text:
ETK Introduction: Madison V. Marbury (1806): “All laws repugnant to the Constitution are null and void.”
Executive Order 12333: From Wikipedia:
Executive Order 12333, signed on December 4, 1981 by U.S. President Ronald Reagan, was an Executive Order intended to extend powers and responsibilities of U.S. intelligence agencies and direct the leaders of U.S. federal agencies to co-operate fully with CIA requests for information. This executive order was titled United States Intelligence Activities.
It was amended by Executive Order 13355: Strengthened Management of the Intelligence Community, on August 27, 2004. On July 30, 2008, President George W. Bush issued Executive Order 13470 amending Executive Order 12333 to strengthen the role of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI).
“Goals, Direction, Duties and Responsibilities with Respect to the National Intelligence Effort” lays out roles for various intelligence agencies, including the Departments of Defense, Energy, State, and Treasury.
“Conduct of Intelligence Activities” provides guidelines for actions of intelligence agencies.
Collection of Information
Part 2.3 permits collection, retention and dissemination of the following types of information along with several others.
(c) Information obtained in the course of a lawful foreign intelligence, counterintelligence, international narcotics or international terrorism investigation
(i) Incidentally obtained information that may indicate involvement in activities that may violate federal, state, local or foreign laws
Proscription on assassination
Part 2.11 of this executive order reiterates a proscription on US intelligence agencies sponsoring or carrying out an assassination. It reads:
No person employed by or acting on behalf of the United States Government shall engage in, or conspire to engage in, political assassination.
Previously, EO 11905 (Gerald Ford) had banned political assassinations and EO 12036 (Jimmy Carter) had further banned indirect U.S. involvement in assassinations. As early as 1998, this proscription against assassination was reinterpreted, and relaxed, for targets who are classified by the United States as connected to terrorism.
Executive Order 12333 has been regarded by the American intelligence community as a fundamental document authorizing the expansion of data collection activities. The document has been employed by the National Security Agency as legal authorization for its collection of unencrypted information flowing through the data centers of internet communications giants Google and Yahoo!.
In July 2014 chairman David Medine and two other members of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, a government oversight agency, indicated a desire to review Executive Order 12333 in the near future, according to a report by journalist Spencer Ackerman of The Guardian.
In July 2014, former State Department official John Tye published an editorial in The Washington Post, citing his prior access to classified material on intelligence-gathering activities under Executive Order 12333, and arguing that the order represented a significant threat to Americans’ privacy and civil liberties.
In the movie Get Smart, Agent 23 tells Maxwell Smart,”assassinations are prohibited by Executive Order 1-2-333.”
United States Intelligence Community
List of United States federal executive orders
Ronald Reagan, “Executive Order 12333—United States Intelligence Activities,” US Federal Register, Dec. 4, 1981.
“Executive Order 13470”. Fas.org. Retrieved May 6, 2011.
“Bush Orders Intelligence Overhaul”, by Associated Press, July 31, 2008
Executive Order: Further Amendments to Executive Order 12333, United States Intelligence Activities, White House, July 31, 2008
“Executive Orders”. Archives.gov. Retrieved May 6, 2011.
CRS Report for Congress Assassination Ban and E.O. 12333: A Brief Summary January 4, 2002
Walter Pincus (February 15, 1998). “Saddam Hussein’s Death Is a Goal, Says Ex-CIA Chief”. The Washington Post. p. A36. Archived from the original on December 30, 2008. Retrieved December 30, 2008.
Barton Gellman (October 21, 2001). “CIA Weighs ‘Targeted Killing’ Missions: Administration Believes Restraints Do Not Bar Singling Out Individual Terrorists”. The Washington Post. p. A01. Archived from the original on December 30, 2008. Retrieved December 30, 2008.
Spencer Ackerman, “NSA Reformers Dismayed after Privacy Board Vindicates Surveillance Dragnet: Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board Endorses Agency’s So-called ‘702’ Powers, Plus Backdoor Searches of Americans’ Information”, ‘The Guardian (London), July 2, 2014.
Farivar, Cyrus (August 20, 2014). “Meet John Tye: the kinder, gentler, and by-the-book whistleblower”. Ars Technica.
Ronald Reagan, “Executive Order 12333—United States Intelligence Activities”, US Federal Register, December 4, 1981.
Wikisource has original text related to this article:
Executive Order 12333
Metadata concerning Executive Order 12333, US Federal Register – indicates other executive orders that this E.O. amends, revokes, and is amended by.
Executive Order 12333 Documents Redefine ‘Collection,’ Authorize Majority Of Dragnet Surveillance Programs, Techdirt, 2014/09/29
Should U.S. officials say anything that could harm U.S. soldiers?, Milnet – (a 5k summary of eo12333)
Executive Order 13355: Strengthened Management of the Intelligence Community, White House, August 27, 2004.
Executive Order 13355: Strengthened Management of the Intelligence Community, US Federal Register, September 1, 2004.
Procedures Governing the Activities of DoD Intelligence Components that Affect United States Persons, December 1982.
Another Law Under Assault, Washington Post, September 29, 2005.
Hess, Pamela (November 8, 2002). “Experts: Yemen strike not assassination”. UPI.
Elizabeth B. Bazan (January 4, 2002). “Assassination Ban and E.O. 12333:A Brief Summary” (PDF). CRS Report for Congress. Retrieved April 26, 2006.
Tom O’Connor, Mark Stevens (November 2005). “The Handling of Illegal Enemy Combatants”. Archived from the original on May 5, 2006. Retrieved April 26, 2006.
“Memorandum on Executive Order 12333 and Assassination” (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on May 24, 2006. Retrieved April 26, 2006.
Jeffrey Addicott (November 7, 2002). “The Yemen Attack: Illegal Assassination or Lawful Killing?”. JURIST. Archived from the original on April 18, 2006. Retrieved April 26, 2006.
Major U.S. Intelligence Reforms
National Security Act of 1947 (1947) Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (1978) National Intelligence Reorganization and Reform Act (1978) Patriot Act (2001) Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act (2004) Protect America Act of 2007
The First Hoover Commission The Second Hoover Commission (1953) The Rockefeller Commission (1975) Aspen-Brown Commission (1995) U.S. Commission on National Security/21st Century (2001) Weapons of Mass Destruction Commission (2005)
The Church Committee (1976) The Pike Committee (1976)
U.S. Executive Orders
EO 11905 (Ford, 1976) EO 12036 (Carter, 1978) EO 12333 (Reagan, 1981) EO 13355 (G.W. Bush, 2004) EO 13470 (G.W. Bush, 2008)
The Murphy Investigation (1974) Iran-Contra Investigation (1987)
Eberstadt Report (1947) The Dulles–Jackson–Correa Report (1949) The Doolittle Report (1954) The Bruce-Lovett Report (1956) The Taylor Report (1961) The Kirkpatrick Report (1961) The Schlesinger Report (1971) Clifford/Cline Proposals (1976) Boren–McCurdy proposals (1992) IC21 (1996) 9/11 Commission Report (2004)
Executive Order 12333 (pdf)
Related Documents (pdf)
1) United States Signals Intelligence Directive 18 (1993): (Please note that significant portions of this document have been redacted, that is, whited out).
2) United States Signals Intelligence Directive 18 (2011): (This document also contains large redacted areas. it refers to U.S. persons who are designated as “targets” and spells out criteria for identifying them as such.)
3. United States Signals Intelligence Directive 18 Appendix J
4. Defense Intelligence Agency Intelligence Oversight (2013): (In this document, redacted portions are covered with pink rectangles.)
5. DoD Directive-Type Memorandum 08-052, DoD Guidance for Reporting Questionable Intelligence Activities and Significant or Highly Sensitive Matters (2009)
DoD Directive-Type Memorandum 08-052, DoD Guidance for Reporting Questionable Intelligence Activities and Significant or Highly Sensitive Matters
6. DoD Directive-Type Memorandum 08-052, DoD Guidance for Reporting Questionable Intelligence Activities and Significant or Highly Sensitive Matters (2013)
7. Deputy Secretary of Defense Memorandum on Intelligence Oversight Policy Guidance (2008)
8. Department of Defense Directive Number 5240.01 (2007)
9. Intelligence Law Handbook: Defense HUMINT Service (2004)
Intelligence Law Handbook Defense HUMINT Service
10. DoD Regulation 5240.1-R, Procedures Governing the Activities of DoD Intelligence Components that Affect United States Persons (1982)
DoD Regulation 5240.1-R, Procedures Governing the Activities of DoD Intelligence Components that Affect United States Persons
11. Intelligence Activities Legal Summary Card, DoD 5240.IR Intelligence Activities
12. Intelligence Activities Legal Flow Chart of DoD 5240.IR
13. DoD HUMINT Legal Workshop Fundamentals of HUMINT Targeting
14. Legal Requirements for HUMINT OperationsLegal Requirements for HUMINT Operations
15. Domestic Investigations and Operations Guide (2013)
16. Classified FBI Memorandum (2013)
17. Classified FBI Email (2012)
18. Classified FBI Email Re: Attorney General Approval (2012)
19. FBI Deleted Page Information Sheet for Classified FBI Memorandum
19. FBI Deleted Page Information Sheet
20, Vaughn Index (2014)
21. Legal Fact Sheet: Executive Order 12,333
22. United States Signals Intelligence Directive USSID SP0019 (2012)
United States Signals Intelligence Directive USSID SP0019
23. Dissemination of U.S. Person Information< (2010)/strong>
24. Signals Intelligence Directorate (SID) Management Directive 432: (2010)
25. Signals Intelligence Directorate (SID) Management Directive 421: United States SIGINT System Database Access (2007)
26. Signals Intelligence Directorate (SID) Management Directive 422: United States SIGINT System Mission Delegation (2007)
27. Overview of Signals Intelligence Authorities (2007)
28. United States Signals Intelligence Directive (USSID) CR1610 (2005)
29. Memorandum for the Senior Associate Counsel to the President and Legal Advisor to the National Security Council (2003)
30. Memorandum for the Attorney General Re: Review of the Legality of the STELLAR WIND Program (2004)
31. Memorandum for the Attorney General (2001)
32. Authority for Warrantless National Security Searches
33. Updated Vaughn Index (2014)
34. Authorities of the SIGINT Functional Manager (2013)
35. IG Memorandum to Commander, NSA/CSS Georgia, Re: Intelligence Oversight of the [Redacted] Program at NSA/CSS Georgia
36. OIG Report of Investigation Regarding Alleged Improprieties at NSA Georgia (2009)
37. OGC Memorandum Concerning the Use of Material Derived from SIGINT (2009)
38. OGC Memorandum for the Deputy Chief of Staff, Re: Sharing of « RAW SIGINT (2007)

