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[BIO] | [BIBLIOGRAPHY] | [CONFESSIONS]
The Physics of Congregational Singing, Or Why I Go To Church
When I was a kid, especially in middle school, I used to love to sing. To myself. All the time. It was in junior high that my depression first manifested, tied with fears of inadequacy and failure – but the act of singing lifted my spirits, momentarily melting away whatever cares I had. Even when I graduated to high school, I still loved to sing. Until one day my mother said to me, "You have such an awful voice. I don't know why your voice is so hard to listen to; your father and I both have good voices."
It didn't happen immediately, but over time I sang less and less, becoming more and more self-conscious about it, and eventually stopped. The things I struggle with – perfectionism, fear of failure, fear of looking foolish – these are things that I know many of us struggle with to varying extents. And sometimes, unfortunately, these fears cause us to give up things that we actually enjoy doing.
For years, I avoided singing at all except for the obligatory "Happy Birthday", and even then I'd mumble along hoping others would pick up my slack. Better to not sing than to ruin the sound with my awful voice.
I stopped singing until the Fall of 2003. That's when I first stepped in to All Souls Church, Unitarian in DC and was so moved that I immediately committed to becoming a UU.
At first the hymns were painful. It'd been so long since I'd sung, and as y'all probably know, like everything else singing is a skill that requires practice. The less you do it, the worse you are at it. I could hear my weak voice wavering. I could feel as I ran out of breath before the end of a note. But something about doing this painful, potentially embarrassing thing in the context of a UU church made me want to persevere.
See, I had bought in – heart and soul – into the vision of the Beloved Community that All Souls preaches, the vision that Unitarian Universalism preaches, that UUSF preaches – come, with all your imperfections, your weaknesses, and still be embraced into community. The only thing that we ask in return is that you commit to creating this community with us.
So I sang, without fear of judgment, and without judging others. And lo and behold, together the congregation actually sounded pretty good. The All Souls Choir even recorded a CD that included the entire congregation on a couple of tracts.
There's a scientific explanation for why untrained people singing as a group sound better than untrained individuals. In physics, when two sound waves vibrate in the air at the same time they get "added" together. The parts of the two waves that are in sync with one another get amplified and the parts of the two waves that are out of sync get canceled out. (As an aside, that latter part is how noise canceling headphones work.) If instead of only two sound waves, we have multiple waves, the same thing happens to an even greater extent. When a person sings, especially an untrained person, there are usually fluctuations in the pitch. But with a whole group of people singing together, all our fluctuations happen more or less randomly and thus cancel out, whereas the good, on-pitch parts strengthen each other. The over all effect is that weaknesses are minimized and strengths are amplified.
I think that is a good metaphor for a congregation in general, not just while singing hymns.
Some of my unchurched, "free-range" friends sometimes ask me about my involvement with a congregation. "Why do you bother going to church?" It's a legitimate question. After all, I can hold the same UU values by myself, and be able to sleep in on Sundays, and not have all those committee meetings....
I go to church because it's in church that we actually get to practice living those values, knowing that we'll make mistakes. If there is any place in which it is safe to make mistakes, then church is it. (Or at least it should be.)
In community, all our fluctuations – our momentary lapses and bad days - happen more or less randomly and thus cancel out, whereas our good, on-pitch parts strengthen each other. Weaknesses are minimized and strengths are amplified.
I go to church because we have the potential to be better together than apart.
shaktinah's blog
Identity, Heritage, and Allyship
Race & Class
Thinking about Pope Francis' apology on Thursday for the Catholic Church's offenses against indigenous peoples, contrasted with the expectation that the pontiff will canonize Junipero Serra when he visits the US this September. The other big story in the news today is of course that South Carolina is removing the Confederate flag from its State House, but not before a long, heated debate in which defenders of the flag appealed to history and heritage. Gov Jindal of Louisiana supposedly even weighed in, claiming the Confederate flag as part of his own heritage (but it turns out the story is not true).
Many on the Left, including some friends, jeered Jindal for those supposed remarks. Likely they saw it as another example of him trying to erase his color and pass as white. Given other things he's done and said, I can understand why folks felt that way (and why so many of us believed the story), but I also thought I understood the sentiment. While my parents are from China, I grew up in California and identify as a Californian - Californian heritage is part of my heritage. So while Jindal's parents are from India, I could see him feeling that Southern heritage is part of his heritage. Just because Jindal is of South Asian descent doesn't mean that he can't identify as a Southerner – to argue otherwise is to argue that Asians cannot truly be "American" even if we grew up here; it's to suggest that we are perpetually "foreign." I invite my left-leaning friends who ridiculed the supposed remark to think about that.
Why am I talking about this in connection with the Pope and what the Catholic Church has done to indigenous peoples? Because as a Californian, I grew up being taught to revere Junipero Serra, the founder of the 21 Spanish missions that run up the length of our coast. We learned about him in history class. There is a prominent roadway named after him that my family frequently uses. He remains one of two Californians honored in the US Capitol Building. For better and for worse, the state that I love is in large part the result of his actions. So the first time I heard indigenous activists protest the beatification of Junipero Serra, I was deeply torn. Two parts of my identity were in conflict with each other. It isn't that I supported the enslavement and genocide of Native Americans under Serra - it's that I perceived him to be part of the heritage of my state, and thus part of my identity.
The knee-jerk reaction would have been to defend "Father Serra" (as I'd grown up hearing him called), to make excuses for him. Thankfully, I did not go with the knee-jerk reaction, and instead bit my tongue and sat with the internal conflict. Faithful ally to Native Americans versus proud Californian. I wanted to be both.
Of course, the world does not revolve around what I want. While Gov Jindal may not have actually claimed the Confederate flag as part of his heritage, many people have done so this week. They wanted to maintain a symbol of their identity despite the pain that it causes others. And to them, SC Rep Jenny Hornes had this response:
"I'm sorry. I have heard enough about heritage. I have a heritage. I am a lifelong South Carolinian. I am a descendant of Jefferson Davis, okay? But that does not matter. It's not about Jenny Horne. It's about the people of South Carolina who have demanded that this symbol of hate come off the statehouse grounds."
Being an ally means recognizing that it's not just about you and what you want.
When confronted with the horrors of history – whether that of state, region, or country - one approach adopted by many progressives is to try to completely disavow themselves of the history/heritage. To say, "That's not my history. I had nothing to do with that." This is particularly easy for those of us who are not white to do, especially if our families came to America more recently. But it strikes me as overly simplistic and not entirely honest. Unless all your ancestors are indigenous to this land, you are here because of that history. (I recognize that many ancestors were forced to come to this land.) My ancestors did not participate in the enslavement and genocide that built this country, but they could not have immigrated here without it. If Junipero Serra had not done what he did, it is highly unlikely that my family would own a home in San Francisco right now. Highly unlikely. I don't think being a good ally to Native Americans means pretending that we don't have the privileges that we clearly do have. So... I can't control what others do, but to me it feels disingenuous to simply say that California history is not my history. It is.
And of course, one doesn't have to actually choose between being a good ally for racial justice and being a Californian (or USAmerican). I bet that at least some of the Native Americans protesting Serra's canonization also identify as Californians. What was required was that I rethink the story inherited from school and our state culture. I didn't have to accept the story that I inherited – painting Junipero Serra in rosy, fatherly light - in order to be a Californian. There are other, more multi-faceted ways to tell our state story. Ways that honor all our voices and experiences. We can recognize that Junipero Serra was integral to the history of what is California and at the same time recognize that he is not who we want to lift up as an example for others to follow. He is not the best of who we can be. And after all, isn't that what a saint is supposed to be?
When I read this morning that Pope Francis apologized for things the Catholic Church had done against indigenous peoples, my first reaction was to think, "If he's sincere, then he won't canonize Junipero Serra." And I am still a proud Californian.
There Is Always A Reckoning
The theme for this second week of Commit2Respond's Climate Justice Month is reckoning. Reckoning, as in being held accountable. Each time as I've read the word I think of another, karma. Not karma as it is popularly known in the West – a system of punishment and reward meted out for good and bad behavior respectively – but karma as I learned it from the Dharmic perspective – the consequences of one's actions. Karma is as natural and as inescapable as Newtonian laws (at the macro level). For every action, there is a reaction. For every action, there is karma, which is the consequences of action.
Karma is the ultimate accountability. Sooner or later, the consequences of our actions must be faced. There is no supernatural exemption, no way out of a mess except through.
This is in stark contrast to the traditional Christian view of sin and salvation, in which we are born guilty (of original sin) even before we've done anything, and yet we can escape the consequences of our guilt (even extreme guilt) via the sacrifice of another. This second week of Climate Justice Month also coincides with Holy Week in the (Western) Christian tradition. Today, Good Friday, we remember that Jesus was brutally tortured to death. Whether one believes that the ultimate cause was the Roman empire squashing an insurrection or a wrathful God demanding appeasement, Jesus too faced consequences for past actions.
The traditional (Protestant) Christian view is that because Jesus died for you, you do not have to face what would otherwise be the consequences of your sins. Even though many people have since rejected the theology, I think that a version of it continues to permeate the Western world. That is, people widely hold the belief that it's possible to avoid the consequences of actions, even if they no longer believe in God(s). Somehow, no matter how dire the situation seems to be, there can be some seemingly miraculous way out, such that we don't have to make a sacrifice ourselves. Our movies feed us this message over and over again. A supporting character takes the bullet for the main protagonist so that the latter can drive off into the sunset. Advertisements perpetuate the same message. A diet pill where "the pounds just melt off" rather than us having to exercise. Is it any wonder that we hope, somehow science will find ways to magically sequester carbon, or generate unlimited energy, or take us to another planet? We hope that something will save us so that we won't have to do it ourselves, won't have to change our ways. Indeed, the task of addressing climate change seems too big, too daunting to accomplish ourselves. And thus even in the undeniable face of the urgent need to act, we continue as we've been doing, simultaneously feeling hopeless and clinging to hope for miraculous salvation.
In the Buddhist view, however, there can be no miraculous salvation because there is karma, the consequences of our actions. There may be seeming temporary reprieves, but such measures only delay the inevitable. For example, finding a new place to dump garbage doesn't clean up the previous place; it only means there is now one more polluted place that we'll eventually have to clean. The use of extreme forms of fossil fuels - mountaintop removal coal, deep sea oil, fracked gas, tar sands oil - may seem like a reprieve from having to find alternative, renewable forms energy, but all these practices wreak even greater ecological havoc that we will have to address. Putting coal-burning plants in poorer neighborhoods and communities of color may seem like a way for those of us who are not living in those areas to avoid the consequences, but eventually they catch up with all of us, as they are doing now, AND we'll also have to make amends for systemic racism and classism.
We have cut down and burned forests that would clean our air. We have sent tons of CO2 and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. We have filled the seas with oil spills, and the rivers with mountaintop debris. Our glaciers are melting. Our seas are rising. And weather patterns that we've relied on for millennia and built our civilizations around have drastically changed. Our collective karma has caught up with us ad we are in the reckoning. There is no way out of our situation except through it.
The good news, however, is that karma goes both ways. If we dug the hole we're currently in, we can also climb back out and fill it in. Our salvation, our liberation, is in our own hands, by our actions. And just as it was possible for us to do something as big as change the climate of our Earth, it's just as possible to do something as big as to repair it. "Drop by drop is the water pot filled." But it will require different action on our part.
California Water Policies Show Priorities
The headline screamed across the page: "NASA Scientist Predicts California Has One Year of Water Left!" Famiglietti later said he was misquoted and that he was talking about our reservoirs, only part of our overall water supply. But it doesn't take a NASA scientist to know that, four years into record drought, California is in bad shape. The before and after pictures of lakes and snow caps show a state that is drying up.
Given the urgent need for effective action, it was alarming to see the online comments in response to the article. People blamed green lawns, swimming pools, and ultimately overpopulation. This thinking mirrors the messages from our state officials: don't water your lawn, take shorter showers, put a brick in your toilet tank. While I am entirely in favor of xeriscaping and other personal practices that lessen our impact on Mother Earth, the reality is that it isn't the number of residents nor our "water-wasteful ways" that are taxing California resources. Estimates vary widely yet still tell a similar story:
Depending on whom you believe, between 6-14% of California's water goes to residential use. All the toilets, showers, bathtubs, washing machines, dishwashers, lawns, and yes, even swimming pools, in residential properties amounts to about 10% of total water use.
Depending on whom you believe, between 40-85% of California's water goes to agriculture. (Most estimates say about 80%.) Just the amount of water needed for the miles of almond orchards alone is the same as domestic water use for the state's entire 38.8 million residents. Residents are fined $500 for over-watering lawns but corporate farmers are not required to use the most water-efficient irrigation techniques.
