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Jerry Cthulhu and Niish
Nox Mente & The Obelisk
Nox Mente is a show dedicated to exploring consciousness through dreams, dreaming, and dream theory using a wide angle lens. We have opened up this conversation to a diverse world of dreamers. Our goal is to help in the process of bringing conscious intent to the state of dreaming — light to the shadowy corners of this experience we all have access to, each time we drift off to sleep. We strive to maintain an open and neutral environment as hosts. There are many theories on the process of dreaming and altered states, and we want to hear them all. No information is irrelevant when it comes...
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4.4 stars from 42 ratings
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Greetings, I know you all love astrology, for more great information visit Mrastrology on YouTube you won’t be disappointed. Blessings to you and your family.
MisfitAngle via Apple Podcasts · United States of America · 04/10/21
Most under rated show ever
Jerry and Niish have interviewed so many amazing guests that I’ve been hearing on my favorite paranormal/occult/fringe podcasts for years. But instead of asking easy questions about the guest’s latest work, this show goes straight to the jugular and initiates super intimate and profound...Read full review »
Shukedaddy via Apple Podcasts · United States of America · 01/10/21
More neo nazi dogwhistling
People will die because of this podcast. This is a 4chan, alt-reich, “muhhh freeze peach”, talking points bulletin wrapped in a thin “paranormal” layer. Save yourself some time and skim a pirated copy of Behold a Pale Horse instead of listening to this show.
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Jewelers Want States To Replace Limits On Cadmium

JewelryYou’ll be able to see clearly that an increasing number of new-common jewelry has been freshly released into the current jewelry market, together with tungsten jewelry, gold jewelry, pearl jewelry, titanium jewelry and so forth. Connecticut Attorney Common Richard Blumenthal additionally mentioned Monday that his office would examine cadmium content material in some products, particularly costume jewelry. A lot of the jewelry will fall into this category as a result of there’s too much creativity and the freedom to craft unique and beautiful pieces. The artist additionally has some freedom to add Larimar, crystals, Amber and Amethyst.

At the moment, with the several types of jewelry used, from traditional necklaces and earrings to toe rings and navel rings, the need to organize and retailer these many items has increased the popularity of the armoire Mahogany jewelry. There are various types of teething jewelry, together with necklaces, bracelets and anklets, which have beads made with materials corresponding to amber, wooden, marble or silicone.

7. Links: One method to test the authenticity of a jewelry merchandise like a bracelet or necklace is to examine the links. Genuine Tiffany products are soldered in a smooth fashion, while pretend Tiffany objects have a very crude finish. His testing of children’s jewelry for AP additionally showed that some items simply shed cadmium, elevating considerations about exposure to youngsters.

For extra information about silver and for a number of bulldog jewelry go to -jewelry , as gold will not be for everybody. This Silver Nervousness Worry Ring ($20) is certainly one of my favourite items in my collection. It spins with ease and matches most outfits.

BP. Stacking rings mean you can mix and match the rings to customize their appearance. These mix metal and stones in gold. 3. Coloration combination: Sometimes when one considers a good combination for what she is carrying, a silver jewelry will likely be more suitable than gold or other types of jewelry.

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La Palma Gilver

Lush and tactile, Catherine Martin's classic La Palma wallpaper celebrates Old Hollywood glamour while borrowing the tropical elegance and palm motifs of mid-century Miami. This design is digitally printed onto a pre-embossed paper-based vinyl. (Available in multiple colorways on our website.)
  • Packaged and sold by the 10.9 yd double roll
  • Roll Dimensions: 27" x 32.7 ft.
  • Pattern: 48.4" Repeat
  • All sales final


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Goodbye yellow pumps, hello wedges

It’s not a goodbye, but a see you later … we could’ve been so good together!!! All the skirts, shorts, dresses … the possibilities were endless!!! So I ended up exchanging the mustard pumps from Aldo. It was a difficult decision, but I had to reason with myself. Is it worth it to keep the shoes just because of the amazing color and have to put up with yellow stained feet?? I don’t think so!!! Probably after 3-5 wears, they’ll just end up in a box never to be seen again and you’ll see me in a corner kicking myself for not doing anything about it. At least I got a photo in them, just in case you guys forgot which pair of shoes I was talking about here they are:

I decided with the wedges below. The material of shoe is fabric, leather and synthetic. They were actually my first choice before I laid my eyes on the mustard pumps. Never mess with your first pick, it’ll save you the hassle!!! It’s like when you’re trying to find that perfect outfit, you tear your room apart, try hundreds of outfits on and end up going with the first outfit you tried on. Been there, done that and still continue to do so … I will never learn. Back to the shoes … the inside lining of the shoe is leather so it’s breathable. My feet tend to sweat (yeah I know … TMI), so it’s mandatory for me to ONLY buy shoes that are lined with leather. I should do a post on shoe care, if you maintain your shoes (cleaning & protecting) they’ll last you a very long time) Back to the shoes … again … I’m not really a fan of wedges because I can’t walk properly in them. Why am I gonna buy shoes that I can’t walk in? I see ridiculously high platform shoes on some brave ladies downtown during RUSH HOUR and shake my head every time as they wobble on by. I guess practice makes perfect, how else are you gonna learn how to walk in them if you don’t wear them? (personally, I’d wear them around the office where walking is very limited) These wedges fit my feet perfectly and feel quite comfortable. Can’t wait to wear them!! It’s going to be a beautiful May 2-4 weekend and I will definitely use protective spray on these puppies before they make their debut.

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by @TaraLipinsky

READ MORE: Dozens Of CPD Officers, Other City Workers Rally Against Vaccine Mandate As Alderman Introduces Proposal To Repeal It

More Columns here.

A Very Brady Hit

Breaking News: Tom Brady is lucky to be alive after taking this devastating hit last night during the Patriots Thursday Night Football match up against the NY Jets. [Insert eye roll here]

Story via CBS Boston

A Whole New World?

Oh, and speaking of pretty boy Patriot quarterbacks, apparently the team played a prank on rookie Jimmy Garoppolo – changing his locker room nameplate to “Prince Aladdin” right before the media arrived on Friday.

Those Patriots are regular comedians when they’re not cheating. #justkidding #sorrynotsorry

Story via CBS Boston

‘Cause I’m Happy

READ MORE: Another Victim Of Serial Killer John Wayne Gacy Identified: Francis Wayne Alexander, Of North Carolina

Now, if you’re really interested in something funny check out Iman Shumpert’s voice as it provides the commentary during a recent postgame interview with Carmelo Anthony.

This makes me so happy, I’m crying.

Wine And Spirits?

Amar’e Stoudemire of the New York Knicks blew up Instagram yesterday when he posted a picure of himself bathing in wine  – which allegedly helps boost his post-workout recovery.

Ok. But I have a few questions. Aren’t you tempted to take even a little sip? And am I the only one who’s wondering who has to clean out that tub?

Story via

New Twist On Political Finger-Pointing

Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani recently talked New York football with TMZ and after making it perfectly clear he is a hardcore Giants fan –  he agreed to weigh- in on the state of Rex Ryan and the Jets.

Basically, Giuliani told TMZ the fans shouldn’t blame blame Rex… they should blame his players.

So, does that mean we can all just blame John Idzik?

MORE NEWS: COVID Booster Shots Now Available In Chicago


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Park Ridge Restaurant Complains That Grubhub Was Selling Its Food For Delivery Without PermissionThe next time you place a delivery order, you may not get exactly what’s on the menu.
FedEx Loses $2 billion, Warns Of Headwinds In Coming YearThe company announced this month that it would not renew an airfreight-delivery contract with Amazon that expires June 30. It did not disclose the value of that work, but said Amazon accounted for less than 1.3% of its revenue in 2018.
Slurpees Incoming! 7-Eleven Begins Delivery In Public SpacesDominos launched a similar service last year, delivering pizzas and more to over 200,000 public locations.
3rd District Officers Help Woman Deliver Baby In CarChicago police officers helped a woman deliver her baby in a car in Woodlawn Sunday morning.
Starbucks To Expand Delivery In U.S., ChinaThe company says it will offer delivery from 2,000 U.S. stores by next summer through a partnership with Uber Eats. It isn't yet saying which stores will offer it.
Walgreens Expands Prescription Delivery Program NationwideWalgreens is joining rival drugstore chain CVS Health in expanding home deliveries for prescriptions nationwide, as stores continue adjusting to a retail world made more consumer-friendly by online competition.
Amazon Will Sell And Deliver Live Christmas Trees This YearAn Amazon spokesperson said that some of trees will be eligible for Prime shipping, meaning members of its $119-yearly subscription program will get two-day shipping.
Amazon Orders 20,000 Vans To Build Delivery FleetThe vans, which feature a blue smile logo, can be used by contractors to deliver packages.
Paramedics, Firefighters Help Hawthorn Woods Woman Deliver Baby At HomeIt wasn't according to the birth plan, but Lake Zurich firefighters helped deliver a baby at a north suburban home Saturday night.
The Busiest Days Are Ahead For The U.S. Postal ServiceMore than 612-million pieces of mail are expected to be processed nationwide on Monday, according to the U.S. Postal Service.
A Guide To Holiday Shipping Deadlines For Retailers And Delivery CompaniesChristmas is now less than two weeks away, and the clock is ticking to finish your shopping, and have everything wrapped and under the tree on December 25.


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Does TV Rot Your Brain? U of C Economists Try To Find Out

Via Slate, read about a recent study by University of Chicago economists Matthew Gentzkow and Jesse Shapiro regarding the long-term impact on children of TV viewing. Basically, they studied the test scores of children in various cities in order to determine if TV watching correlated with test scores. The assumption being that increased TV watching adversely affects scholastic performance.

Before you click through to read the article, what do you think they found? Does TV harm kids’ test scores or does it improve them? Does TV rot your brain?

