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Monster of the Week: Protector 101

Thank you, have a nice day.

Films Synopsis: Originally released in 1986 with the title, Killbots, this late-eighties horror-com bombed at the box office but saw new life when it hit VHS shelves with a revamped name- Chopping Mall (rumored to be suggested by a janitor). Chopping Mall tells the comedic tale of three late-eighties security robots who go on a killing spree inside a Plaza Mall during one long and murderous evening.

The unlucky victims of these rogue bots are a group of teenage employees who made the mistake of deciding to have an after-hours party at the shopping center. Unfortunately for them, a bolt of lightning corrupts the state-of-the-art circuitry of a trio of Protector bots, resulting in the security drones killing off the teens one-by-one as the newly sentient droids take to their security patrol. Filled with lasers, gratuitous nudity and the protectors’ trademark ‘Have a nice day’ tagline, Chopping Mall is b-movie horror at its worst (or finest!) And for us gaming fans, it gives us the first robot-themed horror film to kick off the new year! That’s right – its 2020 and to ring in this new and totally futuristic DECADE, all month long we’ll be converting horror Constructs!

Check out the Loot the Corpse Instagram for Loot for this monster!

Protectors may be sentient but they definitely aren’t terribly smart. Like most constructs, they can follow basic instructions most notably guard, patrol and attack. They see all foes with the same level of threat which is why they use their blasters with seeming randomness no matter the type of opponent encountered. While they are not tactically minded, they do understand the value of surprise and will typically find the darkest or most out-of-the way spot in a given structure to hide and catch any potential intruders unawares.

Throwing a protector (or three) into the laboratory or lair of a mad gnome, tinkerer or artificer can add some variation and comedic laughs to an encounter (make sure to use their signature ‘Have a nice day’ every time they stun, knock prone or otherwise disable a player). Protectors are definitely best in a campaign world with everyday magic (like Eberron) but can also be a unique opponents custom designed model, for instance the scrappings salvaged from alien beings.

The base ability stats along with resistances and magic resistance for the protectors were mostly pulled from similar clockworks found in Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes. For the actions, including their blaster attack, these were based on the movie kills by the protectors and combined with the iron cobra’s random bite attack (again from Mordenkainen). The cool berserk mode, where one of the protectors starts randomly shooting everything in the movie, is of course, pulled from the flesh golem (always a great source of inspiration).

But what do you think, are the protectors too slow and limited to laser your characters to death?  Or will they end up having a nice day anyways? Download my rendition of Chopping Mall’s protector 101’s in pdf format for your campaign electrify their year with bolts of laughs.

And, if you want to get this and all the creatures to date in a single, indexed PDF as well as a handy-dandy Fantasy Ground version of these creatures, consider heading over to my Patreon and becoming a Patron!

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12 Days of Anime Christmas, Day 3: Orange and the “Christmas” That Wasn’t

The anime “Orange” has a rather interesting “Christmas” episode. There isn’t, in fact, much Christmas in it at all. While the episode starts with the hopes of a Christmas Eve date between two of the main characters —Naho and Kakeru—this ends up not happening. The reason behind this last-minute cancellation is saddening, with the dreams being dashed by a hospital visit. Kakeru’s grandma suddenly winds up very ill and he spends Christmas in the hospital with her.

The above is certainly not what most of us picture when we think of Christmas. Most of us think of Christmas trees, presents, candy canes, hot chocolate, holidays… not hospital, bedsides medical scares and lost family members. For those of us who do think of those things when you think Christmas, I’m really sorry. It hurts to have negative memories tied to what, for many, is a happy season. As I write this, I’m currently coping with the sudden loss of my mini pony. Due to a very sudden and severe medical issue, I had to say goodbye to her unexpectedly last night. She was my Christmas present last year, and this year, I’m missing her dearly.

When all this happened, however, I was reminded of something very important about this holiday season. It’s not about the trees, presents, or any of the usual holiday things. It’s about family, friends, and giving. See, waiting for a vet to come, waiting more to see if the treatment worked, and waiting one final time for the vet to come back and put your beloved animal to sleep, that’s hard. Very hard. Making that call was one of the hardest things I had to do in my life. However, it was not nearly as hard as it could have been. Through every minute of waiting, crying, and trying to cope, I had a fantastic support team behind me. My mom, my littlest sister, and my husband made sure I wasn’t alone for any of it. My mom handled the phone calls to the vet, knowing I was crying enough that talking wasn’t an option. My sister spent just over an hour walking my pony (you’re meant to try to walk off colic) in the dark, cold, and the snow. My husband, not knowing how to handle horses, just stood with me, comforting me. He also didn’t complain about how late he was up with me that night as I cried it out.

Through everything I had to deal with as I said goodbye to Chibi (my pony), everyone around me was giving. Their time, their support, and their energy. Being outside at midnight in the cold is bad enough, doing it while saying goodbye to a pet is worse. Yet, they all not only had my back without my asking, but not one word of complaint was given. THAT is what Christmas should be about. Spending time with the ones we love and blessing them. That may just look like giving them a gift, or it may look like going out of your way for a visit, or it may even look like spending it in a hospital, like Kakeru did for his grandma.

