text:
Easy Email Marketing Campaigns Diadema – 1000 Soluciones y Herramientas de marketing digital para incrementar sus Ventas Rápidamente

Easy Email Marketing Campaigns Diadema

Why Email Advertising & Social media site Are Like Peas in a Case

When it concerns electronic advertising, most successful brands accomplish their standing due to the fact that they provide a all natural customer experience– one that brings all the branches of their advertising strategy with each other. When different methods on various platforms function seamlessly with each other, the outcome gives a a lot more natural customer point of view. Consistency is the cornerstone of developing a strong, trusted brand– without it, your advertising initiatives could have the contrary effect to the one wanted.
If your organisation uses numerous online marketers, it comes to be particularly difficult to run seamless campaigns, unless each knows what the other is working on. Email marketing as well as social media are two such wrongdoers. They can enhance each other wonderfully, or they could go in totally different directions. If you\’re currently battling to offer the seamless digital experience that consumers expect, here\’s the best ways to go regarding integrating your e-mail and also social media sites advertising and marketing initiatives.
Your prime web content advertising and marketing networks
Content advertising– the art of producing and also dispersing important, appropriate content to your clients as well as readership– is presently one of one of the most efficient types of electronic marketing. While the purpose is to drum up business, material advertising gives genuine worth that educates or amuses its audience, as opposed to being an obvious advertisement. Great material is available in lots of kinds, from post as well as whitepapers to videos, infographics and also discussions.
Creating web content is something: then you have distribution. There are many ways to disperse content online (community groups, discussion forums, podcasts), but 2 of the most efficient are email newsletters as well as social media networks. Both permit you to get to as wide (or as slim) an target market as you desire. With e-mail marketing, you have an reliable means to interact with your existing customer base (or those that have joined), to distribute material, and also to subtly promote your company. However with about 75% of American grownups making use of social media systems, these networks are additionally very useful. Social network individuals often tend to be open to involvement and also are a lot extra interactive with business they enjoy than they used to be. Use social media sites well, and you can expect abundant shares and involvement ( supplied you\’ve been innovative with your web content marketing). Also much better– discover to integrate both.

email marketing campaigns Easy – Number 1

One can promote the other, and also vice versa

Email and social networks advertising are on the very same team, so they must sustain one another. On the one hand, e-mail marketing can assist to increase your initiatives on social media by advising your email clients that your brand name has a buzzing social area they can obtain involved in. Use your emails to advertise your social pages with switches and also clickthroughs. At the beginning, you could find it much easier to concentrate on promoting just one social media– whichever obtains the best involvement– so subscribers don\’t really feel overwhelmed on purpose.
Also, you can likewise motivate your social media fans to sign up for your subscriber list. There are numerous good methods to do this– if you\’re using Twitter, think about making use of Twitter Cards, which let customers register without leaving the platform. Your Facebook web page could also be made use of to promote email signups by including a \’subscribe\’ type– learn ways to do this here. Post normal pointers of the trendy offers that you\’re sending through e-mail and also enjoy your e-mail list grow.
Re-engaging non-active consumers
Did you understand that you can easily post your e-mail database to Facebook as well as Twitter? What\’s even more, by following your e-mail clients and learning more about them, you may even acquire even more fans at the same time. You could utilize Twitter Advertising and also Facebook \’Custom Audience\’ to post your customers to your social data source and also advertise straight to your e-mail checklist through social platforms– ideal for retargeting functions. What\’s even more, you could retarget those who in fact clicked as well as opened your e-mails, making use of a tool like Perfect Audience.
Facebook marketing is one method to boost your retargeting initiatives– right here\’s a overview of Facebook advertising and marketing that you may discover valuable. Yet it could additionally be costly, so it\’s crucial to understand the best method of alloting your funds. If you retarget those who you recognize are currently thinking about your offering, you\’re likely to get a lot better conversion prices. Try sending out an e-mail to clients that leads them through to your web site– after that you can specifically target social advertisements to appear only to individuals who followed that web link with.

Easy email marketing campaigns – Number 2

Utilizing social networks to expand your e-mail listing

If you\’re getting interest in your brand name on social networks, then possibilities are this audience would be interested in obtaining e-mail newsletters also. It\’s everything about obtaining your energetic social complying with to act– and also making it extremely very easy for them to subscribe. Firstly, you require to let your followers recognize that you have a newsletter to begin with. It it\’s not apparent, they won\’t understand. So the initial action is to offer a clear link from your social profiles to your email sign-up page. At the exact same time, you should be clear concerning the advantages they will certainly obtain: try using rewards such as special price cuts and email-only bargains.
As discussed previously, you can additionally make use of Twitter\’s lead generation cards as well as Facebook\’s customizable tabs– the benefit of which being that users never require to leave the social system they\’re currently on. The less effort called for from them, the far better.
Digital marketers are discovering different means to intuitively marry their email and also social networks efforts. Do you have some experience in this field? We \’d enjoy to learn through you about how your group makes use of email as well as social in tandem to achieve success.

Autor: Patrick Foster: Ecommerce Expert.

How To Earn Commission From Internet Marketing

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


Content-Type: application/http; msgtype=response

WARC-Identified-Payload-Type: text/html

WARC-Truncated: length

WARC-Type: response

text:
Put Down the Joystick and Pick Up the Popcorn: Join Adobe for Indie Game: The Movie

As someone who is passionate about film and enjoys games, I’m delighted to announce that Adobe is working with the producers of Indie Game: The Movie, Lisanne Pajot and James Swirsky, to bring screenings of this award winning film to a city near you! We’ve scheduled seven dates so far in the U.S and Canada and are adding more every week, including Seattle, WA on March 23, and Portland, OR on March 28.

Indie Game: The Movie is a feature-length documentary, and follows the compelling, personal stories of independent video game designers as they create and release their unique and very individual works to the world. Coming off their recent win for Best Editing in World Documentary Cinema at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, Lisanne and James are thrilled to finally share this film with so many audiences, and are excited that Adobe is helping take the film to indie game developers and fans on such a large scale. Community support for this movie has been outstanding, and part of the funding was secured through Kickstarter, where the producers raised their initial funding goal in just 48 hours.

The first public screening will be held at the Rio in Santa Cruz, CA on Friday, March 2 at 7pm. For those of you attending GDC, the second and third screenings will be held at the Embarcadero in San Francisco, CA, on Tuesday, March 6th at 7pm and 9:30pm.

At each venue, members of the Adobe Gaming Solutions team will be on hand to give out prizes and talk one on one. Additionally, Indie Game: The Movie’s filmmakers will hold a panel to discuss the film and answer questions from attendees at each screening. Edmund McMillen, who was featured in the documentary will be a special guest at the Santa Cruz, CA screening, and will join the panel. Edmund is a Flash game developer and co-CEO of Team Meat that produced the successful Super Meat Boy game for Xbox 360, Windows PC, Mac OS X and Linux. Super Meat Boy has sold more than one million copies to date.

Like Edmund McMillen, game developers working with Adobe technology can reach 98 percent of Internet connected PCs and up to 500 million tablets and phones with their creations. Adobe will be demonstrating some great Flash based games at GDC March 5-9 in San Francisco, both for mobile and desktop. In the meantime, learn more about Adobe & Gaming at http://www.adobe.com/solutions/gaming.html, grab your tickets for a great show, and keep your eyes open for more news coming soon!

warcinfo:
robots: classic
hostname: ip-10-164-5-214.ec2.internal
software: Nutch 1.6 (CC)
isPartOf: CC-MAIN-2017-47
operator: Common Crawl Admin
description: Wide crawl of the web for November 2017
publisher: Common Crawl
format: WARC File Format 1.0
conformsTo: http://bibnum.bnf.fr/WARC/WARC_ISO_28500_version1_latestdraft.pdf


text:
 Agriculture myths: cropping the facts on the “three crop rule” - European Commission

Navigation path

Left navigation

Additional tools

Agriculture myths: cropping the facts on the “three crop rule”

November 19th, 2014
VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
Rating: 3.4/5 (34 votes cast)

James Forsyth’s claims in the Daily Mail on 9 November that Environment Secretary Liz Truss wants to stop the European Commission from “telling British farmers what they can grow ” through “a Commission edict – the three crop rule”.

This is puzzling on at least two counts.

First, the European Commission cannot issue “edicts” but only propose new EU legislation. It is elected MEPs and elected EU government ministers who scrutinise these proposals and ultimately decide whether to amend, adopt or reject them.
Second, the UK voted last December for the very measure Mr Forsyth is writing about.

The “three crop rule” – or in other words crop diversification – was adopted unanimously by EU agricultural ministers in December 2013 as part of the latest package of CAP reforms.

The reforms address environmental concerns related to pressures that modern farming has put on water, soil, farmland habitats and related biodiversity, as well as contributing to tackling climate change. Monoculture, for example, reduces soil fertility and increases demand for fertilisers and plant protection products, which in turn can lead to water pollution and harm biodiversity.

The new obligations will not be required of all farmers. Only farms with more than 30 hectares of arable land will need to grow three crops. Farm of more than 10 hectares will be required to grow two crops and small farms will be excluded from all “greening” requirements.

Agriculture myths: cropping the facts on the "three crop rule" , 3.4 out of 5 based on 34 ratings

Tags: , ,

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in and you must ensure that your browser allows session cookies to post a comment.

EC in the UK

Check the EC Representation in the UK website

Please note that all statements in all entries were correct on the date of publication given. However, older archived posts are not systematically updated in the light of later developments, for example changes to EU law.