1 Comment so far

  1. Dave! (unregistered) on February 16th, 2006 @ 4:18 pm

    For a minute, I thought TV had made me stupider, er, um, more stupid? But you can find the article here:

    The Slate article was also written by Austan Goolsbee, who is also a professor at UC.

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Grandstream GXP2160 6-Line VoIP Phone

The Grandstream GXP2160 is a 6-line enterprise VoIP phone with advanced functionalities and performance. The GXP2160 features HD voice, dual Gigabit RJ45 ports and a 480×272 TFT color display which also for easy use of its integrated web applications.

Grandstream GXP2160 Features and Functions:

  • 6 Line appearances
  • Support for G.722 HD Voice
  • 4.3″ (480×272) TFT Color LCD Display
  • Dual Gigabit RJ45 Ports
  • Built-in auto sensing IEEE 802.3 af Power over Ethernet
  • Supports PoE and a Universal Power Supply is Included
  • RJ9 headset port
  • 24 programmable BLF extension keys
  • Support for Electronic Hook Switch (EHS) with Plantronics Headsets


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business, international business, OneCoin, society, technology

Why OneCoin? A Cryptocurrency Analysis

In March 2016 I received an invitation from my cousin Dolly in Austria introducing me to the world of cryptocurrency. Back then I merely know BitCoin (in short, I didn’t buy it in 2009). So my cousin shared some information about cryptocurrency and the product that she endorses – OneCoin.

At first, we were reluctant to buy in any cryptocurrency but then again, who knows, this industry seems to be worthwhile looking into. So, my husband Gnex and I, discussed and decided to give it a try. Few months after, I was approached by few friends to join the cryptocurrencies they endorsed. Somehow it made me realized that cryptocurrency industry seem to be gaining momentum and I only have a tad knowledge about it. So I decided to study what cryptocurrency is all about and how it can help or probably change the future of finance. I studied various cryptocurrencies in the market and that includes OneCoin. I’ve observed and studied other digital currencies and we decided to stick to OneCoin.

OneCoin is a cryptocurrency that uses blockchain technology. A blockchain technology is somewhat a digital ledger that uses hash algorithm requiring verification and recognition from the cluster of computers involved in identifying, approving and recording the transaction. Imagine yourself going to the bank and perform over the counter transactions. Before you start your banking transaction, the teller will need to verify your identification (it is called the Know Your Customer – KYC procedure) and your account number. Now, in digital cryptocurrency, you do not need the bank tellers or the bank, as long as you know your account, you can perform your financial transactions. The blockchain mechanism will perform the identification, hand-shake, approval and journal your completed financial transaction.

What are digital currencies used for?

Digital currencies or cryptocurrencies target markets are online payments, global remittances, and money transfers. Most of which deals with banking and financial services. There will be upcoming markets for cryptocurrencies, only if this method of payments will be accepted by merchants or probably banks.

                                                                            Online payments

There are ginormous digital currencies in the market. All of is which is lead by BitCoin. However, BitCoin itself still have some flaws such as anonymity. Combine with its high selling price, it’s not wise to put your money on BitCoin. In the end, consumers resorted to searching for alternatives.

I will not write about the shortcomings of other digital cryptocurrencies, this article will focus on my analysis of OneCoin using SWOT method to prove why OneCoin is worthwhile looking into. I’m not paid by OneCoin to blog, this article does not contain incites from the brand. I’m merely expressing my opinions and choose to share my understanding of the value proposition of OneCoin as a technology and OneLife as a company and why we’ve chosen OneCoin.

                                                                          Grow your coins

  • OneCoin creates value by educating its members. While the trading or OneCoin exchange is the buzz of the internet, OneLife’s offering is educational packages. OneLife’s goal is to educate the vast majority of humanity who have none or minimal knowledge about finance and trading. When you buy an education package, you will receive the corresponding number of tokens which you can trade or “mine” to get the cryptocurrency coin – OneCoin. I believed this is one of the company’s strengths as it gives the members the audacity to decide for themselves as to whether take higher risks or invest with a calculated risk involved.
  • OneCoin is a closed platform. Coming from an information technology (IT) background for 17 years, often dealing with projects, I often faced debates whether to choose an infrastructure of open source platform or that of the enterprise. Open platform has its own advantages I agree. However, my main concern for open platforms is that it is prone to code changes by the community. Simply put it, if it is an open platform, it is prone to abuse by the dubious folks from the web. Remember, cryptocurrency is all digital, it might be difficult to trace frauds in an open platform. You do not want the blockchain of your coins to be hacked and later find out your money has gone to waste. A closed platform indicates proprietary rights to the code involved in the blockchain. Having a closed proprietary code for blockchain protects the members from fraudulent transactions and hackers. It is easier to trace as OneCoin maintains its own codes.
  • Know Your Customer (KYC) is important. The digital currency industry still doesn’t appear to have regulatory controls. For us, know your customer (KYC) procedure is important. This is to protect the trading members from transacting with criminals, terrorists, and dark webs. If your digital currency of choice does not employ KYC procedure (completely anonymous), there’s a likelihood that you might get involved in dubious transactions. In OneCoin, you won’t be able to perform financial transactions without the company approving your KYC documents. In short, the company checks and verifies the identifications of its members. Therefore, the members’ financial transactions can be audited and regulatory compliance can be implemented.
  • Transaction Transparency. I am not sure how many cryptocurrencies do this, but OneCoin’s claim of embedding your KYC documents in the blockchain transaction is what I believed sets OneCoin above its competitors. Remember that cyber crimes keep on increasing through viruses, trojans, phishings, and malwares. Currently, another cyber crime emerged called RANSOMWARE. Ransomware happens when cyber criminals or hackers are able to access your computers and files when you click on email attachments or click on website links. When the cyber criminal or hacker is able to gain full control of your computer, tablet, or smartphone, you will receive a message asking for money or a fully anonymous cryptocurrency as a ransom. Pretty much like your computer or digital device has been kidnapped and you have to pay to ransom your critical data. This is not to smear the reputation of BitCoin but since BitCoin now have more vending machines (ATM), highly valued, and fully anonymous, it is the most wanted cryptocurrency by the cyber criminals, money launderers, and various sanctioned activities.
  • OneCoin’s promised of 120 billion coins. People would find this claim ridiculous and crazy. However, bear in the mind that the successful businesses started with ridiculous and crazy ideas. Cryptocurrencies and trading employ the law of supply and demand. Having more coins can indicate the company’s sustainability of providing more coins in the longer period of time. In this way, the value of the coins will not bubble and will not become volatile. It is still a caveat that there’s no guarantee. OneCoin’s success, in my opinion, will come from the hard work of the founder, the management, and the members.
  • OneCoin lets you build your direct selling business. The human behavior is to share what appears to be something valuable, isn’t it? If you are looking for business opportunity through direct selling (network marketing), OneLife provides bonuses through referrals. You can become OneLife’s Independent Marketing Associate (IMA). However, do note that being IMA is optional. Meaning, if you do not want to participate in the bonus schemes, you can sign up and buy the educational package excluding the IMA.
  • The Founder and CEO is visionary. The company’s strength and sustainability will come from the founder’s vision and the company’s mission. I have a little knowledge of Dr. Ruja Ignatova’s background, so I did a search of a worthy video to share in order to understand her visions of the company. Here’s her early interview from MLM News:

  • OneLife’s Corporate Social Responsibility. I believe in companies who gives back to society. OneLife has its social arm in doing charities to the needy communities.

  • OneCoin is accused of a SCAM and a Ponzi Scheme in the internet.  Search OneCoin over the internet (regardless of search-engine) and the first couple of result lines are headed as OneCoin is a scam. Next, it is a Ponzi scheme. Now, remember that Ponzi schemes and scams refer to the non-delivery of promised product or service(s). When you put your money in OneCoin, what you’re buying are the educational package(s) and not the tokens or coins. The IMAs are selling the said educational packages, or OneTablet (Digital device). If the IMA sells you the tokens or coins, it violates the IMA terms and conditions. If you feel that OneCoin was misrepresented, you can file your complaint by sending an email correspondence to so an investigation can be done. OneLife as direct selling company has thousands (or probably millions) of IMAs. Therefore, it is pretty important to know your IMA before signing up. Remember, your IMA will be your future business partner should you decide to become an IMA when signing up with OneCoin.
  • OneCoin is a fairly new company. The company is less than 2 years old as of this writing. However, OneLife’s member is more than 2 million in numbers (according to OneLife’s website). Definitely, there’s a risk when you join OneLife considering the age of the company, but having more than 2 million members somehow signals guarantee that OneLife will stay in the business for a longer time. How long? No one can guarantee you that. It is of utmost important that you understand the risk when joining or supporting a business regardless of which kind.
  • OneCoin’s Main Headquarter is in Sofia, Bulgaria. Yup, it is in Europe, particularly in Russia. They are in different timezone compared to us in Asia. OneLife has 2 more offices – Hong Kong and Dubai. In my opinion, it is a good move by the company to ensure the members the company’s presence in Asia and the Middle East. You have to ask your IMA for OneLife’s countries of operations. If you belong to a country where OneLife doesn’t have operations, it is always advisable to take caution as there may not be consumer protection in my opinion.
  • OneCoin is only traded in OneCoin Exchange. In my opinion, this is a weakness but it’s also a strength. I’m guessing the reason behind OneCoin not present in the public exchanges is to avoid the bubble in the coin value. Law of supply and demand: The lesser the supply, the greater the demand. It’s pretty much what happened to BitCoin. At some point, BitCoin value reached US 1000+. It bubbled up, it also bubbled down. If you’re going to check the cryptocurrency exchanges, there’s a big gap between the price of BitCoin and the rest of the digital coins. It creates challenges to the lower valued coins. If you buy a digital coin of US 0.10 value, what’s the probability that the value will rise? And for how long? OneLife has a different vision in my opinion. A company with long term vision does not need to hurry to be traded publicly. In my opinion, OneLife as a company aims to be in the business in the longer term.

