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Tag Archive | aries

Tarot Tips 30-44

Tarot Tip 30:

Be aware of the astrological correspondences of tarot cards. They can tell you when something will happen or who is being referred to in a reading. For example, the moon symbolizes Pisces, late February/early March and possibly Cancer (because its ruling planet is the moon) or a woman who is a water sign. It’s not an exact science but if you get stuck on a card and can’t see how it fits, astrology can help you.

Tarot Tip 31:

A reversed card doesn’t equal a reversed meaning. The four of pentacles means almost the same thing upright or reversed (possessiveness and materialism). The Hanged man is tied up no matter which way he falls and The Tower will burn regardless of the direction of the flame. Major Arcana cards tend to be poetic.

Tarot Tip 32:

You can rely on certain cards to be a “sure thing” while giving a reading. These are cards that are always accurate and always predict the same thing (relevant to the question asked). My “sure thing” cards related to relationships are:

Empress = Pregnancy

Three of Cups Reversed = Cheating

Ten of Cups = Marriage

Ten of Cup Reversed = Divorce

What are your “sure thing” cards?

Tarot Tip 33:

The Lovers is one of the most iconic cards in the tarot deck. Many readers find it to be a good prediction of love. I’ve never found it to be. For me, The Lovers is more of a Romeo and Juliet type of situation: immature, infatuation or instant attraction rather than a deep commitment based on understanding.

Why am I mentioning this?

Because it’s important to know the traditional meaning of cards but it’s also important to know how the cards present themselves to you. This can only be understood through practice.

Tarot Tip 34:

Bad energy equals bad readings. Think about how you treat your tarot deck and how that affects its energy. An old, peeling or faded deck doesn’t have the best energy. Time to retire it. Having a collection of 27 different tarot decks that you never use is equally bad. Use every deck you have. Otherwise, your tarot readings will be stale and ineffective.

Tarot Tip 35:

Don’t waste your tarot reading on the following questions:

  1. Am I pregnant?
  2. Will he/she come back to me?
  3. When/ how will I die?
  4. When will I get married?

P.S. The short answer to those questions are: Take a test. Depends on them. When/ How it happens. Depends on you.

Tarot Tip 36:

It’s completely possible to learn tarot for free:

Find two decks of playing cards (probably around your house somewhere) or find cardboard and cut out 78 cards. They can even be mini cards if you do not have enough cardboard. Write the name of each tarot card on your homemade/repurposed cards in marker or pen. Shuffle and draw. Use websites like biddytarot.com or learntarot.com to figure out the meanings.

Tarot Tip 37:

You might find that the clearer your mind is, the clearer your readings become. A clear/clean mind is often the result of better eating habits. Experiment with giving up sugar and caffeine or junk food and see how it affects your readings. Try green smoothies. Try chai tea. Try red wine. Try drinking three lattes before you read your cards. See what happens when you eat ice-cream vs. when you eat kale. There’s no right or wrong. Just notice how what you ingest affects your reading.

Tarot Tip 38:

If a reading feels wrong to you, if something feels off walk away. Set your cards aside and come back to them later. Your clients would rather have a good reading instead of a quick reading. This is especially true if you’ve had a busy day at work and are trying to catch up on your readings at night. Sleep on it and try again in the morning when you’re fresh and rested.

Tarot Tip 39:

Meditation is an important part of your tarot practice. It’s as simple as setting your timer on your phone for 5 minutes, closing your eyes and noticing what thoughts are happening in your mind. You don’t have to sit in a lotus pose. You don’t have to stop thinking. You don’t have to say a mantra. Just close your eyes, pay attention to your thoughts and maybe take a few deep breaths.

Tarot Tip 40:

When you lay out a reading, pay attention to the way in which the human figures on each card interact with each other. Are they facing toward each other or are they facing away? Do they look harmonious? Or do they look tense? Does it look like they have a relationship: father-daughter, mother-son, lovers, friends, enemies?

You might find that the nine of pentacles and the knight of swords gaze lovingly into each other’s eyes. Or that the figures on the six of swords are escaping from the fight happening on the five of wands. Or that the queen of cups is rolling her eyes at the hierophant.  Tarot cards have images on them for a reason. Noticing how the figures on the cards interact will give you extra information.

Tarot Tip 41:

Tarot readings are spiritual and practical. Cleanse your cards and meditate but don’t forget mundane chores like sweeping, dusting and eating breakfast. Take care of yourself and your space and you’ll give a more accurate reading.

Tarot Tip 42:

Intricate tarot spreads and layouts are great but you don’t need them. They’re like jewelry and fancy shoes – beautiful but unnecessary.

Tarot Tip 43:

Do you really need another tarot deck? New agers tend to be collectors- crystals, incense, essential oils, silver jewelry- we love it all. Before you buy something new ask yourself: Am I a collector or a practitioner? Especially if you own more stuff than you can possibly use on a regular basis.

Tarot Tip 44:

Deal with inappropriate questions before they are asked. Email clients a pre-reading form that includes a disclaimer and a list of questions you deem inappropriate. These might include questions like:

Am I pregnant?

When will I die?

Has my ex boyfriends new girlfriend put a curse on me?

Tarot Reading Parties and Events

tarot-parties-and-events-bannerWould you like a unique and creative way to entertain your guests? Imagine what it would be like to have your friends talking about your party for weeks after the event? You and your friends will receive a face to face tarot reading. I will give you advice using my tarot cards or Pendulum.

Ask the Tarot cards or Pendulum your questions and you will get your answers!

This service is available for birthdays, bridal and wedding showers, corporate events, Halloween parties, weddings, New Year’s Eve parties and any other celebratory event — whenever you want to add something really special to the festivities. You can have a Tarot Party as part of a birthday celebration, a bridal shower or anytime you would like to give a unique and inspiring gift to your friends.

The cost for a professional Tarot reader at your event ranges from $200 and up depending on location, how many persons at the event and what you would like to have. The host will receive a free reading.

Will Travel To: All five Boroughs (Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, Staten Island), Long Island, Yonkers, Westchester Area, New Jersey

For more information log on to:http://readingsbycherie.webs.com/tarot-reading-parties

October 2016 Horoscope:

January: Aquarius January 20 – February 18

For the month of October it will be difficult for you to see what’s right in front of you. This month speaks about how important it is to see relationships as they really are, rather than how you’d like them to be. This is not always an easy or comfortable thing to do. However, in order to make correct decisions in a relationship, you must be clear about it. This month you may be withdrawing emotionally from a relationship or you may feel the need to make a decision regarding that relationship. This will not serve in your best interest. You must open your heart and your eyes to the truth. By honestly assessing the situation you will know just what you need to do. Knowing the truth will make your decision easier and will lead you in the right path.

February: Pisces February 19 – March 19

This month you will remember how life was before you grew older and life became more complicated. This month there is a need to take action and bring that innocence and energy you felt when you were younger. Try to bring that energy into your current relationships. Try to interact with others with a pure and open heart, full of love and ulterior motives. Do this and you’ll find that your relationships will deepen and require far less effort. When you reminisce about your past bring back only the good memories and cherish them. Kindness and generosity are at the forefront this month. Look for ways to help family and friends, especially children. Reach out to them and assist them any way you can. Sometimes just a little bit of attention is all someone needs.
March: Aries March 20 – April 20

This month you find yourself awaiting the results to something you’ve been waiting for. You have put much energy creating and attracting the relationships you desire and are eager to see the positive results. This month patience is needed. However reshaping attitudes and beliefs takes time. Refining yourself so that you’ll attract just the right person is a process. If you find yourself becoming frustrated at the apparent lack of visible change, step back and focus on something other than your relationship for a while. When you are feeling more detached, you’ll be in a better position to notice any improvements. Try and look for alternative strategies to effect the change you desire. What works with one person may not work for the other.

April: Taurus April 21 – May 21

This month you will be entering a period of joy and tranquility. However, this month speaks of friendship, not romance, suggesting that this is an opportune time to connect with friends. For the time being, let go of nay desires, anxiety or stress around romantic relationships. Instead, focus on your relationships with your friends. Turn to them for support if you need it, and find reasons to celebrate with them. Rejoice in the fact that they will always be there for you, and you for them. Community is also important this month. Get out of your house and away from your own concerns.

