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Instagram is all about telling your life's story through short sentences and amazing pictures. It is a fabulous stage for anyone interested in photography, where they can showcase their works.
Everyday plenty of amazing photographers engage and entertain followers with their brilliant images. Some of the images are from their daily lives while some of the images talk about their parallel lives.
Follow These 4 Steps to Click Photographs That Tell a Tale on Instagram
1. Isolate and focus on the Subject
When you are composing, isolating the subject is required in every photo that you click. Isolation of the subject allows viewers to understand what you are talking about. It is a way of introducing the characters of your story and their actions, to the audience.
Observe the image above. It is talking about a person on a busy street. The story is about that person and the isolation of the subject ensures that there isn't much room for too many other interpretations.
2. Tell stories through exaggerated and vivid pictures
When you are story telling through pictures, add in a little bit of exaggeration and drama because it makes your story telling more attractive and engaging. Rationality takes a back seat when it comes to clicking photos. Be a little bit creative and add in more style and depth to create a heightened impact.
⦁ Choose a very dramatic location
⦁ Remove all the clutter
⦁ Click from a new perspective
Though we know that the situation in the above picture is not real, we find it very interesting and amusing. That is what photography is all about – having fun while clicking images.
3. Capture more natural emotions through your photographs
A good photograph captures thoughts, ideas, emotions and experiences on a heightened level. The most significant part to be captured is the emotion. The more expressive the shot is, the more it charms and attracts our senses, and the greater the relationship we build with it.
Imagine that you are making a movie and try to bring out the maximum emotions out of your subjects. When a photograph expresses emotion – whether its delight, surprise, grief or even fear and disgust – it is interesting.
Look at the above photo; it was clicked at the right moment capturing the two priceless expressions. And it's this burst of natural emotions that breathes life into your photographs.
Tips to capture natural emotions
⦁ Pick the most comfortable location and atmosphere – People act themselves in a private, familiar and secure atmosphere. This allows them to let down their guard and be vulnerable. Making your subjects comfortable is very important in order to get them to express without inhibitions.
⦁ Wait for the honest emotional moment – Be patient and look for the moment when the subject brings out an authentic expression.
⦁ Shoot the moments between poses – The moments between poses is the time when people catch a breath of air and relaxes. This would offer you are very natural click.
⦁ Focus around the eyes – Eyes are the most expressive parts of our body. Clicking shots focussing around the eyes will add more life to the photographs.
⦁ Study your subject's expression – This lets you know when they look their best. It is the glow from within, which in fact imparts a natural and charismatic look to the photograph.
4. Take Candid shots
Candid shots are more natural and real because it does not require the subject to pose or follow any guidelines. Candid shots are important when you are in a new setting or a new environment.
Sometimes you see the story only after clicking the photograph; everything falls into place and the natural moments and expressions weave a wonderful tale.
How to take candid shots
⦁ Take your camera everywhere with you
⦁ Move around the location and people and expect the moment
⦁ Don't use your flash
⦁ Maintain patience
⦁ Click with a telephoto lens since it allows you to shoot from a long distance
⦁ Use the burst mode for candid shots
Taking care of the details including the minute ones while shooting, produces very captivating images that don't need any additional description.


