text:
Ptolemy Copernicus Galileo Brahe Kepler Halley Messier Newton Herschel Leavitt Hubble Einstein
"If I have seen farther than others, it is because I have stood on the shoulders of giants." ~ Isaac Newton
Claudius Ptolemy
c. 90 - 168
Ptolemy was the most influential astronomer, geographer, and mathematician of ancient times. He lived in Alexandria, Egypt which was a major center of knowledge of the ancient Mediteranean. He promoted the (geocentric) idea that the Earth was the center of the Universe and that all things revolved around it. This theory prevailed for the next 1400 years. The writings of Ptolemy include names and outlines of 48 constellations that are still in use today.
Nicolaus Copernicus
Copernicus wrote a treatment on the solar system that suggested that the Sun was more likely to be in the center than the Earth. It is named "On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Bodies." The idea of a heliocentric or sun-centered system is considered so important to history that it is often referred to as the "Copernican Revolution." Once we accept that the Sun is a star, we immediately are confronted with the possibility that the galaxy is filled with suns and planets. From then on, whenever we look into space, we realize that someone may be looking back.
As royal astronomer of Denmark (before telescopes), he used a "quadrant" to precisely measure the positions of celestial objects, especially Mars. This data would later prove crucial to Kepler in formulating the laws of planetary motion. He observed a supernova and showed that it could not be within our atmosphere. Likewise he showed that comets must be farther away than the Moon. To say the least, Brahe was a colorful character. He got into an argument over a math question which led to a knife fight and part of his nose was cut off. He had a gold and silver replacement made and carried around a box of glue to keep it stuck on.
Galileo formulated the basic law that all falling bodies fall at the same rate. Notably, he verified his conclusions by carefully designed experiments and measurements. He constructed a refractor telescope with which he viewed craters on the Moon, the phases of Venus, and the rings of Saturn. He discovered four moons revolving around Jupiter. He agreed with Copernicus that the Earth and other planets revolved around the Sun. For promoting this and other science, he was arrested and tried for heresy by the Roman Catholic Church.
Kepler "broke the code" of planetary orbits. After the death of Tycho Brahe he was appointed successor as the imperial mathematician. Using Brahe's meticulous notes on the positions of Mars he was able to deduce that the planets orbit around the Sun, but in ellipses, not circles as Copernicus had assumed. Kepler articulated three laws of planetary motion. 1. Planets travel in ellipses with the Sun at one focus of the ellipse. 2. An imaginary line between a planet and the Sun sweeps out equal area in equal time. 3. The square of the total time period of an orbit is proportional to the cube of the average distance of the planet to the Sun.
Listing all of Newton's contributions to science would fill volumes. For the science of astronomy certain areas of work stand out. He designed a new type of reflecting telescope which is now called a "Newtonian" telescope. Most amateur telescopes in use today are Newtonians. He used a prism to show that white light is actually made of colors. His laws of motion and gravity are the basis for understanding Kepler's laws of planetary orbits.
Edmund Halley
Among his many studies are tides, magnetism, and trade winds. He cataloged 341 southern hemisphere stars and discovered a star cluster in Centaurus. He also made the first complete observation of a transit of Mercury on November 7, 1677. He also invented the diving bell. But his most famous accomplishment is that he worked out a theory of the orbits of comets, concluding that the comet of 1682 (which still bears his name) was periodic, and that it would return in 76 years. Halley had died by the time the comet returned but the success of the prediction greatly elevated the level of confidence people had in the power of science.
Charles Messier
Messier was a comet-hunting French astronomer who sought to catalog the location of deepsky objects that could easily be mistaken for comets in small telescopes. His list contains a few more than 100 diffuse objects. The actual number is controversial because of problems with identifying certain objects. M40 may not exist at all, or at best is a dim double star pair. M102 is probably a duplicate entry of M101.
Today the list is considered the sky's very best showpiece objects for deepsky enthusiasts. All the objects can be seen with small amateur telescopes and many can be seen with binoculars.
The discoveries Herschel made are many. He built a 48-inch telescope which was the world's largest for more than 50 years. He discovered what he first thought was a comet, but turned out to be planet Uranus. Eventually he also discovered two moons of Uranus; Titania and Oberon, and two moons of Saturn; Enceladus and Mimas. He determined that our solar system is moving in the direction of Hercules. He went on to catalog about 2500 deep sky objects. The Astronomical League has designated some of these for observing programs such as the Herschel 400 Club.
Studying variable stars in the Magellanic Clouds, she discovered that certain variable stars have a cycle that corresponds to their luminosity; the brighter the star, the longer the period. Using this relationship, she was able to determine that the intrinsic brightness of these stars is predictable. By comparing that value to the apparent brightness, the difference can then be used to calculate their distance from Earth. This method became an important yardstick for measuring the size of the Milky Way as well as the distance to nearby galaxies.
Before Hubble's big discovery many astronomers thought our Milky Way was the whole Universe. The Andromeda Galaxy was called the Andromeda Nebula. Some had speculated about external "island universes" but Hubble found the proof. Not only did he show that there are giant systems of stars outside the Milky Way (which we now call galaxies), but Hubble's Law explains how the galaxies are receding away from each other. This movement suggests the Universe is getting bigger. If it is getting bigger, that means it use to be smaller. This discovery led astronomers to the Big Bang Theory which is a model that astronomers have high confidence in today.
The contributions that Einstein gave to the astronomical community are so significant that the depth of some them are still being explored today. Some of the areas of major impact concern the nature of light, gravity, and time.
It is in regards to the nature of light that Einstein received a Nobel Prize. He explained the "photoelectric effect." The essence of this work is that the amount of energy contained in various light waves are directly related to the light's wavelengths. For example, blue light is more energetic than red.
Einstein gave us a whole new perspective on gravity called General Relativity. Instead of viewing gravity as an attractive force between two objects (like Newton), he viewed it as a shape. By treating space itself as a thing with shape that can be distorted in the vicinity of matter, he gave us a powerful tool for explaining extreme situations and effects, like black holes.
The strange nature of time is explained in Einstein's Theory of Special Relativity. It shows how time is not absolute, but elastic, stretching or compressing depending on the individual observer's point of view. As bizarre as that may seem, this is one of the most tested and successful theories in history.