Despite dire drought, California continues to allow fracking, which uses billions of gallons of water per year. But that isn't the only strain that fracking poses on California's water supply. Once the water has been used and irreversibly contaminated with chemicals and heavy metals, it's disposed of underground, where it has contaminated potable ground water.
Despite dire drought, California continues to allow private companies to bottle our water and sell it for their profit. While residential water use is increasingly monitored, companies like Nestlé, under its Arrowhead and Pure Life brands, extract water without any regulation from local agencies.
California's water crisis is so severe that Gov Brown declared a state of emergency last year and recently signed a $1 billion emergency spending bill to address the situation. But if you look at the bill, it leaves corporate interests intact while putting ever more pressure on residential "water wasters." Telling residents, who collectively comprise just 10% of our annual water usage that we need to cut back, while placing no restrictions on corporate interests that make up more than 80% of water usage does not make sense.
Some might argue that we need to support farms because of the economy and jobs. However, Gov Brown supports diverting essential water from the smaller, family-owned farms and fisheries of the Sacramento River Delta in order to bolster the larger, corporate-owned farms of the Central Valley. These same corporate farms use chemical pesticides that have poisoned the local water supplies of the people who live near and work for them.
Some might argue that we need to allow fracking for the oil and for jobs. However, federal officials have cut their estimate of the amount of recoverable oil in the Monterey Shale deposits by 96%. (That's right, less than 1/20th of original estimates.) Yet we would poison precious water so that fossil fuel companies can squeeze out what little profits they can.
One can only conclude that despite the urgent need for change, state officials continue to favor the profits of corporations over the best interests of the people. And in that respect, what is happening in California is instructive to the rest of the country.
On a spiritual level, these policies also hint at the pervasive, destructive belief that humans are somehow inherently bad for the environment (ie - "overpopulation", "too many of us"). This forces us into a false choice between caring for our own welfare and that of our Earth and sibling species. (No wonder so many people decide not to care!) In reality, the problems caused by bad environmental policies could be remedied if we had the will to change.
Do not accept the lie that it's California residents who are responsible for the water crisis. Do not let corporate interests off the hook. Please sign one, two or all of the following petitions:
Tell Gov Brown to Stop the Delta Tunnels
Demand a Moratorium on Fracking
Demand Nestlé Stop Bottling California's Water
Awe in Response to Beauty
Interdependency
A friend posted this video on Facebook this morning and one of his friends explained that it was created by a Russian missile gone awry. (Soyuz-u vehicle Oct 15, 2009) Watching it, two things came to mind:
1. Wednesday evening I attended the second in a three-week course on Process Theology at UUSF, taught by Rev John Buehrens. At one point, Rev. Buehrens explained how Alfred Whitehead felt that Western philosophy with its emphasis on "Truth" had veered too intellectual, and thus Whitehead tried to bring us back by focusing on aesthetics, our sense of awe in response to encountering Beauty. The thing that engenders humilty and recognition that there is something bigger than us.
2. Years ago I was talking with a young man sitting next to me on an airplane, and he said that nothing human-made was beautiful, that he only recognized beauty in "natural" things. I asked him whether he'd ever seen the view of Los Angeles (which we were flying into) at night from the top of Mulholland Drive. He repeated more adamantly that nothing human-made could ever be beautiful. And I wondered how strong one's ideology had to be in order to not see beauty in the view from Mulholland Drive at night.
You can't get more human-made than a missile. All metal and electronics and explosives, its very purpose is ugly, to kill. If you asked me before I saw this video whether a missile could ever be beautiful, I probably would have said 'No.' Yet here is this mesmerizingly beautiful video. (Which is not to say that it might not also have created some real ugliness at the same time.) And I am watching the video via a laptop connected to the internet. More human-made metal, plastic, and electronics. And it's still beautiful.
One of the main points that I see in process theology (or process thought) is that humans are not separate from the rest of existence. We are part of the interdependent web, impacting it and being impacted by it, no different than any other part. Together - all the parts of the web together - we co-create reality. So if nature creates beauty, then how can humans who are an integral part of nature not also create beauty? (And ugliness and everything in between.) To claim otherwise is to set humans apart from nature. It's to claim a special, exalted place, even if we claim that all we do is ugly and harmful. Ironically, true humility recognizes both the "good" and "bad", both the beauty and the ugliness.
Color-Blind
Below are the reflections I shared with First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco for MLK Sunday service, 2015. As worship associate, it was my task to speak (about race) from personal experience, not to preach about systemic injustices perpetuated against others. So that's what I did. (Image from empathyeducates.org.)
When I was a teenager, I was much smarter than I am now, judging by how much I thought I knew. All the social problems that grownups seemed unable to remedy... I thought I knew the solutions. One of those seemingly intractable problems was racism. Racism, or so I thought, was treating people badly based on inherited differences in physical traits, the color of their skin, the texture of their hair, the shape of their eyes... So the solution seemed obvious to me. Encourage people to be color-blind, to not see race. Eventually, we'd all interbreed, race would disappear, and so would racism. Problem solved.
I should mention that I grew up here in San Francisco. And while I had a few experiences of being verbally and even physically harassed over race, in general, I grew up relatively sheltered, which is what my parents had worked hard for. As I moved into academia in young adulthood, that degree of shelter only increased. In grad school at Caltech where half of the graduate students were foreign born and people tended to be pretty liberal, it was so rare to experience overt bigotry that on the few occasions that it happened I could brush it off as personal ignorance, which it is. My friends (who were mainly white) treated me just like them, which is what I wanted. Or so I thought.
But every now and then, something would happen that would disturb the cocoon around me. I remember when Michael Chang came on the scene as a professional tennis player. I was so excited, until one of my classmates chided me for celebrating Chang's success because of his race. After all, if we're colorblind, I'm not supposed to have noticed that as I was growing up there had been no one who looked like me succeeding in sports. There was the time I tried to explain to my boyfriend how my parents would argue with friends over who would "get to pay" the restaurant bill, except the argument was scripted and they would take turns "losing." He incredulously accused my parents of being dishonest because they didn't mean what they actually said. I knew he was being unfair but couldn't explain why. After all, if we're color-blind, then everyone should conform to the same cultural norms, "our norms", and white American culture values direct communication. And I remember the night a distressed friend confided in me about the argument he'd just had with his girlfriend. He'd been detained by police who were looking for a robbery suspect, the only feature they shared being they were both young Black men. His girlfriend thought he was making a big deal over nothing, and my friend, who'd immersed himself in white liberal circles just as I had, needed to know that someone else saw things his way. I did, but again couldn't explain why. And neither could he. So we sat confused together. After all, if we're "color-blind," then the only racism we can recognize is overt racial bigotry. We can't point to social patterns based on race since we're not supposed to be looking for them. (And if you do point to them, you get accused of being racist.)
Yet even if we're not looking for patterns, our minds notice them anyway, IF we directly experience them.
In my sheltered world, the incidents of overt racial bigotry were few and far between, but I (and folks like me) were continually hurt nonetheless, not by bigots but by our friends. People who espouse liberal values and sincerely try to treat all people the same. I finally had to admit that the color-blind approach, frankly, sucks. Instead of solving racism, it perpetuates it, because it takes away the ability recognize diversity, and privilege.
The theme for this month is reconciliation, and in honor of Dr. King, the focus this week is on racial reconciliation. Usually, when we speak of reconciliation, we think of a positive outcome. But as I thought and thought about what I might share with y'all today, I could think of no happy ending with respect to race. Of course there has been progress, and I believe as Rev. King did that our universe ultimately bends towards justice. But with prisons and morgues full of black and brown bodies put there by our "justice" system, the only racial reconciliation that I can genuinely speak to is internal, between me and race itself. I once was blind but now I see.
UUism and Social Justice: Don't Make Me Choose
This morning UU World announced that the sale of mineral rights, donated over two decades ago by a generous Texas couple, will net the UUA close to a million dollars, and that money will allow the UUA to close its large budget deficit without borrowing from the Endowment. I read the news with ambivalence. On the one hand, there is the generosity of the Carpenters, which shines through in the article. And it is a great relief to not have to dip into the Endowment. Otoh, selling mineral rights that allow companies to drill for oil means more carbon that is taken out of the ground and burned into the atmosphere, accelerating global warming. Moreover, such drilling always comes with other ecological damage - pollution of the land and water. These things directly contradict our values and numerous social witness statements that we've passed in recent years about moving away from the use of fossil fuels, combatting global warming/climate change, and care for the interdependent web of all existence. The UUA supported civil disobedience at the White House to stop approval of the Keystone XL pipeline in 2011 and more recently supported the People's Climate March in NYC this past Septemeber. What's most puzzling is that this obvious conflict wasn't even mentioned in the article.
(Perhaps it should not be surprising since previous decisions such as the sale of 25 Beacon and the redesign of the UUA logo were announced similarly - with onesided positivity and no acknowledgement that some folks might find the decision troubling.)
I could go further into how the sale of mineral rights allowing oil companies to drill is so problematic and at odds with our stated values, and perhaps if necessary I will at a later time, but the thing that motivated me to write today is this: Every time the UUA does something controversial the same general pattern of conversation occurs. Party A points out that that there is something wrong with the action. Party B criticizes party A for being critical, suggesting that party A is (pick one or all of the following) judgemental, ungrateful, lacking joy, unwelcoming, making a mountain out of a molehill, and "no wonder we can't grow."
It doesn't matter what the issue is, whether it's a moral/justice issue or something to do with internal organization, this pattern happens within our UU community. And I've already seen this pattern emerge within the conversation/comments following the UU World post.
There is some truth to the claim that we make mountains out of molehills. For example, the mini firestorms that erupted when someone created "Standing on the Side of Love" stoles and clergy shirts. And I totally recognize that it's hurtful to start one's objections off by attacking fellow UUs who are trying to do something for the community, no matter how vehemently we may disagree with their actions. Assumption of good faith needs to be the foundation of our conversations with each other. There are ways to point out how an action is problematic while still honoring the inherent worth of all parties involved, and as people in religious community we should always remember that.
That said, it is irksome to read statements suggesting that any kind of disagreement is unwelcome and/or that such criticisms are the reason why our congregations are lacking joy and no one wants to join us. The implication being that we should never offer critique, no matter how tactfully stated, no matter how important the issue, if we want Unitarian Universalsim to be vibrant and growing, even if the criticism is that we are violating our stated values, as is the case here. First of all, let me say that I don't believe that's true - I don't believe we have to choose between critique and healthy, happy congregations. That is a false choice. Secondly, even if it were true (which it's not) that one has to choose between pointing out how an action does not align with our values and growing Unitarian Universalism, I will choose the values. Every time. If we don't live by our values, then I don't care if we don't grow.
That last sentence should not even be considered a controversial statement. It really shouldn't. So finally the reason for this post: Growth for its own sake is not inherently good. Unitarian Universalism for its own sake is not inherently good. These things are good only in so far as they promote the greater good, for humankind, for our sibling sentient beings, for our Mother Earth.
There are so many admonitions within Buddhist traditions about confusing the vehicle for the destination. Zen warns us to not mistake the finger pointing at the moon for the moon itself. The Buddha warned us not to hold tightly to rafts that might have safely carried us across waters but then become burdensome to carry on dry land. The point is that we need to always be aware of what the true goal is and what are just vehicles that can carry us to that goal. For me, the goal is the Beloved Community, or as my family's Buddhist tradition would put it, the Pure Land. The Land where systemic oppression does not exist, exploitation of the Earth and her children (both human and otherwise) does not exist, where beings are unencumbered by the suffering caused by injustice and thus can reach their fullest potentials, whatever those potentials might be. That is the goal (for me). Unitarian Universalism is a vehicle to help us reach that goal. A worthy vehicle that I love, filled with people whom I love, but still just a vehicle. (The Buddha said the same thing of Buddhism, urging us to even let go of his teachings if they get in the way.) I believe that Unitarian Universalism can help us reach the Pure Land, which is why I am a UU. And despite occassional missteps, I have faith that we will eventually always do the right thing. But if it comes down to having to choose between UUism and a just, sustainable world where our Earth and her inhabitants are not exploited for profit, then yes, I choose the latter. I would hope that after careful consideration, no UU would ever really demand such a choice.
Emptiness and Social Policy
The last time I was in DC, my friend Michael Roehm observed to me that UUs spend a lot of time talking about interdependency, but we don't spend much time thinking about emptiness (both are concepts in Buddhism, and related to each other, kinda like infinity and zero). I have been reminded repeatedly of the truth of his words ever since then, including today.
