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Transmansplaining
Home/Transmansplaining
For the last year I've been working with transgender author, activist and speaker Benjamin MacEllen on his first one-man show – initially as creative coach and consultant, but as the show grows ever-closer, now as creative collaborator.
Based on Ben's journey as a girl called Susan to becoming a man called Ben, Transmansplaining is a heart-warming, insightful and entertaining story of resilience and transformation, filled with musical, video and 'diaristic' snapshots from across Ben's remarkable life "on both sides of the gender divide".
The show will world premiere on Friday October 11, 8pm, at The Engine Room in Bendigo (part of The Capital's suite of venues), followed by a matinee performance at Phee Broadway "down the road" in Castlemaine, Sunday 13th October at 2pm.
A sequel of sorts to his 2011 memoir – and based on his lived experience as a trans person living in large regional centres – it's been amazing to watch Ben come into his own as a performer, activist and dynamic storyteller over the past 12 months, through the creation of this show – another significant transformation…
I'm looking forward to working further with him during the performance week, and facilitating the post-show Q&As. We're gonna paint the town pink, blue and white!
Be one of the first to see it! Visit the Transmansplaining Facebook page for performance and ticketing details, and listen to his latest interview on ABC Central Victoria Breakfast with Fiona Parker (57:44 – 1:08:22).
He also spoke on the 'Telling It Tough' panel at the 2019 Bendigo Writer's Festival in August.
Congratulations to Ben on all his hard work: it's been a big labour of the heart for us both. I can't wait to see the show – and support it – in person.
By admin|2019-10-07T23:33:47+10:30September 30th, 2019|Creativity, Events, news and events, performance, public speaking, spoken word, storytelling, teaching, writing|


David, please post the music galaxy so your readers can help to update it! As you learned, a music galaxy is too expansive especially if including backing bands. Pete's musical family trees are focused on a specific time period and limited by either geography or sub-genre. His are always fascinating because they show how less-heralded musicians prolifically contributed to the musical development of an entire scene.


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Canaan is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 1,080 at the 2020 census, down from 1,234 at the 2010 census. The town of Canaan is often referred to locally by the name of its principal settlement, Falls Village.

Geography
Canaan is in northwestern Litchfield County; it is bordered to the north by the town of North Canaan, to the east by Norfolk, to the south by Cornwall, and to the west, across the Housatonic River, by Salisbury. It is  northwest of Torrington,  north of Danbury, and  south of Great Barrington, Massachusetts.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town of Canaan has a total area of , of which  are land and , or 0.97%, are water.

Principal communities
Falls Village (town center)
Huntsville
Lower City
South Canaan

History
The town was incorporated in 1739. The name "Canaan" is derived from Hebrew.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,081 people, 445 households, and 298 families residing in the town.  The population density was .  There were 610 housing units at an average density of 18.5 per square mile (7.1/km).  The racial makeup of the town was 97.04% White, 1.48% Black or African American, 0.19% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.37% from other races, and 0.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 0.37% of the population.

There were 445 households, out of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.8% were married couples living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.0% were non-families. 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 23.6% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 28.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.1 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $54,688, and the median income for a family was $62,500. Males had a median income of $40,438 versus $29,219 for females. The per capita income for the town was $35,841.  About 3.0% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.6% of those under age 18 and 3.8% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Canaan is a member of Regional School District 1, which also includes the towns of Cornwall, Kent, North Canaan, Salisbury, and Sharon.  Public school students attend Lee H. Kellogg School for grades K–8, and Housatonic Valley Regional High School for grades 9–12.

Notable people
Philo Belden, Wisconsin politician
Steve Blass, former Major League Baseball pitcher and current broadcaster
Major Felten, artist and illustrator
James Mars, slave narrative author
Judson Philips, author of mystery novels
Cyrus Prindle, abolitionist and one of the founders of the Wesleyan Church
Lemuel Roberts, Revolutionary War soldier and historian, born in Canaan in 1755
Catherine Roraback, civil rights attorney
Bates Turner, Vermont politician and jurist
Elizur Wright, the "father of life insurance"

Transportation
The town is served by U.S. Route 7, Route 63, and Route 126. US 7 leads north into Massachusetts and south to Danbury, while Route 63 leads southeast to Litchfield. Route 126 is a local road that passes through the center of Falls Village and runs north along the Housatonic River.

Pictures

References

External links

Town of Canaan official website
Northwest Connecticut Arts Council
Northwest Connecticut Convention and Visitors Bureau

Towns in Litchfield County, Connecticut
Canaan (town), Connecticut
Towns in the New York metropolitan area
Towns in Connecticut

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Claus Berg (* 1475 in Lübeck; † rond 1535 in Güstrow) was een laatgotische Duitse beeldhouwer, die eerst in Lübeck en later in het Deense Odense werkte.

Leven
Berg maakte in de jaren 1510–1515 naam als beeldhouwer en trok later op verzoek van de Deense koninginmoeder Christine naar Odense.

Uit zijn atelier stamt het grote vleugelaltaar van 1526 voor de Franciscaanse kerk in Odense, dat in 1805 eerst aan de Mariakerk werd verkocht en sinds 1885 daar in de domkerk staat. Het is ongeveer 6 meter breed en 4,5 meter hoog. Andere werken zijn een grafmonument voor koning hans en zijn jong overleden zoon Frans.

Meer altaren van Berg zijn te vinden in de Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk in Aarhus en in de kerken van de parochies Sanderum en Tistrup. Aan Berg worden ook het triomfkruis in de kloosterkerk van Sorø en de apostelbeelden in de dom van Güstrow (± 1530) toegeschreven.

Bergs zoon Frants werd bisschop van Oslo.

Afbeeldingen

Duits beeldhouwer
Lübeck


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From Rhinos to Owls- the six accepted Rice students
By Isabel Hoffman, Staff Writer|February 2, 2022
Six CVHS students will enter Rice University next school year.
Six students at Carnegie Vanguard High School were accepted into Rice University for the class of 2026, a high number for Houston students at one high school.
Anisha Gidh, Kaan Yilmaz, Claire Morton, Asmita Ahuja, Samuel Zhang, and Drew Bixby were all accepted into Rice University. They all have in common high SAT scores, unique essays, a long list of extracurriculars, and countless volunteer hours. Rice has been notorious for having lower acceptance rates for Houston students, and at a competitive school like CVHS, the stakes are raised higher. One factor set all of these students out and possibly influenced their acceptance- they all had a personal connection to Rice University.
Most of the accepted students either had a familial connection, or another association with the university either through teachers, or programs done in years past. Zhang had a close relationship with Ms. Chen that sparked his interest in the university, as she is an alumnus, Morton's dad is a professor, so she has grown up with Rice culture around her, and Gidh's mom completed her MBA at Rice as well, which enhanced her interest in the university. Although Rice University does take into account Legacies, not all students accepted were considered a legacy; they all just had a connection to the school. Each personal connection influenced these students to apply early decision, making their acceptance binding because they were committed to going.
"It was my top school. And there was no, really, there's no real reason not to, because there was no place I would have chosen over it. So, you know, there was, I got the chance to boost my odds, and I took it," said Yilmaz
Rice University usually accepts 10.9% of the students that apply, but if a student decides to apply early decision their rate goes up to 18%. For students, like the six, who were sure that they wanted to attend Rice the decision was an easy one to make. This decision increases a student's chances of getting into their top college, and can help show the admissions officers at Rice that they are committed to attending their university. Another decision all of these students decided to take was submitting their SAT scores.
"The people who do choose to submit their SAT scores and give that sort of information, it lets Rice, a very academically sort of driven school, they do a lot of research, it gives Rice an indication that you're also academically driven, like beyond your extracurriculars and stuff. So it definitely helps if you do submit your scores," said Zhang
Rice University has made their application process test-optional since 2021 and through 2023. This has allowed applying students to make the decision of submitting or not their SAT or ACT scores. All of the accepted CVHS students did end up submitting their scores as they are considered to be high scores. On the lower end of scores, there was a mid-range 1400, which would be considered on the low end of Rice students' median test scores that range from 1460 to 1580.
Although test scores are not the deal-breaker for Rice University acceptance, extracurriculars are also taken into high consideration. Zhang focused primarily on volunteering and Morton was enthusiastic about art, music, and gardening. Gidh spent her time on several different business ventures and even interned at a political agency, and Yilmaz spent his summer of quarantine performing hands-on engineering with friends in his neighborhood. They all wrote about their passions for their extracurriculars in their essays for admission.
"I didn't actually put many school-based extracurriculars, I only filled up five out of the 10 slots for extracurriculars. But I'm really only focused on things that I could really talk about how much I liked doing," said Morton
Although Rice University takes into account the extracurriculars students have participated in, most of the accepted students mentioned that although they were well-rounded in many activities they felt as though they had a passion extracurricular that made them stand out. Each accepted student had one extracurricular related or non-related to school that they put much of their time into and talked about in their essays or interviews during their application into Rice University.
All six accepted Rhinos are excited to be transitioning to Rice University in the coming fall, and are all interested in forming new relationships and experiences at the university. All of the accepted students are hopeful for what the future holds for them.
"Most excited about…making new friends and making new experiences. So that's it really, yeah," said Gidh.
From left to right; Samuel Zhang, Drew Bixby, and Asmita Ahuja
Isabel Hoffman, Staff Writer
Most people call me Izzie! I am a junior and love to listen to podcasts. ;)
Six-year-old student shoots teacher, raises concerns about increasing school violence
Senioritis: Seniors' Journey
Out of 155 CVHS students surveyed on sex-ed knowledge, one received a perfect score
Post Uvalde, HISD to invest in guns on campus
High school seniors are applying to more blue-state colleges after Roe v. Wade overturning
Kaitlyn Garza • Feb 1, 2022 at 2:24 pm
I loved how you mentioned that they didn't fill all the extracurricular slots and went in depth in their application about the hobbies that they were most passionate about. Its nice to know that you don't need a ton of extracurriculars to get into a good school.
https://cvhsnews.org/8246/news/from-rhinos-to-owls-the-six-accepted-rice-students/#comment-1134
Julian Namerow • Feb 1, 2022 at 2:05 pm
Loved the story, you gave really good facts throughout the story that helped me understand how hard it is for them.
Nadia Talanker • Feb 1, 2022 at 2:03 pm
I really liked the almost miniature feature on each student as well as an analysis of their college application journey/what set them apart. This was really helpful for someone like me who has yet to apply to college. Gj [:

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


This page displays sold house prices for Drings Close in Cambridge.
Drings Close in Over, Cambridge consists mainly of terraced houses and flats. Properties on Drings Close typically have values around £150,000 - £200,000, with larger terraced houses and townhouses valued at around £200,000.
Map showing Drings Close in Cambridge.


Prince's Building is located at Hong Kong's prime location. Adjacent to Status Square and HSBC Hong Kong headquarters; the Prince's Building is at the financial center of Hong Kong.
Every year, Prince's Building decorate itself with Christmas Trees and decorations. Same as previous years, Prince's Building set up several low-profile traditional Christmas Trees at its premises this Christmas. The theme for this year is certainly white Christmas.
These traditional Christmas decorations complements the glamor inside and outside of the Prince's Building office tower and shopping center. Central district is still one of the few places where one can find traditional English style Christmas trees nowadays.


Snowy 2.0 is shaping up to be a more than $5 billion-plus project. Almost as much as the price, it's the eight years to completion that caught this analyst by surprise.
Among the biggest news in the business world in Australia late last week was the proposed "mega-merger" of AP Eagers and Automotive Holdings Group to create by far the biggest car dealership in the country.
There remains a massive workload to manage the NEM transition. No doubt the regulatory bodies are trying hard, but we're not sure they are winning.


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Week 5: End of OOI and Happy Thanksgiving!
Morning operations were successful as the mooring group recovered the last small coastal profile buoy, with its accompanying sensors and anchor. They also recovered an anchor that was left behind from last week. The wind picked up to a constant 30 knots and our destination that day had us steaming into the waves and pounding down for most of the afternoon. This influx of bubbles under the hull is a very big problem to say the least, as it disrupts the ship's array of transducers. Not only transducers though, the constant supply of sea water being pumped for the main lab supply and to run through some other instruments was heavily disrupted by all the slamming. Emily and I worked to troubleshoot the PCO2 sensor which seemed to have an array of issues stemming from the interruptions in flow. We initially thought we were successful by replacing a drip sensor that had become corroded, but the system kept emergency stopping itself and the drip sensor was not the biggest problem.
The evening was taken up by a battery of CTD casts, where we would steam (pound) north for half an hour, and then go out on deck and launch the CTD while trying not to get pummeled by waves coming over the side. In between casts I emptied and organized the cabinet in the HIPAP area, which was suffering from poor labeling and the internal lights for the cabinet were low on charge, making it very difficult to find anything. Many (most) things in there were networking pieces of technology I had never seen before, so I did have to bring Sonia in several times for the game of, 'what is this and do we need to keep it onboard?' This cleaning also doubled as a purging of equipment in time for the INSURV inspection, where anything superfluous will be removed from the ship. In the end, I was very pleased with the results!
(Also here is the promised CTD bolt cover final print!)
The weather remained the same but the CTD casts were done in daylight today, which gave you more light to see the waves crashing onto the deck!
The evening brought a break from CTDs, as the EK80 was turned on for a long transect survey. Meanwhile Sonia started me on a coding journey, first showing me some resources to learn the basics, then setting me up with a virtual computer to test out what I was learning. This was lovingly titled "Intern Playground", and it's a place for me to get comfortable with a system similar to the ship's, while also being safe from killing any of the ship's systems.
The weather gave us a break for the ROV operations, but not before giving us another taste of a bumpy night. Everyone was extremely motivated to finish up though, and the first dive of the day brought up the anchor claimed by the crabs last week.
The SSSGs had many meetings concerning an upcoming cruise in December, new ideas for upgrading the email system for the WHOI ships, and the upcoming ADCP installation after INSURV. These meetings ended just in time for us to go back into the main lab and watch Chris snag the final stubborn anchor. This one had fired off it's linepack, but it had snagged somewhere on the way to the surface, so he had extra line to avoid getting tangled in with the ROV. This final anchor meant the last of deck operations, and the ship turned north to head back home. There were a planned group of CTD casts along the way, but the weather had turned against our favor and by the middle of the night, CTD casts were called off.
No one got much sleep as the ship rocked and rolled its way back to port. I was personally attacked by all the items on my desk, in my vanity when it swung open and emptied all contents, and my desk chair when they all went flying during various rolls. I did not, however, fall out of my top bunk, which is an accomplishment.
No sleep and a bumpy ride makes for a low-spirited crew, but everyone was bolstered by the fact that we accomplished all of the OOI array goals, picking up all of the equipment and doing many CTD casts and surveys along the way. We came into the dock at WHOI around 0900 and quickly the deck and science crew began unloading.
As with the last demobilization days, the SSSGs mainly stick to going through end_cruise work, moving data to the correct places and shutting systems down. This involved the techs all together to figure out what was wrong with the PCO2 sensor. In the end it was a drip sensor that kept stopping the system, but because with all the air in the systems from the ride, the pressure differences caused spontaneous releases of sea water in weak places in the tubing system.
The end of the OOI cruise doesn't mean an end to the work, as now we can fully turn our attention to the INSURV inspection. This meant for these days leading up to the holiday, zip ties were our best friend, as we have to secure all cable runs. This is just one of the many steps for the SSSGs before INSURV, and all other departments on board will be working through the next week and a half painting, cleaning and securing.
Our first full day back on shore was a busy one as the demobilization efforts continued. All the moorings and associated equipment are removed, as none of it can stay for the inspection. Speaking of inspections, many different aspects of the ship need to be looked at, including the fume hoods in the lab spaces, and the hull itself, as we had snagged a lobster pot on our bow thruster on the way back. (No there weren't any lobsters, we asked.) The divers also exercised the bolts on the sea chest plate. You may say this sounds like a lot of exercising for this project, but they take opening holes in the ship very seriously. For our purposes we aren't opening a gaping hole to be exact, but the outside plate of the sea chest will need to be removed if we are to install a transducer on an elevator and don't want to hear it go 'bump' on first deployment.
On the topic of the new ADCP transducer, one of the scientists on the team stopped by in the afternoon, and the techs met with her to discuss the install. For a few days the team had been emailing back and forth about an issue with the cable bend. After discussing many solutions over Zoom, this scientist who visited agreed that the cable bend was not ideal, but likely workable, as the instrument is only planned to be onboard the ship for a year of at-sea testing. For us this means we can continue with the installation plans, as again, we can't start this project and have it unfinished during INSURV, so it must be started directly after.
Happy Thanksgiving! I am fortunate to be spending the holiday weekend at home, and I hope everyone has a great holiday and eats lots of good food!
I did bring a small project home with me, modeling out two more small parts, one to cover a missing outlet (think a protector you have for a baby, but for a hollow outlet strip) and the end cap for those strips of outlets. I will update progress on the parts next week!
Comments:Week 5: End of OOI and Happy Thanksgiving!


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«Гобіт» () — поставлена режисером Пітером Джексоном серія з трьох пов'язаних єдиним сюжетом кінофільмів, що являє собою екранізацію повісті Дж. Р. Р. Толкіна «Гобіт, або Туди і Звідти».

Трилогія складається з фільмів: «Гобіт: Несподівана подорож» (The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, 2012)
«Гобіт: Пустка Смога» (The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, 2013)
«Гобіт: Битва п'яти воїнств» (The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, 2014).

Трилогія
Фільми є вільною екранізацією повісті Толкіна «Гобіт, або Туди і Звідти». Вони розповідають нам про пригоди гобіта Більбо Торбина і тринадцяти гномів по шляху до Одинокої гори, а також є приквелом до кінотрилогії «Володар перснів».

Вікові обмеження всіх трьох фільмів: дітям старше 12 років.

Хоббіт: Несподівана подорож
Світова прем'єра фільму «Хоббіт: Несподівана подорож» відбулася 28 листопада 2012 року в Веллінгтоні, Нова Зеландія. 12 грудня фільм вийшов в прокат в Новій Зеландії, 13 грудня — у Великій Британії, 14 грудня — в США, а 19 грудня — в Україні.