Most people were to such a place and they do range in first-rate. You can search here in our directory about the cheap restaurants, best places to eat, best restaurants in Tallmadge OH and best food places in Tallmadge OH.
The menus generally consist of high-priced, imported objects which include foie gras, caviar, and desserts. You can find in our directory the list of italian restaurants, French restaurants, Spanish restaurants, rooftop restaurants and Latin restaurants in Tallmadge OH. Only the maximum gentle veggies are served.
Did you apperceive that Italian aliment is the a lot of accepted cuisine for bistro out throughout the world? I anticipate the success of Italian aliment is that it's the aliment that is easiest to reside with.


Although I tried to describe the MotW game to someone yesterday as "The intersection of Global Frequency, Supernatural and Twin Peaks", and they just stared at me blankly, so maybe I need to refine my concept before I start messing with rules.
That or I just embrace that I am going to weird people out with MotW and accept that any feedback I get will be colored by the aforementioned weirdness.
Because I couldn't decide whether to move my Pathfinder group to D&D 5e rules or Monster of the Week, I am going to play in a 5e game and run a MotW game.


text:
Vennmühle steht für verschiedene Wassermühlen

 Vennmühle in der Gemeinde Brüggen im Kreis Viersen im Regierungsbezirk Düsseldorf
 Vennmühle (Straelen) in der Stadt Straelen im Kreis Kleve im Regierungsbezirk Düsseldorf

