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Oxford's Jason Plato bids to continue his impressive start to the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship when the third round takes place at Thruxton, near Andover, tomorrow.

Plato, in the MG KX Clubcard Fuel Save car, is tied at the top of the standings with reigning champion Andrew Jordan, the pair having both enjoyed one stellar weekend apiece.

Jordan took pole position and two race victories in his Honda Civic of at Brands Hatch, while Plato just fell short of repeating the feat at Donington with a pole, a win and a second-place.

The top two are just a point ahead of 2012 champion Gordon Shedden, who produced a heartstopping final corner move on Colin Turkington’s BMW at Donington.

It was a moment that will go down in BTCC folklore as both cars slid off the track and into gravel before the Scotsman hauled his Honda Civic Tourer back on to the tarmac just ahead of the Ulsterman to take the win.

Standings: 1 A Jordan 87pts, 2 J Plato 87, 3 G Shedden 86, 4 C Turkington 84, 5 M Neal 79, 6 S Tordoff 57, 7 R Collard 56, 8 M Jackson 38, 9 A Smith 32, 10 T Ingram 27.

CHIPPING Norton’s Fergus Walkinshaw will be looking to repeat the form he showed in claiming a maiden pole position at Thruxton last year when the Michelin Ginetta GT4 SuperCup returns to the Hampshire circuit this weekend.


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Archive for the ‘Western Australia’ Category

Dirk Hartog Island, Western Australia

Dirk Hartog Island is Australia’s westernmost point, and the first European landing site during the great explorations. The island is part of the Shark Bay UNESCO World Heritage area, and is located 37 kilometers offshore Denham, in Western Australia.  Dirk Hartog is 80 kilometers by 15 kilometers.

A maximum of 35 visitors – and eight four-wheel drive vehicles – can be on the island at any given time.

The island is closed between November and March, due to the strong prevailing winds during those months.

Recherche Archipelago (Bay of Isles), Western Australia

The Recherche Archipelago is known by locals as the “Bay of Isles.”

The archipelago contains over 100 pristine islands, and 1500 islets, off the coast of Esperance. The archipelago is located in the south-east of Western Australia, and covers 230 kilometers from East to West, and 50 kilometers from north to south, and total almost 100 square kilometers of land combined.

The archipelago is arranged in two groups, the western group (which includes the largest island, Woody Island, offshore from the Cape Le Grand National Park), and the eastern group (which includes Middle Island and is near Cape Arid National Park).

the Mackerel Islands, Western Australia

The Mackerel Islands are famous destinations in Australia – for both diving and fishing. The islands, which receive over 300 days of sunshine a year, are very laid-back, casual, and quiet. The island environments are beautiful, with clean turquoise waters and pristine coral reefs.

The Mackerel Islands are located in Western Australia, in the Pilbara Coastal region. 10 islands make up the group, of which two have accommodation (Direction Island and Thevenard Island).

The bulk of tourists visit either Thevenard Island (which is a nature reserve) or Direction Island.

Penguin Island, Perth – largest Little Penguin colony in WA

Penguin Island is located just off of Perth, in Western Australia.

The island is small, just 12.5 hectares, and is inhabited by the largest population of wild Little Penguins in Western Australia.

Natural environment

The limestone island has sea caves, cliffs, headlands, coves, beaches, and natural bridges. The island is surrounded by the Shoalwater Islands Marine Park.

The island is known for its population of wild little penguins (also known as fairy penguins).  The penguins spend most of the year at sea, coming to the island for a short period to nest and malt.

Naturaliste Reptile Park, Margaret River, Western Australia

Naturaliste Reptile Park is a small reptile park in Margaret River region of Western Australia that showcases local Western Australian reptiles and frogs. The park is owned and operated by stonemason Roger Jackson and his partner Kim, and opened in 2007. The attraction is under cover and features attractive stonework with large glass windows to view the reptiles. The Park is small, but the quality of the displays is excellent.

Cohunu Koala Park, Byford, Western Australia

Cohunu Koala Park is located on fourteen hectares of bushland about forty minutes drive from Perth in Western Australia. The Cohunu Koala Park colony was established in 1982, with four koalas from South Australia. There is now a colony of over 25 koalas. The original Cohunu Park at Mills Park Road in Gosnells was shut down in 2005 and moved to Nettleton Road, Byford.

The park is an interactive experience for visitors with many animals you can pat or feed. You can hand feed the kangaroos and wallabies that roam freely through the park. Other animals you can feed include emus, owls, dingoes and deer. Various birds are on display including kookaburras and talking parrots. The kids will also enjoy the large dinosaur replicas at the park.

Abrolhos Expeditions – Houtman Abrolhos Islands, Western Australia

The Houtman Abrolhos Islands, more commonly known as “The Abrolhos”, is a group of 122 coral-reef fringed islands located about 60km west of Geraldton off the mid west coast of Western Australia. The island group is named after Commander Frederik de Houtman from Holland, who reached the islands in 1619. There are three main groups of islands Abrolhos are clustered into three main groups (Wallabi, Pelsaert and Easter) scattered over a length of about a hundred kilometres.

Wave Rock Wildlife Park, Hyden, Western Australia

Wave Rock is a natural granite rock formation located 3km east of the town of Hyden in Western Australia. The formation is 14 metres high, and 110m long and is shaped like a tall breaking ocean wave. The total outcrop covers several hectares. The wave shape was formed by gradual erosion of the softer rock beneath the upper edge. There are several smaller wave shaped rocks in the Hyden area. Wave Rock is about four hours drive from Perth, or a one hour flight.

Perth Zoo, Perth, Western Australia

Perth Zoo is situated the on the banks of the Swan River just five minutes from the centre of Perth. The Zoo opened in 1898, and has been open every day since then. Although Perth Zoo is fairly small, it is one of the best Zoos in Australia. The number of animals species exhibited at the Zoo is about 200. As at June 2006 there were 62 species of mammals, 81 species of birds, 42 species of reptiles and 11 species of frogs.

Peel Zoo and Botanical Gardens, Pinjarra

Peel Zoo and Botanical Gardens houses one of the largest collections of birds in Western Australia. The zoo has 136 separate aviaries including huge walk in aviaries, all set in tropical and native surrounds. Peel is one of Australia’s newest Zoos, opening in 2006. The Zoo won a bronze award in the Western Australian Tourism Awards in 2007.

There are lots of animals at Peel Zoo that you may feed and pat including kangaroos, emus, deer, goats, a fox, some ferrets and various Australian birds in the walk through aviaries. The zoo is also home to various Australian animals including Wombats, Koalas, Long-nosed Potoroos, Bettongs and Spotted-tailed Quolls. The Zoo houses a sizable collection of native birds, exotic birds, snakes and reptiles. Reptiles at the park include Western Stimson’s Python, Black Headed Python, Ridge-tailed Monitor

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A Bounty of (Hardier) Begonias

By: Derick Pitman

Derick Pitman works with the San Francisco Botanical Gardens at Strybing Arboretum to introduce new Impatiens species into cultivation. Founder…

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Begonia grandis ‘Heron’s Pirouette’ in the tuberous group. Photographs by Tony Avent, except as noted

Begonia grandis ‘Heron’s Pirouette’ in the tuberous group. Photographs by Tony Avent, except as noted

In my younger days, I considered begonias to be plants that only my grandmother fussed over. I did find them attractive, but they never really sparked any botanical interest. They evoked images of old ladies sewing quilts and fawning over these frilly little plants. What a misconception—not only of elderly women, but also of the genus Begonia, many of whose members are strong and durable, delightful in their variety, and quite at home outdoors in areas that had traditionally been considered inhospitable. Their memorable attributes today are the result of more than a century of hybridization and selection—good breeding, you might say. Lately, I’ve been experimenting with some of the newer, hardier selections of begonia in my Sacramento garden (USDA zone 9, Sunset zone 14).

The American Begonia Society has broken down Begonia into several horticultural categories. While not based on clear scientific criteria, the categories do make it easier to separate the plants according to similar growth habits and cultural requirements. The groups in which I have found some of the hardiest selections for my garden are: semperflorens, tuberous, rhizomatous (including rex), shrub-like, and cane-like.

Most familiar to gardeners is the common wax begonia (Begonia x Semperflorens-Cultorum hybrids) used extensively for bedding around the world. These have a complex history, derived from a closely related group of South American species, including B. cucullata and B. fischeri, and have shown some cold hardiness in USDA zones 8-10 (Sunset zones 14-24), and perhaps colder. One cultivar that has found its way into cultivation recently is ‘Barbara Rogers’. This outstanding hybrid was discovered by begonia hunter Rekha Morris, at the home of Barbara Rogers. ‘Barbara Rogers’ is the Incredible Hulk of the semperflorens group, as it will grow into a massive clump nearly five feet tall and will adorn itself in large white flowers all season long in USDA zones 7-9. Said to be sterile, it is highly unlikely to distribute any seedlings about the garden.