Хоббіт: Пустка Смога
Сюжетна лінія продовжує події «Несподіваної подорожі», в якому гобіт Більбо Торбин подорожує з майстром Ґандальфом, гномом Торіном Дубощитом і його компанією у Царство Еребор, через Лихолісся, Езґарот і Дейл до епічної боротьби з драконом Смогом. У фільмі знімалися: Ієн Маккеллен, Мартін Фріман, Річард Армітедж, Кейт Бланшетт, Крістофер Лі, Бенедикт Камбербетч, Лі Пейс, Сильвестр Маккой, Люк Еванс, Орландо Блум і Еванджелін Ліллі.

Хоббіт: Битва п'яти воїнств
Смог летить в Озерне місто, а величезна армія орків під командуванням Азога наближається, незабаром вибухне Битва п'яти воїнств.

Світова прем'єра третьої частини, «Хоббіт: Битва п'яти воїнств», відбулася 1 грудня 2014. В Україні прем'єра відбулась 11 грудня.

Актори

Саундтрек

Музика до серії фільмів «Хоббіт» була написана, спродюсована та оркестрована й диригована Говардом Шором, який створив музику до всіх трьох фільмів «Володар перснів». Запис першого фільму розпочався 20 серпня 2012 року на студії Abbey Road Studios. Другий і третій фільми були записані у Новій Зеландії.

На відміну від «Володаря перснів», який отримав розширене видання лише після 2005 року, кожен саундтрек до фільмів серії «Хоббіт» був випущений на двох компакт-дисках тривалістю дві години. Музика містить 64-70 нових лейтмотивів, близько 40 лейтмотивів, що повертаються з трилогії «Володар перснів», а також різноманітні неоркестрові інструменти, включаючи волинку, диджеріду та цілий гамеланський оркестр.

Музику до «Несподівана подорож» в основному виконували Лондонський філармонічний оркестр, London Voices та хор Tiffin' boy, хоча Джексон і Шор обрали Новозеландський симфонічний оркестр для музики до «Пустка Смоґа» і «Битва п'яти воїнств». Додаткові музиканти, в тому числі два гамеланські оркестри, а також хор «Лондонські голоси» і хор «Тіффіні Бойз», доповнили оркестр. Музиканти Ніл Фінн та Ед Ширан зробили свій внесок у партитуру, а також деякі актори, включаючи Річарда Армітеджа та акторів гномів, Джеймса Несбіта та Баррі Гамфріса (у розширеному виданні). Партії сопрано виконали Клара Санабрас та Грейс Девідсон.

Примітки

Фільми Пітера Джексона
Хоббіт
Кіновсесвіт
Фільми англійською мовою
Фільми про чарівників


Marcus Behrend has joined PolarLake as Business Development Manager for Central Europe. Marcus has over 10 years' experience in the Financial Services industry and has joined PolarLake from RR Donnelley, formerly Bowne, where he held the position of Product Development Manager, EMEA.
Commenting on the opening of the German office, PolarLake CEO John Randles said "We see the German market as key to the development of PolarLake's business. Central Europe represents a great opportunity for PolarLake and the demand for a next generation, modern Data Management platform to meeting the needs of Asset Managers, Investment Banks, Custodians and Administrators is as great in Central Europe as anywhere else in the world. Marcus's experience, industry knowledge and impressive sales record will prove a great asset to PolarLake as we continue this expansion."


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Michael Klare - Blood and Oil DVD, ex-Soviet state of Georgia
Blood and Oil, by Michael Klare
A review by Thom Hartmann
If you want to understand what's really behind the current goings-on in the former Soviet state of Georgia, immediately buy Michael Klare's DVD, produced by the Media Education Foundation, "Blood and Oil."
America's romance with oil began in the 1860s, when Colonel Drake drilled the first well in Titusville, Pennsylvania, finding a new and cheap replacement (when refined) to replace whale oil, which was spiking in price as a lamp oil because of the overfishing of whales. Within a few decades it would also be heating homes and powering automobiles and, later, trains and electric power stations.
America had vast reserves of oil, and by the early 20th century we were pumping it at an incredible rate. With virtually no imported oil whatsoever, we built most of today's modern industrial infrastructure, and it wasn't until World War II, which burned through fully a third of our petroleum reserves, that an American president began to consider how necessary this fuel was to America's future and how to secure stocks of it outside the United States as our stocks fell.
That president was Franklin D. Roosevelt, and he cut the original deal with the proverbial devil – the king of Saudi Arabia.
This movie then meticulously documents how every president since Roosevelt has put oil front and center in our foreign policy, how the potential loss of it led directly to the first Gulf War, which led directly to Osama Bin Laden attacking the US (multiple times), and led to today's involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Even more eerie, the movie – made months ago – posits that any day now we'd see both China and Russia getting into the international oil acquisition business in a big way, leading to conflict in the region around Georgia. (And did I mention Iran and Darfur?)
I don't want to give away too much of this brilliant documentary, as there are a number of really jaw-dropping moments. My only criticism of it is that it doesn't include any mention whatsoever of Jimmy Carter's valiant efforts to move us off oil and into alternative power, particularly solar, which were then rolled back when Reagan took office.
That shortcoming aside, this is an absolutely necessary – and totally riveting – documentary that every American must see to fully understand the events unfolding around us in today's world.
This review originally appeared on Buzzflash
Index of Buzzflash articles
Dad, Thom, Stan, Steve, John, Mom
Thom at 17
Mom & Dad's Wedding picture, 1950
Thom at Dad & Mom's house
Thom at Dad & Mom's house when they were both still alive, circa '90s
From The Thom Hartmann Reader:
"In an age rife with media-inspired confusion and political cowardice, we yearn for a decent, caring, deeply human soul whose grasp of the problems confronting us provides a light by which we can make our way through the quagmire of lies, distortions, pandering, and hollow self-puffery that strips the American Dream of its promise. How lucky we are, then, to have access to the wit, wisdom, and willingness of Thom Hartmann, who shares with us here that very light, grown out of his own life experience."
—Mike Farrell, actor, political activist, and author of Just Call Me Mike and Of Mule and Man
From Cracking the Code:
"Thom Hartmann ought to be bronzed. His new book sets off from the same high plane as the last and offers explicit tools and how-to advice that will allow you to see, hear, and feel propaganda when it's directed at you and use the same techniques to refute it. His book would make a deaf-mute a better communicator. I want him on my reading table every day, and if you try one of his books, so will you."
—Peter Coyote, actor and author of Sleeping Where I Fall
"With the ever-growing influence of corporate CEOs and their right-wing allies in all aspects of American life, Hartmann's work is more relevant than ever. Throughout his career, Hartmann has spoken compellingly about the value of people-centered democracy and the challenges that millions of ordinary Americans face today as a result of a dogma dedicated to putting profit above all else. This collection is a rousing call for Americans to work together and put people first again."
—Richard Trumka, President, AFL-CIO


Companies that are most successful in turning CSR into a business advantage do these three things well.
For leading companies, corporate social responsibility has moved from the cubicle to the boardroom. While CSR once referred to philanthropy and volunteering that merely complemented the business, smart companies recognize that CSR can power their core strategies for today's dynamic global marketplace.
Multinational corporations that lead the way in CSR seek to maximize profits, reduce costs and mitigate risks by finding innovative solutions to the world's greatest challenges — social, economic and environmental. Ambitious companies understand that the 3 billion people entering the middle class in emerging markets will become valuable consumers and employees. These companies recognize the benefits of building vibrant and prosperous communities in emerging economies through enterprise development, job training, education and health care.
Leading companies also see that by reducing energy costs and mitigating their vulnerability to climate change and ecosystems loss, they will save money and improve their bottom lines. And they recognize they can further profit by creating similar solutions for their customers.
My research for A Better World, Inc. revealed that the companies that are most successful in transforming CSR to a business advantage do three things well.
First, their boards of directors understand the imperative for the company to find solutions to global problems as a strategy to grow shareholder value.
Second, these companies are effective in engaging with stakeholders, including communities in which their employees and consumers live and work, as well as investors, shareholders, consumers, employees, nonprofits and governments.
Third, they realize that they can only thrive in solving global problems by partnering effectively with non-governmental organizations, nonprofits and, often, local governments. Additionally, they recognize the imperative for transparency and accountability to all stakeholders.
To ensure that a company grows shareholder value, the best-qualified board is composed of people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives who have the required business and financial expertise. By including directors who understand the social, economic and environmental challenges facing the world, boards will be best equipped to maximize shareholder value, while also helping to build a better world.
Engaging stakeholders take us, our firm, our group of managers and those on Board, out of our stereotype. We see new forces. We see how they relate to form our new outlook in future.