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Can Drone Attacks be Morally Justified?
Here's an interesting take from philosopher Bradley Strawser on the US government's use of drones. Strawser's basic argument centers around the actual reasons behind the war, not the use of drones themselves, which he says are much safer, more effective and completely transparent:
Strawser says cases where drone strikes allegedly killed innocents would be unjustified, but did not render the technology illegitimate. "If the policy to begin with is wrong then of course we shouldn't do it. It's irrelevant if we use drones, a sniper rifle or a crossbow." He says he considers poison gas and nuclear weapons inherently wrong because they did not discriminate – unlike drones.
"The question is whether drones will tempt us to do wrong things. But it doesn't seem so because we have cases where drones were used justly and it seems they actually improve our ability to behave justly. Literally every action they do is recorded. For a difficult decision (operators) can even wait and bring other people into the room. There's more room for checks and oversights. That to me seems a normative gain."
Straswer says he understands why many shuddered over revelations of the so-called White House "kill lists" but believes it, in fact, shows accountability at the highest level, unlike Abu Ghraib, when authorities pinned blame on lower ranks......
Strawser is at pains to stress he is no hawk. But if a particular operation was just, and if using a drone could avert risk to a pilot without compromising the operation, the US had a duty to use drones, he says.
I guess it's a little tricky to argue against this logic - if you absolutely have to fight, it's better to risk as few lives as possible, but again, only if the cause is justified. There are still several problems with this argument though. Firstly, the US targeted killing policy is completely illegal under international law, no matter how complicated the legal language used to justify it is. If another country started sending drones to take out American military planners, we would consider it an act of war - and rightly so. The US is sovereign territory and controls its own airspace. There's no reason why Yemen or any other country subject to drone attacks shouldn't have the same rights.
Also, the use of robots to kill people further removes the American population from the realities of war. Once it has been outsourced to non-thinking, feeling bits of metal, war and murder become like video games with no real meaning. You can sit at home and eat Cheetos while your country sends flying robots to assassinate people in countries you've never heard of, and you'll never know anyone who risked their lives to do it. The Vietnam war only stopped when the death toll in America became so high that the public refused to partake in the assault on South East Asia. I think it's a given that had the draft been in place when the US decided to go to war with Iraq, there would have been a lot more questions asked and the evidence pored over far more seriously. If the political classes knew their children could end up getting blown to pieces in the Middle East, I'd bet money there would not have been the votes needed to authorize war. Now drones are taking over the jobs of soldiers, there's no risk to anyone other than the weird dark people in countries with unpronounceable names.
I personally don't have much time for armchair warriors eager to send other people's children into wars, but this takes that mentality to another level. The use of drones completely destroys the meaning of war, making it easier to support and easier to detach oneself from its brutal realities.
Iraq WarYemenUnited StatesAbu GhraibWhite HouseMiddle EastIraqPakistan
Dissent on Drone Attacks
Quote of the Day: Evaluating Christopher Hitchens
Obama Embraced Redefinition of 'Civilian' in Drone Wars
Was this 16-year-old, Killed by a US Drone, Really a Terrorist?
Joe Klein vs Joe Scarborough on Drones
Quote of the Day: Media Pundits Cheerleading War with Iran
Lying Liars and the Lying Liars who Love Them
By Alyson Chadwick
Keep Your Anti-War, Anti-Choice, Anti-Drone Death Porn to Yourself
By Bob Cesca

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Rare total lunar eclipse happening this Saturday!
Heads up astronomers, astrologists, and all manner of moonstruck folk! Providing the sky is not too obscured by a Shanghai drizzle, your best chance in ten years to witness a total lunar eclipse is this Saturday, December 10th.
The Zijinshan Astronomical Observatory in Nanjing predicts that the full moon will glow a radiant bronze as it passes through the Earth's umbra (shadow), completely hidden from the sun.
The eclipse will last over three hours from when the Earth begins to obscure the Moon from the sun's rays at 8:45pm Beijing time, until the trailing edge of the Moon leaves the shadow of the Earth at just past midnight.
The optimal viewing period will be 10:06-10:58pm, when the moon will be maximally obscured, lit only by red light that leaks through the Earth's atmosphere.
So grab a pair of binoculars and moon-beam yourself to an ideal vantage point to see this fleeting phenomenon, which is not expected to come again for at least another two years.
The Shanghai Astronomical Observatory in cooperation the Shanghai Centre of Science & Technology & Art Education, Xujiahui Bureau of Education and Tianping Sub-District Office, will be holding an astronomy festival at the northeast end of Xuhui Park on Saturday starting at 2pm and lasting through the end of the eclipse. Barring bad weather, Nanyang Model Junior High School and the Xuhui Youth Activity Center will organize activities, demonstrations, displays, and eclipse viewing with professional and amateur astronomers.


text: Edit existing Region

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Web Site Monitoring - Performance Monitoring. A performance monitoring and uptime notification tool. This script is very easy to setup and use. Script will check if your website is up, and check the response time of the site also. You can then choose to receive an email notification if the site is down, or if the site response time is too high. All results are also written to a daily log file. You can check as many websites as you wish, all URL's are stored in a separate text file for easy updating. Web Site Monitoring - Performance Monitoring is open-source and released under the GPL license.


