you can see how the areas covered by the ocean waters would be immediately "re-wilded"; further, society would be so devastated that government will find it easy to move the terrified survivors into any area they desire and for whatever reason they put forth.
Now, let us look at the New Age warnings of massive earth flooding.
As previously stated, this theme of earth destruction resounds through many of the New Age and Occult prophecies. One of the first to foretell of coming cataclysms at the end of this century was Edgar Cayce, who was known as "The Sleeping Prophet". Cayce's predictions concerning this issue His predictions were very explicit:
1) Shift of the Earth on its axis
2) Inundation of many coastal regions
3) London will be on the coast
4) Loss of much of Japan
5) Flooding of Northern Europe
6) Greenland disappears
7) New land appears off the coast of North America
8) Widespread destruction-L.A., S.F.- New York City disappears
9) Land bridge from South America to Antarctica
10) Warming of cool areas--cooling of warm areas
11) WW III- Followed by New Age" (Skinner, Stephen. Millennium Prophecies, Longmeadow Press, Stamford, CT, 1994)
This New Age map, above, demonstrates the belief that Mother Gaia is going to trigger massive earth changes in her strenuous effort to "cleanse" the earth of our Industrial Civilization and get rid of all humans not fully in sync with the coming New Age Christ. As you can see, the ocean waters are shown in dark blue and cover much of our continent. This map is a composite which shows (in dark blue) an approximate depiction of land areas predicted by several of the New Age prophets to be flooded by rising oceans. This map is not shown to relay any one prediction with 100% accuracy, but is very similar to the majority of published earth changes maps. Gordon-Michael Scallion predicts earthquake activity will begin this flooding.
Did you know that a tidal wave of monumental proportions is entirely possible? In the Book of Revelation, we see an interesting prophecy that human scientists did not confirm until just about 40 years ago! First, let us examine the prophecy:
"And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four s of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the winds should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, saying, 'Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees until we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.'" [Revelation 7:1-3]
A study by scientists at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory reveal that the earth actually has 4 "s" locations. These "s" are 4 areas of ocean, each covering several thousand square miles, in which the ocean waters are approximately 220 feet higher than if the earth were perfectly spherical. According to this article, these high spots are caused by the prevailing winds that build up friction on the ocean surface, piling up the waters.
The above map (while not an exact copy of the map produced by the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory) shows the approximate location of the earths four "s" points. The high points on the globe are marked by the red indicator squares, and the low points are marked by the yellow indicator squares. If the prevailing winds causing this effect were suddenly eliminated, the higher waters would crash into the lower points. This scenario would certainly be especially disastrous for both the east and west coasts of the United States.
Revelation 7:1 has long been a target of those who would attack the Bible, claiming the writer of this passage believed the earth was flat. However, in light of this little-known discovery, Revelation 7:1-3 reveals a completely new perspective. This passage describes an event that occurs at approximately the mid-point of the Tribulation Period, just prior to the "Great Tribulation". By stopping the four major jet streams at these four "s" of the earth, the result would be cataclysmic. While this may or may not cause a pole shift, this would certainly cause major earth changes to the existing landmasses. Based on this information, the maps of coming earth changes may not be as far-fetched as one may initially perceive. The New Agers and Occultists could then explain these catastrophic judgments of God away as the results of the long-prophesied magnetic pole shift.
Christians today have no guarantee that the Rapture of the Church will occur prior to a major natural disaster, economic collapse, or even open persecution of the Church. However, these New Age writings are too consistent with Bible prophecy to be coincidental. The "Age of Grace" certainly appears to be at its climax, but one must remember that God alone is in control of time. The events of the book of Revelation will certainly come to pass in accordance to Gods timetable. Satans minions surely realize their time is short, but they absolutely do not have a copy of Gods schedule.
How should Christians react to these things? We must not forget that we have in our possession the book of TRUTH, the Word of God. Christians must evaluate everything by the standard of the Bible. We also must not forget that this HOLY BOOK is not only relevant in the battle against the "wiles of the devil", but is the source of power--"the Sword of the Spirit"--by which Gods Holy Spirit communicates to His children. Thus, we pick up our "sword" and turn to II Peter 3:8-14, where we are given our "marching orders" for the very time in which we live:
"The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness:
but is longsuffering
not willing that any should perish, but that all
should come to repentance. But the Day of the Lord will come as a thief in the
night; in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements
shall melt with a fervent heat, and the earth also and the works that are therein
shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what
manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking
the coming of the day of God
We, according to his promise, look
for a new heaven and a new earth
Seeing that ye look for such things, be
diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless."
The Word of God is explicit. Christians must exercise the following:
1. Holy conversation
2. Godliness
3. Looking for the coming day of God, a new heaven, a new earth
4. Be diligent
5. Be found of Him in peace
6. Without spot
7. Blameless
In the face of growing deception and misconception, the Bible does not change its command to those who have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. That command is the call to personal holiness. If those who "name the name of Jesus Christ" will simply follow the above listed precepts, they will not be misled by the false prophets of Satan. Christians will be seeking the truth of the Word of God, seeking the souls of those that are lost, and will be armed against the rampant deception of these "last days".
In conclusion, if you have been deceived into seeking the advice of "spirit guides" of any description (no matter how they identify themselves), please understand that you are risking your eternal destiny. Perhaps you are like Laura in the beginning of this article; you may be receiving visions from some wise and beautiful creature. Remember, Satan and his angels do not appear as the grotesque, evil entities Hollywood portrays, but they appear as "creatures of light". Ask this entity what he (or she) thinks of Jesus Christ, compare the answer to the written Word of God, and forsake this lying devil that would damn your eternal soul. Turn from the powers of Satan, and turn from yourself. Turn to the Lord Jesus Christ, put your trust in Him, and He will (as He has promised) rescue your soul from the flames of Hell. "Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." (John 6:37)
Are you spiritually ready? Is your family? Are you adequately protecting your loved ones? This is the reason for this ministry, to enable you to first understand the peril facing you, and then help you develop strategies to warn and protect your loved ones. Once you have been thoroughly trained, you can also use your knowledge as a means to open the door of discussion with an unsaved person. I have been able to use it many times, and have seen people come to Jesus Christ as a result. These perilous times are also a time when we can reach many souls for Jesus Christ, making an eternal difference.
If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, but have been very lukewarm in your spiritual walk with Him, you need to immediately ask Him for forgiveness and for renewal. He will instantly forgive you, and fill your heart with the joy of the Holy Spirit. Then, you need to begin a daily walk of prayer and personal Bible Study.
If you have never accepted Jesus Christ as Savior, but have come to realize His reality and the approaching End of the Age, and want to accept His FREE Gift of Eternal Life, you can also do so now, in the privacy of your home. Once you accept Him as Savior, you are spiritually Born Again, and are as assured of Heaven as if you were already there. Then, you can rest assured that the Kingdom of Antichrist will not touch you spiritually.
If you would like to become Born Again, turn to our Salvation Page now.
We hope you have been blessed by this ministry, which seeks to educate and warn people, so that they can see the coming New World Order -- Kingdom of Antichrist -- in their daily news.
Finally, we would love to hear from you.
You can contact us by mail or email.
God bless you.