Sometimes, like for Kakeru, or for me right now, Christmas doesn’t really feel like Christmas. Maybe there’s no snow, no tree, no presents, no hot chocolate or candy canes. That’s not what matters – not really. What matters is the things that we use Christmas as an opportunity to celebrate. What we have. What we’re blessed with. We use it as a chance to bless those around us and give back to those who have blessed us. Yes, it sucks to spend a Christmas lonely, sick, or grieving. I’m not denying that, nor saying you can’t spend Christmas as anything other than happy. However, don’t let the pressure of the typical Christmas bother you. While Christmas is supposed to be a “magical” time of the year, it isn’t always, and doesn’t have to be. Sometimes, other things take priority—and that’s okay. After all, as Naho reminds Kakeru when he apologizes for cancelling their Christmas date: there’s always next year.

Emdaisy1 is a computer programmer and full-time geek. When she's not working or learning to cook, she may be found watching anime, gaming, or reading manga. Not one to pick favorites, she enjoys many genres of many shows/series across the board.

15 thoughts on “12 Days of Anime Christmas, Day 3: Orange and the “Christmas” That Wasn’t

        1. Yeah. While Christians like myself still keep Christmas’ focus on Christ, for many people it’s just a bigger holiday, where family gathers and gifts are given.
          My point in the post wasn’t to say “forget Jesus/God”, but rather to say that things like family should be more important at Christmas than the commercialization of the holiday (e.g. pressure to have the biggest tree, best gifts, etc.)

  1. This was a very beautiful post. I so agree, Christmas is definitely about all that!. I hope nonetheless that despite everything you still will have a wonderful Christmas. Take care 😉

    1. Thank you. 😊 And yes, of course. I’m sure it will be. 🙂 This is my first Christmas celebrating with not just 1, but *2* families. 🙂

  2. So sorry to hear about your pet, Emma. May the Lord of this season fill you with his peace.

    1. Whoops, that “Anonymous” thank you was me. Not sure why it marked it anonymous. My bad. 🙂

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Mysticism: Its Origin and Impact on Contemporary Christian Thought

By Zachary Doppelt

Verax Institute

Mysticism Within Evangelical Christianity there has been a resurging interest in the writings of the mystics and their intuitive approach to God. This has been noticeable with the growing interest in authors such as Richard Foster, Henri Nouwen and Thomas Merton, as well as the leadership of such scholars such as Bruce Demarest. While many evangelicals may not be familiar with each of these names, many books being written today cite these authors as influential, often because these authors purport a form of deeper spirituality. Sometimes this spirituality is seated in the emotions and is predominantly experiential; however for some it is far more intricate and complex.

Because of the variety of notions discussed by the mystics, there is little consensus on the definition of mysticism, yet it is generally consistent for mystics to seek to engage God in a way that transcends reason, even to point of having direct contact with God. This is not to say they claim to be irrational, but more appropriately “transrational.” From this framework of thinking, mystics then build their Christology and Anthropology from their hermeneutic. Thus, it is important to summarize briefly some of the historical influences of mysticism on contemporary hermeneutics, while simultaneously evaluating the ramifications this interpretive scheme has on both their Christology and Anthropology. Finally, I will compare the Biblical model of approaching God as it contrasts with the mystical.

Patristic Mysticism

In Christianity, Origen is generally considered the first Christian mystic embracing this transrational approach as he led the church toward an experiential, intuitive reading of Scripture that was highly allegorical. For him, the traditional literal renderings could not be reconciled to his understanding of history, and he struggled making sense of apparent contradictions. Rather than accepting Scripture as it was and seeking truth by further investigation, he employed a hermeneutic allowing multiple senses of scripture to satisfy his conclusions, setting the slate for John Cassian, the Desert Fathers and others to continue spiritualizing God’s word. This approach also included an embracing of a pseudo unity with God (theosis) that elevated some of humanity to God like status through ritualistic readings (lectio divina) and monastic counterparts to the previously accepted apostolic spirituality.

Ironically these concepts were already found in the Gnostic faith that Origen so vigilantly opposed, as they attempted to find ways to uncover secrets through various stages of knowledge or “gnosis” not too dissimilar to various hermetic and occult groups today. Further, it is evident that Origen was highly influenced by Philo, the Alexandrian Jew, who syncretized Greek Platonic ideas with Judaism, creating Hellenized Judaism that also shared many pre-gnostic ideas, including such various intermediary beings emanating from the Creator. While Origen argued against the dualism of the gnostics that found their precursors even in Biblical times, he created a form of monism that united man with the divine, thus preserving to our day the great contemplative mystical tradition found in the extremes: philosophical monism and dualism. During the apostolic age, these views were predominantly seen in the Essenes and the pre-gnostic cults (dualism) and the eastern religions (monism), all failing to hold in balance both the immanence and transcendence of God. Nonetheless, this methodology continued beyond Origen and Cassian, and found home in other writings of the Patristic era through the Middle Ages and beyond, such as those of Plotinus, Pseudo-Dionysius, Saint Bonaventure and Teresa of Avila.