This afternoon I was listening to NPR about the disproportionate expulsions of Black and Latino students from schools, and the (misguided) reasoning behind it being that if you remove the "bad" kids, that will make it easier for the "good" kids to learn. (The article used those words, "bad" and "good," so I am using them too.) Obviously racism is the primary driving force; how else to explain why black and brown students are thought of as "bad" for committing the same kind of infractions as white students. But in along side the racism is this belief that people are inherently something. Inherently good. Inherently bad... Our social policies are based on this belief. Hence, we focus on getting rid of the "bad" people, whether by expelling students or locking up prisoners with no attempt at rehabilitation. (And we let "good" people off the hook with no accountability even when they do decidedly bad things, because, well, they are inherently "good" so the fact that they did something bad was just a temporary glitch, an exceptional circumstance.) If, instead of thinking of people as inherently "good" or "bad," we focused on emptiness, then we'd see that people reflect back what they experience. In that case, our social policy would change from that of trying to separate out and eliminate the "bad" to that of trying to create the conditions and causes that lead people to behave in more beneficial ways.
On Logos and Symbols, and Marketing Our Faith
It's been about a week now since the UUA announced its new logo, resulting in many opinions shared and some hurt feelings. I've questioned whether the UU universe needs yet another blog post on the matter, but it's been a week and I am realizing that regardless of the answer to that question, I need to share one.
While I worked for the Unitarian Universalist Association I was constantly surprised that proposed initiatives were so often met with assumptions of ill-will, mockery and ridicule. People seem to forget that the UUA is made up of people, mostly fellow Unitarian Universalists, who work in earnestness for the benefit of our faith community and the larger world. At the time, the explanation that made the most sense was that our UU anti-authoritarian tendencies cause us to react reflexively to any new initiatives with suspicion and hostility.
Now, on the outside for over a year, I also realize how often one can feel blindsided by UUA decisions, and how hard it is to not react in frustration. Obviously, the administration has to make decisions and not every decision can be discussed and voted upon – that is part of leadership. But when these changes are announced in language that suggests that the only possible emotions are excitement and joy, and when many of us don't necessarily feel that way about it, the explanation that makes the most sense is that the UUA is "out of touch."
Thus, when the UUA announced a new chalice last week, familiar patterns arose. Many who dislike the new chalice dismissively accused the administration (and by extension the staff) of lacking vision. Analogies such as "rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic" spoke to that effect. And those who like the new chalice in turn dismissively accused critics of being resistant to change (ie – standing in the way of progress) and being hostile to leadership. Both of these types of responses absolve us of having to actually listen to the viewpoints of those with whom we disagree, because we think we already have an "explanation" for the positions they hold. Of course it is not true that the administration lacks vision. It clearly has a vision and is acting on it. That vision just may be different from our own. Nor is it true that everyone who is upset by the new chalice is resistant to change and/or leadership. No one dislikes change in and of itself; what we dislike is change we don't agree with. Similarly, it's much easier to follow leadership when we agree with the direction it's heading; much harder to follow when it's not. So can we, on both sides, skip these particular kinds of comments and arguments.
One of the main lines of disagreement centers around whether the UUA chalice is a religious symbol or an organizational logo. If it's an organizational logo, then it stands to reason, why shouldn't it be updated every few years? And why shouldn't a marketing firm be hired to design it? And why would the UUA need to confer with UUs about changing the UUA's logo? Indeed, several people have pointed to the fact that other denominations such as the UCC, the UMC (Methodists), and the PCUSA (Presbyterians) all have their own organizational logos that get updated from time to time. They may incorporate versions of, yet are distinct from the Christian cross itself, which has remained a pretty constant symbol for Christianity.
The problem with that argument is that while the distinction between organizational logo and religious symbol works for other religious denominations, that line is blurred in Unitarian Universalsim for a number of reasons. For one thing, unlike Christianity, there aren't several denominations of Unitarian Universalists in the same country. Thus, functionally speaking the UUA is seen as the official voice of UUism in the U.S. Second, the UUA itself blurs that distinction in its own messaging. Look at this image taken from the front page of UUA.org. It uses the symbols for Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Wicca, and in the center is the (old) logo for the UUA. So even the UUA uses its logo as the symbol for UUism. (Would the UCC or PCUSA use their own organizational logos to represent all of Christianity?) Lastly, even though we're told that this is the UUA's logo and congregations don't have to use it, clearly the hope is that congregations will. In fact, the success of the initiative depends in large part upon them doing so, for it would be very confusing to visitors if the UUA were "branding" Unitarian Universalism with its new chalice and yet UU congregations refused to use it. Functionally speaking, the distinction between corporate logo and religious symbol doesn't much exist in UUism.
So my initial reaction to the new UUA chalice, without even taking into account whether I "like" it or not, was to ask whether we would be getting a new one with each administration from now on. I have no doubt that the current administration thinks this new chalice as a vast improvement over the old, and I may even agree so far as corporate "logos" go. Regardless, it's distressing to see the image used to represent my faith to the wider world replaced about every eight years with each new administration. And from the looks of things that's where we're headed. I'm sure that the current administration thinks the new chalice will serve us well for a long time. But I'm equally sure that's what the previous administration thought too. Even if you point to the effectiveness of the iconic Apple or Nike logos in terms of "name brand recognition," a large part of that is due to their having remained unchanged over the decades regardless of who is the CEO.
My second reaction to the new UUA chalice and particularly the language used to announce it was that the UUA and I are 180 degrees apart in how we view our shared faith. Let me be clear here that this complaint is not only with the current administration but with the last one as well – the latest "new logo" just brought up these issues once again. And it is nothing personal against either administration – I continue to respect both for other ways in which they've led us. Yet the very idea of hiring "a top-notch branding agency" to create a sleek new logo to attract new members, and proudly announcing it as if it was clearly the right thing to do, shakes my confidence in the Association's leadership. (I do not say that lightly; in fact I've wrestled for over a week on whether to say it at all.)
Let us look at the worldview and assumptions that we buy into when we talk about "branding" our faith and when we compare the most publicly recognizable version of our chalice with corporate logos such as McDonald's golden arches. The purpose of so-called "brand recognition" is to create a "story" that is associated with an easily recognizable image (the logo) so that when folks see that logo they automatically associate it with a certain feeling they get from the stories told about the product (advertising). All of which is to convince consumers that one type of sneaker or fast food is cooler than another kind of sneaker or fast food, when really there isn't that much substantive difference between the products. When we approach denominational growth with a marketing mentality, what we're saying is that: 1) Our religion is a "product" to be bought and consumed; 2) We think of potential Unitarian Universalists as consumers; and 2) Our product is really no better than any other product but we're hoping you'll be swayed by our marketing.
Not only do I disagree with all those assumptions with regards to our faith, but I reject the underlying mindset. Such a mindset reduces everything, even our highest aspirations, to a commodity to be bought and/or consumed. It views humans as consumers rather than co-creators. In my view, the dominance of capitalism and the destruction it causes underlie many of our most important social justice issues, including environmentalism, immigration, sexism, and racial and economic justice. These are the things that we as a progressive faith community have been trying to engage in active resistance against. And yet we use this same type of thinking in our efforts to bring new people to our cause.
Some people have asked: What is the difference between evangelism and marketing? (And don't we want to evangelize?) I hope from the previous paragraphs that the differences are obvious. The original idea of evangelism was to "spread the good news." The idea being that we actually have a "good news" to share, and that if we share it other people will recognize it as such and join us. I'm certainly not averse to that. But the most effective way to evangelize has always been by visibly living our values in the world, not by talking at people about what we think we stand for. Thus our Unitarian forbear William Ellery Channing said, "May your life preach more loudly than your lips."
As I said above, this complaint is not new. I hated the previous "new logo" as well as the "Uncommon Denomination" campaign. But I was never prouder to be a UU than when the UUA took out an ad after the Knoxville shootings announcing "Our doors and our hearts will remain open." The former is us telling folks how different (ie – special) we think we are. The latter is us demonstrating how we live in this world. Obviously, we do not wish for any more attacks against our churches, but there are any number of ways in which we can show who we are. I have never – not once, ever – met someone who said that they joined a religion because the logo caught their attention. But I have repeatedly heard folks say that they joined a particular congregation because they saw its members marching in a Gay Pride parade, and that's when they knew it shared their values. Or joined because the UU minister happily officiated over their interfaith wedding, and that's when they knew they'd be welcome. Or joined because the UU church hosted a local jazz concert for the wider community, and that's how UUism first picqued their interest.
Ironically, the new campaign of which the logo is a part is supposedly geared towards the Millennial generation. I'm not of that generation, but everything that I've read and personally seen says that the current generation, on the whole, is distrustful of advertising/marketing and relies on word of mouth from their peers. (Witness the popularity of sites like of Yelp.) Everything I've read and seen says that as a whole today's young adults are distrustful of top-down, hierarchical initiatives and value grassroots movements that spring up from local needs. Ironically, this is the very thing that our congregations (and other types of UU groups) should be good at – responding to the particular needs of the communities in which they exist, openly as people of faith. This is the kind of thing that the Standing on the Side of Love campaign was designed to help congregations do, and not-for-nothing that it's been one of our most successful campaigns.
The Kitchen God and Grace
Taoism/Shintoism
Today is the fourth day of the first lunar month, the day that Zao Jun the Kitchen God returns from heaven. In Chinese tradition Zao Jun the Kitchen God hangs out in the kitchen of each home, because the kitchen is the heart of the home where all the juiciest gossip can be overheard. There he observes the family's good and bad doings throughout the year, with the faithful help of his wife who records them. Ten days ago, a week before the New Year, Zao Jun ascended to heaven to file his report with the Jade Emperor. Before his departure (via burning of his effigy) his lips were smeared with honey. Some say that the honey is a bribe. Some say that it sticks his mouth shut. Either way, the hope is that only sweet things about the family make it to the Jade Emperor's ears. Now, ten days later, Zao Jun returns. Each year I wonder, what about the ten days while he is gone? Are they a time when folks can do whatever they want? Or does the Kitchen God's wife keep an eye on things in his absence?
Funny story about how Zao Jun the Kitchen God got his job. He was not always a god. Once he was a human being named Zhang Lang. He was a handsome and wealthy man and rather full of himself. Zhang Lang was married to a devoted wife. In typical Chinese patriarchal fashion, even though people praise her for her virtue no one ever bothered to record her name. But she was dutiful, we know that. Nonetheless, Zhang Lang's roaming eyes landed on a pretty, younger woman from whom he left his dutiful wife. As punishment, the gods struck him blind, and the younger woman left him. Zhang Lang was reduced to begging door to door. One day he happened to knock on the door of his abandoned wife; only he didn't realize it was her because he was blind. She, on the other hand, recognized him immediately and saw his condition. Taking pity, she invited him in and fed him. Warmed by the roaring kitchen fire and with a belly full of food, Zhang Lang began to relate his story, tearfully regretting the poor choices that he had made. When his wife heard his remorse she said, "Zhang Lang, open your eyes. I am your wife whom you wronged, and I forgive you." At that moment, Zhang Lang opened his eyes and he could see again. He saw that it was his wife, whom he had abandoned, who was his benefactor. And he was overcome with shame. Unable to face her, he flung himself into the kitchen fire and perished.
As the story goes, the gods took pity on him and made him into the Kitchen God, with his (again unnamed) wife as his aid. Together again, forever. I'm not entirely sure that this was a mercy though... always having to listen to the petty foibles of families, year after year, being smeared with honey and then burned, only to return and do it all over again. And his poor wife – what did she do to deserve her fate? Secretary to the man who twice did her wrong due to his pride. Yes, I said twice. Once, when he left her for the younger woman. And once again, when he could not accept her forgiveness and instead punished himself, and her by extension. Zhang Lang felt shame. And shame comes from pride, not humility. Shame comes when you are caught not being as great as you think you are. If Zhang Lang had truly learned his lesson he would have gratefully accepted his wife's forgiveness.
But I am not writing this to condemn Zao Jun the Kitchen God. I'm writing this because I know how he feels. I too have felt shame for hurting others with my bad behavior. And I too have been unable to accept forgiveness. In fact, I remember once telling my minister that I knew that God loved me because I could feel that love, but I could not accept it. I did not feel worthy. That may on surface sound humble but talk about arrogance! It is arrogant to think that you are the one who can decide. Forgiveness, like love, isn't based on merit, and you can neither decide that you deserve it nor decide that you don't. Forgiveness is a gift, a blessing, grace. I know that, I do, and yet at times there is part of me just can't let go. So pity poor Zao Jun.
Maybe the Kitchen God is doing penance even now. Caught in a purgatory of sorts in which he'll stay, condemned to be burned again every year, until he learns true humility and accepts his wife's forgiveness. Maybe the Kitchen God's wife isn't his secretary, but rather just patiently waiting for that day to come.
Kenyan Prayer
From the cowardice that dare not face new truth, from the laziness that is contented with half truth, from the arrogance that thinks it knows all truth, good Lord, deliver us.
Read more about Kenyan Prayer


