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Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
We give thanks to God for your steadfast following of Oxygen.
As we enter into the Paschal Mystery of the Church, we invite our readers who want to help contribute a reflection to come forward.
The following readings are available for reflection:
Holy Saturday
1st Reading + Responsorial Psalm
2nd Reading + Responsorial Psalm
3rd Reading + Responsorial Psalm
4th Reading + Responsorial Psalm
5th Reading + Responsorial Psalm
6th Reading + Responsorial Psalm
7th Reading + Responsorial Psalm
Epistle + Responsorial Psalm
This is a good time for you to share with our readers the joys you have had in reading Oxygen. Do drop an email to firstname.lastname@example.com who will be in touch with you on how to proceed.
God bless
Oxygen Core Team
6 March
Daniel 3:25,34-43
Azariah stood in the heart of the fire, and he began to pray:
Oh! Do not abandon us for ever,
for the sake of your name;
do not repudiate your covenant,
do not withdraw your favour from us,
for the sake of Abraham, your friend,
of Isaac your servant,
and of Israel your holy one,
to whom you promised descendants as countless as the stars of heaven
and as the grains of sand on the seashore.
Lord, now we are the least of all the nations,
now we are despised throughout the world, today, because of our sins.
We have at this time no leader, no prophet, no prince,
no holocaust, no sacrifice, no oblation, no incense,
no place where we can offer you the first-fruits
and win your favour.
But may the contrite soul, the humbled spirit be as acceptable to you
as holocausts of rams and bullocks,
as thousands of fattened lambs:
such let our sacrifice be to you today,
and may it be your will that we follow you wholeheartedly,
since those who put their trust in you will not be disappointed.
And now we put our whole heart into following you,
into fearing you and seeking your face once more.
Do not disappoint us;
treat us gently, as you yourself are gentle
and very merciful.
Grant us deliverance worthy of your wonderful deeds,
let your name win glory, Lord.
Matthew 18:21-35
Peter went up to Jesus and said, 'Lord, how often must I forgive my brother if he wrongs me? As often as seven times?' Jesus answered, 'Not seven, I tell you, but seventy-seven times.
'And so the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who decided to settle his accounts with his servants. When the reckoning began, they brought him a man who owed ten thousand talents; but he had no means of paying, so his master gave orders that he should be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, to meet the debt. At this, the servant threw himself down at his master's feet. "Give me time" he said "and I will pay the whole sum." And the servant's master felt so sorry for him that he let him go and cancelled the debt. Now as this servant went out, he happened to meet a fellow servant who owed him one hundred denarii; and he seized him by the throat and began to throttle him. "Pay what you owe me" he said. His fellow servant fell at his feet and implored him, saying, "Give me time and I will pay you." But the other would not agree; on the contrary, he had him thrown into prison till he should pay the debt. His fellow servants were deeply distressed when they saw what had happened, and they went to their master and reported the whole affair to him. Then the master sent for him. "You wicked servant," he said "I cancelled all that debt of yours when you appealed to me. Were you not bound, then, to have pity on your fellow servant just as I had pity on you?" And in his anger the master handed him over to the torturers till he should pay all his debt. And that is how my heavenly Father will deal with you unless you each forgive your brother from your heart.'
"Not seven, I tell you, but seventy-seven times"
I have a lovely wife to whom I have been married 21 years, and we have 2 beautiful teenage children.
The first lesson I learnt after we got married is how to forgive. In fact, we spent every weekend arguing during the first six months of our marriage! Over the last 21 years, we have learnt over and over how to forgive each other; we NEVER stop learning how to forgive.
In the Gospel today, Peter asks our Lord what the limit is to forgiving others. Was it seven times? The answer was, in fact, seventy times seven times. In Judaism, the number '7' signifies completion. Thus, 'seventy-seven' raises this even further, perhaps to infinity. Our Lord Jesus tells us that we should treat our brothers (and sisters) like our own families — to never give up on them. In effect, we have to be able to 'outlast' our brothers and sisters. Upset us a hundred times? We need to be able to forgive a hundred and one times.
In our relationship with God, we ourselves are the recipients of this recurrent forgiveness. Like the servant who owes his master the 10,000 talents (based on the income of the day, it would take 16 years to accumulate 1 talent!), we are beneficiaries of this 'debt forgiveness'.
And yet, we need to remember that we cannot take this forgiveness for granted. As people who enjoy this immense gift, we need to be able to pass it on. The '100 denarii' in the parable of today represents only a day's wage for the average worker! Imagine what a great deal we have; we get to trade 160,000 hours worth of wages for a day's wage! Amazing!
May we learn to treat other just like how we treat our own blood family and forgive unconditionally. Our God has given us the greatest prize — eternal life. Let us pass it on…. All for a wonderful price!
(Today's Oxygen by Paul Wee)
Prayer: We pray that we will forgive others like You have forgiven us. Help us Jesus to always learn from and be like You!
Thanksgiving – Thank You Father, for loving us and for forgiving us regardless of how many times we continue to sin against You.


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List of testimonials
What others say about Harris Partners.
Having recently gone through the stress of selling my home, I was dreading going through an auction process to find a new property. To my amazement, I found my new home through Simon Coates of Harris Partners; the whole process was a breath of fresh air. No auction process, just offer to the Vendor at a fair price. In under one week, I saw the house, in the location that I was looking for, put it an offer, it was accepted and signed off! I never dreamed buying a new home could be that easy. Simon was professional, transparent and really helpful through this process.
I cannot speak highly enough of the professionalism, knowledge, skill and integrity of Simon Coates both prior to and throughout the sale of my property. Under difficult circumstances, he ensured the process was seamless, stress-free and efficient. Simon's personal qualities complement his high-level professional skills - he is a delight to deal with. From a pragmatic perspective, the property was sold within a week of listing and at the top of an agreed price range. I am both delighted and appreciative.
This is long overdue but Simon Coates needs to be recognized. Simon sold my house 18 months ago, but my wife and I still talk about him, we like him that much. I am slightly allergic to traditional real estate sales professionals, but Simon actually became a trusted advisor during a huge family decision. My favourite memory was when Simon, whilst discussing the merits of a final offer, very skillfully told me to pull my head in, after I got greedy. It was a very compassionate rebuke, that amused my wife and demonstrated his character and faith in his own ability.
Thank you Peter and Andy Wu for the exceptional professional service you have provided in the recent sale of my property and in challenging circumstances. My choice of using Harris Partners after research into which agency to use for the sale has been confirmed with the high standards , ethical practices and evident people skills shown throughout the process.
I would like to commend agent Simon Coates of Harris Partners for his highly professional and efficient attitude during the recent sale of my property. Simon often went above and beyond to get the best deal possible. He always made himself available and offered sage advice. I wouldn't hesitate to use Simon again in the future.

subset: commoncrawl


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Easy Gluten Free Foods(Last Updated On: February 26, 2019)
Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Udi's. All opinions are my own.
I've heard great things about going gluten free. I've been told my friends that it helps digestion, fatigue, and makes your skin look glowier.
I've wanted to try it for awhile. But, let's be honest. I eat gluten at almost every meal. Things that contain flour are also my favorite foods. I'm not sure I was willing to give that up.
Then I discovered the wide range of gluten free foods you can buy at the store. My favorite my far is Udi's. They taste amazing and have the perfect texture. It is no wonder they are the #1 Gluten free brand in America!
My favorite thing about Udi's s that they make Can'ts CANS. Instead of saying "Oh I can't have that any more", I can just have different (even yummier versions!).
I also like that they're available at my local grocery store(Giant Eagle).
Check out some of my favorite swaps. All my favorite s are covered!
1. Cant: Bakery Muffins
Can:Udi's Double Chocolate Muffins are bursting with rich chocolate chips and a soft, dense texture.
2. Can't: Bread
Can: Udi's White Sandwich Bread is soft and fluffy. It's great toasted or fresh out of the package. To be honest I eat a sandwich almost every single day for lunch . I could not live without this!
3. Can't: Cookies
Can: Udi's Snickerdoodle and Chocolate Chip Cookies
There is one rule for cookies in my house. They must be soft and chewy! I was sent the Snickerdoodle cookies and immediately had to buy the Chocolate Chip Variety. They are amazingly soft and flavorful. My family couldn't believe they were gluten free.
4. Can't: Pizza
Can: Homemade Pizza with Udi's Pizza Crusts or Udi's Frozen Pizzas
Nothing beats a cheesy pizza for a quick supper. I love whipping up my own with Udi's premade crusts. However, if you're really short on time they also have ready made frozen options.
5. Can't: Flour Tortillas
Can:Udi's Small tortillas
Another quick easy favorite in our house is quesadillas. I can't wait to try pizzadillas with these!
Overall, I love how Udi's makes Gluten Free eating easy and DELICOUS!


text: Debra Monroe was on a Dutch TV show at RTL4 at Koffie tijd and 5 hours live! She was approached to be allowed to stand on the DOT, to talk about her passion / work. What is it like to be a Marilyn Monroe lookalike? Why is Debra Monroe a Marilyn lookalike? What do you have to pay attention to if you imitate someone? The whole living room was upside down, but it had become a beautiful item! Watch her video below:


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SPECS: 9.5°, 10.5°, with more than 70 no-upcharge graphite shaft options.
RECOMMENDATION: Targets low- to mid-handicaps who are a bit more interested in shot-shaping than in pure distance or maximum forgiveness.
KEY TECHNOLOGIES: F.A.S.T. Crown allows for more spring at impact across the entire face; internal stabilization steadies the sole for more ball speed and a dampened feel; a pattern machined into the face keeps the ball from slipping at impact; 2-, 4-, 6-, 8-, 10-, and 12-gram interchangeable screws dial in trajectory and shot shape.
A $700 driver had better come with every bell and whistle possible, and Bridgestone's new premium lineup doesn't disappoint. The middle child, the XD-3, features a rounded, 455cc head with a deep face that fosters a neutral shot shape and a mid-trajectory. Packing six movable weights, an eight-way adjustable hosel, and a quiver of high-end shafts, there's a lot to play with here. Take Bridgestone's advice and let a fitter sort out what works best for your swing.
"Offers more workability than typical game-improvement models, with plenty of distance and more forgiveness than you might expect. "