  • More offerings from OneLife. OneLife’s offering started with educational packages. Then followed by OneTablet. The company signals more business opportunity and a larger platform. We will have to wait and see what are OneLife’s future offerings and acquisitions. It is important for the members to keep abreast with the company news and updates. You can check with your business partners for more information. You are also advised to subscribe to OneLife’s YouTube channel to listen and understand where the company is heading.

  • More and more cryptocurrencies and business models.  It is definite that more and more cryptocurrencies will emerge. It’s good news for consumers, it means more choices. Different business models such as direct selling (network marketing) will also come up with efforts to boost up the revenue of the other 600+ cryptocurrencies of lower value than BitCoin. Middle companies whose aims are to sell various coins will come into play as well. If you’re a current IMA or contemplating of signing up as one, I recommend that you read the terms and conditions of OneLife. Avoid the scenario of “conflict of interest”. OneLife takes serious actions on IMAs involved in such mentioned activities.

Some advisory;

  1. Before joining any direct selling business, it is important that you understand the product. This is to avoid mistakes in the future when for some reason you change your mind. Check as well, if there are “cooling period”. Cooling period is the number of days that you can decide to cancel your subscription or purchase(s) without incurring penalty.

  2. It is the IMA’s responsibility to respond to your queries. If you have some questions, list it beforehand and get clarifications before signing up.

  3. When purchasing an educational package, ensure that you have made calculated risk. Meaning, only buy the educational package that you can afford to loose.

  4. Being involved in cryptocurrency business, the risk can be considered high. As always take caution in deciding the level of risk that you want to make.

  5. It is important not to join in haste. OneCoin maybe a good news but remember to evaluate whether you need cryptocurrency in your current and future affairs. If you’re spiritual type of person, I recommend that you pray about it first before giving it a yes.

A great news!

OneCoin is currently on bonus mode. The coins that you received including the coins that you are still waiting, will be doubled this coming October 1st 2016! Also, when you place your tokens into mining before October 1st, the expected number of coins will doubled too! We feel this is something you want to check into.

My husband is a registered IMA. You can sign up for free without obligation (no credit card information needed). You will only need to pay when you want to activate your account to receive your educational package access and its corresponding tokens.

Click here to sign up free and understand more of OneCoin before fully deciding to join.

Til next time. Au revoir.

2 thoughts on “Why OneCoin? A Cryptocurrency Analysis”

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Vision, Mission & Values

“Creativity is contagious, pass it on.”

Albert Einstein

Our Story

“The past is but the past of a beginning.”

H. G. Wells

Our Board

“The things that we love tell us what we are.”

Thomas Aquinas

Dream, Create, Inspire

Our productions will promote social values, moral integrity and reflect the cultural diversity of our international city through casting and themes.  The Main Stage Season will offer shows relevant in theme to the lives of elementary age students and their families. Our After School Theatre Programs will give students the opportunity to explore drama, dance, music, and art through the development of a musical at their school site. We also envision a meaningful collaboration with the Long Beach Public Libraries offering Reader’s Theatre bringing children into contact with classic literature as well as new works in a lively and engaging improvisational experience. It is our goal to contribute to the growing body of theatre for youth with the commission and development of new plays that are engaging, enriching, and educational. We will serve a metropolitan area rich in culture by producing arts and education for a diverse population, our theatre will be a dynamic asset to the community. We are determined to bring theatre to families from every socio-economic and cultural background to create strong memories that will last with them a lifetime.

The Children’s Theatre of Long Beach creates extraordinary theatre experiences that educate, challenge and inspire young people and their communities toward creative and productive lives becoming voices for positive change. We accomplish our mission through: main stage productions for children and families, outreach and education programs, and the creation of new works for children and families.

By creating theatre which engages and frees the imagination and intellect the Children’s Theatre of Long Beach can increase the possibility of positive social change. Allowing a young person to engage with a wide variety of issues, through the dramatic arts, we provide a context in which the young person and their community can process events which happen in the diverse society in which we live.

By providing a home base for artists, the Children’s Theatre of Long Beach develops dynamic and professional live theatre to engage children, families, educators and community members in both classic and contemporary works. The Children’s Theatre of Long Beach believes that the collective arts are an essential part of our community and is therefore committed to taking on new challenges and collaborating with our peers to use the arts to make a positive impact.

The Children’s Theatre of Long Beach believes in the creative capability of all children and encourages young performers to work as a team rather than seek the spotlight for themselves. Parents are essential to the growth and development of children as artists and we seek to engage them in the creative process. Audiences are our fellow collaborators for without them there is no dialogue. The Children’s Theatre of Long Beach believes all children, families and communities deserve the opportunity to experience live theatre on stage, off stage and as an audience.

Children’s Theatre of Long Beach is a fairly new theatre company serving families with school age children. CTLB was founded in 2013 in response to the growing need for children’s theatre programs and family theatre. We are an incorporated California non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. CTLB is an artistic resource for Long Beach schools and libraries, a nexus for building community collaboration and a vehicle of theatrical entertainment for all of Long Beach. Children’s Theatre of Long Beach is an exceptional forum for collaboration with local artists, educators, and parents. Carefully chosen classic literary and theatrical works are produced at our Main Stage and in After-School Programs and Workshops through engaging, enriching, and educational plays and musicals. We serve an international city rich in cultural diversity. CTLB creates opportunity for the wide ranging population of our city to come together and create new experiences for their children. Our productions and programs seek to embody our community’s personal experiences while challenging their expectations. CTLB creates venues for access to the arts for families from every background with varied resources through our extensive programming.   We believe theatre engages and inspires people to take part in collaboration and community activity that reaches far beyond the stage.

Sean is a teacher at the Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA) and a graduate of California Institute of the Arts (CAL ARTS) with an Master of Fine Arts in Theatre. Winner of the Princess Grace Foundation’s Excellence in Theatre Award and Long Beach Hero 2014, Sean has been choreographing and directing theatre for all ages for the past 15 years. Before Sean started directing he designed for the theatre in venues as small as 60 seats and in excess of 3000. From children’s theatre, equity waiver, civic light opera to music circus Sean has enjoyed the varied challenges each space has to offer.  Sean has designed and assistant designed sets, costumes and scenery regionally and on Broadway working with designers Christopher Barreca and Douglas Rogers as well as for Directors Glenn Casale and Matthew August.


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Turning Point (LSDJ) / Music / bryface's music / Turning Point (LSDJ)

Turning Point (LSDJ)

By bryface on Dec 31, 2012 3:06 am

the one and only track i did for WeeklyBeats 2012.  started on a saturday evening and it ended up being an all-nighter.   this is why i can't do WeeklyBeats.

not quite sure what genre to put this under, so any suggestions would be useful!

1 x LSDJ, 1 x human.

This submission is licensed by author under CC Attribution Noncommercial Share Alike (BY-NC-SA)

amazing bass line there, this is just straight from LSDJ? It's really impressive.

yeah i really liked this one, the rhythms were really cool. fun stuff.

really nice and funky with great percusion

dude! unique lsdj work. genre: controlroomcore

Haha, "1 x human"

This is quite a unique sound to get out of LSDJ, impressive work!

Heh, it's good

Genre: Cat Hair

Genre: Robofunk

You need to login to leave a comment. / Music / bryface's music / Turning Point (LSDJ)


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Roatripping: 8/10 – 16 WRD

Some people are effected more by heat than others. I remember once, in TX, we’d been out to a memorial service. It was hot and humid. As we sat in the car afterwards, trying to decide what to do, the sweat was rolling down my face. But not Mr. Judy’s.

I’d rather run outside than on the treadmill, but for me, I’d come to the proverbial breaking point between the heat, humidity, and early mornings. Embracing the treadmill again this week helped. A lot! Originally I planned to run today, too — inside or outside — but I took a long walk instead. You’ll see why.

I’m not trying to tell you to run on a treadmill, not at all. Just reminding y’all that we’re all different. The most important thing is to just keep moving by whatever mode works for you.

Joining Kim @ Kimrunsonthefly and Deborah @ Confessionsofamotherrunner, and easing back into running and embracing my treadmill again (a little).

Workouts update

  • Monday:  Dogwalk, 3 ish treadmill miles, Filmed Yoga video (50 min)
  • Tuesday: Dogwalk, Peloton Bootcamp (2ish? mies + ST — total 45 min)
  • Wednesday: Dogwalk, Walking around historic sites & over bridges
  • Thursday: Dogwalk, Yoga with Weights (20 min)
  • Friday: 8 mile LSD, Yoga (20 min)
  • Saturday:  Dogwalk, Yoga (20 min), Soul Stroll
  • Sunday: Dogwalk, Long Walk in a New Place

Mileage: 12 (+.9)

JY = Jasyoga
PB = Killer B
TM = Treadmill
YFR = Yoga for Runners*
WU = warmup
CD = cooldown
SB = Stationary Bike
YFPR = Yoga for Pain Relief
YTU = Yoga Tune Up Lower Body*

*Disclaimer: Amazon affiliate links; I will make a small amount of money if you buy through these links

Running Update

Monday intention: try something new
My first running class on Peloton. I did a 10 min running warmup + a 30 min running class (beginner) + 10 min walking cooldown. Apparently the incline is broken on my treadmill again. Not the end of the world. Garmin is notoriously inaccurate with indoor runs, and of course ancient mills aren’t so accurate either. So not so sure how far I ran, but I know it was fine and definitely hit some paces (for a brief time) I wouldn’t have if I’d slogged it out outside.