All announcements and important information for the 2018 Build-Off.
All entry threads for the 2019 Build-Off. Once your entry is approved, it will be moved to the Competition forum.
All qualified build threads reside here.
All the qualified and finished build threads will be moved here, and you can vote on your favorite!
All information from previous Build-Offs.


text:
Neo-Nazi Found Guilty In Brutal Triple Murder of Skinhead Pals
by MeDaryl • Cars • Tags: crime, Neo-Nazism, Skinhead, Washington State
A Washington neo-Nazi was found guilty Friday of murdering three buddies and shooting a fourth in the face, allegedly because he was angry over a possible FBI probe.
Brent Ward Luyster was accused of shooting his friends to death one night in July 2016, soon after he learned the feds were circling him on weapons charges stemming from a pending assault case on his former girlfriend.
The Clark County jury began deliberating Wednesday afternoon and delivered the unanimous verdict Friday morning. Jurors found Luyster guilty on all charges: Three counts of first-degree aggravated murder, one count of attempted first-degree murder, and first- and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm.
The 37-year-old faces life behind bars. A reporter for the Columbian described how a mother of one victim yelled, Praise Jesus! after the verdict.
On Thursday afternoon, Luyster appeared with a shaved head, sporting Nazi tats on his scalp and arms. After court adjourned for the day, he flipped the bird at a TV reporter as cops hauled him out in handcuffs.
Earlier in the week, Luysters hateful ink was covered and he had a full head of short gray hair, the Columbian revealed.
As The Daily Beast previously reported, Luysters best friend, Zachary David Thompson, 36, was killed in a shooting in Woodland, Washington, alongside Joseph Mark Lamar, 38, and his girlfriend, Janell Renee Knight, 43.
Thompsons partner, 32-year-old Breanne Leigh, was shot in the face but survived. Her testimony was key to the prosecutions case.
On Tuesday, Luyster took the stand and denied killing his friends. He claimed he didnt know why Leigh fingered him as the shooter.
I thought about it. I dont know why, Luyster testified.
The white supremacistwho, along with his brother, was on the Anti-Defamation Leagues radar after cops arrested him for beating up a black man at a barteared up as he described reading the news and learning his pals were dead and that police named him as a suspect.
Leigh rushed to the doorway of the house when she heard the gunshots. Luyster walked in and fired a bullet into her face.
It was a very surreal moment, Luyster told the jury, according to a report by the Columbian. It didnt seem real.
Cops didnt recover the gun used in the attack. But they did retrieve shell casings, beer cans with Luysters fingerprints and a cigarette butt with his DNA, in addition to the bodies of the victims and the shattered glass of the getaway car, a gold 1998 Ford Explorer belonging to Luysters girlfriend, the Columbian reported.
Chuck Buckley, Luysters attorney, told jurors in closing arguments that prosecutors lacked a motive and the murder weapon.
We dont have the why here. What we have is the lack of why, Buckley said, according to the Columbian. Buckley questioned how Luysterif he was as intoxicated as his girlfriend testifiedcould murder three people and get away without injuries himself.
But prosecutor Laurel Smith argued Luyster was on edge and had ample reason to lash out. The neo-Nazi feared going back to jail; he was possibly upset because his friends said they wanted to kill his ex, the victim in his pending assault case; and he may have suspected his friends were cooperating against him with police.
Now, we cant know the defendants thought process. But we do know that he was stressed, that he was unhappy, that he was concerned, and we know that he was drinking, Smith said, according to the Columbian report.
Just two months before the bloodbath, Luyster was cuffed for pistol-whipping an ex-girlfriend and police found a .223 semiautomatic rifle, 12-gauge shotgun and .40-caliber Glock pistol at his rural Vancouver home, KATU reported.
The skinhead with swastika tattoos was enraged by the specter of federal gun charges and had been drinking before his pals were sprayed with bullets, witnesses testified during the nearly three-week trial.
According to Leigh, Thompson helped bail Luyster out of jail after the May assault on his former girlfriend. When Leigh balked over her beaus decision, Thompson told her Luyster was family and would do the same, the Columbian reported.
Luyster and Thompson were like brothers, Leigh testified earlier this month.
The night of the murders, Leigh and Thompson met Luyster and his girlfriend, Andrea Sibley, at a Vancouver house party.
The mood was tense at the party, Leigh told the jury. Luyster was on edge and believed federal agents could arrest him at any moment. Thompson had wanted to spend time with Luyster that night, to see him before he was taken into custody, Leigh said.
Lamar wanted to see Luyster, too, so Thompson and Leigh drove Luyster to Lamars home. They left without Sibley.
During the ride over, Luyster allegedly asked for his firearm but Thompson said it could wait, the Columbian reported. (During his own testimony, Luyster denied this and claimed he didnt have access to a gun.)
You guys know I would never hurt you, right? Leigh recalled Luyster telling them.
About an hour into the visit at Lamars, Sibley called Luyster to see where he was, then drove over to the residence with Luysters then 12-year-old son and their 2-year-old boy, Leigh testified, according to the Columbian.
Sibley stayed outside with the baby, but the 12-year-old came inside for some food, Leigh testified. (The teenager, Brent Luyster, Jr., was held in contempt last week after he refused to testify in the case. The boys mother testified that he was diagnosed with PTSD and has struggled since the shooting.)
According to Luyster, the men discussed his fears over the feds picking up his case, and about a friend whod gotten beat up. Luyster testified that they also joked about rubbing out his ex-girlfriend, the victim in the Cowlitz County assault case.
Luyster claimed everyone was getting along that night. He claimed his family left the Lamar residence, went to his brothers home in Woodland, then decided to go fishing in the middle of the nightan act he said was extremely common for him.
For her part, Sibley testified that the men were on the front porch and visibly intoxicated when she arrived. When Sibley asked Luyster if he was ready to leave, Lamar requested she give the men some time to talk.
Sibley says she returned to her car and played video games on her phone. When she looked up, she testified, the men were talking in the yard.
Gunfire suddenly shattered Sibleys drivers side window, she says, and as more shots rang out, Luyster shouted to Sibley to go! the Columbian reported.
Meanwhile, Leigh says she rushed to the doorway of the house when she heard the gunshots. Luyster walked in and fired a bullet into her face, she said.
The look on his face will forever be ingrained in my brain, Leigh told the jury, adding that Luyster appeared stoic and shot her like it meant nothing.
Leigh woke in a pool of blood, then crawled to her car. She pushed herself to drive for help because she couldnt find her cellphone. She testified that she saw her partner, Thompson, lying dead outside before she fled.
The survivor eventually parked outside a minimart and flagged down a store clerk for help, before an off-duty nurse rendered aid, the Columbian reported. Leigh, unable to speak, communicated through hand gestures and writing on napkins.
When asked who shot her, Leigh wrote, pretty sure Brent Luyster. Hes in big trouble. Fed, a police affidavit said.
Leigh identified Luyster as the killer before doctors put her in a medically-induced coma, according to the Columbian. She woke two weeks later.
Sibley drove a belligerent Luyster home. Later, in the wee hours after the bloodshed, Sibley drove Luyster to his uncles Ocean Park residence.
The girlfriend testified that after a few hours, they left the uncles home and drove toward Longview, Washington. They headed to Abernathy Creek, and Luyster had sobered up, Sibley testified. It was like he just didnt know what happened, and he wanted to find out, she testified.
Police nabbed the couple in the wildlife area under an hour later, Sibley testified. Cowlitz County sheriffs deputies found Sibleys Ford Explorer at a rest area on Abernathy Creek Road, off Ocean Beach Highway.
In his own testimony, Luyster described hearing deputies shouting his name on a loudspeaker before they arrested him, the Columbian reported.
Sibley was charged with rendering criminal assistance days later but took a plea deal and was sentenced to time served and probation.
After news broke of Luysters arrest, his friends expressed their disbelief on social media.
I cant think of any reason that would cause him [Luyster] to turn on one of his best friends, one associate wrote on Facebook. Losing two of my closest brothers in one day, to such a fucked up way. I have to know.
Theyve been my brothers for about 14 years now, since before Zach skinned up, and this will haunt me forever, the friend later added. I cant imagine what went through their mind.
Read more: https://www.thedailybeast.com/neo-nazi-found-guilty-in-brutal-triple-murder-of-skinhead-pals
The Ugly Business Of Defending Free Speech In 2017	30+ Times Drinking Didnt End Well