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I've been very busy working on the single page HTML 5 Schema application for Encapsule Project.
Most of you don't know about this project, or if you do don't really understand it yet.
For those of you I know personally and who I've talked to about this before, I've posted an update on my work to frame the "Soft Circuit Description Language" (SCDL) data model in HTML 5 on the Encapsule Project blog.
Some of you might be interested. Be warned this is some seriously geeky stuff…


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This year marks the 22nd Annual Chocolate Walk in Historic Old Town Cottonwood. Over forty shops up and down Main Street are participating in handing out a variety of homemade or gourmet chocolates. For any chocolate lover out there, this is not an event you want to miss. See details below and get ready to… Read More
Annual Pima Turkey Trot Continues to Raise Funds for Local Schools
Almost 10 years ago two friends in Pima, AZ, Cody Marshall and Melinda Nelson, started talking about putting on a 5K race on Thanksgiving Day. Many other cities around the United States offer a race on that day known for lots of eating, but not anywhere near the Gila Valley. They talked to Town Hall,… Read More
Rural Arizona Gears Up For Oktoberfest
October signifies more to Arizonans than just the beginning of Fall. There is finally a break in the scorching heat, we have the back-to-school routine down and pumpkin "everything" has hit the shelves. Of course, it also means one of our favorite celebrations of the year is here, Oktoberfest. So it's time to dust off… Read More
Celebrate Trail Day With the Arizona Trail Association in Flagstaff
The Arizona National Scenic Trail is an 800-mile hiking, biking and equestrian trail that stretches across the state from Mexico to Utah. This weekend marks the second annual Arizona Trail Day celebration in Flagstaff, a Gateway Community for the trail. There's a full weekend of events for Arizona Trail Day- it all starts on Friday,… Read More
Farmer + Chef Connection: Keynote Speakers & Sessions
The 6th Arizona Farmer+Chef Connection (Farmer+Chef) will be held on September 16, 2015, from 12:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at the Tucson Convention Center. Organized by the Local First Arizona Foundation, Farmer+Chef is a comprehensive event with an eye toward building wholesale business relationships between key players in the local food economy. Two keynote speakers… Read More
4 Ways the Rural Policy Forum is Going Local
We are just a few days away from the 2015 Rural Policy Forum in Historic Clarkdale, Arizona. The Arizona Rural Development Council is excited to bring people from across the state together to learn how we can all collaborate and make the communities we call home the best they can be. The Arizona Rural Development… Read More
Turn Your Rural Policy Forum Attendance into a Staycation
Next week's 2015 Arizona Rural Policy Forum is being held in historic Clarkdale. Nestled in the breathtaking Verde Valley, Clarkdale not only offers you a beautiful view of the high desert terrain, it also places you right between two other remarkable towns, Cottonwood and Jerome. Here are a few local attractions, dining options, and boutique… Read More
Meet the Keynote Speakers for the 2015 Rural Policy Forum
The Arizona Rural Development Council is excited to provide an opportunity for skill-building, networking, resource development, building relationships and educating each other about the needs and services in rural Arizona during the 2015 Rural Policy Forum. With over 40 speakers scheduled, attendees will have extensive opportunities to learn what is working in rural towns across… Read More
Exciting Networking Events During the Rural Policy Forum
The 2015 Rural Policy Forum will connect rural economic development professionals, nonprofits, community leaders, business owners, and other rural stakeholders who are interested in sustaining rural communities through capacity-building sessions, workshops, keynote presentations, roundtable discussions and breakout sessions. The Rural Development Council is also excited to provide great networking opportunities through a series of fun… Read More
Get Your Tickets for the 2015 Rural Policy Forum
The 2015 Rural Policy Forum will provide an opportunity for skill-building, networking, resource development, building relationships and educating each other about the needs and services in rural Arizona. Activities include capacity-building sessions, receptions, workshops, keynote presentations, and roundtable discussions. Breakout sessions and workshops will focus on a variety of important topics pertaining to building thriving… Read More


text: Listings Filter Sort by: Title Newest FirstOldest FirstRandomFirst NameLast NameMost ReviewsHighest RatedClaimedUnclaimed List Grid Map Rating & Up & Up & Up & Up Any Featured/Unfeatured Show featured only Claimed/Unclaimed Show claimed only Beacon Hill Depression Eating Disorders Elder/Geriatric Family and Relationship Issues Grief Spiritual Concerns Work Issues Chronic pain and illness Winton, MN, USA (218) 340-4200(218) 340-4200 Beacon Hill offers a quiet retreat from the stresses of life. Restful and relaxing. A place to re... Redo search when map moved Showing 1 result


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Yoga Retreats
Morning Yoga practice is taken in the Yoga studio with floor to ceiling windows with views across the valley and a door leading into the inner stillness of the caves. The latter serves as natural air conditioning in hot summer months. Evening meditations are taken in the stillness of the caves. A big vegetarian brunch and dinner are taken outside on the terrace with far reaching views across the valley. There is a choice of many dishes with each meal and no one leaves the table feeling hungry! Wine, beer and other soft drinks are available at an extra charge. Twin-bedded accommodation is in simple, comfortable individually designed rooms, each with en-suite shower and toilet. Some singles are available for a supplementary charge. All rooms have balconettes, enjoying valley, waterfall or garden views. A selection of wonderful natural therapies are on offer throughout the week by a qualified professional, to help complement the yoga. Directions: Fly to Malaga airport, approx 50mins drive to Molino. Transport from airport will be a minibus or taxi, with options of sharing with other guests
Retreat : Yoga in the Sun! *CANCELLED* Andalucia, 3rd - 9th August 2020
Start Date : 3rd Aug, 2020
End Date : 9th Aug, 2020
Start Time : 07:00 AM
End Time : 10:00 AM
Molino del Rey, Andalucia, Spain


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There aren't any teas in Zaasmart's Cupboard yet.
Zaasmart is an Indian manufacturing company involved in the clothing & jewelry business. We are into production of all range of Sarees, latest & fancy Kurtis, designer Salwar Kameez suits, Wedding & Party Gowns, Exotic Lehenga Cholis, and so on.
united states


text:
Scrabble & Words with Friends Word Unscrambler
Definition of Boxberry
2 Definitions of Boxberry
The definition of boxberry, the meaning of word Boxberry
Is boxberry a scrabble word? Yes!
- n.- spicy red berrylike fruit; source of wintergreen oil
- n.- creeping woody plant of eastern North America with shiny evergreen leaves and scarlet berries
7 Synonyms of Boxberry
Boxberry is worth 22 points in Words with Friends and 23 points in Words with Friends
There are 8 letters in boxberry: B B E O R R X Y