Begonia emeiensis in the rhizomatous group

Begonia emeiensis in the rhizomatous group

The hardiest begonia, by far, is the tuberous Begonia grandis (USDA zones 6-10; Sunset zones 3-24) from China and Japan. Several clones are now in cultivation. The typical form has large round leaves with a pale green reverse, or with red veins, and pale pink or white flowers. One collected by Dan Hinkley, named ‘Heron’s Pirouette’, has especially large pink flower clusters. ‘Sapporo’ has typical green leaves with a solid, deep burgundy reverse, while ‘Pink Parasol’ has pink flowers that dangle high above the leaves. All of these selections come up in spring from a dormant tuber and flower in late summer. As winter approaches, small tubers or bulbils develop at each leaf axis; these drop and will sprout the following year, in time resulting in a lovely patch of begonias.

Begonia boliviensis is a tuberous species that has been making its rounds in the garden catalogs. It emerges in the spring and will drape itself in long-petaled, flaming orange flowers. It is said to be hardy to USDA zone 7, but only for those areas with dry winters, as it quickly rots in cold wet soil; there, it is best dug up after it has become dormant and stored like a dahlia.

Vanderwilt Begonia ‘Metallic Mist’ in the rhizomatous group

Vanderwilt Begonia ‘Metallic Mist’ in the rhizomatous group

The recently introduced Begonia emeiensis (USDA zones 7-10), from Mount Emei in China, shares a similar mode of reproduction to B. grandis, producing a pseudobulb on the petiole where it attaches to the leaf blade. As the leaf matures the pseudobulb begins to swell and lighten. Once frost comes, each leaf falls and rots, but the pseudobulb roots and grows into a new plant. This species is grown more for its eight-inch, tear-drop-shaped leaves than for its waxy pink flowers, which, though large, are hidden within the foliage.

Dancing high above the leaves are the bold pink flowers of the Taiwanese Begonia chitoensis (USDA zones 7-10). The several clones of this species vary from hairy to completely smooth leaves. Similar to B. emeiensis in general appearance, it has round, emerald green leaves that can reach almost twelve inches across, lending a dramatic tropical look to a garden.

Begonias are well known for their stunning leaves, especially those members of the rex consortium. Sadly, most of this rhizomatous group are not suited to northern climes, but begonia enthusiasts are trying to change that. The first commercially produced, hardy begonia was Terra Nova’s Begonia ‘Metallic Mist’, which looks like a rex begonia but is not. It is, instead, a hybrid of the tough and hardy (USDA zone 7) B. pedatifida and B. taliensis. Like its parents, ‘Metallic Mist’ has mid-sized, palmate leaves that are completely covered with an exquisite metallic silver variegation. Possibly hardy to USDA zone 6, it is certainly safe in zone 7 and warmer. It prefers a cool root zone; planting it in the ground is preferable to growing in pots where it tends to be fickle.

The recently released Begonia ‘Silver Splendor’, another Terra Nova creation, is a hybrid of B. hemsleyana, of which some forms are fairly hardy. The leaves of this beautiful hybrid are liberally splashed with striking silver markings. These  two cultivars from Terra Nova are the first in a line of new hardy begonias being produced on a commercial scale. Among begonia aficionados, however, some older hybrids and species are turning out to be just as winter hardy as those listed above.

One of my own accidental discoveries was Begonia ‘Connie Boswell’ (USDA zone 8, or perhaps colder), which has beguiling palmate, metallic pink leaves. In the winter of 2007, ‘Connie Boswell’ was sitting in its pot under an evergreen tree in my garden. When the frost rolled across California like a runaway train, it was devastating to the agricultural industry; avocado and citrus trees froze-as well as my ‘Connie’. Noticing it too late, I left it for the remainder of the winter, assuming it was dead. To my surprise, she shot up in spring’s warmer weather, with a speed and vigor that I’ve seen in few other begonias. ‘Little Brother Montgomery’ is a sibling to ‘Connie Boswell’ that may also be hardy, and is said to be easier to grow than his sister. Recent work by Brad Thompson and other hybridizers may soon expand the palette even further, with a plethora of new hybrids soon to be released.

Begonia ‘Ginny’ in the shrublike group. Photograph by Julie Vanderwilt

Begonia ‘Ginny’ in the shrublike group. Photograph by Julie Vanderwilt

Showing genuine promise are Begonia ‘Ginny’ and ‘Darlene Fuentes’ (USDA zone 8). Both of these grow like small shrubs, with long, narrow, fuzzy green leaves. ‘Darlene Fuentes’ has sprays of petite, snowy white flowers. ‘Ginny’ presents a non-stop show of tawdry little flowers of a soft shell pink, adorned with hot pink hairs that cover the petals.

The similar sounding Begonia scharffiana and B. scharffii resemble each other in appearance as well, the first being the bigger of the two. Both have large, deep green, fuzzy leaves with a burgundy reverse that echoes their thick succulent stems and the long sprays of pink flowers. I have seen little winter damage in Sacramento when growing them under broad-leaved evergreens. A seemingly dead B. scharffii, thrown onto a compost heap in Portland, Oregon, came back beautifully after a particularly cold winter. Bedecked with clusters of small white flowers, B. bufoderma is similar but has thinner red stems.

Different, again, is Begonia parilis. This surprising shrub-like species (sometimes considered to be in the thick-stem group), sat neglected in a patch of English ivy. I found it, still in its pot with little soil left and having survived drought, frost, and smothering by ivy. Now one of my favorite begonias, it is not the prettiest of the bunch but has the tenacity to survive in inhospitable situations. The papery brown bracts over the narrow, deep green leaves and clusters of white flowers are modestly appealing. All the begonias in the shrub-like group should be root hardy into USDA zone 8, and perhaps lower with protection.

Begonia emeiensis in the rhizomatous group

Begonia emeiensis in the rhizomatous group

The cane-like begonias are distinctive for their thick, upright stems, resembling those of bamboo; some are also known as angel wing begonias, because their leaves look like the folded wings of divine messengers. Begonia ‘Corallina de Lucerna’ (also known as ‘Lucerna’) was introduced in the Victorian era and has been in cultivation ever since. It is one of the larger growing hybrids, usually reaching over eight feet tall when happy. The leaves remind me of the shape of the African continent more than an angel’s wings. The little sliver spots on the leaves and the trusses of pink flowers catch everyone’s attention. I have not tried it in my own garden, but I have been told that folks here in Sacramento have grown it outside for years, close to their homes where it benefits from a little extra winter warmth (perhaps to USDA zone 8).

When adding these exotic beauties to your garden, place them in situations that receive cool early morning light and no hot afternoon sun; areas in shade or with dappled light throughout the day are even better. The soil should be rich in humus and well drained, with no water sitting around the roots. During the growing season, it is important not to let begonias dry out completely for an extended period, as this may stunt their growth and significantly reduce flowering. They will, of course, die down with the first frosts of autumn, but, with proper care, they will return year after year. All of these begonias offer the potential to enhance the sophisticated garden and make your garden friends green with envy. Or, perhaps, metallic pink.

A (Hardier) Begonia Resource Guide


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Brieske named Packers High School Coach of Week

Posted Nov 6, 2013

Doug Brieske of Brookwood High School has been named Green Bay Packers High School Coach of the Week, the organization announced Wednesday.

Brieske, in his 10th season as the head coach, and 11th with the Brookwood program, led the Falcons to a 27-7 victory over Iowa-Grant Cooperative High School on Friday, Nov. 1, to advance to the third level of the Division 6 WIAA State Tournament. Friday’s victory also marked Brookwood’s first second-round playoff victory and 10-win season in school history. Brieske’s team will now travel to No. 1-ranked Darlington this Saturday at 1 p.m.

“This season we have a tremendous group of seniors,” said Brieske. “They have unbelievable leadership skills and they play for each other, not themselves.”
A Tomah, Wis., native, Brieske is a 1990 graduate of Tomah High School, where he played defensive tackle and fullback. After high school, Brieske attended North Dakota State University, where he played defensive tackle under head coach Rocky Hager.  Brieske was also a part of the 1990 Division II National Champion team.  Brieske began his coaching career in 1992 as a student assistant at North Dakota State. Upon graduating in 1996, he coached high school basketball in western North Dakota before accepting an assistant football coaching position at Brookwood in 2001.  He was promoted to his current position as head coach in 2002.  Brieske is also the school’s physical education teacher.

Brieske and his staff oversee a program of 47 players. His assistant coaching staff includes Dan Hyatt, Wade Kaiser, Matt Pogorzelski and Kelly Wallace.

Brieske and his wife, Jeanine, have two sons, Jayden and Adam.