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Female entrepreneurs are a tough breed. To make it in the world of hardware – and this goes for men too – it takes guts, persistence, and relentless motivation.
In honor of International Women's Day and Women's History Month, we want to take a moment to tell the stories of some of the amazing women developing technology here at HAX.
Fueled by a motivation to change the world – and improve the lives of people around them – this is the first in a series of profiles where we'll explore how they got here, where they're going, and the mentors that shaped their lives along the way.
For this first piece, we interviewed Adriana Vazquez, CEO and Co-Founder of Lilu, a startup on a mission to make breastfeeding easier for and more compatible with the lifestyle of the modern mom.
By automating breast massage and compression, the Lilu bra reduces the problems related to breastfeeding and helps mothers pump, track and manage their breast milk supply.
How did you land in the world of tech?
I grew up in Mexico City and pretty early on I developed an interest in tinkering with different kinds of machines. I sort of became the person that my grandmother and family would call to fix things, so at some point, I guess I developed a taste for technical things, especially computers.
I remember one day in high school very clearly. At a fair, there was this incredible teacher who taught computer science that was demonstrating a computer program. I was fascinated by how with just a few lines of weird commands and gibberish, they made this amazing thing happen. I think that's when I decided I wanted to be a computer scientist.
I was fascinated by how a few lines of weird commands and gibberish were making this amazing demo happen. I think that's when I decided I wanted to be a computer scientist.
I also remember being the only girl in my computer science class, but from then on, I just continued down that path. I did a summer robotics camp at the University of Pennsylvania and eventually ended up going to MIT for my undergrad.
And for the very formative years of college, I was surrounded by incredibly talented computer scientists and mathematicians and robotisists, which I found super exciting.
Where did you go from there? What led you to Lilu?
After MIT, I worked in FinTech for a financial services firm in New York City. It was a different experience: MIT was very academic, with us constantly thinking about theory, but we didn't do a lot of practical work. It was focused more on algorithms and research.
It wasn't until I started this job that I got exposed to hands-on experience beyond programming and software development. It was understanding what people needed out of a piece of software – I think that's what really intrigued me; understanding how people experienced technology.
Sometimes, I think when you're focused on programming and the technical aspects, it can be easy to forget that in the end, there's someone on the other side interacting with these programs.
When I think about my path and transitioning into user experience and user research, it wasn't until a couple of years into this job that I decided I wanted to combine all of the different things I'd learned and was passionate about.
I really lost a tie to my early years in computer science – like that robotics program at Penn – and I knew I wanted to bring user experience and technology together to start building products.
So from there, I went and got a masters in product design at Penn. That's what eventually led me to design for interesting interactions and physical products. And in many ways, that's what shaped my path toward Lilu.
How was this experience being a woman?
I had a wonderful experience with women in tech early on. And I say that because of some of the current trends that we're hearing about. It's a really challenging environment for women, I definitely agree with that, but I think when I started I was completely oblivious to it all.
As I progressed in my career, and further up the ladder I went, the more I started to realize the challenges for women in technology.
I keep going back to those early years in my career – telling myself that I can do everything and anything that I set my mind to. Nothing, either in my cultural background or my gender, or anything, should stop me from setting out to do whatever I find fulfilling or interesting.
How did you identify the problem you wanted to solve?
When I was in New York, I saw colleagues that were returning from maternity leave, coming back just a few months after having given birth, and despite there being a very supportive environment at work, I recognized there was this unspoken assumption that nothing in their performance or time commitment to work should change – when in reality, everything in their personal lives had dramatically changed.
And if you're not aware of the challenges of being a breast pumping mother at work, it's hard to relate to what's happening in your colleagues' minds. It wasn't until one weekend, a friend told me a story about a woman who had her breast pump and milk thrown out of the fridge.
To sort of wrap up all this sentiment: I recently read about the launch of the SpaceX rocket in the news. If we can achieve that, why can't we make better breast pumping technology?
At the time I couldn't fully grasp why this was so tragic, whereas this mother was clearly upset. I thought, "Oh, she must be really upset because they threw out her breast pump," but in reality, she was more upset that they had thrown out the milk. It wasn't until years later that I understood all the hard work that goes into breast pumping at work, that I fully comprehended what an eventful thing that had happened.
So in terms of Lilu, it was a gradual relationship. The more and more I heard about this, I started asking myself, "Wait. Why is this such a big problem?"
Adriana Vazquez and Sujay Suresh Kumar presenting at TechCrunch Disrupt 2017 in San Francisco
How did you hone in on Lilu?
While pursuing my masters in product design, I was speaking to friends about the challenges that women face when returning from maternity leave. One day, we decided to start talking to moms. I wanted to dig deeper and understand things they thought could be improved or changed, especially when returning to work.
Invariably, everything kept coming back to the breast pump. And having heard the strong emotions mothers expressed about how challenging and painful they found their current options, that's what moved me into wanting to improve the breast pump experience. Even today, it's what keeps me going.
For me, everything comes back to this: we need to support and encourage women. We need to start by not only changing cultural norms and creating brighter and better education, but also be sure the technology is there to support that. I think that's a very big part of the puzzle that's missing.
Going back to why I care about this and why I started: As a technologist, maybe I can't change legislation, but I can certainly try to put my technical knowledge and gather a cohort of really talented engineers to help us solve this problem.
Are there any female entrepreneurs that inspire you?
Yes. I love this question. I've encountered so many women that are always willing to go above and beyond to help other women entrepreneurs.
One that I don't personally know, but I've heard her speak, is Ladyada. I think her name is in tribute to Ada Lovelace, who was a pioneer in computer science.
She's the founder of Adafruit, a company that allows people of all ages and skill levels to access microcontrollers and things that people without expertise may not be able to use; but she makes them available for people who want to create. She's a big influencer in the maker community. I really admire her. She's completely fearless.
I remember being at an event in New York and she was speaking on a panel at a hardware event. Something that really struck me – it's mostly a room full of men, she's got this bright pink hair, and the room goes quiet when she speaks.
She's really respected by the maker community, regardless of the gender of the audience, because of her talent. I really admire that – she's a great example for women in tech.