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I've decided on a theme that I hope will inspire me to write short postings on a more frequent basis. I'm hoping to write about memories of my church experience which influenced me for good. The idea was born out of a very angry moment today which at first glance seems totally unrelated.
I don't intend to write about political issues on this blog, but this one really bothers me and I need to get it off my chest.
I read a blog entry on Bruce Prescott's blog, Mainstream Baptist, regarding a proposal by Bush Administration appointees to essentially gut the CRA (Community Reinvestment Act). The CRA is a 1977 federal law that prohibits banks from discriminating against low- and moderate-income neighborhoods. This law was enacted because banks through their own bank policy "red-lined" minority areas and offered them neither credit nor banking services. With the original CRA requirements, banks with $250 million of assets had to provide services to all communities in which they were chartered. With the proposed change 90% of banks will no longer fall under CRA. I don't trust this generation of business people to voluntarily offer just and equitable lending and banking services on their own anymore than we as a country trusted business 25 years ago.
As a country I don't believe we have squarely faced our spotted history of racism, abuse, and discriminatory attitudes. Yes, we acknowledge them, but usually with a "that happened a long time ago and it's in the past." My belief is that people are ultimately driven by wealth, power, and reputation. Unless curbed these instincts divide instead of build up. They separate the "haves" from the "have nots" which eventually results in the consolidation of wealth and power. These misperceptions of superiority breed oppressive and abusive behaviors. I guess I'm a progressive at heart because I believe in good government. I believe that government can bring about good laws and regulations that curb (keep in check) the excessive instincts of humans and serve the common good.
I believe the church has a responsibility here also. Although I'm not currently an active member of a church congregation (more on that later – I hope), I still believe in the church's ability to bring about good on this earth. I believe in the church's unique place to provide an environment that encourages and challenges people to live the ideals spoken by Jesus in his Sermon on the Mount. He called people to live differently and to make decision differently. The differently is living "self-sacrificing" lives. I don't think this means to hate oneself. Quite the contrary, to deny selfish instincts and selfish behaviors; to practice vigorous honesty which means to acknowledge (confess with no excuses) and repent of (turn from) self-centered living. I believe Jesus knew self-centered living eventually destroys the soul. These behaviors not only destroy the individual, but can poison and destroy those around the individual.
Okay enough ranting….Onto my new theme. I was close to tears and angry when I read the blog entry, but in keeping with my overarching theme of "Small Glimpses of Goodness" I decided to write on memories growing up in the church. I'm hoping to mine those memories from my church experience that have influenced me for good and have called me to live out Jesus' commands.
Sunday, December 19, 2004
Community Reinvestment and Church Memories
I've decided on a theme that I hope will inspire me to write short postings on a more frequent basis. I'm hoping to write about memories of my church experience which influenced me for good. The idea was born out of a very angry moment today which at first glance seems totally unrelated.
Saturday, December 04, 2004
I loved her description of the Advent candle lighting ritual.
Peter and his congregation lit the first candle in the enormous evergreen wreath that hangs from the vaulted ceiling of their church. Next week, two candles. Then three. Then four. And on Christmas Eve near midnight, they'll light the central candle, the final light, from which flame will be brought down to light the small tapers of everyone in the room.Oh, how it brings back such sweet memories of Advent past. As I've mentioned before, I grew up in the Episcopal Church. My church was a relatively small parish of about 100 people. I loved the little church and have many fond memories of the people and community we shared.
Leaving aside for the moment the matter of Jesus, who is naturally a problematic figure for most Jews, I love this Advent ritual. It speaks to me. November has been a dark and in many ways difficult month; in my own personal world I feel the need for light, and when I steel myself to listen to the news it's clear the larger world needs some light too. This lighting of candles to celebrate the gradual revelation of spirit is a metaphor made manifest. Last year I was at Peter's church on Christmas Eve, and the experience of watching the light come down from the rafters and fill the room, tiny flame by tiny flame, was powerful. (Velvateen Rabbi)
Our church sanctuary was beautiful: a large stone altar in the center and a lectern and pulpit to either side. Above the altar hung a large austere silver cross. It descended down from a naturally lit vaulted ceiling.
Anyway, the advent season…the candle lighting service…purple, pink, white…such sweetness…such reverence. I'm transported back to those times I participated in this wonderful ritual. I'm grateful for Velveteen's beautiful description. Precious, simple, yet profound.
Tuesday, October 26, 2004
Come Into My Keep
The word "keep" is a theme of the poem. Initially, the word "keep" sounded weird because I never use the noun form of this word, but recently I learned from a friend that the definition of the noun form is "the stronghold of a castle". It changed the whole picture of the poem for me.
~*~*~ Come Into My Keep ~*~*~
No need of yours is too great for Me;
No need of yours too deep.
Come always and forever into My Keep
for I will attend you there.
No fear of yours is too strong for Me.
No fear of yours will turn Me away.
Come always and forever into My Keep
for I will attend you there.
Bring Me the burden you carry
for it is not too heavy for Me.
Nothing will scare Me.
Nothing will frighten Me.
Nothing is too awful for Me.
Just come always and forever into My Keep
for I will attend you there.
Let Me hold you.
Let Me kiss you.
Let Me comfort and dwell with you.
No struggle is too complex for Me,
No struggle too matted or mangled.
I am the God who saves.
I am the God who rescues.
I am the God who redeems from the pit.
Call out to Me; you will find Me
for I am a God who finds.
Forever and always come into My Keep
for you will find Me here.
Sunday, October 17, 2004
Monday, July 12, 2004
Some Hard Questions
I don't think tonight was about either of these, but I'm not entirely sure. Schedules are tight and there is a lot of work to do. The team is feeling the pressure, so everyone is a bit testy. Unfortunately, when time is short, resources are short, and money is tight then "placing blame" for any miscommunication is just around the corner. This is especially true when people are discouraged which is the case for this project. I'm finding myself both tempted and actually succumbing to the blame temptation. Perhaps I feel a little guilty for not providing enough direction to the team. I don't know.
I guess I need to ask myself some hard questions. The purpose is not to condemn but to clarify so I can get back on the road to working hard for the right reasons, recognizing and valuing my limitations, and humbly bowing out of the role of savior.
Saturday, June 19, 2004
June in my Town
This was one of those walks where all my senses were fully engaged. Traffic was unusually light, so I heard birds chirping and singing. It rained quite a bit in the last 24 hours, so everything is shining with a wonderful brightness. As I walked by some juniper bushes their fragrance just flooded my nose. Even the slight breeze was refreshing.
Anyway, it was an oasis of calm and beauty.
Tuesday, April 13, 2004
Vulnerability in Writing
When I offer words for others to read, I want to offer a glimpse into my soul. But in doing so, I risk rejection which is my greatest fear. A negative response unknowingly becomes a flaming arrow that ignites smoldering fears. Did I say too much? Am I being too honest and open? Do my dark and messy places cause discomfort in people for I know they bring me shame?
Over the years I have watched the agonizing process of several dear ones as they worked to complete their master's theses and PhD dissertations. So much fear lurks below the surface. "Is this good enough? Is it researched enough? Do my words say what I need them to say?"
Several weeks before Christmas, I walked to the Great Reading Room on campus which is part of the original library. This room is truly magnificent in every dimension. The walls are lined with beautiful bookcases where theses and dissertations stand. It was with sweetness that I walked around the room and read the acknowledgements. These bound books represent a finished work and the pages reflect a portion of their lives. Each time they opened their writing to another's eyes, they offered the fragile egg and the life within.
I truly admire the humility and strength of these to journey forward in spite of sometimes life crushing criticism. Every time they share a chapter with their advisors, they hope for encouragement and a tiny breath of life to fan their flame. Sometimes their flames glowed so dimly that criticism without encouragement left only a tiny glow.
I think back on periods in my life when my "flame" was but a tiny, tiny ember. I am so very grateful for those people who believed in me and sent encouragement my way.
A bruised reed he will not break and
A smoldering wick he will not snuff out.
(Isaiah 42:3)
Friday, March 26, 2004
Neat Blog Entry
My Dinner with Real Live Preacher
Sunday, February 22, 2004
"When the end you seek is so wonderful, so unthinkably good, and so compelling that you will throw yourself against time, space, and even reality for the slightest chance of finding it, you have found worship." Real Live Preacher (On a Wing and a Prayer)
I've always considered worship as something exclusively related to singing and/or music. Although I love music and I've been touched at times, I struggle with worship. I've observed people deeply moved by a piece of music. It is a sacred moment, but I find myself wondering "what is wrong with me". RLP's essay shows me another way.
Several weeks ago I was contemplating the Opportunity and Spirit landings on Mars as part of the Mars Exploration Rover Mission. That these tiny man-made machines are occupying space on another planet and sending information back to earth...WOW.
How tiny the space I occupy on earth...
How tiny the earth within its solar system...
How tiny this solar system within the universe...
In this context my infinitesimally small existence in the universe was mind boggling and bending. Quite frankly it was sobering. Yet, I still believe that somehow and for some reason this really powerful God of the Universe truly, truly loves me. I think this was a moment of worship.
Saturday, February 14, 2004
I'm working on a blog entry about writing that I've been thinking about for several months now. It will probably turn into two entries. Oh Well!
P.S. Btw...Happy Valentine's Day!!!
Tuesday, January 20, 2004
As I ponder these words, I wonder if courage doesn't always look courageous from the outside. Yes, sometimes it is accomplishing a grand feat against all odds or standing firm on principle against strong opposition.
But maybe courage is also about what happens on the inside. Maybe I was actually being strong and courageous while wrestling with whether or not to do this thing. I sure didn't feel strong and courageous. I felt the opposite: weak and afraid.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that maybe struggling and wrestling with things is not a sign of being weak, cowardly, or faithless. But maybe it's in our weakness, fear, and doubt that we find courage to do what we know we need to do.
Friday, January 02, 2004
Sweet Healing Music
My mother played the organ in the church where I grew up and she played this song during Christmastime. The music brings back wonderfully good feelings and memories from my childhood in the Episcopal Church. I always loved the Advent season when I was a little girl especially the candle light service on Christmas Eve: the candles, wreathes, poinsettias, the smells, the green and red, the air of expectation. Something about it always gave me pause and awe, and sometimes sweet tears.
As I listen to this piece of music over and over again tears roll down my cheeks. It's been a long time since I've felt good feelings about the church. I thank my friend for posting this piece of music. It is a precious glimpse of goodness.


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Kootenai Falls, MT. (In-between Troy and Libby)
July 2016
Recently I decided to take the kids out to Kootenai Falls as we had never been there. We grabbed my mom for the trip and headed out. It's just over a two-hour drive to get there from CDA and thankfully my kids are old enough that we can handle trips like that without too much problem.
The parking for the Falls is right off the highway. It seems more like a rest stop than a place to go to see a waterfall, but it was quite convenient. There is a picnic area and small concessions stand and a couple of bathrooms.
You begin the trail winding through some pretty forest and then crossing a bridge that takes you over some train tracks. Continuing down a couple flights of stairs you walk a short distance until you reach a sign saying Kootenai Falls to the right and Swinging Bridge to the left.
We decided to hit the Falls first and walked the short distance to the falls. And man! What a view! Across the river you could see animal trails on the mountains but the falls took my breath away. Because of the layered rock under the water there are many little mini falls which then fall into several large falls where the river divides and flows around other islands in the water. My kids found a tree to climb and we snapped a ton of photos of the water. With the varying levels of rock, it is a place that would be worth seeing at different times of the year.
We walked down a small trail near the water, the small trail is doable but filled with loose shards of rock so you want to watch your step and be careful with little ones. Climbing up a bit we found ourselves at the top of the falls and got to play in the water a bit. Mostly we dipped our feet in. There are some nice shallows but also some swift moving water so it's important to watch where you are playing.
After playing at the falls we headed for the swinging bridge. This was about a third of a mile from the sign and was a lot of fun. You have to be patient as only five people are allowed on the bridge at one time and is really only wide enough for one. Each side must take turns crossing. But eventually we made our way across the river and found a nice small beach to rest at. It was so relaxing there. We played in the water a bit and listened to the river flowing past. We found some cool rocks and again played in the water. After we were done messing around we went back to the trail. You can continue on the trail to meet up with some other hikes but we headed back to the car. Of course, on the way we climbed more rocks, ledges and trees.
Once back at the rest site we stopped to eat the picnic lunch we had packed. There are some nice picnic tables to eat at and we picked the one that had a carved wooden bear sitting at it. All because my daughter loves bears. :) The concession stand has water and snacks but most of the snacks are sugary and would be considered junk food. After eating hopped back in the car an headed back to CDA. If you haven't been out to Kootenai Falls, it is well worth the drive.
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I love spending time with my family doing all the wonderful activities in the Inland Northwest.