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Although he was born and raised in Southern California, Doug Deaver has traveled extensively and enjoyed a life of considerable adventure. "Dr. D" graduated from Lakewood High School and earned an Associate's degree from Long Beach City College. It was at LBCC that he became thoroughly convinced of the importance of community colleges. "The community college not only provided me with rich intellectual experiences, but helped to give me a context in which I could determine my life's plan. Most important of all, it introduced me to philosophy. I am truly one of those fortunate few that knew at 17 what I wanted to do with the rest of my life."
Doug then spent the next few years at CSULB, earning both a Bachelor's and Master's degree. This was the most formative period of his intellectual life in which he took every philosophy class he could, and feasted on a wealth of ideas. This time also provided Doug with a model for his own notion of utopia – an academic institution in which there were a broad range of positions and perspectives and the tolerance to allow the student to form his own philosophical ideas.
Doug then followed the reputation of USC as the only "classically oriented" doctoral program west of the University of Chicago and spent six years there. This was a period that was challenging on the personal, professional, and intellectual levels. Often working more than one job, the demands of the program proved grueling. Doug received his PhD at 28 years of age.
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In the summertime, nothing beats a stack of ice-cold comics. Seriously, just put them in your freezer for two hours and slap them on your naked flesh like a tuxedo. Here are some titles to cool off with.
First Issues
First off, Brandon Seifert and Lukas Ketner's handsome new horror comic Witch Doctor is on the stands, and no, it has nothing to do with that Alvin and the Chipmunks song. It's about a supernatural doctor who cures ailments they don't teach you about in medical school...like demonic possession. Check out our interview with Seifert and a preview of the artwork here.
A new panoply of Flashpoint titles (which showcase an alternate DC Universe) are available: Green Arrow Industries (that's a gun-toting, arms-dealing, way less scrupulous Oliver Queen above), Hal Jordan, The Canterbury Cricket, and Scott Snyder's Project Superman. Marvel's also releasing Fear Itself: Black Widow, which is penned by Sixth Gun author Cullen Bunn.
For retro-tinged superheroics are your huckleberry, there's the JSA 80-Page Giant 2011 anthology and Paul Jenkins' All-Winners Squad: Band Of Heroes. Wolverine Vs. The Marvel Universe promises 28 Days Later plus Canadian swearing. I bet a sawbuck there's a scene where he carves up a cannibal Jubilee.
Other Releases
Avengers: Childrens Crusade returns from a hiatus with a new issue. There's also fresh installments of FF, Sixth Gun, Batman Incorporated, The Walking Dead, Detective Comics, Xombi, Incorruptible, and Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters (you can read a preview here).
The Weirdest Solicitation Award this week goes to Betty and Veronica #524: "In 'Disinterested Parties,' Dilton 'scientifically' tells Betty the reason Veronica likes Archie so much! So why does this information cause Betty to ignore Archie?" I can already answer this — Veronica has a fetish for men who have tic-tac-toe boards tattooed on the sides of their skulls. Betty, on the other hand, will only date dudes who comb their hair with waffle irons. She was totally led astray.
Graphic Novels
Some nifty graphic novels out this week include Paul Cornell's Knight and Squire on trade paperback and Alexandro Jodorowsky and Moebius' Incal Classic Collection on hardcover.
Other books that may strike your fancy include Image's dead-rock-star-conspiracy-cabal book 27 and the John Cassady-illustrated Nazi vampire book I Am Legion. Also, Spider-Man's Original Clone Saga is out on trade paperback for those of you who desperately miss the 1990s.
As usual, here's the list of everything being released to comic stores tomorrow, and you can find your nearest comic retailer here. Rock over Duckburg, rock on Madripoor! H.E.R.B.I.E. — so your kids won't light themselves on fire!


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The Historicity of the Kabaah
By Kaleef K. Karim.
Edited by Ijaz Ahmad (spelling, formatting, content, etc).
One of the recent things I have heard from Christian missionaries, when debating with them is that they say, the Ka'bah in Mecca where Muslims go for pilgrimage annually has no history before the advent of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). These ridiculous and fictitious claims have no basis whatsoever. I shall now bring forth evidences that Kabaah in Makah did exist before the coming of Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Diodorus Siculus (Born: 90 BC – Died: 30 BC)
Diodorus Siculus was a Greek historian, who wrote works of history in the 1st Century BC. He is known for the monumental universal history Bibliotheca historica. Diodorus is the first known Historian long before the coming of Islam that makes mention of Mecca.
Reverend Charles Augustus Goodrich a Christian, was an American author and Congregational minister comments on Kaaba and Mecca, although, he is not fond of the Prophet Muhammed (pbuh), but he is sincere in admitting that Ka'bah existed at time of Patriarchs. He says:
"Among the variety of fabulous traditions which have been propagated by the followers of Mahomet, concerning the origin of this building, we find it asserted, that its existence is coeval with our parents, and that it was built by Adam, after his expulsion from paradise, from a representation of the celestial temple, which the almighty let down from heaven in curtains of light and placed in Mecca, perpendicular under the original. To this the patriarch was commanded to turn his face when he prayed, and to compass it by way of devotion, as the angels did the heavenly one. After the destruction of this temple by the deluge, it was rebuilt by Abraham and his son Ishmael on the same spot, and after the same model, according to directions, which they received by revelation; and since that time, it has continued to be the object of veneration to Ishmael's descendants. Whatever discredit we may give to these, and other ravings of the Moslem imposter concerning the Caaba its high antiquity cannot be disputed; and the most probable account is, that it was built and used for religious purposes by some of the early patriarchs; and after the introduction of idols, it came to be appropriated to the reception of the pagan divinities. Diodorus Siculus, in his description of the cost of the Red Sea, mentions this temple as being, in his time, held in great veneration by all Arabians; and Pocoke informs us, that the linen or silken veil, with which it is covered, was first offered by a pious King of the Hamyarites, seven hundred years before the time of Mahomet." [1]
John Reynell Morell says:
"…historically speaking, Mecca was a holy city long before Mohammed. Diodorus siculus, following agatharcides, relates that not far from the red sea, between the country of the Sabeans and of the Thamudites there existed a celebrated temple, venerated throughout Arabia."[2]
Encyclopædia Britannica: Or, A Dictionary of Arts, sciences and Miscellaneous Literature, Edited by Colin Macfarquhar says:
"the science of astronomy was cultivated at Babylon; but the school of the Arabs was a clear firmament and a naked plain. In their nocturnal marches, they steered by the guidance of the stars: their names and order, daily station were familiar to the curiosity and devotion of the bedoween; and he was taught by experience to divide in 28 parts the Zodiac of the moon, and to bless the constellations who refreshed, with salutary rains, the thirst of the desert. The reign of the heavenly orbs could not be extended beyond the visible sphere; and some metaphorical powers were necessary to sustain the transmigration of the souls and the resurrection of bodies: a camel was left to perish on the grave, that he might serve his master in another life; and the invocation of departed spirits implies that they were still endowed with consciousness and power. Each tribe, each family, each independent warrior, created and changed the rites and the object of this fantastic worship; but the nation in every age has bowed to the religion as well as to the language, of Mecca. The genuine antiquity of the Caaba extends beyond the Christian era: in describing the coast of the Red Sea, the Greek historian Diodorus has remarked, between the Thamaudites and the Sabeans a famous temple, whose superior sanctity was revered by ALL THE ARABIANS: the linen or silken veil, which is annually renewed by the Turkish Emperor, was first offered by a pious King of the Homerites, who reigned 700 years before the time of Mahomet." [3]
Andrew Crichton also comments on the 'Kabah' in his book; 'The history of Arabia, ancient and modern.' He says:
"From the celebrity of the place, a vast concourse of pilgrims flocked to it from all quarters. Such was the commencement of the city and the superstitions fame of Mecca, the very name of which implies a place of great resort. Whatever credit may be due to these traditions, the antiquity of the Kaaba is unquestionable; for its origin ascends far beyond the beginning of the Christian era. A passage in Diodorus has anobvious reference to it, who speaks of a famous temple among the people he calls Bizomenians, revered as most sacred by all Arabians." [4]
Claudius Ptolemy (Born: 90 AD – Died: 168 AD)
Claudius Ptolemy was a Greco-Roman writer of Alexandria, known as a mathematician, astronomer, geographer; is another person, centuries before Islam who makes mention of Makkah. He uses the name 'Makoraba' for Makkah.