Share buttons

Twitter feeds

We welcome your comments. They will be moderated. Please keep to the topic and use respectful language.


text:
Meeting Recap, 4/7/2016

Attendees: Allyssa Guzman, Brittany Deputy, Dale Correa, Jee Davis, Jennifer Heath, Ann Marchock, Andres Ramirez, Ben Rodriguez, Ronda Rowe, Roxanne Bogucka, Frank Meaker

Facilitator – Jennifer; Blogger – Ann

I remember …

Andres remembered our discussion about transitioning to a standing committee and deciding on a new DASIG co-chair.
Jee mentioned how important the Open House meeting is so that we can strengthen our membership.
Ann remembered that we decided we would decide on a new co-chair through a nomination and voting process within DASIG; and that a member of LSC would be in a liaison role, but did not necessarily have to be a co-chair of DASIG.
Ben remembered welcoming Brittany back and that we were going to contact Professor S. Craig Watkins to be a panelist at the DASIG event. Jee and Dale responded that Dr. Watkins replied too late to their requests so he will not be a panelist.
Roxanne said she was not at the DASIG meeting last month. She was at the Freshman Research Initiative instead, and she was reflecting on how FRI relates to the issues we discuss in DASIG.
Dale remembered giving a send-off to Cindy Fisher during the last DASIG meeting.
Brittany mentioned that people have been asking about the InclusiveU App on chat.
Jennifer remembered being energized by DASIG becoming a standing committee instead of a staff interest group.

Jee announced that there will be an event at the Multicultural Engagement Center to celebrate the publication of Kristen Hogan’s new book, The Feminist Bookstore Movement: Lesbian Antiracism and Feminist Accountability. Jee said that Kristen was involved with every aspect of publishing her book, and that Kristen did not agree with the CIP data for the book. Jee assisted Kristen with informing the Library of Congress about the discrepancies in the CIP data. Jee will be part of the panel at this event, and will be discussing the importance of getting the correct subject headings and call number in the CIP information and on the catalog record in order to allow for the best searching and retrieval responses for our users.

Signature event:

Jee discussed her plans to contact Travis Willmann about making progress with the publicity for the DASIG event. Jee is going to be meeting with Travis today to finalize the poster. Roxanne said Jee should have Travis send it to her as a tabloid and a slide copy, and then Jee can send those two electronic files to the various organizations on campus that need to publicize the event. These different organizations can print their posters from those electronic files.

Jee said that she and Dale are going to try to meet with the panelists before the event to organize the panel discussion topics. Jason Molin, DDCE, had contacted Jee, and he would like the event to be recorded in some manner. The group discussed our options for recording the event. Basically, it came down to two options: 1. Have Travis Willmann take photographs, or, 2. Have TIS videotape the event.

Roxanne mentioned that we need to inform both the panelists and the audience that the event is being videotaped if we go that route.

Ben said he would like it videotaped, so he could possibly use it as part of his diversity conference poster. Ben also suggested live streaming it. Jee said it is probably too late to request it to be live streamed.

Jason also suggested to Jee that he would like there to be an interactive component to the panel discussion. He would like to ask the audience to download the InclusiveU App during the event. Jeremy Thompson can show the video he made about the app. It would also be a good idea to tell the audience how they can give feedback on the app.

Andres gave a summary of where we are currently with planning the event. He said Jennifer has contacted Geoff Bahre about setting up the room, and that Gennell has ordered the pizza. Andres suggested that we volunteer to post the posters around campus. Roxanne said usually students post event posters. Andres is going to inquire whether the students who work in his unit would be able to post the event posters for the DASIG event.

Jennifer said we don’t need any additional help setting the event up. She said Frank and Matt McGuire will set up the room and break it down after the event. Jee inquired how did we decide to have seating for 120 people. Jennifer said that is how many the room will hold. The group discussed how many seats would be appropriate for this event. Frank said the middle section of the room will accommodate 75 chairs. It was decided that 75 chairs would be a good number, and that Frank can be on stand-by in case more chairs are needed.

Dale recommended we have ushers for the event. Jee and Andres volunteered to be the ushers.

There was a question about promoting the event through social media. Allyssa volunteered to do this if Travis does not have time to. Roxanne pointed out that, due to the recent tragedy on campus, President Fenves would like there to be more control about what gets posted on social media at this time. Jee said she will ask Travis whether it would be appropriate to post to social media about the DASIG event at this time.

Dale discussed the NDLC travel awards opportunity. She suggested that Ben apply for this award to cover his travel expenses for the poster session at the conference. Dale said other members of DASIG could apply, as well. Ben said he would appreciate a travel companion. Ben said Jeremy will be on Skype during the poster session. The conference is to take place August 10-13, 2016 in Los Angeles.

Transition to Standing Committee:

Jennifer asked Dale to discuss the current status of the transition to a standing committee. Dale said there hasn’t been much movement as of yet. Jennifer asked whether there is any timeline in place, and Ben responded the sooner the better. Ben said Missy Nelson and Boris Brodsky are reviewing the current LSC bylaws. Ben gave Missy and Boris a copy of the UTSC bylaws for comparison. Ann mentioned she had contacted Missy about the bylaws, and Missy said she thinks they will only add a few sentences and that the whole process should cause minimal disruption. Ann inquired whether the new bylaws need to be more universal and able to be applied to any new group that may become part of LSC. Ben replied they do need to be applied to any new group that is going to be reporting through LSC to the Vice-Provost Cabinet. The Staff Advisory Committee for Library Advancement (SACLA) is another group that reports through LSC to the VPC.

DASIG Open House:

Dale suggested we discuss the term and concept safe as part of the Open House. The group agreed this would be a good idea.

Jennifer suggested we use PCL 1.124 for the Open House. It was suggested that May 5, 2016 would be a possible date for the Open House. Jee said we should arrange the furniture as a round table and provide a potluck like we did last year. Jee and Dale said having the Open House around lunch time would probably work best for more staff members to attend.

The group discussed the format of the Open House. Dale can facilitate the event. Jee said she will discuss the background of DASIG, and explain DASIG’s work. She will also explain about DASIG’s transition to a standing committee. After Jee’s opening discussion, we could split into smaller groups to discuss the concept of safe. Dale suggested we also discuss fostering cultural diversity. Jennifer said we could discuss our diversity definition draft at the Open House. Jennifer said we should finalize the topics for the Open House at least a week before the event.

Ann asked how long should the Open House last. Brittany suggested having the actual formal meeting for 1 hour (12 noon-1 PM), and then having time to chat or more informal discussions for an additional 1/2 hour (1-1:30 PM).

Jee said we should announce the Open House as soon as possible–maybe we could announce it at the DASIG app event. Ann, Jee, and Andres volunteered to set-up the room for the Open House. We can sign-up for the potluck through email. We should also contact Gennell about providing coffee and juice for the Open House.

Andres suggested providing a feedback or evaluation form for both the DASIG app event and the Open House. Jee asked whether Roxanne uses a feedback form for the Science and Pizza events she organizes. Roxanne said she does, and we could adapt her form for the DASIG events. Andres and Roxanne volunteered to work on the evaluation survey form for the two DASIG events.

It made me think …

Allyssa said the evaluation survey is a great idea.
Ben said he can’t believe “We are doing it!” He said he hopes we are overwhelmed with interest in DASIG.
Jee said she realizes the importance for DASIG members to truly understand the issues surrounding diversity.
Ronda said she thought the announcement of the app event made the event sound really significant.
Jennifer said she realizes the need to plan events early. She said we should probably start to plan now for any events that we may hold in the Fall.

Action Items

  • Jee will contact Travis about the event poster.
  • Jee will also contact Travis about whether we can post the event on social media sites.
  • Jennifer will contact Geoff about recording the event.
  • Jee will contact the panelists about meeting before the event.
  • Andres will inquire whether the students he works with can post the posters around campus for the event.
  • Andres and Roxanne will work on creating the evaluation survey for the two DASIG events.
  • Ben will send the UTSC bylaws to Ann and Andres for comparison.
  • Ann and Andres will wait for Missy and Boris to contact them about the bylaws.

Meeting Agenda, 4/7/2016

Facilitator: Jennifer H.; Blogger: Ann

  • I remember … (blog entry for the last meeting: (all)
  • Announcements
    • Kristen Hogan’s New book celebration at MEC (Jee)
    • lorraine’s email message on NDLC travel awards opportunity (Dale)
  • Signature Event planning (Andres)
  • Transition to a standing committee (all)
    • A group discussion regarding the three charges from lorraine
      • Draft a concise UT Libraries diversity definition for consideration by VPC;
      • Work with Chris Carter to develop an approach to safe spaces at UT Libraries;
      • Work with Chris Carter and Jennifer Heath to incorporate the work of fostering cultural diversity at UTL into our organizational development operations.  Library Staff Council is our first choice as a mechanism.
    • Subcommittee to review LSC by-laws (Andres and Ann)
  • May Open House planning and idea (all)
  • It made me think … (all)


text:
How to Create a Search Screen that Can Search Properties of Related Entities (John Chen)

LightSwitch has a powerful search data screen template to allow you quickly create a search screen in your LightSwitch application.  You can watch Beth’s How Do I video to get started: How Do I: Create a Search Screen in a LightSwitch Application?

In this blog, I am going to answer one frequently asked question: How do I create a search screen that can search properties of related entities?

Let’s start with an example to illustrate the question.  Assuming that in your application you have two entities, Category and Product, from the sample Northwind database as shown below (Figure 1).

Figure 1

Figure 1. The entities in the application

The Category and Product has a one-to-many relationship as shown in the connecting line from Category to Product. It means a Category can have many Product instances while a Product is associated with one Category.  Now let’s create a default search screen on the Product table, the screen designer will look like Figure 2 below:

 Figure 2

Figure 2. The default search screen designer view

You can see that the related entity Category (highlighted) is shown in the Data Grid’s row. For demonstration purpose, I delete some fields (‘Units In Stock’, etc) from the screen designer.

Now run the app and you can see the search screen in action as show in Figure 3, where I have typed ‘ch’ in the search box located on the top right of the screen (highlighted ).