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I've really been loving blogging and reading other blogs recently so I thought I'd share with you some blogs I've really been loving reading at the moment.
Carrie Brighton:
I've been really loving Carrie's blog recently (and her instagram) because her feed is so beautifully autumnal and cosy and warm and just makes me feel all snuggly and nice when I look at her lovely photos and read her posts. She has a lovely variety of posts, including shopping, beauty and fashion as well as simple lifestyle tips and food & drink posts and I love her 'Lovely Things' posts because they're always so … well lovely – they have really great photos and little notes on what's nice, which I love reading because it either inspires me to give them a go (for example a book/brand/food) or make me realise appreciate things a bit more (e.g. weather/family/cosy nights in).
Openmysoul / Coffee and Croissants:
I first came across Emma on instagram as @openmysoul and then found that she has a blog called coffeeandcroissants – great name! I really love her photos on instagram and also love reading her blog now too. She's 18 and is currently at uni in Oxford I believe and it's great to hear how she's finding it (as I'm also at uni). I also love the autumnal mood to her style of photography and writing.
Fashion Nomads was a blog, I've literally come across today! But I've read many of her posts in the last hour of blog reading and I've got to say they're great. I loved her recent post on her journey into becoming a digital journalist as I found it very interesting and inspiring really. I also quite like that she's more of a lifestyle blogger. I'm not huge on beauty and makeup posts really, I do like them now and again and enjoy some reviews and things, but I really like Sophie's writing style and she seems really friendly and supportive in her comment replies! I look forward to reading more from her!
Anyone else follow these three blogs? What are you favourite blogs to read at the moment?


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Londondiane arbus: in the beginning
Hayward Gallery presents diane arbus: in the beginning, including nearly 100 photographs that redefine the achievement of one of the most prominent and influential artists of the 20th century.
The exhibition takes an in-depth look at the formative first half of Diane Arbus' career, from 1956 to 1962, when the American master developed the direct, psychologically acute style for which she later became so widely celebrated. Presented across the upper floor of the Hayward Gallery, this solo show includes some fifty photographs which have never been shown in Europe, all vintage prints from the Diane Arbus Archive at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
diane arbus: in the beginning features arresting portraits of individuals across the spectrum of American society. Arbus discovered the majority of her subjects in New York City, from Fifth Avenue to the Lower East Side, from Times Square to Coney Island. Creating some of the most compelling photographs in the history of post-war photography, she depicted a cross-section of urban life, including portraits of couples and children, solitary city dwellers, carnival performers, strippers, and transvestites. The exhibition traces Arbus' growth from her early work with a 35mm camera to the distinctive square format she began using in 1962.
The exhibition chronicles an extraordinarily prolific period in the artist's career. Nearly half the photographs that Arbus printed during her lifetime were produced during these years, yet much of this early work remains little known. diane arbus: in the beginning brings to light many haunting, yet lesser-known, works such as Boy stepping off the curb, N.Y.C. 1957–58; The Backwards Man in his hotel room, N.Y.C. 1961; and Jack Dracula at a bar, New London, Conn. 1961. Along with a prescient series of images featuring movies projected on theatre screens, these rarely seen pictures illuminate the profound and continuing impact of Arbus' photographs on contemporary art.
Arbus first began making photographs in the early 1940s when she received a camera as a gift from her husband, Allan. Whilst working as a stylist in their fashion photography business for 15 years Arbus created her own pictures only intermittently, but in 1956 she numbered a roll of 35mm film #1, as if to symbolise the definitive beginning of her career as an artist.
Over the course of the next seven years Arbus' photographic style evolved as she documented individuals and interacted closely with her chosen subjects. Whereas many other photographers working at the time, such as Walker Evans, Garry Winogrand and Lee Friedlander, would often play the role of passive observer or even conceal their cameras, Arbus' images are fuelled by the intensity of direct personal encounters with her subjects. This exchange on both sides of the camera — between seeing and being seen — raises existential questions that ultimately transmit themselves onto the viewer. Arbus always believed she had something special to offer the world, a glimpse of its many secrets: "I do feel I have some slight corner on something about the quality of things. I mean it's very subtle and a little embarrassing to me but I really believe there are things which nobody would see unless I photographed them."
diane arbus: in the beginning is organised by The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York and curated by Jeff L. Rosenheim, curator in Charge of the Department of Photographs. The special exhibition design was devised for the first presentation at The Met Breuer in 2016 and has been adapted for Hayward Gallery. Each photograph is presented on an individual free-standing wall and visitors are encouraged to navigate their own individual routes through the exhibition, experiencing one-on-one encounters with these intimate works. This innovative approach provides a glimpse into the way Arbus navigated the world in which she photographed.
Among the many outstanding works in this exhibition that have not been shown previously in Europe are Jack Dracula at a bar, New London, Conn. 1961, Taxicab driver at the wheel with two passengers, N.Y.C. 1956, Female impersonator holding long gloves, Hempstead, L.I. 1959, and Man in hat, trunks, socks and shoes, Coney Island, N.Y. 1960.
In 1962, Arbus began to work with a 2 ¼-inch square-format Rolleiflex camera, producing such iconic photographs as Child with a toy hand grenade in Central Park, N.Y.C. 1962. The installation concludes with a separate gallery presenting A box of ten photographs, the portfolio Arbus produced in 1970 and 1971 comprising legendary portraits in square format that include Identical twins, Roselle, N.J. 1967 and A Jewish giant at home with his parents in the Bronx, N.Y. 1970.
Other than A box of ten photographs, printed posthumously by Neil Selkirk, all of the photographs included in diane arbus: in the beginning are original gelatin silver prints made by the artist herself. The majority originate from the holdings of the Diane Arbus Archive, a remarkable treasury of photographs, negatives, and papers gifted to The Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2007 by the artist's daughters, Doon Arbus and Amy Arbus, while others are drawn from select private collections in the U.S. A box of ten photographs has been lent by the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Ralph Rugoff, Director, Hayward Gallery said: "As the first UK institution to exhibit Diane Arbus' photographs in a major retrospective back in 1974, Hayward Gallery is delighted to be able to host the photographs of one the most influential artists of the 20th Century once again. This exhibition focuses on Arbus' key early career photographs which clearly show how Arbus' unique perspective developed and how she came to create the arresting images she is deservedly widely celebrated for."
The accompanying catalogue published by The Met and Yale University Press will be available from the Hayward Gallery shop. The book contains two essays, "in the beginning" by Jeff L. Rosenheim and "notes from the archive" by Karan Rinaldo, featuring recent research into the Diane Arbus Archive and reproductions of a wide selection of photographs, negatives, diaries, notes, and correspondence. The exhibition is generously supported by London Community Foundation and Cockayne Grants for the Arts.
Installation view of diane arbus: in the beginning at Hayward Gallery, 2019. Photo: Mark Blower


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BRT has talked often about collapse with four factors being the prime driver of same.
- Corruption of the state, dictated and run by the upper 1/10 of 1% and the banks and corporations that represent, as George Carlin said, The Real Owners of the Country.
- Inept leadership. Congress & the Presidency, bought and paid for by the elites.
- Environmental degradation whereby resources are plundered non-stop as seen by the depletion of food stocks in the oceans and continued pollution of the land/sea and food as seen by fracking and the introduction of GMOs into the food supply.
- Destruction of infrastructure, driven by the moving of monies to the parasitic military/industrial/congressional complex dictated by the same elites who run the country.
Sound familiar? America has witnessed a similar cycle of oligarchic corruption[1] starting in the 1760s, 1850s, 1920s, and 2000s:
Economic Royalists infiltrate critical institutions and rig political and economic systems to favor elites. 1760s: Royal governors run roughshod over colonial farmers; The East India Company, whose investors were primarily wealthy aristocrats, is given monopoly trading rights in the colonies. (The Tea Act was basically a corporate tax break for it.) 2000s: Vice President Dick Cheney's company Halliburton is given no-bid contracts to handle military services in Iraq; American taxpayers bail out failed banks; Billionaire Warren Buffet pays a lower tax rate than his secretary; America's medical system is dominated by profit-maximizing, health-minimizing insurance companies.
Rigged systems erode the health of the larger society, and signs of crisis proliferate. Developed by British archaeologist Sir Colin Renfrew in 1979[2], the following "Signs of Failing Times" have played out across time in 26 distinct societies ranging from the collapse of the Roman Empire to the collapse of the Soviet Union:
- Elite power and well-being increase and is manifested in displays of wealth;
- Elites become heavily focused on maintaining a monopoly on power inside the society; Laws become more advantageous to elites, and penalties for the larger public become more Draconian;
- The middle class evaporates;
- The "misery index" mushrooms, witnessed by increasing rates of homicide, suicide, illness, homelessness, and drug/alcohol abuse;
- Ecological disasters increase as short-term focus pushes ravenous exploitation of resources;
- There's a resurgence of conservatism and fundamentalist religion as once golden theories are brought back to counter decay, but these are usually in a corrupted form that accelerates decline.
The crisis reaches a breaking point, and seemingly small events trigger popular frustration into a transformative change. If the society enacts effective reforms, it enters a new stage of development. If it fails to enact reforms, crisis leads to regression and possibly collapse.
Remember, phase transitions are never linear. The French revolution started when 7 prisoners were liberated from the Bastille.


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Consider this scenario. Alice is a recent graduate of XYZ University and she has a liberal arts degree, with which at one point she thought she could do just about anything. Two years after graduation, she has a pretty good job with a company doing administrative work because she couldn't find anything in her field. Then her mom becomes sick, and she goes home. She quit her job but can't find a new one close to her mother. The payments on her student loans, car, furniture, and other debt are still due. She realizes that very soon she will have no money.
The above scenario could have gone many different ways. Some people get lucky and can find steady employment and pay off debt as planned. Sometimes, however, life throws you a curveball and there's no way out. The absolute worst thing you can do when that happens is stay silent.
If you think you're going to miss a payment for any reason, call your lender. If it is going to be a one-time experience, often they will work with you. Their jobs, after all, require they receive payment. It is not in their best interest to heckle you. Even if you are facing the risk of foreclosure, there are ways to be proactive and avoiding defaulting.
If you think you might not be able to pay for a while, it is still a good idea to go ahead and call. If you give a company a heads up that you won't be able to meet your obligations, they might help you come up with a different solution. In addition to working with your lenders, you may want to consult a Dayton bankruptcy attorney to discuss several ways in which you can manage your debt and stay out of default.