In the Book: 'The New Encyclopedia of Islam', written by Cyril Glassé says that Ptolmey in the second century mentioned Makkah. Here is what he wrote:
"Mecca (Makkah al-Mukarramah, lit 'Mecca the blessed'). For thousands of years Mecca has been a spiritual center. Ptolemy, the second century Greek geographer, mentioned Mecca, calling it 'Makoraba'. Some have interpreted this to mean temple (from Maqribah in south Arabian) but it may also mean 'Mecca of the Arabs'." [5]
Ilya Pavlovich Petrushevsky (1898–1977) was an Professor of History of the Near East at the University of Leningrad for twenty years, he also makes mention that Ptolemy in the second Century mentions Makkah:
"On the caravan route from Syria to the Yemen, in the Hijaz neighbourhood, lay Mecca. Ptolemy, the Greek geographer, mentions it as early as the second century calling it Makoraba, which is derived from the south Arab word Maqrab meaning 'sanctuary'. [6]
Michael Wolfe:
"Mecca lies midway along the west coast of Arabia in a mountainous barrier region named the Hijaz. This narrow tract of land about nine hundred miles long with the Tropic of Cancer passing through its center. The second-century Greco-Egyptian geographer Ptolemy called the city Makoraba, the temple." [7]
Paul Wheatley:
"it was its virtual monopoly of Hijaz commerce which made of Mecca, in the words of the Quran, 'a city secure and at peace; provisions flowing in from every side'. But all this is concerned with the expansion of the influence of a city which already existed. The name Mecca (strictly transliterated as Makkah) had been mentioned in the Ptolmaic corpus in the 2nd century AD under the orthography Makoraba, which itself derived from the Sabaean Makuraba, meaning 'sanctuary'. Long before Muhammad the Ka'bah had served as the central shrine of a group of clans, each of whom had deposited its ritual stone, symbolizing its own god, in the sacred precinct." [8]
In the book 'A Comparative Study of Thirty City-state Cultures: An Investigation', edited by Mogens Herman Hansen; in Note 24 makes clear when Ptolemy mentioned the name 'Macoraba' he meant Mecca:
"Ptolemy in Geographies refers to Mecca as Macoraba." [9]
From all the evidences which I have presented from objective and academic sources, it can clearly be seen that it is a fact that Kabaah existed before the advent of Islam and Muhammad (peace be upon him). Sealing my arguments, I refer you to Reverend Charles Augustus Goodrich, a Christian historian, who admitted that the Kabaah existed and was built by the Patriarchs. In his own words, he says, "Caaba its high antiquity cannot be disputed; and the most probable account is, that it was built and used for religious purposes by some of the early patriarchs."
[1] Religious Ceremonies and Customs, Or: The Forms of Worship Practised by the several nations of the known world, from the earliest records to the present time Charles Augustus Goodrich [Hartford: Published by Hutchinson and Dwine 1834] page 124
[2] Turkey, Past and Present: Its History, Topography, and Resources By John Reynell Morell page 84
[3] Encyclopaedia Britannica: Or, A Dictionary of Arts, sciences and Miscellaneous Literature Constructed on a Plan Volume 2, Part 1 edited by Colin Macfarquhar page 183 – 184
[4] The history of Arabia, ancient and modern Volume 1 [second edition] By Andrew Crichton page 100
[5] The New Encyclopedia of Islam By Cyril Glassé page 302
[6] Islam in Iran by I. Pavlovich Petrushevsky page 3
[7] One Thousand Roads to Mecca: Ten Centuries of Travelers Writing about the Muslim pilgrimage Michael Wolfe introduction xv
[8] Paul Wheatley The Origins and Character of the Ancient Chinese City: volume 11 page 288
[9] A Comparative Study of Thirty City-state Cultures: An Investigation, Volume 21 edited by Mogens Herman Hansen page 248 NOTE 24


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George Will: A case for preventing children's scraped knees
WASHINGTON — When not furrowing their collective brows about creches and displays of the Ten Commandments here and there, courts often are pondering tangential contacts between the government and religious schools. Courts have held that public money can constitutionally fund the transportation of parochial school pupils to classes — but not on field trips. It can fund nurses at parochial schools — but not guidance counselors. It can fund books — but not maps. Daniel Patrick Moynihan wondered: What about atlases, which are books of maps? On Wednesday, the Supreme Court will consider the constitutional significance of this incontrovertible truth: "A scraped knee is a scraped knee whether it happens at a Montessori day care or a Lutheran day care."
That assertion is in an agreeably brief amicus brief written by Michael McConnell, a Stanford law professor specializing in church-state relations. He requires just 13 pages to make mincemeat of Missouri's contention that a bit of 19th- century bigotry lodged in its constitution requires it to deny shredded tires to Trinity Lutheran Church in Columbia, which runs a preschool.
Missouri's Department of Natural Resources, which has a capacious conception of natural resources, runs the Scrap Tire Program. It enables playgrounds to replace gravel and dirt with a rubber protective surface that is kinder to the knees of the devout and heathens alike.
The department refused the church's request for a $20,000 grant, citing this from the state constitution: "No money shall ever be taken from the public treasury, directly or indirectly, in aid of any church, sect or denomination of religion." Trinity Lutheran says the state is abridging its First Amendment right to the "free exercise" of religion and denying the 14th Amendment guarantee of "equal protection of the laws."
Both sides agree that the U.S. Constitution poses no impediment to Missouri giving a grant to Trinity Lutheran. The question for the Supreme Court is whether Missouri can demand an even stricter separation of church and state. Can it exclude an otherwise eligible entity from a generally available public benefit — a benefit serving a completely separate purpose (see above: knees) — simply because the entity is religious?
Missouri's constitutional language is a Blaine Amendment, named for the Republican Speaker of the House and 1884 presidential nominee James G. Blaine. Protestants resented Catholic immigrants founding parochial schools that taught Catholicism as forthrightly as public schools taught Protestantism with prayers, hymn singing and readings from the King James version of the Bible. Each public school was, in Horace Mann's approving words, a "nursery of piety" — Protestant piety.
Hoping that anti-Catholicism would propel him into the presidency, in 1875 Blaine unsuccessfully proposed amending the U.S. Constitution to stipulate that no public money could go to schools "under the control of any religious sect." But 37 states put versions of his amendment into their constitutions, and Congress required its inclusion in the constitutions of states entering the union.