As for someone that I know personally: Fran Maier. I met her recently; she's one of the founders of Match.com. She was speaking to us with another very early entrepreneur about how the company got their first customers, and how it was a really big deal to put a business on the world wide web.
I see her now and how excited she is to build more companies – but beyond that, how she takes so much time to mentor young entrepreneurs. I admire that because she really embodies and represents the sort of person that's enabled us to be where we are today.
I feel like we [Lilu] have been a small team for a really long time, but I'm really proud of what we've accomplished. But it's not just because it's Sujay and myself – or the people that came before – it's all the mentors and advisors that have not only provided hours of shared knowledge and expertise but making introductions.
I really admire someone that's been an entrepreneur for many years and is still willing to dedicate so much time to guide and mentor other people.
Were there any role models who shaped you into the person you are today?
My mother, of course. She's my number one champion and supporter. You know, in Mexico, it's very common for parents to not want you to leave home (and put so much pressure on you to be home).
My mother was a pioneer in many ways. She studied in France and Israel and, at the time, Yugoslavia. It was very uncommon for someone in those years to do that and it was frowned upon by her family, but she still went ahead and she did it.
Adriana and her mother.
She would always tell me: "Adri, we've given you support and love – and the wings to fly wherever you want to."
She would always tell me: "Adri, we've given you support and love – and the wings to fly wherever you want to." Even to this day, that's what she tells me and I really appreciate her for that.
I left my home country when I was 18 years old and, I know many people do it, but I don't think that discounts how difficult and emotional a decision that is. If it wasn't for her and her support, I would have never been able to do or accomplish the things that I've done.
Now a not-so-serious question: do you have a secret talent?
Haha. I don't know if it's a talent but I'm very persistent – and have a surprisingly high hit rate of convincing friends to go running with me. So, even it's a person you wouldn't ever imagine running, I've managed to convince them.
Would you say that persistency is your recipe for success?
Absolutely. That and the fact that I'm sort of foolishly optimistic (something I definitely embrace). I definitely reach for the stars, but have a healthy degree of skepticism that I know I'm probably going to fall at some point. Regardless, I will always go out and do it – and strive to maintain that optimism.
Sometimes I try to contain it – like people will think I am naïve or something – but I believe that optimism is what's given me the energy to do the things that I've done.
If you could give advice to females wanting to enter the startup world, what would it be?
Firstly, go for it. The truth is: people want to help. I heard it before I started Lilu, but it isn't until you experience it that you realize that help is all around you.
I touched on this in one of the earlier questions, but being an entrepreneur, I've met an incredible amount of amazingly talented people that take time out of their schedule to talk to us.
When I think about Lilu and what we've done – sure, there are two people that are the face of the company, but there are hundreds of people that have helped us along the way – whether it's giving us an hour of their time or making certain introductions.
I also think that we women sometimes have a hard time asking for help. And I would say to future (and current) female entrepreneurs – get rid of that fear because the best companies and best products are built by not one person, but a community.
If you have the motivation to go out and do something, do it. You won't find yourself alone.
And, you know, there obviously still needs to be that one person to rally the crowds and get things going, but if you have the motivation to go out and do something, do it. You won't find yourself alone.
To learn more about Adriana and her team at Lilu, visit wearlilu.com. For more on HAX, and to apply to our program, please visit us at hax.co.
Featured image source: Electric Runway
We,the parents of Sujay (Adriana's co-founder at Lilu) are very happy and feel proud of the achievements of Lilu.We love Adriana very much (we have never even talked to her till now),we admire her fantastic qualities,her never-say-die attitude, the amount of positive changes and maturity level which she has brought about in our son,Sujay.We are proud of you both,Sujay and Adriana and we hope and pray that the amount of hard work put in by both of you will take LILU to greater heights and will be a brand name of every house-hold .We wish you both the very best of all the good things that may happen to young and talented enterpreneurs.

subset: commoncrawl


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It was only a matter of time before that whole 'Cloud' thing caught on.
Frontier recently commissioned this very expensive and super precise survey:
We polled a handful of CEOs and asked them if they like it when their IT staff set fire to their money. Technically no one said they actually liked to watch money burn, but we thought the survey lacked authenticity so we fudged it a bit.
There is an old decade long debate on whether hosted voice is better than having a 'premise' phone system. Premise means having a phone system in your office. The box in the back that the phones on your desk connect to. And where the phone company 'lines' plug into.
A decade later we (the fancy industry people) threw the word 'cloud' at it and it made it mysteriously cool. When Microsoft launched their Office 365 platform they pretty much eliminated the notion of the 'premise' or on-site email server. Today there is good solid fight between Google and Microsoft to sell their email 'cloud' offering and no-one, absolutely no one, is implementing their own mail servers.
Here is the fast 5.
1. No Server Maintenance
(Unless your staff are committed techno-geeks no one is interested in server maintenance in any way).
2. Easier Disaster Recovery
In the cloud there are neat people running resilient servers and networks with highly redundant and secure data centres. Not saying that they will do a better job than you… actually… they will.
3. Anywhere Access
Mail today is something that you are able to access anywhere from any device.
4. Any Device Access
Neat graphs that demonstrate that people check mail on mobile and remote devices these days. Not like 10 years ago when we all sat at desks.
It is pretty much hard not to buy it. It is simple to buy, easy to install and it takes all the thinking away. Any problem is a phone call or email away. In Frontier land, on a 36 month contract we 'throw in' the phone.
Is it really less money?
We see spreadsheet after spreadsheet with comparisons of a monthly service subscription of voice vs. the traditional purchase of a 'premise' phone system. Part of the reason is our nostalgia. We remember the old days when we bought that last phone system (this was before the bankruptcies and mergers and acquisitions). Today, those good old reliable phone systems are less reliable. They run on less reliable servers vs. those old 'special purpose' appliances. They also are subject to mandatory annual support and 'evergreen' fees (the fees charged annually to keep the software current). When you look at column A and B, Column A is less. It is also the easy choice with the least risk and effort.
About Frontier Networks
Frontier Networks Inc. is headquartered in Toronto, Ontario and provides Broadband Internet or MPLS, Voice lines or Cloud PBX (a replacement to old phone systems), cloud servers and colocation to Canadian Retail and Multi Site customers who demand world-wide coverage from a 'new' network. "We like to do traditional things in a non-traditional way". Frontier has built a network that connects to other networks. Think of them like a large 'backbone' of interconnected networks. They connect to every phone company, cable company, wireless and hydro/utelco in Canada and the US through a series of well-connected Points of Presence (POPs). Simply put 'we don't suck'.
See more at: http://www.frontiernetworks.ca/blog