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CAIRO (Reuters/AFP) - A French naval search vessel has picked up a signal from one of the two black boxes of EgyptAir flight MS804 that crashed into the Mediterranean last month, French investigators confirmed on Wednesday (June 1).
"The signal from a beacon from a flight recorder has been detected" by navy vessel Laplace, said Mr Remi Jouty of France's Bureau of Investigations and Analysis, following an announcement from the Egyptian authorities that the signal had probably been picked up.
The French navy ship Laplace, which started work on Tuesday afternoon, has acoustic detection systems capable of detecting the locator signals given off by black boxes, to aid in searching for the wreckage of the Airbus A320 that went down with 66 people on board on May 19.
"Search equipment aboard French naval vessel Laplace... has detected signals from the seabed of the search area, which likely belong to one of the data boxes," the committee said earlier. It added in its statement that the search for the black boxes was intensifying ahead of the expected arrival within a week of another vessel from Mauritius-based Deep Ocean Search, carrying robots capable of diving up to 3,000m to the seabed to recover the black boxes.
Investigators are in a race against time to find the flight recorders, known as the black boxes, which have enough battery power to emit signals for four or five weeks.
The recordings could help investigators determine the reason for the crash. Two members of France's BEA air safety agency are on board the survey ship.
The crash has strengthened the case for "black boxes" that can pop out of an aircraft before an accident, removing the need for challenging searches on the seabed, Airbus' most senior engineer said on Tuesday.
The EgyptAir jet's flight recorders or "black boxes" are designed to emit acoustic signals for 30 days after a crash, giving search teams fewer than three weeks to spot them in waters up to 3,000m) deep, which is on the edge of their range.
"If we have a deployable recorder it will be much easier to find," Airbus executive vice-president for engineering Charles Champion told a media event. "We have been working on that and this only reinforces our overall approach."
Ejectable or "deployable" recorders would separate from the tail during a crash and float, emitting a distress signal.
Recommended by investigators after an Air France A330 jet crashed in 2009, the idea came to the fore after the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight 370 in March 2014.
The United Nations' aviation agency, the International Civil Aviation Organization, has called for key data to be recoverable in a "timely manner" on airplanes delivered after 2021.
But it will be left to airlines and manufacturers to decide how to meet the goal, whether through deployable recorders or other technology such as new homing methods or data streaming.
Deployable recorders have long been used in the military. But some in the industry have expressed doubts about their safe use on civil airliners, saying they could be deployed accidentally and introduce new risks.
Airbus said last year it was talking to regulators about adding deployable devices to its two largest models of jets. US planemaker Boeing is more sceptical, citing instances where they have failed on warplanes. A series of accidents over water including the EgyptAir disaster and wider safety issues are likely to be discussed at a meeting of global airlines in Dublin this week. Teams are racing against the clock to find the
EgyptAir black boxes, partly because rules that would extend the duration and range of their acoustic pingers do not take effect until 2018.


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Christine emceeing TEDxMarin 2016
What might be our new normal? This year, TEDxMarin poses the question: "What If…", to better explore the unexpected possibilities and bold ideas that may fundamentally shift our future. Once again, we will bring forward pioneering individuals representing powerful ideas of change. Whether it's the search for meaning, joy, profession or purpose, or a desire to innovate and address global and cultural issues, TEDxMarin 2016 looks to inspire and illuminate our Marin community with thought-provoking ideas reframing our vision of what's possible.
Program Timeline (Badge pick up at 5:45pm)
6pm – 7:30pm Attendee RECEPTION and SHOWCASE – Complimentary Taste treats, great wines and an innovator showcase (Company and Non-profit demo's). This is a vibrant social gathering for local members of the TED community.
7pm Doors open to theater for Talks ( first come first served seating with ALL ACCESS Badge)
7:45pm to 10pm. TEDxTalks Filming. DUE TO FILMING No seating in theater permitted after 7:4opm.
10pm Approx. A dessert reception / Meet and Greet with our 2016 speakers in Gallery Lobby.
The AFTER PARTY. We will be identifying a local Bar/Restaurant at the event where your attendee badge will get you in to join speakers, organizers, volunteers and guests to celebrate the night together after the show.


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ONE OF A KIND POINT LOT WITH 240 FT ON DEEP WATER WITH WIDE INTRACOASTAL VIEW, OCEAN ACCESS. WALK TO PRIVATE SURFSIDE BEACH $50. TO JOIN (VOLUNTARY) FULL CONCRETE BULKHEAD, BOAT LIFT, POOL, BURIED GENERATOR WILL AIR CONDITION ENTIRE HOUSE. CUL-DE-SAC, MATURE PALM TREES, SCREENED LANAI.View Virtual Tour
Cable Available, Electricity Connected, Public, Sewer Connected
Ceiling Fans(s), Kitchen/Family Room Combo, Master Bedroom Downstairs, Split Bedroom, Walk-In Closet(s), Window Treatments
Dishwasher, Disposal, Dryer, Microwave, Refrigerator, Washer
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Listing information is provided for consumer personal, non-commercial use, solely to identify potential properties for potential purchase; all other use is strictly prohibited and may violate relevant federal and state law.
Listing data comes from My Florida Regional MLS.
Listing information last updated on July 12th, 2020 at 5:45am EDT.


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Commenced in January 2007
Frequency: Monthly
Edition: International
Paper Count: 1
total and partial DOS Related Abstracts
1 Half-Metallic Ferromagnetism in Ternary Zinc Blende Fe/In0.5Ga0.5 as/in Psuperlattice: First-Principles Study
Authors: N. Berrouachedi, M. Bouslama, S. Rioual, B. Lescop, J. Langlois
Abstract:Using first-principles calculations within the LSDA (Local Spin Density Approximation) method based on density functional theory (DFT), the electronic structure and magnetic properties of zinc blende Fe/In0.5Ga0.5As/InPsuperlattice are investigated. This compound are found to be half -metallic ferromagnets with a total magnetic moment of 2.25μB per Fe. In addition to this, we reported the DRX measurements of the thick iron sample before and after annealing. One should note, after the annealing treatment at a higher temperature, the disappearance of the peak associated to the Fe(001) plane. In contrast to this report, we observed after the annealing at low temperature the additional peaks attributed to the presence of indium and Fe2As. This suggests a subsequent process consisting in a strong migration of atoms followed with crystallization at the higher temperature.To investigate the origin of magnetism and electronic structure in these zb compounds, we calculated the total and partial DOS of FeInP.One can see that µtotal=4.24µBand µFe=3.27µB in contrast µIn=0.021µB and µP=0.049µB.These results predicted that FeInP compound do belong to the class of zb half metallic HM ferromagnetswith a pseudo gap= 0.93 eVare more promising materials for spintronics devices.
Keywords: WIEN2K, DRX, zincblend structure, half metallic ferromagnet, spin moments, total and partial DOSProcedia PDF Downloads 151


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Collection Information
Size: 167 items (on 1 microfilm reel).
Summary: Letters received from Philip McCracken, James McGrath (1 illustrated with a watercolor drawing and 2 with serigraphs) Michael Moore, Joseph Raffael, Judy North Raffael, Peter Voulkos, and William T. Wiley, and 5 illustrated letters from Allan to his parents describing his army experiences in Germany and Turkey; poems by William Witherup; financial papers; 3 photographs of Bruce Nauman's performance piece "Three Well Known Knots," and one of James McGrath, 1954; exhibition announcements and catalogs, including 2 silkscreened and hand-colored posters for James McGrath exhibitions; 1 felt-tip pen on paper abstract drawing by Paul McCracken (21 x 30.5 cm.); and clippings.


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NIS America has announced a PlayStation 4 limited collectors edition of Samurai Warriors 4-II.
This special edition, which will launch alongside the standard Koei Tecmo release in North America, will be available exclusively through the NIS America Online Store and will feature:
Samurai Warriors 4-II is due to release for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, PSVita & PC (via Steam) in on September 29th (NA) & October 2nd (EU).
- Samurai Warriors 4-II for PS4
- 80 page, perfect bound art book (5.3 in. x 6.8 in.)
- 13 track, single disc original soundtrack with jewel case
- Collector's box