Even if, as Missouri implausibly insists, its constitution's language, which was enacted in — wait for it — 1875, was unrelated to anti-Catholic animus, the language is nevertheless incompatible with the Supreme Court's Establishment Clause jurisprudence. Splitting and re-splitting judicial hairs over the years, the Supreme Court has produced a three-part test: A statute pertaining to contact between government and religion does not constitute establishment of religion if the statute has "a secular legislative purpose" (again: knees), it neither advances nor inhibits religion, and it does not involve "excessive government entanglement with religion."
Practices during the Founders' era demonstrate, McConnell argues, that "including religious groups in neutral public benefit programs was not viewed as an establishment." And: "Shredded tires have no religious, ideological, or even instructional content ... a rubberized playground is existentially incapable of advancing religion."
Missouri cites, in defense of its practice, an utterly inapposite case in which the Supreme Court upheld a state's refusal to fund students seeking degrees in devotional theology, even though it funded degrees in secular subjects. This involved entirely different issues than Missouri denying an organization access to a public safety benefit simply because the organization is religious. Spreading shredded tires beneath a jungle gym hardly (in the Supreme Court's language) "intentionally or inadvertently inculcates particular religious tenets." And Missouri's denial of this benefit is, McConnell writes, "the clearest possible example of an unconstitutional penalty on the exercise of a constitutional right," the free exercise of religion.
"The religious status of the Trinity Lutheran day care bears not the slightest relevance to the purpose of the state's program." Which pertains to knees.
George Will's email address is email@example.com.


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Located in the small, aptly named village of Rokka this gorge is a big departure from Samaria and some of the other's with rougher terrain but it is just as beautiful and has just as much flora and fauna to keep visitors preoccupied. Nearly vertical rock faces loom overhead and at less than 5 meters wide and 200 meters deep the gorge is extremely imposing. A remarkable view of Kissamos awaits hikers who reach the plateau and the steep hill known as Trouli above the village is the site of the ancient Venetian castle (see archaeology section).
To reach the Lissos Gorge visitors can take a small boat from neighbouring Sougia (about 20 minutes), or can arrive by foot which is about a 2 hour walk. The entrance begins at the harbour of Sougia and a good deal of the pathway is uphill. The entrance begins at the harbour of Sougia and a good deal of the pathway is uphill. There is beautiful vegetation throughout the gorge and towards the end of the path a gorgeous pine forest offering up a view of Lissos below. At the bottom of the hill lies ancient Lissos including the temple which can be explored on foot. (See Lissos in the archaeology section).
Found close to the city of Hania, the Theriso gorge is approximately 6km long and can also be visited by car. Easily navigated with a well laid pathway this is a good opportunity for people with families to take to the outdoors and do some hiking. The Theriso gorge sits amongst the foothills of the White Mountains; a small stream runs through part of the gorge and adds to the abundant plant life which makes for fantastic natural scenery and an abundance of greenery everywhere.
A delightful surprise to walk or drive through, many visitors to western Crete remember the Topolia gorge not from hiking it but rather from driving along the winding road that cuts through it (and part of a mountain where a tunnel was dug to allow the road continue). Known to locals as the 'Gorge of Caves' because of the many that are found along its route, this majestic gorge is located just south of Kissamos and is rich with vegetation. Its path begins just after the village of Topolia and extends for approximately 1.5 km. One of its most impressive features is the shadows that fall onto its rock faces mid-afternoon – a stunning sight to behold.
West of Samaria this gorge can be accessed from the same pathway as Klados gorge, beginning in Linosseli. Breathtaking views of its steep rock walls, climbers will be delighted its nature and wildlife. Dangerous in spots and not for the novice. Beware of loose rocks and plan well.
Just over an hour's drive southwest of the city of Hania is the gorge of Agia Irini. Easily accessible from the village of Agia Irini the entire hike is approximately three hours and stretches out over 7.5km. At its most narrow point it closes in at just 10 meters while its walls climb to a height of 500 meters. Most of the pathway is easily navigated and the trail itself well cared for although there are both uphill and downhill areas and along the riverbed visitors have to traverse the rocky terrain. There are a couple of picnic spots along the way and washroom facilities. Lush vegetation, flowering herbs and gorgeous views of the surrounding mountains and abundant pine and cypress trees await travelers here. At the end of the pathway there is a main road that leads to the charming village of Sougia.
Just east of Samaria is the very narrow, verdant Eligia gorge with its steep drop and abundant foliage. The path to its entrance begins at the Katsiveli mountain shelter. It is more walkable than either Tripiti or Klados, marked with small piles of rocks along the way, but there are a number of secondary paths that can lead visitors to become easily lost so a guide is recommended. At the end of the gorge the isolated village of Agia Roumeli with its pebble beach and breathtaking views of the Libyan sea is approximately a one hour hike away. Agia Roumeli is only accessible by boat or on foot and well worth the hike
If you want to see a city's soul go to the market (also known as Dimotiki Agora). Hania's Municipal market or 'Agora' is a bustling, lively center where tourists can rub shoulders with locals while meandering through the 76 small shops, restaurants, bakeries and stalls selling their fresh local products. A variety of bakeries and small restaurants serve up some of the freshest fare in the city. The restaurants may not be fancy but if it's genuine Cretan cuisine you're after, this is one of the best places to find it.
Easily one of the most beautiful gorges in all of Crete, the Imbros gorge is often overlooked by hikers who choose Samaria instead, but this gorge is impressive in its own right. Again regarded specifically as a hiking site, the Imbros Gorge is a fantastic natural habitat for a variety of birds including the Raven, the Griffon Vulture, the Falcon and the Alpine Swift.
One of only two freshwater lakes on the entire island, Lake Agia is a manmade lake in the Northwest of Crete. Initially built as a water supply for the island, no-one anticipated the ecosystem that would one day flourish here. Today, this tranquil setting is home to over 200 different varieties of birds. Species that can be found here include Ducks, Geese, Wood Sandpiper, Swallow, Black-winged stilt, Reed Warbler, Pelican and Little Crake to name just a few.
Just less than 20 km west of Sfakia lies the Aradena gorge which begins on the softer southern hills of the White Mountains and ends at the cobalt coloured waters of the Libyan Sea. Pictures of the gorge's dramatic sloping edges falling into the sea are unforgettable and it is easily one of the most picturesque in the Hania region. The gorge is approximately 7km long and takes approximately 3 to 4 hours to hike. There is an area where hikers must descend a metal ladder attached to the cliff, although there is an alternate route with a handrail. The descent itself is difficult but manageable but hikers should be forewarned about falling stones. At the end of the hike there are paths to Marmara, Loutro and Sfakia.
Located approximately 6 km northwest of Paleochora near a small village called Azogires, the Cave of the Holy Fathers is an impressive cave system with a moving spiritual history. Over 20 meters high and more than 100 meters long the cave is accessed by ascending through its mouth which is approximately 10 by 5 meters. Once inside there are steel ladders leading you down into the cave which houses a number of wondrous dripstone formations. The Cave of the Holy Fathers has still not been fully investigated and it is relatively difficult terrain – a flashlight and sturdy hiking shoes are an absolute necessity. Any questions can be directed to the friendly locals at the nearby Alfa Cafe and Information Center.