Further, Origen has been accused of subordinationism in the Trinity, a charge that he has not been fully severed from. His Trinitarian concepts have also been linked to his form of mysticism, though often intended to be complementary to his impact on theology. Thus, though a direct link may not be proven, the presence in the Patristics of a low Christology (subordinationism sometimes to the point of Arianism) with an elevated Anthropology (theosis) all form a mystical approach to Scripture.

Mystical Roots of Evangelicalism

For some today, this trend is disturbing as they rightly see connections to various other religions. It is not uncommon for modern authors to speak of the “self” as it communes with God using the same language as a Buddhist and other wisdom traditions. However, the foundations of mystical thought are not simply Pagan ideals that have been recently borrowed and may be easily discarded. Unfortunately, these concepts have been blended into Christianity for much of its history even into some strains of evangelicalism.  Continue reading

Christians Mystically Encountering God By Marsha West

Mainstreaming Mistic Mindedness By Gaylene Goodroad

“Psst…Lectio Divina…Your Mysticism is Showing By Pamela Couvrette

See our White Papers on Roman Catholicism and the New Age Movement

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Women Entrepreneurship Week 2019

Jessica Walker

President and CEO, Manhattan Chamber of Commerce

Jessica Walker

Jessica Walker is President and CEO of the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, a powerful community of business leaders and entrepreneurs who help one another succeed -- thereby driving broad economic growth thoughout the region.

She is a public policy expert who has advocated on behalf of New York City residents, neighborhoods and businesses for more than 15 years. Her work has made an indelible imprint on the city that she loves. In 2019, Ms. Walker was included on City & State’s Manhattan Power 100 list, which ranks the most influential community leaders in the borough.

Before joining the Chamber, Ms. Walker was Vice President for Government Affairs at the Partnership for New York City, an organization that represents the city’s major corporate employers. She served as the chief liaison between elected officials and the city’s business leaders and as a policy analyst, advisor and writer for the organization’s CEO.

Ms. Walker previously served as a leading advocate for elderly New Yorkers. At the New York Academy of Medicine she oversaw the launch of Age-friendly New York City, a public-private initiative designed to make the city a better place in which to grow old. She also served as a policy analyst at United Neighborhood Houses, the association of community centers and settlement houses throughout New York City.

Ms. Walker was born in Detroit, raised on the Navajo Indian reservation in New Mexico, attended Princeton University, and is now a proud resident of Harlem.


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Best Solar Attic Fans (Info, Reviews, Comparisons, Benefits)

Solar attic fans are powered by sunlight (solar energy, to be more accurate), we all know that. They are basically attic fans connected to solar panels. As you guessed they don’t need any electricity from the mains for working.

These fans also do not have any batteries to store the electric current. So their performances depend entirely on the amount of sunlight available at the time.

Where to install a solar attic fan?

Depending on where they are mount there are two types of solar attic fans; roof mount and gable mount. As you guessed the roof mount ones are installed on the roof while the others are installed on the gable of the house.

Unlike regular attic fans a gable mount solar fan cannot be installed in on the roof and vice versa. This is because in the case of the latter the solar panel comes fixed on the roof dome. In the other case, it is just too much work, and not worth it.

How much do they cost?

A solar attic fan can cost anywhere between $160 to $420.

Basically, it is simply a fan connected to a solar panel. You can buy an ordinary attic fan and a solar panel separately and connect them together, it will work. And it may be cheaper too.

Then why are solar fans pricier than the ordinary ones? This is because most of them are mounted on the roof, and for that, some accessories like a dome are included. So the total cost of the fan you see is the cost of the solar panel + attic fan + accessories.

In the case of a gable mount fan no dome is required, that’s why they are much cheaper than the roof mounted ones.

Is a solar attic fan worth it?

The cost-effectiveness of solar powered attic fans is a much-debated topic. According to a study conducted by Florida Solar Energy Center it takes at least 15 years to get the ROI from a solar attic fan.

Most popular companies offer 20-25 year warranty for their solar powered attic fans. That means you get to run them for at least 5-10 years after getting your investment back. Also, solar energy is green energy, so they are better for the environment as well.

Also, depending on where you live, you may get a 30% waiver on your federal tax.

So, over the long term, getting a solar attic fan is definitely worth it.

Which are the best solar attic fans you can buy?

When it comes to picking a solar attic fan, there aren’t many choices as some other products.

I went through 28 products before finally making a few best choices.

Here they are;

Best roof mount solar attic fans

1. Natural Light 36 Watt solar attic fan

Natural Light Energy Systems is a trusted brand in the USA which specializes in making solar attic fans.

Their attic fans come with an adjustable solar panel, a roof dome, and a quiet attic fan.

At its peak it can deliver 1628 CFM; this can cool an attic of size 2625 sq.ft.

The Natural Light attic fan has a DC motor. Therefore it is speed adjustable, you can connect it to a thermostat via a speed controller to automatically control the fan speed to suit the temperature setting.

This fan runs quiet, partially due to the high number of blades (it has 5) and also due to the DC motor.