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How to use Google Spreadsheet as a Content Management System for your bot
When you're building bots with a similar structure but with different content, you will consider to build a different bot for each case. But here's an alternative for building bots the smart and more efficient way! One bot that fits many different cases with the help of Google Spreadsheet, which will make things easy and quick to edit.
- To do so, what we will do is to create blocks that will do the role of placeholders for our content. And the content will be displayed via variables that we will establish previously like in the picture below:
Starting with the Question block as in the picture below, where we will set the variable (in this case @joboffertitle) that will be the reference column value in our search:
And in each block will have a variable:
It's important that the variables follow the format shown in the picture: @{name of your variable}
- In Google Spreadsheets we will set the content that we want to display in the bot. Each column will be a variable that we are using in the bot, and each row will be for a specific case, to do so we need a reference item, please make sure they are all different!
Below is an example of the spreadsheet configuration
Note that even in Google Spreadsheet you can use variables to even personalise more the content you are going to display:
- Once the structure of your Spreadsheet is done, and the blocks inside Landbot have the variables as placeholders, you can create the Google Spreadsheet integration, to get the data, like in the picture below:
Here is a Demo to show how it will look like: DEMO LINK
If you want to play and test with this way of working, please check our Brick WorkAround: CMS Google Spreadsheet v0.1
You can also use check the Spreadsheet we built for this case, feel free to copy an play with it: Spreadsheet


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Silicon Valley Normal
May 28, 2013
We're driving today and I ask my daughter, 'Is that a guy or a girl?'
She answers, "Guy."
Me: "I wonder if he has a wife. She should tell him to get some new jeans."
Daughter: "He works at XXX, of course he has no wife."
I'm not mentioning the company, but it is the MOST androgynous company you will ever see. Both men and women wear the same bulky jeans with no shape to them, usually paired with a nasty flannel plaid, regardless of the season. And naturally, they're wearing the kind of shoes that makes it worthless to make what they make in a year.
You know how they have that people of Wal-Mart pictures? I could easily do that with the style around here. And I'm seriously not making fun. I'm only saying, I should be able to tell if you're male or female -- if not by your jeans, by your shoes.
In the meantime, I'm practicing in my heels so I can wear them all day at the office. : ) And not be featured in the "Men & Women of Silicon Valley" blog.


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Clip Buckle Road Harnesses
All the clip buckle style road car racing harnesses and ECE Harnesses are listed here. Generally for road and race use we recommend a 3 or 4 point harness belt to help improve the level of support you receive during hard corners. All the harnesses in this area come with a standard style seat belt clip for easy use and easy access.
Specification: These are not FIA approved but are acceptable for occasional track days and every day road use. These are the most popular choice for most drivers and start at extremely affordable prices from brands like Cobra and Sparco.
Brands: The world's leading seat manufactures all produce fantastic road and race clip buckle harnesses. This includes the likes of Corbeau, Cobra, FK Automotive, Sparco, and Sabelt.
Showing 1–12 of 40 results
Auto Style Racing 3 Point Harness BeltsFrom £72.83
Auto Style Racing 4 Point Harness BeltsFrom £45.83
D2 Racing FIA 6 Point Harness£239.99Incl VAT£199.99Excl VAT
Luke GMax 3 Point Saloon Harness Belt£78.00Incl VAT£65.00Excl VAT
Luke GMax 4 Point Saloon Harness Belt£82.80Incl VAT£69.00Excl VAT
OMP Racing 4M Harness£112.92Incl VAT£94.10Excl VAT
OMP Road 4 Harness£93.54Incl VAT£77.95Excl VAT
Sabelt 3 Point Bolt In Clubman Harness£84.77Incl VAT£70.64Excl VAT
Sabelt 3 Point Clip In Clubman Harness£94.68Incl VAT£78.90Excl VAT
Sabelt 3 Point Double Release Clubman Harness£107.89Incl VAT£89.91Excl VAT
Sabelt 4 Point Bolt Clubman Harness£102.38Incl VAT£85.32Excl VAT
Sabelt 4 Point Clip In Clubman Harness£107.89Incl VAT£89.91Excl VAT


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£29.22 – £31.62
Our slim fit pique polo shirt featuring a subtle Grey Monotone Samurai logo on the chest, self-colour ribbed collar and cuffs and sleek three button placket. This product is perfect for around the club house and for wearing in leisure. Thornensians RUFC logo embroidered on left chest.
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Now here are some fun pens...yes deer antler pens! First off, these are beautiful pens and they make great gifts for the hunters and sportsmen in your lives. These pens are turned on a mini lathe from actual deer antlers. I use deer antlers to make everything that I can use wood or acrylic for....so I can make pens, key chains, darts, pretty much anything in the shorter range of items...it gets a little difficult to find antlers straight enough for very long projects.
Why would I want to make or why would anyone want to purchase these types of pens? Well, there are a few reasons. Many people are hunters and sportsmen and deer antler pens are simple everyday reminders of the sport they love and the beauty of the animal they pursue.
The next reason is because these pens are just beautiful, they have a very pretty white color with streaks of brown highlights. The thing I really like is that, like the exotic wood pen blanks, each and every one of these deer antlers looks a little different based on the type of contour carved into it.
If you or a friend or loved one is into hunting and fishing there are a couple of other pens that you might want to take a look at.
The first is a bullet pen, this is a pen that is made out of a bullet casing for the tip and a wooden end or deer antler end where the pen clip is. These are very nice and definitely show off one's love of hunting.
Another way to really dress up these (or any) of my pens is to add a custom pen clip. These pen clips (about the middle of the page) come in many styles (not all are pictured) but the main ones of interest are a deer head, a rifle, a fish and a fishing pole.
Now before anyone starts to say this is cruel to the deer let me answer this question. I get all of my deer antlers when they are naturally shed as they are every year. This means the deer are not harmed...the antlers fall off naturally. Some I get from hunter friends who eat the meat but don't want to mount the head, so what I am trying to say is that all of my deer antler pens are obtained by legal and safe methods for the deer. The remainder of my deer antler pens have antlers that come from approved retailers that follow the same legal and ethical practices.
Look at these Beautiful Deer Antler Darts.
Link to Handcrafted Wooden Pens and Gifts
Link to top of Deer Antler Pens