domain: politics


text:
Nothing throws me off reading a work of fiction than poor writing. Of all the crap you throw at a reader, the following three are probably among the worst literary sins I can imagine.
Point Number 1: Be Totally Predictable
A novel should never be predictable. Of course, there are genre conventions to be taken into consideration, expectations to certain themes or types of narratives, series of actions and developments that are inevitable or cannot reasonably be changed without serious changes to established reality or continuity.
But if I can reasonably guess that; the butler did it, the climatic last stand will be on the Eiffel tower, reality is just dream in the mind of a sleeping disillusioned duck, or the betrayal is inevitably going to involve the born again Christian sister, then I will probably dislike your book. Get me excessively bored, make me feel unchallenged, or worst of all, annoy me, then I will hate your books.
To me, its an indirect insult. It will feel like the writer didn’t care enough, was too lazy to do the ground work or in too much of a hurry, or that an editor with no sense of art got involved and sucked the innovation out of it. Either do the work or don’t publish it. For a list (not THE list) on the most boring books ever, I like this one.
Point Number 2: Make the Reader Feel Stupid or Ignorant
There is a difference between writing a challenging book and writing a book specifically intended to make the reader feel stupid. This is not the same as assuming that the reader has certain knowledge or experience as prerequisites, but writing that smugly rubs it in your face that it’s the writer prerogative to reveal something.
In Reality is Broken by Jane McGonigal, the argument is that the best games are the ones that play at the limit of a players skill set, close to, but not impossible to win. In the case of writing, I think an author should challenge the readers engagement with the content (plot/language/genre definitions/etc), but not push unnecessarily into obscure language or elaborate convolutions to make their point.
I do applaud having to work hard to truly understand something, but if the text feels like the writer wants you to struggle, just because he/she had to struggle writing the bloody thing, then why bother. Reading should be enjoyable, and not feel forced.
Point Number 3: Waste the Readers Time
Be my guest and add a back story for the sixth cousin of King Balmer’s wife’s uncle, where he gets seduced by his hot sexy maid, gets robbed by said maid, whom then escapes the castle in a daring midnight dash through a wellplaced window leaving him tied to a bed to be discovered and humiliated. I’m sure its fascinating, but if it doesn’t add value to, or enhances the plot of, the central narrative I rarely give a shit. Its becomes superfluous bunk. And yes, I really did enjoy reading about the Kings lineage in LOTR (once), but it didn’t enhance the plot significantly. It made me think “Impressive! Tolkien had a lot of time on his hands”.
Make the reader feel that his or her was invested well.
(Bonus Point) Have Horrible Grammar
You are not a serious writer. Done. Nothing else to say.
This one is by far the easiest to remedy. Pay for a proper proofreading of your book. There is nothing worse than having to guess where the comma is supposed to go for the writers intention to be clear, or read there instead of their or which/witch for two hundred pages.
But what do you think? Every point here has its own issues, and its debatable just how much you can do, but what do you think? For instance, I enjoy entertaining rabbit trails in some literature, can accept poor grammar if a character is supposed to speak in a certain way, plus don’t mind researching topics or looking up words when reading, but I am not all people. Not yet. 🙂 (And yes, I would definitely get the irony, if I sinned in this post).

domain: literature


text:
Seasonal variation in CH4 emission and its C-13-isotopic signature from Spartina alterniflora and Scirpus mariqueter soils in an estuarine wetland
Cheng, Xiaoli（ Fudan Univ, Inst Biodivers Sci）
Chen, Jiakuai（ Fudan Univ, Inst Biodivers Sci）
Li, Bo（ Fudan Univ, Inst Biodivers Sci）
Xu, Qing（ Chinese Acad Forestry, Inst Forest Ecol Environm & Protect）
Zhang, Quanfa（ Chinese Acad Sci）
- 生命科学－已发表论文
Although invasions by non-native species represent a major threat to biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, little attention has been paid to the potential impacts of these invasions on methane (CH4) emission and its C-13-CH4-isotope signature in salt marshes. An invasive perennial C-4 grass Spartina alterniflora has spread rapidly along the east coast of China since its introduction from North America in 1979. Since its intentional introduction to the Jiuduansha Island in the Yangtze River estuary in 1997, S. alterniflora monocultures have become the dominant component of the Jiuduansha's vegetation, where monocultures of the native plant Scirpus mariqueter (a C-3 grass) used to dominate the vegetation for more than 30 years. We investigated seasonal variation in soil CH4 emission and its C-13-CH4-isotope signature from S. alterniflora and S. mariqueter marshes. The results obtained here show that S. alterniflora invasion increased soil CH4 emissions compared to native S. mariqueter, possibly resulting from great belowground biomass of S. alterniflora, which might have affected soil microenvironments and /or CH4 production pathways. CH4 emissions from soils in both marshes followed similar seasonal patterns in CH4 emissions that increased significantly from April to August and then decreased from August to October. CH4 emissions were positively correlated with soil temperature, but negatively correlated with soil moisture for both S. alterniflora and S. mariqueter soils (p < 0.05). The delta C-13 values of CH4 from S. alterniflora, and S. mariqueter soils ranged from -39.0aEuro degrees to -45.0aEuro degrees, and -37.3aEuro degrees to -45.7aEuro degrees, respectively, with the lowest delta C-13 values occurring in August in both marshes. Although the leaves, roots and soil organic matter of S. alterniflora had significantly higher delta C-13 values than those of S. mariqueter, S. alterniflora invasion did not significantly change the C-13- isotopic signature of soil emitted CH4 (p > 0.05). Generally, the CH4 emissions from both invasive S. alterniflora and native S. mariqueter soils in the salt marshes of Jiuduansha Island were very low (0.01-0.26 mg m(-2) h(-1)), suggesting that S. alterniflora invasion along the east coast of China may not be a significant potential source of atmospheric CH4.


Man, Fuuka really loves to put duality in its characters, doesn’t it?
It feels like Fuuka is a show of ups and downs, with said ups and downs occurring on a alternating basis. While I liked last week’s episode for the most part, this week’s offering had me cringing at multiple moments. Some of those moments, I assume, were intended, and others, definitely weren’t it.
The whole introduction of Sara Iwami was something that just… well… Creeped me out. People like Sara just do not exist, and if they do, I’d really really like to meet one. Someone can’t be outwardly cold, all arrogant and cool acting, and then just turn around and become the awkward, over talking friendly person. Its just too much of a difference between the so called dual natures that make up Sara.
See, the thing is, we’ve seen this before. The show tried and clumsily setup Fuuka herself as someone with some semblance of duality. It didn’t work because most of the time, Fuuka is this friendly, bubbly Shounen protagonist that’s gathering all her friends together and forming a band. She encourages everyone, she acts all cute around the guy she likes, and there’s little to no hint of that rash, quick to jump to conclusions girl that easily gets pissed off.
What I liked about last week’s episode is how Fuuka and Yuu felt a lot more human and flawed than what we’ve seen thus far. This week, while we had some decent development for Makoto and Nachi (each having their own little issues to deal with). it was Sara that quite frankly just didn’t jive with me.
I almost liked her quiet, cold and harsh persona. It would’ve been fine with me if Sara was like that on the outside, but super friendly and looking to make friends when she used twitter. That would’ve made a ton of sense, because there are people who just don’t do well with person to person interaction, and can do better online. But the literal switch that flips as soon as Sara finds out that Yuu is one of her twitter buddies? Its crazy.
She suddenly and most rather instantly becomes not only his friend, but seems to develop a crush on him too. Call me insane, but that’s just not how any normal human works. And everytime Sara switched into “super friendly nice over-talkative” girl, I just felt really uneasy and creeped out. The show really needed to spend more time, or at least show us Sara’s struggles with communication, to have us believe that she could have this duality. Its just another awkward misstep in a show that definitely feels like it means well.
There are just these lazy moments that feel so inelegant. The fact that no one freaks out over the fact that Yuu just basically dives into Sara’s chest? Listen, one or twice is a mistake, frequently just being drawn to women’s chests is some kind of chronic problem. Its not normal, and its not socially acceptable. The fact that the show just uses it as some kind of pathetic punch line, is kind of one the reasons for it getting so much hate and dislike.
If, by some tragic and unfortunate twist of fate, you do end up unintentionally groping someone, its got serious consequences. Its not funny, and it can cause serious problems for both the groped, and groper (considering he/she wasn’t intending to do it). Its something that this series continues to do, and it shocks me out of the experience on a near weekly basis. I wish the show would just stop.
And… Speaking of things that need to stop. I was definitely horrified when Yuu let it slip that he liked Koyuki at the start of the episode. It was bad enough that Koyuki was trying to get close to someone that clearly didn’t have feelings for her, but now, she thinks he does. The validation is there for her to keep acting, and at this point, I don’t think I can hold her responsible like I did last week. Yuu’s encouraged her, and if he isn’t interested, he definitely needs to let her know.
In contrast to Sara, however, I think the whole Yuu and Koyuki situation is at least believable, and cringe that comes with it, is meant to be felt. Its because of Yuu’s awkwardness that Koyuki is getting the wrong idea, and anything that happens next, will be unfortunate rather than any one person’s fault.
On the other side of things, the band seems to be forming nicely. Each of the members are practicing and working hard on their own, and coming together as a team. The show and Fuuka herself are building everything towards the first big performance, and laying the groundwork for what will be an emotional experience.
This week’s episode feels like a bit of a misstep, but I think it doesn’t ruin the show for me, because I kind of expect this sort of thing, at this point. Fuuka isn’t perfect, and I think those of us that are still watching realize that, as we continue to kinda take the bitter with the sweet.
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text:
Ever since GadgetHeat reviewed the KITT Knight Rider GPS
we’ve been pretty much fans of all things Knightrider and the release of these pictures featuring the new KITT car in attack mode, we’ve had our ‘Stan’ hat firmly on….the quickly yanked it off.
The Kitt Knight Rider car in attack mode looks to awesome for words as you can tell by the pictures. The car is already pretty cool in standard mode but with the flip of a switch, is transformed into Super Pursuit Mode which allegedly makes the car go faster. Looking at the actual body-kit though, the extra bodywork looks like it may actually slow the car down rather than speed it up.
Those of you who actually watched NBC‘s preview of the new Knight Rider series are probably thinking it’s pretty terrible and that they’ve massacred the memory of a cult 80’s show. Well, your right. The new Knight Rider series is pants, but the Kitt car itself, well it’s debatable but we still think it looks pretty cool.