About the Green Bay Packers High School Coach of the Week Program
The Packers will recognize one outstanding high school coach as their 'Coach of the Week' winner during the 2013 high school football season. Winners are awarded several items and privileges, including a $1,000 donation to the school's football program from the Green Bay Packers and the NFL, as well as recognition of the award on, and

Nominations for Coach of the Week should be submitted by 10 a.m. every Monday to Tim Schroeder, youth football coordinator, at or by fax at (920) 569-7302. Please include the nominee's name, address, school, phone number and reason he/she is deserving of the award.

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Map of BA14 0LA, Trowbridge, Wiltshire
Many of the things to do in BA14 0LA, Trowbridge, Wiltshire are shown on the map below, including local attractions, land features and railway stations. Scroll down to find the map of BA14 0LA, and continue down the page to find details of the attractions, landmarks and much more. If BA14 0LA is not the place you were looking for, search again for any UK postcode or place name.

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Other postcodes nearby include: BA14 0LS BA14 0LT BA14 0LU BA14 0LZ BA14 0LY BA14 0LW BA14 0LJ BA14 0LE BA14 0LD BA14 0LX BA14 0LA BA14 0LN BA14 0LP BA14 0LR BA14 0LL BA14 0LB BA14 0LH BA14 0LF


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The Non-Public Public Meetings on Gun Control

Just like Joe Biden did in Virginia, Obama plans to start off next week with a not-really-public meeting with supporters to call for more gun control in Minnesota.

This isn’t about hearing from real voters, but they do know that when the President or Vice President come to town and are “seen” as talking to voters about gun control, then it increases local coverage for their cause. I find it interesting that Obama is currently targeting states he won, but where he doesn’t have consistent support for the gun ban agenda from members of Congress. This is very much about testing out the waters of firing up his personal base to see if they will act on gun control. It’s also timed to coincide with the state push for gun control, so he’ll probably tie at least some of his remarks to drive attention to that. I have no doubt that the White House has seen how visible pro-Second Amendment folks have been in key states that should be able to ram through gun control without a second thought, and they want to attention away from our efforts.

As I said previously on the post about Biden’s visit to Virginia, if there happen to be a handful of dedicated pro-gun activists in the immediate area to Obama’s visit, just having a few people out with signs to protest can be very useful for fighting in the media. It doesn’t have to be a mass, full-scale effort. Just a few people who already live or work in the area and have the flexibility to step away from their jobs for an hour or two and hold up some polite protest signs. Those kinds of small efforts make their way into the media reports, and it shows those local lawmakers that Obama is trying to pressure that we’re not giving up.

4 Responses to “The Non-Public Public Meetings on Gun Control”

  1. Harold says:

    Indeed, any dog and pony show by Obama targeting local Congresscritters really does need to be met by local “resistance” as he put it. Just enough to get reported by the local news, who will generally be as interested in them as the snoozers the TOTUS delivers (Teleprompter of the United States).

    Also note that Obama’s record of campaigning for local candidates is very bad, might see if you could work that into a message to your Congresscritters.

  2. I wonder if Joan Peterson will get an audience with “The One”? That would make her year.

  3. Archer says:

    Given the 10th and 14th Amendments, I wonder if anyone will be allowed to ask what the hell he thinks he’s doing? A federal government official telling individual sovereign states how to run their business.

    No wonder he’s sticking with states he won in the election!

  4. Andy says:

    So, if he won the state, but doesn’t have clear carte blanche on gun control, is that an indication of gun owning democrats or non-voting republicans ?

    Just a thought.


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Silver Stone Metallic 3L/4G Touch Up Paint for 1991 Mazda MPV

Silver Stone Metallic  touch up paint for 1991 Mazda MPV Color swatch showing approximate color of Silver Stone Metallic 3L/4G
Approximate color of Silver Stone Metallic touch up paint.

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PaintScratch custom mixes each paint order to exact specifications so it matches the original factory color chip for your vehicle - guaranteed!

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Silver Stone Metallic
Color Code: 3L/4G

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The vehicle color code will list the paint color exactly so finding it is important. In order to guarantee the accuracy of a color, paint should be ordered based on the color code. Learn where to locate your Color Identification Plate .

The color plate is normally located on the drivers door jamb.

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Malaga Red L30C/H5 Touch Up Paint for 1975 Volkswagen Scirocco

Malaga Red touch up paint for 1975 Volkswagen Scirocco Color swatch showing approximate color of Malaga Red L30C/H5
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PaintScratch custom mixes each paint order to match the original factory color of your vehicle. Because your Volkswagen Scirocco is 20+ years old, the paint may have faded, and we cannot guarantee a color match for Malaga Red L30C/H5. There are no refunds on paint ordered for vehicles manufactured before 1986 and we recommend you send us a part for custom matching . We will not remix this paint even if the color does not match.

Color swatch showing approximate color of Malaga Red L30C/H5

Malaga Red
Color Code: L30C/H5

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The vehicle color code will list the paint color exactly so finding it is important. In order to guarantee the accuracy of a color, paint should be ordered based on the color code. Learn where to locate your Color Identification Plate .

The color plate location is around the spare tire area. Volkswagen color codes can be shown differently on your vehicle. For example, the code 'LY9B/A2' can be shown as 'LY9B' or 'A2' on your car. Often you will see 'LY9B/W6' and only the 'LY9B' is the color code. You could also see 'A2/W6' and again, only the 'A2' is the color code.

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Arab bank funds expansion of Mali's Kayes airport

Bamako- Mali (PANA) -- The Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) has given Mali a US$13 million loan (about 7.
5 billion FCFA) to extend and equip the Kayes airport in the west of the country.
In an official statement issued here Tuesday, BADEA said the loan is refundable in 30 years with a grace period of 10 years and has a one percent interest rate.
Malian authorities have said the loan was important because with the completion of the project, Kayes would become a back-up airport for Bamako international airport.
The authorities said in addition to serving as an international airport for medium-distance aircraft, the Kayes facility will also help to open up the air space in the western part of the country.

18 Abril 2006 21:35:00

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Assembly - Hearing Aids - 1st Shift

Posting ID : A1068451794
Date Posted : 2015-08-18
Category : Manufacturing

Assembly - Hearing Aids
Job Description
Indrotec Staffing and Workforce Management is now recruiting for assembly employees for a large hearing aid company located in Plymouth Minnesota. Employees will be required to perform the final assembly and closure of hearing aid, along with the initial listening test.

This is a great opportunity to work on products that will improve the quality of life for many people, as well as become a part of a reputable company.
Duties and Responsibilities
Glue shell to faceplate and cure; sand down any rough spots Read all paperwork to ensure correct match of options to customer specifications Ensure everything is working properly (Components & Fit) Glue receiver tubes and microphones in place Grind shells using hand drill Assist other stations and departments or perform other duties as requested
Effective verbal and written English communication skills, with the ability to read and follow instructionsGood eye/hand coordination, manual dexterity, and the ability to work with small hand toolsStrong analytical skills and creativity in order to position and case custom hearing aids when problems ariseHigh attention to small detailAbility to work with small partsHigh School DiplomaDrug TestBackground Check

Monday - Friday7am to 3:30pmOccasional Overtime

to apply for this position

If you would prefer to speak directly to an Indrotec Staffing Consultant, please call us at 612.977.1401

If you have the job skills, a proven work history, and want to work at some of Minnesota's most recognizable companies, Indrotec is the right choice for you. We offer a unique employee benefits plan and job training programs to those who qualify. When you apply for work, there are no registration fees, and you will be guided through the application and screening process by one of our friendly and helpful staffing representatives.

Offering Exceptional Opportunities for the Twin Cities' Best

Indrotec Staffing and Workforce Management is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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Shark Attack

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1. Identify at least five organ systems in this region of the arm that the surgeon would have marked for reattachment.

Cardiovascular, Integumentary, Muscular, Skeletal, Circulatory

2. List the names of the specific structures that had to be reattached.

Humerus, all veins and arteries running to the arm, biceps, triceps, deltoids, trapezius, pectoral muscles, and all the skin connecting the shoulder and arm

3. What organ system was most likely not reattached? Explain.

The nervous system was most likely not reattached. It would be impossible to reattach all the nerves in the arm. Some of the nerves would have died on the way to the hospital. This is why Jim will most likely never regain full control of his arm.

4. Why was a clean bite so important?

If the shark had ripped and shredded at the muscles, veins, or arteries, it would be much more difficult to reattach the muscular and cardiovascular systems. A clean bite created clean lines and the surgeon could reattach things more easily.

5. Why was the bone shortened?

The joint would have to be completely reconfigured. The arm would have to be cut to make a perfectly flat and smooth surface to reattach. These would both cause a slight shortening of the bone.