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Seven Months of Being Away
In the last couple of months, every post that I've written on this blog has started with an apology as to why I haven't been writing. A sort of consolation to no one but myself that if I can give a valid reason, I can escape from the fact that writing is no longer the main focus of my life, that I don't live through words any more and that my time is not mine to spare.
Already this post is weighing down on me. I don't check my stats anymore. I don't log in to read other bloggers' posts. I just…don't.
If there's a valid explanation as to why this has happened, I will find out as I write. Maybe some things never change – I still need to write to understand, to draw semblance and to make sense.
May was the month of new beginnings. I can see in retrospect that a lot happened in May and I just coasted through it all. I didn't stop to appreciate or be grateful. I was glad to have a routine. I started my first real job and got an office and a phone and a name plate. But then I needed more because I wasn't satisfied.
June brought with it a whole new change and my beloved's presence every day when I woke up. This domestic bliss came with a new wind and evened the odds in my life. I begin to thrive on my time at home with my person but I hated everything else I was expected to do outside of that. I found myself drowning under expectations of a job that back then I could see no way of getting better at. For the first time in my life, I felt like I took on something that I was going to fail at miserably and there was nothing I could do to succeed. Tears were spilled almost every other day. Arguments spewed because I couldn't accept that I made the wrong choice after being forewarned. The only part of June that made me feel any sense of self worth was that I was making money now and I could afford things.
Come July I started doing what I do best when things don't go my way, I run. I explored other avenues and tried to destroy every thing that I had built in the last couple of months. I decided to throw away things that were in my lap, that I had committed to, in order to find a workplace that didn't drive me raven mad. July was a month of absolute indecision. I tried writing in July but abandoned it because nothing was close to normal and I had no time to reflect.
Fall came around and there seemed to be hope. I reached a point of comfort at my job that I didn't think was attainable. The feeling of composure with my surroundings set in. I felt like I was going to be okay. Right around this time, my world began settling into a routine that try as I could I couldn't shake. There was no way to sit down write. I watched a Drake Doremus movie I waited so long for, just so it would move me to write. I started and stopped. The resistance was too strong.
With September, came responsibility. It dawned on me that I am where I am and this is the best I could do with what I was given. September brought with it a sweeping calm that I needed. I could sleep at night. I could wake up and face the day. Things started to look up in a way I wasn't prepared for. I was…happy. Anyone who knows me well enough knows that happiness does not stir me to write. I even stopped making feeble attempts to write. Nothing mattered, I was happy and I needed it to last.
That feeling of contentment carried forward into October. Nothing special happened in October – and that's how I like it. My person and I began to follow a pattern that made a lot of sense. Our time together was now limited and therefore precious. We could discuss our days, bounce ideas off of each other, make dinner and relax. This was exactly how I envisioned our life. I couldn't ask for more. A spell was cast on us and I couldn't dare to break it. I also made my first big purchase in October and for the life of me I couldn't justify it even though if you knew what it was you would say it was absolutely justified. I hate spending money.
November was a big highlight of this year. I traced my way back to my roots. While it was overwhelming and a tad bit nerve wracking at the same time, it was much needed. I have two lives and I have to make every effort to keep them parallel to each other. I realized that people love you regardless of how far you are from them or how little you've given to them in return or how feeble an attempt you've made to keep in contact. I was touched. It broke my heart to leave. I wasn't expecting that. I wasn't expecting any of those emotions at all. It took me a while to come back even though I was already here.
My favourite time of the year has rolled around and here I am, snuggled in an over-sized sweater, with my cup of coffee and snow that has half covered my windows. I hear the clock ticking and I must be on my way soon. I woke up today feeling like I did when the urge to write would make me drop everything else I had on hand. I forgot how I loved that feeling. December is keeping me on my toes – in a good way. We have a tree and our first ornament and I don't know how life together gets any better than this. I really don't.
The Year Is Coming To A Close
The year is coming to an end and I have things to say.
It's not fair that any kind of real life advancements that I may have come at the expense of my blog. I would like to change that in the coming year because time and again I've valued how much of a catharsis this has been right here. Always.
I miss people more than I thought I would and what hurts is that I know not when I can see them again. I am constantly seeing through the new people I meet. They're all the same. I've always met them before. I don't think I'm an introvert but the lack of interesting people around me forces me to retreat and find comfort in my thoughts.
The year is ending and I'm coming full circle. Last year at this time I was on a very different high. I was getting Freshly Pressed and attention on this blog was at an all-time high. I was moving to a country I dreamed about living in every single day for the last two years. I was swept into a life I knew I wanted and everything about my existence up to this point paled in comparison.
I got everything I desired and it wasn't enough for me.
I spent a big part of this year realizing that my inherent reluctance towards embracing happiness in the little ways it knocks at my door is not something I can do away with. It'll go with me like an anchor around my foot. I know not under which ocean does the key to it lie and to be honest I'm not going to dive in order to find it. Especially because I don't know how to swim.
It's December and I like this month and there's snow on my blog and there are shimmery lights in the populated parts of the city I live in and I am here and I feel loved.
The year is coming to a close and I'm feeling like a soft blanket has been wrapped around me and I'm safe and ready for the year to come.
Strange Things Are Happening
"Looking around, do you see ruins? That was to be expected. He who lives in the world of words does not get along with things."
-Sergei Dovlatov
The strangest things are happening.
I sit down to write and it feels like I'm doing this for the first time. I'm not too perturbed; this has happened before.
I try to occupy little space because I know what it does to others when I want too much. I try to be me and then I try to be another me from another time and place. The back and forth, the trial and error, the near impunity of knowing I can choose and yet that I'm bound in ways I'll never be able to unravel completely – it's all so strange, you know.
I think I admitted to myself a while back – and it was the most difficult thing in the world – that my unhappiness is not cause of my circumstances, it's not what others do to me, it's not about what I don't have and what I continue to pine for, it is in fact something that I can't escape from. I'm unhappy with me.
So no matter where I go, no matter the continents I cross, the places I go to seek knowledge or the ones I choose to give my love – I will take this box of unhappiness with me. It fell the other day and it cracked and spilled my unhappiness everywhere. I could not make sense of it. I was there and my unhappiness took a form, it hovered all around me, it settled before me and made me see that what I said had nothing to do with anyone but me.
It's strange you know, realizing that you have to keep something like that inside you at all times. That it can suddenly surface and throw off all your carefully crafted plans. That you are inherently sad and it can't ever be changed.
I walk by myself in the cold every day. I feel the chill settle onto the corners of my mouth and the tip of my nose. Sometimes the wind blows my hair to curl around my neck, the stranglehold of it is never subdued by how ticklish it feels. I'm still more afraid than sensitive to it. I often look at my feet and I see the arches my lover adores very much. How is it that I never looked at them the same way?
The point is that happiness is – as people and books might have already told you – a matter of choice and that we all walk around with in-built sadness. The fear of it showing up unannounced at 3AM is what unnerves me. I know all too well that to be happy I have always paid a price. I keep the invoices tucked away in a dark drawer in the recesses of my brain, and it's strange how sometimes they all decide to come along and collect their dues at the exact same time.