Its blades are made of corrosion-resistant aluminum. It comes with a heavy duty roof flashing, heavy-duty housing, a stainless steel protective wire mesh, and an adjustable mounting bracket. The bracket can be adjusted from anywhere between 0 to 45-degree angles to get maximum exposure to sunlight.

The Natural Light solar attic fan comes with a 25-year warranty on the housing, solar panel, and motor.

2. Broan 28 Watt solar powered attic ventillator

Without a doubt, this is a good looking unit.

Broan products have been in the market since 1932. They specialize in ventilation and heating systems.

This solar attic fan moves 537 CFM of air at its peak power. This is not exactly a heavy-duty fan, it can cool only an area up to 768 sq.ft.

It is connected to a 28 Watt solar panel that comes fixed on a rectangular shaped dome. So this can be mounted only on the roof, not on the gable.

I like the design of its dome. It is low-profile and looks great on any roof. The height of the dome is only 9″ so it looks like part of the roof. Moreover, its base footprint is only 14″ in diameter so you don’t have to cut a big hole on the roof.

It comes with a 12″, blade fan. The blades are made of one-piece Aluminum. It is light in weight and resistant to corrosion. Its housing is made of ABS plastic which is resistant to UV rays, and also is proved to be durable.

Like all solar powered attic fans, this one too runs with a variable speed DC motor. This means you can connect a thermostat to it and achieve the ‘smart fan’ status.

The Broan solar attic fan comes with a 6-year warranty but the motor is covered only for 2-years.

3. iLiving smart solar roof attic exhaust fan

The iLiving solar attic fan is much similar in design to its competition from Natural Light.

It comes with a 20 Watt solar panel that can be adjusted to 0, 15, 30 and 45 degrees to get maximum exposure to sunlight.

It can move 1750 CFM of air and can cool attic areas up to 2000 sq.ft.

The attic fan is 14″ in size and is made of Aluminium. Aluminum is light in weight, which is perfect for low powered fans, and it is resistant to corrosion.

The iLiving solar attic fan comes with a DC motor that is capable of running at variable speeds. It can also be connected to an AC supply through an optional ON/OFF switch accessory. This means you can run the fan even at night.

This unit comes with a manufacturer warranty of 15-years.

Also consider;

Remington 20 Watt smart solar attic fan

  • CFM: 1280
  • Capable of cooling up to 1800 sq.ft of attic space
  • preinstalled thermostat/humidifier which turns on at 75% humidity, 80 degrees F.
  • Stainless steel construction with poly-vinyl blades for quiet operation.
  • Texas windstorm certified

Rand 8 Watt solar powered fan

  • CFM:435
  • Can cool up to 700 sq.ft of attic space
  • 9″ blades
  • heavy duty ABS plastic housing
  • 20-year warranty for parts
  • Quiet operation
  • automatic speed control included

Best gable mount solar attic fans

1.Armtrak 40 Watt solar attic gable fan

This is an excellent solar attic fan for installing on the gable of your house. It comes with a 40 Watt remote solar panel with 25′ extra wire.

It doesn’t have any ON/Off switch so the fan will start immediately as soon as it is connected with the solar panel.

It can move up to 1500 CFM of air and can effortlessly cool an attic area of 2250 sq.ft.

This Amtrak fan has a 14″ housing and a bigger, 5 blade fan made of Aluminum. It comes with 4 mounting brackets for the solar panel.

Like all other fans mentioned here, this too works with a thermostat but that needs to be purchased separately.

This attic fan is covered under a manufacturer’s warranty of 25 years. I should say this is a really good option if you are looking for a powerful and reliable gable mount solar attic fan.

2. Rand 30-Watt gable attic fan

This is another solar attic fan from Rand. I briefly mentioned about its 8-watt version above.

This one produces 1911 CFM and is enough to cool an attic area of 2720 sq.ft.

It comes with a pre-installed thermostat which controls the speed of the fan depending on the ambient temperature. According to the manufacturer, it can reduce up to 50 degrees of temperature in the attic.

This fan is surprisingly whisper-quiet thanks to its brushless motor.

It comes with an adjustable bracket so it is easy to angle the solar panel in the direction of sunlight. It has heavy-duty stainless steel construction.

The Rand gable mount solar attic fan is covered under a manufacturer warranty of 20 years.

Benefits of using solar attic fans

Zero electric bill

This is considered to be the biggest advantage of a solar attic fan. It is true that you will save the electric bill but don’t have super high expectations. It often takes 10-15 years to get the return of your investment. However, if you buy the gable mount version they are cheaper and so you should make up for the investment faster.

In addition, solar energy is renewable, you will be doing your environment a big favor by using a solar-powered fan.

Quiet operation

All solar attic fans use DC brushless motors. These motors are super-efficient and whisper quiet. Whisper quiet may be an exaggeration but yes they are really quiet.

In case you are looking for some quiet attic fans but not solar powered ones feel free to check this post.

What are its major cons?