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Plus: Dance for Life; Labor Day Weekend getaway; Photographer Ernest Collins; It's all "Sweetness"; Big Shoulders Fund Ball; Olivia at Hindman; Broadway in Chicago PRESENTS...; Skrebneski Documented; Lake & Country loves Shauna; Playboy Club Bunny Reunion; Chicago theater is WINNING; A Toast to Tutoring; Brenda climbs for Special Children's Charities; All Together Now for the YWCA; Missing Randi; REV UP Chicago; Haute Dog Chicago; Eversight Mystery Masquerade; This & That; Darling videos and SO much MORE!
I felt a little guilty accepting the invitation for opening night of Chicago's newest drag club, LIPS Chicago on Friday, August 23. After all, my first date with Chuck was at the Baton Show Lounge, then located at 436 N. Clark, and it felt a little like cheating. The Baton, an iconic female
impersonator show that just celebrated 50 years in February, has always been our go-to place, taking family, friends and anyone who would say yes, there to party. The legendary tennis player Jimmy Connors was a guest of ours at the Baton and I still have photos of
him tipping Chilli Pepper onstage. On this night, I wondered who I would see at this new drag spot and if there would be a crossover of guests and/or performers between the two. I did see Mimi Marks, former Miss Everything who came to fame at the Baton and who is renowned for her beauty and popularity as a performer. I missed her when she left the Baton but now I know where to find her. And, as the LIPS show unfolded on opening night, I realized there is no need for concern as the two clubs are as
different as can be and there's certainly more than enough room for both, and then some! LIPS Chicago (2229 S. Michigan) is the 5th location of this 23-year- old drag/dinner chain (others are located in Manhattan, Atlanta, Fort Lauderdale and San Diego). According to its founder and former drag perfomer himself, Yvonne Lamé, the Chicago location is the largest and grandest to date. Upon entering, guests part red velvet curtains and are smack dab in the middle of a set right out of Alice in
Wonderland. Designer Robert Tabar, along with performers Tori Sass and Kinley Preston, transformed this former Ford Motor Company showroom into the "Palace of Versailles but with a drag queen running it', according to Lamé. Four, 8-foot chandeliers and and an amazing, state-of-the-art sound and lighting system keep this room sparkling and humming all night long. Brightly colored decor features a giant floral bustier
over the entrance, disco balls, bejeweled mirrors, pink leopard tufted walls, campy mannequin legs sticking out everywhere and so much more. On this night, the Queens arrived in style, pulling up in a vintage Rolls Royce
and spilling out in ballgowns and stilettos before striking a pose on the red carpet for the anxiously awaiting paparazzi. The club is pegged "The Ultimate in Drag Dining--Where the Boys are Men and so are the Girls"! Its Diva cast features Shavonna B. Brooks, Mimi Marks, Ruff N' Stuff, Angel LeBare and Delilah J. Brooks with other performers that include the former Baton performer Victoria Le Paige, Ari Gato, Hinkypunk, Saffire Blue and many others. For the opening party, delicious appetizers were served but, in general, this is a serious restaurant too with dishes
developed by Tom Schmitt, of the award-winning Little Goat restaurant. All items are named after LIPS performers and include appetizers (elote corn fritters, crispy shrimp cocktail, crab cakes, short ribs, spinach and artichoke dip, fried calamari, chicken tenders, Caesar and wedge salads and a Too Wong Foo sampler platter) and entrees (shrimp fettucine alfredo, flat iron chicken with kohlrabi slaw, chicken penne pasta ala vodka, lobster ravioli, curried garden veggies, Dover sole, grilled salmon, cheeseburgers, filets and more). There is a different show every day of the week. On Wednesdays, Delilah J. Brooks hosts "Twisted Broadway", Thursdays, "Dinner with the Divas" hosted by Angel LeBare, Fridays and Saturdays, the
"Glitz & Glam" show is hosted by Shavonna B. Brooks, a South Shore native who worked in the Atlanta location for 5 years before returning home to her roots here in Chicago. A late night, adults-only show is in development for Saturday night called "Taboo", and Mimi Marks hosts a modern hits show, "Showstopper Sundays" on Sunday night. (For Sunday brunch, there will be a Dragalicious Gospel Brunch). This club is a great addition to our already rich drag show landscape. At the Baton, I feel like everyone there is family and it will always be my favorite but I'm glad to have LIPS in Chicago, dining, drag and drop dead decor? Who can beat that? (Get all the deets here!)
Dance for Life celebrated its 28th annual event on August 17 with a record-breaking crowd of over 3,100 dance enthusiasts at the Auditorium Theatre. I was so happy that co-chairs Tom and Mark Ferguson Gomez switched it up this year! Instead of going to the Hilton Chicago BEFORE the performance for the party/buffet/cocktails, they put it where it should be, FOLLOWING the performance. This way, everybody could let their hair down and celebrate the amazing
collaboration between our city's finest dance companies at the main event! For the hour long show at the theatre, seven outstanding
companies strutted their stuff onstage and
showed the remarkable diversity of dance this city has to offer. The show opened with Giordano Dance Chicago performing "SOUL", choreographed by Ray Leeper. (This piece holds a
special place in my heart as it was created and dedicated in my honor by the company.) This highly energetic piece features music by Al Green, Tina Turner and Gladys Knight and the Pips and
the crowd couldn't stop clapping and dancing in their seats. At the end, a resounding standing ovation reverberated throughout the space. The crowd welcomed every number with enthusiasm and appreciation. The Ensemble Espanol Spanish Dance Theater dedicated its moving piece, "Mar de Fuego/Sea of Fire", choreographed by Carlos Rodriguez, to its late founder Dame Libby Komaiko. Hubbard Street Dance Chicago honored the life of founding member/teacher Claire Bataille in "Decadence/Chicago" by Ohad Naharin. The Joffrey Ballet performed two works, one featuring the much loved husband/wife duo of Temur Suluashvili and Victoria Jaiani who danced to an excerpt from Yuri Possokhov's "Bells." Other performing
companies included Chicago Human Rhythm Project/Stone Soup Rhythms, Robyn Mineko Williams and Artists and Chicago Dance Crash that presented an exciting and athletic mix of hip hop and modern dance. A finale, featuring the world premiere of "Release" choreographed by Randy Duncan, combined dancers from various companies. A highlight for me during the party at the Hilton was seeing the joy on everyone's faces over the success of the event. I especially loved seeing Dance for Life co-founder Harriet Ross, hoisted onto the shoulders of the co-chairs for a victory dance! The event supports the Dancers' Fund through Chicago Dancers United, a nonprofit
expertly presided over by president Robert Neubert, that provides financial assistance to dance community
professionals facing critical health issues. On this night, Neubert announced an exciting partnership between the American Cancer Society (VP Peter Steele) and the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (president John Peller). Thanks to all who supported this wonderful event and, to see more photos/event details, check my Chicago Tribune column here!
I first became aware of Ernest Collins, the renowned Chicago photographer, in 2018 during a Fleurotica fashion show at Garfield Park. He had been hired to photograph the models wearing their striking plant and floral fashions but, in true Ernest style, he upped the ante for these photos ten-
fold (as seen in the photo). I was covering the event for my Tribune column and immediately noticed him stationed in a corner with the most striking, hand painted back drop that I'd ever seen in my life. He's larger than life and was barking orders to the models on how to pose and I could sense he was frustrated. As I came to know him, this chaotic environment was completely the antithesis of
the way he likes to work. He's a perfectionist in the best sense of the word which means he knows what he wants and his instincts are spot on--honed, no doubt, during the 20+ years he spent working in Paris. His studio is awe-inspiring too with the most gorgeous fashion photos filling every wall. On the day of our shoot, he was assisted by
Kendall Howard, a handsome, affable guy who obviously knows what Ernest needs out of a shoot and delivers. It was short and sweet but the results were unlike anything I'd seen before. He saw me in a way I've never seen myself. I've worked with a lot of photogs (I've been modeling since I was 13) but I've never come across one who was so sure of himself before--he sees things in a unique way
and knows how to get what he wants out of a photo shoot and model. His
directions are subtle but oh-so effective. We chatted a bit before and after the shoot and he excitedly told me about a model he had just photographed. (See the before and after shots above! OMG) Since he posted her photos on his website (ernestcollins.com), she has become one very popular lady! And, get this, she is 82 years old! Thanks for this amazing experience Ernest and keep up your beautiful work! (Follow him on Insta @ernestcollins)
Chuck and I both love road trips, near or far, so for Labor Day Weekend, we were itching to hit the road. On Sunday, we took a ride to The Farm farmstand in Westmont. We were dying for some end-of-summer fresh veggies and this place at 34 E. 63rd St. in Westmont,
Ill. was just the spot. It was bittersweet to return there as we used to love taking my mother-in-law Jean Jordan there on weekends following a visit. We bought so much it was like we were getting ready to hunker down in a root cellar for the winter but it was such
fun. And then, on Monday, as I was perusing Instagram, I came across a bucolic photo of art expert Gary Metzner and his husband who were spending a stay-cation in Geneva, Illinois at the Herrington Inn & Spa. Well, that photo was all the inspo I needed so off we went, the three of us, on another little roadtrip. The clouds were like sky paintings they were so beautiful and, with the top
down, we were able to enjoy it ALL. The ride is less than an hour from Chicago so perfect for a quick getaway. We had been to Geneva once
before but it was a fast drive through. We planned on taking our time this time and got a chance to see just how charming Geneva really is. The Herrington Inn is located on a site that was the town's first known dairy dating to 1864 (on the riverfront at 15 S. River Lane). It was also home to Geneva's founding family, James and Charity Herrington. The Inn is a perennial AAA Four Diamond award winner and we weren't one bit surprised after we were given a grand tour. Most of the rooms are
equipped with fireplaces and balconies. The bathroom we saw could make the Ritz in Paris jealous! We also discovered that it is pet friendly (for small dogs and with a fee) but
still....I can't thank Gary enough for posting that sweet photo on Instagram--it was a great day in Geneva! (An aside about Gary, he was recently included in Art 50: Chicago's Visual Vanguard 2019. According to the article in NewCity Art, "Art 50 shines a light on this group of power players, whose work making our city's art scene thrive too often goes unacknowledged. We bring you our take on those who wield the most influence in the Chicago art world, from nonprofits with humble beginnings to philanthropists with some of the deepest pockets in Illinois." Congrats Gary!
Walter Payton's family, including his daughter Brittney, wife Connie Norwood and son Jarrett, were on hand for the unveiling of the "Sweetness'" statue on September 3. The 12-foot, 3,000-pound statue is outside of Gate O at Soldier Field and was sculpted by Fisher Sculpture and designed by Populous. (A George Halas statue was also unveiled) "This is truly a good representation of Walter and who he is," said Connie Payton, his widow. "So we couldn't be prouder." Several of Halas' and Payton's relatives were in attendance, as well as Payton's contemporaries, including Mike Ditka, Dan Hampton, Matt Suhey and Steve McMichael. A lasting tribute, so fitting!
Modern Luxury/ Chicago Social Magazine just released its jam-packed 25th anniversary issue! I was thrilled to be included in the article, "25 Most Intriguing Chicagoans" along with an amazing group of Chicago notables. Thanks so much CS and congrats to all! (See complete list here)
A collection of 27 outfits worn by Hollywood legend Olivia de Havilland is going up for auction next month at Hindman Auctions! The Sept. 17 online auction also includes haute couture designs by Christian Dior that de Havilland, who turned 103 in July, wore at movie premieres and galas between 1954-1989. Prices for the outfits, some of which include shoes, range from $300-$5,000. The items up for sale next month are being sold by her family. A preview party will be held at the auction house on September 9.
Broadway In Chicago presents the Chicago premiere of the internationally acclaimed hit theater show THE SIMON & GARFUNKEL Story! Tickets go on sale Friday, Sept. 6 for a limited two-week engagement (Nov. 19 thru Dec.1) at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place. (For tickets/more info, click here!)
The 13th annual Big Shoulders Fund Ball will be held on Friday, September 27 at City Hall (838 W. Kinzie St.) For the first time since its inception, the event will be co-hosted by the Big Shoulders Fund Next Generation Boards--Chairman's Advisory Council and Auxiliary Board--comprised of nearly 400 professionals and civic leaders. The proceeds will benefit the two Next Generation scholarship funds, which provide access to safe, supportive schools for nearly 200 deserving children each academic year. For tickets, $125, and more info, click here!
Legendary photographer Victor Skrebneski has come out with his definitive coffee table book titled "Skrebneski Documented: 1948-2018" ($150 at Rizzoli, Sept. 10). Skrebneski said, "Everything there is what I do. That's it. The book is personal and every picture means something to me." The book documents his extraordinary life in pictures beginning in 1948 and includes stories behind his iconic images of Andy Warhol, Cindy Crawford, David Bowie and Iman, Orson Welles, Dennis Hopper, Kathleen Turner and so many more. Follow this link for the two Chicago book signings! Not to be missed!
More congrats are in order for Chicago's own Shauna Montgomery, everybody's favorite former runway star, who
was recently the cover girl (with a feature article) in Lake & Country magazine! The 10 page feature article by Susan Murray (with photography by Bob Cosearelli) focuses on her and husband Barry's beautiful Lake Geneva home with bonus shots of their Trump Tower condo. To read/see article, click here!) I met Shauna back in the 70s when we were both models and I've been a fan ever since! Congrats with love Shauna!
Mark your calendars NOW for the Playboy Reunion to end all Reunions for former Playboy Club Bunnies! A HUGE party is planned for 2020, the 60th anniversary of Playboy Clubs, at the Drake Hotel in Chicago, organized by Diana Petersen, for June 25 to 28th. If you worked at any of the Clubs as a Bunny, please contact Diana for more info at firstname.lastname@example.com.
The Actors Training Center (ATC) of Wilmette received the Award of Honor from the Illinois Theatre Association (ITA) at ITA's Red Carpet Gala, on Aug. 24 at Drury Lane Theater. Each year the Illinois Theatre Association recognizes both individuals and organizations for their significant contributions of
promoting quality theatre throughout the state of Illinois. Recipients are nominated by the Illinois theatre community, approved by ITA's divisional representatives and accepted by ITA's Board of Directors. This year, ITA awarded its highest honor to the nonprofit Actors Training Center for its educational contribution to the Chicago theatre community. Actors Training Center founder Carole Dibo, accepted the award from Kevin
Long, Illinois Theatre Association president, who nominated the Center for the honor. He spoke of the impressive history of ATC mentioning alum who have gone on to be included in national theatre tours, on Broadway, Netflix and Amazon. "ATC provides the highest quality professional training for actors who choose to take classes at ATC. Not only is the training incredible, but what separates ATC from other places is that ACT is such a welcoming and supportive professional training program. The atmosphere you have created truly helps any actor that steps through your doors to produce the best work possible," Long said. The Center's annual fundraiser will be held on Saturday, November 3 at Viper Alley, 275 Parkway Dr. in Lincolnshire. "Money for Funny, Music for Free" will benefit the ATC's Scholarship and Building Funds. (For info, click here!)
Our theatre community is a lot like Charlie Sheen--WINNING! Congrats are also in order for Porchlight Theatre Company who scored a formidable 17 Jeff nominations this year! ("Sunset Boulevard" opens October 11!) The Paramount Theatre in Aurora also had a lot to celebrate, scoring 16, followed by Court Theatre in Hyde Park with 15! Make sure you check out these three winners!
Chicago Lights, an organization that creates opportunities for Chicagoans to overcome economic and social barriers, will host A Toast to Tutoring at Dance Studio (59 W. Hubbard St.) on Oct. 15. The event will celebrate the life-changing one-to-one, student-volunteer relationships created through the Chicago Lights Tutoring program. For 55 years, the program has provided high-quality tutoring and mentoring for students living in the Near West, Near North, and South Side neighborhoods of Chicago to cultivate their academic and social potential using one-to-one relationships. A Toast to Tutoring will offer guests an opportunity to further their impact by sponsoring a Tutoring student for the upcoming 2019–2020 program year. Guests will "toast to tutoring" with beer, wine and prosecco, hors d'oeuvres and DJ entertainment. (For tickets, more info, click here!)
Longtime friend Brenda McHugh is honoring the 50th anniversary of the founding of Special Children's Charities by climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro! She is making the climb in honor of her late husband, Jack McHugh (McHugh Construction), who was a founder of the Charities. The event came to be following the first Special Olympics games held in Chicago in 1968. Jack put together a group of influential friends (he knew them all!) as a way to fund programs for people with
disabilities in Chicago through the Chicago Park District. SCC is still the fundraising arm of Special Olympics Chicago and pays for the majority of special recreation programs at the CPD and for events and activities that more than 7,500 people with disabilities enjoy through Special Olympics Chicago. Brenda is training 6 days a week at Well-Fit (1700 W. Hubbard) which is the only altitude training facility in the Midwest. She is hoping to raise $100K for SCC/SOC! If you would like to support this worthy cause, please click here! (She leaves Sept. 9 for an 8 day climb). Whew...I'm exhausted just writing about it.
Join YWCA Metropolitan Chicago Tuesday, September 10 for a small, private gathering at All Together Now, a bottle shop, all-day eatery and market in Chicago's Ukranian Village. The event will feature a seasonal, cocktail-style menu with a specially curated selection of wine sourced exclusively from women-led wineries. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the YWCA and its mission to empower women and eliminate racism. (For tickets, more info, click here!)
I received some bittersweet news this week. My longtime (and much loved) Chicago Tribune editor, Randi Stevenson, is leaving for the San Antonio Express-News. They are SOOOO lucky to have her! She's been a rock, an advocate, a champion and a friend and she will be sorely missed. Best of luck to you Randi from your biggest fangirl.
I hope you can join the Apparel Industry Board and me for REV UP Chicago on Thursday, October 10 at Perillo Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Gold Coast (834 N. Rush St.) starting at 6 pm. This fashion show fundraiser, chaired by Frances Renk, will support and celebrate our city's top local designers--Elda de la Rosa Couture, Peach Carr Designs, Mark Roscoe, Lauren Lein Ltd., Rebellion, Tamra Ellingson, Ann Everett Designs and Model Atelier! These fabulous designs will be modeled by some of our town's most notable Chicagoans and emceed by the one and only Ji Suk Yi! I'm thrilled to be this year's honoree! Thanks to all who are supporting this wonderful event! I hope we can all make Marsha Brenner proud. (For tickets, starting at $75, click here!)
And, right around the corner is the 4th annual Haute Dog Chicago coming Thursday, September 19 to the Peninsula. Celebrate fashion with Canine Companions for Independence and watch some of Chicago's finest and their very couture canines take to the runway modeling fashion from local boutiques for this wonderful cause, providing assistance dogs FREE for those in need. (For tickets/more info, click here!)
And another not-to-be-missed event is this year's Eversight Mystery Masquerade Celebration at the Peninsula on Thursday, October 24 honoring much loved Sherry Lea Holson and the remarkable Dr. David Lubeck. Proud to return as co-chair with Michael Caputo and a stellar committee who has upped the ante on this year's event with lots of surprises planned around every corner! Join us and help Eversight restore sight and prevent blindness through the healing power of donation, transplantation and research. And, as always, special thanks to the late Beverly Blettner who helped put this nonprofit on the map. (For tickets/more info, click here!) MASKS ON!
Chicago Gateway Green will host its annual GREEN TIE BALL, this year themed "I Dream of Greenie" drawn from the inspiration of the venue, The Alhambra Palace (1240 W. Randolph) on Friday, September 13. Join co-chairs Grant DePorter, Lee Golub and celeb host Pete Wentz (Fallout Boys) along with 25 participating restaurants for a night filled with fun, fundraising, charitable gaming from Rivers Casino, dancing and so much more! (For tickets/more info, CLICK HERE!)
That's it for this edition! If you've enjoyed it and are not yet a subscriber, please sign up here! And, if you have events or news to share, please send them along! I would love to hear from you!!
Love, as always,
P.S. And something to leave you with a smile......