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Watch Dramatic Moment When Woman Decides to March into Frozen Lake to Rescue Stranger's Dog
How good are you in a crisis? This woman didn't stop to consider her own safety, but marched straight to the rescue-of a stranger's dog. Ben West was out for a snowy stroll in the park when disaster struck. Luckily, this good Samaritan was nearby. According to several dramatic videos uploaded by West to Instagram, he…
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The Population Reference Bureau provides periodic highlights of recent activities among its portfolio of projects. We greatly value all of our sponsors and strive to highlight the newest and most recent project activities. However, we will not likely report on all projects in every edition.
IDEA Project (USAID)
International Conference on Family Planning
At the International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP), held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from Nov. 12 to Nov. 15, PRB was involved in many activities, several of which are highlighted here.
PHE Conference
The second international Population, Health, and Environment (PHE) Conference, organized by PRB and the PHE Ethiopia Consortium, convened over two days in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, around the theme "Healthy Families, Healthy Environments." The conference, funded by the David and Lucille Packard Foundation, USAID's Office of Population and Reproductive Health, and USAID's East Africa Regional Office, brought together over 150 PHE implementers and advocates representing 20 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, Central America, Europe, and North America.
The conference aimed to inform new audiences of the PHE approach. PHE integration featured prominently in the media throughout the week, culminating at ICFP. The opening of the PHE conference was featured for two consecutive days on the front page of The Ethiopian Herald, an English-language newspaper, and was seen by many attendees at the much larger ICFP. His Excellency Belete Tafere, minister of Environment and Forestry of Ethiopia, delivered the opening message and discussed the expansion of integrated PHE efforts in his country.
Roundtable discussions served as constructive outlets for participants to learn from one another as they described current PHE efforts and identified future needs and priorities for the field. In the final plenary, Roger-Mark De Souza (Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars), reflected on progress since the last conference in 2007. Finally, Dr. Canisius Kanangire, executive secretary of the Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC), closed the conference and reported on the growing role that African institutions like LVBC will be taking in scaling up the PHE approach.
Preconference Youth Workshop
PRB participated in the International Youth Subcommittee (IYSC) in advance of the conference, including assisting with planning young people's role and involvement at the conference. PRB also helped plan the IYSC's Youth Preconference and participated in several activities. PRB also offered preconference training for youth participants and those working with youth via two webinar sessions in the weeks leading up to the conference.
During the preconference youth workshop, and at the request of the IYSC, PRB staff led two hour-long break-out sessions on the elements of effective public speaking. Sixteen participants from 10 countries attended the two sessions; official youth conference speakers and moderators were required to attend one of the two sessions; and participants included Dr. Catherine Baye, the opening plenary youth speaker. After an overview of the key elements and useful tips for effective public speaking, participants delivered part of their presentations in front of the group and received feedback. Discussion was lively and participants have kept in touch following the session.
ENGAGE Multimedia Training
On Nov. 14, PRB facilitated a workshop open to all conference attendees to learn about ENGAGE Presentations and how to use them in advocacy for family planning. PRB staff delivered "The Family Planning Ripple Effect: Children Survive and Nations Thrive." Participants were introduced to the narrated video version of the presentation and the user guide materials, took turns delivering a few slides of the presentation to the group, and reviewed the Questions for Discussion and FAQ included in the user guide. Participants were also shown two narrated ENGAGE Snapshots as part of a demonstration on how to insert the shorter Snapshot presentations into PowerPoint slides. Finally, workshop participants brainstormed and discussed opportunities that they might have to use these materials in their own work, and the types of activities that might be enhanced by using an ENGAGE Presentation.
Participants received the user guide for "The Family Planning Ripple Effect: Children Survive and Nations Thrive" and a DVD with all other available ENGAGE Presentations. Approximately 15 people attended this event. The workshop was a success, and PRB is now following up with all participants as part of ongoing efforts to learn how ENGAGE presentations are used. One attendee stated that participating in this workshop was "the peak of time in Addis" for the conference.
Support and Assistance to High-Level Ministerial Meeting
PRB played a key role in planning and executing the highly successful High-Level Ministerial Meeting—conducted just prior to the ICFP. The event, which called together 356 participants from 47 countries, included 26 leaders from African ministries of health, youth, economic planning and development, and finance; 75 additional ministerial representatives; and 15 members of Parliament. The meeting served as a platform for leaders to discuss the investments in family planning and youth necessary to achieve the accelerated economic growth known as the demographic dividend. The meeting generated meaningful policy dialogue about these critical issues, as Honorable Sufian Ahmed, minister of Finance and Economic Development in Ethiopia, stated, "Africa's young people will be the force behind our economic progress. It entirely depends on the policy and funding decisions we make now."
The meeting opened with Dr. Sheila Macharia of USAID/Kenya delivering an adaptation of PRB's "Harnessing the Demographic Dividend" ENGAGE Presentation to the group. One of PRB's newest multimedia presentations, it presents a highly complex concept—the Demographic Dividend—in accessible language and visuals that resonated with the high-level policymakers (available online at www.prb.org/Multimedia/Video/2013/demographic-dividend-engage.aspx). Following the presentation, the ministers and officials engaged in a lively discussion around the issues highlighted in the presentation, with nearly all participants praising both Dr. Macharia and the presentation for its clear and valuable information.
A subsequent session featured Christelle Kwizera, a youth representative from Rwanda, who provided a youth perspective to the discussion. PRB worked with Kwizera to develop her presentation and identify key messages and data; and to refine her slides, script, and presentation style. The only youth speaker of the day, Kwizera's poignant delivery garnered many accolades and an animated discussion from the assembled dignitaries.
Prior to the meeting, PRB served on the steering committee and led the development of materials for all participants. The materials featured two 4-page briefs about the demographic dividend in sub-Saharan Africa, developed specifically for this meeting. One brief focused on defining the demographic dividend and the investments countries need to make, while the other focused specifically on investing in youth. These briefs are available in French and English at www.fpconference2013.org. In addition, PRB provided live and continuous coverage of the meeting on social media, using Twitter to draw in participation from around the world and share the conversation from leaders.
Support to Journalists
The week before the conference, PRB brought 11 of its Women's Edition journalists to Addis Ababa for the group's third seminar, and six stayed to cover the conference. A Times of India article published by one of the participants, "A healthy exchange – learning from Ethiopia's maternal care system," drew comparisons between community-driven health programs in India and Ethiopia. While each country has its strengths and weaknesses, the article concluded that a south-south exchange could be beneficial to both countries.
In addition, PRB sponsored seven journalists from Francophone West African countries. They arrived several days early to attend a two-day workshop and a daylong site visit outside Addis Ababa. They were joined by two East African journalists PRB brought in to cover the conference. These journalists represented Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Malawi, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, and Zambia. The journalists published more than 60 articles and broadcast segments during and immediately after the conference.
Following the conference, the head of Senegal's Family Planning Division (in the Directorate of Reproductive and Child Health, Ministry of Health) praised what he called the "wonderful work" of the journalists at ICFP. Their work also won kudos from the minister of health, who did not attend the conference but said this of the journalists: "We knew what was going on as though we were there ourselves. You are our partners and we count on you."
16 Days of Activism
To commemorate the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence (Nov. 25-Dec. 10), the Interagency Gender Working Group (IGWG), USAID, Woodrow Wilson Center, CARE, and PRB hosted a panel discussion on Dec. 9 exploring new technologies to combat gender-based violence. Panelists discussed how these technologies can be used in various aspects of gender-based violence, from sexual assault in conflict areas to intimate partner violence in India and in the United States. Further discussion touched on the effectiveness of these technologies, ethical considerations, and actionable ways forward. The presentations and a video of the event are on the IGWG website (www.igwg.org).
PRB also helped sponsor and organize two additional events. On Nov. 26, participants convened at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) for a high-level panel examining health-sector responses to violence against women and girls. Panelists discussed new policies and guidelines, research, and field-based experiences of actions taken by the health sector from Zambia and around the world. And on Dec. 4, the Technical Advisory Group of IGWG met and exchanged ideas on the results of several ongoing research projects on gender norms and child marriage.
New Data Sheet on Family Planning
PRB's Family Planning Worldwide 2013 Data Sheet provides the latest estimates of births per woman and other indicators for 150 countries, including the percentage of women using modern and traditional family planning methods, unmet need for family planning, and use of modern contraception by wealth group. The data sheet was released to coincide with the start of the ICFP in Addis Ababa, and was distributed widely. The data sheet is available at www.prb.org/Publications/Datasheets/2013/family-planning-worldwide-2013.aspx. French and Spanish versions are forthcoming.
The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
PopPov Conference Update
Preparations are underway for the Eighth Annual Research Conference on Population, Reproductive Health, and Economic Development, from Jan. 22-25, 2014, in Nairobi. PRB is collaborating with the African Population Health and Research Center and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation for the 2014 conference. The scientific program committee and PRB staff are finalizing the conference agenda, which includes six paper sessions, a poster session, and invited panel sessions on "Policy Perspectives on the Demographic Dividend" and "Tools for Bringing Research to Policymakers." The agenda for the 2014 conference is online at www.poppov.org.
New Briefs on Recent PopPov Research
Under the PopPov dissemination and communication strategy, PRB recently published the research brief "Household Decisionmaking and Contraceptive Use in Zambia." This brief presents findings and policy implications from a recent study by Nava Ashraf, Erica Field, and Jean Lee, who conducted a randomized controlled trial in Lusaka, Zambia, where unmet need remains high even though family planning services are readily available through public and private sources. They investigated the husband's role in family planning decisions and presented evidence that couples' behavior regarding decisions about contraceptive use produce less-than-ideal fertility outcomes.
Another brief was published on "Unmet Need and Demand for Smaller Families in Rwanda." It summarizes findings from a paper by Dieudonné Muhoza Ndaruhuye and colleagues, providing insight into factors associated with Rwandans' use of family planning and the country's population dynamics. These two briefs showcase key findings from recent PopPov studies and are online at www.poppov.org/Research/ResearchBriefs.aspx.
Latest French Translations
The Hewlett Translation Initiative works to provide French speakers in West and Central Africa with additional access to materials that highlight population, reproductive health, and family planning. PRB recently updated and translated articles on family planning and contraceptive use in West Africa in addition to translating two PopPov research briefs and the PRB Population Bulletin on the demographic dividend. These materials were distributed at the ICFP in November and were well received by conference participants.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Reducing Malnutrition in Mothers and Children in Kenya
The RENEW project, with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, continues to bolster efforts and political commitment to reduce malnutrition in mothers and young children. In November, PRB was invited by the Kenya Ministry of Health (MOH) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) to present the new multimedia nutrition presentation, "Nutrition on the Rise: Raising Kenya's Future," at the Learning Forum event sponsored by the Nutrition Technical Forum (NTF). The NTF, a key member of the Kenya Nutrition Inter Agency Coordinating Committee, hosted the forum to provide a space for nutrition partners to learn and share implementation strategies for nutrition at the county and national level. More than 100 representatives from various sectors attended the forum, including MOH officials, county nutrition officers and nutrition support officers, international and local nongovernmental organizations, United Nations agencies, and donors.
Participants reacted positively to the presentation, which sparked interest and demand for dissemination throughout Kenya's 46 newly formed counties. One MOH county officer wanted to present the advocacy tool to the governor and other key county leaders to educate and inform local policymakers about the need for better nutrition efforts in the region. The multimedia presentation will be launched in early 2014.
Ford Foundation/Cairo
HIV in the Middle East
Between 2001 and 2012, the number of adults and children living with HIV in the Middle East and North Africa increased by 73 percent and the number of new infections grew by 52 percent—the highest rates of increase among world regions. A new web article, "HIV in the Middle East: Low Prevalence
but Not Low Risk," looks at the spread of HIV in the region, as well as the role played by social and cultural norms. Online at www.prb.org/Publications/Articles/2013/hiv-aids-in-middle-east.aspx.
Child Marriage Brief Now in Arabic
The recent PRB policy brief, Ending Child Marriage in the
Arab Region, has been translated into Arabic. The policy brief presents the latest data on child marriage in the Arab region, which includes members of the League of Arab States (from Morocco to Oman). It explains how ending child marriage would help countries achieve their Millennium Development Goals that aim to combat poverty and improve health and quality of life for all. Online at www.prb.org/pdf13/child-marriage-arab-region_arabic.pdf.