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Question: How Can I Get An Np Degree In Orthopedics?
By Matthew Harris in Recommendations 31.05.2021
1 How do I become an orthopedic nurse practitioner?
2 Can a nurse practitioner work in orthopedics?
3 How long does it take to become an orthopedic NP?
4 How much do orthopedic NPS make?
5 What nurse practitioner specialty is the highest paid?
6 How many years of college does it take to be a nurse practitioner?
7 Which nurse practitioner is most in demand?
8 Are Nurse Practitioners rich?
9 Can a nurse practitioner first assist in surgery?
10 Can nurse practitioners do surgery?
11 Do nurse practitioners assist in surgery?
12 Why do you want to be an orthopedic nurse practitioner?
13 What does an orthopedic practitioner do?
14 What degree do you need to be a sports medicine nurse?
How do I become an orthopedic nurse practitioner?
Here are the steps required to become an Orthopedic Nurse Practitioner:
Earn your Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Degree.
Pass the NCLEX-RN Certification Exam.
Earn your Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Degree.
Gain Experience Working as a Nurse Practitioner.
Get Certified as an Orthopedic Nurse Practitioner.
Can a nurse practitioner work in orthopedics?
Some orthopedic nurse practitioners may also assist with orthopedic surgeries—before, during, and after. In the case that surgery is not necessary, an orthopedic nurse practitioner may be responsible for setting a broken bone, applying casts and/or splints, and making arrangements for follow-up care.
How long does it take to become an orthopedic NP?
It takes about 6 to 9 combined years of study and work experience to become an Orthopedic Nurse Practitioner. The time it takes to earn a master's degree from an accredited program depends on your starting point.
You might be interested: Often asked: Carillion Orthopedics How Long Do You Stay In The Hospital After Having Hip Surgery?
How much do orthopedic NPS make?
How much does an Orthopedic Nurse Practitioner make? According to Payscale, the average salary for an orthopedic nurse practitioner as of April 2020 is $100,035 or $43.90 per hour, making it a very lucrative nursing career.
What nurse practitioner specialty is the highest paid?
The highest paying nurse practitioner specialties in 2020
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist ($181,040) The highest paid profession for an NP seems to be that of the Nurse Anesthetist.
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner ($139,976)
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner ($131,302)
Orthopedic Nurse Practitioner ($123,820)
Urology Nurse Practitioner ($120,545)
How many years of college does it take to be a nurse practitioner?
How Long Do You Have to Go to School to Be a Nurse Practitioner? Nurse practitioner requirements often include a master's degree, which can take 2-3 years to complete. Admission to a master's program typically requires a bachelor's degree, which adds around four years to educational timelines.
Which nurse practitioner is most in demand?
The biggest demand is in family care physicians, and they will require nurses on their staff as well. This is why becoming a nurse practitioner in family care is one of the best career choices out there, although oncology nurses will also be in high demand.
Are Nurse Practitioners rich?
The average salary for nurse practitioners is over $90,000 and is continuing to rise. As a nurse practitioner, you probably won't become rich, but you will be able to fund a great lifestyle. Nurse practitioners are well educated giving them opportunities outside of the traditional NP role.
You might be interested: Stabbing Pain In Lungs When Breathing?
Can a nurse practitioner first assist in surgery?
Most Surgical Nurse Practitioners provide services that include: First Assist with surgical procedures, pre-op H&P's, admission/discharge paperwork, hospital rounding, post-op follow up, wound care, pain management and patient education to name a few.
Can nurse practitioners do surgery?
While NPs do not perform complex surgical procedures, NPs can perform some invasive treatment procedures. And, at least one state includes hospital admissions within their practice scope.
Do nurse practitioners assist in surgery?
Nurse practitioners ( NP ) who combine their traditional provider role with first assist surgical responsibilities often support patients through each stage of the surgical experience; they follow patients from the initial outpatient clinical introduction to the hospital admission, operating room (OR) theater, and
Why do you want to be an orthopedic nurse practitioner?
According to the National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses (NAON), "The role of the orthopaedic nurse is to advance musculoskeletal healthcare by promoting excellence in orthopaedic research, education and nursing practice." From prescribing pain medications for broken bones to analyzing hip replacement x-rays,
What does an orthopedic practitioner do?
Orthopaedic practitioners help patients recover from injury or surgery as quickly as possible by making sure casts and splints are fitted correctly. As an orthopaedic practitioner, you'll apply casts and splints to patients following an accident or surgery or for particular orthopaedic conditions.
What degree do you need to be a sports medicine nurse?
After acquiring broad experience as a nurse, you also require a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree to qualify as a sports medicine nurse. BSN programs take four years, where students acquire knowledge in patient-centered care, clinical judgement, physical assessment and leadership skills.
Question: What Courses Do You Need For Orthopedics?
Often asked: How To Prepare For Orthopedics Sub-i?


text:
Q: How to change values in multiple columns at once based on value of each cell and using number index? In a pandas df, all cells in columns from index 4 to the end have null value or one of two possible strings, let's use "a" and "b". I want to replace each value with a number: "a" with 1, "b" with 2, and null with 0. I would prefer to change multiple columns simultaneously rather than using a loop.
I've tried using apply with lambda because it worked for an earlier project, but it doesn't work for this one, and when I use it on only one column, it changes everything to 0. I've also tried assigning the values with the other piece of code below.
df.iloc[:, 4:] = df.iloc[:, 4:].apply(lambda x:1 if x == 'a' else(2 if x == 'b' else 0))

df[df.iloc[:,4]=='a',4] = 1

The truth value of a Series is ambiguous. Use a.empty, a.bool(), a.item(), a.any() or a.all().','occurred at index  [B]
'Series' objects are mutable, thus they cannot be hashed

A: You can use replace and fillna methods
df.iloc[:, 4:] = df.iloc[:, 4:].replace({'a':1,'b':2}).fillna(0)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Adie Family History
Adie Name Meaning
Scottish: from the personal name Adie, a popular medieval pet form of Adam.
Similar surnames: Addie, Ade, Badie, Eadie, Adee, Aye, Opie, Edie, Marie, Edin
Adie Family Origin
Where is the Adie family from?
You can see how Adie families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Adie family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Adie families were found in and Scotland in 1841and Scotland in 1851and Scotland in 1861and Scotland in 1871and Scotland in 1881and Scotland in 1891and Scotland in 1901. In 1840 there were 5 Adie families living in Virginia. This was about 50% of all the recorded Adie's in the USA. Virginia had the highest population of Adie families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Adie surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
View Census Data for Adie
Adie Family Occupations
What did your Adie ancestors do for a living?
In 1880, Keeping House, Farmer and Retired Druggist were the top 3 reported jobs worked by Adie. A less common occupation for the Adie family was Sea Captain. The most common Adie occupation in the USA was Keeping House. 40% of Adie's were Keeping Houses.
View Census data for Adie | Data not to scale
Retired Druggist
Census records can tell you a lot of little known facts about your Adie ancestors, such as occupation. Occupation can tell you about your ancestor's social and economic status.
Adie Historical Records
What Adie family records will you find?
There are 12,000 census records available for the last name Adie. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Adie census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.
Search 1940's US census records for Adie
There are 3,000 immigration records available for the last name Adie. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.
View all Adie immigration records
There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Adie. For the veterans among your Adie ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.
View all Adie military records
You've only scratched the surface of Adie family history.
Adie Life Expectancy
What is the average Adie lifespan?
Between 1955 and 2004, in the United States, Adie life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1955, and highest in 1985. The average life expectancy for Adie in 1955 was 43, and 80 in 2004.
View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Adie
An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Adie ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.
Famous Adie Family Ancestors


text:
Hey Joe Guitar
How Our Music Lessons Work
Discover Your Instrument
Why Hey Joe Guitar Music School?
In-home music lessons. Manhattan and Brooklyn. Any age. Any instrument.
Celebrate a Special 50th Birthday, With Manhattan Guitar School
April 23, 2015 - Musical Celebrations
Manhattan Guitar School is Alive With The Sound of Music
Unless you are a fan of musicals (as we are), you may not have realized that this year marks a momentous anniversary: 50 years since the release of the film adaptation of the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical, "The Sound of Music."
The 1965 Academy Award winner that has popularized whiskers on kittens and warm woolen mittens is a poignant tale of an Austrian family forced to escape Nazi occupation of their country during WWII. The film is based on the real-life von Trapp family, though, as it often happens in movies, some parts were fictionalized.
"The Sound of Music" is not only a heart-warming story, but it also has some beautiful and memorable songs – for instance, "The Hills Are Alive" and "Sixteen Going on Seventeen." But perhaps one tune that has stuck in most people's minds is the catchy "Do Re Mi Fa." In fact, a few years ago this upbeat song was presented in a massive flash mob at a Belgian train station.
All we can say is happy birthday, "The Sound of Music," and thanks for the memories!
Some of our favorite things
"The Sound of Music" is one example of classic film musicals and the memorable songs that made them famous. Of course, it's impossible to mention them all here, but here's a partial list of the most popular ones:
"The Wizard of Oz" (1939). Who could forget young Judy Garland's voice as she sang "Somewhere Over the Rainbow."
"Singing in the Rain" (1952). Gene Kelly makes it look so easy!
"West Side Story" (1961) features Leonard Bernstein's famous song, "Maria."
"Mary Poppins" (1964). A year before she starred as Maria in "The Sound of Music," Julie Andrews was a nanny with a magic touch, as demonstrated in this cheeky song, "A Spoonful of Sugar."
"Grease" (1978). It's difficult to choose just one song from this original "high school musical," but we'll go with "You Are The One That I Want."
As we said, we can't list all the wonderful musicals here, because there are so many of them. But you can get a more comprehensive glimpse from the American Film Institute.
Our own sound of music
Whether they are "oldies but goodies" like the ones mentioned above, or born out of more recent films , we at Hey Joe Guitar love show tunes! A movie like "The Sound of Music" and others listed here combine melodies with a theme – a plot, if you will – and this combo makes the whole listening / watching experience all the more interesting.
Now, we are not filmmakers so we can't really set a story line to music. We leave this task to those who know this field. What we do best is stick to the "music" part as it pertains to an instrument or your voice.
So if you want to learn to sing or play any show tunes on the guitar, piano, saxophone, or any other instrument, contact us. Alas, we don't offer lessons (as much as we would love to) in the Austrian Alps or at Rydell High, but we will happily come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office. In other words, we are…Hopelessly Devoted To You !
Photo by unknown, available under Creative Commons License
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ahmsta.org has a global alexa rank of 135497. With an estimated daily income of $29 (Twenty-Nine dollars per day), ahmsta.org is estimated to be worth $23875 (Twenty-Three Thousand, Eight Hundred And Seventy-Five dollars). Ahmsta receives around 15619 (Fifteen Thousand, Six Hundred And Nineteen) daily pageviews from around 8221 (Eight Thousand, Two Hundred And Twenty-One) unique visitors.