May: Gemini May 22 – June 21

This month you have the potential to achieve everything you want. Listen to your heart and what it asks you to do. Should you reach out your hand in friendship to someone, offer forgiveness, or make yourself more available? Trust in your ability to maintain true, loving relationships. Now is the time to make that happen. Be optimistic and be open to all the possibilities headed your way this month. Focus on your beautiful, loving qualities and let them radiate out into the world.

June: Cancer June 22 – July 22

This month is all about healing. This month is an ideal time to bring healing to your relationships and realize your hopes and dreams. This month indicates that it is time for forgiveness. Understand that no one is perfect. By accepting this, you’re in a position to forgive yourself and those with whom you are involved with. Try and forgive freely and without reservations, as blame and resentment are heavy weights to bear. By forgiving, you will feel a weight lifted from your shoulders. Don’t just offer forgiveness, offer your love and thoughtful insight. Be willing to receive the blessings that others have for you. Try and be open to their insights and guidance. Listen objectively to what others have to say and act upon that guidance if it feels right for you.

July: Leo July 23 – August 23

This month is about trust. This month is the time to trust the path that you are on. Believe that whatever you desire concerning affairs of the heart can be manifested in the proper time and for your highest good. Trusting takes courage, but it also removes the burden of doing it all on your own. When you feel alone in a situation it can diminish your energy and desire to take actions that will improve the situation. Whether it’s a relationship with another person, or the relationship with yourself, now is the time to take action. Even a good relationship can be improved.

August: Virgo August 24 – September 23

October is a month about giving and receiving. This month your relationships will take on a loving balanced energy. Is there someone who could benefit from what you’ve learned around matters of the heart? Take some time to share your insights. However, be careful don’t try to solve people’s problems, just be a mentor. Also look for other ways that you can be of assistance to those around you, but be sure to give only what you can and no more. Be open to receiving support and inspiration from other people.

September: Libra September 24 – October 23

This October there is a great potential to revitalize your relationships right now, both with others and with yourself. Seize the energy and infuse more warmth and enthusiasm into all of your relationships. Have fun with other people, and feel how this will lift your spirits. See your loved ones in a different light. For the time being, set aside any difficulties. Focus on humorous and loving aspects, and think of creative ways to add more laughter to your life. You’ve been sad for far too long and now is the time to make changes and allow people to be there for you.

October: Scorpio October 24 – November 22

October is about finding balance. This month you may find that matters of the heart require extra effort at this time. More and more demands may be placed on you, requiring you to juggle your attention. Family gatherings, school commitments, requests for assistance, and other obligations may arise within a short period of time. Just breathe and remember to be flexible. Adapt your approach to each situation at hand. Know that you have the ability to keep everything and everyone in balance. This month you may also be called upon to play the role of the mediator. This is a time for compassion and understanding, and you are up to the task. Work with people individually, giving each person consideration. Help all involved to understand another viewpoint and find middle ground.

November: Sagittarius November 23 – December 21

This month reminds you to nurture your relationships. Count the blessings of the relationships you have. Find ways to let them know you care for them and appreciate them. Good relationships can be taken to new levels of happiness, and flattering relationships can be revived with loving care and attention. Equally, be sure to tend to your relationship with yourself. Remember that nurturing yourself as well as your relationships can be so much help to you.

December: Capricorn December 22 – January 19

This month matters of the heart are much like flowers. In the bud stage, the relationship is in a state of potential. It requires loving care and attention to help it grow, develop, and bloom. The people involved in the relationship must be willing to trust and open themselves to each other. With the proper amount of nurturing, the relationship will blossom and bring beauty to the lives of those involved. It’s time for you to nurture the potential of your relationships. New life and love are waiting for you this month. Seize the energies of renewal that surround you now and allow yourself to blossom like a beautiful flower. You’re in a period of growth regarding matters of the heart. Stretch yourself and your ideas of what you believe is possible. Know that anything is possible this month.

Labor Day Sale

14032917_1075482669209112_1538222101_n(1)Here is a very special offer for this Labor Day Weekend.

General Reading: Have questions about your job or business? Need some answers regarding love, health, financial or happiness? Then General Tarot Readings are for you. General readings are based on Finance, Career/work, Love/Relationships, Opportunities, Obstacles, Family. These readings can be customized to fit your needs.

All general Tarot readings are $50 but with today’s special offer all General Tarot readings will be $40.00. Here is the link for today’s sale: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=GEQVCYMVDCJ5C

Love/Relationship Tarot Readings: Have questions about your current relationship? Are you wondering if you and your ex should reconnect? Are you curious about a new love? Or are you wondering when you’re going to find your soulmate? Is your husband or wife cheating? If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions then the Love/Relationship readings are for you. Love/Relationship readings are based on Family and Love. These readings can give you insight on your current relationship or they can give you insight on what’s headed your way regarding love. All Love/Relationship readings can be customized to fit your needs.

All love/relationship readings are $40 but with today’s special offer all Love/Relationship tarot Readings will be $30.00. Here is the link for today’s sale: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=3NHQVG6HMBNWGc

September 2016 Horoscope

January: Aquarius January 20 – February 18

September will a month of triumphant success. This month signifies new beginnings and exciting challenges. By utilizing your strength, willpower, determination and focus there will be potential for you to succeed in all you do this month. This month you will find it easier to cut through some of the barriers that may be holding you back. However, if you are too rash or use this success in a destructive way It could be harmful to yourself and to others around you. Always think before you act.

February: Pisces February 19 – March 19

September is going to be a month of new beginnings, ideas, revelations, and exciting adventures in your personal and business life. This month be all that you can be. Use these new beginnings to move forward and build a solid foundation for your future.This month is also about balance. This month represents a need for balance within you life. There are some lifestyle adjustments that are required at this time. These adjustments could be associated with love, relationships, business or even your career. This month helps you realize that what you perceive to be happening around you is really an externalization of an inner process or conflict that you may be currently experiencing. Have faith that  everything will work out but remember this is a time to be honest and caring and responsible for the choices that you’ve made as well as the ones you will make in the future.

March: Aries March 20 – April 20

September is all about transformation. Try not to resist the abrupt changes that are about to occur in your life. Just know that everything happens for a reasons and these changes are needed in order for you to move forward with your life. These changes may be taking place within your relationships, business or career. You have the strength and the courage to deal with the obstacles headed your way. This month is here to remind you that the death of an old way of thinking and believing must occur before you can move forward on your new path. Accept the changes and opportunity will come to expand you in more ways than you could have ever imagined.

April: Taurus April 21 – May 21

In September you will be surrounded by some deception and envy. This month to be forewarned is to be forearmed. This September there will come a time where individuals or conditions aren’t what they appear to be. How well do you really know the people around you? Are they telling you everything you need to know? When it comes to business make sure you gather all the necessary information so that you’re aware of and understand all the facts before continuing. You’ve worked hard this month, don’t let anyone take away what is rightfully yours. This month you will experience some sudden and unexpected changes. Certain plans that you had set in motion may not turn out the exact way you envisioned it. Do your best to have a plan B as a fallback so that you can avoid and future problems.

May: Gemini May 22 – June 21

September will be a month where you feel trapped in fear. This month you will realize that it is actually your own fear that has you feeling trapped.  These fears are preventing you from making decisions and choices this month. You are the one that is holding yourself prisoner and in order to continue on your journey you must first face your fears so that new people and conditions can manifest. Many individuals choose to stay in this place because they can’t see the road ahead, they feel a misguided sense of safety there, or they’re afraid of starting something new. But staying in this position will only add to your levels of stress and anxiety and create adverse effects in your physical body. Seek out wise assistance or counsel if you have to. You don’t have to go through any of this alone.

June: Cancer June 22 – July 22

This September is about movement, choices and decisions. This month indicates a time of movement. Significant changes and choices must be made this month. With hard work, great effort, and determination, you have the ability to juggle all the demands that are in front of you. Whether they concern money, business decisions, or other projects, it is important to stay flexible and focused. You may also be presented with a financial union or partnership this month. Just remember the longer you take to make these important decisions or choices the longer it will be before you can move forward with your goals. The changes that are emerging are not some random acts or coincidences they are all a part of a positive and larger scheme. Take time to notice the connections with everything, as this will enable you to avoid future problems and conflicts.