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Continuing the series of quotations from various books which didn't quite merit a full review, but featured some turns of phrases and ideas I wanted to remember…
'The Ministry of Special Cases,' Nathan Englander
(A wonderful, heart-breaking novel on the trauma of living through the era of Argentina's 'Dirty War' of military dictatorship versus Argentine citizens in the late 1970's and early 1980's):
"She didn't want to get hopeful, but outside the financial pressures which threatened to put them on the street, and the political uncertainty that kept them locked inside, it was the best in a while that their lives had been…"
"This is what set loose the panic in her, a reverse progression she'd been caught up in before. First the government declares victory, next comes the fighting, and then – as an afterthought – an enemy is picked up along the way…"
"The first line of defence for any corrupt dysfunctional system is an ignoramus guarding the door…"
"There are three things that show a person's true self: when money is involved, when speaking in anger, and when drunk…"
'Good To Be God,' Tibor Fischer (one of my favourite, highly-quotable contemporary authors who has already been fully reviewed here):
"I have the same problems as when I left home, but I don't care. I'm not kidding myself. I really don't care. And not caring about your problems is as good as not having them…"
"…I've never met anyone from Miami. That's what Miami is, a city you come to, not from…"
"What galls me most about failure, is the amount of effort I've gone to to achieve it…"
"As you get older, you get more relaxed about being around failed individuals who are of a lower value than you, because it's understood that they can't be your friends, they've just drifted into your presence. You never lose that sentiment of caste…"
"I dislike children because they're typically noisy and smelly; you have to spend your whole time escorting food in and out of their bodies…"
"'I've no idea how this happened,' says Gamay. I have some idea, but explaining to Gamay and Muscat that if a goldfish could move the pieces, it would beat them at chess, won't improve anything…"
"I'm making that dish that no one can mess up: spaghetti bolognese…"
"'I'm horrified of what I'm becoming.' Being horrified of what you're becoming is one of the most common human experiences…"
"I've had some good meals in Vietnamese restaurants, but I've never had good service or a trace of a smile…"
"This is what's so infuriating about life: it occasionally works. Every so often, you need a loan, you ask a girl out, apply for a job, and you get a yes. There's just enough compliance to keep you in the game, like the odds in casinos, carefully honed to yield enough to keep punters on the premises…"
'How To Live: a life of montaigne in one question and twenty attempts at an answer,' Sarah Bakewell
"Another topic Montaigne shows no interest in is Jesus Christ…As the modern critic David Quint has summed it up, Montaigne would probably have interpreted the message for humanity in Christ's crucifixion as being 'Don't crucify people'…"
"'I am so sick for freedom, that if anyone should forbid me access to some corner of the Indies, I should live distinctly less comfortably'…"
(an almost direct descendant of this quote can be found in my review of Christopher Hitchens's 'Hitch 22').
'It's Not Me, It's You,' Jon Richardson (a notoriously dry-humoured, obsessive-compulsive English comedian)
"Once we could all get through the days without trying, we had to find some other reason to wake up each morning; we had to adopt a scoring system to see who was winning at being alive – happiness!"
On how scarily similar his OCD is to some of my, erm, funny habits:
"Some numbers are better than others, obviously. Even numbers are better than odd, excepting multiples of five, which should be used whenever altering the volume control on a television. No television should ever have to suffer the ignominy of being left at volume thirteen…"
"I have always believed that there is a reason they call it the right angle, and that is because the other 359 are wrong…"
'The Hunters,' James Salter
"DeLeo was a good companion. He had always traveled. He was at rest while moving…"
'The Brain-Dead Megaphone,' George Saunders
"Humor is what happens when we're told the truth quicker and more directly than we're used to…"
"…the Himalayas, pure, Platonically white, the white there was before other colors were invented…"
"The traveler must, of course, always be cautious of the overly broad generalization. But I am an American, and a paucity of data does not stop me from making sweeping vague conceptual statements and, if necessary, backing these statements up with troops…"
'The Reason Of Things,' A.C.Grayling
On Madness:
"'All the world is queer, except me and thee,' the Quaker saying has it, 'and even thee is a bit odd at times.'"
'The Meaning Of Things,' A.C.Grayling
On Hope:
"…you learn more about a person when you learn about his hopes than when you count his achievements, for the best in what we are lies in what we hope to be…"
On Countries:
"Oddly, patriotism is most virulent in countries which do least for their citizens in the provision of welfare – the United States and China, for instance…"
On Punishment:
"[A] Chinese saying: 'Beat your child every day; if you don't know what for, he certainly does'…"
And finally, on Sorrow, the single most touching and helpful thing I have ever read on how to begin overcoming grief:
"Think of those you care about; imagine them mourning when you die; and ask yourself how much sorrow you would wish them to bear. The answer would surely be: neither too much, nor for too long….If that is what what we wish for those we will leave behind us when we die, then that is what we must believe would be desired by those who have already died…"