text:
Life in West New Jersey, 1680
October 29, 2009 By Marfy Goodspeed in Burlington County, West New Jersey 6 Comments	Tags: Bucks County, early settlers
This post is another side trip in my journey through Hunterdon history by way of Samuel Green. While looking through the Delaware Papers by Charles T. Gehring, I happened upon some interesting items dating to 1680.
In a previous post, I mentioned a petition by residents of Crewcorne regarding the sale of liquor to the Indians. That petition can be found in the Delaware Papers, along with a couple related items. But first, where was Crewcorne (sometimes written "Creekhorne" or "Crookhorn")? As a town it did not survive and does not appear on any maps. But it was always identified as being "at the Falls," which means near Trenton. In fact, it was on the Pennsylvania side of the river, as I learned from reading History of Bucks County, Pennsylvania by William W. H. Davis (1905), another of those great old Google books. He wrote that Crewcorne was a small settlement in Bucks County somewhat below the falls, and that it was probably named for Crewkerne, a market town in Somersetshire. According to Davis, the first court in Bucks County was held there, in 1680. This explains why it does not appear in the Burlington Court Book.
Some of the land there was purchased from Gov. Andros. The west side of the Delaware was not under the jurisdiction of New Jersey or New York, but the residents looked to Andros since there was no other authority established, until William Penn came along in 1682. As Davis wrote: "In truth, at that time the settlers in Bucks county lived 'nowhere' so far as legal jurisdiction was concerned."
I learned more about Crewcorne from an article by Terry McNealy published in Town & Country Living Magazines in 2007. He wrote that a few Quaker families settled just below the falls in 1679, and the name came from the home in England of William Biles, who was probably the wealthiest member of the group. That little settlement is known today as Morrisville (and is the title of McNealy's article; you can read it here).
So, here is the item that caught my attention. It was dated April 12, 1680 and was a petition by the residents of Crewcorne to the Governor (who was still Edmund Andros) for relief. Here is the text, with all its wonderful spelling aberrations, and blanks from illegibility:
"To the Worthy Governor of new York
Whereas wee the Inhabitants of the new seated Towne nere the falls of Delloware (called Crewcorne) findeing our selves agreived by the Indians when drunck, Insomuch that we be and have been in great danger of our Lives, of houses burning of our goods Stealeing and of our Wives and children a Frighting, Insomuch that wee are affeared to go about our Lawfull occasions, least when wee come home we [. . .] finde them and our concernes damnifyed. These things considered we doe humbly and Jointly desire that the selling [. . .] and other strong liquors to the Indians may be wholly suppressed which if done we shall live peaceable.
[signed] Willi Biles, Rich Regway, Samuel Field, John Akarman, Robt [Lucas], Robt Scholey, Tho: Scholey, Danial Brinson, William Cooper, George Browne.
"Mr. Gilbert Wheelers house broake open by Indians and Peter Aldrix Mans house on The Island and another hou[s] [signed] Gilbert Wheeler
"Hoskins drowned
"Estate att Burlington"
It is well known that Indians had no tolerance for alcohol, which was provided to them by the English. This petition does tell us something of the difficulties these early settlers were confronting and their uneasiness with living so close to a people they understood so poorly. However, their only complaint about the Indians seems to be their behavior when drunk. Otherwise, things were "peaceable."
On May 17, 1680, William Biles, the constable of Crewcorne, sent a note to Gov. Andros stating that according to the warrant that Gov. Andros issued on April 20th, he summoned Gilbert Wheeler and Barnet Keerce to appear before the Governor in New York. (I do not have information on what Gov. Andros decided, but I expect he fined Wheeler and Keerce.) William Biles also had the residents gather to choose some commissioners, presumably to provide some sort of local government. Those commissioners were George Browne, Robert Scooly [sic], Robert Lucas, and Samuel Field [sic]. Biles reported that things had been quiet since April and "the people heare are very well satisfied with what thee hath done in order to Keepe them quiet." I suspect that Biles was appointed constable by Gov. Andros, and his order to have residents chose commissioners probably also came from Andros.
The quiet that Biles boasted of did not last. On September 13, 1680, the residents again complained "unwillingly" to the Governor about the sale of liquor to the Indians, but this time they complained explicitly about Gilbert Wheeler, who would "not be restrained from selling of strong liquor to the Indians." And it is Wheeler I am interested in because he was one of the earliest to purchase land in what became Delaware Township, Hunterdon County. The Crewcorne residents complained that he