text: Sally Smith, who was dismissed from Papworth Hospital in 2014 and placed on a conditions of practice order by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), failed to include details of her dismissal and subsequent order from the hospital whilst applying for a job at a care home. An NMC hearing found that Mrs Smith worked for Hunters Healthcare Ltd from August 2015 and February 2016 as a nurse. In obtaining that employment, it is alleged that you dishonestly failed to declare any restrictions or conditions on your practice either in your written application or at your interview, the report of the hearing on April 24 stated. In December 2015, Mrs Smith also applied for two positions with the Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, and told bosses that she was dismissed from Papworth because of a medical condition. The hearing report noted that Mrs Smith had been recruited as an ear, nose, and throat nurse at Addenbrookes Hospital, in Cambridge, where she worked for three months. At your three month employment review, you disclosed to your line manager, Ms 1, that you were subject to a conditions of practice order. Initial enquires were carried out by the employer to confirm that such an order was in place, the report stated. Mrs Smith, who was present at the hearing, said that she had lied about her conditions of practice because she believed she would otherwise not secure a job. The panel determined that Mrs Smith had, in the past, acted so as to put patients at unwarranted risk of harm, brought the nursing profession into disrepute. Mrs Smith has 28 days to appeal the decision before being struck off.


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Stop Press!Maps International's world maps are officially the number one best selling world maps in the country*.
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The "GARDEN" and "MY POTS" series is about to be displayed in Japan: "The Inner Gardens" in Setouchi City Museum of Art – Okayama with the opening starting at on Tuesday – 3 March 2020. For the first time, the "Garden" series March 8. "My pots" exhibition is to take place at Mitsu-ba in Osaka
News about my exhibitions / Infos sur mes expositions
The "MY POTS" series includes 17 small and medium formats. 14 are to be presented at the Daniel Hanemian Gallery in Paris. The exhibits in this solo show echoe the great classic-modern French movements from the Nabis to the Fauves, as well as the Central European avant-garde with characters like Klimt, Moser, Kirchner or Macke.
Decoration works
June 2015 and 2016. I got to Weligama on the southern coast of Sri Lanka, with a delivery of paintings the owner Anna Egorkina asked me for. Some of my paintings and prints were previously acquired by owner of Eraeliya Villas and Gardens and I was delighted when she asked me for more painting to
Paintings 2010 – 2014
I'll be glad to meet you at the opening on my first parsian solo exhibition at Espace 93 in very chic 7th arrondisment on Thursday 6 November. Selection of 30 oils stretching from period dating back to 2010 as well as of all following years upto now will be visible at 93, Rue Saint-Dominique. The
United under the art show title >UNICOS< 12 artists exhibit their works in unique book creations of Rio de Janeiro based artist Gabriela Irigoyen at GLICERINA, Rua General Glicério, 445 loja C, Laranjeiras, Rio De Janeiro. Along with Gabriela's work of Hannah23, Mariana Mansur, Eduardo Denne, Michel D'Anastasio, Cláudio Gil, Mate Lelo, Maria Haddock, Coral Michelin, Tita
融き放つ 2
Second issue of successful Kurashiki Chūō Garō 融き放つ exhibition held in Japan in May. Together with calligrpahy master Yoshiko Yoshida alias Ryoshu, japanese calligrpaher Tekku Nishinaka, Michel D'Anastasio and russian artist Vitaly Shapovalov, I exhibit four japan-themed works; three oils: 'Afternoon in Sō-ja', 'Sleepy rooster', Varying (picturing blue komainu or buddha's watching dog), and ink painting
Korman in Japan
Save the date: In the month of MAY (14-19) four of previously never exhibited works of mine will join the group exhibition of 4 artists @ Kurashiki Chūō Garō (Kurashiki Central Gallery), Okayama prefecture – Japan. It's going to be BIG! Along with calligraphies of Ryoshu Yoshida and Michel D'Anastasio as well as beautiful bizen
Venice-Florence-Rome, welcome back home
The Nocera Inferiore exhibits: Venice, Florence and Rome have arrived safetly back home! The exhibition and learning program was realy enjoyable. There was also a very nice article that went on in IL MATINO (30.3.2012) interviewing the director of the San prisco museum, Don Natale Gentile.
The Chateau Lavaux-Sainte-Anne show terminated on 29.7. There are still following painting available in Brussels based Cobalt International Gallery, you can contact me or the gallery @ http://www.cobaltinternationalgallery.com/ if you wish to consult the pricelist (prices start at 300€).


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Why Do I Believe the Bible Over Other Religious Texts? Reason 6
by Bill Seng Reason 6) Fruition "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven." – Matthew 5:17-20 The Old Testament is the text of my Lord and the New Testament tells me about him. There are many different resources that attempt to explain who Jesus is/was. Some will say that he never existed. Others will say he was an avatar: an entity that was a god enshrouded by an earthly cover. Some will say that he was an earthly being that was no more than human and no more than a great teacher. Such texts will sometimes even claim that he had sin, was married, had children, and would become the central figure in the greatest conspiracy the world has ever known. But who was Jesus, really? To find this answer a person must read the New Testament. The New Testament gives him titles like, The Son of God, The Son of Man, Christ, Messiah, The Good Shepherd, etc. Before the New Testament (to simplify how the New Testament came about) there were no writings to explain Jesus' identity. In the days of the Apostles people were already trying to exploit and twist the identity of Christ for their own gain. The compilation of the New Testament was one act that would safeguard the Christian faith from heretical teachings regarding Jesus. The New Testament is an incredible compilation of stories, letters, and prophecies unlike anything else ever written. It was written mostly during a time when the disciples of Jesus were under intense persecution and had to do much of their writing in secret. As a whole, it explains to us the identity of Jesus, his teachings, and his future plans for the universe. Without the New Testament a person cannot know a whole lot about Jesus. But without the Old Testament, it is difficult to grasp the significance of Jesus. There were only certain teachings of Jesus that were original in comparison to the Old Testament. For the most part, everything he taught came from the Old Testament and he cited various examples from its stories that more than hinted that he believed everything it said. Furthermore, he made it clear that he believed that the prophecies of the Old Testament that spoke about the Messiah were referring specifically to him. Ultimately, the whole point of the Old Testament is to prepare the world for Jesus, the Messiah. The New Testament reveals Jesus to the world as being the Messiah and explains the significance of the Old Testament. The Bible reveals how God brings his plans to fruition in his own time. What is even more wild than the foreshadowing of Christ and the first coming of Christ is the fact that God's plans have not fully come to fruition. Jesus, according to the Bible, must still return to the earth. If you want to know how this is going to play out… well, I guess you better read your Bible.
3 comments:
Sorry, but your reasoning isn't clear here. What is it, exactly, that has come to fruition? I suppose if you're audience is Christians who already believe like you do, then maybe you don't need to say anymore due to shared context. If you're intended audience is non believers, you will need to provide more context.
- July 9, 2014 at 8:43 AM
I appreciate your question because I may have neglected that aspect of what I was trying to convey. Jesus himself is the fruition of the Old Testament. The reason I used the passage at the beginning of this post that Jesus came to fulfill the law was because I thought it clearly defined what I meant. But if you are unfamiliar with the law I am referring to, I might as well be speaking in Chinese. Jesus came to fulfill the Law of the Old Covenant, which is the Old Testament and most specifically contained in the first five books of the Bible. Nobody had ever fulfilled these laws perfectly, but it was prophesied that Messiah would. Every priest, before Jesus, had to make sacrifices on behalf of their own sins. Jesus, himself, was without sin. Therefore, when he died on the cross his sacrifice was worthy because it was presented by somebody who was perfect...it is more complicated than that, but for now that is the best way to describe it. I will review both your response and mine and see if there is anything else that needs added when I get time. Very good question and I really appreciate it.
- July 9, 2014 at 9:20 AM
After reading your response again, I see that there is probably more that you are asking for. Such as, "I don't believe Jesus is the Messiah, so saying he brought anything into fruition is meaningless to me." That really depends on how you read the Old Testament. I don't know specifically what your beliefs are according to what you have written, but let's be clear that not everybody who is non-Christian disregards the teachings of the Bible or the significance of Jesus. On the contrary, many non-Christian religious folk take many of the teachings of the Bible seriously and hold Jesus in very high esteem as a religious figure.
The way I am regarding the Old and New Testaments is as historic accounts. Whether or not you believe in the supernatural occurrences is inconsequential. Many of the events of the Bible, including the crucifixion of Jesus, have historic references outside of the Bible. To me, this gives me a strong foundation in accepting what the Bible has to say as true.
Now, let's say that I read the Bible but disregard any supernatural occurrences inside of it. There are 500 years separating the latest book of the Old Testament and the earliest book of the New Testament. Many people in the days of Jesus and the early church recognized Jesus and knew of Israel's history (their founding, religion, exile, etc.). When they heard about Jesus, they knew that what they were hearing was true. Now, I would greatly attribute this to the work of the Holy Spirit, myself, but again let's neglect supernatural help. If 200 years ago, one of the founding fathers of America predicted the advent of the first African American president and everything they said about him perfectly fit the character of Barack Obama, I think that we would really have to consider the possibility that a divine force was at work when the prediction was made. To me, that is the case with Jesus. I don't believe that a person can acknowledge this about Jesus without help from God's revelation, but from a purely humanistic perspective I don't think that this is unreasonable.
Thanks again, I really appreciate your question.
- July 9, 2014 at 10:15 AM