With Bluegrass roots to branches of Rock 'n Roll, Americana and folk music, signer songwriter Cameron Nickerson, incorporates a mixture of it all.
A life-long music career from bands like The Rockabillys, sharing the stage with The Stanfields and The Sheepdogs, this is Cameron's first ride on the solo train.
‹ Happy McInternational Women's Day from Hot Country 1035!


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Older Adults in Households and e-Government services in Saudi Arabia, Hail City: : A digital Divide Study of Adoption, Use and Diffusion.
dc.identifier.citation Choudrie , J & Alfalah , A 2016 , Older Adults in Households and e-Government services in Saudi Arabia, Hail City: A digital Divide Study of Adoption, Use and Diffusion. in Pacific Asia Conference of Information Systems (PACIS) Proceedings : "IT Governance for Future Society." . association of information systems , The Pacific Asia Conference on Information Systems (PACIS) 2016 , Chiayi , Taiwan, Province of China , 27/06/16 .
dc.description Jyoti Choudrie, and Adel Alfalah, 'Older Adults in Households and e-Government services in Saudi Arabia, Hail City: A digital Divide Study of Adoption, Use and Diffusion', in Proceedings of the Pacific Asia Conference on Information Systems (PACIS) 2016: IT Governance for Future Society, ISBN: 9789860491029. Published by AIS Electronic Library, http://aisel.aisnet.org/pacis2016/.