July: Leo: July 23 – August 23

In the month of September there will be new love headed your way. This doesn’t necessarily have to be physical love, but could also represent the passion and devotion for a new idea, a goal, or even a new creative endeavor. This would be a perfect to open yourself and your heart to new things. When past issues are resolved, when forgiveness for others as well as yourself has been attained, and when your heart is truly open and ready to receive, then new roads leading you toward love will be revealed.

August: Virgo August 24 – September 23

This September shows that you’ve come far on your journey and it’s time to be rewarded for your efforts.This  month is all about completion, triumph, peace, liberation and fulfillment. Everything you’ve strived for is within your reach.  This month the world is at your command and you’re free to travel in whatever direction your heart desires.

September: Libra September 24 – October 23

This September will be all about your wishes being fulfilled. This month is about emotional satisfaction, contentment, and enjoyment. Happiness, success, good health, completion, and accomplishment of your dreams and goals are in the palm of your hand. This month is also about forgiveness. Forgive others and yourself so that your wishes and goals have a clear, unobstructed path to your heart, soul and life.

October: Scorpio October 24 – November 22

September will be a month about conflict and defeat. This month represents significant learning and change, and how you handle yourself at this time is vital to your over all well being. This month could relate to a lack of sensitivity on taking action or in response  to conditions or situations around you. This need for sensitivity could relate to you or someone else in your life. Even though a battle can be won this month, it’s important to evaluate the cost and pain to both parties. Sometimes it’s best to surrender and walk away if no answer or victory can be achieved. Don’t assign blame, or be deceitful, or set out for revenge, for this results in the negative energy becoming part of you. You are being tested on how delicately and gently you take your next step. Remember, everything in your life is an opportunity to learn and grow.
November: Sagittarius November 23 – December 21

The month of September will be bringing you a wake-up call. Evaluations of the past, along with lessons you’ve learned, or still need to understand, must now be a top priority.  Doing so will enable you to forgive, accept, and heal so that you can move forward in a balanced mind-set. This month reminds you that a significant must be made in a certain area of your life. But don’y make any hasty decisions. Take your time, for any choices or alterations must be weighed and evaluated with the most careful and wisest of judgments. Whatever steps you take now will have far reaching consequences.

December: Capricorn December 22 – January 19

The month of September confirms that what you’ve been building is now firmly established with a strong and solid foundation. This month represents a period of celebration, peace and prosperity. The card that as pulled for this month may also imply a marriage or the buying land or a new home. As you enjoy this time of relaxation, know that nothing remains stagnant and the winds of change are always at your door.


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Windows Vista and Linux Ubuntu Quick Comparison

This is my rant on the 2 rival operating systems. I have not included Apple OS’s because Apple OS’s require Apple hardware to run, and most Mac users are brainwashed enough to believe their OS is superior.

Windows Vista

Some argue the worst operating system ever released based on its hardware and software incompatibility. Who am I to disagree? Well I guess it can do more than Windows 95, but considering its release date, surely you would expect this. To be fair somethings have improved in this eternal failure of an OS, noticeably the wireless networking, its much easier to configure. There is no doubt about it, its slower than its predecesor XP, but I, having used this operating system for 4 months, I can tell you, it is a more stable operating system than XP. Vista is the greatest disappointment to computing since Windows Millennium.

As for overal quality – even without service pack 1 of this OS, its still a complete product, but… and this is a huge but… it does not solve the fundamental flaw in ALL MICROSOFT OPERATING SYSTEMS.
This flaw is essentially what might make windows loose the desktop war entirely to emerging operating systems like uBuntu. The flaw is trivial. With every new piece of software you install, windows operating systems get slower and performance degrades heavily. So re-installing a fresh copy of the OS, gives you PC a new boost of life, until you reinstall the required programs, then again that performance is lost. Also if you are really into computers, you will want to try out new software, this means installing, then uninstalling, games, applications and pretty much anything interesting… The windows registry suffers severly, and even 3rd party programs that claim to fix this DO NOT!
If Microsoft could fix this flaw… then Windows would be a far better OS, this is the achilles heels of a windows based operating system. Instead, they’re trying to bring us flashy windows that can twirl on our screen. Note: If you’re a linux fan boy, don’t sniggle at this either, or dare I mention Compiz?

Linux uBuntu
I have choosen this build since I believe it is the most user friendly of all the Linux builds, also the variablt KBuntu which is a windows looking build for windows users wishing to try the world of Linux. Linux is quick, swift and lean, from what I have seen. It does not offer all the Frills of windows, but this is actually refreshing, if you are after an OS that does not consume all your resources.

These are my problems with Linux… firstly even if I wanted to switch to Linux – I could not – and I guess no true .net developer could… .Net developers are tied into using windows – cause they develop windows based software.

If you are not a .net developer, and if you are just a simple user, you too are going to battle to enjoy even uBuntu – the simple version. You do need to be a bit of a computer geek to use Linux, this was the case, and unfortunately it still is (edited 2008 and unfortunately still is). You need to know about using the command line, editing config scripts, and get this – even downloading source code, and having to compile the source code of programs you want to use yourself. This is kind of unacceptable since its 2007. In this respect windows is worlds ahead of Linux, I have never had to compile the source code for a program to get it to run on windows… Unless I wrote it myself. Also in the world of Linux expect prerequisites and versions of the prerequisites to get things running. This means that to install 1 application, you might need to first install 4 other applicatins (for example), and each one requiring an exact version, and each one requiring you to build the app from the source code yourself… almost like DIY. This is where I draw the line. I have other interests in my life, and if Linux can’t make it easier to install a piece of software then I have my doubts about Linux. Certainly for most of us the only information we can get of Linux is out of geeks who actually use Linux, and most of these guys have a personal war on against Microsoft, or are young school kids, so I always doubt the validity of their claims.
In any event its down to the basics, Linux is hard to use, even the easy versions…

One thought on “Windows Vista and Linux Ubuntu Quick Comparison

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The Myth of the Political Spectrum

A political science professor and a journalist have an interesting piece in this morning’s Washington Post entitled “The Myth of the Middle.” They aim to refute the notion that the 2006 election showed the public wanted bipartisanship, and they cite polling data to show that Americans are just as divided as their representatives in Congress.

The visual representation of the nation’s voters isn’t a nicely shaped bell, with most voters in the moderate middle. It’s a sharp V.

I think there is a legitimate question who is following and who is leading on this one, but I do not think the one-dimensional, left-center-right way of viewing the electorate is very useful. Journalists and political scientists seem to love it, but I have questioned that metaphor for at least 20 years, ever since I noticed liberal and conservative judges making common cause on civil liberties issues. It seemed to me then that if I were looking for help from geometry, I’d choose a circle instead of a line. (In other words, the two extreme ends of the line actually have more in common with each other than either does with the middle.) Twenty years later, even that image strikes me as simplistic and misleading.

More fundamentally, I believe journalists and political scientists have long erred by portraying moderates essentially as people who can’t make up their minds or who largely lack any attachment to overarching principles. It seems to me the most stalwart moderate is likely to be the one who is attached simultaneously to many overarching principles and wants to harmonize them as much as possible rather than just picking one and riding that trolley to the end of the line. (A friend of mine credits an old roommate of his who later became a congressman with the observation that “you have to know when to get off the trolley.”)

It seems to me that if moderate politics is ever to recover its influence, it will be because some significant number of us recover our appreciation for the way the truth is usually found between the extremes. I think here of Aristotle’s “golden mean” for the virtues: courage is not the opposite of cowardice; it is the midpoint between cowardice and rashness. In just that way, I would suggest that many of the antinomies of contemporary politics have answers in the middle. Instead of treating liberty and security as two alternatives, we should recognize that our liberty is what makes us strong and pursue both simultaneously, just as the courageous man pursues both victory and self-preservation.

It has not escaped my notice, however, that many modern American virtues seem to be unipolar in a way that Aristotle’s were not — think of industry, independence, and honesty. But it will take more than a morning blog post to sort that out.

3 Responses to “The Myth of the Political Spectrum”

  1. Michael van der Galiën Says:

    Mark, interesting article. I will link to it tomorrow.

    I think here of Aristotle’s “golden mean” for the virtues: courage is not the opposite of cowardice; it is the midpoint between cowardice and rashness.