Also known to many Greeks as the 'deepest cave' Gourgouthakas is located in an area of the White Mountains (Ta Lefka Ori) known as Atzinolakos. Sitting at an altitude of 1500 meters it is 1208 meters in depth and 900 meters in length making it one of the deepest caves in the entire world. Initially discovered in the early nineties, Greek speleologists were the first to investigate the cave; a couple short years later a team of climbers triumphantly conquered it. The area around Gourgouthakas Cave is extremely beautiful and worth exploring on its own. Only those who are the most qualified and experienced climbers should consider this expedition.
Set amongst a stunning backdrop of mountains Lake Kournas is the only natural freshwater lake in all of Crete and covers an area of approximately 579,000 square meters and is only 22.5 meters at its deepest point. Home to different species including Herons, Cormorants, Ducks, and Warblers. As one of only two freshwater lakes on the island, Lake Kournas is a wonderful spot to take a rented kayak and while away the day atop its calm waters. On site visitors can rent a pedal boat or canoe to travel around the area.
Once a sacred spot of Minoan worship the cave of Agia Sofia is now famous for its mammoth stalactites and stalagmites. A steep climb up the stone staircase and into the mouth of the cave visitors will first see a small chapel where they may light a candle or offer a prayer. Once inside it is fairly easy to make one's way around (although the back of the cave is too slippery and dark to explore). Some of the stalagmites and stalactites are up to five or six meters in length with unique, almost otherworldly formations.
Nestled between Souda and Tsikalaria is this exquisite little village that has grown into a model for artists everywhere.
Just west of its more famous sister, Samaria, the Klados gorge awaits. Offering up breathtaking scenery with its imposing jagged rockface and waterfalls, the Klados gorge is a remote and little traveled terrain. Its northern entrance begins from the Linosseli pass west of the Gigilos peak and is marked only by a few piles of rocks. This path, as with others along much of its route, is often blocked by bushes which only contribute to the danger by hiding its steep drops. Just before the entrance there is a very dangerous spot with loose gravel on a steep slope. Navigating the Klados gorge does require descending by rope in various areas. There are cascading waterfalls along the way and at the end a gorgeous beach called Tripiti.
Compared to many of its sister's, the Sirikari gorge (also known as Polyrinia gorge) is an easy alternative for those looking to get out into nature but not suffer too much the next day. A protected habitat, the gorge descends into a beautiful river bed with abundant, flowering vegetation. From the village of Sirikari the pathway ascends to the ancient settlement of Polyrinia with its glorious view of the bay of Kissamos. Altogether the hike is approximately three hours (and 11 km long). Visitors should beware however, that along the pathway there are areas not well marked by signposts and it can become easy to get turned around.
A UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves site, the White Mountains offer an incredible opportunity for the hiker in both winter and summer. Generally regarded for its fantastic hiking, the White Mountains provide an ideal habitat for bird lovers and nature enthusiasts looking for species of large birds like Eagles and Vultures, the Golden Eagle and the Red-Billed Chough.
Just south of the town of Georgioupolis is the lake of Georgioupolis which is home to a number of different species of birds such as Herons, the Black-winged Stilt, Waders, various species of Ducks and Geese, as well as Coots and the Great Reed Warbler.
More famous with each passing year, the Samarian Gorge is synonymous with Crete. Each year thousands of tourists flock to the Omalos plateau to begin their descent into the mouth of this stunning exploit.


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I recently attended a writers' conference and listened to a panel teaching us "Brand You."
Not the hot metal mark seared into your butt kind.
The "I'm unique because" kind.
I'm lousy at sound-bite self-definition, which is driving American business as never before, thanks to Twitter, (which I don't use), Facebook, LinkedIn and other social media.
And tomorrow in Manhattan I'm attending a huge blogging conference, BlogHer, where I'll have to tout yourself in a few pithy syllables.
I was raised, culturally (Canada) and by my (accomplished but quiet about it) family and by my profession (journalism) not to toot my horn all the damn time.
Have you ever heard of "tall poppy" syndrome? In Australia, the tallest poppy — i.e. the boastful braggart — gets its pretty little head lopped off for its temerity. The Japanese and Swedes have their own expressions for this as well.
Canadians just find chest-beating socially gauche, and assume you're a pushy American. So that whole brand-building thing, there, is often considered about as attractive as passing wind. Modesty is highly prized, so how to "be a brand" and do so in a low-key way, somehow escapes me.
(Being modest is easier in a smaller nation with tighter social and professional networks. There are more than 300 million Americans, some of them breathtakingly aggressive. Remaining invisible often means professional suicide.)
I still think (yes, I know I'm wrong!), that the quality of my body of work should speak for itself. This constant, tedious "watchmewatchmewatchmeeeeeeee!" of a three-year-old at the pool — now considered part of "building your personal brand" — remains a behavior I find a little infantile. Even after 20+ years in the U.S. and near New York City, where sharp elbows are a pre-requisite for survival.
Here are a few phrases I think define me and my work:
passionate authenticity
insatiable curiosity
nuanced investigation
I love this song, Helplessness Blues, by Fleet Foxes:
I was raised up believing I was somehow unique
Like a snowflake distinct among snowflakes, unique in each way you can see
And now after some thinking, I'd say I'd rather be
A functioning cog in some great machinery serving something beyond me
But I don't, I don't know what that will be
I'll get back to you someday soon you will see
What's my name, what's my station, oh, just tell me what I should do
Do you have a brand?
What is it?
How did you arrive at it?


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(CNN) – Sarah Palin is again taking aim at Michelle Obama over her anti-obesity campaign, taking the opportunity in Sunday's "Sarah Palin's Alaska" to land a diss against the first lady's efforts to improve nutrition.
While making s'mores at one point during Sunday's episode, the former Alaska governor proclaims the marshmallow and chocolate treat is "in honor of Michelle Obama, who said the other day we should not have dessert."
It's not the first time Palin has taken a jab at Mrs. Obama over her campaign to discourage fattening foods, especially from public schools. The former vice presidential nominee told conservative talk radio host Laura Ingraham last month that "the first lady cannot trust parents to make decisions for their own children, for their own families in what we should eat."
Palin also hand-delivered cookies to a Pennsylvania school last month before delivering a speech there, saying: "Who should be deciding what I eat? Should it be government or should it be parents? It should be the parents."
Palin's comments Sunday appear to be in reference to a speech Michelle Obama delivered in July, during which she described her own upbringing when it came to food and exercise.
"In the afternoon, there was no way we'd be allowed to lie around the house watching TV," she told the NAACP in a Kansas City speech. "Our parents made us get up and play outside."
"As I tell my kids, dessert is not a right," she added.
This website should be named the Pallin Ticker, as CNN continues to shove her down our throats.
Am so tired of the Palin, republican bias of this website.
Let's boycott it until they start being "fair and balanced".
She gets stupider (I don't know if it's a word but it seems to fit stupid Sarah) by the minute (I'm french by the way which is why I don't know if it's an actual word, in case the word police is looking)
There goes the genius again. Yes, let's encourage our kids to be fat!
Good for Sarah. She's the only one who sees how Michelle's support against obesity can lead to jack-booted thugs breaking down doors of American citizens to confiscate Twinkies and Ho-Ho's. Not sure how many voters Sarah thinks she'll gain by twisting another quote, but I guess it makes her feel better.