The abbreviation of the journal title "Christian Legal Society quarterly" is "Christ. Leg. Soc. Q.". It is the recommended abbreviation to be used for abstracting, indexing and referencing purposes and meets all criteria of the ISO 4 standard for abbreviating names of scientific journals.


text:
package ch.chuv.lren.woken.backends

import akka.actor.ActorSystem
import akka.http.scaladsl.Http
import akka.http.scaladsl.marshallers.sprayjson.SprayJsonSupport
import akka.http.scaladsl.marshalling.Marshal
import akka.http.scaladsl.model._
import akka.http.scaladsl.model.headers.{ Authorization, BasicHttpCredentials, Host }
import akka.http.scaladsl.unmarshalling.Unmarshal
import akka.stream.ActorMaterializer
import cats.Id
import cats.effect.Effect
import ch.chuv.lren.woken.backends.faas.chronos.ChronosJobLiveliness
import spray.json.DefaultJsonProtocol
import ch.chuv.lren.woken.backends.faas.chronos.ChronosJob
import ch.chuv.lren.woken.messages.query.{ ExperimentQuery, MiningQuery, QueryResult }
import ch.chuv.lren.woken.messages.query.queryProtocol._
import ch.chuv.lren.woken.messages.remoting.RemoteLocation
import com.softwaremill.sttp.SttpBackend
import com.softwaremill.sttp.asynchttpclient.cats.AsyncHttpClientCatsBackend
import com.typesafe.scalalogging.LazyLogging
import sup.{ HealthCheck, mods }
import sup.modules.sttp._
import com.softwaremill.sttp.{ sttp => request, Uri => _, _ }

import scala.concurrent.{ ExecutionContextExecutor, Future }
import scala.language.higherKinds

object HttpClient extends DefaultJsonProtocol with SprayJsonSupport with LazyLogging {

  def sendReceive(request: HttpRequest)(implicit actorSystem: ActorSystem): Future[HttpResponse] =
    Http().singleRequest(request)

  def Delete(url: String): HttpRequest = HttpRequest(
    method = HttpMethods.DELETE,
    uri = url
  )

  def Get(location: RemoteLocation): HttpRequest = {
    val request = HttpRequest(
      method = HttpMethods.GET,
      uri = location.url
    ).addHeader(Host(location.url.authority.host.address(), location.url.authority.port))

    location.credentials.foldLeft(request)(
      (r, creds) => r.addHeader(Authorization(BasicHttpCredentials(creds.user, creds.password)))
    )
  }

  def Get(url: String): HttpRequest = Get(Uri(url))

  def Get(url: Uri): HttpRequest =
    HttpRequest(
      method = HttpMethods.GET,
      uri = url
    ).addHeader(Host(url.authority.host.address(), url.authority.port))

  def Post(url: Uri, job: ChronosJob)(implicit actorSystem: ActorSystem): Future[HttpResponse] = {
    import ChronosJob._
    implicit val executionContext: ExecutionContextExecutor = actorSystem.dispatcher
    Marshal(job).to[RequestEntity].flatMap { entity =>
      Post(RemoteLocation(url, None), entity)
    }
  }

  def Post(location: RemoteLocation,
           query: MiningQuery)(implicit actorSystem: ActorSystem): Future[HttpResponse] = {
    implicit val executionContext: ExecutionContextExecutor = actorSystem.dispatcher
    Marshal(query).to[RequestEntity].flatMap { entity =>
      Post(location, entity)
    }
  }

  def Post(location: RemoteLocation,
           query: ExperimentQuery)(implicit actorSystem: ActorSystem): Future[HttpResponse] = {
    implicit val executionContext: ExecutionContextExecutor = actorSystem.dispatcher
    Marshal(query).to[RequestEntity].flatMap { entity =>
      Post(location, entity)
    }
  }

  private def Post(location: RemoteLocation, entity: RequestEntity)(
      implicit actorSystem: ActorSystem
  ): Future[HttpResponse] = {
    val url = location.url

    val request = HttpRequest(
      method = HttpMethods.POST,
      uri = url,
      entity = entity
    ).addHeader(Host(url.authority.host.address(), url.authority.port))
    val requestWithAuth = location.credentials.foldLeft(request)(
      (r, creds) => r.addHeader(Authorization(BasicHttpCredentials(creds.user, creds.password)))
    )

    logger.whenDebugEnabled(
      logger.debug(s"Post: $requestWithAuth")
    )
    sendReceive(requestWithAuth)
  }

  def unmarshalChronosResponse(
      entity: HttpEntity
  )(implicit actorSystem: ActorSystem): Future[List[ChronosJobLiveliness]] = {
    implicit val materializer: ActorMaterializer = ActorMaterializer()
    import ChronosJobLiveliness._
    Unmarshal(entity).to[List[ChronosJobLiveliness]]
  }

  def unmarshalQueryResult(
      entity: HttpEntity
  )(implicit actorSystem: ActorSystem): Future[QueryResult] = {
    implicit val materializer: ActorMaterializer = ActorMaterializer()
    Unmarshal(entity).to[QueryResult]
  }

  def checkHealth[F[_]: Effect](uri: String): HealthCheck[F, Id] = {
    implicit def backend: SttpBackend[F, Nothing] = AsyncHttpClientCatsBackend[F]()
    statusCodeHealthCheck[F, String](request.get(UriContext(StringContext(uri)).uri(uri)))
      .through(mods.recoverToSick)
  }

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Q: How to create a separate environment using ArcGIS Pro Python in Visual Studio I am switching from Pycharm to Visual Studio as my Python script IDE.
I have been trying to create an environment for ArcGIS Pro but I had no success so far.
I can create Custom Environment from the existing environments but it directly uses the environment for ArcGIS Pro.
I would rather use the ArcGIS Pro Python (3.6) as a base interpreter and create a separate environment.
Anyone has the same problem or am I doing something wrong here?

A: Here's what I do for Visual Studio Code and it works out pretty well for me. I use this code in a .cmd file to create a conda environment for my project, based off of the arcgispro-py3 environment. This will mirror that environment, so arcpy will work (change paths and venv names accordingly - I use a custom place to store my venvs so I really know where they all are):
cd "C:\sw\Program Files\ArcGIS\Pro\bin\Python\Scripts"
call activate root
call conda create --clone arcgispro-py3 --prefix c:/sw/conda-envs/traffic-incidents
call activate c:/sw/conda-envs/traffic-incidents
call conda install -y pyodbc

Next, tell Visual Studio Code where to look for the venvs. In settings.json, add/set python.venvPath to where your conda envs live:
"python.venvPath": "C:\\sw\\conda-envs"