Solar attic fans are not perfect. They have some cons;

Performance depends on sunlight

Since solar energy is the only source of power for these fans even a shadow can reduce its performance. So when it comes to consistent performance the solar fans are far behind regular models. It is also very important where you install these attic fans. Roof-mounted fans tend to perform better than gable mounted ones since they get more exposure to sunlight.

Also, these fans won’t work at night.

There are some ‘hybrid’ fans which you can connect with external power, like the iLiving solar fan reviewed above. You can consider them if you want to work the fan for extra hours.

Cost effectiveness

There is a common argument that solar attic fans cost more than they save, this is wrong. Definitely they are not as cost-effective as ‘hyped’ by manufacturers. But they do provide a return of your investment in the long run and may work for 5 to 10 years more after that.

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Are Blacks The Cursed Descendants Of Ham. (15)

You should constantly keep this in thoughts prior to delivering just about anything that might be endangering, and perform your best to be sure you rely on the individual who is actually getting your messages. Building a marital relationship feels like creating a residence; you need to possess a burning desire to create it work. […]


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Seussology at Bickford Theatre

    Location: Bickford Theatre at Morris Museum
    Address: 6 Normandy Heights Rd, Morristown, 07960
    Event Date: 03/07/2020
    Event Time: 11:00 am
    Event Description:

    Don’t miss Seussology at Bickford Theatre. Performances at 11:00am and 1:30pm. A fun, lively, and interactive program that explores the background of Dr. Seuss and his beloved works. The 11:00am performance is a Sensory Friendly Performance. Where the environment and typical “rules of attendance” have been relaxed. To accommodate individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities and the families and professionals who support them. Info

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You are here » Home » Companies » 63 Moons Technologies Ltd - Announcements

63 Moons Technologies Ltd.

BSE: 526881 Sector: IT
NSE: 63MOONS ISIN Code: INE111B01023
BSE 15:53 | 27 Mar 2018 63 Moons Technologies Ltd
NSE 05:30 | 01 Jan 1970 63 Moons Technologies Ltd

Financial Technologies (India) Ltd reply to clarification sought by the exchange

October 26, 2015, 3:42 pm | Source: BSE

The Exchange has sought further update with respect to Honble Court matter to be held on October 16 2015 from Financial Technologies (India) Ltd with respect to news article appearing in Mint on October 01 2015 titled FTIL barred from issuing dividend.

Financial Technologies (India) Ltd replied stating Please note that the Honble Bombay High Courts Order dated September 30 2015 which inter-alia states that FTIL shall not distribute any dividend amongst its shareholders and shall also not deposit any amount in compliance with Section 123 sub-clause (iv) of the Companies Act 1956 continues and the next date of hearing in the said matter is yet to be listed.


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63 Moons Technologies Ltd.

BSE: 526881 Sector: IT
NSE: 63MOONS ISIN Code: INE111B01023
BSE 15:53 | 27 Mar 2018 63 Moons Technologies Ltd
NSE 05:30 | 01 Jan 1970 63 Moons Technologies Ltd

Updates on Draft Order of amalgamation of National Spot Exchange Limited (NSEL) with Financial Techn

November 13, 2014, 8:23 am | Source: BSE

Financial Technologies (India) Ltd has informed BSE that :

This is further to the announcement made by Financial Technologies (India) Limited (the ?Company?) on October 21 2014 that the (i) Company has received a communication from Ministry of Corporate Affairs on the Draft Order of Amalgamation for proposed forced amalgamating National Spot Exchange Limited (NSEL) with the Company in terms of Section 396(1) of the Companies Act 1956 (the ?Draft Order?) and (ii) Company is taking appropriate steps in the matter in consultation with its legal counsel.

The Board took note of the appointment of Amarchand & Mangaldas & Suresh A. Shroff & Co. (AMSS) as its Principal law firm.

FTIL being aggrieved by the Draft Order and the proposed forced amalgamation the Company along with a few shareholders has filed a writ petition before the Hon?ble Bombay High Court under Article 226 of the Constitution of India inter alia challenging the issuance of the Draft Order and / or any forced amalgamation as proposed or howsoever.


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There Are Fans, And Then There Are Superfans

there are fans and then there are superfans

There Are Fans, And Then There Are Superfans

For decades I thought I knew what it meant to be a dedicated fan of my favorite musical artists – I’d listen to their music, share it with my friends, attend the live shows – but it wasn’t until I started managing a band two years ago that I discovered a whole new class of people I lovingly refer to as “superfans.”

Superfans are folks who love the music so much that they collectively comprise a sort of “underground railroad” for up-and-coming artists, such as the band I manage. A superfan can be anyone, from a distant Facebook friend to a family member, an old college roommate, a show promoter, or even a complete stranger. Superfans are the secret ingredient to our band’s early successes, so I want more people to know what they’ve done in hopes that this trend continues for us and for other young bands. Your results may vary, but here are seven real-life examples of what superfans do to set themselves apart:

#1: Superfans invite us into their homes.