6. Identify the movements associated with the arm, forearm, wrist, and fingers.

Flexion: bending the elbow, clenching the hand into a fists

Extension: pull forearm back down after flexing, extend fingers

Abduction: spreading fingers apart, deltoid

Adduction: dropping the arms to the sides, closing the fingers

7. Explain how the movements of the reattached arm might be altered after the reattachment.

Raising the arm would be very difficult, because deltoid motion will probably be extremely limited seeing as how that is the main muscle affected by the arm being bitten off. The range of motion in flexion and extension will probably also be decreased simply because of decreased muscle cognition.

8. Define collateral circulation and...


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Coping with Daylight Savings Time

Remember when falling back meant a delicious extra hour of sleep? Once you become a parent, Daylight Savings means sleep schedules thrown off-kilter and grumpy, tired kids. My kids were up about 90 minutes early this morning (not too bad, considering last year the extra hour had one of them waking up at 4am). But then my preschool-age son fell asleep on the way to art class…at 9:30am. It’s a long time until bedtime.
Plus: 26 Baby Sleep Solutions

How did you family fare? If your kids are thrown off, here are a few tips to get everyone back to normal:

Shift your child's bedtime bit by bit. It’s great to do it even before Daylight Savings occurs, (remember that for next time) but if your kid’s conking out at 7pm when they usually go to bed at 8, keep them up until 7:20 tonight, and then 7:40 tomorrow. In a few days, they’ll be able to stay up without a problem.
Plus: Baby Sleep Tricks

Stick to your current daytime routine. Continue to have your child's meals, snacks, naps, bedtimes, everything, at the same time as you did before you turned back your clock.

Expose your child to bright light first thing in the morning (the indoor kind works) to reprogram her internal clock faster.


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Whatever may be the reason bottle feeding is quite natural, among today’s mom. The bottle feeding equipments should be kept clean and germ-free. Otherwise it can cause diarrhoea, tummy upset, and other problems.

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Dr. Roshani Dave Posted: Wednesday, February 6, 2013 2:18:10 PM(UTC)
bottle feeding is not advisable in infant because of more chance of ear infection and diarrhea,,,
but u can give top milk with spoon and katori,,, and after 6 mths u can directly give by small glass or bowl..
priyanka desai Posted: Wednesday, December 19, 2012 8:30:49 PM(UTC)
For six months you should give only mother's milk to your baby.
this will raise the immunity power of your child for life time.
you can start formula feeding or bottle feeding to your baby after that...step by step.
priyanka Posted: Wednesday, December 19, 2012 6:15:13 PM(UTC)
i just want to ask that in which month should start feeding milk through bottle. now my kid in of four month. Should i start feeding milk through bottle.


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Pluralism, Pragmatism, Progressivism: Reflecting on Ten Years of Theological Training

14 After John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.” 16 As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea — for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” 18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19 As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20 Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.

Mark 1:14-20

1 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.2 And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. 5 Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6 And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each.7 Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” 12 All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.” 14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. 15 Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. 16 No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:17 “In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.

Acts 2:1-17

This sermon is dedicated to those who plowed the path before me, among them William James and his godfather Ralph Waldo Emerson; Walter Rauschenbusch and his grandson Richard Rorty; as well as Stanley Hauerwas, Wendell Berry, John Dominic Crossan, Sallie McFague, and Rita Nakashima Brock.  As the 12th-century philosopher Bernard of Chartres said, “we are like dwarfs on the shoulders of giants, so that we can see more than they, and things at a greater distance, not by virtue of any sharpness of sight on our part, or any physical distinction, but because we are carried high and raised up by their giant size.”

I have titled this sermon “Pluralism, Pragmatism, Progressivism: Reflecting on Ten Years of Theological Training.”  (An alternative title I considered is, “I’m a glutton for punishment!”)  The occasion is that two weeks ago I graduated from the Diploma in the Art of Spiritual Direction program at San Francisco Theological Seminary.  I have also completed the coursework for the second part of the dual-degree program in which I am enrolled: the Doctor of Ministry.  I am currently working on my dissertation, which I hope to complete within the next two years.

In the process of writing this sermon, I realized that my recent graduation marks the tenth year I have spent in formal theological education: four years as an undergraduate Religion and Philosophy double major, three years as a Masters of Divinity student, and three years to date as a low-residency student at San Francisco Theological Seminary. Looking backward on ten years in theological classrooms, three themes emerge that I would like to share with you this morning: pluralism, progressivism, and pragmatism. I hope these themes will provide some guidance about what it means to follow the way of Jesus as a Western Christian in the 21st century.

The first of the three themes is pluralism.  One of my favorite college professors, The Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Rogers, once predicted that in the 21st century Christianity would be shaped most decisively by how it addressed two areas: sexuality and pluralism.  First, by sexuality, he did not just mean homosexuality.  Although he certainly knew that same-sex relationships would be an influential factor, he also meant, among other related issues, that as people increasingly delayed marriage and as humans increasingly live longer that the issues of sexuality and singleness as well as sexuality after divorce or after a partner dies – would become more and more frequent realities that Christians would be forced to address.  More importantly for this morning, by pluralism, he meant that Christians would increasingly have to face the existence of other religious traditions that are as healthy and venerable as Christianity itself.

As many of you know, I was raised as an active participant in a big-steeple Southern Baptist Church in South Carolina.  I had many non-Southern Baptist friends, but it would have been fine with me if all 6 billion people on Earth were Southern Baptists.  And, of course, some Southern Baptists are still hell-bent on trying to make that the case. As I grew older I began to meet more and more non-Southern Baptists, whom I respected – who were kind, well-adjusted, smart, funny, competent human beings.  Some of them were not even Christian (gasp!).  My Southern Baptist church was the center of my world, but I wasn’t sure how to reconcile the claim that the most important decision anyone can make is whether or not to accept Jesus as Lord with the undeniable existence of so many incredible people, who either didn’t understand Jesus the same way I did or didn’t particularly care about Jesus one way or the other.

Using terminology from the late philosopher Richard Rorty that I have today, but did not have then, I was experiencing a de-centering.  My Southern Baptist church was the center of my world, and my church taught me that Jesus – as understood by the Southern Baptist Convention – was the one, true, right center of life, the universe, and everything.  But as I grew older I increasingly met people whose world centered on the Methodist church or the Catholic church as well as others whose world didn’t center around any religion; instead, their lives centered on their business, teaching, art, family, hobby, or favorite sports team.  In the face of so different centers of belief, I was increasingly unable to maintain with integrity the position that my Southern Baptist faith was the one, true center.  I eventually came to see that my personal experience parallels the de-centerings experienced by Christians in the past.

One of the first major de-centerings for Christians was the publication of astronomer Nicolai Copernicus’ 1543 book On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres, which argued – based on observable, verifiable evidence – that we live in a heliocentric, not geocentric, universe.  In other words, the Earth was de-centered from the incorrect assumption that our planet is the center of the universe.  We know today that there are over 100 billion galaxies in the universe, and each of those 100 billion galaxies is comprised of billions of stars.  Earth is only a small planet, orbiting one medium-sized star toward the edge of one spiral galaxy that, again, is only one among over 100 billion other galaxies in the universe.

As if Copernicus’ discovery were not enough, a second major de-centering was the publication of English naturalist Charles Darwin’s 1859 book On the Origin of the Species by Means of Natural Selection, which de-centered the human species.  Then, less than fifty years later, at the turn of the 20th century, Austrian psychiatrist Sigmund Freud de-centered the conscious mind by demonstrating the influence of the unconscious.  This revelation was followed a few years later by German-born theoretical physicist Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity, which de-centered our understandings of time and space.

In less than 500 years the Scientific Revolution we have come a long way.  We rightly celebrate modern medicine, space travel, instantaneous global communication, and many other marvels; but there are disconcerting elements as well.  Before the Scientific Revolution, it was easier to understand Jesus as the center of history, Earth at the center of the universe, and our egos as the center of ourselves – as well as to maintain a much more stable conception of space and time.  At the beginning of the 21st century, we find ourselves knowing much less for certain than was previously reasonable to claim.

Some have responded by becoming religious fundamentalists: clinging fearfully to traditional notions that are no longer tenable in the face of scientific evidence.  There are also scientific fundamentalists, who insist that the scientific method is the only valid means of obtaining knowledge.  However, neither the existence of God, nor the reality of personal, subjective religious experience can fully be addressed by the scientific method alone.

To share with you some of where I am personally in regard to the reality of all these de-centerings, I am not a relativist: it would be senseless to argue that just any way of doing things is equal to every other way.  Some ways of being in the world obviously form people to be cruel and selfish – and should be avoided and discouraged.  Instead, I would describe myself as a pluralist.  Looking at the wide diversity in the world, it seems self-evident that there is not just one, singular way to end up with healthy, compassionate human beings.  Instead, there are clearly many different cultures and religions which produce kind, well-adjusted, smart, funny, competent humans.  Of course, fundamentalists would assert that all those kind, well-adjusted, smart, funny, competent human beings are going straight to hell unless they accept Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.  To address the traditional Christian concern about eternal salvation, I would invite you to consider progressivism, the second theme that emerged as I reflected on the occasion of my tenth year of theological education.