For Visual Studio, once you have created your env you can set the Python env much like you can in PyCharm in the settings. See here for more on that. Much like in PyCharm, you can also create environments directly in the Visual Studio interface.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Here's the Full Netflix Live-Action Cast of AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER
by Rotem Rusak
Sep 27 2022 • 9:01 AM
…Then, everything changed when Netflix announced the casting for their upcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender (ATLA) live-action series. With a world as vast as Avatar: The Last Airbender, many casting announcements are needed to reveal all the exciting actors and characters joining the world.
bonsai.to/mru
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Most recently, Netflix revealed some exciting new casting news about the upcoming live-action ATLA series. Among those newly cast in the show are George Takei, who will play Koh, Prey's Amber Midthunder, who will play Princess Yue, and James Sie, who voiced the animated ill-fated Cabbage Merchant, and will now play him in the live-action version of the show.
meet the rest of the cast for Netflix's live action adaptation of AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER. pic.twitter.com/W1ylPaoDba
— Netflix Geeked (@NetflixGeeked) September 27, 2022
Here are's what we know so far about the cast of Netflix's live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Jump to: ATLA's Leads // Fire Lord Ozai // Uncle Iroh, Gyatso, and Commander Zhao // Princess Azula, Suki, and More // Full Cast By Nation
Avatar: The Last Airbender Casts Leads
In some exciting news sure to delight ATLA fans from every nation, Netflix has shared the actors who are set to play Aang, Katara, Sokka, and Zuko. It also offered information about the series' creative team.
When it comes to the actors, Gordon Cormier will play Avatar Aang. Kiawentiio will take on the sometimes-stern, though always kind, Katara. Ian Ousley will appear as the goofy yet heroic Sokka. And Dallas Liu will star as the exiled prince, Zuko. We think the Gaang and Zuko seem perfect.
On the creative side, Albert Kim will serve as showrunner. He also acts as executive producer and writer. Joining him are directors Michael Goi, Roseanne Liang, and Jabbar Raisani. The show's executive producers include Dan Lin, Lindsey Liberatore, Michael Goi, and co-executive producer Roseanne Liang.
In a release, Netflix also shared a little bit more about the characters:
GORDON CORMIER (he/him) is AANG (12), a fearless and fun-loving twelve-year-old who just happens to be the Avatar, master of all four elements and the keeper of balance and peace in the world. An airbending prodigy, Aang is a reluctant hero, struggling to deal with the burden of his duties while still holding on to his adventurous and playful nature.
KIAWENTIIO (she/her) is KATARA (14), a determined and hopeful waterbender, the last in her small village. Though only fourteen, she's already endured great personal tragedy, which has held her back from rising to her true potential, though it's never dimmed her warm and caring spirit.
IAN OUSLEY (he/him) is SOKKA (16), Katara's sardonic and resourceful 16-year-old brother. Outwardly confident, even brash, he takes his responsibility as the leader of his tribe seriously, despite his inner doubts over his warrior skills… doubts that he masks with his wit and deadpan sense of humor.
DALLAS LIU (he/him) is ZUKO (17), a skilled firebender and the intense and guarded Crown Prince of the Fire Nation. Currently roaming the world in exile, he's on an obsessive quest to capture the Avatar because he believes that is the only way to reclaim his life and live up to the demands of his cruel and controlling father, the Fire Lord.
Netflix/Nickelodeon
Other Avatar: The Last Airbender Cast
Fire Lord Ozai
Additionally, Netflix announced in early November that Daniel Dae Kim joins the Avatar: The Last Airbender cast as Fire Lord Ozai. An excellent choice, we can all agree. We know we shouldn't cheer for the antagonist, but… We can't really help it.
Daniel Dae Kim has joined the cast of Avatar: The Last Airbender!
He will play Fire Lord Ozai; Prince Zuko's father, the ruthlessly-driven leader of the Fire Nation! pic.twitter.com/R3mhadahjv
— Netflix (@netflix) November 3, 2021
The platform also recently released some more exciting news about the Avatar: The Last Airbender cast. Of special note, Uncle Iroh's casting.
The cast of Netflix's AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER continues to grow.
Meet the actors who will play Uncle Iroh, Gyatso and Commander Zhao. pic.twitter.com/w2vZhDeRPF
— Netflix Geeked (@NetflixGeeked) November 16, 2021
Uncle Iroh, Gyatso, and Commander Zhao
Netflix further shared:
Paul Sun-Hyung Lee (he/him; Kim's Convenience, The Mandalorian) will play Uncle Iroh, a retired Fire Nation general and the wise and nurturing mentor to his hot-headed nephew, Prince Zuko.
Lim Kay Siu (he/him; Anna and The King, Nightwatch) will play Gyatso, a kind and caring Air Nomad monk who is the guardian, father figure and best friend to Aang.
Ken Leung (he/him; Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Industry) will play Commander Zhao, a scheming and ambitious Fire Nation military officer who's eager to leverage an unexpected encounter with a desperate Prince Zuko to advance his personal goals.
Uncle Iroh, of course, serves as an important figure in the story. Not to mention, a tremendous fan favorite. His character provides the heart of the series. So we feel extra excited to see him crossover into live-action. Gyatso presents another interesting figure. We definitely feel curious to see how much of Aang's backstory translates into this upcoming series. Especially wen it comes to the Air Nomad's dark fate. Commander Zhao was more of a minor antagonist in the cartoon. But it remains to be seen how his role will change in the live-action.
Princess Azula, Suki, Avatar Kyoshi and Other Cast Annoucements
The Avatar: The Last Airbender live-action series has also officially cast Princess Azula, Suki, Yukari, Avatar Kyoshi, and Gran Gran.
AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER's cast continues to grow: meet the actors who will play Azula, Suki, Yukari, Kyoshi, and Gran Gran. pic.twitter.com/pYx7cfhUVR
— Netflix Geeked (@NetflixGeeked) December 16, 2021
In a release Netflix shares:
Elizabeth Yu (she/her; Untitled Ray Romano Film, All My Love) will play Azula, the intensely driven princess of the Fire Nation. A firebending prodigy and relentless perfectionist, she'll stop at nothing to secure her position as the heir to the throne.
Maria Zhang (she/her) will play Suki, the intimidating leader of the Kyoshi Warriors, an elite female fighting force dedicated to protecting their community and upholding the ideals of their namesake, Avatar Kyoshi.
Tamlyn Tomita (she/her; The Good Doctor, Cobra Kai) will play Yukari, Suki's mother and the fiercely protective mayor of her small village on Kyoshi Island.
Yvonne Chapman (she/her; Kung Fu, Family Law) will play Avatar Kyoshi, a legendary warrior revered for her bravery, fearsome fighting skills, and uncompromising dedication to the cause of justice.
Casey Camp-Horinek (she/her, Barking Water, Reservation Dogs) will play Gran Gran, Katara and Sokka's grandmother and the compassionate and wise matriarch of the Southern Water Tribe.
The Full Cast of Netflix's Live-Action Avatar: The Last Airbender
Below is the complete list of Avatar: The Last Airbender's live-action cast, divided by which nation they belong to.
Per a release from Netflix:
WATER TRIBE
Amber Midthunder (she/her; Prey, Roswell) is Princess Yue, the compassionate spiritual leader of the Northern Water Tribe.
A Martinez (he/him; Cowboy Bebop, Ambulance) is Pakku, the veteran waterbending master of the Northern Water Tribe and a fierce defender of their traditions.
Irene Bedard (she/her; Pocahontas, The Stand) is Yagoda, an empathetic healer who serves as a role model for her tribe's female waterbenders.
Joel Oulette (he/him; Trickster, Ruby and the Well) is Hahn, a strong and skilled warrior with an unwavering loyalty to his tribe.
Nathaniel Arcand (he/him; Heartland, FBI: Most Wanted) is Chief Arnook, father to Princess Yue and the respected leader of their tribe.
Meegwun Fairbrother (he/him; Burden of Truth, Mohawk Girls) is Avatar Kuruk, a previous Avatar with a haunted past.
EARTH KINGDOM
Arden Cho (she/her; Partner Track) is June, a tough and persistent bounty hunter known for her ruthless efficiency.
Utkarsh Ambudkar (he/him; Ghosts, World's Best) is King Bumi, the ancient and mercurial ruler of the Earth Kingdom city of Omashu.
Danny Pudi (he/him; Mythic Quest, Corner Office) is The Mechanist, an eccentric inventor and engineer who's doing his best to raise his son in a war-torn world.
Lucian-River Chauhan (he/him; Encounter, Heartland) is Teo, the idealistic and high-flying son of The Mechanist.
James Sie (he/him; Stillwater) is the Cabbage Merchant, a long-suffering vegetable vendor in Omashu.
FIRE NATION
Momona Tamada (she/her; Secret Headquarters, The Baby-Sitters Club) will play Ty Lee, an energetic and upbeat teen and one of Princess Azula's best friends.
Thalia Tran (she/her; Raya and the Last Dragon, Little) is Mai, an unflappable and deadpan teen who, along with Ty Lee, is one of Princess Azula's closest allies.
Ruy Iskandar (he/him; Yes Day, Benders) is Lt. Jee, the first officer of Prince Zuko's ship.
Hiro Kanagawa (he/him; Altered Carbon, The Man in the High Castle) is Fire Lord Sozin, the ruthless and ambitious previous ruler of the Fire Nation and grandfather to Fire Lord Ozai.
C.S. Lee (he/him; Dexter, Warrior) is Avatar Roku, a wise and benevolent past Avatar from the Fire Nation.
François Chau (he/him; The Expanse, American Gigolo) will play The Great Sage, the venerated spiritual leader of the Fire Nation and guardian of Avatar Roku's shrine.
Ryan Mah (he/him; The Good Doctor, Snowpiercer) is Lt. Dang, Commander Zhao's second-in-command.
George Takei (he/him; Star Trek, Resident Alien) will voice Koh, an ancient, predatory spirit.
Randall Duk Kim (he/him; John Wick, Kung Fu Panda) will voice Wan Shi Tong, who appears in the form of a giant owl and is also known as the Spirit of Knowledge.
More About Avatar: The Last Airbender
Netflix also recently shared that the show's production has begun. The show will make use of cutting-edge technology as it films. The same technology used in The Mandalorian. According to Netflix, this show "will set a new standard for immersive storytelling." We can't wait to experience what that will look like. We know it will turn out amazing.
All in all, it sounds like the new live-action series is staying true to the soul of the original show. But, at the same time, strives to bring new perspectives to the material as the franchise evolves. Past live-action ATLA outings have been less than successful, and we feel relieved to see Netflix share a casting roster that reflects and respects the Asian cultures portrayed in the show. Though beloved, even the original cartoon was written by two white men.
In a statement shared by Netflix, showrunner and writer Albert Kim reflects:
It also wasn't lost on me that this was a world that drew from Asian cultures and legend, which is a rarity to this day and something I appreciated as an Asian-American father. That my daughter was able to see characters who looked like her on screen was more than just entertaining. It was a gift."
We'll be expanding and growing the world, and there will be surprises for existing fans and those new to the tale. But throughout this process, our byword has been "authenticity." To the story. To the characters. To the cultural influences. Authenticity is what keeps us going, both in front of the camera and behind it, which is why we've assembled a team unlike any seen before—a group of talented and passionate artists who are working around the clock to bring this rich and incredibly beautiful world to life.
All this news has us excited. Hopefully, the more we hear about this series, the more that feeling grows. Especially now that production has officially begun. We'd still love to hear about Toph's casting soon. Although we may possibly have to wait for a season two for our favorite earth bender to appear. It does make sense not to rush the story. But we really love Toph. Only time will tell. In the meanwhile, we guess you can find us rewatching the original cartoon.
Originally published August 12, 2021.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Yes Music Podcast
Established in 2011 - Two fans' exploration of the world's greatest progressive rock band
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Episode 42 – Yes Rarities Part 6 – Special Edition EP
Post author By Kevin
6 Comments on Episode 42 – Yes Rarities Part 6 – Special Edition EP
http://traffic.libsyn.com/kevinmulryne/YMP_episode_42_special_edition_EP.mp3
DVD purchased circa 2003 (Click to enlarge)
The forty-second episode of the Yes Music Podcast featuring the 'Special Edition EP' DVD.
Are these live performances or are the band miming to a tape?
Do the tracks show us anything interesting from the early days of the band?
Is the DVD worth finding and buying?
Listen and see if you agree with me then let me know by leaving a comment or contacting me via the different routes on the right hand side or by leaving a comment below!
Continue reading "Episode 42 – Yes Rarities Part 6 – Special Edition EP"
Tags Bill Bruford, Chris Squire, Deep Purple, Douglas Adams, ELP, episodes, Jon Anderson, Jon Lord, MJ Murphy, Paul Tomei, Peter Banks, Procol Harum, prog rock, progressive rock, Rick Wakeman, Steve Howe, Tony Kaye, Twilight Guitar
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YMP through the mists of time
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What you're seeing here is a cloud formation so rare that it defies classification. Meteorologists suspect that these are undulatus asperatus clouds — an entirely new cloud type that was proposed only three years ago by the Cloud Appreciation Society. The one featured here was photographed by Witta Priester in New Zealand.
Image credit and copyright Witta Priester.
Whereas most low cloud decks are flat bottomed, asperatus clouds appear to have significant vertical structure underneath. Speculation therefore holds that asperatus clouds might be related to lenticular clouds that form near mountains, or mammatus clouds associated with thunderstorms, or perhaps a foehn wind — a type of dry downward wind that flows off mountains. Such a wind called the Canterbury arch streams toward the east coast of New Zealand's South Island. The above image, taken above Hanmer Springs in Canterbury, New Zealand, in 2005, shows great detail partly because sunlight illuminates the undulating clouds from the side.