Tuesday intention: nasal breathing
I did my first running + ST bootcamp with Peloton App. I chose a beginner, 30 min bootcamp. I definitely liked the running portion — perfect way to get just a little bit of running in and I was able to push the pace while running (it used run/walk intervals) and maintain nasal breathing — something I just haven’t been able to do outside during the Summer, although I keep trying!

The strength portion was good, but again, I really felt like it was rushed.

Scooooore! Rabbit in front of goal amused me

Friday intention: support women with breast cancer
It was much warmer than predicted this morning. I wish I’d worn my cooling towel. The roads seemed choked with wrong siders, but most crossed when they saw me running towards them. I tried hard to stay with my run/walk intervals (not throwing in extra walk breaks) and mostly — but not completely — succeeded.

I spent some time before this run thinking about my intention, and I pulled out the 5 whys (ask yourself why you’re doing something, then ask 4 more times). Finally I came up with dedicating this run to the women battling cancer and the virtual Dempsey Challenge I’m training for to raise funds for them (If you’d like to donate, you can do it here. Thank you!).

I got it done. I have to admit the run took a lot out of me, but then I thought about the women battling cancer. The ones that don’t win their fight. The ones that battle through all their treatments. Running 8 miles in heat & humidity seemed a small thing to do.

Scenes from my side trip on my way to visit my mom

Favorites of the week
I decided to break up my drive to my mom on Wednesday with a small side trip. As much as I like seeing my mom, these trips are also tiring. The side trip (made easier by no husband or dogs in tow) was well worth the extra time — even if I was really feeling the need for a bathroom by the time I got home!

Long walk on a new to me rail trail

Today I am off to pick up my bowl/mug for me and my friend from our virtual XC series in July. I found what sounds like a nice rail trail close to the pickup location.

At least I added one new mug this year

The rail trail was very nice! So is the new mug.

He looked left, then right & I captured both
Lola spends a lot of time just staring into space

What have you been doing to have some fun this Summer?

Do you think you can’t meditate? There is no can’t, only won’t!

What was the highlight of your week?

ICYMI: I had a video on balance done early. Except I hadn’t uploaded it to YouTube. Then our desktop crashed and died yesterday. So it’s stuck inside the desktop. I made a quick vlog on my walk today about the many benefits of meditation. Watch it here.

Coming up on Tuesday: Strength training — why I do it and where I do it. On Friday I’ll be thinking about what good things have come out of the Pandemic. I hope anyway, everything takes a lot longer on my phone/tablet. It’s probably going to take me longer to comment on blogs, too.

44 thoughts on “Roatripping: 8/10 – 16 WRD

  1. I am also pretty much at the end of my rope w the heat and humidity. When just walking to and from the car makes me sweat, it’s just not fun. I don’t mind cycling as much in the heat bc I have the breeze. This too, shall pass right. I do find meditation difficult and I know it’s because I have not given it a proper try.

    Liked by 1 person

  2. Wow. You drove to New Paltz for a mug? Lol at least you found a rail trail to take a walk. When I traveled I was surprised how many they are in NyS. I remember one in Vestal for example.

    I’ve enjoyed my Sat brunches and trail walks with friends. Definitely the highlights of the summer.

    I plan to go to Vromans nose tomorrow and meet Deirdre for lunch. Another day off and road trip. Can’t wait.

    Treadmills are dreadful for me. But it’s great if they help you.

    I do all my blog comments and writing on my phone.

    1. No, I drove to Kingston. It’s only an hour. That particular rail trail just opened fall of last year. It’s really nice. Even tempting to go to to run but I probably wouldn’t — again, closer to you.

      Vromans Nose is awesome. I think that’s actually an hour’s drive from me, obviously closer for you. And I went to my mom this week too. A lot of driving.

      I do a lot of stuff on our desktop — we both do. The real problem for me is video right now.

      1. Oh, it was very crowded, but I expected that.

        The differences:

        1. I was by myself. Much easier to social distance when you’re not with others.

        2. It’s about 2 feet wider than our rail trail, and that makes a huge difference too.

        3. If I ever decided to go back to run (you never know), I wouldn’t do it on a weekend. Luckily I have that flexibility.

  3. The Peloton app has gotten me to dust off my treadmill. It’s been a month since I’ve done a solid run on it though — I like the bootcamps with short doses of treadmill time. 🙂

    That’s a cool mural! And a fun mug!

    What am I doing for fun this summer? Do Peloton workouts and puzzles count? They are what I’m doing to keep from losing my mind ….

    Liked by 1 person

  4. What a fun mug! I had an Ice Age Trail mug all picked out as a reward for my trail race–then it was canceled. Boo! Hopefully I can get it in the spring.

    Sorry to hear about the laptop. Will you replace it? I think commenting on the phone would get old quickly. And there’s no way I’d be composing a blog post on my phone. Sorry.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It’s not a laptop, it’s our desktop, which we share & both use quite a bit. I can do a lot on my iPad, but the videos . . . That’s hard. Mr. Judy’s still trying stuff, but no matter what it’s going to take a while. #firstworldproblems

  5. I have had it with this weather. Luckily we have a break, but know we’ll get walloped again. I cannot meditate. I have tried, it does not work for me. But that’s why we all have different outlets. Yay for something new on your drive. The pics were great

    Liked by 1 person

    1. For now. though, time to thoroughly enjoy this break!

      I have to ask: when you say you cannot meditate, what exactly do you mean? Do you mean that you can’t turn off your thoughts? That’s ok! It’s totally normal! With practice you’ll find that you’ll be able to just notice when you are thinking.

      The most important thing with meditation is to notice how you feel after you meditate.

      Sorry, I just had to comment!

      The drives & exploring this week was fun — and tiring at the same time!

      1. Can’t turn off the brain. Can’t sit still. We had a life coach join a recent industry meeting and I enjoyed her presentation but I was scrolling zoom and multi tasking. It’s not for my ADD self.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Well, yeah, the phone has to be put away. Or at least ignored if you’re using it for your meditation, LOL!

        The point truly isn’t to turn off your brain. I do have some pointers, but since you didn’t ask. 🙂

  6. I’ve got YouTube videos stuck in limbo too! Could not download them for the life of me and with so much else going on, I just didn’t. We are cooler here now. Still 80s and 90s but that wicked humidity has diminished so I can’t complain. I won’t say I can’t meditate, just that my mind wanders, so I consider myself a poor meditator. I do think my trail runs are meditative though. Bandit is so handsome!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. For now the computer is fixed (knock on wood) and the video is already scheduled for this coming Sunday. 🙂

      Mind wandering during meditation is absolutely, completely normal. You just let it, and when you notice it, instead of getting upset, just bring your attention back to your breath. It’ll happen again. It’s ok. Just keep returning to your breath. As long as you don’t allow yourself to be upset by it, you should still feel calmer afterward.

      I was definitely busy this week, but my week pales in comparison to yours last week!

  7. Nice mug! I’ve been discovering new parks and new places to walk and run lately so that’s been nice. Just yesterday I went to a park with a beautiful lake only 15 minutes from my house that I had never been to before. I’ll definitely go back to explore more of the trails too. There have been bonuses from the pandemic and not being able to get out as much.

    Liked by 1 person

  8. I don’t have a treadmill so I have no choice but to run outside. Sometimes it isn’t fun when it is hot and humid but that’s how it is.

    I’ve been doing the meditation classes on the Peloton app and like one. In one of them I was so tired that I feel asleep and woke up when it was over. It was a 20 minute class but don’t know how long it had finished by the time I woke up.

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Your pups are the sweetest. Great pics.

    Cool mug for the XC race!

    What a lovely side trip when visiting your mom! Looks like it was definitely worth it.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yay, since I’m going by myself it’s a lot easier to take the side trips. No loading and unloading the dogs, poop bags, water bowls . . . I’m going to keep doing that I think. It does make for a long time without a bathroom though!

  10. I love the mug and I love you thinking of the women with cancer when pushing through your run. Early in my running when I still did it sponsored, I was running for a very small charity supporting Ethiopian woman and was doing a half marathon (my first, maybe) muttering Think of the Ethiopian women out loud, which got me some odd looks!

    Liked by 1 person

  11. There is no shame in treadmill running and just doing what works for you! I opted for the treadmill when we were having a long heat wave and I dont regret it one bit. Even though I do ok with the heat sometimes it just gets to be too much.

    Liked by 1 person

  12. I hear ya on the computer issue…only we’re (currently) without internet (though our power has returned). Ugh…the phone is getting old for me LOL, especially for all the delayed blog reading/commenting. I agree with the heat tolerance. I know I have a lot more of it than most of my fellow runner friends 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Been thinking about you Kim. I’m sure we all are. Well, you won’t soon be forgetting your anniversary this year, right?

      I have other friends that love the heat. I never have. Although it looks like Summer is winding down here. There’ll be some more hot days, but things are definitely heading towards Fall. That’s ok with me! Of course I’m not exactly fond of Winter, either. 🙂

  13. This week has been a lot cooler, but if I’d read this on Sunday when you posted it, I would have said that last week was hot and wet! The highlight of our week was that our youngest son got engaged! He and Jess (Pablo’s parents) have been dating for 4 years. We are thrilled!!!

    Liked by 1 person

  14. I’m a huge treadmill fan, but I haven’t used mine in the longest time. Right now the heat is not getting to me, because I run early, but the darkness will be getting me soon! It’s about that time in which I hide in my basement. Maybe with the new school schedule for the kids I’ll be getting outside more though. We shall see!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’m not actually a huge treadmill fan, but I’m glad I have one.

      I also made an effort for a long time to get in all my runs outside — for me, that was just a mistake with our hot, humid, buggy summer. Things were great this week (until the weekend), though!