    I agree with your assessment but people should realize that with ‘middle’ Aristotle did not mean the ‘literal’ middle. He meant ‘in between’. Something more to the right, so to speak, sometimes more to the left (politically).

  2. Mark Grannis Says:

    Thanks for the comment, Michael, and I think we’re on the same page. Your observation implies, I think, that moderation is not passive fence-sitting or even mere horse-trading; it often involves heavy lifting, intellectually speaking.

  3. Moderation in Ill Repute? « Reasonable Minds Says:

    […] not the only form moderation can take, and I think it is not even the most common. I have suggested in a previous post that Aristotle’s conception of each cardinal virtue as a “Golden Mean” between […]

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Door to Door Organics – a Review and Giveaway!

milwaukee, door to door organicsWhen someone offers you the chance to try out a service that lets you order groceries while in your PJs on the couch and delivers right to your doorstep, how can you say no?

I don’t know about you, but sometimes my regular trip to the grocery store feels like such a drain and can be time consuming if it’s crowded.

I was pumped when Door to Door Organics emailed me about trying their service that just started delivering in Wisconsin.

With this service you can choose to receive a box of produce weekly or bi-weekly. You can pick the size and the variety of produce (fruit/veggies/both). They also have lots of other grocery items. Meats, dairy, pantry items, snacks, and they provide a lot of locally made options, which I love.

For my first order, I chose a mixed produce box (fruits & veggies) and local coffee, crackers, cheese, and sliced turkey.

Initially, my first two concerns were the condition of the produce since it was being delivered and the pricing (it’s the accountant in me). When I got my order the produce was gorgeous and in great condition. You can see it in my photo above.

Next, I did a quick price comparison with a local grocery store that sells organic produce. The produce was slightly less expensive at the grocery store and the grand total comparison of everything I ordered was $5 less at the grocery store. I thought the convenience of delivery made up for the difference.

A few other highlights I like about Door to Door Organics:

  • No commitment or long-term contract, start and quit whenever you need!
  • Everything is customizable. Skip a week, change your produce box size and type, swap out items, set preferences, change your delivery day, and more.
  • No delivery fee. Nothing irritates me more than “hidden” fees so I was excited to check out with no extra fee added to my bill.
  • They pick up the packaging from your previous order (This really impressed me – they recycle for you!)

I’ve gotten a few more orders and will continue using the service for fresh produce or for busy weeks to help save myself some time.

Now that you’ve read all of my thoughts – how would you like to give it a try?! Door to Door Organics is giving my readers a discount code to try out the service.

Click here to get $10 off your first order.

In addition, I’m giving away THREE $50 gift certificates! Read below to find out how to enter:

  1. Leave a comment sharing the type(s) of recipes (meals, sides, type of cuisine, etc) you would like to see more of.
  2. Click here and leave your name and email address.

Door to Door Organics delivers to several other states so be sure and check if they deliver in your area. The giveaway will close Sunday March 30th at 10:00pm CDT. I will email the winners Monday March 31st. Please respond within 48 hours to claim your prize. Also, please note I will not be announcing the winners on the blog, just via email to the winners.

I received credit from Door to Door Organics to try out their service but this post reflects my genuine opinion of the service.

2 thoughts on “Door to Door Organics – a Review and Giveaway!

  1. Cassie

    We are currently trying out a vegan diet so maybe something tasty that falls under vegan dishes. Ps Door to Door Organics is pretty neat! I’m sad they don’t deliver in ok, but we will be in Cleveland for two weeks coming up! We rented a condo so we can cook so I might have to check them out while I’m there!

    1. Jordan Post author

      Thanks for the suggestion, Cassie! I do want to offer a variety of recipes that cover different eating styles so I will be keeping that in mind. I’m willing to bet Door to Door Organics has plans to continue expanding so hopefully they will reach OK soon. Also, good timing for Cleveland, haha!

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Happy New…February… Notes and updates

Come to the Instant Pot side! We have delicious food and cheesecake!

Errrm.  Guess I dropped the blogging ball there.

  • Have you heard about the Instant Pot 6-in-1 or 7-in-1 automatic pressure cooker?  I got one a few months ago, posted a lone recipe, and kind of put it away. And with the new year, new resolutions (specifically: eat at home more) kicking into high gear in January, I pulled it out again, found a Facebook group dedicated to all things

    Image: screancrush.com

    Instant Pot and have fallen madly in love with this appliance.  I’ve named her theFabulous Annie Potts. I’m just going to warn you up front, only get one if you want to cook a whole frozen chicken from block of ice to delicious dinner + 2 quarts of slammin’ bone broth in 90 minutes and/or if you want to be the cheesecake god/dess. CHEESECAKE GODDESS. True story.

  • I’ve been doing a high fat diet for a week and I’m finally seeing the numbers on the scale float downward a bit without too much discomfort.  Lots of disbelief, lots of “yeah, sure, there’s no way this could work,” and some minor wincing that I’m

    Image: kerrygold.com

    supposed to be adding butter and sour cream and it’s not a cheat. All those years of low fat, low calorie dieting have seared a path into my neural network.  I’m taking all those things I’ve learned and with the help of a nutrition consultant, I’m following an actual plan. I’m going to be writing more about this as I progress, but it’s been an interesting shift from theoretical knowledge to practical application. I thought I knew what I was doing…yeah, no. My favorite current resources on this eat fat, lose weight phenomenon:

  1. Buttermakesyourpantsfalloff.com
  2. Bulletproof diet
  3. Get Your Thin On — my one-on-one consultant, Biz
  4. Always Hungry, by Dr David Ludwig — this is the man who has done the most science on the science of weight loss.  Newsflash: Calories in/Calories out doesn’t work.
  • I’m geeking out over some new technology. I’ve posted before about LORETA 19-channel neurofeedback (more on this in a later post because Mama is starting next week!), but for my youngest we’ve recently added something called NeuroField, which uses very low level, pulsed electromagnetic frequency and heart rate variability training.  It’s supposed to be excellent for anxiety and depression.  I’m also interested in learning more about transcranial magnet therapy.

  • In some of my mama support groups on line, my doctor’s office, my therapist’s couch, the big topic has been taking care of the caregiver.  It’s kind of turning into the theme of the year. What are some ways you are taking care of yourself?

I’m working on a self-care plan that includes sleep, detox, yoga, and not beating myself up.  Complicated parenting requires strong parents–mentally, physically and spiritually.

About Jill R.

Mom, mostly tired, to 3 boys, mostly wired. Pretty much obsessed with healing foods for healthy brains. And "Scandal."
This entry was posted in alternatives, Chronic Fatigue/Fibro, Easy GF Hacks and tagged , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

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September Patch To Fix Windows GDI Exploit and More

Redmond on Tuesday rolled out four critical fixes, as expected, for as many as eight remote code execution exploits for various Windows applications.

Redmond on Tuesday rolled out four critical fixes, as expected, for as many as eight remote code execution exploits for various Windows applications.

The four fixes are designed to plug up potential flaws in the Windows Media Player, the Windows Media Encoder, Microsoft Office and the Microsoft Windows GDI+ (graphics device interface).

Fix No. 1 deals specifically with Windows Media Player 11, the popular streaming video, audio and digital content streamer. The issue affects Windows XP Service Pack 2 and Windows XP Service Pack 3, all versions of Vista and Windows Server 2008. Microsoft's fix resolves a privately reported hole in the Windows Media Player program where a hacker could configure a malicious audio, video or digital content file for entry into a system to gain carte blanche access to programs.

The second fix addresses Windows GDI+ and "several" privately disclosed bugs in the program, according to Redmond.

The Windows GDI+ graphics engine is part of all of Microsoft's operating systems, and is also included with Microsoft Office and Microsoft SQL Server products, among others, according to security pros. This particular fix applies to Windows XP, Vista and multiple versions of Windows Server 2003 and 2008. It also touches Internet Explorer 6 and Microsoft .NET Framework versions 1.0, 1.1 and 2.0 on Windows 2000 SP4.

The Windows GDI+ bug is one that's caught the eye of analysts in this month's patch.

"There are four advisories and eight vulnerabilities this month, but it comes down to GDI+, GDI+, GDI+... that is what is going to be on everyone's mind," said Tyler Reguly, security engineer at San Francisco-based nCircle. "I'm sure a number of people are going to be thinking back to a similar vulnerability from December 2005. At least this time, it's not in the wild."