domain: hobby


In 5th grade, Rachel joined her school choir and never looked back. Since 2001, Rachel has consistently sought out ways to keep music part of her life. Although she never formally studied music, she has been part of a variety of singing ensembles including show choir, traditional chamber choirs, women’s choirs, and contemporary a cappella groups.
Currently working in the Kent School District as a school psychologist, Rachel is an advocate of the arts in public schools and emphasizes the positive impact that extracurriculars have on youth. On the weekends, our resident cat whisperer can be found chilling in her hammock and avoiding karaoke at all costs.
2023 - Outpour
Pacific Northwest Harmony Sweepstakes Champions
2022 - Outpour
Pacific Northwest Harmony Sweepstakes 2nd Place Winners


Police Recover Locally Made Bombs From ESN Gang In Anambra
The Anambra Police Command says it has recovered locally fabricated Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) from a group suspected to be members of ESN.
The Police said the explosives including RPG Bomb and a hand grenade were recovered at Afor Nnobi, Idemili South Local Government Area where security operatives and the suspected insurgents had gun duel
A source said the items which included a telephone were contained in a cellophane back abandoned at the scene of the attack.
Adeoye said Command’s Bomb Disposal Squad was immediately deployed to the scene and the explosives were carefully defused while the telephone handset recovered was being analysed to elicit useful intelligence on the gang.
“The Command ecovered a locally fabricated RPG Bomb and a hand grenade at the scene of the shootout between gunmen suspected to be ESN militants and the Joint Security Convoy led by the Commissioner himself.
“Detectives were deployed to process the scene of the shootout for clues that could aid investigation aimed at unravelling identities and mission of the gunmen.
“These items were found in a bag which also contained a mobile phone that was found to be loaded with one locally made hand grenade and a Rocket Propelled Grenade Bomb.
“Command Bomb Disposal Squad was deployed to the scene and explosive ordinances were defused and being analysed while the handset is being processed for vital intelligence,” said.
Mr Aderemi Adeoye, Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations who confirmed the development said the command under CP Echeng Echeng would stop at nothing in the effort to ensure security was stabilised in Anambra.
He assured that the directives of the IGP to protect the people of Anambra and create a conducive environment for a free and fair election on Nov. 6 would strictly implemented
The DCP commended the synergy between the Military, the Police, DSS and other paramilitary agencies and adding that such synergy was unprecedented.


1.3" OLED single gauge enclosure with mount
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Constructed with high quality plastic, our gauge enclosure is durable and built to last, featuring a textured finish for a premium look and feel.


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text:
Re: 6% APY CD
Just looked at Bank of America site. They have a 4 and a 5 year CD where the APR and APY are the same. To me that is annual compounding. Go to another institution and the APR is the SAME as BOA but the APY is higher. Which indicates the institution compounds at a rate better than BOA but, here again, it may be MONTHLY, SEMI-ANNUAL, or QUARTERLY compounding. Just a minor thought, unless you use CD's over the long (10 plus years) term. At this timing small numbers will add up. Just a minor thought and since the numbers on a single particular CD are small and some would say "not worth being considerate of".
Vietnam Veteran, CW4 USA, Retired 1979

domain: finance


text:
Hawthorne Courthouse9174 Indiana Avenue, Riverside, CA, 92503
Hawthorne Courthouse is located in Riverside County at 9174 Indiana Avenue, Riverside, CA 92503. The courthouse is open from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday.
The Hawthorne Courthouse handles a variety of cases, including family law, civil law, and criminal law. The courthouse also provides a variety of services to the community, such as marriage licenses and passport applications.
If you need to visit the Hawthorne Courthouse, you can find directions on the Riverside County website. You can also find contact information for the courthouse on the website. The Hawthorne Courthouse is a great resource for the community and is worth a visit!

domain: law


text:
Fire Service to teach people how to use fire extinguishers
The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), is instituting measures to train private and public institutions on the effective handling of fire extinguishers to help combat fire outbreaks.
The Eastern Regional Fire Officer, Mr Bartholomew Nketsiah who made this known to the Ghana News Agency in Winneba, said the GNFS was drafting a programme to educate workers on fire safety measures.
He said recent fire outbreaks in the country, brings to the fore, the need for individual consciousness about such disasters.
Mr Nketsiah said it was mandatory for every building to be re-wired after 20 years.

domain: news


by Simon Henry @simlington
- Ten years ago, I watched crap TV. Now I read crap Facebook status updates.
- Over 80 million of its accounts are officially recognised as fakes. It’s not known how many of the remaining billion contain much truth.
- Rihanna is the person with the most fans – over 84 million. One of those internet statistics that make you feel depressed, however upbeat you were before you were told it.
- Spongebob Squarepants is the most popular underwater, sponge-based cartoon character, with 46 million fans.
- Facebook started a “trending” service for some countries (including the UK) in mid-January 2014. I can’t think where they got this idea from.
- Mark Zuckerberg owns over $40 billion-worth of Facebook shares. That’s about the GDP of Costa Rica.
- You should be over 13 years old to register as a Facebook user. Although I know a two-year-old whose posts are some of the most eloquent among my ‘friends’.
- Facebook has fewer than 6,000 employees. The NHS employs 1.7 million people. Facebook has a better PR team.
- The most popular thing people do on Facebook is upload pictures. Clicking the Like button only comes in sixth. I like this.
- Half of 18 to 24-year-olds go on to Facebook as soon as they wake up in the morning. So do I – unfortunately I’m 43.
If you enjoyed this, you may enjoy my post about why Failure is often better than success. Or just have a browse around – there should be something that makes you a bit happier.
You can get an email alert whenever I publish a new post. If you’re on a mobile you can sign up below. If you’re on a computer, sign up at the top right-hand of the page.
And you can follow me @simlington on Twitter
Copyright Simon Henry @simlington 2014


text:
Good day folks, our todays latest coloring sheet which you can use with is Elegant Canadian Horse Guard On 2015 Canada Day Coloring Pages, published in Canada Day category. This particullar coloring sheet height & width is about 600 pixel x 734 pixel with approximate file size for around 118.39 Kilobytes.
To get more sheet similar to the picture given above, you can check out the below Related Images section on the bottom of the webpage or exploring by category. You might find lots of other interesting coloring picture to work with. Have a good time!

domain: artistic


text:
A Mad Max-style biker gang is seen unleashing chaos on a city centre on Halloween.
The footage shows several bikes roaring through the centre of Leeds on October 31 as passers-by stand and watch, unable to stop them.
The event, which was reportedly organised on social media, saw a large group of off-road motorcycles and quad bikes bringing Kirkstall Road to a standstill until police closed the road and the group eventually dispersed.
Witnesses posted videos on Twitter and described the scenes as being similar to those in the Tom Hardy film Mad Max.
It was estimated that more than 50 bikes were involved in the incident and the road was believed to have closed for around 90 minutes.
A police helicopter also attended the incident, which was described by Twitter users as "madness" and "utter chaos".
A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "There's been a large number of off-road bikes and quads gather after it has been organised on social media.
"They've been riding up and down Kirkstall Road causing some disruption to traffic.
"We did have a closure in place on the road but that has been taken off now and everything seems to be returning to normal."
The spokesman said there was a large police presence at the scene but no arrests had been made.
It was not believed to be a protest.
West Yorkshire Metro tweeted: "Closure Kirkstall Rd from viaduct and BP garage due to a crowd with motorbikes and quad bikes racing up & down the road. Police on the scene."
Councillor Lucinda Yeadon, deputy leader of Leeds City Council, said police had identified "key individuals" from the motorcycle gang and that some arrests had been made.
In a series of tweets, Ms Yeadon said: "All specialist roads policing officers in West Yorkshire are currently in Kirkstall and helicopter.
"Police response being co-ordinated by neighbourhood policing team. Key individuals have been identified.
"Police have said priority is safeguarding of public. Evidence is being collected."
She added: "Some arrests have been made and (police) expect significant arrest activity over the next few days."
Ms Yeadon said the event had been organised by an individual who is being sought by police.
The latest incident comes a day after the Metropolitan Police arrested eight men for failing to stop during a similar "ride-out".
Officers used tyre deflation devices to stop 17 motorbikes and three quad bikes on Sunday evening.
No riders or police were injured, the Met said.
Men aged 17, 22, 22 and 32 were arrested in Blackheath, south-east London, while two men aged 20 and 28 and a 16-year-old boy were detained in London Bridge, central London. Another 22-year-old man was arrested in Stratham, south London.
Superintendent Ade Adelekan, from Met Command and Control, said: "The recklessness of the riders involved endangered not only themselves, but other road users and pedestrians.
"This is totally unacceptable behaviour that tied up significant resources that could have been better employed in emergency situations elsewhere."

domain: sociology


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|(Inclusive of all taxes)|
Act II Sweet & Salty Popcorn is a unique combination of sweet popcorn with a salty note. Gives a burst of both sweet and salty on each bite and hence giving it a unique flavour combination of two extreme taste notes. It's a convenient way of consuming popcorn in a ready-to-eat format. Popcorn is high in fibre and with zero trans-fat and is an ideal companion for any time munching. They are not fried. The Indian flavour of spicy pudina adds a zing to the popcorn and makes it a superb combination.
This is available in other flavours - Spicy Pudina, Tomato Chilli, Butter, Simply Salted and Cheese Burst.
Nutritional Value per 100 g
Only customers who purchase this product from bigbasket can rate and review
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domain: food


Gillat Kol is a postdoc at the Mathematics Department of the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton. She earned a PhD and an MSc in Computer Science from the Weizmann Institute, Israel. Her research interests lie in complexity theory, with a focus on information theory, interactive communication, and Boolean function analysis.
- Real Analysis in Computer Science, Fall 2013. Visiting Scientist.