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Welcome to Ricoh as new sponsor of the eDisclosure Information Project

There is more than one reason why I am very pleased to announce that Ricoh has become a sponsor of the eDisclosure Information Project. The most obvious reason is that Ricoh is a major force to be reckoned with in US eDiscovery; another is that Ricoh has a strong presence in Canada via its ownership of Commonwealth Legal. One of my themes in the last year has been the interchange of civil procedure rules and ideas between common law jurisdictions. The link with Commonwealth Legal brings an opportunity for me to speak at their Technology in Practice event in Toronto in November – I will come back to that below.

Ricoh eDiscovery Services is a comprehensive set of end-to-end solutions supported by a team of highly qualified eDiscovery experts. It includes digital forensics services, secure hosted technology based on Microsoft Azure, Managed Review Services (known as Intelligent Review in Canada), and a full Production and Presentation Service.

As an extension of this, Ricoh offers cloud-based eDiscovery On Demand, a user-friendly, self-service web solution giving the user full control of the eDiscovery process in a self-service cloud solution backed by Ricoh’s support if needed. That is coming to Canada shortly.

Ricoh’s eDiscovery services are backed by top-of-the-range eDiscovery technology including Relativity, Catalyst, iCONECT XERA, Ringtail, Veritas and Ipro.

Commonwealth Legal’s presence in Canada (it has long been the biggest eDiscovery provider there, and the only one that is ISO 9001:2008 quality-certified) is of particular interest as a common law jurisdiction which derives its rules and its litigation culture in part from the US and in part from England and Wales. Regular readers will know that I have long been keen to promote the sharing of ideas between all the common law jurisdictions. That has its sharpest focus recently in the spread of judicial approval of technology-assisted review from the US to Ireland, to England and Wales and, most recently, to Victoria in Australia. Canada must surely go down the same road shortly.

It is particularly exciting in this context that I have been asked to moderate a TAR panel at Commonwealth Legal’s Technology in Practice event. The conference will be celebrating its 10th year, and will be held in Toronto between 8 and 10 November 2017. Joining me will be US Magistrate Judge Andrew Peck and Maura Grossman, who between them cover the rules, jurisdictional, and technical aspects of TAR with more authority than anyone.

I very much looking forward to that, and to working with Ricoh and Commonwealth Legal over the coming year.

About Chris Dale

I have been an English solicitor since 1980. I run the e-Disclosure Information Project which collects and comments on information about electronic disclosure / eDiscovery and related subjects in the UK, the US, AsiaPac and elsewhere
This entry was posted in Commonwealth Legal, Discovery, eDisclosure, eDiscovery, Electronic disclosure, Ricoh, Technology in Practice and tagged , . Bookmark the permalink.

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DSS failed to produce Nnamdi Kanu in court

DSS fails to produce Nnamdi Kanu in court

The Department of State Services, DSS, on Monday, failed to produce the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu before the Federal High Court in Abuja for continuation of his trial.

When the case was called up around 11:09am, Government lawyer, M. B. Abubakar, blamed Kanu’s absence in court on what he termed as “logistical problems”.

READ ALSO- Court Adjourns Nnamdi Kanu’s Trial To Oct 21

Abubakar, while acknowledging that the matter was slated for hearing, told the court that he was ready to proceed in Kanu’s absence, adding that he has three witnesses ready to testify.

The Prosecution however sought the court’s direction on whether the matter could go on, considering that the High Court has commenced its annual vacation.

READ ALSO- Nnamdi Kanu; DSS Whisk Off Omoyele Sowore

He argued that it would be impossible to proceed with the case in the absence of a Fiat from the Chief Judge of the High Court.

On his part, Kanu’s lawyer, Mr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor told the court that the life of his client was in danger.

Ejiofor told the court that he had been unable to have access to his client for the past 10 days.

READ ALSO- Police Takes Action Against IPOB Members In Court For Nnamdi Kanu’s Trial

“My lord, speaking from the Bar, I got it on good authority that my client has been taken away, outside the jurisdiction of this court”, Ejiofor added.

He equally argued that it would be in the interest of justice for CJ of the court to issue Fiat for the trial to go on during the courts vacation.

Meanwhile, trial Justice Binta Nyako noted that the case could not go on in the absence of the Defendant.

“I am also worried why the Defendant is not here. The first step in a criminals matter is to provide the Defendant in court. He is not here.

Though Justice Nyako acknowledged that she could not proceed with the case without Fiat allowing her to sit as a vacation judge, she made an order, directing the DSS to grant Kanu access to his lawyers.

The judge also ordered that Kanu must be produced before the court on October 21 which is the next adjourned date for the matter.

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Anantara Riverside Resort

The middle of April marks the arrival of the year’s hottest days in Thailand. It also marks the start of the Thai new year, a festival known as Songkhran. A few million of Bangkok’s residents escape the city, leaving either for a holiday out of town or returning to their home province to spend time with family. Many of us Bangkok residents stay in town to enjoy our city at half its normal capacity. I took the opportunity for a one-night “staycation” on the Thonburi side of the river at the Anantara Riverside Resort.

The Anantara, owned and operated by Minor International, a Thai based multinational, is not the newest riverfront property, but it is well-maintained and just far enough downstream from the heart of the city, to truly feel like an escape from the hustle and bustle. At the heart of the complex is a large pool, which was quite busy with sunbathers and water-splashers of all ages.

The hotel’s lush gardens are very tranquil. One of the nice aspects of it being an older resort is that the landscaping has a volume that cannot be easily achieved by newer properties. Everywhere you look, both inside and outside the buildings, you see greenery.

As the resort’s name implies, it is located directly on the river. There is a restaurant and a bar that lie adjacent to the water and the hotel’s private pier offers ferry service to the pier upriver that is near the BTS Skytrain station. The ferry also runs across the river to Asiatique, the two-year old outdoor night market and entertainment center.

The rooms are nicely furnished in a contemporary but slightly tropical style. We upgraded to a riverfront room that was very comfortable. There isn’t that much to see on the river besides barges slowly making their way up- and downstream, but it is a nice setting.

Public places in the hotel are tasteful and contemporary, with lots of natural light. There are several “mini lobbies” where you can find a nice place to sit with a book or just absorb the atmosphere.

We ate a sumptuous Sunday brunch at Trader Vic’s, the “tiki tiki” themed restaurant that features just about every type of food imaginable, including a wide variety of fresh seafood.

We also had a nice breakfast the following morning at the Marketplace restaurant, which spills outdoors onto a patio overlooking the river. All the food was good and the staff was very friendly.

Most of our day was spent by the pool, although we hid beneath umbrellas and in the shade of a large tree. As evening came, a cultural program was presented poolside with young ladies in traditional Thai costumes dancing and lighting the torches around the pool.

A man dressed as Hanuman, the mythical white monkey in the Ramakien, the Thai version of the classic Hindu epic called the Ramayana, performed around the pool to the beat of a drummer. He attracted many young followers who tried to catch his tail and also copied his poses.

In the evening, there is another classical performance held by torch light for the diners as the Marketplace restaurant. While I suppose you could quibble over whether guests really learn much from this minimal amount of exposure to culture, it surely creates a memorable impression for them.

The resort also offers cruises aboard converted teak rice barges. These cruises, one of which I did several years ago, can be just a daytime excursion, a dinner cruise, or a two-night trip to the ancient capital of Ayutthaya and back.

All in all, the Anantara Riverside Resort proved to be an ideal place for us to get away from the city for a night. If we had children, it would be even more well-suited for us as there are many activities geared to families.

Afternoon Tea at Four Seasons Chiang Mai

While in Chiang Mai a few weeks ago with visiting guests, I made a stop at the Four Seasons resort for afternoon tea. The resort is located about a thirty-minute drive north of town, which only enhances its feeling of being in the middle of nowhere. The resort is gorgeous and the afternoon tea is a worthwhile splurge for an hour or two of pampering yourself.

The resort is arranged around a pond designed to look like a Northern Thai village complete with rice paddies. The only buildings you see are those belonging to the resort and with the mountains in the distance, you could easily be forgiven for thinking you had been transported to some magical Thai Brigadoon. At 5:00, the “farmers” (resort employees dressed in traditional Northern Thai farmer’s clothes) paraded across the paddies to the rhythm of a gong, “returning” to the village, a touch that was a bit kitschy but also fun.

Trish, Allen, and I pose for a picture at the Sala Mae Rim restaurant. We didn’t make reservations but fortunately were able to get a prime table, perhaps because it was the midst of rainy season and the slowest time for tourists. We ordered one tea set (designed for two) plus an extra pot of tea, which was more than enough food for the three of us. The total price was approximately US$50, more than I would usually spend but certainly a worthwhile treat while on holiday.

The top plate in the tea set featured mango sticky rice with a palm sugar floss; crisp water chestnuts in sweet coconut milk; Parisian macaroons, and chocolate truffle cake.

The middle plate in the set featured finger sandwiches (ham and cheese, cucumber, and smoked salmon); fried shrimps wrapped in egg noodles, miang kham (a Thai snack of betel leaves wrapped around savory fillings); and krathong tong (literally “golden baskets” – crispy shells filled with minced chicken and shrimp).

The final plate in the set featured kaffir-lime and raisin scones, served with clotted cream and strawberry jam. All the food was fantastic and the portions were more than adequate for the three of us.

After almost two hours of indulgence, we finally left paradise to return to the city. Without a doubt, the Four Seasons is on my list for future visits. While it may be too far away from the city to actually stay at (unless you specifically want to escape from the world), it is worth a visit for tea.

Tea at the Erawan Hotel

Over the Songkran holidays in the middle of April, we were treated to the visit of several friends, many of whom I first met through Xanga. One afternoon, some of us gathered for tea in the lobby of the Erawan Hotel. Afternoon tea is one of those treats I enjoy because it is relaxing and provides a sense of sophistication. In fact, in the afternoons during fifth and sixth grade, I would go to my friend David’s house after school. His mother always served milk tea and freshly baked croissant, which I think ignited my appreciation for afternoon tea.