Even rock stars need a good night’s sleep, and many young bands simply can’t afford hundreds of dollars for hotel rooms every night to go on tour. Finding a place to crash is the second most important thing next to actually booking the gig. Sometimes we’re able to stay with folks we already know and trust; other times it happens spontaneously with folks we’ve just met. We’ve been invited into the homes of retirees and empty nesters, sleeping in their now-grown children’s beds. We’ve gladly laid sleeping bags on the cold, hardwood floors of an empty mountain house. One superfan in Fayetteville throws a big bonfire after-party for us when we perform in his town and lets us take over every bed and couch in his house, while cooking a breakfast buffet in the morning fit for an army. Staying at a superfan’s home is about more than just helping the band save money; it also paves the way for a lifelong friendship. Chances are, if we’ve stayed with you before, we’re probably gonna do it again! Thus, one more plank in the underground railroad is laid.

#2: Superfans buy us hotel rooms.

Helping us secure hotel rooms is the absolute next best thing a fan can do for us besides inviting us into their home. One time, early on in my management career, I failed to properly plan for a late-night show an hour south of our hometown of Atlanta. With several band members driving, and yes, some of them drinking, it wasn’t clear how everyone would get home safely that night. Hotel rooms would cost more than what we earned at the show. Perhaps unwittingly, a brother of a friend (turned superfan that night) came to our rescue by offering to use his hotel points to comp us two rooms at the hotel down the street where he was staying. I’m sure to him it was no big deal – he wanted to hang out anyway and had business travel points to spare – but to me, it meant everything. It meant everyone got home safe and sound that night. It meant I still had a band intact to manage the next day, and that I would do a better job of managing so that situations like that never arose unplanned again. If superfans and talent buyers would comp us hotel rooms everywhere we played, we could probably go on tour tomorrow.

#3: Superfans bring us food.

Artists need to eat well in order to perform well. A typical night for a gig – from load-in to load-out – can easily span 8 hours, and the venue doesn’t always provide the band with a meal. Healthy eating at home is hard enough, but on the road it’s nearly impossible. A fresh, homemade meal for a touring band is a godsend for the psyche and the digestive tract. One promoter we work with in south Georgia could book us anywhere, anytime, for practically any price, so long as he keeps bringing us his neighbor’s delicious pulled pork BBQ to every show. The heaps of leftovers make a perfect late-night snack at the hotel too. Bless the people who fill our bellies and make us feel at home when we’re just visiting.

#4: Superfans share, share and share some more.

I could easily name the top five superfans (as measured by live show attendance and social media interaction) who love our band like it’s their religion. No joke – a couple of them even have tattoos of our band logo, including one spanning a guy’s entire back (lookin’ at you, Brandon!). This is the kind of superfandom I’m talking about, and it truly is the lifeblood of our band’s advertising ability. Like clockwork, superfans will like, love, post, comment, share, click, forward, re-tweet, and upvote everything we post on social media, and we love them for it. We rely on superfans and everyone who promotes the band’s content to be our collective publicists and marketing team while we build momentum. I believe peer-to-peer sharing is more effective than paid advertising any day.

#5: Superfans help us get gigs.

The most common way superfans help young bands get gigs is by directly referring them to new venues and show promoters. Unless a talent buyer or promoter actively seeks us out, it’s up to us to contact them and try to work out a deal. In my experience early on, if I would cold-call (or cold-email) a venue about booking a show, my chances of getting a response were virtually slim to none. However, if someone with a personal relationship (no matter how tenuous) referred us to the venue, our chances of landing a gig went up exponentially. Venues listen to their customers and cater to local tastes, so mentioning the band’s name to the right person can make all the difference in the world. A select group of superfans understands this, especially the ones who work in the music industry, though everyone has the power to wield this kind of influence.

#6: Superfans hire us for private parties.

If you think hard-working Americans won’t spend thousands of dollars to hire their favorite band to play at their birthday party or wedding anniversary, you’d be wrong my friend! I personally love these kinds of shows, not only because the pay is great, but also because of the friendly crowds and the (perhaps unintentional) emotional support. It is truly a wonderful feeling to see superfans so dedicated to the band that they’re willing to put good money on it.

#7: Superfans share their gifts with us.

The band has received numerous gifts from superfans over the years. From bootleg recordings to a custom beer cooler, their contributions are always welcomed and often long-lasting. One superfan donated his time and talent in the form of a professional music video to our first single, which helped us launch the debut album. Paintings and sculptures inspired by the band’s music adorn their recording studio and rehearsal space. One superfan gifted us a large, polished, steel wall hanging of the band’s logo, cut in his own factory. Sometimes it’s as simple as a friendly email telling us how our music has impacted their lives or a photo of them wearing the band’s t-shirt. These may not seem like big things, but they mean more to the band and I than most fans may realize.

For more discussion on the topic of superfandom, I highly recommend Amanda Palmer’s TED Talk called “The Art of Asking,” which continues to serve as a source of inspiration in my career as a band manager and entertainment lawyer. Thank you to all the superfans out there who support up-and-coming artists in this new, wild-west era of the music business! The power to change the future of music is quite literally in your hands.