But Reguly added that it won't take long before the exploit is in the wild and that "everyone needs to patch this vulnerability quickly."

Tom Stracener, senior security analyst for Cenzic Inc., concurred and said that he's watching this fix closely. Based on Cenzic's application security research, vulnerabilities in media players tend to range between two percent to five percent of the application vulnerability volume during any given quarter.

"Attackers often exploit client-side media player vulnerabilities because so many Web applications allow users to host media content," Stracener said. "The .NET security vulnerabilities will be key to patch for any organization that deploys applications written in this development environment."

Meanwhile, the third fix is for the Windows Media Encoder 9 Series, a program designed to help digital content developers capture, convert and edit both live and prerecorded audio, video or still images. The corresponding OS versions pertaining to this patch are Windows 2000 SP4, all editions of XP, Vista, Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008.

The exploit of Windows Media Encoder 9 Series is most effective when deployed by a user with administrative rights. The attack is carried out via an erroneously crafted Web page with malicious code.

The last critical fix addresses wide-reaching remote code execution vulnerabilities in several versions of Microsoft Office. The patch fixes Microsoft Office XP SP3, Microsoft Office 2003 SP2 and SP3, plus Microsoft Office 2007. Also repaired is Microsoft Office OneNote 2007, a note-taking application for meetings.

September's Patch Tuesday generally addresses user-driven exploits in the enterprise space. IT admins should patch accordingly, explained Eric Schultze, chief technology officer at St. Paul Minn.-based Shavlik Technologies.

"In other words, focus on patching your end-user machines first, rather than the servers in your datacenter," Schultze said. "Since these exploits require users to perform actions on their computers, like visiting a Web site, servers in a datacenter are less prone to be exploited, as user's aren't typically browsing the Internet from these servers."

Additionally, as Redmond has been doing since early spring, the software giant encourages administrators, users and tech enthusiast to check out its knowledgebase article to catch up on this month's new releases.

About the Author

Jabulani Leffall is an award-winning journalist whose work has appeared in the Financial Times of London, Investor's Business Daily, The Economist and CFO Magazine, among others.

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The Gospels
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Miracles of Jesus: The Ten Lepers: “It takes more faith to give your life to Jesus than to receive healing”

Luke 17:11-19
11And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. 12And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: 13And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. 14And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. 15And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. 17And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? 18There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. 19And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.

  1. Focus on The Healer, not the healing
  2. Faith when sick is good, Faith when well is better
  3. Don’t just be healed, be Whole, be Healthy

In Scripture, Jesus frequently uses miracles as object lessons and here, in the Healing of the Ten Lepers, He teaches us the sometimes subtle differences between: submission and exploitation; faith and opportunism; wholeness and superficiality.

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; (Psalm 103:2-3)

Ten lepers see Jesus passing by and plead to be healed. Jesus agrees and sends them (in accordance with Mosaic Law) to be examined by the priests. While on the way to the priests, they are healed. This is the crucial point in the story. Their responses to being healed reveal their attitudes and (spiritual) outcomes. Nine of them moved on with their lives; one returned to glorify and thank Jesus.

Jesus explained the importance of this point in verse 18, when He said: “There are not found… to give glory to God…”. The point Jesus was making is that the nine who kept going did not have the right attitude toward the miracle or towards God. When God works a miracle in our lives, the point of the miracle is to bring Glory to God: to reveal to the miracle receiver and those around him/her that God is in control of everything. And, therefore, He is to be worshipped; we must submit ourselves to Him.

“…Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.” ~ Psalm 50:15

He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.” ~ Psalm 107:20-22

On the contrary, nine of the ten lepers focused on themselves rather than on God. Hence, once they received their healing, Jesus was no longer needed; no longer relevant. For them Jesus was essentially a means to an end: Jesus was exploited to accomplish a goal.

By application, we must ask ourselves:

  • “Is Jesus our Master or just a means to an end?”
  • “Am I serving God for my gain or to glorify Him?”
  • “Is my focus on my healing or The Healer”

This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him. (John 2:11)

When Jesus is for us a tool/appliance then BOTH the rewarding and the withholding of desired gifts/miracles/blessings will drive us away from Him. In John 6, Jesus feeds five thousand men, yet it is clear (John 6:15, 26-27) that that great miracle didn’t help them to understand Jesus’ ministry (Matthew 16:21-23). They wanted him to become their earthly King, they failed to understand the redemptive work of Jesus and that He was already King. The miracle did not draw them any closer to God. Later in the chapter (John 6:28, 30-31), the people ask Jesus to prove himself to them again. This time Jesus refused to perform a miracle (John 6:29) and instead challenged their theology. And many deserted Him. The people were not drawn closer to God whether Jesus performed a miracle or not!   To those who abandoned Him, Jesus was a means to an end. When He failed to deliver what they wanted, He became redundant, unnecessary.

On the other hand, as His disciples showed (John 6:66-69), we can only truly come to Jesus when we accept Him as Master. They didn’t understand Jesus’ theology any better than the people (John 14:1-11) and were often surprised by the miracles (John 6), but they remained because He was their Master, not a means to an end. They focused on who Jesus was not what He should do for them:

“Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.” ~ John 6:67-69

When Jesus is our Master, we focus on how we can glorify Him, not on how He can satisfy us. This does not mean we don’t have legitimate needs, but it does mean that our relationship with Him does not depend on those needs being met. Neither does His importance/relevance begin or end when those needs are met (or not). Instead of celebrating the healing we celebrate the Healer (like the tenth leper did; verses 15-16). Instead of celebrating the blessing, we must celebrate the Blesser.

In His response to the tenth leper, vs. 19, Jesus next teaches us about faith: “…thy faith hath made thee whole.”

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinth. 5:17)

In other words, ONLY, the tenth leper had enough faith to be made whole; he was not just disease-free, but sin-free! Salvation had come to his life. He now had a new heart to go along with the new skin. Clearly, the other nine lepers also had a measure of faith; they had enough faith to be cured from their leprosy. As opportunists, they, like many of us, cried out eagerly to Jesus when they were in trouble. When the trouble passed, however, Jesus was quickly forgotten as they moved on to fresh opportunities.

But Jesus shows us that that kind of opportunistic faith was not enough for their salvation. Christians tend to believe that they need more faith in order to see/experience God’s miraculous power. However, Jesus turns that notion on its head. More faith is needed for salvation, than sanitation; and only the tenth leper had enough. It takes more faith to come to Jesus when there is nothing (earthly) at stake, than to go to the priests when everything is at stake. It takes more faith to submit to Jesus when all is well, than when our very lives are in danger. It takes more faith to give our lives to Jesus than to receive healing.

“And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee. And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth. And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.” ~ Matthew 9:2-6

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. (2 Corinthians 4:7)

Finally, Jesus makes a clear distinction between being healed and being whole/healthy. The tenth leper was the only one with enough faith for salvation and so he was not just healed, he was whole: he was healthy in body, soul and spirit. Nine of the lepers settled for being healthy in body only. Likewise, we frequently seek only material/physical miracles from God, often forgetting to seek out spiritual miracles. But His word frequently reminds us that the inner man is more important than the outer man:

“But the LORD said… Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature… for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” ~ 1 Samuel 16:7

“For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” ~ 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

To accomplish the will of our Master, Jesus, we must be transformed inwardly. Being healed of leprosy in our flesh is of little consequence if we still have leprosy in our spirit. Will we cry out to Jesus for the healing of our spirit/mind as much as we cry out for the healing of our bodies and the healing of our finances? Ten went for sanitation. One returned with salvation. Ten lepers in a pew, which one are you?

  1. Is it more important for God to meet my need than for me to serve Him?
  2. When do I call out to God most? What kind of faith might I have?
  3. Is it good enough to be whole in God’s sight?

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Refugee Resettlement Watch

RRW weekly roundup for week ending July 11, 2015

Posted by Ann Corcoran on July 12, 2015

Perhaps the most interesting thing (to me anyway) that we reported this past week was yesterday’s post on “Pockets of Resistance.”

However, we’ll see if it turns up in the Top Three Posts next week.

In the meantime, here are the Top most-viewed posts this past week.   Top daily posts are in the right hand sidebar.