Hey I've got a joke. So Sarah Palin speaks.... Get it? Thank you CNN and please give us more breathless coverage of this person, if you can make space between your zombie stories and how to not catch a cold advice.
Uh, Sarah, graduate from Princton and Harvard first before having anything to say to the First Lady of the United States. She has more class and grace than you on her worst day!
While to some extent I agree with Govenor Palin she is completely missing the point here. This is not about the government telling us what we can and cannot eat, this is about the health of our children and some of the decisions that parents are making. The government does not tell me what I can and cannot feed my kids, but my children know that candy and sweets are a priviledge and not a right. Furthermore whenever possible we substitute healthy alternatives (i.e. fruits and veggies) and my kids love it. It gives me great pride as a parent when my daughter tells me that she wants to have a banana instead of some junk food.
I believe Ms. Palin has become certifiably paranoid and should be treated accordingly. What else could have prompted Ms Palin to construe the promotion of a healthy lifestyle as a nefarious governmental policy? One can only feel sorry for her.
The idea of Sarah Palin showing up at a school to pass out cookies seems a little creepy to me.
Now who was it who tempted Hansel and Gretel with more dessert?
Palin doesn't understand also that obese people, like people who drive recklessly, and those who smoke, significantly drive up insurance and federal medical spending for everyone. No one lives in isolation of anyone else, we all affect each other in unknown ways– but this is a direct, clearly known way.
Apparently this twit from the Great White North (no, not Canada but I really wish she were) doesn't understand that obesity is the leading cause of health problems in this country. Heart Disease, Diabetes, certain types of Cancer are all attributed to being overweight and this in turn causes health care costs to spiral out of control. Maybe she has too many smores in between her ears to see a cause and effect here.
Can someone please tell her how to act like an adult rather than a whiny teenager? Could you imagine her in an actual diplomatic discussion? She would be a total disaster!
So Sarah would rather that our children be obese, leading to high cholesterol and heart disease later in life? Is that her message? Good one Sarah – great parenting.
Honestly, some parents are so stupid that maybe the government does need to step in. Besides, schools decide menus based largely on $$. And parents really have very little input into the menu. So, if the government dictates a balanced diet in schools, they are doing us and our children a favor.
This is nothing more than a typical right-wing knee-jerk reaction, making mountains out of molehills.
OK< some like Paliin, but the majority of us are weary of hearing about her. If the media would not report on her every day, no one would care! Media has made her a celebrity - what other loosing VP candidate EVER got this much press. Stop it!!!!!!
Palin is a BAD Actress ,
She will stop at nothing to exploit in the name of greed and vanity. Her ignorance and intolerance in the name of God is disheartening to me.
Given the insane number of obese and overweight children, it's pretty obvious that parents are doing a pretty poor job of telling their kids what to eat. Government isn't forcing anyone to eat or not to eat certain types of food, only raising awareness of what's healthy in an attempt to help the public make smarter choices.
Perfect picture of Sarah. It shows the only thing she is truly qualified to do.
Palin needs to stop the cheap shots at Michelle Obama. Michelle Obama is right to address childhood obesity. Nobody is telling children what they can and cannot eat. Palin always puts her poisonous spin on ideas anyone with a brain might have. It is obvious that Palin does not do much in the way of encouraging her children to practice good habits, especially in behavior and education.
Sarah Palin should just SHUT UP! Our First Lady, Michelle Obama, is totally correct in her attempts to wake this nation up to the health perils (and future health costs) of obesity in children and the terrible body destruction that obesity can bring – high blood pressure, diabetes and its awful complications including amputation of limbs, the strain on joints, etc. Palin is so desperate to keep herself in the limelight that she will say and do anything to do so, including speak against the wellbeing of this nation's youth. SHUT UP, Sarah!
APALlINg Sarah continues to sink to ever lower, more petty behaviors. As Mae West was to have said. "I have my standards. They're low, but they are all mine."
Sorry little girl but Michelle is just not into you. She will not respond to your infantile stupidness. The GOP may love it but that's about it. You are a jerk and a loser. Get a real job and get a life.
This woman would do or say anything to stay in the news. I pray that what goes around comes around, and soon.
Whether you like or dislike the Obama Administration you have got to give the 1st lady some credit for encouraging people to watch what they eat. It should be the parents responsibility to monitor what kids eat but for so many kids school breakfast and lunch is all they eat. I think it's great that there is a driving force around fitness and nutrition in school. Sarah Palin may have a legitimate beef or 2 with the Pres but she just seem high school b*tchy with the 1st lady.
I think CNN is scraping the bottom of the barrel today .No matter what Sarah Palin does it gets twisted and skewed in here . I think her views most clearly reflect my veiws . So the more you diss her the more I feel that your dissing me . This woman is a rock star and a king maker ( as shown in the last election ). I don't know if she will run for president but if she does it will be like trying to stop a runaway train with the support the great unwashed will give her .So go ahead and insult slur skew Sarah Palin it only makes all of her supporters including me to tighten our resolve and do every thing we can to get her elected President. If you thought the nov election was a wake up call just wait until 2012.
I can hardly wait PALIN 2012


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Oakland's Hale among first to interview
A's bench coach meets with Zduriencik as manager search ramps up
SEATTLE -- Jack Zduriencik has spent the past three weeks putting together his list of managerial candidates to replace Eric Wedge and now is moving into the interviewing phase, with A's bench coach Chip Hale among the first to meet with the Mariners general manager.
Zduriencik is in Arizona for the remainder of this week and was scheduled to meet with Hale on Wednesday, as first reported by Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com. Hale, 48, has worked as Bob Melvin's top assistant the past two years in Oakland and lives in Tucson, Ariz.
Zduriencik will be having initial talks with a number of people in Phoenix this week, some serious candidates and some just for background purposes as the hiring process heats up. Zduriencik is expected to talk to some internal candidates in the Mariners organization as well.
Hale was an infielder with the Twins and Dodgers from 1989-97 before getting into coaching. He spent six seasons as a Minor League manager in the D-backs organization and earned Pioneer League and Pacific Coast League Manager of the Year awards before joining Melvin's staff as the third-base coach and infield coach in Arizona from 2007-09.
He then spent two years as the Mets' third-base coach in 2010-11 before rejoining Melvin's staff in Oakland the past two years.
Hale is regarded in baseball circles as one of the up-and-coming managerial prospects in the game as a young, energetic candidate who is detail oriented and good with the media. He's obviously familiar with the American League West from his time with the A's and has worked with some very successful teams, including the National League West champion D-backs in 2007 and the AL West champion A's the past two years.
Hale interviewed with the Mariners in 2008 when they hired Don Wakamatsu and has also been a contender for several other openings in recent years.
The Mariners are expected to extend their hiring process into early November, after the conclusion of the World Series. Red Sox bench coach Torey Lovullo is among a lengthy list of candidates who have been mentioned, but he has made it known he doesn't want to talk with any suitors until his team is done playing.
Dodgers third-base coach Tim Wallach, Tigers hitting coach and former Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon, Giants bench coach Ron Wotus, former White Sox and Marlins bench coach Joey Cora and current Mariners front-office member Ted Simmons are among the potential candidates, though other names likely will emerge as the process plays out.