"entertains the Indians at his house by great numbers, and sells it [liquor] to them by both great and small measures, which sometimes they carry a little distance from his house and makes them selves drunck with it, Then they revill and fight together, and then they com furiously and break our fences and steales our corne, and breaks our windows and dores and carryes away our goods, and worryed 3 of our chatle [cattle] in one day with their dogs, which oppression if it continue will force some of us from our Plantations, we being very weake at the present for resistance and ignorant of their Lingo whereby we can not appease them when they are mad with drinck."
McNealy wrote that Wheeler, a London fruit merchant, was the first person to set up a ferry across the Delaware, and also a tavern for the travelers' comfort. It was probably from this tavern that Indians got access to liquor.
Gilbert Wheeler of London arrived in New Jersey in 1679 aboard the Jacob and Mary, with his wife Martha and children William, Brian and Martha. He also brought servants Charles Thompson, Robert Benson, and Katharine Knight. Although he had property in Bucks County, PA, he also had proprietary shares in West New Jersey, as he was one of the proprietors who conveyed acreage to Thomas Budd in 1687.
The petitioners of 1680 asked that the sale of liquor to Indians be "wholly suppressed amongst us." They were a little frustrated because William Biles had given them all sorts of reassurances after their first petition, but it turned out that he too was interested in selling liquor to Indians. It must have been a fairly lucrative business to make these men willing to endure the anger of their neighbors and the destruction of property that resulted.
A question I cannot answer with certainty at this time is what the Indians paid for their liquor. It must have been something like corn or some other product they could offer, like furs.
As for Gilbert Wheeler, he did not mend his ways. At the Burlington Court in August 1682 (pg. 9), Gov. Jennings and the Commissioners heard the case of Gilbert Wheeler defendant for selling Rum etc. He was found guilty and fined £5.
In 1688, Wheeler appeared again in Burlington Court charged in an "Action of Trover" * but a case could not be made against him and was dismissed.1 The next entry in the Court Book (pg 84) states:
"Gilbert Wheeler according to his Bond appears about his selling Rum, the Court demand the Fyne of 5l. [i.e., £5] formerly laid on him for selling Rum: Whereupon upon Mr. Wheelers request for mitigation the Court remitt it to 50s. provided Wheeler pay it in Silver money."
In May 1690, Wheeler was once again a defendant when he was sued by James Marshall. Wheeler failed to appear. Thomas Revell and James Hill testified against him, and the court awarded a fine of £21.13.0 silver money which was the principal debt with damages and cost of the suit. In August, the court remitted Wheeler's fine to 50 shillings at the request of George Hutchinson (pgs 103, 114). I can't help but wonder what the story was there.
Despite his legal troubles, Wheeler managed to acquire property. In 1693, he was taxed in Falls Twp., Bucks Co. In 1697, Wheeler had 250 acres surveyed along the Delaware River. His property appears on the Hammond Map, adjacent to the first tract surveyed in that area, to John Calow in 1695. As I work my way through the 1680s and into the 1690s, I will have more opportunity to talk about these early surveys in Hunterdon County.
The next year, 1698, Wheeler wrote his will, as a yeoman of Bucks County. He named his wife Sarah executrix along with son-in-law John Clark of Burlington and friend John Pidcock of Bucks County. The will was witnessed by Richard and Sarah Bull, William Taylor and William 'Emlen' (Emley). These witnesses were residents of Gloucester County, New Jersey, which indicates how the river acted more as a bridge than a barrier between settlements. Wheeler may have been ill when he wrote his will, but he managed to survive until 1703. At least, that is the year that his will was recorded.
As for Crewcorne, the village continued as the county seat of Bucks County until 1705, when the courts were moved to Bristol. However, in the years before Penn arrived, Crewcorne residents took part in deliberations of the Burlington Court. For instance, Robert Scholey served as a petty juror on the Burlington Court in 1681-82. In fact, most of the names of the petitioners of April 1680 appear in the Burlington Court Book. The exceptions are John Akarman (Ackerman/Akerman), George Browne, and Samuel Feild (Field).
A legal definition of an action of trover is a legal action brought to recover the value of personal chattels, wrongfully converted by another to his own use, which tells us little of what the case was about. ↩
« West New Jersey in 1681» West New Jersey, 1682
BRIAN F RIDGEWAY
Great article on a subject I will continue to research. One of my distant relatives, Richard Ridgeway, a Quaker who was one of the first residents in Crewcorne. In the petition, his name is noted as Rich Regway. I think he came to America with Gil Wheeler back in 1679, 340 years ago.