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At Larry Auster’s blog, in a continuing dialogue going back at least to August 4, 2011, he asks what can be done about police who do not care about the racist, premeditated slaughter of whites, mostly by blacks, and sometimes by Hispanics.
I think I have a solution.
Whites must create a movement to cut police budgets to the bone. Since they refuse to protect us, we must refuse to protect them.
All public institutions at present are based on the practice of seizing the maximum possible amount of whites’ assets, while denying them the institutions’ services, and even waging war on them. The only defense whites have, the only way they can wage a defensive war on said institutions, is to cut their budgets. And if they can’t do that through their elected representatives, they can do it through a tax strike.
If law enforcement officers are outlaws, then the whites they wage war on owe them no respect. (Meanwhile, the same white cops across the country who go out of their way to screw over whites, relentlessly suck up to racist, criminal blacks and Hispanics.) One must do what one can to stay out of jail, but that is not the same as respecting the law, or those in uniform.


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The issue of herbicide resistance is a concern to all farmers. This is especially a concern in the areas where glyphosate tolerant crops are planted extensively. Prices over the past five years have made growing certain glyphosate tolerant crops very profitable. That profitability is causing some farmers to push their rotations which can impact in crop weed control and build resistance to glyphosate. Glyphosate resistance is a problem that is a bigger concern all the time in many areas of Canada and the United States. Glyphosate resistant giant ragweed has surfaced in parts of Ontario and group 1 resistant wild oats are a big problem in Manitoba.
The Canola Council of Canada is moving on without a core funder for 2018, as Richardson International went public with its withdrawal from the national canola industry group this week. Richardson has said it did not receive enough value to justify its investment in the Canola Council, after pushing for changes to the council over…Read more »

domain: agronomy


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Cabinets, Rustic Cherry Kitchen Cabinets What Color Floor With Cherry Cabinets: Surprising Cherry Cabinets For Home
Published at April 26th, 2017 17:10:24 PM by chang
Labelled as cherry cabinets wall color area of interest, what color floor with cherry cabinets topic, white and cherry cabinets subject or cherry cabinets with granite countertops subject or Cherry Wood Cabinets Kitchen discussion with cherry kitchen cabinets discussion plus Cabinets, So don't forget to check out the main article in Surprising Cherry Cabinets For Home
© 2017 CongraEntertainment. Reproduction without explicit permission is prohibited. All Rights Reserved.

domain: design


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Pick Me Up - Somerset House 2014
04 May 2014
Still a bit of time to pop to Pick Me Up at Somerset House this year - it's their yearly graphic arts festival - and this years is a good one with lots of workshops and fun things to do for all ages.
I came home with two prints by Kitty McCall from the Unlimited gallery - a great shop in Brighton - and I was very pleased to meet Sara who runs it with her husband as I'm a fan of their colourful shop.
Other things I liked were the work by Thibaud Herem - we stock his fantastic book by Nobrow Press of Art Deco London buildings in my studio. Pictured here, St.Pancras - incredible attention to detail in his draftsmanship. I'd love to see him begin a drawing and see how he lays it out and proceeds. It said he takes 150 hours which seems fast considering how much detail he packs in.
I also liked these little composite cartoony sculptures by Edward Cheverton, some of Alice Tye's paintings which remind me of driving around in the US when I lived there. Also Isabel Greenbergs work (I'd love to see her book 'The Encyclopaedia of Early Earth')
What I like about Pick me up this year is that it feels like people are having fun with their work and being playful without necessarily thinking about making a quick buck, so there's a good atmosphere in there with some silly fun things. Lots of bright colours too. The first collective gallery I walked into was playing a scratchy old Bruce Springsteen album on a portable record player. The second was playing a scratchy old Neil Young album on another 1970's portable player - so that made me smile to think of things my old (and decidedly uncool) texan dad likes being considered the epitome of cool now. Anyway definitely check it out if you want a fun day


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Amish Harvest Basket Towel Storage Apple Pail With Genuine Leather Handles
- Amish Handmade in Ohio, USA - Dated and Signed by our Amish Crafter
- Measures 14 1/2" W x 14 1/2" D x 14 1/2" H
- Hard Solid Oak Bottom - Genuine Leather Handles
- Weaving is done using Pine Wood Reeds
- Accent Color Reed is Created Using RIT dye
- Basket is stained using a Golden Oak-Red Oak combination Stain
- Available in 5 Accent Colors
This Amish Harvest Basket Towel Storage Apple Pail is handcrafted by a skilled Amish artisan from solid oak wood. The pail features genuine leather handles, making it easy to transport from room to room. This unique and stylish storage solution is perfect for keeping towels, linens, and other items organized and out of sight. With its rustic design, this pail adds charm to any home. The natural wood finish will last for years and make a beautiful addition to any interior.
How to Care for Your Amish Basket
Use the upholstery attachment on your vacuum cleaner or a soft dry duster or rag to remove loose dirt and debris. Use a damp (not wet) cloth to clean spills and spots. Avoid close contact with cooking areas. Grease and cooking odors can settle into wood over time. Avoid direct sunlight as this can cause premature fading and drying.
BECAUSE THIS BASKET IS HANDMADE, IT CAN VARY IN SIZE BY UP TO 1/2"


Abstract : As grids become more and more attractive for solving complex problems with high computational and storage requirements, bioinformatics algorithms start to be ported on large scale platforms. The BLAST kernel was one the first application ported on such platform. However, although simple parallelization was enough for the first proof of concept, its use in production platform needed more optimized algorithms. The chapter reviews existing parallelization and “gridification” of the BLAST algorithm as well as related issues such as data management and replication. A case study using the DIET middleware over the Grid'5000 experimental platform is also presented.


St Petersburg’s landmark cathedral to get patriarchal statusSociety & Culture April 28, 3:07
Russians to be proud of its F1 racer Daniil Kvyat - Toro Rosso principalSport April 28, 3:02
Moscow holds first night rehearsal of Victory Day ParadeMilitary & Defense April 28, 1:18
Russia’s Kvyat expects full-house attendance at 2017 F1 Russia GP in SochiSport April 28, 1:14
Only OPCW investigation can bring up truth on Khan Sheykhun chemical attack — MoscowWorld April 27, 23:37
Kvyat to race at home F1 GP in Sochi with new helmet design depicting him riding torpedoSport April 27, 21:43
Maria Sharapova gets into quarterfinal of tournament in StuttgartSport April 27, 21:16
Russia, Japan to hold bilateral year of culture in 2018World April 27, 20:49
Angela Merkel’s visit to Moscow – pragmatism above all elseRussian Politics & Diplomacy April 27, 19:18
MOSCOW, March 27. /TASS/. Russia’s Investigative Committee has charged ex-police officer turned mass murderer Mikhail Popkov, who had been previously sentenced to life imprisonment, with another 60 homicides and attempted murders.
"According to investigators, over a period of 20 years, Popkov committed at least 84 homicides in the city of Irkutsk, the Irkutsk Region, in the city of Angarsk, the Angarsk District, the Usolye-Sibirskoye municipality and the Usolsky District," a source in the Investigative Committee said. He sexually attacked his female victims aged 16 to 40, who varied according to social background, before ruthlessly murdering them.
Mikhail Popkov, an ex-policeman from the city of Angarsk, was arrested in 2012. In January 2015, he received a life sentence for killing 22 women and attempting to murder another two. At the same time, investigators from the Russian Investigative Committee’s Irkutsk Branch succeeded in solving another 60 of his horrific murders, the source added. Detectives looked into more than 350 criminal cases concerning similar crimes committed during previous years that coincide with his killing spree, keeping in mind Popkov’s pattern of behavior described in his confession.
The circumstances that drove him to transform into a bloodthirsty serial killer were studied. The investigators also found witnesses and murder weapons, including axes, screwdrivers and knives, as well as the victims’ personal belongings. More than 900 witnesses were questioned, over 100 probes into their testimonies were conducted at the crime scenes, the bodies of over 20 victims were exhumed.
Crime scenes located in rough, hard-to-get-to terrain, particularly in forests and moorland, were additionally examined using excavators and tractors, while divers explored water reservoirs.
While examining crime scenes, several bodies were discovered dating back 15-20 years, as well as the victims’ bones, their personal belongings and murder weapons.
Experts say that Popkov has never suffered from any sort of mental disorder or dementia. A sexologist came to the conclusion that he is prone to some sadistically homicidal mania.
In the near future, the defendant and his attorney will start reviewing the contents of the case.