Figure 3

Figure 3. Search screen in action

Even though the Category field is shown in the result (as a summary field), it is not searchable. For example, if you type ‘_chen’ in the search box, you will not get any result even though you might think that it would have results where the Category is Beverages_chen.

This is because the built-in search function does not cover the related entity fields. Fortunately, it is not difficult to overcome this by using queries (please see MSDN topic  Filtering Data with Queries).  There are multiple approaches depending on your usage scenarios.  How to Create a Screen with Multiple Search Parameters in LightSwitch is one example of how to define your own search parameters in your screen. Alternatively, you can create a screen with one search parameter to search multiple fields including the related entity fields like this example:

Figure 4

Figure 4. Query multiple fields with one parameter

In the following, I will demonstrate one simple approach by modifying the query in the search screen. My goal is to use one search screen to search the product entities as well as filtering the result with the Category Name, which is a related entity field.

Let’s start with the SearchProducts screen in the screen designer in the previous example (see Figure 2).

First, I would edit the SearchProduct screen’s query by clicking on the Edit Query command on the top left portion of the designer (Figure 5, highlighted). Notice that this modifies only the query related to the screen itself. You could also create a global query that you could use across screens (see MSDN topic How to: Add, Remove, and Modify a Query)

Figure 5

Figure 5. Edit query on the screen designer

When the query designer shows up, I will click on the Add Filter button.  Then leave the first filter column as ‘Where’ (Figure 6 – 1) and click on the second column’s drop down (Figure 6 – 2). Now you will see the list of fields available for the Product entity. You will also see that the related entity Category is in the list as a group. Expand the Category node (Figure 6 – 3), and choose CategoryName (Figure 6 – 4).

Figure 6

Figure 6. Editing the query expression

 Set the condition column(Figure 6 – 5) as ‘contains’, the parameter type column (Figure 6 – 6) as ‘@Parameter’ and the parameter column (Figure 6 – 7) as ‘Add New’.  Leave the new parameter name as CategoryName. The final query expression should look like Figure 7 below.

 Figure 7

  Figure 7. The final query expression

Now click on the Back to SearchProducts link (on the top left of the query designer) to return to the SearchProducts screen designer. Notice that in the left pane, there is a new group called Query Parameters (Figure 8 -1); expand it if it is collapsed. You can see the CategoryName parameter (Figure 8 -2) under Query Parameters, Drag the CategoryName parameter and drop it under the Screen Command Bar node in the content tree. (Figure 8-3).

 Figure 8

  Figure 8. Drag and drop CategoryName parameter to the content tree

Now you will notice that a Text Box called Category Name (Figure 9 -1) is created on the drop location. Additionally, you will see a screen property called CategoryName is created (Figure 9-2). The Category Name Text Box is data bound to the CategoryName screen property, which is consumed by the query as well.

 Figure 9

  Figure 9. The final look of the search screen designer

That is all the design work to setup a search text box for the CategoryName parameter.  Let’s run the app. You should see the similar screen shot as in Figure 3 except now we have an additional Category Name search box on the top of the screen. You can then filter the category name first (Figure 10-1) then search again with the default search box (Figure 10-2) to search native fields in the product.  Figure 10 shows a search result in action.

Figure 10

 Figure 10. The final search screen in action

Furthermore, you can also hide the built-in search box and use just your own search box. In the example above, you can go back to the SearchProducts screen designer and click on the Products table (Figure 11-1). Hit F4 to ensure the Properties pane is shown. From the Properties pane, uncheck the Support search check box (Figure 11-2).

Figure 11

Figure 11. Hide the built-in search box

You can then modify the query and modify the screen designer accordingly to add as many search fields in Products and its related fields in Categories as needed.

·         Filtering Data with Queries

·         How to use lookup tables with parameterized queries (Karol Zadora-Przylecki)

·         How to Create a Screen with Multiple Search Parameters in LightSwitch


text:
Boeing Debuts Modernized High Bay at Kennedy

Boeing unveils its modernized high bay in the Commercial Crew and Cargo Processing Facility at Kennedy Space CenterBoeing on Tuesday unveiled its clean-floor facility that serves as the hub for its CST-100 Starliner spacecraft as they are manufactured and prepared for flight to and from the International Space Station, and where they’ll refurbished between missions. The high bay in the company’s Commercial Crew and Cargo Processing Facility, formerly known as Orbiter Processing Facility 3, is now modernized and ready to support the Starliner program.

It was once filled with about 1,000 tons of steel work platforms that enshrouded the space shuttle orbiters as they were refurbished and prepared for flight. Today, the facility contains several pieces of hardware and a mock-up that are key to Boeing’s and NASA’s efforts to launch astronauts from Florida’s Space Coast through the Commercial Crew Program.

Read the full story here.

(Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett)

Modifications Transforming Pad A for Falcon Launches

Pad 39A - Commercial Crew ProgramPad 39A - Commercial Crew ProgramRemoving hundreds of thousands of pounds of steel and adding robust, new fixtures, SpaceX is steadily transforming Launch Pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida for use as a launch pad for its Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets. The launchers will lift numerous payloads into orbit, including the company’s Crew Dragon spacecraft with astronauts aboard bound for the International Space Station.

Shots of Pad 39A for Commerical Crew Program (CCP).

A horizontal integration facility was built at the base of the pad and rails installed running up the incline to the flame trench. Instead of arriving to the pad on the back of the crawler-transporters, SpaceX rockets will roll on a custom-built transporter-erector that will carry them up the hill and then stand the rocket up for liftoff. The fixed service structure at the pad deck will remain, although more than 500,000 pounds of steel has already been removed from it. SpaceX has already started removing the rotating service structure, which is attached to the fixed structure. Built for the need to load a shuttle’s cargo bay at the pad, it does not serve a purpose for Falcon launchers whose payloads are mounted on the top of the rocket.

SpaceX leased the historic launch pad from NASA in April 2014 and has been steadily remaking it from a space shuttle launch facility into one suited for the needs of the Falcon rockets and their payloads. It is the same launch pad where Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins lifted off on July 16, 1969, to begin their Apollo 11 flight that would make history as the first to land people on the moon. Almost all signs of Apollo-era hardware were removed from the launch pad when it was rebuilt for the shuttle. Photos by NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis

Astronauts Provide Vital Feedback in Spacecraft Development

NASA’s Commercial Crew Program astronauts work side-by-side with Boeing and SpaceX engineers to evaluate their systems and trainers as they each prepare to return launches to the International Space Station from American soil. They have performed fit checks in mockup spacecraft, assessed the spacecraft’s display panel and controls among numerous other systems.

Commercial Crew Gains Momentum from Manufacturing, Launch Facilities

Manufacturing bays and launch pads are scenes of careful activity midway through 2016 as Boeing and SpaceX, partners with NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, build the prototype spacecraft that will precede assembly of the flight vehicles that will perform test flights. Both companies are building separate spacecraft and launch systems capable of carrying astronauts some 250 miles into space where they will perform groundbreaking research aboard the International Space Station. Boeing’s Starliner is being assembled at the Commercial Crew and Cargo Processing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, while SpaceX is manufacturing its Crew Dragon spacecraft at the company’s headquarters and factory in Hawthorne, California.

Both companies are also hard at work modifying their respective launch pads. SpaceX is making numerous changes at Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy so the former shuttle launch pad can instead host Falcon 9 rockets lofting Crew Dragons into orbit. A couple of miles south, at the adjacent Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, the Crew Access Tower has been constructed at Space Launch Complex 41, so astronauts will be able to climb inside the Starliner on launch day as it stands pointed to the sky atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. Read more about the progress under way in commercial crew so far in 2016:

Spacecraft 1 Major Components Arrive for Assembly

Boeing's CST-100 Starliner, Spacecraft-1 Upper Dome being lifted and moved to work stand inside the C3PF Highbay.The last major element of a test version of Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner arrived at the company’s spacecraft factory at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida to begin assembly. The upper dome of the craft the company is calling Spacecraft 1 rolled through the doors of the Commercial Crew and Cargo Processing Facility at Kennedy on May 20 so engineers and technicians could begin outfitting it with systems before joining the upper dome to the docking hatch and lower dome elements that arrived earlier in May. The spacecraft’s arrival points toward a time when the company routinely produces and launches Starliners on operational missions taking astronauts to the International Space Station for NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.

Machined into a honeycomb pattern to reduce weight while maintaining strength, the upper and lower domes will form the crew compartment of the Starliner once assembled together. Thermal shielding will encase the domes on the outside and a base heat shield will be connected to the bottom to complete the spacecraft ahead of its pad abort flight test. That flight test will not carry people, but will include an attached service module holding propellant and supply tanks along with four powerful launch abort engines. The test will be an automated demonstration of the launch escape system’s ability of to lift the Starliner out of danger in the unlikely event of an emergency on the launch pad or during the climb into orbit.

The work is taking place as the Starliner’s structural test article – a complete Starliner spacecraft designed only for tests on Earth – finishes its assembly and is readied for shipping to California for analysis in conditions similar to those found in space. Read much more about the spacecraft’s arrival and its importance to NASA’s goals for the Commercial Crew Program and enhanced research on the space station: Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis

Boeing CST-100 Starliner Prototype Takes Shape at Kennedy

The upper dome of a Boeing CST-100 Starliner is lowered onto the lower dome to complete the first hull of the Starliner's Structural Test Article. Photo credit: BoeingThe upper dome of a Boeing CST-100 Starliner is lowered onto the lower dome May 2, completing the first hull of the Starliner’s Structural Test Article. Identical to the operational Starliners Boeing plans to build and fly in partnership with NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, the Structural Test Article is not meant to ever fly in space but rather to prove the manufacturing methods and overall ability of the spacecraft to handle the demands of spaceflight carrying astronauts to the International Space Station.