There are currently four Major League teams looking for new managers - the Cubs, Nationals, Tigers and Mariners -- with the Reds having just promoted pitching coach Bryan Price to replace Dusty Baker.


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If you open your network settings in the System Preferences after upgrading to OS X 10.9 "Mavericks", you'll be informed that a new "Thunderbolt Bridge" network interface was added to the system. So it's now possible to network two Macs over Thunderbolt. Let's take our new network for a spin.
Obviously you need a Thunderbolt cable to connect two Thunderbolt-equipped Macs. I got the 0.5 meter one from Apple, which is quite short, and connected my mid-2011 MacBook Air to a brand new MacBook Pro ("with Retina Display", but that almost goes without saying now). The MacBook Pro has 20 Gbps Thunderbolt 2 while the Air has to make do with the regular 10 Gbps Thunderbolt—but on both the Network Utility reports a link speed of 10 Gbps.
On the Air, the network interface now came up, but not on the Pro. The reason for that is that the Thunderbolt Bridge interface is actually a virtual bridge interface that allows network packets to be passed from one physical network interface to another. This also means that packets toward those interfaces should now go through the bridge interface. The Air's lone Thunderbolt port was part of the Thunderbolt Bridge out of the box, but on the Pro only one of the ports was part of the bridge—and of course I had connected my cable to the other port. This was easily fixed.
With the Thunderbolt Bridge interface up and running on both computers, I turned off Wi-Fi on the Pro to make sure that I wouldn't accidentally connect wirelessly. I then connected from the Air to the Pro through the Finder, mounting the Pro's SSD as a network share. Now I was in the position to copy files back and forth and time how long that took.
The result: much longer than expected, in the Pro-to-Air direction, at least. However, by monitoring network throughput in the Activity Monitor, it turned out that when copying from the MacBook Pro to the MacBook Air, the transfers could be extremely fast, sometimes showing transfer speeds of a gigabyte per second. But at random intervals, the transfer would stall for a number of seconds, and then continue at either very low or very high speed.
In the other direction, from the older, slower MacBook Air to the brand new, much faster MacBook Pro, there were no such issues. Here, Activity Monitor fairly consistently showed around 500MB per second worth of network traffic. However, that number doesn't correspond to the transfer times and file sizes. Based on these, the transfer speed was 200MB/sec. Some of the discrepancy is explained by network overhead and TCP taking some time to ramp up to multi-Gbps speeds, but I'm pretty sure what's really going on here is that the system counts the network activity of both the physical Thunderbolt interface and the virtual bridge interface, thus reporting twice as much network activity as what really took place.
It remains unclear why the transfers from the Pro to the Air were so inconsistent. An obvious reason would be that the Pro sends packets faster than the Air can handle, but looking at the interface statistics (netstat -i en1 -ss), it turns out that the difference between packets sent and packets received was only 0.02 percent—not really enough to cause the observed behavior. Getting out tcpdump and inspecting the data traffic also didn't show any reason for the slowdown: I couldn't find a single instance of SACK blocks, which would indicate lost packets in the middle of a transfer. The only indication that something is going on is that once in a while, there are simply no packets for 10 milliseconds or so, for no reason that I could find.
Maybe there is a software issue, or maybe there is a bottleneck in one of the Thunderbolt implementations—the mid-2011 MacBook Air was the first model to gain Thunderbolt. With Mavericks, Apple switched to SMB as the default protocol to transfer files locally, but using AFP didn't make a difference.
Although the interfaces report using the standard Ethernet packet size or MTU (maximum transfer unit) of 1500 bytes, in reality the SMB transfers typically happened as four 65212-byte packets and then a 1556-byte packet—which makes for a 256kB payload. However, sometimes the packet sizes would be different.
The Thunderbolt network interface also indicates that it supports TCP segmentation offloading for both IPv4 and IPv6 (TSO4 and TSO6), but presumably, there's no actual network hardware in the Thunderbolt interface that could perform this function. The idea behind TSO is that the network software creates one large packet or segment, and the networking hardware splits that packet into pieces that conform to the MTU limit. This allows gigabit-scale networks to operate without using excessive amounts of CPU time. What seems to be happening here is that the system maintains an outward appearance of using the standard MTU size so nothing unexpected happens, but then simply transmits the large TCP segment over Thunderbolt without bothering with the promised segmentation.
As Apple actually implemented Thunderbolt networking as Ethernet over Thunderbolt rather than IP over Thunderbolt, it's possible to add other Ethernet and Ethernet-like interfaces (such as Wi-Fi) to the Thunderbolt Bridge: use "manage virtual interfaces" in the little gear menu under the list of interfaces in the network settings.
I had the Pro bridge its Wi-Fi interface to the Air over Thunderbolt, and from the Air's perspective it was just like it was connected to the Wi-Fi network: other computers showed up in the Finder and everything. However, the Pro had a kernel panic and the Air had a hard time copying files or loading web pages. Could be a side effect of the creative take on TSO, or maybe something else is going on.
Assuming stability and consistency will be improved, is Thunderbolt networking useful in the first place?
Obviously, outfitting Macs with Thunderbolt 10 Gigabit Ethernet adapters and hooking them up to a 10GE switch is the superior solution. With an equally superior price tag. In situations where a fast network is only needed to copy files between two computers, using a $30 or $40 Thunderbolt cable is much more convenient at a fraction of the price. I can also imagine a Mac Pro being outfitted with a 10GE adapter, and then one or two other Macs connecting to the 10GE network through a Thunderbolt connection to that Mac Pro. And if Thunderbolt networking catches on, we may even see Thunderbolt ports on NAS devices.
Say what you will about Apple, but they're not afraid to try something new. As this new feature shows, it really pays off to have a generic high speed port in every Mac. I can't wait to see what else Thunderbolt has in store for us.
IP over Thunderbolt looks like it has lots of potential, but on the other hand, IP over Firewire was pretty cool a decade ago, too. Windows actually handled IP over Firewire in much the same way as OS 10.9 handles Thunderbolt networking, allowing you to bridge between Firewire and Ethernet ports. But then it was dropped in Vista. So enjoy your fast network while it lasts.
Update: by popular demand, I also tested with iPerf, which tests raw TCP performance, without reading or writing to disk. iPerf transfers data without the overhead incurred by actual file-sharing protocols, and these numbers won't be representative of actual performance in most cases. Sending from the MacBook Pro to the MacBook Air happened at 5.3Gbps, in the other direction slightly faster at 5.7Gbps.


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Radiation therapy has been used for decades to treat prostate cancer with varying degrees of success. The goal of any radiation therapy for prostate cancer is to deliver the appropriate dose of radiation needed to treat the cancer, while protecting the surrounding tissues and structures, and minimizing patient discomfort and side effects.
Today, CyberKnife Robotic-assisted Radiosurgery - a robotic radiation therapy that sounds like surgery, but isn't - is offering new hope for patients with localized prostate cancer. It also can be used to treat prostate cancer that has recurred after a radical prostatectomy or previous treatment. CyberKnife has been used to treat prostate cancer for about six years. Studies are showing CyberKnife treatment produces exceptionally good PSA responses with a low incidence of side effects.