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They call it "unique" (The Nation) The climate movement can't be compared to any other social movement in history. Here's why it's unprecedented and why we need new strategies to transition from the current climate movement of the few to a vibrant worldwide movement of the many. First, the climate movement is historically unique in […]
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Hiking Mt. Emei – a midlife crisis cure part I
Youngsters have a lot of passion. They are always eager to try anything new. Take my 10-year-old son, John: he is curious about everything and never stops asking questions. A lot of older people, on the other hand, have lost the strength of will to try new things. But what about a middle-aged man like me? I'm not ready to succumb to the apathy of aging yet. In fact, I'm unlikely to ever reach an age when I no longer want to experience new things or challenge myself. Recently, I climbed Mt. Emei, a popular tourist destination in China's Sichuan Province, and took John with me. Looking back, I realize it was not only a healthy way to deal with a budding midlife crisis, but also one of the best father and son decisions I've made in a long time.
Mt. Emei is called Emei Shan in Chinese. "Shan" means "mountain." Mt. Emei is one of China's four holy Buddhist Mountains. At 3.099m (10167.2 ft.), Mt. Emei is the highest of the four holy Buddhist Mountains in China - a challenging climb for father and son alike. Otherwise, I wouldn't have taken so much time off from work during this busy period of my life to climb a mountain. No, I needed a challenge, and Mt. Emei - a perfect destination for tourists who want to stay in shape - provided me with a vacation solution. And, it is my theory that if I stay active during my working years, I'll still be fit enough to leap out of my wheelchair to answer the call of adrenaline when I am 80 years old and retired.
Speaking of old age, Mt. Emei enjoys a long and varied history. Emei has been inhabited as far back as 10, 000 years ago. According to historical reports Emperor Xuanyuan traveled to Mt. Emei to practice Taoism 5,000 years ago. 1,900 years ago, a Buddhist monk built the first Buddhist monastery in China on Mt. Emei, originating Buddhism in Yangtze Valley. Historical reports from the 16th and 17th century also hint at martial arts being practiced at monasteries on Mt. Emei, which would make Mt. Emei the birthplace of Chinese boxing, not Shaolin temple. On Dec. 6, 1996, UNESCO made Mt. Emei a World Cultural and Heritage Site along with the Leshan Giant Buddha (the largest stone Buddha statue in the world) in the neighboring town of Leshan.
Today, Mt. Emei boasts no less than 76 Buddhist temples from the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The architecture of these temples cleverly ignores the traditional style of earlier Buddhist temples in order to incorporate the beauty of Mt. Emei's natural surroundings. Some of the temples are built on terraces, while others are built on stilts. Natural surroundings include thick forests, stately trees, majestic waterfalls and verdant vegetation. The Qing Dynasty poet Tong Zhongyue claimed Mt. Emei consisted of 10 scenic sights. Today, the list has been expanded to include many new scenic areas, often with colorful names, such as The Flying Waterfall Hanging over the Dragon Gate and The Spring beside the Tiger Brook.
Continue my experience to Part II – A Father's Dream


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Well, this blog has been full of the Christmas spirit, hasn't it? To tell you the truth, I think that sweetpea616 succeeded more in immersing herself in the Christmas spirit than I did–and she's pagan! At any rate, I think that it will be worthwhile to write about how suffering relates to the holiday of Christmas.
I can already hear someone asking: "How can suffering possibly relate to such a joyous holiday? What a morbid, moribund, and melancholy person!" (And I can tell that this speaker does not know me personally.) But do not forget that the colors green and red symbolize the Christmas holiday. Green obviously symbolizes rebirth and renewal–and how did Christ accomplish our rebirth? By pouring out His red blood on the Cross. Verily, He was born in order to die. We Christians celebrate the Invincible Love of God in sending His only Son so that Jesus Christ would redeem us through a painful death upon a cross and give us new life by His Resurrection. In the same way, Christians are baptized into the Passion of Christ and reborn into His Resurrection. Since "the disciple is not above his master" (Lk 6:40), we must suffer many things and courageously bear the cross God gives us so that we may be steadily transformed into the image of Christ until we reach that perfection which God has destined for us in Paradise.
The Church calendar seems to reinforce the idea of suffering even in the midst of this joyful time of year: the day after Christmas we celebrate the martyrdom of St. Stephan, the feast of the Holy Innocents today, and tomorrow recalls the murder of St. Thomas à Becket. Only St. John the Evangelist seems not to fit in until we remind ourselves that he suffered a white martyrdom. How could it be otherwise? In support of this idea, we have all the suffering John endured in spreading the Gospel and his gospel itself, which enters more fully into the divinity of Christ than any other gospel. John's gospel evidences his suffering because no one can understand God so fully without meditating on and participating in Christ's sufferings daily. How much grief must have filled St. John's soul in recalling those three interminable hours at the foot of the Savior's cruel cross? To always have before his eyes the visible memory of Christ's wounds and the sorrowful last words of Christ ringing in his ears? And on the thirtieth, we celebrate the feast of the Holy Family: after Christ's whose sorrows are meditated on more frequently or were more severe than St. Mary's and St. Joseph's? These two saints have more glory in heaven than all the rest because they both played a larger role in Salvation History and suffered more greatly than all the other saints combined.
So, suffering, doubts, anxiety, grief, and pain do not seem out of place this time of year. In my case, I lack a certain talent to suffer–if I may call it so. Suffering has the propensity to make us focus inward, to disregard the people around us, and overly seek consolations for oneself–anything to cause us to forget or diminish our pain or angst. But, the talent or skill which one should strive to attain is to ignore our miserable condition and manifest joy to the world–especially around Christmas.
The most memorable scene from Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ, the meeting of Jesus and His Mother on the Way of the Cross, demonstrates this attitude perfectly. What does Our Lord say to His Mother? After being insulted and beaten constantly, being mocked, unjustly condemned, scourged, crowned with thorns, and even to this point being shown every form of contempt and disdain? "Behold, I make all things new." This carries the idea that Christ's attention was focused mainly or even purely on the good his sacrifice would do humanity rather than all the evils humanity was pouring on him–even though these sins pierced His Heart like the crown of thorns did His Brow. Rather than indicate any pain, He joyfully boasts of the salvation He brings to the human race. For, not even an ocean of sin can extinguish the Love of God.
Remember what the red and green symbolize when you look next time at a Christmas wreath. There is joy because Our Savior has come to restore the human race; on the other hand, He restores it through His Sorrowful Passion. Neither pain or sorrow is out of place in this holiday nor ought one to forget the Passion of Our Lord in this or any season. So, one must rejoice in spite of suffering, since Christ has come to save poor sinners–us–and these very sufferings, especially when we strive to suffer with love, bring us closer to Christ. This quote from G. K. Chesterton seems appropriate here: "He is a sane man who can have tragedy in his heart and comedy in his head."


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Antique Turquoise Brooch Navel Ring
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316L surgical steel this brooch-like belly ring features a beautiful combination of detailed elements, framing a large, light-catching, faceted turquoise center. Blooming from the pale blue are rings of beaded details and riveting and textured metal, lightly brushed with black accents for a true vintage look. Will arrive in a gift box.