The work was performed inside the Commercial Crew and Cargo Processing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. It is the first spacecraft to come together inside the former shuttle hangar since shuttle Discovery was moved out of the facility following its retirement and move to the Smithsonian’s Udvar-Hazy Center near Washington, D.C., in 2012. You can watch Boeing’s video about the spacecraft’s manufacturing here.

Photo credit: Boeing

Water System Tested on Crew Access Arm

Photos of the Emergency Evacuation Water Test at the CCP Crew Access Arm in Oak Hill, for Boeing/ULA.Photos of the Emergency Evacuation Water Test at the CCP Crew Access Arm in Oak Hill, for Boeing/ULA. Engineers and technicians gathered at dusk recently at a construction site near Kennedy Space Center in Florida to test systems that will support Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft. The Crew Access Arm and White Room saw some of the most dynamic testing thus far, when hundreds of gallons of water were sprayed along the arm and beneath it for an evaluation of its water deluge system. The system is a key safety feature for future launches on the Starliner, one of two commercial spacecraft in development to carry astronauts to the station.

In the unlikely event of an emergency, astronauts ready to launch on future missions aboard the Starliner would need a clear, safe path to exit. The arm and attached white room will provide a bridge between the Crew Access Tower and the spacecraft, as it prepares to launch on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket.

Two rounds of testing in different lighting conditions checked whether the water system could cover the arm adequately and the LED lights were up to the task of helping guide astronauts to safety.

The test mimicked what the system would need to do at the launch pad in case of an emergency. The tower’s main structure is already standing at Space Launch Complex 41, the launch site for the Starliner. After more testing on other systems, the arm will be moved to the launch pad later this summer before being lifted into place on the tower.

NASA’s Commercial Crew Program will return human spaceflight capabilities to the U.S. on commercial spacecraft. Boeing and SpaceX are developing separate spacecraft and launch systems along with a network of mission and ground support capabilities. Commercial crew flights will add an additional crew member to the station, effectively doubling the amount of time dedicated to research aboard the orbiting laboratory.

I Will Launch America: Ian Kappes

I_Will_Launch_Ian_final-lrgBefore anything is visible to even the most discerning eye surveying the launch vehicle, computers and multitudes of sensors on the rocket can pick up minuscule problems and correct for them. Making sure they do so correctly is part of the work of Ian Kappes, lead of the launch vehicle avionics systems team for NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.

“The avionics systems and its software are the brain and central nervous system of the entire launch vehicle,” Kappes said. “It is really just like our body’s nervous system – avionics tells you all sorts of information about the vehicle. It’s making the decisions necessary to fly. The avionics is telling you when equipment is within its parameters or when something will fail. It is also cross-communicating between the booster stages and the spacecraft, because the spacecraft and its crew need to know what’s going on with the vehicle.”

Kappes’ team at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida works in tandem with engineers at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Marshall Spaceflight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, and Armstrong Flight Research Center in Mojave, California, to certify the systems Boeing and SpaceX plan to use for commercial crew flights to the station. That means many hours poring over avionics architecture designs, working directly with both partners to identify and control hazards, followed by avionics component and software integrated testing. Read the full story at

Upgrades Establish Kennedy’s Future

More than five years of careful thought, in-depth planning and detailed refurbishments have set up Kennedy Space Center for diverse exploration missions that will push astronauts and robotic spacecraft into new areas of accomplishment, said, NASA’s Kennedy Space Center director, Bob Cabana at the National Space Club Florida Committee meeting today in Cape Canaveral.

“We’re not just making a difference for Kennedy or even the nation, we’ve got a meaningful mission and we are making a difference for all of humankind,” Cabana, a former astronaut, told the group of about 375 in attendance.

By focusing on piloted missions to the International Space Station using Commercial Crew Program spacecraft, followed by Space Launch System and Orion flight tests, Kennedy has established a ground support network of launch pads and associated infrastructure needed to support missions to Mars by astronauts in the future. All of this while maintaining the center’s unique ability to launch historic robotic exploration missions such as Osiris-Rex that will bring back a sample from an asteroid. Other flights in the future will continue to decipher the mysteries of Mars as well as taking close looks at other planetary networks in the solar system.

The center has seen complete upgrades in many areas including the Launch Control Center, Launch Complex 39B and modifications to the Mobile Launcher tailored to the needs of the SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft. Other facilities have been upgraded for commercial partners. The center’s new headquarters campus is under construction to deliver an environmentally friendly, energy efficient structure.

“Our future is absolutely outstanding,” Cabana said. “I believe the years we have ahead of us will be our best ever.”

View Mr. Cabana’s complete presentation here.

SpaceX Tests Transporter Erector

SpaceX-transerectorA critical piece of large equipment is being tested at Launch Complex 39A this week as SpaceX raises and lowers the transporter erector that will be used to move the Crew Dragon spacecraft atop a Falcon 9 rocket to the launch pad for missions. Standing 212 feet high – more than 20 stories – the TE, as SpaceX calls the machine, will move launch-ready rockets and spacecraft from the processing hangar at the base of the pad up to the pad surface and into a vertical position over the flame trench.

The lift and lowering of the transporter erector are part of routine tests conducted on the pad to ensure all ground systems are prepared to launch astronauts to the International Space Station. The TE is a much larger and stronger version of the erector the company uses at Space Launch Complex 40, as it will also be used for processing and launching future Falcon Heavy rockets. Photo credit: SpaceX


text:
Tag Archives: zoe kravitz

Mad Max Love

Charlize Theron - photo from Vanity Fair

The other week I went to see Mad Max; if I am being honest, I went opening night and squeezed into the very packed theater, and left feeling as though this was one of the better movies I have seen in a very long time (sorry Lego Movie; I still love you though).

I was excited to the see the movie, and had been eagerly waiting to see it since what I will call early April. I was not surprised to see it, but there were/are some grumpy men claiming that the movie is feminist propaganda. To that I say, too bad! But if you are curious, you can read their complaints here.

Charlize Theron was phenomenal, and I was thoroughly in love with her as Furiosa. In fact I just loved the women in this film. They felt real to me, and I became invested in them. These felt like women I could know, not the typical flat characters that I find in other films and books. They were more than glorified eye candy. I won’t give away too much for those who have not seen it, but like my beloved comic Rat Queens, (check that out, if you haven’t) there is something very refreshing about seeing women being portrayed as women. Despite that these women who were slaves and represented these idealized versions of women, there is a fight against this. I think this is why I am so amused by the complaints about this movie being feminist propaganda, or how there are too many women in this film. Their attitudes and the way women are represented in media, is exactly why this film is being celebrated. The women in this film dare to defy being decoration or set pieces within this post apocalyptic world and the film. I would argue that if the women were just sex slaves in the background, there would not be an uproar about how there are too many women in the movie. As a friend of mine jokingly said in response to the complaints, “How dare you ladies go around having thoughts and opinions and things?” He jokes, but it certainly rings true, at least whenever women cross that line into “the man realm.” Gamergate anyone?

More from Vanity Fair

Also, there were some pretty sweet, real explosions that occur in the movie. So go see it!

Hello Giggles also pointed out Tom Hardy, and the amazing faces he makes when people ask him ignorant questions:
Tom Hardy

That face is priceless, and can people please stop asking about why there are women here and there, in supposedly “male” things. Just no.

(images from Vanity Fair)


text:
A Little Look At Love

                                                              Resurrection Fern from here

Look at love…
how it tangles
the lover and the beloved
look at spirit
how it fuses with earth
giving it new life
why are you so busy
with this or that or good or bad?
pay attention to how things blend
why talk about all
the known and the unknown
see how unknown merges into the known
the beloved grows
right out of my own heart
how much more union can there be?

                                                   Winter Weeping by kind permission of Tina Negus

I know that I have life
only insofar as I have love.

I have no love

except it come from Thee.

Help me, please, to carry

this candle against the wind.

- Wendell Berry
God cares, for some wonderful reason, despite all of our smallness and silliness. Divine love does not depend on our doing nice or right things.  Divine love is not determined by the worthiness of the object of love but by the Subject, who is always and only Love.  God does not love us if we change, as we almost all think; but God loves us so that we can change.
No matter what we do, God, in great love and humility, says, “That’s what I work with.  That’s all I work with!”  It’s the mustard seed with which God does great things.  Our life experiences, “good and bad alike,” are invited to the great wedding feast (Matthew 22:10). They are the raw material that God uses to prepare the banquet.
~Richard Rohr
June 2010

Heart speaks to Heart : Benedictine Monk David Steindl Rast

No comments:


WARC-Identified-Payload-Type: application/xhtml+xml

text:
Three food-related things that annoy me

In no particular order, for no particular reason.

1. “Diets don’t work!”

Diets work just the fuck fine.  Dieters, on the other hand, are usually stupid fuckups.

The first category of stupid fuckup dieter who says shit like “diets don’t work” is the person who’s not actually dieting.  You’ve seen these people, maybe even shared a brain with one of ’em.  “I’m on a diet; I started using organic pasta in the five pounds of fettuccine alfredo I eat every night.”  “I’m on Atkins; I can eat eleventy billion kcal of bacon and pork rinds as long as I don’t have carbs.”  “I’m going vegan.  Did you know Oreos are vegan?”  Brilliant strategy, cupcake; how many calories are you eating, and how many are you burning?  “Oh, well, I don’t have time to pay attention to that stuff.”  Sure you do, you just don’t want to.  You cannot beat thermodynamics with wishful thinking.

The second category of stupid fuckup dieter does in fact diet, and does so successfully.  Then, having demonstrated to themselves and the world that thermodynamics works exactly as you’d expect, this person throws physics the fuck away and expects diet magic to prevent them from regaining all their fat when they go back to eating the same shit, in the same quantities, that made them fat in the first place.  “I gained all the weight back; diets don’t work!”  That diet worked fine… while you were on it.  These sorts of people love to prattle on about “sustainable lifestyle changes” as if that’s somehow an alternative to dieting, rather than the obvious and sensible thing to do after dieting.