The Erawan, a Grand Hyatt hotel, is conveniently located in the center of Bangkok and its tea service is surprisingly affordable. About 450 Bt (US$15) gets you a large pot of tea and a tall tray of snacks, more than enough for two people to share. A string trio plays in the corner of the lobby, the service is attentive in keeping with Thai custom, and there is no rush. You can spend an hour or two just feeling pampered and very refined.

In researching this entry, I learned that I have been incorrectly using the term “high tea”. This type of afternoon loose leaf tea with cakes and small sandwiches is actually “low tea”. “High tea” refers to a more complete meal that is served in the early evening. Thanks, Wikipedia

A Grand Wedding in Chiang Mai

This week we have been in Chiang Mai, the largest city in northern Thailand, to attend the wedding of two friends of ours. Both Thai, one of them is from Chiang Mai, so it seemed the perfect setting for them to start married life.

The wedding was held at the Rachamankha Hotel, a 24-room boutique hotel located in the old city walls. The entire hotel was taken over by the wedding party and we arrived a few days early to enjoy the setting.

The entrance to the hotel is flanked by a pair of buildings that are designed in an interesting blend of tropical, Chinese, and colonial styles.

The interior courtyards echo Lanna architecture, the kingdom that covered Northern Thailand from the 13th to 18th centuries. Most of the rooms line the two courtyards. Ours was to the left. The pavilion in the center offers comfortable seating and nice breezes.

One of the front buildings is covered with vines, giving an interesting European feel to the entrance area.

The preparations for the wedding started two days before. The grooms’ friends provided many of the services: flower decorations, cupcakes, and in the case of Tawn, designs of the wedding party’s female members’ dresses. Above, Tawn and I pose with the beautiful floral decorations.

Tawn poses with the nieces (and nephew) of the groom. He designed the dresses for the girls.

The day of the wedding began with a traditional Buddhist wedding ceremony. The wedding party and guests walked to the local temple at 6:45 am to feed the monks.

Monks and novices after receiving their alms. They then chanted and blessed the wedding party.

We returned to the hotel and later in the morning, performed a traditional ceremony in which the parents and elders pour water over the couple’s hands. The beautiful puang malai garlands were placed around the couple’s necks. And in a nod to northern Thai tradition, guests tied strings around the couple’s wrists to wish them good luck and happiness.

In the late afternoon, a traditional Christian ceremony was held by a friend of the grooms who is a minister. A few minutes before the guests were seated, I snapped this picture of the courtyard that was decorated for the ceremony. The flower arrangements were amazing. The small white flowers in the grasses at the front of the picture were added by the florist.

After the service, guests were invited to participate in a loi krathong ceremony, in which small rafts holding flowers, incense, and a candle are launched – usually in a river or lake but we made do with the swimming pool – as a way of sending away bad fortune.

The swimming pool filled with krathong.

After dinner, guests participated in another version of loi krathong that is unique to the north: yii ping. These paper lanterns are launched in the same gesture as floating the rafts of flowers, incense, and candles. It is something I’ve always wanted to see in person as it strikes me as very beautiful.

Here are two short videos that show the guests launching the lanterns. They will give you a sense of how beautiful the tradition is.

This second video is in HD.

We had a wonderful time at the wedding, truly honored to be a part of this special moment in two friends’ lives. We wish them all the happiness and a long life together.

View of Waikiki

While in Honolulu, we stayed at the New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel. Located close to Diamond Head on the south end of Waikiki, the New Otani is situated across from Kapiolani Park. It is a good value for many reasons. Its biggest selling point for me, was the view.

Sunrise from our balcony.

This position is ideal because the hotel is quiet, set apart from the touristy, shopping mall busyness of Waikiki. Plus, you look back at the entire beach and skyline and take it all in. If you were staying in Waikiki proper, you wouldn’t have so broad a perspective. Here are some of the pictures I shot during our two nights at the hotel.

Kapiolani Park with Diamond Head in the background.

Graceful palm trees backlit by the setting sun.

Other visitors stop to capture a picture of the sunset.

A trio of pictures from our balcony at different times of the day:

Just after sunset, I spotted the moon above the palm trees.

One final nighttime shot, in black-and-white.

Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi – Chiang Mai

This is the final entry on our trip to Chiang Mai.  Since I entered a cropped version of one of these pictures to a contest at the MyWinningPhoto site (I came in second, thank you for your votes), I had to hold off on posting this entry until after voting ended.

After enjoying a Lamphun style lunch at Huen Jai Yong on the eastern outskirts of Chiang Mai, Tawn and I decided to drive to the Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi resort.  With only 123 rooms on its 60-acre grounds, this Rachen Intawong-designed property is quite the vision of overblown opulence, although the company more modestly describes it as “a place where traditional Lanna culture and Asian colonial splendour have been carefully brought together in masterful harmony.”

We arrived just as an afternoon thunderstorm was dissipating.  Our initial objective was to have tea but we discovered that the Oriental Tea Shoppe is located in a complex next to the public parking lot on the outer edge of the resort, which effectively insulates the guests within from the bus loads of tourists who visit.  The shopping area looks like some sort of movie set from a Chinese western, but with plenty of bamboo.

Props to the Oriental Tea Shoppe which, just like its branches in Bangkok, serves beautiful cakes and other pastries to go with their Mariage Freres teas and coffees.

Afterwards, we decided to enter the resort.  This is the imposing gate the separates the flagstone-paved public parking lot with the rest of the resort.  Follow the Mercedes limousine!

From there, a long tree-shaded driveway leads to the main lobby.  The name “Dhara Dhevi” is a poor anglicization of the name of Queen Chama Thevi (alternately, Jamadevi), founder around 750 CE of the Hariphunchai kingdom, the capital of which was in nearby Lamphun.

Looking back towards the entrance gate, these buildings on the left contain function rooms for events, conferences, meetings, etc.  Way down near the gate is a horse-drawn carriage that ferries guests.  Bored, the driver offered to give Tawn a lift into the resort and subsequently gave us a 20-minute tour of the grounds.

Near the main lobby, walls obscure shops and parts of the grounds, looking more like a Mon fortress than a resort.

The sweeping main lobby building.  Driveways just to out of the frame of the picture lead to the reception area.  The lower floor is a shopping arcade.  The overall design of the complex is a mish-mash of Lao, Burmese, Lanna, Mon, and Thai architecture, with some Thais criticizing the resort as looking too much like a temple.

From the back side of the reception area, you can see two of the larger buildings that contain guest units.  Many of the units, though, are stand-alone villas that are spread throughout the grounds.  The swimming pool has some gorgeous tile work.

Another two buildings with guest rooms.  Granted, this was about twenty minutes after a heavy storm had passed, but the place looked deserted.  We saw two couples (presumably guests) in the lobby area and passed one family of four while touring the grounds.  Other than that, the place was empty.  The impression I got from talking with employees was that occupancy was in the low twenty percent range.  Rates, though, were still about $400 a night.

Looking down the steps from the entrance to the spa, which was also deserted – no guests but no employees, either.  The statues on either side of the walkway are supposed to shoot arcs of water over the path, landing on the other side.  The resort has been open a bit more than five years and there were many areas where significant maintenance was being performed.

Unfortunately, the video that I shot while on our horse-drawn tour is on the Mac, which is in for repairs at the authorized Apple retailer.  If I get a chance I will post it later as it shows the exteriors of some of the villas, which look like village houses in the midst of rice paddies.

Our horse and buggy driver at the end of the tour.  My overall impression of the resort was that somewhere along the way it had crossed the line from “elegant” to “ostentatious,” reminding me more of a pan-Southeast Asian amusement park than anything else.  But maybe this is the type of fantasy in which wealthy tourists, Asian and non-Asian alike, wish to indulge in.

Food in Bangkok: Sra Bua by Kiin Kiin

Before we headed to Los Angeles last month, Tawn and I were invited to a special foodie dinner held at Sra Bua by Kiin Kiin restaurant.  Sra Bua is known for its molecular gastronomy take on Thai food.   Organized by, a Thai lifestyle website, and WorldFoods, I was invited to attend because of the writing I do for CatAndNat.

Dinner was held at the beautiful Siam Kempinski Hotel, tucked away right behind the Siam Paragon mall.

Opened less than a year ago, the Siam Kempinski is a beautiful 5-star hotel.  Their fresh flower arrangements in the lobby make it worth a visit just to “stop and smell the roses”.

The building also features gorgeous architecture and decorations throughout.  I enjoy visiting nice hotels like this just for the ambiance.

By coincidence, fellow blogger Angel and his partner were on holiday in Bangkok, staying at the same hotel.  We were able to meet them for a late afternoon tea before proceeding across the hall to our dinner.

Our host didn’t have Tawn’s full name handy so used my surname for his place card.  Tawn was very excited as this is the first (and only) time after our wedding that he’s had my surname!

Each dish was made with a WorldFoods sauce and was paired with a wine from Monsoon Valley Wines, a local Thai winery.

WorldFoods is a Malaysian based maker of high quality Asian-inspired sauces, marinades, chutneys, and pastes that previously has given me samples of their products and invited me to try and, if I like, to write about them.  While I’ve been given no compensation, Tawn and I were invited to this very nice complimentary dinner.

The restaurant,Sra Bua, is the sister restaurant of Henrik Yde-Andersen’s Kiin Kiin in Copenhagen, the second Thai restaurant in the world to receive a Michelin star (which I understand has since been lost).

Appetizer – Yum Som O, which is a traditional salad made with pomelo.  Pomelo is basically a large, less sour grapefruit.  Here, the chef added frisée and fish roe, which was meant to have a similar texture to the individuals pulp sacs of the pomelo.

Close up of the pomelo salad.  This wasn’t much of a success, in my opinion, with too little pomelo and too much roe, which overpowered the flavor of the salad.  The pairing wine was a Monsoon Valley Colombard, a fruity white.