Historical Jesus scholar Marcus Borg is one of the most articulate and popular expositors of what it means to be a progressive Christian. Progressive Christians interpret their faith through – not only inherited tradition and external authorities – but also personal experience.  In his 2003 book The Heart of Christianity, Borg contrasts what he calls the “Earlier Paradigm” of Christianity with the “Emerging Paradigm,” which is emerging precisely in response the de-centerings produced by the Scientific Revolution.  I encourage you to read Borg’s writing for yourself, but, in particular, I would like to highlight the way Borg contrasts a focus among some Christians on the next world – that is on “An afterlife and what to believe or do to be saved” – with the increasing focus of progressive Christians on this world – that is, “Transformation in this life through relationship with God.” I am not saying that heaven is unimportant; rather, for too long, too many Christians have been overly focused on the next world, resulting in a neglect – and often abuse – of this world.

Importantly, the idea that the Christian life should center on transformation in this life is not new.  Remember our Gospel Lesson this morning from the first chapter of the Gospel of Mark, which was the first of the canonical Gospels to be written.  Beginning with the fourteenth verse we read, “After John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.’”  Growing up as a Southern Baptist, I was taught that the “good news” is that if you accept that Jesus died on the cross for your sins, then you will go to heaven.  The bad news, of course, was that anyone who did not accept this fact would go to hell.  But that logic does not correlate with this morning’s Gospel reading.  Listen again: “After John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.’”  Jesus is not proclaiming the good news of his impending crucifixion so that his death may be an atoning sacrifice for our sins.  Jesus did not come to die. Instead, Jesus is proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God, which he would proceed to embody through his life in this world.

You, of course, do not have to agree with me, but, in my understanding, it was precisely the conflict between the kingdom of God and the Empire of Caesar that got Jesus killed. Jesus died because his allegiance was, first and foremost, to living out God’s way of love and mercy, justice and grace.  Jesus’ commitment to God’s way put him in conflict with the religious leaders of his day, whose commitment was first to maintaining their own power, privilege, and possessions in this world through the institution of the Temple and only second to the ways of God.  Jesus’ commitment to God’s way also put him in conflict with the political leaders of his day, whose commitment was first to maintaining their own power, privilege, and possessions in this world through taxation and legislation.

These statements are not to claim that the first-century Jewish Temple or Roman Empire were all bad.  Instead, it is to say there were ways in which the leaders of both of these systems put their own self interest before God’s way – which is why, in the first chapter of the Gospel of Mark, Jesus doesn’t just say “believe the good news.”  Rather, he says, “repent, and believe in the good news.” By repent, he means change your life.  In Borg’s words, he means, you need transformation in this world through a first-hand relationship with God.

Jesus’ passion for the kingdom of God is why, in the eleventh chapter of the Gospel of Mark, we read about the event that precipitated Jesus’ death at the hands of the Roman authorities.  We find Jesus:

driv[ing] out those who were selling and those who were buying in the temple and … overturn[ing] the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves [all while saying], “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations?’ But you have made it a den of robbers.”

Jesus quotes the prophet Isaiah to emphasize that God has been clear for a long time that God wants “a house of prayer for all the nations,” not a corrupt religious institution that is complicit with or oblivious to the plight of the poor and marginalized.

Jesus learned his unrelenting passion for the God’s way from the Hebrew prophets like Isaiah who came before him and similarly chastised the religious and political leaders of their own day, who similarly placed their self interest ahead of God’s way.  Listen, for example, to fifth chapter of the book of Amos, where the prophet says on behalf of God:

21 I hate, I despise your festivals, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. 22 Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the offerings of well-being of your fatted animals I will not look upon. 23 Take away from me the noise of your songs; I will not listen to the melody of your harps. 24 But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

As Jesus would do 700 years later, Amos is saying that if God has to choose between worship and justice, then God chooses justice.  God does not want to make this choice, but God’s preference is clear.

Consider, further, the larger context of our own theme verse here at Northminster, Micah 6:8, which has been widely heralded as a summation of the mitzvot, the 613 commandments in the Torah that detailed how to lead a holy life in ancient Israel.  Starting two verses earlier in verse six, we read:

6 “With what shall I come before God, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before God with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? 7 Will God be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” 8 God has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the God require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Micah stresses that God does not want burnt offerings or child sacrifice – and God’s abhorrence of child sacrifice did not change with the sacrifice of the one proclaimed to be God’s own son. Instead, the Hebrew prophetic tradition, of which Jesus was a part, is clear that God wants, first and foremost, for us to treat one another with justice and compassion – and to know God first-hand for ourselves.

Following in Micah’s footsteps, Jesus offered his own summary of the Law and the Prophets as follows:

“Which commandment is the first of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; 30 you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Committing ourselves to what Jesus called the Greatest Commandments – loving God and neighbor – is at the center of what it means to be a progressive Christian – a center that is not de-centered by Copernicus, Darwin, Freud, or Einstein.

In response to the reality of pluralism and the existence of progressive Christianity, I am increasingly coming to believe that what we need is not more people who believe something about Jesus competing against people that believe other things about the Qur’an or the Buddha or Science.  Instead, we need more people acting like Jesus by embodying a passionate commitment to God’s way of love and mercy, justice and grace in this time and place.  Accordingly, my third and final theme of pragmatism centers on actual, historical examples of people and communities who have made God’s dreams a reality, if only locally, regionally, or provisionally.

As some have joked, Christianity is not about “20 impossible things to believe before breakfast.” Instead, Christianity is a set of practices that cultivate habits of loving God and neighbor.  These practices help form a community of faith called the church that is centered on God’s ways of love and mercy, justice and grace.

The traditional Christian way of loving God is contemplative prayer: setting aside time and space each day to spend in God’s loving presence.  Jesus often withdrew from the crowds to spend time alone with God.  The traditional Christian way of loving others are the works of mercy as named by Jesus in the twenty-fifth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew: feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, welcoming the stranger, clothing the naked, caring for the sick, and visiting the imprisoned.  The “Great Commandment” practices of loving God and neighbor are how Christians have sought to live as citizens of the kingdom of God.  Indeed, it is not until the eleventh chapter of the book of Acts – after Jesus’ Ascension – that the “disciples were first called ‘Christians.’”  Until then, the disciples of Jesus were simply called “followers of the Way” – that is, people who tried to practice ways of loving God and neighbor the same way that Jesus did.

One of the earliest examples is the church at Jerusalem, which is described at the end of the second chapter of the book of Acts.  In response to the example of Jesus’ life and their first-hand experience with God at Pentecost,

44 [they] were together and had all things in common; 45 they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts.

We see similar examples from the 4th century with the desert Mothers and Fathers and the early monastic communities; in the Middle Ages with Waldensians, the Beguines, and the Franciscans; and today with the New Monastic Communities like the Simple Way in Philadelphia, Church of the Sojourners in San Francisco,  Rutba House in Durham, North Carolina, and The Open Door in Atlanta – as well as the L’Arche Communities founded by Jean Vanier, the Catholic Worker Houses founded by Dorothy Day, and the Christian Peacemaker Teams from the Mennonite Tradition. Each of these communities, both historical and contemporary, demonstrate that kingdom of God is not just a dream; it is a practical, pragmatic way of transforming your life in this world through relationship with God and neighbor.

The hope demonstrated by Jesus, and these individuals and groups – who incarnated the way of Jesus in their own time and place – is that we do not have to respond to de-centerings with nihilism, apathy, or despair.  Instead, our invitation every moment of every day is, again and again, to reaffirm our person and communal commitment to God’s way of love and justice, mercy and grace as revealed in the life of Jesus.  What, then, is your answer at this moment – in this life – to Jesus’ call to “follow me”?

As we prepare to leave this place, I would like to share with you a benediction that has been traditionally called the “Franciscan Blessing” – from the order founded by St. Francis of Assisi.  Listen, in particular, for a word or phrase that may stands out to you or deeply resonate with you:

May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths and superficial relationships, that you may live deep within your heart.  May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression and exploitation of people, that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.  May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, and war, that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and turn their pain to joy.  May God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, that you may do what others claim cannot be done.

I invite you to listen to these words a second time.  And, later today, I invite you to ponder the word or phrase that stood out to you.  Be open to how God may be calling you.

May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths and superficial relationships, that you may live deep within your heart.  May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression and exploitation of people, that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.  May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, and war, that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and turn their pain to joy.  May God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, that you may do what others claim cannot be done.