2. “Bulking is so haaaard!

These people, rather than making excuses for not putting any meaningful and thoughfully-directed effort into losing fat, are instead making excuses for not putting any &c. into gaining muscle.  Or, some times, just any kind of weight at all.  I mean, if you want to make sure you’re gaining muscle and very little fat, the food part gets a little fiddly and you have to work really hard in the squat rack — and I don’t mean curling 65 for a zillion sets of ten, either.  But the eating part?  Holy shitballs, bulking is fun and motherfucking easy at the recreational level.  (There are counterexamples.  You’re not one of them.)

Assuming you’re doing enough work in the gym (you probably aren’t doing that, either, but that’s another rant), start by drinking a litre of whole milk every day in addition to “eating like omg soooo much“.  Use it to mix your protein shakes or something.  (What’s that?  You’re “bulking” but not drinking protein shakes?  I think we’ve found the fucking problem, Sparky.)  If that doesn’t do the trick, add another litre of whole milk.  Keep going until it starts to work.  If you can’t “force down” all that food, it’s a pretty great sign that you’re not lifting hard enough.  Run a Smolov squat cycle or something, you’ll discover your appetite.  (“I don’t squat though, I think I read somewhere that it’s bad for your knees.  Does Smolov work with leg press?”  Kill yourself.  Also, I think we found the fucking problem.)

3. “I can’t eat healthy, I don’t have time to cook”

Bullshit.  It takes maybe fifteen minutes to prepare a batch of meat slop if you dice the cabbage (or use a food processor) instead of shredding it by hand.  Then you let it simmer for a while, during which you can perform all of the incredibly important tasks you’re pretending to have on your plate.  Or you can do what you actually want to do “instead of” cooking, like fapping to internet porn or watching CSI: Miami or some shit like that, as long as you take a minute every half hour or so to dig around in the pot with a wooden spoon and make sure the meat slop’s not carbonizing on the bottom of the pot.  There you go, roughly half an hour of aggregate effort and you have eight or ten meals.  Pack that shit in Pyrex and do it again in a couple of days.

“But eating the same thing over and over is boring!”  Fuck you.  Meal time is not a trip to Disneyland; it’s primarily about getting nutrition into your body, not entertaining you.  Do you insist that every trip to the gas station be a fun and novel experience?  No you don’t, because you’re not four years old.  Food is the same way.

In unrelated news, it’s christmas vacation season, and I’m planning to finally learn how to snatch properly over the course of my two weeks off.  My goal is to lift every day (except the 24th, the 25th, and the 1st, because the gym isn’t open those days), on the following programme:

  1. Do a bunch of heaving snatch balances until my brain gets cosy with the idea of diving under a loaded barbell
  2. Do a bunch of squat snatches until my form breaks down
  3. Do high-bar squats or front squats to a max double, then backoffs, with some chins or pullups after each set
  4. Do presses or push presses to a max double, then backoffs, with some chins or pullups after each set

Today I started with overhead squats, but I think that was a mistake.  I put the bar overhead for OHSQs by snatching it, and I think doing even three or four terrible, awful, no-good power snatches at the start of my workout poisons my real snatch form just a little.  My technique on snatches is fucking terrible, and I’m gonna try to accumulate 400 or so good reps over the course of my vacation time.  I would be surprised, but not shocked, if I come back to this blog on January 5th and giddily announce that I’ve snatched bodyweight.  I’m sitting around at about 165 (down 20 from March; fuck you again, “diets don’t work” guy), and my best power snatch is 145 — more of a muscle snatch, really, I probably dipped about an inch under that bar.  I’m clearly strong enough to snatch 165, I just don’t have the skill or the mindset to do it.  Yet.

3 Responses to “Three food-related things that annoy me”

  1. December 29, 2013 at 18:06

    how many calories are you eating, and how many are you burning?

    Do you think that caloric deficit causes fat loss? Or is it merely correlated?

    • December 29, 2013 at 18:56

      Running a kcal deficit is pretty much a necessary but not sufficient condition for fat loss. I can imagine situations where it’s not sufficient — maybe you’re eating too little protein and too many carbs, and burning muscle by deamination because your liver doesn’t want anything to do with breaking down triglycerides — but if you’re not being stupid you will lose fat on a deficit. I can also imagine situations where you could lose fat on a caloric surplus — basically Smolov-like loading plus the kind of P-ratio that makes it unlikely that you were fat in the first place — but outside of truly elite athletes I don’t see that as anything other than a fairy tale.

Leave a reply; use raw HTML for markup. Please blockquote quotations from the post or other comments.

Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in:

WordPress.com Logo

You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Log Out / Change )

Twitter picture

You are commenting using your Twitter account. Log Out / Change )

Facebook photo

You are commenting using your Facebook account. Log Out / Change )

Google+ photo

You are commenting using your Google+ account. Log Out / Change )

Connecting to %s

anarchocapitalist agitprop

Be advised

I say fuck a lot

Statistics FTW

%d bloggers like this:


text:
Bob Nault

Your member of parliament for

Bob Nault

Your member of parliament for

WEEKLY COLUMN: Passport clinics being held throughout the riding

Week of July 17, 2017

Summer in the Kenora riding is a treat for anyone who has experienced it. There is no shortage of activities to participate in and the scenery is amongst the most beautiful in the world. It’s also a great time to sit out on a patio and plan your winter getaway. One of the first items on your travel to-do list should be: check your passport. If you’ve never had a passport, now is the perfect time to apply, or, if it expires soon, you should consider renewing.

A passport clinic is a one-stop shop for all your passport needs. Whether you need to apply or renew, there will be staff on-hand to guide you through the process. Currently, we have three scheduled for August with more to come. No appointments are needed, simply stop by and we’ll guide you through the application process.

On Tuesday, Aug. 8, I will be at the Dryden Legion from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. On Wednesday, Aug. 9, we will be in Sioux Lookout at the constituency office located on the second floor of the Centennial Centre. We’re then going to Kenora on Thursday, Aug. 10, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Norman Community Club. We’re also planning to hold a passport clinic in Red Lake later this summer or early in the fall.

We will have an on-site photographer available to take passport photos for $20 (cash only). Having a photographer in attendance allows the application process to run more efficiently.

You may renew your passport at any time up to one year past the expiration date of your current passport. It is advised to renew before they expire as you cannot travel with an expired passport. It is also less expensive and burdensome to keep your passport up to date.

Youth will need a child passport up until the age of 16. If the youth has a child passport and turns 16, they can continue using it until it expires. A parent or guardian must fill out the application when requesting a passport for a child under 16.

To help with the specifics of each application, I’ve included detailed instructions on the /BobNaultMP Facebook page. If you have any questions in advance of the passport clinics, I encourage you to reach out to my constituency office at 1-866-710-0008.

I am looking forward to seeing you at the passport clinics in just a few short weeks.

To request an interview with Bob Nault please contact the offices below:

Kenora Office:
Grace Protopapas

Ottawa Office:

Twitter: @BobNaultMP


text:
How To: Use a stair stepper

Use a stair stepper

Stair steppers are popular for cardio at the gym or at home. Learn how to use a stair stepper in this exercise tutorial. When using a stair stepper you should work quads, hamstrings & glutes, follow instructions on machine, keep hands on sensors, and keep pedals centered. With this how to video you will be able to use a stair stepper for a more effective workout.

Be the First to Comment

Share Your Thoughts

  • Hot
  • Latest


text:
Passing the Baton

Olympic games are a great entertaining sport to watch. Anyone who has seen the challenges that take place in them will know, it is very strenuous. There are two most recognizeable parts of the Olympics. The burning Torch and the passing of the baton.

It is a joyous occasion for one runner to pass the baton off to the next runner. But every runner knows that the race isn’t over until you cross the finish line. So why do we try to give up (or just as often, give IN) so much? Hmmm. We can’t pass off the baton that way. In 2 Timothy 4, Paul is “passing the baton” to Timothy. He encourages him by letting him know, no, it wasn’t always easy. “For I am already being poured out like a drink offering…” (2 Tim. 4:6) But he insisted that Timothy keep his eye on the prize. “There is in store for me the crown of righteousness…” (2 Timothy 4:7)

So you might be wondering why there is so much emphasis on holding out. Why? Because our brothers and sisters are desparately in need of being reminded that what this world offers us and any persecution that we face will not last forever. It will end. So we must run hard to ensure that those who we hand the baton to are ready to run the next part.

 Have you ever played Ms. Pac-Man? When you find that one of the Pac-man’s are coming for you, you frantically rush to get as many more orbs as you can before time runs out. Should not the Christian be just as enthusiastic about winning souls for Christ? Part of passing the baton off comes with having a confidence in your partner. Runners know that the person they pass the baton to has had all the necessary training and is ready to go forth. When sharing the Gospel with an unbeliever, we must make sure that they understand just what Christ did for them. Knowing Him PERSONALLY and not just as a common household name. But we should also be EQUALLY as energetic about encouraging those already saved for holding out.

Encouragement is a significant part of the Christians job too. You see, if we don’t build one another up, we risk falling behind. Paul lets Timothy know this. He says, “At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them.” (2 Timothy 4:16) So we see that Paul taught Timothy but he also encouraged him. A common motto of soldiers in war is, “No man left behind.”

 Often times, we get so caught up in getting others to Christ that we may forget that our brothers and sisters need some comfort and prayers and encouragement sometimes too. But we must understand that as Olympians, passing the baton only comes about because we completed our segment of the race. Olympians don’t pass it off because they just gave up. Not because they trained for so many days and weeks and now they just don’t want to do it anymore.