1)  Aljazeera article about Temporary Protected Status for Syrians tips us off—thousands of Syrians in US illegally

2) St. Cloud residents hammer Rep. Emmer on Refugee Program; Somali teen murders African American

3)  African population booming in Minnesota; sending millions of dollars back to Africa

Also, much to my surprise, my introductory Youtube video is now over 700,000 views, help it reach 1 million!

Top Ten Countries from which readers arrived at RRW, excluding the US of course:

Germany (Germans must be worried and they probably can’t talk about their worries as freely as we can)

European Union

New Zealand

For new readers!

Since we get new readers every day, here is my usual spiel with two points I need to continue to make:

First, we do screen our comments (sometimes I don’t get to them right away!) and I don’t post any that threaten any kind of violence or ones filled with foul language.  An occasional expletive might slip in if the comment is otherwise a good one.  You are always free to disagree with our point of view if you follow those two simple rules.

And the other thing I want to mention is about e-mails that come to you every time we post.  They come directly from wordpress to subscribers.  We don’t send out e-mails.  So, if we are posting too much for your e-mail inbox, then just unsubscribe and visit RRW when you have the time I understand completely about too many e-mails!  You might want to simply follow us on twitter or on facebook (below).

This is where you can find information (in addition to our fact sheet). We have over 6,700 posts.

*  See our categories (left hand sidebar, now a drop-down)

*  Also, we have a great search function and since the categories go all the way back to our first posts more than eight years ago, use the search window with a few key words.  You might want to first try your city, state, or country to see what we have reported from there over the years.

Readers from Europe should search for key words ‘Invasion of Europe’ for all of our many posts on the migration crisis on the Continent.

By the way, our category entitled ‘where to find information’ is filled with reports and documents, but with 358 posts archived there, it is pretty unwieldy now.

Past weekly roundups can be found in our category entitled ‘blogging.’

If you wish to be notified when we post, consider subscribing or follow us on twitter (@refugeewatcher) or facebook (RefugeeInfoResource).  ‘Like us’ on facebook! (We are no longer posting every story we write at RRW to facebook so as not to overload your facebook feed either.)  We also have some content on facebook that isn’t posted here first, so like us and follow us (I do have a volunteer helper at facebook—Kelly Monroe Kullberg).

I’m trying to be better about tweeting, so please follow me!

And apologies to all who e-mail and comment, sorry if I don’t respond much, there are just not enough hours in my day!

Thanks to all of you for following RRW.  The subject is on fire (maybe you have noticed)!

5 Responses to “RRW weekly roundup for week ending July 11, 2015”

  1. […] to get the most useful information from visits to RRW.  You can see those instructions by visiting this weekly roundup (scroll to New […]

  2. […] new readers, please visit a recent roundup here for instructions on how to make the most out of your visits to […]

  3. […] Corcoran at Refugee Resettlement Watch has just posted her weekly roundup–here are the most-viewed posts this past […]

  4. […] Go here to last week’s roundup for more information and background about RRW and how to find information among our over 6,500 posts. […]

  5. Brittius said

    Reblogged this on Brittius.

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my open wounds-
you've sunken inside
beneath the layers
to kill my lonesome pride
straying pain- locked down strain
the thinking game
give and get fucked
peeling away your deceiving mask
beauty sleeps inside

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the gift manifesto

The chief reason I despise December, besides the crap weather, is the gift-giving. Now, I personally like finding the perfect gift for someone, even though it stresses me out the entire month until my shopping is done. It’s the same reason I make my own cards, and work as  a journalist. I thrive under pressure.

But I have no problem acknowledging that most people don’t, and consequently, they suck at giving gifts. I am not out to bash people for this; I will be the first to say what a pain in the ass holiday shopping is, and I am all for banishing mandatory gift exchanges.

But if you want to hone your skills, consider the following guidelines my gift to you.

Don’t ask anyone what they want. Unless they are five and you are wearing a fake beard and red suit, this is lame. It’s basically telling someone, Hey, I don’t know a thing about you but since I am forced to buy you something, spare me the trouble of putting any thought at all into it. I know this view may not be popular, because I took a lot of crap about not registering for my wedding, but I’d rather get a horrible gift or no gift than tell someone what to buy me. And honestly, if you don’t know a person well enough to even guess one thing they might like, why get them anything at all? A better gift would be to invite them over to dinner so you can get to know them better.

Do ask someone else. If your wife/boss/father-in-law’s taste is really that inscrutable to you, asking a close relative or friend what they’ve been hinting about is a great tactic.

Buy for them, not you. My philosophy of the perfect gift is something the recipient will like, but wouldn’t normally buy for themselves. Keeping this in mind has the built-in insurance of avoiding anything too personal (underwear and perfume are definitely in the latter category). Joe struggles terribly with this. He can’t bring himself to buy anything that he doesn’t like himself (a reason I rarely get jewelry). And this year, he thought two of the gifts I bought are so bad, he went behind my back and bought backups.

Enough with the gift cards already! I know statistics show that most Americans prefer them, but the best description I ever heard of gift cards was that it’s like being given an errand to do. I lug those things around all year like an albatross, trying to use them.

You can’t go wrong with alcohol and food. In my book, anyway, these are the great unifiers. Generic, sure, but everyone loves them. And if you happen to accidentally gift a dieter or AA member, these are the easiest things to re-gift.

That’s it. Not too difficult, really. Happy shopping!

One response to “the gift manifesto

  1. OMG, I love this. I think this is the best article I’ve ever read. Seriously, I think gift cards are lame. (Not to bash anyone, but what better a sentiment saying that you don’t know diddly-squat about someone than giving him a gift card???) And, like you, when I get one, I often keep in in my purse so long that I’ve forgotten it’s even there.

    And I HATE when people ask for lists. My in-laws have a list making and e-mailing ritual every year. Most of the time, we’ve already finished our Christmas shopping by the time they’ve pressed the send button… As far as I’m concerned, you are absolutely correct – if you aren’t 5 and sitting on Santa’s lap, don’t be telling me what to buy you. Where’s the thought in that? Where’s the sincerity? I want to give a gift that I’ve though of, even if it means I’m pulling my hair out trying to think of the perfect gift. I don’t want someone to check off their list as I’m giving gifts…

    One of the best ideas (strictly IMO)- charitable donations. Donations to an animal shelter, donations to save the rain forests, donations to support a underprivelaged child- whatever! It’s a much nicer gift to give than the ugly vase that will just end collecting dust in the back of a cabinet.

    At any rate, this is simply the best article I’ve read regarding Christmas gifts in a long time!!! Nice job. Have a very happy holiday!

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February recap

Next up, wood. Lots and lots of wood. We filled two bedrooms with baseboard and trim to be finished. I sanded and stained a ton over my last Xmas vacation and it’s been on a rack for a year waiting. Then we realized we needed more for the hallway, so Joe and I bought more. Also wood for the closet shelves:

And then of course the doors. The two-panels finished up a little dark in some spots, but I was just mad that I didn’t have time to put a single drop of stain on them after all that sanding. But wait, what’s missing from this lineup?

Oh yeah, my office door. No, we still didn’t get a replacement yet from Lowe’s for that piece of particle board crap.

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News & Events

Experimental Plots Complete

This week saw deep plot excavations filled with carbon-capture mineral mixes installed at Cockle Park Farm, the site of other Newcastle University long term field experiments. Each plot is topped with seeded compost and being monitored for changes in plant community as well as carbon accumulation.“This is the start of a 2 year journey – we’re pleased to have the plot trials in place for the growing season and immediately looking ahead to the next step” mused Dr Ehsan Jorat, Geotechnical Engineer, masterminding the experiment.

Each of the 14 12m3 (3x4x1m3) plots contains either a mixture or just one of the following materials - yellow sand, crushed dolerite quarry fines or crushed concrete.

But all plots are over-sown with a wildflower seed mix to try to speed up the CO2 rate of absorption while also enhancing a range of other ecosystem services:  “This isn’t just cosmetic gain” says Dr Mark Goddard, the SUCCESS project’s Urban Ecologist, who helped out. “Plants are crucial for drawing CO2 from the atmosphere into the soil.  For this experiment we selected a mix of grasses and wild flowers that are adapted for growing in harsh conditions such as on demolition waste and it will be very interesting to see how well they tolerate our artificial soils. If the plants perform well then it will also be good news for wildlife, such as bees and other pollinators”.