For Further Reading

(The descriptions of the books below are excerpted from published reviews)

On “Pluralism”

Paul F. Knitter, Introducing Theologies of Religions (2002).

His alternative title clarifies the content of the book: “Christianity and Other Religions: Problems and Promise.”  A related book of note is his latest book, which will be released at the end of July 2009: Without Buddha I Could Not Be A Christian.

On “Progressivism”

Marcus J. Borg, The Heart of Christianity: Rediscovering a Life of Faith (2004).

Christianity appears to be at a crossroads, and religious historian Borg draws a distinction between what he calls an emerging paradigm and an earlier paradigm. The distinction is important because Christianity, he says, still makes sense and is the most viable religious option for millions. He contends the earlier paradigm, based upon a punitive God and believing in Christianity now for the sake of salvation later, simply doesn’t work for many people. It also doesn’t take into account the sacramental nature of religious belief; that is, religion as a vessel wherein the sacred comes to the faithful. Borg’s emerging paradigm is based upon the belief that one must be transformed in one’s own lifetime, that salvation means one is healed and made whole with God. He feels the new paradigm allows more people to be and become Christians. In his compelling proposal Borg consistently aligns the emerging paradigm with God, Jesus, the Bible, tradition, and religious practice, which constitute the heart of Christianity.

Sallie McFague, A New Climate for Theology: God, the World, and Global Warming (2008).

Sallie McFague has brought the fruit of decades of thinking about God and the world, about individual and community, about humanity and nature, about reality and metaphor, about the sacramental and the prophetic, to bear on the critical issue of climate change. She calls Christians to new feeling, new acting, and new thinking. A New Climate for Theology not only traces the distorted notion of unlimited desire that fuels our market system; it also paints an alternative idea of what being human means and what a just and sustainable economy might mean. Convincing, specific, and wise, McFague argues for an alternative economic order and for our relational identity as part of an unfolding universe that expresses divine love and human freedom. It is a view that can inspire real change, an altered lifestyle, and a form of Christian discipleship and desire appropriate to who we really are.

Walter Wink, The Powers That Be: Theology for a New Millennium (1999).
Wink reclaims the divine realm as central to human existence by offering new ways of understanding our world in theological terms. He reformulates ancient concepts, such as God and the devil, heaven and hell, angels and demons, principalities and powers, in light of our modern experience. He helps us see heaven and hell, sin and salvation, and the powers that shape our lives as tangible parts of our day-to-day experience, rather than as mysterious phantoms. Based on his reading of the Bible and analysis of the world around him, Wink creates a whole new language for talking about and to God. Equipped with this fresh world view, we can embark on a new relationship with God and our world into the next millennium.

On “Science and Religion”

Christianity and Science: Toward a Theology of Nature by John F. Haught (2007).

Religion and Science do not have to conflict.  Haught should how they can fruitfully supplement one another and be mutually-informative.

On “Loving God”

Daniel Wolpert, Creating a Life With God: The Call of Ancient Prayer Practices (2003).

Daniel introduces you to twelve prayer practices that invite you to solitude and silence, to use your mind and imagination, to use your body and your creativity, and to connect with nature and community.  You’ll meet “traveling companions” from history like Ignatius and Julian of Norwich – individuals and groups who illuminate these prayers.  You’ll discover how classical approaches to God can deepen your prayer life today.  An appendix offers step-by-step instructions for praying the Jesus Prayer and the prayer of Examen, for walking the labyrinth, from praying with your body, and more – whether individually or in a group.

On “Pragmatism”

Diana Butler Bass, A People’s History of Christianity: The Other Side of the Story (2009).

In this panoramic view of two millennia of Christian history, Butler Bass (Christianity for the Rest of Us) attempts to give contemporary progressive (the author prefers the term “generative”) Christians a sense of their family history, refracted through little known as well as famous men and women whose work within and outside the institutional church fueled sometimes “alternative” practices as they tried to follow Jesus the Prophet. “Without a sense of history, progressive Christianity remains unmoored,” argues Butler Bass, a former columnist for the New York Times syndicate. Organized chronologically, each section of the book includes a chapter on religious observance and one on social justice, illuminating the author’s conviction that authentic Christianity can be discovered in the practice of loving God and neighbor. Laced with stories from the author’s own life and with contemporary examples of “generative Christianity,” Butler Bass’s version of Christian history includes familiar figures like the fourth-century church father Gregory of Nyssa and lesser-known individuals like the 19th century American abolitionist Maria Stewart.

Bass’s primary goal in this book is to restore what she calls “Great Command Christianity,” a reference to the tale of the Good Samaritan and Jesus’ subsequent admonition to “go and do likewise.” Bass explores the myriad ways in which that teaching has been interpreted and embodied. The result is sometimes subversive and often joyful: In Bass’s telling, Jesus is a “religious revolutionary” who led a People’s Crusade of “humility, hospitality, and love.” Readers seeking a scholarly approach may want to look elsewhere; the writing here is deeply personal and airily structured. What emerges is a persuasive argument that the real traditions of the church are “faith, hope, and love entwined.”

Geez Magazine (www.geezmagazine.org)

Because it’s time we untangle the narrative of faith from the fundamentalists, pious self-helpers and religio-profiteers. And let’s do it with holy mischief rather than ideological firepower.  We’ll explore the point at which word, action and image intersect, and then ignite. So let’s blaspheme the gods of super-powerdom, instigate spiritual action campaigns and revamp that old Picture Bible. We’ve set up camp in the outback of the spiritual commons. A bustling spot for the over-churched, out-churched, un-churched and maybe even the un-churchable. A location just beyond boring bitterness. A place for wannabe contemplatives, front-line world-changers and restless cranks. A place where the moon shines quiet, instinct runs mythic and belief rides a bike (or at least sits on the couch entertaining the possibility).

L’Arche (www.larcheusa.org)

A sign of hope to the wider world of the essential values of the heart, L’Arche communities, family-like homes where people with and without disabilities share their lives together, give witness to the reality that persons with disabilities possess inherent qualities of welcome, wonderment, spirituality, and friendship.  Perhaps an extraordinary notion in our fast-paced and consumer-driven society, L’Arche believes that these qualities, expressed through vulnerability and simplicity, actually make those with a disability our real teachers about what is most important in life: to love and to be loved.  From the first community begun in France in 1964, many communities have developed in various cultural and religious traditions around the world.)

New Monasticism (www.newmonasticism.org)

Throughout the history of the church, monastic movements have arisen during times of rapid social change. When the minority movement that Jesus started was flooded by converts after Constantine, desert mothers and fathers went into their cells to discern a new way of life. When Europe collapsed into the Dark Ages, Benedictines carved out spaces for community and new life. When the advent of a cash economy revolutionized European culture, St. Francis started an order of beggars to proclaim the divine economy. Over the past 2000 years, monasticism has helped the church remember who we are.  Ours is a time of rapid social change. We are post-modern, post-Cold War, post-9/11, even post-Christian. All signs point to change, and we know things aren’t what they used to be. But we hardly know who we are. Amidst wars and rumors of war, our global identity crisis threatens to consume us. But we have hope. The Holy Spirit is stirring in the places overlooked by Empire to raise up a new monastic movement.

Christian Peacemaker Teams (www.cpt.org)

CPT arose from a call in 1984 for Christians to devote the same discipline and self-sacrifice to nonviolent peacemaking that armies devote to war. Enlisting the whole church in an organized, nonviolent alternative to war, today CPT places violence-reduction teams in crisis situations and militarized areas around the world at the invitation of local peace and human rights workers. CPT embraces the vision of unarmed intervention waged by committed peacemakers ready to risk injury and death in bold attempts to transform lethal conflict through the nonviolent power of God’s truth and love.  Initiated by Mennonites, Brethren and Quakers with broad ecumenical participation, CPT’s ministry of Biblically-based and spiritually-centered peacemaking emphasizes creative public witness, nonviolent direct action and protection of human rights.

On “Atonement”

Rebecca Ann Parker and Rita Nakashima Brock, Saving Paradise: How Christianity Traded Love of This World for Crucifixion and Empire (2008).

When Rita Brock and Rebecca Parker began traveling the Mediterranean world in search of art depicting the dead, crucified Jesus, they discovered something that traditional histories of Christianity and Christian art had underplayed or sought to explain away: it took Jesus Christ a thousand years to die.  During their first millennium, Christians filled their sanctuaries with images of Christ as a living presence in a vibrant world. He appears as a shepherd, a teacher, a healer, an enthroned god; he is an infant, a youth, and a bearded elder. But he is never dead. When he appears with the cross, he stands in front of it, serene, resurrected. The world around him is ablaze with beauty. These are images of paradise—paradise in this world, permeated and blessed by the presence of God. But once Jesus perished, dying was virtually all he seemed able to do. Saving Paradise offers a fascinating new lens on the history of Christianity, from its first centuries to the present day, and asks how its early vision of beauty evolved into one of torture. In tracing the changes in society and theology that marked the medieval emergence of images of Christ crucified, Saving Paradise exposes the imperial strategies embedded in theologies of redemptive violence and sheds new light on Christianity’s turn to holy war. It reveals how the New World, established through Christian conquest and colonization, is haunted by the loss of a spiritual understanding of paradise here and now. Brock and Parker reconstruct the idea that salvation is paradise in this world and in this life, and they offer a bold new theology for saving paradise. They ground justice and peace for humanity in love for the earth and open a new future for Christianity through a theology of redemptive beauty.