So what about that Torch? The Torch in the Olympics is a never dying torch. It’s light is never supposed to go out. Paul showed Timothy that we must keep the torch burning for Christ! The torch is the light that we have inside of us. It can often times become so dimmed and darkened by our actions that our words have little to no effect. But Paul tells Timothy the light of Christ is a torch worth carrying and this is a race well worth running. And I certainly want to cross the finish line, but what kind of baton will I pass off? Will I pass it off because I quit? Hardly. I want the baton I pass off to be one in which I can look back and say (as Paul in 2 Timothy 4:7) “I have fought the good fight. I have FINISHED the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness…” So stay encouraged!!

About boldandfab

Where Being A Witness Meets Chic Sophistication! Where Every Word Has Profound Meaning. It's all us...ALL REAL! B & F.
This entry was posted in Mondays with Claire and tagged , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

11 Responses to Passing the Baton

  1. Tristan says:

    The whole time I was reading this, I kept hearing maruette brown clark’s song It Ain’t Over, until God says it’s over. It ain’t over until God says its done. It ain’t over until God says it’s over. Keep fighting until your victory is won.
    What a blessing you are for the kingdom young lady. I am going to share this with my neice.

  2. Mom Dukes says:

    The training Paul speaks of in His epistles is done through our daily acknowledgement of Christ being the center of our lives. We make that known by our actions, our words, and, as you’ve stated in one of your earlier blogs Claire, by actions and words we don’t say and do. This training is necessary, as any soldier must be the best he can be, to win the battles that come his or her way. It’s like a believer’s bootcamp; the Lord strips us down to nothing then lovingly molds us according to His plans for our lives.

    Because of our free will, we tend to make that transformation difficult, wanting to do things our way, wanting God to get on board with our plans. But our Father, being the loving Parent He is, does not give up on us, or throw in the towel, or regret creating us in his image and likeness. He is longsuffering… His love for this world in the state its presently in dictates that fact. If the Lord won’t give up on us, we have no right to even consider it… With… God, …it’s… all…. or….. nothing. You’re a blessing, Claire!

    • boldandfab says:

      I like this. Never failing to remember that what we DON’T say or do counts just as much as what we DO say and do. …”With…God,…it’s…all…or…nothing.” Thank you so much!

  3. HANK LLOYD says:

    Accepting the Baton:
    God has saved you and has a special plan for your life. The plan of Salvation is that someone prayed for you, and told you that Jesus loves you and wanted to save you so that you can have eternal life. Jesus came into your heart and changed you into a new creation. Now that you are a child of God, your desires have changed and you want to serve God with all your heart.
    Someone obeyed Jesus’ Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) to go and preach the Gospel to you. The cross came into your life and you were saved. The word, “Go” and the cross, a “t”, form the word, “Got” and that’s what Jesus did. He “Got” you when He changed your life,and now you belong to God!

    Passing the Baton:
    Jesus also wants you to obey His commission and “Go”. To do this you need to accept the baton that Jesus holds out to you. His plan for your life includes telling your friends about Jesus. He also wants you to pray for them, so that God’s Holy Spirit can draw them until they surrender their lives to Jesus.
    And then you will have passed the baton onto someone else, and Heaven and the angels will rejoice as a new name is written down in Glory!

  4. iNDIGO says:

    Wow man. the B&F ladies are really on fire w/ these blogs the last couple weeks. This is my NEW fav of yours!!! This blog is spectacular on every level. You broke it all the way down sis. I appreciate your analogy (you do that VERY WELL btw) and receive it wholeheartedly. We can never win a race that we aren’t running. We can’t be saved living vicariously through the saved. We can’t do anything w/o Christ. Thank you for your word.

  5. Monisha S. Carter says:

    Sis all I can say is AMEN!!! You are SUCH a blessing(THRU CHRIST) You make me MORE & MORE thankful that God blessed me w/ YOU as MY sister….Over the past 6 months I have TRULY realized how IMPORTANT it is to ENCOURAGE EVERYONE & not keep this AMAZING GIFT called salvation ALL 2 MYSELF!!! Keep running your race sis in Jesus Name(OF COURSE) & TRUST you WILL SURELY receive your PRIZE…ETERNITY!!! Love you Baby(Big) Sis;-) Smooches…

  6. Campus Security(Dad) says:

    Claire I am encouraged by your blogg, and pray God will continue to show you the need for Him and His word. We are in a spiritual race and their are many who would love to see us fall, but by God’s Grace we and our focus on Him, will make it to the end . The race is not given to the swift or the strong but to him who endures. AMEN! I LOVE YOU.

  7. boldandfab says:

    Thank you! We can’t fall, but must know that even if we do, we get back up and finish this race out. I love you too, Dad!

Leave a Reply

Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: Logo

You are commenting using your account. Log Out / Change )

Twitter picture

You are commenting using your Twitter account. Log Out / Change )

Facebook photo

You are commenting using your Facebook account. Log Out / Change )

Google+ photo

You are commenting using your Google+ account. Log Out / Change )

Connecting to %s


text:
Category Archives: DIY

Do It Yourself: Home activities for the DIY Cosmetic scientist!

DIY: Warm Winter Exfoliant

In my last post, I mentioned that I will share  one of my go to winter exfoliants.  I actually have several because I love  to make them; but I chose this one because its easy to make and one of … Continue reading

Posted in DIY | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment


text:
Friday, October 17, 2014

Meeting of September 22, 2014

The first book of our Fall season is The Orenda by Joseph Boyden, Colette choice.  Jolene is hosting and present are Carla, Colette, Jane, Janet, Jolene, Michèle and Shirley.  Jolene prepared salmon roll-up sandwiches with quinoa, maple cheddar cheese and a wonderful bison and foie gras pâté among other goodies, wine of course, coffee and tea.

Each year CBC has a Canada Reads competition to determine the Book of the Year. This year the theme was "One novel to change our Nation" and The Orenda that was defended by Wab Kinew, a journalist and aboriginal activist, won.

Joseph Boyden, born in 1966 in Toronto is of Irish and Métis descent.  He was educated at York University and now teaches part time at York and at the University of New Orleans. The Orenda is his third novel. His novel Through Spruce Black won the Giller Prize in 2008.  The Orenda is set in the 17th century in what is now Ontario and Québec and recounts the beginning of French colonization and the downfall of the Wendat-Huron Nation.  The story is told through the eyes of three people, Bird a Wendat warrior, Snowfall a Haudenosaunee girl adopted by bird and Christophe a Jesuit missionary (character based on canonized martyr Jean-de-Brébeuf).  The novel details the interactions of these three characters with the French.

All who read it found that the book was well worth reading.  Not only was it very well written, it also had well developed characters and a rhythm between the three voices thoughout the story.  All thought that there are some very violent scenes described in the book and some read quickly through those passages finding they were hard to read, but none felt that the depiction of the violence was an unnecessary part of the story. The novel also chronicles the impact of disease on the tribes brought by the colonizers and the impact of droughts on crops and the survival of villages.

The Orenda received some very positive reviews, touted as a classic and must read to understand part of Canada's early history.  Some however have criticized it saying that it gives a skewed vision of aboriginal nations as savages.  We all felt that it is certainly worth reading and an important book in English Canadian literature.

No comments:

Post a Comment

All comments are reviewed before being published.


text:
Life and Campaigns of George B. McClellan, Major-general U. S. Army

Front Cover
J. B. Lippincott, 1864 - United States - 396 pages
0 Reviews

What people are saying - Write a review

We haven't found any reviews in the usual places.

Other editions - View all

Common terms and phrases

Popular passages

Page 138 - Ordered: That the 22d day of February, 1862, be the day for a general movement of the land and naval forces of the United States against the insurgent forces.
Page 234 - They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon.
Page 332 - I do not want to issue a document that the whole world will see must necessarily be inoperative, like the Pope's bull against the comet! Would my word free the slaves, when I cannot even enforce the Constitution in the rebel States ? Is there a single court or magistrate or individual that would be influenced by it there ? And what reason is there to think it would have any greater effect upon the slaves than the late law of Congress, which I approved, and which offers protection and freedom to the...
Page 266 - If it would not divert too much of your time and attention from the army under your immediate command, I would be glad to have your views as to the present state of military affairs throughout the whole country, as you say you would be glad to give them.
Page 178 - I suppose the whole force which has gone forward for you, is with you by this time; and if so, I think it is the precise time for you to strike a blow. By delay the enemy will relatively gain upon you -that is, he will gain faster, by fortifications and re-inforcements, than you can by re-inforcements alone. And, once more let me tell you, it is indispensable to you that you strike a blow. / am powerless to help this.
Page 370 - This is the road that all heroes have trod before him. He is traduced and abused for his supposed motives. He will remember, that obloquy is a necessary ingredient in the composition of all true glory...
Page 264 - It should not be a war looking to the subjugation of the people of any State, in any event. It should not be at all a war upon population, but against armed forces and political organizations. Neither confiscation of property, political executions of persons, territorial organization of States, or forcible abolition of slavery, should be contemplated for a moment.
Page 320 - The President directs that you cross the Potomac and give battle to the enemy, or drive him south.
Page 204 - York rivers than by a land march. In order, therefore, to increase the strength of the attack upon Richmond at the earliest moment, General McDowell has been ordered to march upon that city by the shortest route. He is ordered, keeping himself always in position to save the capital from all possible attack, so to operate as to put his left wing in communication with your right wing, and you are instructed to cooperate so as to establish this communication as soon as possible by extending your right...
Page 304 - I regret that you find it necessary to couch every despatch I have the honor to receive from you in a spirit of fault-finding, and that you have not yet found leisure to say one word in commendation of the recent achievements of this army, or even to allude to them.

Bibliographic information


text:
The Rotarian

Front Cover
Established in 1911, The Rotarian is the official magazine of Rotary International and is circulated worldwide. Each issue contains feature articles, columns, and departments about, or of interest to, Rotarians. Seventeen Nobel Prize winners and 19 Pulitzer Prize winners – from Mahatma Ghandi to Kurt Vonnegut Jr. – have written for the magazine.