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High-level mechanism to discuss presidential electionKP Sharma Oli and Pushpa Kamal Dahal have agreed to soon convene a meeting of the political mechanism, which the prime minister despises.
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and CPN-UML chair KP Sharma Oli have agreed to hold a meeting of the High-Level Political Mechanism, a body comprising the chiefs of the seven parties in the ruling coalition, soon.
The two top leaders, who held a one-on-one at Oli’s residence in Balkot on Wednesday morning, also agreed to discuss the presidential election at the upcoming meeting of the mechanism, although Dahal has been downplaying the mechanism as irrelevant.
Leaders from the prime minister’s party had been arguing that there should not be any such body, which is not recognised by the constitution, to oversee the government.
According to party insiders, Prime Minister Dahal and other Maoist leaders have been expressing reservations about the mechanism as the body is headed by chief of the largest partner in the ruling coalition, Oli, who is often accused of being domineering.
Party leaders said though Dahal, who initially agreed to form the mechanism, was alarmed after learning that Oli has the backing of the chiefs of the Rastriya Swatantra Party and Rastriya Prajatantra Party, the third and fourth largest parties in the coalition, respectively.
Though the mechanism has already met once, Dahal later tried to avoid it after sensing that Oli was trying to take key decisions through the mechanism with the backing of RSP chief Rabi Lamichhane and RPP chief Rajendra Lingden.
Yubaraj Chaulagain, Maoist Centre leader and Bagmati provincial assembly member, said, forming a sub-alliance (of UML, RPP and RSP in the mechanism) within the ruling alliance and putting pressure on the government is not good.
“Other leaders of the coalition also have an equal responsibility to keep the alliance intact. The main question is whether that is the case,” he said.
Dahal had reached Oli’s residence at Balkot on Wednesday morning to discuss the current political situation, upcoming presidential election, and Cabinet appointments, according to the prime minister’s secretariat.
The coalition leaders formed a high-level mechanism under the leadership of UML chair KP Oli on December 30 to advise the government.
Back in 2018 when Oli, then chief of the Nepal Communist Party (NCP), was the prime minister, Dahal, another chairman of the NCP, had proposed forming a high-level mechanism, but Oli rejected the idea saying that was unnecessary and unconstitutional. Now, Oli is leading a similar mechanism.
After Sher Bahadur Deuba became prime minister in 2021, Dahal proposed forming such a political mechanism to help the government at the policy level. The Deuba government formed a 11-member ‘coordination committee’ in November 2021.
Some leaders of the main opposition Nepali Congress have been publicly criticising the existing high-level political mechanism.
While speaking in the Parliament meeting convened to elect the Deputy Speaker on January 21, Nepali Congress General Secretary Bishwa Prakash Sharma said Oli had earlier dismissed Dahal’s proposal to form a high-level mechanism and now he has himself formed such a mechanism to cage the prime minister.
Replying to Sharma’s remark, Oli, at the same meeting, said criticism of the mechanism was pointless.
Experts say high-level political mechanisms, which the constitution does not recognise, have served as tools to control the government. The prime minister always fears being overshadowed by the high-level political mechanism.
Maoist Centre General Secretary Dev Gurung said the political mechanism should be seen as a consultative body, so there is nothing wrong with the existing high-level political mechanism.
Observers have been reiterating that such a mechanism has no relevance if they don’t show any results.
Rajendra Maharjan, a political analyst, said, “If we evaluate the high-level mechanisms formed so far, all of them have proved to be ineffective. They were formed just to serve the vested interests of certain politicians. The recent one is no exception.”


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“Lesson 5 Class Preparation Material: The Coming Forth of the Book of Mormon,” Foundations of the Restoration Teacher Material (2019)
“Lesson 5 Class Preparation Material,” Foundations of the Restoration Teacher Material
Several miraculous events occurred as part of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon that provide evidence that it was translated by the power of God (see Saints: The Story of the Church of Jesus Christ in the Latter Days, vol. 1, The Standard of Truth, 1815–1846 , 21–30, 39–64).
On the evening of September 21, 1823, the angel Moroni appeared to Joseph Smith and told him that God had a work for him to do (see Joseph Smith—History 1:33).
Joseph Smith was 17 years old when the angel Moroni first visited him and when he first saw the gold plates. Between the ages of 18 and 21, Moroni visited him once each year and gave him “instruction and intelligence” (Joseph Smith—History 1:54). At age 21 Joseph was permitted to take the plates so that they could be translated. At age 22 he translated a portion of the plates, with Martin Harris acting as scribe. (This manuscript consisting of 116 pages was then lost and was not retranslated.) At age 23 Joseph completed the rest of the translation, with Oliver Cowdery and others acting as scribes.
Emma Smith, wife of the Prophet Joseph Smith, explained: “[At that time] Joseph Smith … could neither write nor dictate a coherent and well-worded letter; let alone dictating a book like the Book of Mormon. And, though I was an active participant in the scenes that transpired, and was present during the translation of the plates … it is marvelous to me, ‘a marvel and a wonder,’ as much so as to anyone else. … The Book of Mormon is of divine authenticity—I have not the slightest doubt of it” (“Last Testimony of Sister Emma,” The Saints’ Herald, Oct. 1, 1879, 290).
It is estimated that Joseph Smith completed the translation in “sixty-five or fewer working days,” translating a book “which contains 531 pages in its current edition. That calculates to an average of eight pages per day. Consider this when you translate a book, or as you schedule your own reading of the Book of Mormon” (Russell M. Nelson, “A Treasured Testament,” Ensign, July 1993, 61–62).
Emma described the translation process to her son, Joseph Smith III, shortly before her death in 1879:
[I] believe the Church to have been established by divine direction. I have complete faith in it. …
[Joseph] had neither manuscript nor book to read from [as he was translating]. …
If he had had anything of the kind he could not have concealed it from me. …
The plates often lay on the table without any attempt at concealment, wrapped in a small linen table cloth, which I had given him to fold them in. I once felt of the plates, as they thus lay on the table, tracing their outline and shape. They seemed to be pliable like thick paper, and would rustle with a metalic [sic] sound when the edges were moved by the thumb, as one does sometimes thumb the edges of a book. …
I am satisfied that no man could have dictated the writing of the manuscripts unless he was inspired; for, when acting as his scribe, your father would dictate to me hour after hour; and when returning after meals, or after interruptions, he would at once begin where he had left off, without either seeing the manuscript or having any portion of it read to him. This was a usual thing for him to do. It would have been improbable that a learned man could do this; and, for one so ignorant and unlearned as he was, it was simply impossible. (Emma Smith, in “Last Testimony of Sister Emma,” The Saints’ Herald, Oct. 1, 1879, 289–90)
Joseph did not translate the Book of Mormon in a conventional way. He did not know the original language of the plates and then translate that language into English. Rather, he rendered the text from one language to another through revelation—by “the gift and power of God” (Doctrine and Covenants 135:3).
Joseph and his scribes wrote of two instruments used in translating the Book of Mormon. One instrument, called in the Book of Mormon the “interpreters” (Mosiah 8:13), is better known to Latter-day Saints today as the “Urim and Thummim” (Joseph Smith—History 1:35). Oliver Cowdery stated that by “looking through” the Urim and Thummim, Joseph “was able to read in English, the reformed Egyptian characters, which were engraven on the plates” (“Book of Mormon Translation,” Gospel Topics, topics.ChurchofJesusChrist.org).
Some later accounts indicate that Joseph sometimes used another instrument to translate the Book of Mormon. This instrument was a small oval stone, referred to as a seer stone, that Joseph had discovered several years before he obtained the gold plates. These accounts indicate that Joseph would place either the interpreters or the seer stone in a hat to help block out light, which allowed him to better see the words that appeared on the instrument. (See “Book of Mormon Translation,” topics.ChurchofJesusChrist.org; see also Richard E. Turley Jr., Robin S. Jensen, and Mark Ashurst-McGee, “Joseph the Seer,” Ensign, Oct. 2015, 51.)
More than a year after the Book of Mormon was published, Joseph was asked in a meeting to relate some specifics of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. The minutes of the meeting state that he “said that it was not intended to tell the world all the particulars of the coming forth of the book of Mormon” and “that it was not expedient for him to relate these things” (“Minutes, Oct. 25–26, 1831,” in Minute Book 2, 13, josephsmithpapers.org).
Elder Neal A. Maxwell of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained:
Many who read the Book of Mormon understandably desire to know more about its coming forth, including the actual process of translation. … What we do know about the actual coming forth of the Book of Mormon is adequate, but it is not comprehensive. …
… Perhaps the details of translation are withheld … because we are intended to immerse ourselves in the substance of the book rather than becoming unduly concerned with the process by which we received it. (Neal A. Maxwell, “By the Gift and Power of God,” Ensign, Jan. 1997, 39, 41)
During the translation of the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery learned that the Lord would show the plates to three special witnesses (see Ether 5:2–4). Oliver, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris were “moved upon by an inspired desire to be the three special witnesses” (Doctrine and Covenants 17, section heading).
In June 1829 Oliver, David, and Martin were shown the plates in a miraculous way. They testified that “an angel of God came down from heaven, and he brought and laid before our eyes, that we beheld and saw the plates, and the engravings thereon” (“The Testimony of Three Witnesses,” Book of Mormon).
Immediately after the Three Witnesses had their experience with the angel, Joseph Smith returned to the Whitmer home and exclaimed to his parents: “Father, mother; you do not know [how] happy I am; the Lord has now caused the plates to be shown to three more besides myself—they have seen an angel, who has testified to them; and they will have to bear witness to the truth of what I have said; for now they know for themselves, that I do not go about to deceive the people. And I feel as if I was relieved of a burden, which was almost [too] heavy for me to bear; and it rejoices my heart, that I am not any longer to be entirely alone in the world.” (“Lucy Mack Smith, History, 1845,” 153–54, josephsmithpapers.org)
Later, Joseph showed the plates to an additional eight witnesses. They declared that “we did handle [the plates] with our hands; and we also saw the engravings thereon, … and know of a surety that [Joseph Smith] has got the plates of which we have spoken” (“The Testimony of Eight Witnesses,” Book of Mormon).
Despite differences with Joseph Smith that led each of the Three Witnesses to part ways individually with the Church ([Oliver] Cowdery and [Martin] Harris later returned), they continued to affirm their testimony as witnesses throughout their lives. Each of the Eight Witnesses likewise reaffirmed his testimony of examining the plates, though some eventually became estranged from the Church. The combined weight of their numerous statements, given over many years and despite their changing attitudes toward Joseph Smith and the Church, is a powerful witness of the reliability of the statements they published in the Book of Mormon. (“Witnesses of the Book of Mormon,” Church History Topics, ChurchofJesusChrist.org)

domain: history


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- 6/10/2021, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Gahr High School, 11111 Artesia Blvd, Cerritos, CA 90703, USA
Cerritos High School will be holding Graduation at Rant's Stadium (located at Gahr H.S., 11111 Artesia Blvd., Cerritos, CA 90703) on Thursday, June 10, 2021, at 10:00 AM. Due to state and local restrictions, all graduates will only be able to invite three guests. All guests and participants MUST follow CDC and District COVID safety precautions.
LIVE STREAM VIDEO LINK: https://takeonedigital.com/elitestageandlighting/CerritosHS/