Proverbs of Ashes: Violence, Redemptive Suffering, and the Search for What Saves Us by Rebecca Ann Parker and Rita Nakashima Brock; 288 pages (Beacon Press 2002).

“We were convinced Christianity could not promise healing for victims of intimate violence as long as its central image was a divine parent who required the death of his child,” writes Brock. The two authors take turns communicating their views, sharing deep and painful traumas (such as Parker’s childhood sexual abuse, estranged marriage and abortion) as they weigh the concept of “redemptive suffering.” Too many Christian women, they argue, have remained in abusive situations because they have been taught that their suffering is necessary for spiritual growth. The authors are serious theologians, confidently challenging such explicators of the faith as Anselm and Abelard, Wesley and Whitehead.

On “The Historical Jesus”

God and Empire: Jesus Against Rome, Then and Now by John Dominic Crossan (2008).

In this fine study of civilization, culture and transformation, Father Crossan asks important questions: have those who resort to violence as a means of change succeeded in their quest for empire? Or has nonviolence been more effective in bringing about lasting change? Crossan, professor emeritus at De Paul University and author of several well-received works including The Historical Jesus, believes that the solution is not in violent intervention but in the coming of the Kingdom of God on earth. But how, and when, will this Kingdom come? In comparing the missions of Jesus and John the Baptist, Crossan states his idea clearly: “Jesus differed precisely from John in emphasizing not the future-presence but the already-presence of God’s Kingdom as the Great Divine Cleanup of the world.” In other words, Christ saw the Kingdom as a present and active reality. Crossan uses the teachings of Jesus to promote his thesis, and then turns to an unlikely ally—the Apostle Paul—by suggesting that Paul’s emphasis on equality and freedom helped carry forward Jesus’ program of nonviolent change. Crossan’s latest work presents a complex subject in a clear and powerful way, and it merits a wide readership.

Q, the Earliest Gospel: An Introduction to the Original Stories and Sayings of Jesus by John S. Kloppenborg

An introduction to the study of Q, the collection of Jesus’ sayings long hypothesized as the source for the canonical gospels of Matthew and Luke.

“Bonus Points”: Reading the Old School Sources

William James, William James: Writings 1902-1910: The Varieties of Religious Experience / Pragmatism / A Pluralistic Universe / The Meaning of Truth / Some Problems of Philosophy / Essays.

William James (January 11, 1842 – August 26, 1910) was a pioneering American psychologist and philosopher trained as a medical doctor. He wrote influential books on the young science of psychology, educational psychology, psychology of religious experience and mysticism, and the philosophy of pragmatism. He was the brother of novelist Henry James and of diarist Alice James. William James was born in New York City, the son of Henry James Sr., an independently wealthy and notoriously eccentric Swedenborgian theologian well acquainted with the literary and intellectual elites of his day. James interacted with a wide array of writers and scholars throughout his life, including his godfather Ralph Waldo Emerson.

William James’s Gifford Lectures of 1901–1902 have been heralded by some as the greatest lectures ever to be presented in the series and perhaps the most seminal of his works (alongside The Principles of Psychology). Published initially in 1902, The Varieties of Religions Experience: A Study in Human Nature has stood the test of time and been republished thirty-six times, while the board of the Modern Library declared it to be the second best nonfiction book of the twentieth century. The lectures address religious experience not at the corporate level, but focus on personal religious experience. It has been suggested that one cannot read the lectures without being struck by the resonance of James’s own individual struggles with severe depression. The published version of the lecture series continues to be regarded as a fundamental text in the study of religious experience.

Walter Rauschenbusch, Christianity and the Social Crisis in the 21st Century: The Classic That Woke Up the Church

Walter Rauschenbusch (1861-1918) was the leading proponent of the Social Gospel Movement whose mission was to reform society to meet the social needs of the poor through the ministrations of the institutional church. And, in the wake of the success of Jim Wallis’ God’s Politics, comes an anniversary edition of Walter Rauschenbusch’s Christianity and the Social Crisis, a book which outsold every other religious volume for three years and which has become a classic and mainstay for any Christian seriously interested in social justice. PBS has named Rauschenbusch one of the most influential American religious leaders in the last 100 years, and Christianity Today named this book one of the top books of the century that have shaped contemporary religious thought. So it seems fitting on the 100th anniversary of the publication of Christianity and the Social Crisis that Rauschenbush’s great-grandson should bring this classic back into print, adding a response to each chapter by a well-known contemporary author such as Jim Wallis, Tony Camplo, Cornel West, Richard Rorty, Stanley Hauerwas, and others. Between 1886 and 1897, he was pastor of the Second German Baptist Church in the “Hell’s Kitchen” area of New York City, an area of extreme poverty. As he witnessed massive economic insecurity, he began to believe that Christianity must address the physical as well as the spiritual needs of humankind. Rauschenbusch saw it as his duty as a minister and student of Christ to act with love by trying to improve social conditions.

1 For a classic discussion of the intersection between pluralism, progressivism, and pragmatism, see William James, William James: Writings 1902-1910: The Varieties of Religious Experience / Pragmatism / A Pluralistic Universe / The Meaning of Truth / Some Problems of Philosophy / Essays.

2 For more on models for understanding the relationship between Christianity and other religions see the work of Paul Knitter, including his soon-to-be-published book Without Buddha I Could Not Be A Christian.

3 For a similar, but more extensive, historical account of how we arrived at our current situation as well as “where we should go from here,” see Phyllis Tickle, Great Emergence, The: How Christianity Is Changing and Why.

4 On the possibilities for healthy, mutually-informative interactions between science and religion as well as each discipline’s strengths and weaknesses, see John Haught, Christianity and Science: Toward a Theology of Nature.  For the most perceptive articulation I know of to date on the fruit of such dialogue, see Philip Clayton, Adventures in the Spirit: God, World, Divine Action.

5 For the larger historical context of progressive Christianity’s development, see Gary Dorrien, The Making of American Liberal Theology: Crisis, Irony, and Postmodernity: 1950-2005.

6 Marcus Borg, The Heart of Christianity: Rediscovering a Life of Faith, 15.

7 For how to prevent further abuse of this world, see Sallie McFague, A New Climate for Theology: God, the World, and Global Warming.

8 See Rebecca Ann Parker and Rita Nakashima Brock, Saving Paradise: How Christianity Traded Love of This World for Crucifixion and Empire.

9 For more detail on how the kingdom movement of Jesus became about the “next world,” see John S. Kloppenborg, Q, the Earliest Gospel: An Introduction to the Original Stories and Sayings of Jesus.

10 See John Dominic Crossan, God and Empire: Jesus Against Rome, Then and Now.

11 For more on how the kingdom movement of Jesus relates to “systems and structures,” not only to individuals, see Walter Wink, The Powers That Be: Theology for a New Millennium. For an even more recent account, see Brian McLaren, Everything Must Change: Jesus, Global Crises, and a Revolution of Hope.

12 Specifically, Jesus is quoting Isaiah 56:7.

13 For an introductory indictment against the idea that God required, encouraged, or allowed the death of God’s son – an interpretation, which has been termed “divine child abuse” – see Rebecca Ann Parker and Rita Nakashima Brock, Proverbs of Ashes: Violence, Redemptive Suffering, and the Search for What Saves Us. For a more advanced exploration, see Jon Levenson, The Death and Resurrection of the Beloved Son: The Transformation of Child Sacrifice in Judaism and Christianity.

14 For an accessible, practical guide to cultivating first-hand experiences with God, see Daniel Wolpert, Creating a Life With God: The Call of Ancient Prayer Practices.

15 See, for example, Acts 9:2, “[and [they] asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.”

16 For a “thick description” of Great Commandment Christianity in the 21st century, see Shane Claiborne, The Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical.

17 For more information on these and other related groups see the appendix of this sermon as well as Diana Butler Bass, A People’s History of Christianity: The Other Side of the Story.

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About Carl Gregg

The Rev. Dr. Carl Gregg is a trained spiritual director, a D.Min. graduate of San Francisco Theological Seminary, and the minister of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Frederick, Maryland. Follow him on Facebook facebook.com/carlgregg and Twitter @carlgregg.