Browse all issues

Table of Contents

Common terms and phrases


text:
Search Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »
Sign in
Books Books 1 - 10 of about 36 related to Alternative Science: Challenging the Myths of the Scientific Establishment.

Best of Enemies: Britain and Germany : 100 Years of Truth and Lies

Richard Milton - History - 2007 - 359 pages
This is the stunning popular history of 100 years (1845-1945) of Anglo-German love/hate. Richard Milton exposes the secrets of a relationship steeped in mutual admiration ...
Snippet view - About this book

God Games: What Do You Do Forever?

Neil Freer, Zecharia Sitchin - Body, Mind & Spirit - 1999 - 312 pages
This new book by Neil Freer, author of Breaking the Godspell, outlines the human evolutionary scenario far into the future. We are a genetically-engineered race with a dual ...
Limited preview - About this book

Temple of the Cosmos: The Ancient Egyptian Experience of the Sacred

Jeremy Naydler - History - 1996 - 310 pages
Recreates the ancient Egyptian sacred path of spiritual unfolding.
Limited preview - About this book

Earth Under Fire: Humanity's Survival of the Ice Age

Paul A. LaViolette - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2005 - 436 pages
In Earth Under Fire, Paul LaViolette investigates the connection between ancient world catastrophe myths and modern scientific evidence of a galactic destruction cycle ...
Limited preview - About this book

The Destruction of Atlantis: Compelling Evidence of the Sudden Fall of the ...

Frank Joseph - History - 2004 - 288 pages
In the most comprehensive account of this legendary island, Joseph provides compelling evidence based on 20 years of research around the globe that Atlantis was at the root of ...
Limited preview - About this book

Legacy of the Elder Gods

M. Don Schorn - History - 2008 - 436 pages
No preview available - About this book

  1. My library
  2. Help
  3. Advanced Book Search


text:
The Oxford History of Byzantium, Hardback Book

Byzantium linked the ancient and modern worlds, shaping traditions and handing down to both Eastern and Western civilization a vibrant legacy. 'The Oxford History of Byzantium' provides in concise form detailed historical coverage from the Roman beginnings to the fall of Constantinople and assimilation into the Turkish Empire.

  • Format: Hardback
  • Pages: 352 pages, 24pp colour plates and numerous halftones
  • Publisher: Oxford University Press
  • Publication Date:
  • Category: European history
  • ISBN: 9780198140986

Free P&Pwhen you spend
£20 or over


text:
Smashing Plates, Hardback Book

From delicious vegetarian dishes such as Carrot Keftedes and Tomato and Runner Bean Baklava to Marinated Lamb with Feta Curd or Courgette-coated Calamari, and a tempting range of sweet dishes including Watermelon Mahalepi and Greek Yogurt and Apple Cake, Maria's inventive recipes will open your eyes to a whole new world of Greek cooking.

  • Format: Hardback
  • Pages: 208 pages, colour photography throughout
  • Publisher: Kyle Books
  • Publication Date:
  • Category: National & regional cuisine
  • ISBN: 9780857831712

Free P&Pwhen you spend
£20 or over


text:
Under the Greenwood Tree, CD-Audio Book

Under the Greenwood Tree CD-Audio

Narrated by Jamie Parker

Under the Greenwood Tree is an affectionate and youthful portrait of a world Hardy knew well - village life in 'Wessex' - in which a romantic tale is set against changing circumstances.

The traditional feature of local music making performed by the village band and choir is challenged by the modern innovation of organ and organist providing music in the church.

Fancy Day, the new, comely school mistress is also an accomplished organist, and these qualities create conflict in the village, especially when the unmarried young vicar and Dick Dewy, a member of the Mellstock parish choir vie for her attention.

In this, only his second novel, Hardy presents one of his most gentle and charming pictures.

Other Formats

Free P&Pwhen you spend
£20 or over


text:
Log in

No account? Create an account
08 November 2005 @ 10:01 pm
PCB!Lex (Part 4)
A little more...

Earlier Silliness
Part 1: Paper jam
Part 2: Toner emergency
Part 3: Maintainance call

And now...

Day 4: System error

‘Let me get this straight, Kent...’ Perry leaned back in his chair, frowning. He tapped a pen against the edge of his expansive oak desk. ‘You’re asking me to sack the photocopy boy. And your reason for proposing this is that within a week of him starting here, we have a brandnew kickass photocopier.’

‘A very expensive new photocopier!’ The conversation with the editor-in-chief wasn’t going exactly as Clark had planned. ‘And I don’t think we needed it. I think he’s... well I think he doesn’t care how much of the Planet’s money he spends.’

Perry pursed his lips and nodded slowly. ‘Uh-huh. I see. Well, I have to tell you Kent that you’d be wrong in that assumption because the new copier didn’t cost us a cent.’

‘What?’ Clark was taken aback for a moment and then it dawned on him. ‘Wait a moment. Sir, the money for the copier… it didn’t come from LexCorp did it?’

Perry swung forward suddenly and leaned across the desk at Clark. ‘What are you on, Kent? Do you seriously think this paper would accept that kind of sweetener? In any case, this is an entirely internal matter. Speaking of which...’

Perry pressed the intercom on his phone and spoke into the speaker. ‘Kate, get Alex from the copy room up here would you.’

He turned back to face Clark who was feeling decidedly unsettled. This was definitely not how the meeting with Perry was supposed to go.

‘Look, sir, I know it sounds crazy, but the old copier was working pefectly well on Monday. And suddenly this guy turns up here and tells us we have to get a new copier. Well, don’t you think it sounds a little suspicious?’

‘Yes. I’m, well, look the truth is I think this guy… I, I just don’t think we can trust him.’

‘Right.’ Perry nodded. ‘Well, you’ve obviously thought a lot about this, Kent. But I must say the logic of your argument escapes me at the moment, a problem I’ve seen in more than one of your articles, if you don’t mind me saying.’

Clark opened his mouth to reply but was stopped by the knock at the door.

‘You asked for me, sir?’

‘Alex! Yes, come in. Join us.’ Perry indicated the seat beside Clark.

Lex sat down without looking at Clark, his face wearing a practised neutral expression.

‘Alex, you’ve met Kent, I take it? One of our junior reporters.’

Clark winced at the slight emphasis on junior.

‘Yes, sir.’

‘Well, Kent’s just been telling me about a theory of his, Alex.’

‘Really sir?’

‘Yes. And I thought you would be the best person to put him straight.’

‘Well, I’d be glad to, sir, but I don’t really know what it’s all about.’ Lex turned wide blue eyes from Perry to Clark.

‘That’s ok, Alex. Just run over what you told me yesterday afternoon.’

‘About the copying contract?’

‘Yes, yes. Just the clip notes version.’

Lex feigned surprise. ‘Well, ok. Basically I put forward a report on the performance of our main copier based on data from the copier’s inbuilt monitoring system and on the employee anecdotes I’ve been recording.’

‘Employee anecdotes?!’ Clark didn’t see how Perry could take this seriously. ‘What type of evidence is that?’

‘Well, actually they’re an excellent complement to the rather basic data that the copier’s computer system generates. Take yourself, for example. On Tuesday morning you experienced a jam in area 7, I believe. A real trouble spot,’

Perry raised an eyebrow. ‘Working perfectly, huh Kent?’

Lex continued. ‘When questioned, many employees reported issues in the same area. And yesterday moment, the entire unit froze. I decided it was time to take action. I undertook some research into that particular model. It turns out it’s been recalled from several companies. After that, it was just a matter of contacting the supplier and renegotiating our contract, a task which Mr White kindly entrusted to me.’ Lex smiled humbly in Perry’s direction.

Perry, by this time, was chewing on the end of a pen and grinning.

‘The matter was resolved satisfactorily.’

Perry pulled the pen out of his mouth. ‘Oh don’t undersell yourself, Alex. You did a stunning job of persuading them to upgrade us free of charge.’

Lex bowed his head, smiling slightly. ‘My pleasure, sir.’

‘You see, Kent?’ Perry turned his gaze on Clark. ‘A little initiative, some lateral thinking, solid research and you get results. Pity you didn’t apply the same skills before you came in here this morning WASTING MY TIME!’ He slammed the pen down on the desk.

Clark jumped.

‘Has there been some kind of cock up in HR or something?’ Perry rose from his chair and started pacing up and down before the window. Rhetorical questions and pacing: not good. ‘Because I seem to have ended up with a copy boy who has more flair than one of my reporters. No offence, Alex.’

‘None taken, sir. If I may, though, I’d just like to say that I don’t think you should judge Clark’s performance quite so hastily.’

‘Oh? Really?’ Perry rounded on Lex.

‘Yes. I understand he’s been having some personal difficulties recently, which may have impaired his performance. But I’m sure he’ll do his best to make it up.’

‘Don’t get above yourself, Alex. Supplier contracts are one thing. Opinions about my journalists are another. You can go now.’

Lex rose silently and made for the door. Clark began to breathe a tentative sigh of relief. The worst part of the ordeal was over.

‘Oh and get Lois for me would you?’

He’d breathed too soon.

Perry turned his back on Clark and stared out of the full-length windows that faced out on Metropolis while he waited for Lois. The silence was wreaking havoc with Clark’s nerves. But he wasn’t sure that breaking it was a good idea either.

‘Whassup boss?’ Lois, when she arrived, practically bounced into the room. ‘Oh, hi Clark!’

Clark forced a smile for Lois, who swung herself into the seat that Lex had vacated.

Perry turned from the window. ‘Lois, I’ve already commended you on this week’s article. It is truly some of the best work I’ve seen you do.’

Clark’s heart sank. The Met U article. Oh god, he’d completely forgotten. Lois must have submitted it already. Without him. Anger fought with guilt in Clark’s stomach. Guilt won. It usually did.