Brian, I too am a descendent of Richard Ridgway (traditional spelling is without "e"). I'm aware of their arrival in 1679, on the Jacob and Mary, from Wallingford, England, but I'm particularly interested to know more about the area around Burlington and what was once Crewcorne. You might enjoy "The Decent of the Ridgway/Ridgeway Family in England and America" It contains some interesting stuff, and some wildly inaccurate stuff.
Marvin Gaskill
In your comment to the goodspeedhistories.com article "Life in West New Jersey in 1680" you asked for information on your relative Richard Ridgway who settled in Crewcorne (The Falls) and then moved to Springfield Twp NJ 8 miles east of Burlington NJ (capital of West New Jersey) after his wife Elizabeth died in 1692 (in Crewcorne).
Ridgway purchased a plantation of 600 (?) acres in 1697 (actually, a lawyer -I forget the name– made the purchase a year or two earlier and transferred the deed to Ridgway in '97. The purchase price, if I remember accurately, was 2,000 or 2,500 pounds). The deed, which was the first deed for that land arising from a grant from the King, is filed in the Trenton Archives. (I obtained a copy of it when I bought Ridgway's farmhouse in 1970.)
Ridgway brought his second wife, Abigail nee Stockton, and their child, Job, (1694) to live there. The house is located approximately 900 feet from today's Jacksonville Road in the hamlet of Jacksonville (today) on Barker's Brook which at the time was named Mattacopeny Creek . He and Abigail must have known the area well beforehand because he was a Court of Quarterly Session justice in the Burlington Court who had been commuting from The Falls and Abigail was the daughter of the wealthy Stockton family in Burlington County. Richard Ridgway Jr (son of Elizabeth) married Abigail's sister.
The Stocktons donated ground for Princeton Univ. and one of them signed the Declaration of Independence 3/4 of a century later. But you must know all of that. Richard died in 1723 and Abigail died 3 years later, both still in Springfield Twp.
The original farmhouse was a 1-1/2 story Swedish cottage, wood frame, post and beam, about 15′ wide by 30′ long with large hearth and no well. I found a spring about 75′ to the east above the creek. The house had a cellar constructed of local sandstone. The property was sold to a family named Thomas circa 1751. Prior to or at that time a brick Federal Period addition was added to the west side that increased the home by 2/3. The original Ridgway house was remodeled into a flat roof 2-story Victorian in the 1800s and a large kitchen was added to the eastern side in 1907. The Work Progress Admin in 1930s built a concrete outhouse with 2 toilet seats. The farm had a shallow well in the milk house for 13 cows but the house relied on rainwater off the roof into a cistern under the kitchen until, believe it or not, 1968. In 1968 a well was driven, a septic tank and drain tiles were installed, central heat was added, and the Victorian roof and kitchen roof were remodeled into a gabled Colonial which is the current exterior in 2020.
When I purchased the property in 1970 I stripped out everything modern (except for the plumbing and heating systems) and restored the building to circa 1750, cutting all millwork to match the original construction. I added back Ridgway's large hearth and exposed beams. Oh, the owners of the property in the 1770s donated 1 acre across Jacksonville Road for construction of a brick Friends Meeting in 1775. It has a Quaker cemetery behind it (open to public) that might have Ridgway markers.
I also added a formal English garden (Ridgway was English) in front of the house leading to a boomerang-shaped pond. You can see the bisected circular brick path around the garden in this Google aerial photo. https://www.google.com/maps/place/Jacksonville,+Springfield,+NJ+08505/@40.0500936,-74.7538671,149m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x89c145938c520f65:0xedc3bf8e536399b0!8m2!3d40.050389!4d-74.7634948
tobutch@juno.com
Hi Petter, the Crewcorne properties were surveyed in 1679 by Jasper Dankers. That is an amazing document. I know that Richard Ridgway (spelling was not important back then) helped build a Quaker meeting house in Burlington the late 1790's. I wish you luck in your research.
peter jenny
Hi Brian- thanks for the reply. I found Danckaerts journal document online, which I think is what you're referring to? Actually, I believe that Richard Ridgway gave the land for a meeting house at Stonypoint NJ- I admit Wiki isn't the best source, but I was looking for something to share quickly https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stony_Brook_Meeting_House_and_Cemetery. Thanks, best of luck to you
Linda Reid
Great to read all of this. I too am a descendant of Richard Ridgway – from Joseph Ridgway Frelan (Freeland), my 3 x gt grandfather who was a descendant of Richard Ridgway. Born in New York, he was a whaler by trade, plying the Pacific. While in the new colony of Auckland, New Zealand he met and married my 3 x gt grandmother, an Irish emigrant. Hence the Ridgway family line in NZ.