text:
Austad's Golf: Family conflicts 'nothing nine holes can't solve'
This piece also appears in the July edition of the Chamber News.
Dave Austad knows only about 10 percent of family businesses find themselves where he is – successfully passing down the business to the third generation.
"The ones that seem to struggle the most don't confront issues," said Dave, whose father, Oscar, founded Austad's Golf in 1963. It has grown to nine locations in five states.
Workers in 1973 process orders at an Austad's warehouse.
"The beauty of a family business is you have people who know each other. The struggle is you bring that family dynamic into the business as well, and sometimes that's great and sometimes that will kill you. I've seen a lot of family businesses where you don't talk about the elephant in the room."
It was "trial by fire" for Dave when he took over at age 28, and while that proved an effective education, he's taking a different route with his son, Ryan, and daughter Sara. Ryan has started running most of the day-to-day business, and Sara leads the e-commerce operation.
"It's fun to see them work together," Dave said. "They truly believe this is a family business and it's their baby, so there's ownership there, which I think is really cool. A lot of times, my job is just to get out of the way, and I think there's a lot of family businesses where that's part of the problem."
He also keeps the rest of the family – including two daughters who don't plan to be in the business – informed.
"We haven't had any major concerns (transitioning) at this point, so we just keep plugging along," he said.
Ryan and Sara worked for other large businesses before returning to the family business.
"I think it's the best thing for someone in a family business to do," Ryan said. "I never felt entitled to a job – any job – at Austad's. I knew if I wanted to work at Austad's, I better be able to produce results."
He and Sara tend to defer to one another on issues in their areas of expertise, but they do enjoy "fun and lively" brainstorming sessions, he said.
"We were raised in a house where debate over dinner was the norm. We were taught to articulate our thoughts and engage in discussion," Ryan said. "My sister, my dad and I actually enjoy that sort of productive conflict. One dinner guest described the Austads as 'The Osbornes without the swearing.' "
All joking aside, he said he's fortunate his dad has allowed him to lead.
"We've had our occasional boardroom spat, but nothing that nine holes of golf can't solve," he said. "It helps we share the same philosophy: We work in golf. If we aren't having fun, we are doing it wrong!"
Family businesses thrive with careful focus on transitioning through generations
Tags: Austad's Golf Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce
PreviousGreatLIFE offering new gear for remainder of golf season
NextLeadership South Dakota announces next class
Creative Spirits opens in new location with new owners
Co-op grocery approves membership change


text:
January 31, 2019 / 10:11 AM / 6 months ago
UPDATE 1-Japan's Zozo cuts outlook, blames failed measurement-taking Zozosuit
Ritsuko Ando
* Sees full-year operating profit Y26.5 bln vs previous Y40 bln
* CEO says people ordered Zozosuit, did not use it to buy clothes
* CEO says will ditch "high risk, high return" strategy (Adds CEO comments, other details)
By Ritsuko Ando
TOKYO, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Japanese fashion e-commerce website Zozo Inc slashed its annual profit outlook and dividend on Thursday, blaming a failed and costly experiment with a skin-tight bodysuit for taking measurements.
Zozo, with a nearly 50 percent share of Japan's e-commerce market for mid- to high-end fashion, had tried to branch out by launching its own private brand and a made-to-measure service.
But last quarter it scrapped the Zozosuit, a polka dot bodysuit it distributed for free that allowed users to upload body measurements, amid complaints over distribution delays.
The bodysuit, along with billionaire CEO Yusaku Maezawa's plans for a lunar flyby as the first private passenger on Elon Musk's SpaceX mission, had helped spread the company's name globally. Its end has cast a shadow on Zozo's strategy.
"It was a year of trial and error. We have caused our investors great concern," an unusually contrite Maezawa told an analyst conference, adding he would now ditch his "high risk, high return" strategy for lower risk and medium returns.
Many people ordered the bodysuit but did not use it to buy clothes as expected, he said. Some did not even upload their measurements, he added, leaving the company saddled with the huge cost of distributing the suits without seeing returns.
The made-to-measure service also struggled to keep up with the orders that came in, with some customers waiting for five months for suits to be delivered, he added.
"By distributing the 'Zozosuit' for free so that people could take measurements, we were hoping to create demand for the Zozotown business, including the private brand. But the impact did not have the scale that we had hoped for," the company said in a statement earlier in the day.
The company now expects a full-year operating profit of 26.5 billion yen ($244 million), down around 19 percent from a year earlier. It previously forecast a rise to 40 billion yen.
Investors have recently turned wary about the company's outlook, particularly after apparel company Onward Holdings Co pulled its brands off the shopping website due to friction over discounts that Zozo implemented.
Maezawa said 42 of 1,250 shops on its platform had halted sales due to objections about Zozo's discounting strategy.
The company's shares have halved in the past six months.
Zozo said it now expects to pay a year-end dividend of 10 yen per share instead of an initial forecast of 22 yen. ($1 = 108.5700 yen) (Reporting by Ritsuko Ando; Editing by Himani Sarkar)


This foot is a specialist for working with blindhems. In one step the seam is sewn and the edge is finished. Therefore the blindstitch foot allows quick and proper working and is ideal for the creation of attractive blindhems on home furnishing and garments.
1. Set the machine for a 3-thread overlock narrow (with the right needle), loosen the needle thread tension sligthly.
4. To place the hem under the foot, fold the hem to the desired width, then fold back, turn and place under the foot (pre-press the hem for easier guiding).
6. Lower the presser foot and sew, holding the fabric fold against the guide.
7. After stitching, unfold the fabric and press lightly from the wrong side.
The guide of the foot is also suitable for guiding lace edges to fabric edges.


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Law Links >
An author's passion for justice shines through
Remembering Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
The Baldy Center widens its interdisciplinary impact
Mitigating the damage of COVID-19
Prof. Christine Bartholomew: New title, new book, new research
Prof. Michael Boucai: A historian's take on marriage, sexuality and more
Lisa M. Mueller, Vice Dean for Communications
Kristina Lively, Associate Director for Digital Communications
Rachael Krupski, Assistant Director for Marketing and Communications
Cynthia Watts Rogers, Communications Office Coordinator
Sandy Conti, Administrative Assistant for Communications
Pulitzer Prize-winning author speaks to law students
Gilbert King author of "Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America"
A gross miscarriage of justice, and a hero of jurisprudence, were front and center during a special virtual gathering that engaged UB School of Law students with the Pulitzer Prize-winning author who chronicled it all.
The Sept. 30 event was organized by the law school's Legal Analysis, Writing and Research program, along with the law school's Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Students and other attendees heard author Gilbert King present on Devil in the Grove, his meticulously researched account of a 1949 criminal case against four young Black men, the "Groveland Boys," accused of sexually assaulting a white woman in Lake County, Florida.
Devil in the Grove, which was required reading for this year's incoming class of law students, also details Thurgood Marshall's role as an NAACP lawyer in the Groveland case as well as in other landmark civil rights cases that he pursued before becoming a U.S. Supreme Court justice.
Tolu Odunsi
Introduced by Tolu Odunsi, assistant dean for diversity, equity and inclusion and a LAWR instructor, King led his audience deeper into the case and Marshall's activist history. In anecdotes and evocative black-and-white pictures, he made clear that conditions for people of color, particularly in the South, were "not just rude and inconvenient" – the separate water fountains, theaters and hotels – but reflected real brutality and terrorism by white supremacists in power.
"For the longest time we've been sweeping this idea of white supremacy under the carpet," King said. "The narrative of race relations in America is extraordinarily unpleasant, and we've never come to terms with it."
For example, he pointed to a wave of lynchings across the South immediately after World War II, targeting returned Black soldiers who demanded respect by continuing to wear their military uniforms. In a celebrated case, a Black man named Isaac Woodard lost his sight after he was dragged off a bus in South Carolina and severely beaten by sheriff's deputies. Folksinger Woody Guthrie wrote a song about him, and Woodard "really became the face of the brutality that was happening in the South," King said.
Into this atmosphere stepped Marshall – himself nearly killed by a lynch mob after he won a case in Columbus, Ohio – and the NAACP's Legal Defense Fund. Marshall would take on death penalty cases in the South, armed, as he said, with "nothing but a piece of paper – the Constitution." The risk was so great that he was often moved from house to house at night to evade threatening Ku Klux Klansmen.
In the Groveland case in central Florida, 17-year-old Norma Padgett alleged she was sexually assaulted by four Black men. One of the four arrested was shot dead after he fled into a swamp; the other three were tried and convicted, and two were sentenced to death.
Marshall's genius, King argued, was in accepting that he was likely to lose at trial, but ensuring that the inevitable procedural errors and inequities were so thoroughly documented that they would be sure to prevail upon appeal. The strategy worked – the Supreme Court overturned the Groveland convictions – but, in a horrifying abuse of power, Sheriff Willie McCall shot two of them after ordering them out of his patrol car on a dark country road. One died; one survived to tell what happened, but the sheriff was never charged.
The FBI investigated, King said, and a memo was issued saying that the sheriff and his deputy should be prosecuted, but the U.S. Attorney in Tampa quashed it to preserve the "tranquility of the South." "That really speaks to the level of violence and complicity at every single level of Florida government," King said. "It tells you about how embedded white supremacy was in Florida law enforcement."
Daniel Russell '23
He said Marshall talked about the Groveland case in his nationwide travels, raising lots of money that went into the NAACP's preparation for the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case.
Much of the question-and-answer part of the event focused on Thurgood Marshall, whom the book portrays as a flawed individual, but also a consummate, passionate and committed lawyer. "I could not find one corner that Marshall cut anywhere," King remarked. "He said, 'We can't afford to make one single mistake. If we make one mistake, they can shut this down.' He felt they really needed to be 100 percent on the up-and-up.
"And he always said, 'These are the facts, this is the Constitution. The Constitution clearly says there is equality, there is due process, there is equal justice under law, and if we're ignoring that we're ignoring the Constitution.' "
Shakierah Smith '22
"I was really interested in what he had to say," said first-year student Daniel Russell, who moderated the question period. "I went into law school to do similar work and for a similar reason, to help effect equality on all levels. Thurgood Marshall always thought law was the best way to do that."
For second-year student Shakierah Smith, a LAWR writing fellow and Thurgood Marshall fan who initially invited King to speak to the LAWR classes, hearing the author's story firsthand really brought the Groveland case to life.
"His presentation was eye-opening and emotional and necessary, especially given the current state of race relations in America," Smith said. "The criminal justice system has definitely come a long way, but we still have an even longer way to go, especially with regards to law enforcement and people of color.
"For law students, there is really no excuse for failure. It's just motivation to keep going."