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Cooper & Hunter Sophia 9000 BTU 22.8 SEER Wall Mount Ductless Mini Split Air Conditioner for 230V installation. Comes with Heat Pump.
Cooper&Hunter air conditioners are applicable for every residential use, from individual office spaces to multi room properties. You can choose among single and multi zone ductless mini splits or air conditioners without outdoor condenser – Monoblock, Portable or PTAC units. Wide range of residential HVAC equipment will satisfy your needs either for cooling or heating, with the most advanced features, different capacities and energy ratings you want.
Simple Wall Mount is included. See accessories for specialized mounting brackets.


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Home » Marijuana » Patient Registration » Qualifying Conditions »
Traumatic brain injury is one of the major causes of disability in the United States of America and other parts of the world. This condition typically occurs when a sudden violent blow or jolt in the head results in damages in the brain. When the brain collides with the inside of the skull, it may result in bruises of the brain, tearing of the nerve as well as bleeding. More so, if the sudden jolt results in fracture of the brain, the broken piece of the skull could penetrate the brain tissue.
Some of the major causes of traumatic brain injury include falls, gunshot wounds, road accidents, physical aggressions, and sport injuries. It should be noted that the severity of the symptoms of traumatic brain injury largely depends on the part of the brain that has been affected. For instance, either a specific location or a widespread area could be affected. The symptoms of mild cases of traumatic brain injury include headache and temporal confusion, whereas in more serious cases, the condition could result in disability, coma, long term impairment, unconsciousness, amnesia and even death. According to data from the Center of Disease Control (CDC), traumatic brain injury contributed to up to 50000 deaths in 2013 and in 2012, an estimated 329,290 under the age of 19 sought for emergency treatment.
The treatment of traumatic brain injury depends on the severity of the condition, even though in very mild cases, the symptoms often go away without any treatment. However, it could be dangerous or fatal if mild cases of traumatic brain injury continue to reoccur. More severe cases of traumatic brain injury will normally require hospitalization and possibly intensive care. Some medications including sedation, coma inducing medications, anti-seizure medications, pain relievers as well as diuretics may be used to help control the symptoms of traumatic brain injury. Surgeries may also be required in some cases to remove a hematoma, repair a skull fracture or create an opening in the skull. Long term treatments such as rehabilitation may also be recommended for people with severe cases of traumatic brain injury.
Emerging research on medical marijuana as well as recent findings have suggested that medical marijuana could be an effective alternate way of treating traumatic brain injury. Results from a study that was conducted by researchers at Hebrew University in Israel have supported the claims that medical marijuana could be an effective alternative treatment of the symptoms of traumatic brain injury. This study was conducted on mice with recent brain injury. The mice were found to have elevated levels of a cannabinoid compound called 2-Arachodonoyl glycerol (2-AG), which has similarities to an active ingredient in marijuana. However, after suspecting this compound was produced to protect the brain, the researchers proceeded to administer higher doses to the mice. At the end, the researchers found out that the compound did help protect the brain from secondary brain damage.
The researchers from Hebrew University also noted that the right dosage is extremely important if people are to benefit from cannabinoids following a traumatic brain injury. They also added that the varying potency of marijuana strains would make non-medical grade products unreliable. That said, the researchers have agreed that there is a need for further studies to be done in a bid to better understand how THC and CBD help the brain heal after a traumatic brain injury.
According to another study that was published in 2014 through PUB Med, a positive THC screen is associated with a decrease in the mortality rate of adult patients sustaining a traumatic brain injury. The objective of this study was to establish a relationship between the presence of a positive toxicology screen for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and mortality after traumatic brain injury.
Science is also pointing at the fact that medical marijuana may play a large role when it comes to improving the motor and cognitive functions that have been affected by traumatic brain injury. Of course, this assertion can be backed by the fact that medical marijuana has anti-inflammatory properties. It should be noted that many of the symptoms of traumatic brain injury are caused by inflammation in the brain and corticospinal tract. Hence, once CBD and THC reduces that inflammation, patients are likely to experience improvements with their symptoms.
Research has also revealed that two major cannabinoids in medical marijuana, notably tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) have effects on both the CB1 and CB2 receptors of the brain's endocannabinoid system. This reaction has been scientifically proven to pro-inflammatory cytokines from being released following brain trauma.
Medical News Today
Hope Grown
Marijuana strains reported to help with Traumatic Brain Injury:
Sour Diesel
Blue Cheese
Northern Lights
Green Crack
Tahoe OG Kush
How To Get Medical Marijuana
If you are a resident of a legal state interested in trying medical marijuana to treat Traumatic Brain Injury or other medical conditions, you will first need to consult with a certified doctor in order to get a medical marijuana card. To get started, simply fill out the MMJ patient registration form, press submit and a physician or clinic representative will contact you as available.


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More than 80% of Americans will have at least one episode of back pain in their lives. This ends up costing the American taxpayers approximately $100 billion annually.
With a cost this great, wouldn't you want to see these people suffering from back pain to get better, faster?
There are several approaches to dealing with back pain. These include conservative care such as chiropractic and physical therapy, some less conservative care such as interventional pain management and medical management. And then, as a last resort, we have surgery.
Chiropractic and physical therapy are great first line treatment options for back pain that doesn't cause any life-altering symptoms.
Chiropractic has been around for more than a century and has been helping people get relief from their pain since its inception.
The goal of both chiropractic and physical therapy is to find out certain movement dysfunctions and correct them.
Usual pain treatments include electrical muscle stimulation, certain stretches, various exercises, and possibly joint manipulation. This helps correct the dysfunction and make sure everything is working as it should. An easy way to put it is, it stretches tight muscles and strengthens loose muscles.
If that doesn't work, we can go to interventional pain management. This includes various injections of medicine into the tissues that are causing the pain.
How great is it that doctors are able to inject the medicine exactly where it needs to go, and not put medicine in the entire body(as pills do)?
This is done when the pain is either giving neurological symptoms or is so severe that you are unable to function properly. This form of treatment is very beneficial to patients because it only takes approximately thirty minutes and most of the time the patient feels great relief almost immediately.
Interventional pain management is used for various types of back pain that don't respond well to chiropractic or physical therapy. Some causes of the pain could be anything from a disc herniation to facet syndrome to a sprained muscle.
For those patients in Baltimore that still aren't getting great relief from interventional pain management, there's a surgical option if the pain is life-altering.
Surgery is everyone's last choice and option.
For back pain, surgery is risky and often comes with complications. The rehabilitation time is often measured in months and there is no guarantee that you'll be better off afterward.
Here at Complete Pain Care, we try to exhaust all viable options before sending the case to a surgeon.
Our office, located at 4300 Belair Rd, Baltimore, MD 21206, offers our patients a complete pain management program.
We have in-house physical therapists, chiropractors, and medical doctors specializing in pain management.
We strongly believe that having a multi-pronged approach allows us to help more patients return to their normal state of life faster than either one of these approaches.


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What is the role of a Student Rep?
This helpful Role Description should help explain what to expect, how reps benefit, and the kind of time commitment it requires.
How can I get the latest updates or share live documents?
A key resource is the Reps Shared Folder on googledrive. Only reps have access, and it contains resources and notes from meetings which you can read / amend or upload your own minutes etc.
How does SOAS monitor quality? How do students get involved?
Find out about the termly PPR's and QAA's HERE
How are Research students represented?
Find out about the Research Student Association, and research student reps HERE
Who represents students at the highest levels?
The school is governed through a committee structure which derives from Governing Body, delegatings responsibilities at several levels. The S.U officers represent students voice on most committees.
What if I have a complaint?
There are a few routes to making a complaint, depending on what it is about. This page may give you the relevant link.
SOAS jargon