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Join in with the famous counting nursery rhyme in this board book edition of a bestselling bedtime favourite.
A board book edition of a bedtime favourite, this is Penny Dale's warm, funny and much-loved take on the bouncy counting bedtime rhyme of 'Ten in the Bed'. With ten in the bed, it's a bit of a squeeze! Roll over, roll over! But the little one gets cold all alone, and soon all ten are snuggled up and fast asleep. Children will love reading this famous rhyme and shouting out the crash , thud and bump noises - bedtime has never been such fun!
See More Picture storybooks
Penny Dale is an internationally renowned, bestselling children's book author and illustrator, whose books include Ten Out of Bed, Ten Play Hide and Seek and Princess, Fairy. She has also illustrated many titles by other authors, including Martin Waddell's Rosie's Babies, which was shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal in 1990. Penny is married, has a groMore about Ms. Penny Dale

domain: library


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Paramount // 1984 // 105 Minutes // Rated PG
Reviewed by Appellate Judge Amanda DeWees (Retired) // May 3rd, 2005
Alan: Oh my god, someone really is trying to kill us!
Cathy: Dimitri, someone's always trying to kill us.
1984 was a good year for escapism at the movies. There was Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, which led viewers to daydream about charging through jungles with a bullwhip, and Romancing the Stone, which taught us that the life of a novelist was packed with incidents every bit as thrilling as those found between the covers of books. And there was also American Dreamer, about a would-be writer who steps into the life of her favorite fictional character. The latter two films summed up for me everything that movies and books were about: the possibility that adventure could appear right plumb spang in the middle of the average Jane's life. Although American Dreamer isn't as effective as Romancing the Stone, its predecessor by half a year, it taps into some of the same powerful yearnings that all dreamers have to escape from their humdrum realities.
Life is pretty dull for repressed housewife and mother Cathy Palmer (JoBeth Williams, The Big Chill), so she finds solace in novels about the fictional sleuth Rebecca Ryan, whose exploits have all the glamour and excitement that Cathy's existence lacks. Then Cathy wins a trip to Paris in a Rebecca Ryan writing contest, and she's sure that in such romantic surroundings she and her stodgy husband Kevin (James Staley, Firefox) will rekindle their marriage. But Kevin dismisses Cathy's triumph and refuses to take time off from work, so she takes a bold step and goes to Paris alone. Scarcely has she arrived, however, when she's knocked down by a car and bumps her head. When she awakens in the hospital, she is convinced that she is Rebecca Ryan.
Mistaking the bewildered Alan McMann (Tom Conti, Shirley Valentine) for Rebecca's sidekick Dimitri, she sweeps him along as she charges off to an embassy ball, convinced there's skullduggery afoot. Her suspicions focus almost at once on suave politician Victor Marchand (Giancarlo Giannini, Hannibal), so she sets out to uncover his dastardly plot. Accompanied by the reluctant Alan, she begins shadowing him and tracing his movements. At first Alan thinks that the intrigue is all in "Rebecca's" head, but when a murder takes place, he begins to realize that they are both involved in real danger.
American Dreamer definitely owes a debt to screwball comedies, in which madcap heroines swept confused men out of their normal existence and into a whirlwind of liberating lunacy. However, since this was the 1980s, the liberation is for Cathy, not Alan; the screwball romance becomes a tale of feminist emancipation from stifling domesticity. Cathy's husband Kevin is practically a caricature of the condescending, repressive husband. When Cathy suggests that she take her Paris trip alone, he tells her, "It would be selfish, childish, and irresponsible of you to go -- but I'm not going to tell you not to go." If Kevin seems too awful to be true, it's probably to help us enjoy Cathy's fling all the more and not concern ourselves with the real-life consequences (there are two kids in the picture, after all). The film isn't interested in his side of things or in whether their marriage can be saved. However, the story wisely gives Alan and Cathy some genuinely tender chemistry and some common interests even when she's not in Rebecca mode, so there is credibility to their romance; we do believe that Alan is a far better match for Cathy than Kevin.
The film also bears a lot of parallels with the wish-fulfillment fantasy of Romancing the Stone, with the glamour and romance of Paris substituting for the heat and danger of Colombia. I think one reason that Romancing the Stone was more successful, though, is that its adventure plot made sense, whereas in American Dreamer Cathy is motivated by a jumble of memories about characters from the Rebecca Ryan novels -- memories that we viewers don't share. Like Alan, we are swept along in Cathy/Rebecca's wake without fully comprehending what she thinks she's doing. It's impossible for us to follow what passes for her thought processes, and although we aren't meant to, it does make it harder to invest in the madcap chases, clandestine meetings, murder attempts, and so on. Partly for this reason, Rebecca is never quite as impressive and irresistible as she believes herself to be; she's a little ridiculous, as when she gets drunk at the embassy ball, and that makes the story less satisfying to me than if she were genuinely splendid. It's great to see the self-abnegating Cathy acquire self-confidence, but it's a shame she isn't given a bit more justification for that confidence.
Despite the weaknesses in the story, there are also a number of clever touches. Since Rebecca Ryan is a famous personage in Paris, even though she's nonexistent, Cathy is able to coast in her new identity without meeting with many obstacles. One of my favorite parts is when the manager of a couture shop calls up Hotel Crillon, where the fictional Rebecca is known to stay, to confirm the identity of the woman who's charging so many expensive clothes. The hotel porter, a fan of mystery fiction, responds contemptuously, "Of course Rebecca Ryan lives here!" The start of the film is also clever, since it plunges us immediately into a Rebecca Ryan adventure before we realize that this isn't the film's reality: We're actually watching Cathy write (and rewrite) the scene at her typewriter, and the scene goes on to alternate amusingly between fiction and reality. The same scene later finds an echo in a pivotal point in the adventures of Cathy and Alan and brings about an important epiphany for Cathy, which is a skillful way of underscoring the tendency of fiction and reality to collide in her mind.
Even where the story is uneven, the actors attack it with energy. The reliable JoBeth Williams is enjoyable as both the mild-mannered Cathy and the bold, daring Rebecca, although in hindsight one winces at her character's fashion sense (those '80s couture outfits Rebecca dashes around in don't age well). She also brings effective poignancy to the bittersweet plot developments that occur late in the film. In fact, her work here makes me think that Williams would have been a charming choice for the Kate Capshaw role in Temple of Doom. Tom Conti is shaggily appealing in a role descended from that of Cary Grant in Bringing Up Baby, a fellow who just wants a normal life but finds it upended by this unpredictable, illogical, yet strangely appealing woman who has burst into his routine. Even partnered with the more dynamic Rebecca character, he more than holds his own, and his expert timing sells many a scene. Sadly, Giancarlo Giannini is playing a caricature here and isn't allowed to show the versatility some of his later roles would reveal. However, it is a pleasure to see Coral Browne (Vera Charles in Auntie Mame and the third Mrs. Vincent Price) as Alan's elegant mother. Her Margaret McMann is a strong, sophisticated woman in her own right, and without the benefit of amnesia; it's a shame she doesn't get more screen time.
Paramount gets jeers for packaging this film without a single extra -- not even the trailer -- and in substandard packaging: The photos and screen captures on the back cover are indistinct, and the plot synopsis gets a fundamental fact wrong. Audiovisual quality, however, is a pleasant surprise. The visual transfer varies between clarity and haziness depending on the scene, and some scenes betray the presence of grain, but there is also surprisingly little dirt or speckling, which is a definite plus. The new Dolby Digital 5.1 surround track is also quite respectable. The highs are sharp (sometimes almost too sharp), the sound is crisp, and balance is good overall: Only rarely does dialogue dip too far below the music. There is very little bass in the film, but one scene with a church organ shows that the audio track is more than up to rendering bass when it's present.
At the age of fifteen, I was held rapt by American Dreamer. It's been a charming memory during all the years since. Seeing it again after so long, I'm somewhat disappointed; the power it once had for me seems to have resided more in its premise than in its execution. At the same time, it's a mostly harmless escapist entertainment, and the performances and the Paris locations go a long way toward making it enjoyable even when it's at its silliest. The bottom line is that it's a film for dreamers -- none others need apply.
Not guilty, but the impetuous Miss Ryan really ought to consult with the police before pursuing a potentially dangerous suspect. The defendants at Paramount are reminded that they are already on probation for barebones disc treatments; if they don't shape up soon, I'll have to throw the book at them.
Review content copyright © 2005 Amanda DeWees; Site layout and review format copyright © 1998 - 2016 HipClick Designs LLC
Scales of Justice
* 1.78:1 Anamorphic
* Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround (English)
* Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround (English)
* Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono (French)
Running Time: 105 Minutes
Release Year: 1984
MPAA Rating: Rated PG


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Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatments can be a highly effective way to help you tackle the effects of anxiety, stress and depression. These conditions can be crippling, affecting your thoughts, motivation, physical energy and your outlook on life. Taking measures that can help alleviate these conditions is important. With so many changes in society at the moment and disruptions to all aspects of daily living, many people are feeling uncertain, fearful and overwhelmed. Seeking help can enable you to cope better in the short term and help prevent conditions from manifesting in ways that can have long term health implications.
From a Chinese Medicine perspective, stress, anxiety & depression interrupt the natural flow of energy (qi) in the body. In Chinese medicine, qi is the energy which flows along channels in the body called meridians. These energy channels are mapped throughout the body consisting of main channels that branch into secondary channels. In