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When we started planning our wedding we were sure we could not participate in the wedding film as both of us are super camera shy and very private people with regards to express ourselves. When we met a team of photographers for the first time we told them straight up that we should scrap the idea of a wedding film all together. It was then that Ajit instilled the confidence in us. He told us just to trust him. He said he would make sure we would not have to talk into the cameras directly at all and he would make the film in such a way that it would capture us exactly as we are. Today when we look at the outcome of his creation we are very glad that we trusted Ajit and his vision for the film. He gave us a very lasting memory of our special moments. The film totally depicts the emotions that we went through on that day and the core essence of our relationship comes across very beautifully.
Thank You Ajit and his team for your work.
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Will the package also include photography?
Yes, of course. We have some really good in-house photographers whom we trust to capture the accurate moments. They are experts in candid, documentary, photojournalistic, art wedding and other forms of photography and they know to use a perfect blend of every style to make your wedding album look perfect.
What else will your package include?
The main event film (60-80 min) and the photo album of selected photographs with other pictures in pen drive or CD (around 400-500 for 2 days wedding and 500 - 700 for 3 days wedding), teaser (50 to 60 seconds) and trailer (5-6 min) of the wedding will be major deliverables of the package. Apart from this teaser and trailer will be showcased on our social media pages and handles, a temporary website will be made for your wedding (optional), Pre-Wedding shoot is also optional and that will be billed separately.
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How much time will my film take to be prepared?
Teaser and trailer will be given before the wedding. Main event film will take minimum 15 days to maximum 1.5 months to be prepared.
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Yes. We are also corporate films and documentary makers. We also take exclusive editing jobs. Furthermore, you can communicate with us for any occasions that you would like to preserve. We will definitely take up the assignment if we find some story in it.
What if my wedding is outside Mumbai?
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How much in advance should we book your services?
As soon as possible! Once you know the date of your wedding, contact us as early as possible so that we save the dates for you. Like you, we too need a lot of preparations to make for your wedding. This will give us more time to generate unique ideas to shoot your wedding in an exclusive way. Of course, lesser time will not affect the quality of work we deliver.


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Тульн-ан-дер-Донау () — місто, окружний центр в Австрії, у федеральній землі Нижня Австрія.

Загальні відомості
Входить до складу округу Тульн.  Населення становить 14 075 чоловік (станом на 31 грудня 2005 року). Займає площу 72.23 км².

Тульн розташовано на правому березі річки Дунай за 25 кілометрів на північний захід від Відня. Через місто проходить залізниця Відень — Кремс, потяг до Відню йде близько 20 хвилин.

Тульн — одне з найдавніших міст Австрії. На його місці було розташовано давньоримське укріплене поселення Комагена. Тульн згадується у «Пісні про Нібелунгів».

1890 року в Тульні народився видатний австрійський художник Еґон Шіле.

Пам'ятки
 Романська каплиця — збудовано у XIII столітті.
 Монастир міноритів — зведений у XVIII столітті, в будівлі розміщено декілька музеїв.
 Новий Римський музей — в музеї представлено археологічні знахідки Комагени.
 Музей Еґона Шіле.

Політична ситуація
Бургомістр комуни — Вільгельм Штіфт (АНП) за результатами виборів 2005 року.

Рада представників комуни () складається з 37 місць.

 АНП займає 22 місця.
 СДПА займає 11 місць.
 Австрійські зелені займають 3 місця.
 АПС займає 1 місце.

Відомі особистості
В поселенні народився:
 Лео Штопфер (* 1964) — австрійський художник.

Фотогалерея

Посилання
 Офіційний сайт

Міста Нижньої Австрії
Міста над Дунаєм


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St. Saviours Pro-Cathedral in Nelson is one of many local heritage buildings to benefit from the Columbia Basin Trust's Built Heritage program. Photo submitted
St. Saviour's receives grant to improve heating system
The $137,000 project is funded by Columbia Basin Trust and Heritage BC
Aug. 6, 2019 10:40 a.m.
Columbia Basin Trust and Heritage BC recently announced the awarding of a Built Heritage Grant of $137,071 to St. Saviour's Anglican Pro-Cathedral in Nelson to upgrade their heating system.
Launched in 2017, the Built Heritage Grants are a three-year commitment by Columbia Basin Trust to help groups preserve, rehabilitate and restore heritage buildings with grants administered by Heritage BC. In this intake, the Trust is supporting 17 projects with $2.4 million.
Church heritage advisor and local historian Greg Scott is pleased to see the number of grants awarded churches in the latest Trust awards.
"There are seven grants to various churches or repurposing of church buildings in the area," he says. "This is important as has been recently pointed out by the National Trust for Canada these churches are our heritage and the buildings integral parts of our community and not just religious institutions."
St. Saviour's Anglican Pro-Cathedral, a City of Nelson by-law designated heritage building built in 1899 and rebuilt in 1929 after a disastrous fire, desperately needs of a new heating system.
The existing natural gas-fired boiler was last upgraded in the early 1990s and in recent winters, parts of the system, such as pumps, have failed.
Urgent replacement is necessary in order to keep the building warm, not only during normal church services but also during the numerous concerts and events hosted by the church. With the current project, a combination of technologies will be used to heat the building and reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.
St. Saviour's has signed on to support the West Kootenay EcoSociety's 100% Renewable Kootenays initiative and has committed to be using all renewable energy in their operations by 2050.
Future steps on the path to renewable energy will be the improvement of the building insulation and draft proofing, as well as taking advantage of future technological improvements. The grant will allow the church to proceed on a project costing upwards of $250,000.
The balance of funds has been raised over the past five plus years from fundraisers, donations and bequests. One ongoing fundraiser has been the sale of chocolates and drinks by the Church ladies during concert intermissions hosted in the church. A sigh of relief has been heard from them as they do not have to sell another 137,000 chocolates!
Stepping Stones asks for summer supplies
Acclaimed drama explores love and math