“Now it’s just add water!” Dr Ben Kolosz chipped in. “the heavens opened during the weekend and the chemical reactions should start taking effect. We want rainwater to seep into the soils so that soluble calcium reacts with CO2 to realise our carbon capture function - calcium carbonate formation.” Dr Kolosz is the Sustainability specialist in SUCCESS and was lending a hand.

SUCCESS project leader Prof David Manning described himself as delighted. “Who’d have thought that it would all have been done so quickly?!” It was a major team effort, not without some initial hitches, but achieved swiftly and efficiently.  He prescribed a weekend of relaxation “the whole team who worked on the plots deserve it!”  Contributors to the effort included the staff of Cockle Park Farm, Straughans - the agricultural contractors and the material suppliers.

For more information about the SUCCESS project check out the about our project section. Images of the plot trials construction are available in the Gallery.

Last modified: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 16:08:21 BST


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Map drives using Group Policy

Map drives using Group Policy
Map network shares to a drive, using Group Policy

The following applies to : Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows SBS 2008 and 2011

Mapping network drives to your computer is a very quick and easy way of accessing your most frequented data quickly. If you want to map drives for your organization, you can do so using this easy guide. This assumes a moderate understanding of Group Policy and Active Directory!

First of all, you need to share the folder which you want to map. To do this, right click on your folder and choose Properties. Next, click on Sharing, then Advanced Sharing.

Click on Advanced Sharing

Choose, Share this folder, and then choose a share name, it can be anything you want, but I'd recommend using a name without spaces (use an underscore "_" instead). Next, click on Permissions, select Everyone and click Remove. Finally, click Add and type Authenticated Users, then click OK. Put a tick in Full Control for Authenticated Users as such:

 Make sure you select Full Control

Click OK, and then OK again to get back to your Properties windows. Click on the Security tab, and choose Edit. Click Add and add the users or groups into here, with the relevant level of control according to your company policies.

For best practices and a better understanding of Active Directory Groups, see;

Next, open the Group Policy Management console from Administrative Tools on your server. Choose the Organizational Unit you want to map the drive to, right click, and choose Create a GPO in this domain, and Link it here...

Give your GPO a name, and then click OK. Right click on your newly create GPO and click on Edit.

Go to: User Configuration / Preferences / Windows Settings / Drive Maps

Right click and choose New > Mapped Drive

Right click anywhere, then click New

In the pop-up window that appears, under the General tab, choose Create for your ActionNext, copy and paste the location of your share folder into the Location field, such as;

Type in your location and a Name

Tick the Reconnect box, and choose a Label (a name) for your new drive. Next, choose a Drive Letter (either the first available, or specify your own). Finally, fill in the optional sections at the bottom; you can choose to connect to the drive as a different user, or hide the drive.

That's it! If you want the changes to update straight away, run gpupdate /force on your File Server and instruct your user to log off and back onto their computer, the new drive will be under My Computer.

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Our day at IGEL

Our day at IGEL
Read all about Adam and Al's visit to the IGEL partner day

We have worked with IGEL for the past three years to provide our customers with Thin Client solutions, and we were keen to find out what more about IGEL's future product launches. So, Adam and I decided to head to Manchester to attend the latest IGEL partner event. It was a good opportunity to meet the team behind the hedgehog (their logo!) including managing director Simon Richards, who kicked off the day with a presentation covering what happened in 2013 - it's safe to say they have every reason to be proud, it was quite a year for the IGEL team!

First Presentation

Looking forward to 2014 Simon introduced us to new hardware designs, products, and systems currently in development, which we're excited to be able to deliver to our clients later this year.

After a quick caffiene fix it was time for the presentation I was most looking forward to! Stefan Lourens is a senior technical support engineer and he took us through the technical developments over the past year. The presentation definitely highlighted a big benefit of working with IGEL in that they provide compatible solutions within their own product. For example, certain compatibility issues between Microsoft RDP and other thin client manufacturers aren't an issue when using IGEL as they have already provided a solution.

Adam and Stefan

Resolve IT's Adam (left) quizzing IGEL's Stefan (right)

Finally, a main talking point of the day was the IGEL UDC, which stands for Universal Desktop Converter. This piece of software will convert your existing hardware to an IGEL using its unique operating system. This allows you to utilise and convert current or old hardware which is then compatible with the IGEL UMS and other IGEL UD/IZ hardware. This then allows you to manage all devices from a central location along with asset management.

The reason this was a big talking point is that Windows XP will become end of life in April this year (you can find out more about this in our blog here). The IGEL UDC allows current hardware running XP to be converted into thin clients relatively cheaply and easily. The majority of machines with XP do not have the hardware requirements to upgrade to Windows 7/8 however, as the IGEL OS has a very small footprint and doesn't require powerful hardware, it's a great way to utilise existing hardware.

If you'd like more information on IGEL, the UDC or UMS then please feel free to get in touch.

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It’s a Small Small World

During a whirlwind unplanned trip to Vegas this weekend, I was walking down the strip to meet up with my friend Karen and saw this girl with a hoola hoop. She reminded me of the girl in these pictures that I took 4 years ago at Boulevard Park during one of their outdoor concerts.

The closer I got to the girl in Vegas, the more she reminded me of her.

Until she made eye contact with me.

Then I realized it WAS the girl from Boulevard Park! I said, “Are you from Bellingham?” She stopped her hoop and said, “Apparently it’s a small world, how do you know me?” I said, “I have pictures of you on my computer, from an evening at Boulevard.” We told each other our names and we hugged, and then I kept walking…

…after I snapped a picture with my phone.
It is a small small world.

2 thoughts on “It’s a Small Small World

  1. see, and I would have read her shirt and said – nahh, she’s obviously from texas! good for you for stopping – i bet it made her day!

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Obama’s War on Public Education

May 27, 2010

From time to time, I like to touch on the ever-so-important issue of education here at the Third Rail. A very sad and rude awakening for the liberals who voted the savior, Barack Obama, into office is that Obama is continuing the war on public education that his war criminal predecessor enacted. Obama, the self-described “market guy,” somehow thinks the best to fix the American education system is to attack teachers, test-test-test, and let the wolves privatize. Hardly a recipe for egalitarian education.

Fortunately, there are still a few of us left in this country who know bullshit when it’s rammed down our throats, even when it’s washed down with a large warm glass of hope and change. One of those people is Gillian Russom, who recently wrote a brilliant piece, “Obama’s neoliberal agenda for education,” elucidating the larger economic policies of neo-liberalism with the Obama White House’s approach to education. Her construct of the “education shock doctrine” (channeling Naomi Klein) accurately captures how neo-liberals are utilizing this time of crisis and disaster to kill off public education once and for all – a dream the ruling elite have harbored for decades. She writes:

Emerging as the dominant ideology of rampant free-market capitalism in the 1980s (until the Great Recession brought massive state intervention back in play in order to bail out the financial sector), neoliberalism is a set of economic policies that emphasizes the minimization of state intervention in the economy, privatization of sectors of the economy once thought to be the domain of the public sector, deregulation of markets, slashing government spending, and promoting anti-union “flexible” labor policies making it easier for employers to depress wages and fire workers at will. In her book The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism, Naomi Klein shows how times of crisis have been used as opportunities to push through these neoliberal policies. Klein emphasizes that neoliberal polices involved not only directly selling off public enterprises to private interests, but also governments taking on an increasingly close partnership with the private sector, which acts as a contractor that receives state funds in exchange for providing services.

While the evidence shows that increasing standards and testing, closing “failing” schools, replacing them with non-union charter schools, and making teachers work harder won’t actually bring up the skill levels of American children overall, that isn’t really the point. Business leaders are excited about education “reform” in general and charter schools in particular because they help to spot talent and recruit the cream of the working class that can be funneled into higher education and employment as technical personnel, frontline managers, and professionals. That’s why charter schools have the fulsome backing of foundations run by billionaires like Microsoft chairman Bill Gates, Los Angeles real estate magnate Eli Broad, and the Walton family of Wal-Mart fame. In an age of austerity, capital isn’t interested in shouldering the cost of fully funding public education for all. Instead, education is to be divided into distinct tiers, and access to it is to be rationed. Business accounting methods—in this case, test scores—are to be the criteria for making such decisions.