domain: medical


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Nov 19, 2021 2:30:00 PM
Dr. Ian Bier
People have been drinking tea for thousands of years, but only recently has science discovered the cognitive advantages of daily teatime.
Tea contains a compound called L-theanine that has the potential to support brain health and help manage stress. Occasional anxiousness can negatively impact brain function and cause difficulty with thinking, concentration, and memory.*
In addition, as people age, it is common to experience changes in memory and focus. If you are one of the many people who struggle with anxiousness, brain fog, or memory issues, you may benefit from L-theanine.*
L-theanine is an amino acid naturally found in tea leaves, including green, black, and oolong varieties. It is believed to be a source of umami, the fifth taste, which is a deep, savory flavor. While tea is the most common source of L-theanine, some mushrooms also contain this amino acid.
L-theanine is structurally similar to glutamate and GABA, two neurotransmitters vital to brain function. When ingested, L-theanine quickly crosses the blood-brain barrier and is able to positively influence brain activity.*
L-theanine carries out three primary actions in the brain:
L-theanine plays a role in the production and release of several neurotransmitters, including GABA, serotonin, and dopamine.1 These calming brain chemicals aid in regulating mood, promoting feelings of relaxation, and improving focus and memory.*
In addition to increasing calming neurotransmitters, L-theanine helps minimize the levels of brain chemicals linked with stress.2 *
By lowering these chemicals, L-theanine may help with the effects of stress on the brain and sharpens focus and attention.*
There are five types of brain waves, each indicating a level of brain activity. Alpha waves fall solidly in the middle of the spectrum and indicate a calm and relaxed state.
L-theanine’s ability to enhance alpha waves is linked to a decrease in anxiousness, especially for people who have feelings of worry.3* This suggests those who struggle the most with these concerns may have the most to gain from L-theanine.
Tea is the most common source of L-theanine. If you are interested in exploring its brain benefits, a soothing tea ritual is a good first step.* The concentration of L-theanine found in tea is lower than most supplements and is generally a safe way to test your response.
Not only does drinking tea provide a helpful dose of L-theanine, the ritual of enjoying a cup of tea can establish a calming daily routine that prepares you for relaxation and focus.* Cultivating a regular habit of drinking tea will give you the most benefit, as your brain will develop a soothing association between the ritual and the dose of L-theanine your brain receives.
When you drink tea, L-theanine is absorbed slowly in the digestive tract, allowing for a gradual supply of the amino acid to the brain. This may be ideal if you are seeking to soothe a baseline level of anxiousness that remains present in the background.
Different types of tea contain varying amounts of L-theanine, and the preparation method and processing of the tea leaves can influence L-theanine concentrations. Green tea, for example, contains the highest levels of L-theanine, followed by oolong tea, white tea, and then black tea. Additionally, it is believed that steeping finely ground tea in warm water for at least 30 minutes will extract the most L-theanine.
Though green and black teas also contain caffeine, the calming characteristics of L-theanine create a balancing effect instead of the caffeine jitters sometimes associated with coffee.
If you are considering supplementing with L-theanine, it’s best to talk with your doctor to determine if it is right for you. The dose and delivery method can vary depending on the specific effect you hope to achieve. A healthcare practitioner can provide a personalized plan that will best meet your needs.
A liquid form of L-theanine may be recommended as a method to help combat stressful situations. For example, if you need to give a big presentation or plan to fly, you might use liquid L-theanine as a fast-acting calming agent.
To address baseline anxiousness, a tablet that absorbs slowly may be a better choice. There are also powdered forms of L-theanine that you can dissolve in a beverage and sip throughout the day to provide a steady dose.
The calming effect of L-theanine on the brain has the potential to improve your sleep.* When you feel less anxious and more relaxed, it may be easier to fall asleep at night and get the rest you need.
A recent study found that four weeks of taking 200mg of L-theanine resulted in falling asleep faster, fewer sleep disturbances, and less need for sleep aids.4*
Interestingly, another study looked at the impact of an L-theanine supplement on sleep patterns in boys with attention challenges. Findings showed those who took a daily 400mg dose slept better and had better quality sleep.5* This suggests a unique role for L-theanine in calming active minds and promoting the relaxation necessary for sleep.*
Mental health issues are endemic in our culture, with one in five adults experiencing anxiousness.
L-theanine is considered to be an anxiolytic, or a substance that may help with anxiousness.* What makes L-theanine unique is that, unlike some other anxiolytics, it is not a sedative. It provides a calming effect without causing sleepiness.* The result is a state of calm alertness that allows you to be peaceful and productive.*
In addition, L-theanine has positive effects on other mental and physical symptoms of stress.* One study demonstrated a normalized physiological reaction in subjects given L-theanine under stressful conditions.6* L-theanine may also help manage heart rate variability.*
When stressed, the body responds by releasing hormones such as cortisol and corticosterone. Exposure to these hormones can interfere with normal brain activity like focus and memory.
The ability of L-theanine to balance stress hormones gives it the potential to enhance cognitive function.* The results of one study—which examined four weeks of 200mg of daily L-theanine—demonstrated improvements in executive functioning skills such as working memory, attention, and focus.*
L-theanine also seems to have a greater attention-boosting effect when taken by people predisposed to high feelings of anxiousness.* This suggests that those with occasional exposure to stress hormones could especially benefit from L-theanine’s brain benefits.*
The combination of L-theanine and caffeine together, as found naturally in many teas, shows additional promise at boosting alertness and increasing the ability to switch effectively between tasks.7*
If you think L-theanine might be right for you, talk to your doctor. L-theanine may interact with certain medications, including those for blood pressure, so always speak to your physician before supplementing.
Children or women who are pregnant should also consult with their doctor before taking L-theanine.
This incredible amino acid has the potential to boost brain health and cognitive function.* And because it is available in tea, drinking a few cups a day is an easy way to soothe the body and mind and help you focus, decrease stress, and get a good night’s sleep.*
 Nathan PJ, Lu K, Gray M, Oliver C. The neuropharmacology of L-theanine(N-ethyl-L-glutamine): a possible neuroprotective and cognitive enhancing agent. J Herb Pharmacother. 2006;6(2):21-30. PMID: 17182482.
 de Mejia EG, Ramirez-Mares MV, Puangpraphant S. Bioactive components of tea: cancer, inflammation and behavior. Brain Behav Immun. 2009 Aug;23(6):721-31. doi: 10.1016/j.bbi.2009.02.013.
 Akiko Higashiyama, Hla Hla Htay, Makoto Ozeki, Lekh R. Juneja, Mahendra P. Kapoor,
Effects of l-theanine on attention and reaction time response. Journal of Functional Foods. 2011;3(3):171-178. ISSN 1756-4646.
 Hidese S, Ogawa S, Ota M, et al. Effects of L-Theanine Administration on Stress-Related Symptoms and Cognitive Functions in Healthy Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Nutrients. 2019;11(10):2362. Published 2019 Oct 3. doi:10.3390/nu11102362
 Lyon MR, Kapoor MP, Juneja LR. The effects of L-theanine (Suntheanine®) on objective sleep quality in boys...: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Altern Med Rev. 2011;16(4):348-354.
 Kimura K, Ozeki M, Juneja LR, Ohira H. L-Theanine reduces psychological and physiological stress responses. Biol Psychol. 2007;74(1):39-45. doi:10.1016/j.biopsycho.2006.06.006
 Camfield DA, Stough C, Farrimond J, Scholey AB. Acute effects of tea constituents L-theanine, caffeine, and epigallocatechin gallate on cognitive function and mood: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutr Rev. 2014;72(8):507-522. doi:10.1111/nure.12120
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
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Beauty Will Save the World: Recovering the Human in an Ideological Age
by Gregory Wolfe
ISI Books, 2011
278 pp., $29.95 (hardcover)
One look at any art museum and the numberless portraits of the Madonna and Child, or depictions of the Nativity, the Crucifixion or the Last Supper that invariably hang there will demonstrate exactly how successful the relationship between the Church and the artist has been in the history of Western civilization. It’s never been a perfect marriage, of course — Dante takes true relish counting the popes he spots during his guided tour of hell, Chaucer skewers priests and religious with fanfare and flourish on the road to Canterbury, and on the other side of the ledger, inquisitors and popes have placed everyone from Homer to Victor Hugo in the Index of Forbidden Books. But as the notorious relationship between Pope Julius II and Michelangelo Buonnaroti demonstrates, even in their rockiest moments, the Church and the artist always seemed to find a way to cooperate in the production of great art.
At some point, though—perhaps as the modern and postmodern lines of thought began to blur creativity’s once-bright aesthetic lines—this fecund marriage between Christianity and art soured, became strained and in many cases broke apart.
The idea of the Church today serving as patron of the arts seems as outmoded as arranged marriages and the divine right of kings. At least, artists in general no longer look to the Church for both guidance and support for their creative endeavors. Given the mostly bankrupt pop-cultural shenanigans that pass for “art” these days, things have come to a sad pass indeed for the artist, the Church and the world in general. So what happened, can it be fi xed and if so—how?
The founder and editor of Image: A Journal of Religion and Art of Seattle, Wash., Gregory Wolfe attempts to answer these questions in Beauty Will Save the World—and in the process provides a sort of “soft” manifesto for Christian writers and artists.
Above the Fray
For Wolfe, political speeches and religious moralizing will not save civilization—at least, as important and integral to humanity as these things may be, they won’t accomplish it alone.
Wolfe takes the title for his book from a statement made by the Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoevsky—and uses the cryptic statement to sculpt the book’s argument.
“Whereas I once believed that the decadence of the West would only be turned around through politics and intellectual dialectics,” Wolfe writes, “I am now convinced that authentic renewal can only emerge out of the imaginative visions of the artist and the mystic . . . it involves the conviction that politics and rhetoric are not autonomous forces but shaped by the prepolitical roots of culture: myth, metaphor, and spiritual experience as recorded by the artist and the saint.”
Rather than “preaching and speeching” a culture to life, Wolfe looks to the artist’s talent to depict the beautiful—that is, the immediately perceivable truth and goodness in a poem, a piece of music, a painting or some other work of art, a perception which all men in all times have been capable of grasping.
“It is my conviction,” Wolfe writes, “that the Christian community, despite its many laudable efforts to preserve traditional morality and the social fabric, has abdicated its stewardship of culture and, more importantly, has frequently chosen ideology rather than imagination when approaching the challenges of the present.”
It is not the criticism of culture but the making of culture, Wolfe argues, that will save the world from barbarity. Above the fray of the so-called “culture wars,” the artist’s work, aided by the clear-eyed truths of the Gospel, will serve to sustain both the human and the divine in civilization. For the Christian artist, Wolfe writes, true art tries to neither score political points nor catechize at the expense of delight. Successful Christian artists, he notes, strike an equitable balance in their creative approach to contemporary culture.
“Above all, these artists and writers are neither baptizing contemporary culture nor withdrawing from it,” he writes. “In the tradition of Christian humanism, they are reaching out to contemporary culture and using their discernment to find ways to see it in the light of the Gospel. Just as Christ established contact with the humanity of the publicans, prostitutes, and sinners he encountered before he revealed the message of salvation to them, so Christian artists must depict the human condition in all its fullness before they can find ways to express the grace of God. In other words, Christian artists must be confident enough in their faith to be able to explore what it means to be human.”
A compelling and coherent account of those writers and artists who possess this sort of balanced vision of heaven and earth, Beauty Will Save the World tackles some of the thornier problems which confront the Christian artist these days.
Serving as the book’s “guiding spirits,” English/American poet T.S. Eliot (1888-1964), an Anglican, and American novelist and short story writer Flannery O’Connor (1925-1960), a Catholic, serve for Wolfe as two prime examples of artists whose work, informed by their faith, has made them universally acknowledged as two of the greatest writers of the 20th century.
“The tradition of Christian humanism always held that the secular forms and innovations of a particular time can be assimilated into the larger vision of faith,” he writes. “That is why T.S. Eliot could adapt modernist poetics to his Christian convictions, or Flannery O’Connor could take the nihilistic style of the novelist Nathanial West and bring it into the service of a redemptive worldview. Only a living faith that is in touch with the world around it can exercise this vital mission of cultural transformation.”
While grounded in the concrete works of novelists, poets, and artists, Beauty Will Save the World also has ideas aplenty. As Christian humanists St. Thomas More and Desiderius Erasmus sought to do at the dawn of the European Renaissance, Wolfe writes, a growing cadre of contemporary (20th and 21st century) writers has been expounding a convincingly Christian artistic vision.
Among the best known, Wolfe points out, are English novelist Evelyn Waugh (1903-1966), Kentucky poet, essayist and novelist Wendell Berry (b. 1934), American political philosopher Russell Kirk (1918-1994), and English journalist Malcolm Muggeridge (1903-1990). Wolfe also highlights a triumvirate of modern painters—Fred Folsom, Mary McCleary, and Makoto Fujimura, who illustrate—literally—that Christian and artistic vision can coexist on the same canvas.
Beauty Will Save the World also analyzes the work of writers whom the world has either forgotten or not quite gotten around to meeting, including Japanese novelist and Catholic Shusaku Endo (1923-1996), whose novel “Silence” relates the Catholic missionary experience in Japan; English poet Geoffrey Hill (b. 1932), who like Eliot writes about religious themes in his work; and Southern novelist Andrew Lytle (1902-1995) and Midwestern novelist Larry Woiwode (b. 1941). Both novelists, according to Wolfe, show the importance of tradition and the sense of place in man’s understanding of the world and himself.
For the true Christian writer—from Dante to Chaucer to Shakespeare—and even today’s poets and artists, the world is not to be flatly rejected but accepted as God’s creation, a creation both fallen and in need of redemption and one which becomes the “stuff” of their inspiration.
Necessary for the recovery of this balance, Wolfe writes, is the Christian humanism embodied by such learned Christian scholars as St. Thomas More and Erasmus but which he claims has been present since the Church’s beginning.
“Perhaps the best analogy for understanding Christian humanism comes from the doctrine of the Incarnation, which holds that Jesus [is] both human and divine. This paradoxical meeting of these two natures is the pattern by which we can begin to understand the many dualities we experience in life: flesh and spirit, nature and grace, God and Caesar, faith and reason, justice and mercy.”
In Beauty Will Save the World, Gregory Wolfe looks for a solution to the artlessness of the modern world. The dearth of Mozarts, Rembrandts, and Shakespeares in modern culture is not, for Wolfe, a signal of defeat, but a sign that Christians—both artists and potential audiences—are not looking hard and close enough at the whole Christ, both man and God, as a model and inspiration for great art.
In fact, as many of the successful Christian writers of the 20th century have proven—such as Eliot, Waugh, and O’Connor— Wolfe indicates that Catholics in particular, and those with a sacramental understanding of reality, have something to offer the world through their talents.
“To the Christian humanist, culture and art can become analogues for the Incarnation,” Wolfe writes. “In particular, art is like a sacrament: a union of form and content, the inherence of divine meaning in the crafted materials of this earth.”
Beauty Will Save the World serves as a sort of marriage counselor for faith and art—and for the sake of the world, both artists and audience alike could do worse, much worse, than take advantage of Gregory Wolfe’s advice.