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Act Like a Man: A Call to Biblical Manhood

While my mission continues in Guam, I am pleased to feature the thoughts of Kendall Lyons, a talented youth pastor, cartoonist, and writer. Kendall supplied the fun illustrations for my e-book Finding the Curve: The Secret to Explosive Personal Growth -- still available for free here. Grab a copy of Kendall's delightful collection of short stories today at his site here. You'll be hearing much more from this talented leader in the years to come. Right now, I feel more confident in the Lord and … [Read more...]


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New Blog Layout

As you can see, I’ve changed my blog “theme” or layout.  This is a brand new theme on WordPress, and I like it more than my old one.  The problem is that this is the new default theme, and even the header picture (which I like more than any of the other available header images) [Read More…]


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Video: Gollum and Fantine – Separated at Birth?

This video of “I Dreamed a Dream” in the style of Gollum is hilarious….and a bit sobering too. [Read more…]

10 Most Tear Inducing Lyric Quotes from Les Miserables (With photos from the Film)

Trying to name the ten best moments in Les Miserables is like trying to find your favorite snowflake. There are so many and they’re all so beautiful! But here are some top candidates, ranked from somewhat sad to major hankie situation. What do you think? Did I leave any great moments out? [Read more…]


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Kim and Kris Divorce? Blame the Gays!

Being that Kris Humphries is a local boy (who long played basketball in the gym where Doug Pagitt hobbles up and down the court thrice weekly), Kim Kardashian’s marriage to him got lots of press in Minnesota.  Now that she’s filed for divorce (after 72 days), there’s lots more press.  Prompting this letter to the editor in today’s StarTribune:

It must be the threat of gay marriage that broke up the media-hyped, money-making sham of a wedding of Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries (“Surprise! Kim calls it quits with Kris,” Nov. 1).

Probably the gay couple at my church who have been together for 40 years and faithfully serve and participate every week.

Or maybe my friend’s brother and partner, who lovingly cared for his mother in their home for the final years of her life and have been together for more than 30 years.

Or the real culprit could have been my colleague and partner, who have been together almost 20 years and have adopted two beautiful children and are surrounding them with a multitude of family and friends.

Yes, this celebrity heterosexual marriage can sure teach these gay and lesbian couples a thing or two!

About Tony Jones
  • http://emarkthomas.wordpress.com/ Ethan

    I have to admit, as a twentysomething gay Christian man, this kind of makes me smile. It’s one of those guilty pleasure smiles, a smile of vindication. For just a few moments here, I have this wonderful feeling in my chest that someone understands me and sees things my way as well. Thank you.

    • http://emarkthomas.wordpress.com/ Ethan

      Ah! See? My few moments are over. While I don’t want to detract from what I just wrote – I stand by it – I just want to add that to be fair, using one specific example to generically paint such a picture can be taken as insulting to the other side. I know because my father’s on the other side, and he is often insulted when I do that. Also to be fair, I know that they – and he- does it to us and me without ever thinking twice on it, but still. I guess I just believe in a gospel message that’s about loving them well even if they don’t love us well. And yeah, I may be making too big a deal about something that was meant to be fun and trivial. And it was fun and trivial! But I guess it also pricked something in me that runs deeper, huh?

  • Randy Bronson

    I think the author makes a valid point. I doubt anyone expected moral ascendancy from Kim, but if prominent conservatives, like Charles Stanley, fail in the second most important relationship in their lives, what do we conservatives have to tell the world about marriage? It makes our argument seem less believable.

  • Carl
  • Patrick

    As a newcomer I wonder if you have ever addressed a more important topic: the continued killing of Christians by Muslims.


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Luxury Magazine Reporter Takes in Keeneland Sale

by | 09.12.2013 | 3:48pm
Buyers get a look at yearlings during the Keeneland September Sale
Buyers get a look at yearlings during the Keeneland September Sale

Thoroughbred racing often is referred to as “The Sport of Kings” for its deep ties with royalty around the world. But the beauty of the industry is you don't have to reside in society's upper crust to make your way into it, as a reporter from the prestigious luxury publication The Robb Report quickly deduced upon attending his first Keeneland September Yearling Sale for a story that will appear in the April 2014 edition of Robb Report Collection.

“I came here thinking I understood the basic premise of the story,” reporter Shaun Tolson said. “Within my first day of walking around Keeneland and meeting people, it didn't take long for me to realize it was a very complex industry, but complex in so many good ways because there are so many entry points into the industry depending on what (people) want to get out of it.”

Tolson, who has traveled the world to experience the lifestyle of wealthy enthusiasts of cars, yachts, jets, art, fashion, jewelry, and more, became fascinated with the concept of the Thoroughbred industry when presented with the story idea.

“This is sort of an extension of collecting,” Tolson said. “You're collecting a living commodity, which makes it interesting and different than anything we've covered in the magazine before. With a Thoroughbred, you can grow and have an emotional attachment to it.”

While in Lexington, Tolson traveled to Claiborne Farm and WinStar Farm, spent time with consignors while they showcased their yearlings for potential buyers, took in the live auction, and interviewed prominent owners.

“I was caught a little off guard when you walk around the grounds and, based on the questions they ask you, they thought I was someone here buying or selling horses,” Tolson said with a laugh. “That was the only indication I would have needed to prove you never really know who it is that you're talking to or looking at. Someone who fits the part might not be a major player and someone you think is here just for the spectacle is one of the leading consignors or buyers. It's very interesting.”

A Boston native who had never visited Keeneland or the Lexington area, Tolson said he was struck by the serene beauty of the track and its surroundings.

“Coming to this sale I sort of knew in my head what the picture of a horse farm was and Keeneland and Central Kentucky fit that exactly,” Tolson said. “It's exactly what you think of when you think of horse farms, the Derby, Thoroughbreds and horse racing. It's absolutely beautiful. It's an area of the country you'd love to come back to. It's so scenic and just peaceful.”

  • 4Bellwether666

    Tell the man “The Game” is the best kept secret in America…

  • Don Reed

    His weekly expense account is $10.00

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Average Salary by Job for Harris Interactive, Inc. Employees

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Windows Updates Problem

  timestar 08:16 16 Sep 10

I run Win XP (SP3) on my laptop. Yesterday I got the usual "Updates available" notification icon. Using Update it showed 13 High Priority updates. I started to install but about 20 second in realised I would have to go out well before it finished, so I cancelled the update. Turned on laptop today and the updates notification icon has gone and when I go into Update it says no updates available and in Update History says it installed the updates - it clearly didn't. How do I get the updates? Thanks!

  birdface 08:44 16 Sep 10

Try running them manually.
Usually All programs Windows Update and see if that finds anything.
If using IE8 Tools. Windows Update.

This thread is now locked and can not be replied to.

The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild review: Five hours with Zelda on the Nintendo Switch

1995-2015: How technology has changed the world in 20 years

How the painting-like animated sequences in A Monster Calls were created by Glassworks Barcelona

The 22 best Safari extensions | Best Safari plugins: Improve Apple's Safari web browser with these…


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windows vista

  hubdean 15:47 10 Oct 08

has anyone got anything good to say about windows vista
i find it very slow to respond to all most everything i do on it.
and that bloody ring going round and round and round
even when im typing i find its missed some of the letters because i think its to busy doing god knows what
how can i stop vista doing stuff in the back ground
90% of the time the hard drive is up to something
even when left for sometime
i just want to turn on my computer and go onto the net, not sit waiting for ten mins waiting for it to start

  peter99co 15:53 10 Oct 08

How long have you had this problem and have you looked on the Vista Forum for a solution?

Have you changed the original set-up much?

Are you able to get at and understand the Task Manager?

  hubdean 15:57 10 Oct 08

where do i find Task Manager

  peter99co 16:00 10 Oct 08

one way is press ctrl-alt-del...choose start task manager when offered.

  peter99co 16:03 10 Oct 08

Do NOT end any tasks just see what is software is active and which processes are active.

  alB 16:03 10 Oct 08

What are the specs of your computer, I've got Vista on my laptop and it whizzes along with no problems ...alB

  provider 2 16:04 10 Oct 08
  hubdean 16:04 10 Oct 08

nothing much running
hp total care
could this be problem

  peter99co 16:06 10 Oct 08

Do you see any cpu use high % data

  hubdean 16:09 10 Oct 08

cpu was 48%
have shut down windows side bar and hp total care
seams a little better

  hubdean 16:11 10 Oct 08

whats your cpu when you are doing nothing on your computer

This thread is now locked and can not be replied to.

The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild review: Five hours with Zelda on the Nintendo Switch

1995-2015: How technology has changed the world in 20 years

How the painting-like animated sequences in A Monster Calls were created by Glassworks Barcelona

The 22 best Safari extensions | Best Safari plugins: Improve Apple's Safari web browser with these…