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Thailand has one of the highest numbers of repeat visitors in Asia and, according to the Tourism Authority, more than 60% of UK tourists have been before. If you've already visited, you'll understand why – from jaw-dropping beaches and friendly locals, to low prices, delicious cuisine and an astounding variety of things to see and do, it's no wonder we keep going back.
On a first visit, most tourists tend to tick-off Thailand's best-known hotspots: a spell in Bangkok followed by a beach resort or island like Phuket or Koh Samui. Chiang Mai is another top destination, with its delicious cuisine and fascinating hill-tribes.
Last time you were here, you probably saw some of the capital's top attractions: The Grand Palace and Wat Prakeaw; the ornate spires of Wat Arun, and the reclining Buddha at Wat Pho; or the street markets in Chinatown, and the backpacker hub of Khao San Road.
All are popular for good reason, so its worth seeing these if you missed out last time. If you haven't spent time on the local waterways before, book an early morning trip to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market or take a boat ride along the Chao Phraya River. For souvenir shopping, you could also time your visit around Chatuchak Weekend Market – one of the best shopping experiences in Thailand.
If you've already "been there, done that," then it's time to dig a little deeper. A guided food tour, evening cycle tour, or a trip to Bang Krachao Island (a green oasis in the Chao Phraya River) puts a whole new perspective on the city. Or if you're fascinated by local life, you could tour Bangkok's biggest slum – a few metro stops from the city centre, Klong Toey Slum is home to the bulk of Bangkok's rural migrants and poorest people. An experienced guide can lead you safely through the slum's narrow alleyways to experience its schools, businesses and everyday life.
At the other end of the scale, you could treat yourself to a meal in one of Thailand's most luxurious restaurants, like Vertigo at the Banyan Tree, Sra Bua by Kiin Kiin at the Sian Kempinski, or Sirocco – the world's highest alfresco restaurant.
Temple-hopping is a "must-do" Chiang Mai activity that every first-timer gets a taste of. Some of the most popular wats (Buddhist temples) include: the enormous Wat Chedi Luang; mountain-top Wat Phra That Doi Suthep; the ornate façade of Wat Phra Singh; the teak pillars of Wat Phan Tao; the tiered wooden roof of Wat Lok Molee; and 13th-century Wat Chiang Man.
If you've already ticked these off, Chaing Mai has plenty more for your return trip, with more than 300 wats in and around the city. For something a bit different, try the underground tunnels and talking trees at Wat Umong; or the huge seated Buddha at Wat Phra That Doi Kham. Alternatively, you could tour the temples at night –Wat Sri Suphan is particularly special with its glowing purple light.
If you loved Chiang Mai Night Bazaar on your first visit, then time your second trip around the Sunday or Saturday Night Walking Street Market. For local flavours and fantastic photos, try Warorot Market in Chinatown; Siriwattana Food Market; or the Morning Market at Chiang Mai Gate – open from 4.30am to midday, if you arrive before 9am, you're likely to be the only tourist here.
If you feel like you've already done Chiang Mai's temples and markets to death, try somewhere like the "Art in Paradise" 3D museum, or Bang Kang Wat Artist Village – a compound of teak houses, artists' workshops and cafes. Or to escape the city bustle, head to Huay Tung Tao Lake, hire a pedal boat and relax in a waterside restaurant.
Thailand has so many stunning islands and beaches that it's hard to know where to start. If, after your first visit, if you loved the party scene on Koh Samui or Koh Phangan in the Gulf of Thailand, try to Phuket or Koh Phi Phi on the Andaman Coast. And if you got hooked on scuba-diving and snorkelling on your last trip, put Koh Tao or a Similan Islands liveaboard experience on your return itinerary.
Another option is to venture further afield, away from the most obvious islands. Southeast of Bangkok near Cambodia, Trat Province has some fantastic islands to explore: unspoilt Koh Kood (also known as Koh Kut) has pristine beaches and a jungle-clad interior; Koh Mak is known for its simple Buddhist lifestyle; and Koh Chang has a buzzing party scene.
Other Robinson Crusoe options include tiny Koh Bulon Lae near the Malaysian border; the empty beaches of Koh Phayam in the Andaman Sea; and the five hilly islands of the Moo Ko Surin archipelago, close to the Burmese border.
A little less visited is neighbouring Chiang Rai province, which has fewer tourists but plenty of hiking guides and hill tribe tours. For more intrepid adventures, Mae Hong Song province (west of Chiang Mai) has Myanmar-style culture and magnificent caves. And if you're feeling even more adventurous, take a flight from Bangkok or Chiang Mai direct to Nan Province for some of Asia's rarest hill tribes and nomadic communities.
Did you visit Ayutthaya on your first Thailand holiday? An easy daytrip from Bangkok, the mind-blowing ruins of this ancient city are well worth it. If you've already ticked it off, consider heading north to Sukhothai Historical Park, where you can experience the remains of Siam's first capital.
For an Indian Jones type of adventure, travel east of Bangkok to the seldom-visited Isan region, and seek out Phanom Rung Historical Park – here, you'll find Thailand's biggest Khmer temple complex, which sits on the rim of an extinct volcano. Southwest of Bangkok, Phetchaburi is another good option. This sleepy town has sacred cave shrines, 11th-century Khmer remains, and a 19th-century hilltop palace.
If Kanchanaburi didn't make your itinerary the first time round, I'd definitely recommend a visit on your return trip. This lush province gives a harrowing yet essential insight into Thailand's "Death Railway." Famous sites include the Hell Fire Pass and Bridge over the River Kwai, plus a restored section of the original railway, which visitors can travel along. You can tour the main sites on a daytrip from Bangkok but it's better to spend a night or two here in a floating hotel.
As well as discovering new places, one thing I love about returning to a country is the chance to re-visit the places I loved most on my first trip. Whether it's returning to a fantastic hotel, showing my partner my favourite beach, or going back to an island I visited a decade ago, this nostalgic element really adds to the excitement. My top two places to return to in Thailand are: Bangkok, for its sheer energy and incredible diversity; and Nan Province, for its untouched beauty.
With so much appeal, it's no wonder that Thailand sees so many repeat visitors. One trip simply isn't enough to pack it all in, and its fantastically friendly people and mesmerising landscapes mean that you simply can't shake off the spell that the country casts over you. Within a week of returning home from my first trip, I'd started planning my next Thailand adventure. I've been hooked ever since.


Often times, people tend to look at a Scriptural text without having any interest in the context of the passage. Instead, the passage is used to reflect one's own view or to teach something that is not the intended meaning for the text. I call these specific texts that are associated with improper exegesis "misread texts", for most of the time they are indeed misread. This will be a recurring series on the blog as there are far too many verses to deal with in one post.
Just when you probably thought that there couldn't possibly be any more misread texts to analyze, there is another. This verse, like Jeremiah 29:11 and Philippians 4:13, is one that is very often quoted.
It always fascinates me that the most famous verses are typically the ones that are not only taken out of context, but also the ones that make people feel good about themselves. Ironically, the Bible does not direct our focus to ourselves, but rather Jesus Christ. That is why I am always cautious when I see a verse that is quoted for the use of self-empowerment. When someone does that, they already do more than miss the point of the passage. They miss the entirety of Scripture.
If I was to describe the context of the entire Bible or give a brief summary of what the message of the Holy Scriptures are, it would be this: God made man, man rebelled against Him, God sent His Son to save His people, and His people are saved from mankind by adoption into His family. One could basically say that the point of the entirety of Scripture is to declare that Jesus Christ is the Savior and Lord to those who have been called. He is the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, which means that Christ is of infinite importance regarding intellectuality, philosophy, livelihood, and especially Scriptural interpretation.
With this premise in mind, knowing what the Bible testifies to, we must examine the misread text to praise and glorify our great God, Jesus Christ. Luke 18:27 (NIV) says, "Jesus replied, 'What is impossible with man is possible with God.'" As one can see from the verse, it is vague when taken by itself. Like Philippians 4:13, Luke 18:27 is something I could imagine being tattooed unto a football player's arm or a soccer-mom's ankle. The verse is also posted frequently on several social media pages, and sometimes the verse is put on pictures with beautiful backgrounds. I have heard this verse being misquoted, for the purposes of humanistic motivation from all types of groups. From the shallow, Charismatic speaker to the few Reformed preachers, Luke 18:27 has been taken out of its original context and has been purposefully misread. This means that there is false teaching present, and we must bring light to the text.
The only way to understand what this infamous verse is actually referring to, is to take a look at the context. It all begins with Luke 18:18 (ESV), "And a ruler asked Him, 'Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?'" From the very beginning of the story, we see a man of high status coming to Jesus to know how to be saved. This man's conscious is obviously convicting him. He knows he can't be saved unless a rabbi can direct him in the right direction. Now, what is interesting is what Jesus says next in Luke 18:19 (ESV), "'Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.'" Jesus is basically telling the ruler that He is more than just a man. Jesus is not just a teacher, but He is God. The ruler was being reminded that the only One who can show him how to be saved in such a time is the God Himself.
Jesus then further establishes this point by asking the ruler if he was able to keep the Law in Luke 18:20. What has always interested me though is why Jesus left out some commandments. He mentions commandment seven first (because it was considered to be the worst sin), commandment six next, commandment eight third, commandment nine afterwards, and lastly commandment five. What happened to commandments one, two, three, four, and ten? I think it was because Jesus knew that a rich ruler like that man would have to cheat in some area to get there. It seems pretty obvious that Jesus knew that the ruler didn't honor God, idolized riches, blasphemed God by loving money more, and was motivated by covetous greed. How do I know this?
The sad thing about all this, is that the Hebrews believed that if anyone had a real chance to get into Heaven, it would be the Pharisees and the rich rulers. The Pharisees were seen as God's keepers of the Law, and rich rulers were seen as people whom God favored. However, Jesus makes it clear that is not the case. He goes on to say in Luke 18:24-25 (ESV), "'How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the Kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God.'" Jesus couldn't have been more clear than that. Have you tried putting a camel through a sewing needle? That's how easy it is for a rich person to get into Heaven (by the way, if you have ever tried or succeeded to get a camel through, please contact us… we'd love to get your story).
Remember, Hebrews believed that rich people were guaranteed entry into Heaven. They were definitely startled when Jesus, the person they believe to be the greatest teacher of the Law, said to them that rich people had little to no chance of entering the Kingdom of Heaven. Luke 18:26 (ESV) then says, "Those who heard it said, 'Then who can be saved?'" People were thinking that if rich people couldn't get into Heaven, then no one could be saved. They were truly puzzled to that point as to whether or not someone had the slightest chance.
Then, Jesus utters the words from Luke 18:27 (ESV), "'What is impossible with man is possible with God.'" People thought it was impossible for anyone to be saved unless they were of high stature, a great member of society, or a possessor of great wealth. In essence, a person couldn't come to Heaven with rags. Jesus made it abundantly clear that people from every nation, every tongue, and every walk of life would have the chance to embrace God's message. A path to Heaven seemed impossible to man, but God made sure that it would be possible through the Way, that is Jesus Christ. That is why Jesus showed the folly of man, and His divinity in the first two verses of the story to show that through Him man would be able to find salvation.
Why many quote Luke 18:27 as if it is to do with some kind of vague motivation, I have no idea. When taking a closer read of the text, one can see that it had nothing to do with someone's dreams or wishes, but that it was about an inability to be saved. God Himself made a way for people to escape their sin, and also the punishment that comes with it. Death is not the end for a believer, whether rich or poor, but it is only the beginning of a Kingdom not likened to any other.
How grateful we should be! Jesus saved the least of the world, and many who thought they were unworthy. He came for the sick, He came for the poor, and He came for the helpless. Through Jesus Christ, my God, I was led to the impossible: salvation from my sin and from the gates of Hell.