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For the most part the far left—those whose identities are wrapped up in being socialist, anarchist and other shades of left activists—do not understand the real significance of the Bernie Sanders campaign.
Clinging to their ideologies and principles, they see plenty of reasons why Sanders is insufficient: he doesn’t call for workers owning the means of production; he doesn’t advocate national control of key industries; he will centralize the state with big government. (For radicals, Hillary Clinton is not even worth the argument—she’s so corrupt, hawkish and capitalist.) I’ve read and heard predictable refrains from radicals about why they are not excited about the political revolution that Bernie Sanders proposes: “I don’t want another white man in office”; “I don’t want to vote for another boss of the American Empire”; “He’s justifying the system”; “He’s sold himself to the Democratic Party, which is a bourgeois party”; “He will co-opt our social movement”; “He won’t be able to do that much inside the system”; “Democratic socialists repressed the left after the First World War”; Then, of course, Ta-Nehisi Coates writes about Bernie upholding white supremacy by not supporting reparations.
Sure. Fine. He’s not as radical as the radical activists. Coates is largely correct in his logic. But they are missing the point. Let me point out some of what these folks neglect: Bernie Sanders is publicizing two main messages: 1) the economy is rigged and 2) our politics is corrupted. Millions of people have heard that message more clearly from him than they ever would have heard before. These millions who are feeling the Bern are not just critiquing Republicans, which Hillary does so well, but are widely critical of the Democratic Party, the corporate media and union bosses.
At the last Democratic Party debate, the moderator asked Sanders about his book, where he wrote that Democrats and Republicans were not that different from one another. Leftists have been trying to spread these kinds of messages for decades. Bernie’s supporters became more fired up over the hostile attack by the DNC after the data breach than anything else. Only Clinton raised money for the party, Sanders raised none. Bernie Sanders is spreading these messages on national television and reaching tens of millions of people—breaking a series of corporate taboos. He is raising expectations.
What the radicals don’t get is that Bernie is opening a crack in an iron wall. This opening—glasnost is the Russian translation—can lead in many different directions. Ultimately, his policy proposals are not half as important as the shift in social power that his election will effect. His reforms will encourage social movements that are, ultimately, beyond his control. Indeed, when you look at all revolutionary change in retrospect, it accelerated in the face of reforms, openings and half-revolutions that preceded any radical break. In the spring of 1789 French elites held the Third Estate months before the storming of the Bastille prison. The Haitian slave insurrection took place when the establishment was in civil strife over reforms. In March 1917, the creation of parliamentary democracy preceded the Bolshevik seizure of power.
For more recent examples, just think about how anti-segregation protests in the South in the mid-1950s widened into national protests against patriarchal-capitalist-heteronormative-white supremacy only a decade later. There is a direct line between Rosa Parks’ success and the prominence of Malcolm X and Angela Davis. The historical examples are manifold. Remember a generation ago the glasnost in Russia led to mass protests and the fall of the USSR. In South Africa, the apartheid reformer de Klerk negotiated an end to that regime. Gorbachev and de Klerk had only intended to reform "the system." Perhaps it’s worth recalling that President Lincoln was insistent in his inaugural address that he would not free any slaves in slave states. His election accelerated a struggle that was already in existence. Lincoln’s election tilted the balance of power toward emancipation when half a million slaves ran to the Union army’s lines, and the war became about slavery and not just preserving the Union.
The idea of an opening against corporate hegemony could also be called a "national reckoning." Coates has stated that reparations are principally a means toward such a national reckoning, even more so than a distinct proposal of financial transfer to descendants of slaves. Bernie Sanders would be the only president to have said that the country was founded on racist principles. On national TV he explains how a policy of covert and overt regime change have been detrimental to this country and the world. Radicals miss the fact that Bernie represents exactly this national reckoning even if they don’t agree with his every stance.
When talking about the right wing, radicals like to stress how the likes of Donald Trump give the green light to street violence against black people, Mexicans and Muslims. Yet, they don’t ask how left politicians may give the green light to social movements they are sympathetic to. For instance, Bernie supported DREAMers on hunger strike. Bernie became critical of Rahm Emmanuel echoing Black Lives Matter demands. Bernie lent public support to CUNY workers’ rights before they voted to strike. Sanders’ political revolution would require mass mobilization of exactly these constituencies: African-American, Latinos and workers. Sanders calls for street mobilization as part of the political revolution.
Radicals argue that the masses get co-opted by elections. This just doesn’t line up with lived experience. They point to the enthusiasm around Obama’s 2008 victory as proof that politicians simply manipulate voters. That may be true, but it is untenable to say that social movements were co-opted by Obama. Since Obama’s election this country has witnessed a steep rise in social movements. Disappointment after Obama raised expectations may have partly fueled such a movement to the streets. Occupy Wall Street was unprecedented. The growth of Black Lives Matter and the DREAMers movement developed principally in the years since Obama came to office. The idea of electoral co-option sounds theoretically plausible, but it is simply a theory without standing in our reality. One socialist website even makes it seem that Bernie will undermine the revolutionary working class’s aspirations for syndicalist control of the economy. This kind of thinking is the result of a mind-body split. These radicals are clearly not experiencing the embodied world around them. Instead they seem to be using deductive logic based on theory, not sound history. It is worth noting that 1936 and 1946, in the midst of the New Deal—which much of Bernie’s platform alludes to—had some of the largest mobilizations of strikes in American history. People were not co-opted by the New Deal; they were emboldened by it.
Lastly, the radicals’ critique that Bernie won’t change much as president and that it’s the whole system that needs to change only echoes Bernie’s own comments. He explicitly critiques Obama for demobilizing the campaign after his election. Bernie repeats in speech after speech that no president is powerful enough to take on Wall Street alone. Radicals and social movements would do better to think of Bernie as an ally. In a privileged position, indeed the most powerful position in the world, Bernie Sanders would work for the causes dear to the left. He would not be in the trenches, but he would at least create the sorely needed space activists need to create the change they yearn for. Arguing that he can’t change the system alone not only repeats the candidate himself, but it also assumes (as the co-option argument does) that the populace cannot understand the political dynamics.
As a historian, I can’t help also reminding folks of the Democratic primary in 1944, when party bosses picked Harry Truman over the widely popular, desegregationist, left-leaning Henry Wallace. Subsequently, Truman dropped the atomic bomb, led the country into the Cold War, and drastically escalated the conflict in Korea. Wallace was part of the radical wing of the New Dealers, and his most famous speech rejected the idea of an "American Century" and advocated the "Century of the Common Man." In retrospect, activists would smartly place their efforts in supporting Henry Wallace for a few months on the campaign trail.
Without Sanders’ political revolution, we can rest assured that we’ll have another four years of cycles of repression, resistance and left critiques of politicians who they now say make no difference anyway. It’s hardly deniable that a few months of activism devoted to Bernie could enable more change than years of screaming at the corporate iron wall.