Beth B. Moore, Esq. is an entertainment lawyer at The Beth B. Moore Law Firm based in Atlanta, Georgia. Beth specializes in copyrights, trademarks, contracts, and general business consultation for clients who work in music, film, television, theater, gaming, literature, web development and other creative arts industries. You can reach Attorney Moore at

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Asking for Jeep Everything else superfluous

Everything else superfluous

Although almost every manufacturer now a SUV or SUV has the program that " True " will not superfluous. On the contrary: Jeep makes good business, the model Cherokee already nearly 1,200 cars in the first half 2015, new registrations in Germany, in the entire previous year, there were only 1700. Now the offer is further spread, there is a new diesel engine and a new gearbox for the small Renegade.

The news about the Jeep Cherokee affect its engine selection. Until now, the diesel supply was limited to a 103 kW / 140 hp engine, which was to have only front wheel drive and manual transmission. Now it will be supplemented by two additional versions that have 4 × 4 drive. It is a 2.2-liter four-cylinder is used, which is connected to a ZF nine-speed automatic transmission. The motors are to have choice of 136 kW / 185 hp or 147 kW / 200 hp and to the EU standard 5.7 and 6.1 liters per 100 kilometers consume. That a strict test drive the on-board computer causes a display of more than eight liters, was no surprise. Prices range from 40,600 to 47,600 euros. The latter applies to the 200-horsepower car with Active - Drive II system.

Although about 120 kilograms heavier than the front-wheel drive car with two-liter engine, the new sprints much spirited thanks to the higher torque of 440 Newton meters. Only 8.8 seconds needs the 185 - hp version to accelerate from zero to one hundred. Up to 204 km / h sprint is so that it is much faster than the Trailhawk model with V6 petrol engine. Two balancer shafts ensure low-vibration operation, total of the Fiat engine works very cultured and unobtrusive. As standard, the vehicle with automatic climate control, electric tailgate, light and rain sensor and front fog lamps equipped.

In its long history the US brand in 2014 has sold for the first time more than one million cars. In three years there will be already 1.9 million long as demand persists. A means to an end is the entry-level Jeep Renegade, but also at the top end of the model range is draufgesattelt. 2018 is not only a completely new Grand Cherokee rolls to the customer, but also a luxury SUV that the Range Rover is to compete. Jeep reactivated to the model name Grand Wagoneer that was used since the early 80's several times for specially equipped Cherokee versions. Who 's like a couple of numbers has little, could enlist from the successor of the Jeep Compass, the inaugural end of 2016 in the compact class.

Until then, the manufacturer is trying to keep the interest in the Renegade high. The fact that he uses a Fiat platform, did not hurt him, in a short time more than 100 000 units have already been built. Just below the threshold of EUR 20 000 is positioned with 1.6 - liter petrol engine which exclusively via the front axle driven variant. The marketing strategists have devised the name " E - Torq 'for this version, which according to the English word " torque " ( torque ) should sound. That could so far be regarded as misleading as the pulling power with 152 Nm but excludes quite modest at 4500 revolutions. All other petrol have 230 or 250 Newton meters.

Since the car but with just 1400 kg weighs about as much as a compact sedan, rich from the 81 kW / 110 hp for propulsion unspectacular. Sparkling it comes as even with the 1.4-liter multi-air engine to which also gives its 103 kW / 140 hp to the front axle. This model Jeep recently as an inexpensive alternative to 125 kW / 170 hp Top - gasoline into the program and equips it with a six-speed dual clutch transmission. Transmissions of this type are known for their quick speed change, which is why it is surprising that Jeep indicating the acceleration from zero to eleven seconds. For the manual transmission model 10.9 seconds can be specified. A slight advantage achieve the buyers of automatic but in consumption, where 5.9 liters are called as the average EU standard.

This is a smooth liters less must be estimated at the top gasoline than driving. No wonder: Not only the ZF nine-speed transmission weighs more than the six-speed automatic, but also the additional four-wheel drive brings weight to the car, so that in total 110 kg more are on record. Nine speed gearbox and 4 × 4 drive result in an additional cost of 6100 euro against the 140-horsepower front-wheel drive, which is available with dual-clutch gearbox for 24 600 euros. In both driven front-wheel drive variants noticed positively that even strong acceleration not led to noticeable influences in the steering. The traction is reliable, but the Renegade was independent of the motorization a pronounced tendency to run after ruts. The steering wished you look a little smoother. ( ampnet / ab)


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Whether Pride is the Most Grievous of Sins?
Objection 1: It would seem that pride is not the most grievous of sins. For the more difficult a sin is to avoid, the less grievous it would seem to be. Now pride is most difficult to avoid; for Augustine says in his Rule (Ep. ccxi), "Other sins find their vent in the accomplishment of evil deeds, whereas pride lies in wait for good deeds to destroy them." Therefore pride is not the most grievous of sins.

Objection 2: Further, "The greater evil is opposed to the greater good," as the Philosopher asserts (Ethic. viii, 10). Now humility to which pride is opposed is not the greatest of virtues, as stated above (Q[61], A[5]). Therefore the vices that are opposed to greater virtues, such as unbelief, despair, hatred of God, murder, and so forth, are more grievous sins than pride.