Treatment Preparation
Length of Treatment
Treatment Delivery
Side Effects
External Beam Radiotherapy (EBRT) has been used for decades to treat localized prostate cancer. EBRT delivers five to seven beams of radiation from a source outside the body. The accuracy and orientation of the beams of radiation are limited by the equipment.
To compensate for patient and prostate movement and the inaccuracy of the EBRT equipment, the physician must target the prostate and a rim of surrounding normal tissue. This means portions of the nearby rectum and bladder receive a full dose of radiation. To prevent injury to these tissues, radiation is delivered in many small, daily doses over a period of eight to nine weeks.
Older EBRT techniques delivered 65-70 Gy (units of radiation), which is now considered inadequate. Modern advancements, such as intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and image-guidance radiotherapy (IGRT) have made it possible to increase external beam radiation doses. While these higher doses improved cancer control rates, they remained inferior to the cure rates with brachytherapy.
This graph shows the proportion of patients free from a recurrence of prostate cancer in the years following various doses of external beam radiotherapy. If an EBRT treatment is curative, the downward trend should level off and become a horizontal line (which corresponds with the cure rate).
As shown, prostate cancer treated with a higher dose (80 Gy or greater) takes longer to recur, but there is no clear leveling off. This suggests even the highest doses of external beam radiotherapy may be insufficient to cure prostate cancer. (Data from Fox-Chase Cancer Center. Nadir+2 definition for biochemical failure used. Adapted from Eade IJROBP 68(3), 682-89.)
Brachytherapy is a type of radiation therapy for prostate cancer. Unlike external beam radiation therapy that targets the cancer from a radiation source outside the body, with brachytherapy radiation is delivered from a source inside the body.
This is a side view of a LDR implant procedure. An ultrasound probe placed into the rectum guides needles into the prostate, where radioactive seeds" are deposited.
Over the next several weeks, the "seeds" slowly deliver radiation to the cancer. Eventually only non-radioactive "seeds" remain in the body.
This X-ray shows the radioactive "seeds" throughout the prostate.
A higher dose of radiation can be delivered with seed implants than with external beam radiation. Cancer control rates are therefore higher with seed implants than with external beam radiation. Patients who have brachytherapy have cure rates similar to radical prostatectomy while avoiding major surgery.
Results have shown that with a sufficient dose of radiation, seed implants can cure prostate cancer. Patients who have brachytherapy have cure rates similar to radical prostatectomy while avoiding major surgery.
High-dose rate brachytherapy is another method of giving internal radiation to the prostate.
As with LDR implants, the patient is placed under general anesthesia or a spinal block that numbs the lower part of the body. An ultrasound probe is placed in the rectum, which guides the placement of 15-20 needles through the perineum (floor of the pelvis) into the prostate. The needles are then replaced with catheters which are held in place by a template that is sutured to the perineum.
After the catheters are in place, a CT scan determines the prostate location. A customized radiation plan is then developed for each patient. By adjusting the time the radiation source is programmed to be at each position in the catheters, the physician can compensate for possible errors in catheter positioning. The customized plan maximizes the radiation dose delivered to the prostate, while minimizing the dose to surrounding organs.
A shielded after-loading device moves the high-intensity radiation source through the catheters into the prostate according to the plan. Radiation is then delivered to pre-programmed positions in the prostate in four to six large doses. This usually requires two separate implant procedures.
In most cancers, giving many small doses of radiation over a longer period of time helps avoid damage to normal tissues. In prostate cancer, however, prolonging treatment doesn't appear to offer any advantage over high doses of radiation delivered in a shorter period of time. Studies have shown that HDR brachytherapy alone (without additional external beam radiation therapy) has a five-year cancer relapse rate that is equal to or better than low-dose rate (LDR) brachytherapy (seed implant). Additionally, there are fewer acute and late side effects than with LDR brachytherapy. One study shows potency is also better preserved with HDR implants.


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- Artist: Christine de Carvahlo
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Very cute puzzle! Lots of tiny pieces of background that make it a difficult puzzle to complete. Also border is challenging.
Very cute puzzle! Lots of tiny pieces of background that make it a difficult puzzle to complete. Also border is challenging.


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Undergraduate Admission
Office of Admission
1500 Peachtree St. Box 153
Jackson, MS 39202
Toll free:1-800-960-5940
Fax: 601-968-8946
Among Christian colleges and universities, Belhaven University stands at the forefront-both for its enduring commitment to the liberal arts as well as to the integration of the Christian faith into the classroom and life of the campus.
Students seeking a college degree that will challenge them to tackle complex intellectual and spiritual issues from a biblical perspective will find Belhaven to be one of their top options.
We take seriously the idea of Christian higher education, pushing students to think critically in a wide array of disciplines and providing an environment that is academically rigorous while being supportive of students and their success, all in the context of a community guided by Christian and biblical standards of lifestyle and conduct.
Belhaven University is located in a historic, residential setting in the heart of Jackson, Mississippi, and is a close-knit community of students, professors, and staff committed to the mission of the college, which is to prepare students academically and spiritually to serve Christ Jesus in their careers, in human relationships, and in the world of ideas.


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Whether you regularly watch porn or not, chances are you have an opinion about it. And, recently, the subject of lady porn, i.e. erotica made specifically with women's wants and desires in mind, has been gaining attention. After all, the common narrative of what porn is consists of cum shots and, well, pounding, for lack of a better word. Which, suffice to say, many of us find less than hot.
Porn star James Deen (who recently starred with Lindsay Lohan in the non-x-rated film The Canyons) thinks that porn for women isn't necessary, however. He told Refinery29:
"My theory on porn for women is it's just porn. Why is there porn explicitly only for women? By saying there needs to be porn for women, you're basically isolating women as a gender, and saying, 'This is how women should think. This is how their sexuality should be.' It's counterproductive (from what I understand) to the equality movement. Who says that one woman's take on sexuality is the right way to think? One woman might like to watch a film with high production value and beautiful sex. Another might like some BDSM things with beating, degradation—and it doesn't mean either is right or wrong. Pornography is made for individuals to find what they enjoy, and what turns them on. There's no market research on this because sexuality is always developing, growing, and evolving. You could talk to a million people about what they like in porn, and you're going to get a million answers of what a million people like in porn at that moment."
More From Cosmopolitan
While we like the idea of porn based on preference, not gender,some women (and men!) believe that a lot of porn isn't female friendly and actually degrades women, showing that there seems to be a need for that so-called lady porn. Right?
However, when we asked sex therapist Eric Marlowe Garrison, author of Mastering Multiple Position Sex, for his perspective, he also made the point that, while we might see some porn as degrading, people may actually be turned on by what offends others. Here's where the line is, as far as he's concerned:
"As a general rule, we can consider any porn as 'normal' so long as all the participants—including the actors, production staff, bystanders/onlookers, and the film's intended audience, all of legal age—provided their express consent for their parts during the filming, editing, screening, and viewing of the video regardless of whether we, in our existence as sexual beings, engage in those filmed activities or not." So, basically, as long as no one is forced to do anything or watch anything against his/her will, it should be all good.
He emphasized that each person needs to determine what aspects of porn, if any, are "healthy" for him or herself. "Rather than thinking of porn as sexually explicit, we can reclassify it as sexually relevant," he says. "Because every type of consensual porn is relevant to somebody."
(H/T HuffPost Women)
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