Next dish was a Laksa Soup, which used the Singaporean Nyonya Laksa Paste.  This was a very pleasant, curry-type soup that was flavorful but not too spicy.  It was paired with a Monsoon Valley Cuvee de Siam, another white wine from grapes grown in the hills above Hua Hin, a beach town about three hours south of Bangkok.

The fish course was a pan-seared white fish (bass, I believe) with fish mousse and red curry.  This used the Red Curry Sauce and is actually based on a classic Thai dish called haw mok, in which fish is pureed, mixed with a red curry paste, and steamed in banana leaves.  I really enjoyed this course.  It was paired with a Monsoon Valley Shiraz that was pleasant, although not very complex.

The highlight of the meal was this beef with basil curry sauce.  The chunks of beef couldn’t have been more tender and it was served in a lightly fried pastry shell that is balance (although you can’t see it) on a small mound of jasmine rice.  This dish was so good that Tawn, who rarely eats beef, had the whole thing.  It was paired with a Monsoon Valley Cuvee de Siam Rouge, which was also the highlight wine of the evening.  It is a blend of 70% Shiraz and 30% Sangiovese grapes and has nice fruity flavors without too many tannins.

Dessert was a jasmine ice cream served wrapped in phyllo dough and a jasmine rice panna cotta served with mixed tropical fruits, wrapped in a banana leaf.  These were really nice as the flavors were very delicate and refreshing.  The wine was a Monsoon Valley Muscat Dessert, which was sweet and syrupy.

After dessert a variety of hand-rolled truffles were set out.  If you like chocolate, you’d like these!

What the room felt like after the dinner.  Ha ha…

Me and Tawn with our friend Linda, who was able to join us at the last minute for dinner.  Conclusion: the menu, which was specially prepared for the event, worked very well in some areas and less well in others.  Attention to detail in the preparation was very high, though, as was the quality.  Service was also very attentive, which of course can be a challenge when you have some 30-40 diners.  Kudos to the chef and staff of Sra Bua for pulling this off.

Goddess Tubtim Shrine

Tucked behind the Nai Lert Hotel, alongside the San Saeb canal and underneath an ancient ficus tree, lies a shrine dedicated to the goddess Tubtim.  Originally a spirit house, the place where the spirit of the land (who was disrupted by your building on it) would reside, the shrine evolved over time into an unintentional fertility shrine as more and more worshipers brought offerings of phalluses.  Ranging from the symbolic to the highly realistic, the collection fills the area around the shrine.

While my friend David and Chor Pharn were visiting from Singapore, we stopped by for a look.  Here’s a short video to give you a sense of the setting.

A healthy selection of phallus-shaped offerings left around the largest ficus tree at the shrine.  The irony is, sex toys are illegal in Thailand so if you were to try to bring a legitimate dildo into the country, you would be stopped.  By highly realistic phalluses for the purpose of spirit worship?  That’s okay.

Some of these phalluses are quite detailed.  And at least one has studs in it, perhaps representing the Folsom Street Fair community?

Normally, spirit houses have some small sculptural figures meant to represent both the spirits as well as those who are there to entertain and serve them.  So many figures have been added that they are arranged on two adjacent shelves.  You can see the San Saeb canal in the background.

The figures include representation of parents as well as a host of animals.

Also, there are more than 100 traditional Thai dancers to keep the spirits entertained.

And, inexplicably, a pair of male dolls.  Barbie’s gay brother Eric and his lover Stephen?  The women on the upper shelf are all ladies in waiting.

Who’s living in the spirit house?  I spy a kitten!

This one seems to have a fungal infection.  Experiencing any itching or burning sensation?

On a tangential note, I thought I’d share this picture of the jasmine garlands that are sold by local flower vendors.  These are the types of garlands that Tawn and Chor Pharn were trying to make in this entry.

Food in BKK: Le Normandie

The Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Bangkok, which traces its history to 1876 as the first hotel in the Kingdom of Siam, remains one of the finest hotels in Asia.  Its legendary service and refined elegance leaves you half-expecting to find such famous visitors of years past as Somerset Maugham and Noel Coward sitting in the lobby or the colonial-style Authors’ Lounge.

Sitting atop the 10-story Garden Wing, which was home to Thailand’s first elevator (1958), is the most famous French restaurant in town: Le Normandie.  It was there that we gathered for lunch Sunday afternoon to celebrate the marriage of one of Tawn’s university friends, Ko.  She and her husband Per were married in a civil ceremony in Sweden a few weeks back.  He will move here later this year and their Thai wedding celebration, certain to be much more lavish, will be held in December.

Photo courtesy of the Mandarin Oriental Group

Joining Ko, Tawn, and me was their other university friend, Bim.  Both Bim and Ko are foodies, so this seemed as good a place as any to indulge and celebrate.  Le Normandie, which is elegantly appointed in buttery yellow silks, mirrors, and fine chandeliers, has a view and a price tag to suit.  What isn’t widely known is that each summer, which is low season here in Thailand, Le Normandie offers a summer prix fixe menu – this summer only 1100 baht  ($35) for three courses.

In addition to the beautiful wall treatments and lighting fixtures, both sides of the room have floor-to-ceiling windows offering spectacular views of the city on one side and the Chao Phraya River on the other.  The dining room is decorated with beautiful arrangements of fresh flowers, too.

Something that you are paying for at Le Normandie is the service, which is every bit as prompt and attentive as you would expect in a fine restaurant in Paris.  The roast is carved tableside, plates are placed at the table simultaneously by the waiters, the proper utensils are discreetly placed on the table between courses, etc.  Living in a city where most of the fine dining restaurants struggle to get the diners’ main courses to the table within ten minutes of each other, having the plates gently placed on the table at the same moment is a thrill!

Fresh breads of all sorts were brought before and throughout the meal, a variety of brioche, whole grain bread, sourdough, baguette, etc. that were freshly baked that morning and served warm.  The butter was molded with a italicized “N” on top, served in a proper glass dish with silver lid.

After ordering, the chef sent an amuse bouche to tease our appetite.  Sorry that the focus on the right isn’t sharp.  The shot glass is a tomato jelly with avocado soup and a passion fruit foam.  On the left is a slice of squash mousse with broccoli salad topped with a roll of chicken mousse wrapped in thinly sliced duck breast.  Yummy!

Tawn and I both ordered this beautiful dish: buisson d’asperges vertes, crème aux graines de pavot, œuf de poule prise en gelée, tartare de légumes safranés , which is a “buisson” or pile of green asparagus with poached egg, poppy seed cream, and saffron scented vegetable tartar.

Translating that further, that base was formed of asparagus spears set upright in an aspic, or gelatin, base.  The poached egg, served cool but with a runny yolk, was inside the “crown” of asparagus and held into place with a little more aspic.  The vegetables around the base were mostly tomatoes and pepper and had a nice saffron aroma.  Once the plate was served, the waiter came over with a sauce dish of warm poppy seed cream and spooned it into the center of the crown.

When I cut into it, the cream and egg yolk came running out in what was both an amazing, and an amazingly beautiful, mess.  The dish was really nicely prepared and what was especially pleasing about it was the amount of effort and technique that had gone into it.  It was a good example of the elevation of food to art.

Ko ordered esquinade d’araignée, courgette et salicoque e la vapeur, émulsion au chorizo, which was a spider sea crab meat with poached prawn and zucchini, served with chorizo sausage sauce.  I didn’t try it but she said it was very nice.  Beautiful plating, too.

Bim ordered the vibrant green cuisses de grenouilles en fricassée, raviole Provençale, parmesan et sherry Tio-Pepe – a frog leg fricassee with Provençale ravioli, parmesan and Tio-Pepe sherry sauce.  She really enjoyed this dish.

Between courses, here are the beautiful and intelligent Bim (left) and Ko (right).  While there were many other friends who couldn’t make it, I can’t imagine anyone who would have been better to enjoy this meal with.

Plat Principal

The main courses were just as artful and tasty as the entrées.  Bim and Ko both had the filet de Saint-Pierre confit, croustillant de lard Ibérique a l’abricot et jus a la vanille, which was a John Dory fillet with apricot wrapped in Iberico ham and a vanilla-berry essence.

Tawn had the cabillaud à la Boulangère, vin de Jura, cappuccino des sous-bois et sauce au café , which was cod fish Boulangere style with Jura wine, forest mushroom cappuccino and a coffee sauce.  The fish was beautifully prepared, moist and flaky.  The sauce was interesting as it had just the faintest hint of coffee to it.

I didn’t stray far from convention, enjoying a flavorful pièce de bœuf rôti, gratin de tomates cerise, échalote en chemise et sauce au poivre, or roasted beef with cherry tomato gratin, shallot and pepper corn sauce.  It was very tasty.

After the main course, the dessert cart was rolled over, featuring a half-dozen types of cakes and four stewed fruit compotes including fig and rhubarb.  We could choose two selections and the waiter prepared each plate, saucing and decorating it differently.  It took about five minutes per plate but the results, as you can see below, were beautiful.

A cappuccino cake that was calling to me from the dessert cart, although I settled on this one instead:

My marscapone cheese cake with vanilla sauce and rhubarb compote.

A raspberry mousse cake and a chocolate cake – Tawn’s selections.

While tea and coffee were served, two trays of beautiful and tasty macarons were served: chocolate-raspberry, caramel, chocolate-orange, and green tea.

While we didn’t partake of them, there was a cart loaded with fine after dinner drinks.  I’m not a brandy drinker, but there is something about an after-dinner drink that seems very refined.

After an enjoyable, nearly three hour dining experience above the banks of the Chao Phraya River.  What an elegant and pleasant way to celebrate a friend’s wedding.  If only her new husband had been there to enjoy it, too!