Several years ago I replace the incandescent bulb that came with the Jeep with a LED "bulb" but after recently adding under cabinet lighting in our kitchen I thought I'd try the same thing in my Jeep.
As you may know LED's are very bright, very cheap, and run off of 12 volts. Our Jeep runs off of 12 volts, but only when the alternator isn't turning. 13.8 volts is the running voltage, but is this too much voltage for the LED lighting strips? Well I'm going to find out.
Attaching the light strip to a power source is very simple, you just attach it to the same wires that power the bulb receptacle.
Attaching the physical strip turned out to be more challenging. These LEDs are warm and this isn't very good for the 3M tape that I attached to the back. Right now I just have a zip tie holding it, but I believe epoxy will be in my future plans.
So they work off 12V without any adapters?
These are waterproof so they could be used on the outside as well. You know but for the others reading, fuse everything!
I've had 4 or 5 16 foot spools of those Cheap LED rope lights for about 6 years now. They have been awesome. I mostly use them for camp lighting but trimmed a few down to use as undercarriage lighting that I still haven't put in yet lol.
these too flimsy to use for rock lights?
Don't think so but I need to try them on the outside, and see how bright they are.
I have a lot left. I'll try to get some shots with it under my Jeep.
These are the ones i use for camp. About 50 yards away in this picture.
The hardest part is figuring out how to attach them the stickum on the back isnt strong enough. Im going to try some all weather superglue.
Last edited by downsy; 3 Weeks Ago at 06:38 PM.
Yep, the LED technology is amazing, to me.
I can find a pic on my phone but I've had some like this, albeit shorter sections you buy as a kit at the auto parts, on the inside of each fender flare. They're just stuck on right behind the edge and are so slim are not visible. I do have them in blue (I was young...) so not the best color to tell but are no where near bright enough for rock lights with the 12-16" sections I have. But the adhesive has help up great for the approximate 8-9 years I've had them in there.
Sent via messenger pigeon. I talk, he types.
I remember seeing your rig with the mood lighting on! These days, with RGB lighting, you can have it all! Red for V day, green for St. Patty's, purple for Prince's birthday (it's coming up, June 7th!) you get the idea.... I also worry about throwing mud and rocks at them, but if yours are going on 9 years, sounds like they would work.
Still can't decide if this is a good idea or not... for the price, I could order a roll and experiment with them.
Last edited by denverd1; 2 Weeks Ago at 05:35 PM.
Dash Designs Seat & Dash Covers at RockAuto.com!


Pro-Ecuador Newsletter: Dalai Lama in Cotacachi, $12,000 Raised for High School Scholarship Program, Plus Important Article on Assange/Ecuador Asylum drama.
Click here To discover the amazing truth that Linda's research uncovered.
Cotacachi High School Scholarship Appreciation Luncheon: Poor indigenous high school students offered their scholarship donors a luncheon but very few donors showed up. However, this embarassing situation turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as Gary explains in the following article.
A View From the Roof: Divine Hand Revealed in Cotacachi High School Fund Raiser. As a result, 65 Cotacachi Indigenous 6th graders will go on to high school this year.
A Straw Bale House in Cotacachi: More about our Cotacachi pioneers in sustainable living. Aya and Hector at Kurikindi Farms are constructing their own house out of straw bales, adobe brick and eucalyptus.
One of the Most Important Stories We Have Printed About Ecuador/South America/Assange.
Linda and I, like many people in Ecuador, have been following the Julian Assange/Wikileaks drama with rapt attention. But something about this didn't seem to make much sense; in fact it smelled pretty foul. Yes, the Wikileaks revelations were hugely embarrassing to the U.S., but why would the western powers go to so much trouble over some fairly simple news stories? At least, it didn't make much sense until I read this story. Don't miss it.
Raphael Correa, president of Ecuador, gives a candid assessment of the Julian Assange asylum case. There is both a video and an English transcript of the interview. Correa is asked if he fears reprisals because of his country's decision to grant asylum to Assange.
Cotacachi Real Estate. Three properties sold this past week, including two of our new listings in last month's newsletter. Cotacachi real estate is smokin' hot right now.
One of the nicest condo opportunities in Cotacachi is still available. This double penthouse in centrally located Primavera II is the height of luxurious in-town living, with very quiet and beautiful grounds. Check it out here.
Want to open a business in Cotacachi? This prime building in a prime location is ready for occupancy. It is ideally situated for a fine restaurant or other commercial endeavor. The possibilities are limitless.


Across Ontario, facilities in your industry are leveraging their demand response capabilities to curtail energy expenses and increase revenue. Ontario's demand response programs pay facilities to curtail their energy consumption or switch to on-site generation during peak hours. Our energy managers will help you turn this opportunity into a competitive edge for your facility by helping to develop a demand response strategy. There's no cost and no capital investment required.
Our Energy Manager will assess your capabilities and enroll you in the program that best suits your operating parameters. Sign up today to receive a free, one-on-one assessment to find out how much money your facility can make.


you're thinking of them and sharing in their good news.
Congratulate someone on a birthday, passing an exam or a birth. It is all possible with our bouquets from the assortment: Congratulations bouquet. We have listed the most popular bouquets for you, then you can choose more easily!
When ordering a congratulations bouquet you can leave a message for free. We ensure that this message is attached to the bouquet.
Do you find another bouquet on the website more beautiful? You can also order this. The names of a bouquet are not visible when it is delivered.
Order on working days at Fleurop before 2pm, the flowers will be personally delivered the same day, by one of our local florists!


the documentary engages with the stories and experiences of five women on the Greek island Lesvos. Lesvos has been one of the main arrival point for people on the move towards Europe. The women depicted in the movie all have their own story about how they reached the island. Together they offer a unique perspective on what happened and is happening on Lesvos: From the first refugees arriving on the island, the conditions in refugee camp Moria, autonomous living, friendship and mutual aid in a squatted building in the middle of Lesvos' capital. This way the documentary shows the brutalities of the European border regime. At the same time it shows ways in which people, individually and collectively, try to carve out moments and spaces of humanity, autonomy dignity and freedom.


text:
Short Waves / Short Poems
voices of poets over the air
Episode One: Poems by Deborah L. Davitt, Amy Lowell, and A.J. Odasso
Deborah L. Davitt was raised in Nevada, but currently lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband and son. Her poetry has received Rhysling, Dwarf Star, and Pushcart nominations; her short fiction has appeared in Galaxy's Edge, Intergalactic Medicine Show, and Pseudopod. For more about her work, including her Edda-Earth novels and her poetry collection, The Gates of Never, please see www.edda-earth.com. You may contact her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/deborah.davitt.3 or Twitter @davittDL. "Tessellation" was originally published in Silver Blade.
Amy Lowell was an important figure in early 20th Century American poetry For more information, see the listing for Amy Lowell at The Academy of American Poets website. "The Taxi" and "Summer Rain" are available at The Academy of American Poets website as well. You can read the full text of her collection Sword Blades and Poppy Seed at the Project Gutenberg website.
A.J. Odasso's most recent collection is The Sting of It, published by Tolsun Books. "Hurricane Party" originally appeared in Rascal.
Adrienne Rich's essay "Someone is Writing a Poem" is available at the Poetry Foundation website.


Yes I love this version even more than the other one! I don't why, it's just stunning to me.
It's a complete this video is not complete.Wish there were mobile phones back in 2007!
Camera phones have been on the market since the beginning of the 21st century.
OH YEAH YOU ARE RIGHT.What a genius you are.
OH YEAH YOU ARE RIGHT. What a genius you are.
I'm glad I could enlighten you.
These 10 seconds missing in the beggining of the song!!! I wonder!!! There have been so many videos uploaded!!! Why did this song had only one video upload??


The Amy1 test can help.
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What will be knowing my AMY1 Gene copy number tell me?
Knowing your AMY1 Gene copy number variation will tell you if you have a reduced amount of amylase which is an enzyme in your saliva needed to break down starch. If you have a low copy number this means you have a low tolerance to higher starch diets and higher starch diets may increase your chance of being overweight and diabetic.
Making informed dietary choices is not always easy. Your AMY1 Carb choice genetic profile report will help you understand your personal response to starch and carbohydrate. A personalized Nutrition plan can be designed for you. This will inform you on how much carbohydrate you should eat for optimal health and weight, and which kind. Understanding your genetic predisposition means no more guesswork and a personalized health plan that works for you.
Anita is a fully qualified Nutritionist and Medical Herbalist with twenty years' experience and Offers Carb Choice AMY1 Testing and personalized nutrition programs in her clinic her at The Herbal Dispensary.