Among many other points in this excellent piece, she explains why Race to the Top is No Child Left Behind cont., how charter schools are trojan horses for breaking the backs of the teachers union and resegregating American schools, and what the privatization looks like on the ground in Los Angeles.

Some fun facts from Gillian’s piece:
● Last year budget cuts cost 40,000 teacher jobs
● This year, 66 percent of school districts across the country have cut more jobs, while 83 percent of districts project cuts for the 2010–2011 academic year.
● Kansas City’s school board has voted to shut down twenty-eight of the city’s sixty-one schools.
● In California, more than 23,000 teachers received pink slips in March, and students hoping to attend college are facing tuition increases of 20 percent at the California State University and 32 percent at the University of California.

Contra Russom’s piece, you can read this fawning article on charter schools, veiled attack on the teachers’ union included, in the neo-liberal rag known as the NYT.

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Ringtones for cellphone » Latin » Angehldejame Un Mens

Angehldejame Un Mens ringtone to your cellphone

Angehldejame Un Mens ringtones from category Latin ringtones and music. This ringtone Angehldejame Un Mens is in .m4r and .mp3 format that allow you to set ringtone as phone call to any mobile phone or smartphone, whether it is: Nokia, Samsung, iPhone or Android OS phone. Before you download ringtones Angehldejame Un Mens for the phone you have the opportunity pre-listening is in our view will allow you to know in advance how it will sound Angehldejame Un Mens ringtone on your phone.

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In case you have not found suitable ringtones for mobile phone - use the search box or navigate by categories and genres of mobile ringtones and phone tones placed on the left block. We are confident that our site will find the ringtone to your phone and make it unique and original among his own kind.

Download ringtone Angehldejame Un Mens

Download ringtone Angehldejame Un Mens
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Download ringtone  Angehldejame Un Mens via QR-code

Added: 23-05-2016, 11:18
Category/Genre: Latin
Downloads: 77
Type: .m4r and .mp3
Size: 186 Kb

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Free ringtones and tunes to your cellphone on this site are gathered from free sources and made available for non-commercial purposes, for reference. Downloading free ringtones to your mobile phone, you agree to the terms of free use of all provided music for your phone
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Jaan ringtone to your cellphone

Jaan ringtones from category Others ringtones and music. This ringtone Jaan is in .m4r and .mp3 format that allow you to set ringtone as phone call to any mobile phone or smartphone, whether it is: Nokia, Samsung, iPhone or Android OS phone. Before you download ringtones Jaan for the phone you have the opportunity pre-listening is in our view will allow you to know in advance how it will sound Jaan ringtone on your phone.

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In case you have not found suitable ringtones for mobile phone - use the search box or navigate by categories and genres of mobile ringtones and phone tones placed on the left block. We are confident that our site will find the ringtone to your phone and make it unique and original among his own kind.

Download ringtone Jaan

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You can download ringtone Jaan directly to your cellphone via QR-code which is placed bellow.
Download ringtone  Jaan via QR-code

Added: 30-03-2016, 19:09
Category/Genre: Others
Downloads: 251
Type: .m4r and .mp3
Size: 396 Kb

Supported phones: Nokia, iPhone, BlackBerry, Android OS, LG, Samsung, SonyEricsson and many others brands which can support .m4r and .mp3 as ringtone
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Free ringtones and tunes to your cellphone on this site are gathered from free sources and made available for non-commercial purposes, for reference. Downloading free ringtones to your mobile phone, you agree to the terms of free use of all provided music for your phone
Download free to your cellphone Jaan ringtone. Others ringtones and music for mobile phone


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Ringtones for cellphone » Others » Slowly-Zedge

Slowly-Zedge ringtone to your cellphone

Slowly-Zedge ringtones from category Others ringtones and music. This ringtone Slowly-Zedge is in .m4r and .mp3 format that allow you to set ringtone as phone call to any mobile phone or smartphone, whether it is: Nokia, Samsung, iPhone or Android OS phone. Before you download ringtones Slowly-Zedge for the phone you have the opportunity pre-listening is in our view will allow you to know in advance how it will sound Slowly-Zedge ringtone on your phone.

Download ringtone to phone Slowly-Zedge in several ways:
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In case you have not found suitable ringtones for mobile phone - use the search box or navigate by categories and genres of mobile ringtones and phone tones placed on the left block. We are confident that our site will find the ringtone to your phone and make it unique and original among his own kind.

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You can download ringtone Slowly-Zedge directly to your cellphone via QR-code which is placed bellow.
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Added: 25-05-2016, 19:34
Category/Genre: Others
Downloads: 211
Type: .m4r and .mp3
Size: 454 Kb

Supported phones: Nokia, iPhone, BlackBerry, Android OS, LG, Samsung, SonyEricsson and many others brands which can support .m4r and .mp3 as ringtone
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Free ringtones and tunes to your cellphone on this site are gathered from free sources and made available for non-commercial purposes, for reference. Downloading free ringtones to your mobile phone, you agree to the terms of free use of all provided music for your phone
Download free to your cellphone Slowly-Zedge ringtone. Others ringtones and music for mobile phone


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Decidi ringtone to your cellphone

Decidi ringtones from category Others ringtones and music. This ringtone Decidi is in .m4r and .mp3 format that allow you to set ringtone as phone call to any mobile phone or smartphone, whether it is: Nokia, Samsung, iPhone or Android OS phone. Before you download ringtones Decidi for the phone you have the opportunity pre-listening is in our view will allow you to know in advance how it will sound Decidi ringtone on your phone.

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You can download ringtone Decidi directly to your cellphone via QR-code which is placed bellow.
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Added: 13-08-2016, 00:46
Category/Genre: Others
Downloads: 65
Type: .m4r and .mp3
Size: 633 Kb

Supported phones: Nokia, iPhone, BlackBerry, Android OS, LG, Samsung, SonyEricsson and many others brands which can support .m4r and .mp3 as ringtone
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Free ringtones and tunes to your cellphone on this site are gathered from free sources and made available for non-commercial purposes, for reference. Downloading free ringtones to your mobile phone, you agree to the terms of free use of all provided music for your phone
Download free to your cellphone Decidi ringtone. Others ringtones and music for mobile phone


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Ringtones for cellphone » Others » Look Like Goku

Look Like Goku ringtone to your cellphone

Look Like Goku ringtones from category Others ringtones and music. This ringtone Look Like Goku is in .m4r and .mp3 format that allow you to set ringtone as phone call to any mobile phone or smartphone, whether it is: Nokia, Samsung, iPhone or Android OS phone. Before you download ringtones Look Like Goku for the phone you have the opportunity pre-listening is in our view will allow you to know in advance how it will sound Look Like Goku ringtone on your phone.

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Added: 21-12-2016, 20:14
Category/Genre: Others
Downloads: 60
Type: .m4r and .mp3
Size: 469 Kb

Supported phones: Nokia, iPhone, BlackBerry, Android OS, LG, Samsung, SonyEricsson and many others brands which can support .m4r and .mp3 as ringtone
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Related ringtones

Free ringtones and tunes to your cellphone on this site are gathered from free sources and made available for non-commercial purposes, for reference. Downloading free ringtones to your mobile phone, you agree to the terms of free use of all provided music for your phone
Download free to your cellphone Look Like Goku ringtone. Others ringtones and music for mobile phone


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Thursday, June 12, 2014

After Cityline It's Back to Normal Or Is It?

Well a few months have passed since my art/design segment that I did with Sharon Grech aired on Cityline. The excitement has faded and things have gone back to normal around here. The living space and studio was staged beautifully and cleaned for 'shoot day' and looked absolutely wonderful. A page right out of a magazine. Then reality took over and it hasn't looked the same since.

With my gallery work, as well as the paintings and illustrations I do for posters, there has been a lot of creative chaos on a daily basis. The furniture gets moved out of the way, the dining table is now a work table and there are plenty of canvases in various stages of 'art' all over the place. And yes I get frustrated at the end of the day when I 'should' put things away and tidy up. I need a proper studio. A studio where I can spread out and get messy and not have to worry about putting things away at the end of the day. Until that day comes I'm thinking of moving into the spare room and painting there. Tis will mean working in the same room that now holds the kitty's litter boxes. Hmmmm, I'll keep you posted on how this works out.