Results of the Staycation

Wow, it has been six days since my last entry.  My longest break from Xanga in a long, long time, and one that was very much enjoyed.  So much of my work is done on the computer that when I combine it with recreational computer use, it seems like I’m plugged in online too much of my time.  The weekend completely unplugged and week mostly away from recreational computer use has reminded me of the importance of establishing some boundaries in terms of how much, and when, I use computers and the internet.

As for the two-night staycation at the Peninsula Hotel on the west side of the river here in Bangkok, it was fantastic.  The hotel truly is world-class with wonderful service.  It is very easy to spend three days in a cocoon and not really feel like you’re in the heart of the city, although from the balcony of the room, you could see that we were.

Upon check-in we were upgraded from the “Deluxe” room (funny how the lowest grade of room is usually given a fancy name) to a balcony room, which is two rungs up the ladder.  All the rooms in the hotel face the river, laid out along one side of a W-shaped floor plan.  Our room was very spacious, about 60 square meters or about 600 square feet.  There was a separate walk-in closet/dressing room and then a large bathroom beyond the bedroom, making it feel especially spacious.

The Chao Phraya River runs past most of the nicest hotels in the city, including the Shangri-La (pictured here), Sheraton, Oriental, Hilton, Peninsula, and Marriott Resort.  For sightseeing, the location of these hotels is a little less convenient.  But if you’re staying at one of these places you can probably afford to hire a car and driver for the day, so convenience isn’t that much of a problem.

The hotel has a gorgeous swimming area, spa (the building behind the pool), and workout facility.  The first afternoon we headed down to the pool but a typical afternoon thunderstorm quickly blew in, with winds gusting in advance of the rain, causing umbrellas to overturn and towels and chair pads to go flying into the pool.  The remainder of the weekend had gorgeous weather, though, and we spent much of Saturday afternoon laying in the shade below one of these pavilions, sipping mango smoothies and reading.

The hotel’s interior design is very beautiful.  Clean lines with an Asian theme but not in an overwhelming “Oriental” way.

The main lobby, where we stopped for a pre-dinner drink the first night, is very comfortable.

Even the public hallways, this one leading to the River Cafe and Terrace, are tastefully decorated with live orchids.

Friday evening we ate outdoors alongside the river.  The full moon was rising just behind the tower at the Shangri-La Hotel.  I’m amazed by how busy the river is even well into the evening.

Our room rate included a set dinner for two but since their occupancy is fairly low, they were serving a buffet.  It was actually a cleverly done buffet, offering a large range of prepared dishes that could be served at or near room temperature – salads, cold cuts, etc. – with soups, fresh seafood, a wide selection of breads, etc. to round it out.

The main feature was their grill.  They offered a wide range of meats from seafood to satay to fine cuts of beef, lamb, and pork, grilled to order and served with a variety of sauces.  This is actually a very smart way to do a buffet as there is much less waste.

My selections included a cut of snowfish grilled in a foil pouch with ginger and other seasonings, a very tender cut of Wagyu beef, and some foie gras.

There was a large dessert bar in the center of the dining room featuring all sorts of desserts and fresh fruit.  There were three flavors of homemade ice cream including both raspberry and mango sorbets that were amped up with flavor.

A selection of desserts: a raspberry mousse, a ginger creme brulee, green tea and chocolate-orange macarons, and an interesting twist on sticky rice and mango that included a mango mousse.

Both evenings we retired to the room to watch episodes from season two of True Blood, the southern vampire series based on the novels by Charlaine Harris.  Since we don’t have HBO here in Thailand, we haven’t been able to watch the series in real time.  And since I generally don’t want to support piracy, I’ve waited patiently until the episodes were released on iTunes Store instead of buying them on the street.

The breakfast buffet was also included, featuring just about everything you might want for both Asian and Western style breakfasts, including to-order egg dishes.

The pastries were really nice.  Could I just have eaten one of everything and called it a day?

The bread was amazing, perhaps the best European style bread I’ve found in Bangkok.  They also served raw honey fresh from the honeycomb, with the comb hanging on the table with the honey dripping down a trough and into a bowl.

Enjoyinga healthy breakfast!  The service was very attentive and we got into a discussion with one of the restaurant managers about the silver tea service they use, a design that Tawn has had his eye on.  The manager took his name and number and called him a few days after the trip, connecting him with an unofficial resource to buy his own set.  Shhh!  Don’t tell anyone.

The tropical fruits were the finishing touch, though.  I don’t know where they buy their fruits but the mangos were the tastiest, sweetest mangos I’ve eaten in Thailand and the dragonfruit, which I usually find quite bland, was actually full of flavor.

By the time we checked out Sunday at noon, we had de-stressed quite a bit, promising ourselves that we would do more weekend getaways in the months to come.  What’s the point of living in a tropical paradise if you don’t get out to enjoy it?


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Family Life and Covenant Marriage

Family Life and Covenant Marriage
William Cooper & Dennis Rainey
FamilyLife Ministries is a ministry to and for the family, bringing God's truths and plans for marriage to millions of people in publications, resources, seminars, and radio broadcasts. Dennis Rainey, President and Co-Founder of FamilyLife, is committed to his ministry and to his position as a Christian leader today, taking the roles of ministry leader, husband, father, and grandfather very seriously. With over 1.5 million attendees at seminars, and with resources being put into the hands of millions of readers, Dennis Rainey, FamilyLife Ministries, and their passion for family are making a difference in North America today.

FamilyLife Ministries was created from Campus Crusade for Christ's desire to equip their staff and volunteers with the tools to make marriage a strong and committed union. Initially founded to be an in-house ministry, the desires of the staff to continue with training, and the requests of other pastors and ministry couples led FamilyLife to offer its valuable resources and expertise to the public. Now, FamilyLife Conferences and multi-day events are held in almost every major city in the United States, annually.

In a recent interview with's president and CEO, Bill Cooper, Rainey shared his take on the Christian Church today, his passion for marriage, and his challenges as a Christian leader. Rainey's strong Biblical position for family values and his bold stance for seeing the church take offensive, yet positive action against today's culture of relative beliefs, is an inspiration to the Christian community today.

Rainey shared his take on the current conditions and convictions of the North American church. "The North American Church is in need of bolstering its conviction based upon the scriptures and taking courageous actions; Spirit led actions", he told ChristiaNet. "There are more fires burning today, seemingly out of control, than every before in our nation, in terms of issues that desperately need couples, laymen and women, teenagers, and boys and girls to take a stand for Christ."

And, Rainey furthered his stance by telling ChristiaNet that the cultural issues of our nation have made their way inside not only the church, but are inside our church leadership as well. "I believe the spiritual condition of our nation is certainly in the pulpit, but it is most certainly as well in the pew." Rainey believes that a positive approach to addressing cultural issues is key to making a difference in our society. "We've got to empower laymen to make a difference where they live and begin to push back against the culture and stand for righteousness. By doing so they're not merely being "against things", "but for things.'"

When ChristiaNet asked him about getting the church to move in the direction of righteousness, Rainey shared his insight and experience with working within the Christian community. "I personally believe materialism today is sapping the strength from the Christian community in ways we don't even realize. There's more Christian wealth today than there has ever been in the history of the church, and yet there are evil things that seem to be compounding daily in growth."

Rainey also explained to ChristiaNet that pastors have their worked cut out for them in addressing cultural issues, and pastors are also at risk for joining the relativity of our culture. "One of the Achilles heels of the local church is that we've accepted divorce as an alternative. One of the reasons for this is that many pastors feel they cannot preach on marriage or family, either because their own marriage and family is in such dire need of revival or because they're afraid they're going to offend the people in their churches and lose their jobs."

A positive approach to being "for" Biblical principles is Rainey's battle cry. In reference to a marriage seminar, he said, "This event is "for" marriage, so we're making a statement here as followers of Christ that we want to see our nation come back to support the most important promise and vow that two people make to one another." And, Rainy is making his cry heard throughout the country by supporting the Marriage Covenant Act, which in 2001 established a covenant marriage license as being a legal alternative to a regular marriage license in the state of Arkansas.

Rainey explained to ChristiaNet that it was going to take the church "owning" the Marriage Covenant Act to see thousands of couples embrace it. "One of the great things is that this event has already been a success, because there are a number of churches that have agreed that they are not going to marry couples unless they sign up for Covenant Marriage." The marriage covenant act calls for premarital counseling and a cooling off period for couples considering divorce.

Passionate about marriage and the condition of the church, Rainey is holding himself to high standards of being a good example in leadership, in marriage, and in accountability. He shared his heart for sharing with others: God's character, Who God really is, and the Savior He sent to die on our behalf. Rainey believes that a ministry leader should lead from Scripture with integrity and service. Rainey holds himself to this standard with accountability. He explained, "It's very easy to start to think you're untouchable. I think it's through a vigilant pursuit of seeking to be accountable to other people and making sure you do not get too big for someone to disagree with you."

With so much zeal for the union of marriage, Rainey is certainly leading the way for Christians to follow with his own committed marriage to his life's partner, Barbara. "My wife and I have ended every night in prayer for 32 years." He told ChristiaNet. "I hope that my number one accomplishment will be that I loved my Savior all the way to the very end, that I loved my wife to the finish line, and that I fulfilled my responsibilities as a father and as a grandfather to the best of what He has enabled me to do."

Copyright© 2017 ChristiaNet®. All Rights Reserved.


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Lost and Found Recap, 9.29.21

We are so thankful for the children (and their parents) who are working through the memorization project for Lost & Found (our midweek program) this year! Each week, we’ll post the most current handout that has up-to-date lists of the catechism questions and Scripture passages, which children are encouraged to work on. This week we hit pause on the catechism and introduce our special memory project, the attributes of God! You can find the handout below for your child’s corresponding age/grade, as well as a couple of handouts that were sent home on the first night (last week) that explain what to expect for the year, etc.

HANDOUTS FOR WEDNESDAY, September 29, 2021:


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Willa Cather

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