Objection 3: Further, the greater evil is not punished by a lesser evil. But pride is sometimes punished by other sins according to Rom.1:28, where it is stated that on account of their pride of heart, men of science were delivered "to a reprobate sense, to do those things which are not convenient." Therefore pride is not the most grievous of sins.

On the contrary, A gloss on Ps.118:51, "The proud did iniquitously," says: "The greatest sin in man is pride."

I answer that, Two things are to be observed in sin, conversion to a mutable good, and this is the material part of sin; and aversion from the immutable good, and this gives sin its formal aspect and complement. Now on the part of the conversion, there is no reason for pride being the greatest of sins, because uplifting which pride covets inordinately, is not essentially most incompatible with the good of virtue. But on the part of the aversion, pride has extreme gravity, because in other sins man turns away from God, either through ignorance or through weakness, or through desire for any other good whatever; whereas pride denotes aversion from God simply through being unwilling to be subject to God and His rule. Hence Boethius [*Cf. Cassian, de Caenob. Inst. xii, 7] says that "while all vices flee from God, pride alone withstands God"; for which reason it is specially stated (James 4:6) that "God resisteth the proud." Wherefore aversion from God and His commandments, which is a consequence as it were in other sins, belongs to pride by its very nature, for its act is the contempt of God. And since that which belongs to a thing by its nature is always of greater weight than that which belongs to it through something else, it follows that pride is the most grievous of sins by its genus, because it exceeds in aversion which is the formal complement of sin.

Reply to Objection 1: A sin is difficult to avoid in two ways. First, on account of the violence of its onslaught; thus anger is violent in its onslaught on account of its impetuosity; and "still more difficult is it to resist concupiscence, on account of its connaturality," as stated in Ethic. ii, 3,9. A difficulty of this kind in avoiding sin diminishes the gravity of the sin; because a man sins the more grievously, according as he yields to a less impetuous temptation, as Augustine says (De Civ. Dei xiv, 12,15).

Secondly, it is difficult to avoid a sin, on account of its being hidden. In this way it is difficult to avoid pride, since it takes occasion even from good deeds, as stated (A[5], ad 3). Hence Augustine says pointedly that it "lies in wait for good deeds"; and it is written (Ps.141:4): "In the way wherein I walked, the proud [*Cf. Ps.139:6, 'The proud have hidden a net for me.'] [Vulg.: 'they'] have hidden a snare for me." Hence no very great gravity attaches to the movement of pride while creeping in secretly, and before it is discovered by the judgment of reason: but once discovered by reason, it is easily avoided, both by considering one's own infirmity, according to Ecclus.10:9, "Why is earth and ashes proud?" and by considering God's greatness, according to Job 15:13, "Why doth thy spirit swell against God?" as well as by considering the imperfection of the goods on which man prides himself, according to Is.40:6, "All flesh is grass, and all the glory thereof as the flower of the field"; and farther on (Is.64:6), "all our justices" are become "like the rag of a menstruous woman."

Reply to Objection 2: Opposition between a vice and a virtue is inferred from the object, which is considered on the part of conversion. In this way pride has no claim to be the greatest of sins, as neither has humility to be the greatest of virtues. But it is the greatest on the part of aversion, since it brings greatness upon other sins. For unbelief, by the very fact of its arising out of proud contempt, is rendered more grievous than if it be the outcome of ignorance or weakness. The same applies to despair and the like.

Reply to Objection 3: Just as in syllogisms that lead to an impossible conclusion one is sometimes convinced by being faced with a more evident absurdity, so too, in order to overcome their pride, God punishes certain men by allowing them to fall into sins of the flesh, which though they be less grievous are more evidently shameful. Hence Isidore says (De Summo Bono ii, 38) that "pride is the worst of all vices; whether because it is appropriate to those who are of highest and foremost rank, or because it originates from just and virtuous deeds, so that its guilt is less perceptible. on the other hand, carnal lust is apparent to all, because from the outset it is of a shameful nature: and yet, under God's dispensation, it is less grievous than pride. For he who is in the clutches of pride and feels it not, falls into the lusts of the flesh, that being thus humbled he may rise from his abasement."

From this indeed the gravity of pride is made manifest. For just as a wise physician, in order to cure a worse disease, allows the patient to contract one that is less dangerous, so the sin of pride is shown to be more grievous by the very fact that, as a remedy, God allows men to fall into other sins.

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Bíblia WBS

Salmos 99

1 The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble: he setteth between the cherubim; let the earth be moved.

2 The LORD is great in Zion; and he is high above all people.

3 Let them praise thy great and terrible name; for it is holy.

4 The king's strength also loveth judgment; thou dost establish equity, thou executest judgment and righteousness in Jacob.

5 Exalt ye the LORD our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy.

6 Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among them that call upon his name; they called upon the LORD, and he answered them.

7 He spoke to them in the cloudy pillar: they kept his testimonies, and the ordinance that he gave them.

8 Thou didst answer them, O LORD our God: thou wast a God that forgavest them, though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions.

9 Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the LORD our God is holy.

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