Lois was glowing. ‘Thank you, sir!’ she said, chin up like a soldier about to salute.

‘But you gave me to understand that the article was a team effort.’

Lois swallowed. ‘Well, I, uh. Clark did help. A bit.’

Oh wonderful, Lois, thought Clark. Lex was a bigger help than this!

‘But it appears he’s spent an inordinate amount of his time this week obsessing about the motivations of our photocopy boy, instead of furthering his reporting career.’

Lois turned to Clark with her face very unattractively screwed up in puzzlement. He frowned back at her with a little shake of his head that he hoped indicated that she really shouldn’t ask.

‘You know, I’m going to speak to you honestly now.’ Perry leaned against his desk on the knuckles of his right hand. ‘When I took you two on I wasn’t sure how this would work out. But frankly Lois was one of the most promising young journalists I’ve seen in my entire career. I couldn’t let that go.’

Clark glanced at Lois. Surprisingly she wasn’t grinning any more. She was just staring at Perry, but her dimples were showing.

‘I wasn’t so sure about you, Kent. Your portfolio was … eclectic. There was some good material, I’ll admit. But not enough to get you in on your own merit.’

Why was Perry telling him this?

‘But I was faced with a problem. I didn’t want to hire two separate young reporters with overblown egos. I’ve seen the type crash and burn within a year all too often.’

Involuntrily, Clark thought of Chloe.

‘I wanted a team, a team that could support each other and undertake indepth investigations together, a team that could build up talent collectively and could balance each other out under pressure. A team I could rely on if I allocated them to specific projects. So, I had Lois, but I needed a partner for her. And that’s where you came in, Kent. Sorry, Lois, but the truth is I wasn’t sure any of the other applicants would last with you.’

Lois broke before Clark did. ‘What are you saying?’

Perry turned to her. ‘I’m saying you’re a shithot reporter, Lois, but you don’t play well with others.’

‘So why not let me play alone?’

It was as if Clark wasn’t even in the room any more.

Perry sighed. ‘No, see, you need someone to ground you, to help keep you on track. Look, you may not understand this now but one day you will.’

Lois folded her arms across her chest. ‘So you lumped me with Smallville here?’

‘Well, you already knew each other. Hell, you acted practically like brother and sister. It seemed perfect. So tell me now. Was I wrong? Should I just sack your asses?’

In the silence that followed, Clark and Lois glanced at one another. Lois’s eyes were fiery and her jaw set firm. Clark returned her gaze. They turned back to Perry in unison.

‘No sir.’

‘No sir.’

Perry nodded very slowly.

‘Ok then. You know where you stand now. Now get out of office and get back to work.’

Clark scraped his chair back swiftly and nearly fell over Lois in his rush for the door.

‘Oh and Kent? The next time you want to file a complaint against an employee? Run it past Lois first. And take it to HR. They’re both there for a reason.’
Current Mood: bouncybouncy
Current Music: Stardust, Music sounds better with you
Feliz: Clark sun shinesfeliz581 on November 8th, 2005 12:16 pm (UTC)
Poor Clark! He's so confused! *g*
K, Bop or Boppy--take your pick!: Clark pretty dumbassbop_radar on November 9th, 2005 05:19 am (UTC)
Yeah... he's going to go and drown his sorrows in the next part!
Cris: Clois - professional snoopsduskwillow on November 8th, 2005 04:04 pm (UTC)
Clark suspicious of photocopy boy! LOL
No wonder they all think he's a bit, shall we say, crazy. Hee!

‘Yes. And I thought you would be the best person to put him straight.’
Straight, right...
K, Bop or Boppy--take your pick!: Clois snoopsbop_radar on November 9th, 2005 05:17 am (UTC)
Hee hee! You have my sense of humour! Yes, I love Clark's naivety: he always thinks everyone's on the same page as he is. Like in Exposed this week when he greeted Lex with a question - how would Lex even know what he was talking about? But he is just always caught up in his own emotions and forgets to fill everyone else in! And that's sort of what I was trying to show in this bit.

*wants to see Lex set Clark 'straight'*
Nora Norwich: color Corotnorwich36 on November 8th, 2005 04:10 pm (UTC)
I am loving this story *so much*. Poor confused Clark--he's no match for Lex's brilliant schemes.
K, Bop or Boppy--take your pick!: Lex mischiefbop_radar on November 9th, 2005 05:11 am (UTC)
Thank you! Lex is naughty, isn't he?! *g*
complicatcomplicat on November 8th, 2005 08:48 pm (UTC)
I'm as confused as Clark about where this story is heading, but it's great fun, I'm really enjoying it!
K, Bop or Boppy--take your pick!: TW grinbop_radar on November 9th, 2005 05:24 am (UTC)
Thanks!! My sympathy on the confusion - I was just as confused when the idea, fully plotted, took possession of my brain! ;)
supacatsupacat on November 9th, 2005 12:30 pm (UTC)
Whoo-hoo! Just spamming your LJ to tell you that I am now officially SHIPPING CLOIS in this fic. Like, there should be a scene where they are THRUST together near the photocopier and Clark is all, "OMG! Breasts!" *helpless arousal*

HeroHunter.  I, Storyteller.: lexflirtherohunter on December 1st, 2005 06:52 am (UTC)

(Deleted comment)
K, Bop or Boppy--take your pick!: Clois don't get me startedbop_radar on May 20th, 2006 05:49 am (UTC)
Glad you liked it! Lex sure has got the smarts! ;-)


text:
Saturday, June 20, 2015

The Spectacular Rise and Crash of Upworthy

“Here, approximately, is how Upworthy became one of the biggest sites on the internet back in 2012 and 2013: It came up with a way to package preexisting YouTube videos in a way that made them appealing to people who wanted to project certain political and social values to their Facebook friends. This makes sense! Putting a compelling headline and a hard-sell introduction on a video that might have otherwise gotten lost is just good aggregation—the content is free, the payoff is big, and the politics are coherent. What made Upworthy especially explosive was that it was repackaging not just to appeal to people but to a mostly invisible quirk of its distributor—what is sometimes referred to as Facebook’s ‘long click’ metric. Upworthy headlines compelled people to click; long YouTube videos embedded on their site compelled people to stay; Facebook received three very strong signals—clicking, sharing, and time spent—that Upworthy’s content was vigorously engaged with, and treated it as such.”

John Herrman


text:
Entertainment » Books

Chris Stedman: Proud to Be a "Faitheist"

by Chris Sosa
EDGE Media Network Contributor
Friday Nov 2, 2012

Chris Stedman isn't your average atheist. The Assistant Humanist chaplain at Harvard University is releasing his debut memoir "Faitheist: How an Atheist Found Common Ground with the Religious." An unusual story of self-discovery among hardship, the story points toward the notion of interfaith work to build a more just society.

As a child, Chris was raised in a generally irreligious family but around age ten, his life began to change. After his parents' separation, Chris found his security evaporating, "My Dad sort of became very hands off and not really involved in our lives."

"Around that time, some kids invited me to a youth group with them. It felt to me like life seemed really easy for them and I wondered what their secret was," he recalled. Chris joined full-force: "I became a born-again Christian, a really fundamentalist Christian when I was eleven years old."

The book details the tumultuous experience of self-discovery that nearly ended Stedman's life. Per Stedman's optimistic personality, the story is one of inspiration and hope. But rather than leaving religion in the dust as atheists like Christopher Hitchens and Richard Dawkins so famously have, Chris had other ideas.

That brings us to the book title: What is a "faitheist"? "In the opening chapter of the book I tell the story of the first time I ever went to a meeting of organized atheists," Chris explains. "After the event, which I was a little disappointed by, I went to a reception. They asked what I did for a living, and at the time I was working for a group called Interfaith Youth Core... Somebody said to me, 'You're one of those atheists... A faitheist.'"

"It felt so familiar with me from the past, being a Christian and gay"

Stedman immediately recalled the reaction as one he’d seen before as a teenager in church before he recognized his atheism, "It felt so familiar with me from the past, being a Christian and gay."

"I want to try and be fair when I look back on those years in an Evangelical community," he says of the church, explaining it did in fact offer a lot of the community he was lacking at the time. "I don’t think they knew any better," is his generous response to the rejection he experienced.

Atheism’s prominent voices have been much less generous to Stedman. His most vocal critic is PZ Myers, who’s described Stedman as a "slimy" character and traitor to the movement for the embracing of religious individuals in his work and criticism of atheism’s more hardline tactics. While Myers would enjoy a fight, Stedman isn’t interested in engaging, calling such divisive disdain "toxic."

"Everyone has the capacity to be good, they just need to be given the opportunity"

"I don’t want to discourage the discussion around these kinds of (religious) issues, I just want to encourage a more considerate discussion," Chris explained. I asked him why he believed division was the most popular form of discourse, and he pointed at the media: "A message of peace doesn’t sell as well as the clash of civilizations."

Stedman genuinely doesn’t like division and didn’t take the bait when asked if religion is a source of societal problems. "I see religion as an outlet for problems that already exist in society in general. To say that religion in and of itself is the source of conflict is a reduction of a very complex sort of intersection of multiple issues," he responded.

In the end, Stedman sees himself as a "community organizer," a hands-on player in building bridges between people of differing perspectives. "I wanted to inject an alternate perspective into the discussion."

I asked Chris to sum up his viewpoint in a single sentence, "Everyone has the capacity to be good, they just need to be given the opportunity."

"Faitheist: How an Atheist Found Common Ground with the Religious" hits stores on November 6.

  • , 2012-11-05 14:52:40

    I’m really looking forward to reading this book. I was raised as, and continued to be, a Jehovah’s Witness until my mid-20’s. Although I am an atheist now and have some serious criticism of fundamentalist religions, I do still admire certain aspects of them, and think there is value in tolerance and respect between really disparate communities.

Add New Comment

Comments on Facebook