Japan … P-70 … 10 Yen … ND(1946) ... ch*XF*. "A" Underprint.
Japan,10 Yen Banknote,1946,Very Fine Condition Cat#79-C"Stamp"
1946 10 Yen DIET Building Bank of Japan Banknotes. 3 Notes.
Japan banknote 5 yen (1946) B350 P-86 UNC- dealers lot 10 pieces free ship!


text:
Q: Why PrimeFaces FileUpload doesn not do anything when I try to upload files if I request something from request.getParameter? not a duplicate I have o upload a file from UI with primefaces file uploader and it seems that it is not able to reach the ModelBean server side when i try to get a parameter from the request object.
Otherwise, everything works FINE!! (i have to be specific so someone does not set this question as duplicate).
my web.xml configurartion for ythe file upload is this.
<filter>
    <filter-name>PrimeFaces FileUpload Filter</filter-name>
    <filter-class>org.primefaces.webapp.filter.FileUploadFilter</filter-class>
    <init-param>
        <param-name>uploadThresholdSize</param-name>
        <param-value>2097152</param-value>
    </init-param>
</filter>
<filter-mapping>
    <filter-name>PrimeFaces FileUpload Filter</filter-name>
    <servlet-name>Faces Servlet</servlet-name>
</filter-mapping>

before reaching the MB, I let all the call to pass to this filter:
<filter>
    <filter-name>PrimeFaces authorization check</filter-name>
    <filter-class>utils.WebAuthFilter</filter-class>
</filter>

in WebAuthFilter servlet I have this code
boolean avoidValidation = Boolean.parseBoolean(request.getParameter("avoidLoginValidation"));

there is no problem with the parsing because the method return always false or true even if the parameter is equal to null.
the real problem is the
  request.getParameter("avoidLoginValidation")

that seems to prevent any server-side action when i push the upload button.
otherwise, averything is fine if I put "true" or "false" directly everithing works fine, without any error or problem.
can anyone explain why this is happening and how to avoid this type of behaviour.
thank you very much.


Supra-Mediterranean, and occasionally meso-Mediterranean woods dominated by the semideciduous Quercus trojana or its allies (Quercetum trojanae).
Usually low formations dominated by Quercus trojana, often with junipers or maples, of Macedonia, Thrace and Thessaly, north to Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania and the Vardar valley of Paeonia.
Relict woods, sometimes of considerable height, of Quercus trojana and Quercus pubescens, often with an admixture of Quercus ilex and its associated vegetation (Murge: e.g. bosco delle Pianelle, foresta Gaglione).


Controlling dust, eliminat- ing odors and improving cats' health—these issues continue to inspire manufacturers to introduce improved litter products. Retailers reported that their customers welcome new innovations that simplify cleaning the litterbox, as well as those that make for a healthier litterbox environment.
"We choose litter largely based on customer demand," said Laura Clark, co-owner of Wylie Wagg, which has stores in Virginia and Washington, D.C. "We find that customers all have different priorities when it comes to litter, so it's important to offer a broad range of products to fit different needs.
Still, top priorities with cat litter continue to be high performance and convenience, manufacturers reported.
Cat Litter, in Muscatine, Iowa.
Cat Inc. in Englewood, Colo.
When a cat litter performs well in these key categories, retailers see repeat business. World's Best Cat Litter remains popular with customers at Horizon Pet Supply in Wildomar, Calif.
"Biodegradable and flushable, Ökocat is free of clay or silica, which allows it to degrade quickly and cleanly (unlike clay litters that sit in landfills for years)," Wasley said.
Customers continue to look for products that will contribute to their pets' overall good health, and manufacturers are responding.
Pioneer Pet in Cedarburg, Wis.
owners with a range of litterbox priorities.
Lucy Pet Products is launching a revolutionary new cat litter called Cats Incredible, which is a clumping clay litter with Smell Squasher, a worldwide patent-pending technology that stops ammonia from forming in the litterbox. The Dow Chemical Co. granted Lucy Pet Products exclusivity for this groundbreaking technology. Prolonged exposure to ammonia is not only unpleasant, but it also can be dangerous to your cat and to you! Cats Incredible also has state-of-the-art packaging featuring an ergonomic two-handled bag with a side spout for easy pouring.
Cats Incredible works so well your friends won't know you have cats!
All of the profits from Lucy Pet Products go directly to fund the Lucy Pet Foundation, which is a nonprofit animal charity whose mission is to reduce pet overpopulation through spay and neuter mobile vans while supporting other animal welfare organizations. Lucy Pet Products truly are products with a cause!
We also have a unique line of shampoos and leave-in conditioning sprays in six fun fragrances made with natural ingredients and that contain no parabens, sulfates or phosphates.
FAQ Should I flush litter down the toilet? Doc Halligan: No. Even though some litter manufacturers tout that their litter is flushable, it is not advisable to flush any litter down the toilet. Research has shown that cat litter in our sewage system can introduce toxoplasmosis into the marine ecosystem, potentially causing illness in marine wildlife. It is also a plumber's nightmare, stopping up septic systems all over the country.
Recognizing the varied priorities of owners when it comes to cat litter, manufacturers continue to introduce innovations in the category. Lucy Pet Products of Thousand Oaks, Calif., debuted Cats Incredible litter at Global Pet Expo in Orlando, Fla., in March.
Pet Co. of Anderson, S.C.
their cats, said marketing director Gina Zaro.
the market is Pretty Litter.
founder and CEO of the Los Angeles company.


The Kobe Maritime Museum is a great facility for learning about the structure of ships and the unique appeal of ports. The museum has various exhibits on navigational items and ship riggings. The theater, which is equipped with an enormous 180-inch screen and a stereophonic sound system, displays footage themed after the ocean, port, and ships.
・Adults receive 100 yen off of regular admission, while children receive 50 yen off.


Because my heart leaps at the opportunity to diagram a sentence and use it to illustrate what I'm talking about, I have (with glee) taken the liberty to do so.
This structure is similar to 'I am an aspiring grammarian' or 'Wands are fascinating tools.' In all of these cases, the present participle (-ing word) is being used in a unique way to play the part of an adjective. Germs are types of travelers. What types of travelers? Annoying ones.
This same present participle can function in a different way! Participles are magical creatures, you see. They can serve as adjectives, indeed, but they can also do the verb thing when duty calls. And – incredibly – in this sentence, both are possible.
Again, I find a diagrammed sentence most helpful.
In this situation, the noun (the germs) is doing something (annoying) to someone or something (travelers). Perhaps this reader thinks that germs are aggressively and unabashedly annoying the living daylights out of those who are traveling.
And, lo and behold, we have a case of word ambiguity.
No one likes traveling with germs, so please wash your hands!
Bonus: Can you find the other error lingering in this compound sentence?
Missing comma before the conjunction?


Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (Galatians 3:13).
Sickness and disease were never part of God's plan for mankind. When He created the garden and placed Adam in it, life was perfect just as God planned it to be; there was no sickness or disease. But because Adam sinned and opened the door to the devil, mankind was subjugated to all that was part of the curse.
Until, that is, Jesus broke the power of the curse when He died on the Cross and rose again, destroying all the power of the devil. This is good news, because sickness and disease no longer have a right to be in your body.
Just as sickness and disease had no right to come on Jesus' physical body when He walked on the earth, so it has no right to come on your body today. However, the devil will attempt to bring the curse upon your life and he will push you as far as you will allow him to. He will stay as long as you let him.
The devil will not leave you voluntarily—you must evict him from your life! It will be necessary that you tenaciously voice your rights as a child of God, enforce God's Word against him, and use your faith and the authority Jesus has given you to cast the devil out. Then, speak to that sickness and disease and command it in the name of Jesus to leave.
Jesus paid the price for you to live in freedom from sickness and disease. So stand firm, speak God's Word, and enjoy the fullness of your redemption from the curse.
Confession: Because Jesus Christ has redeemed me from the curse, I have been set free from all sickness and disease. I am full of the life and power of God.


Why are these extra Seattle VLF revenues needed and what will they be used for?
Last week, I posted a very unscienctific survey about a possible increase in the annual Vehcile License Fee. A total of 434 people responded and took the survey, 420 actually answered every question, a stunningly high 97%! Well done, folks.
You can review all of the results by clicking here. Of course, surveys like this tend to attract the true believers and advocates, a truism for all the online polls you find at news sites and political blogs these days. But, they're fun and give us the opportunity to share our opinions. Who knows, we might even influence the course of human events with the next poll we complete.
Should Seattle Increase the Vehicle License Fee? Take the Survey!
The City Council is debating an increase in the annual Vehicle License Fee (VLF) to raise more money for transportation projects to help offset a decline in other transportation revenue. The current VLF is $20 per year. Voters would have to approve any increase in the fee.
Please share your opinion on this issue by responding to this unscienctific survey.


For all your bantering needs, you can join us in Discord.
If your Discord name is significantly different to your NWN login and forum username, please change your nickname (or append it) (https://support.discordapp.com/hc/en-us/articles/219070107-Server-Nicknames) so we know who is who.
The same code of conduct (https://cormanthor.com/forum/index.php/topic,1984.0.html) that applies to the forums and the server applies to our Discord channels. Hate speech and aggressive behavior will not be tolerated.
Discord is also not an appropriate place for controversial topics such as real-life politics and religion. NSFW content is not allowed; many people chat from work, school, etc. Let's keep the chat light-hearted and fun.