text:
Taking place on Sunday 28th May, the Edinburgh Marathon is back. Select your distance and the charity you wish to run for.
Sunday 28th May
Edinburgh Marathon Festival – Sunday 28th May 2023
Fast & flat, this course was voted the fastest marathon in the UK by Runners World, ideal if it's your first marathon or you are looking for a PB. The Edinburgh Marathon has sold out every year since 2008 and is the second largest marathon in the UK, behind only London. Standard Entry From £66.00 and you can select your distance. To register please visit: 2023 Edinburgh Marathon – Sunday 28th May 2023


text:
Aerial was a Canadian pop and rock band from Toronto, active from 1973 to 1981.

History

Saskatchewan natives Brian Meissner and Laurie Currie originally found notoriety in the Winnipeg showband Sugar & Spice. By 1972, the band had changed its name to Spice and relocated to Toronto. When Spice broke up, Meissner and Currie launched a Beatles tribute act called Liverpool, with Miessner on bass and lead vocals, Currie on vocals and drums, David Moyles on guitar, and Rick Pearson on vocals and guitar. This original lineup played the first-ever Beatles Festival The Fest for Beatles Fans in New York City in 1974  and, that same year, played the famed Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles. In 1976, Liverpool had two Canadian hits: "Down To Liverpool" charted at #69, "Dolly" (written by Miessner and produced by Ian Thomas) charted at #24.

Liverpool toured in Canada and the U.S. as a four-piece band until 1975, when Malcolm Buchanan was added to play keyboards, allowing the group to play songs from Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and Magical Mystery Tour. Further personnel changes occurred in 1976, when Gary O'Conner was added on guitar and vocals. It was at this time that Moyles and Pearson left the group; in 1977, the band changed their name to Aerial.

For their first album release, In The Middle Of The Night, Aerial was signed to Capitol Records in the U.S., and Toronto's Anthem Records. Their second release on Anthem, 1980's Maneuvers, saw Gary O'Conner replaced on guitar with Tim White on guitar and vocals.

The band had a Top 40 hit in Canada with the single "Easy Love". The song reached #92 on the national RPM Magazine charts in 1978.

In 1980, Aerial toured in support of Maneuvers and disbanded in 1981.

Discography

Albums
 In the Middle of the Night (1978)
 Maneuvers (1980)

Singles
 "Down To Liverpool" (1976)
 "Dolly" (1976)
 "Easy Love" (1978)
 "Harmony" (1978)
 "Moments Like This" (1979)
 "Tears That You Cry" (1980)

References

Musical groups established in 1973
Musical groups disestablished in 1981
Musical groups from Toronto
The Beatles tribute bands
Canadian pop rock music groups
1973 establishments in Ontario
1981 disestablishments in Ontario


text:
Annabelle 3 Casts Katie Sarife In Leading Role
by Nicholas Raymond
– on Oct 17, 2018
Youth & Consequences star Katie Sarife has been cast in a leading role in the horror film Annabelle 3. Sarife's character will be one of the film's three protagonists. The other two have already been cast.
The Annabelle series originated as a spinoff of James Wan's The Conjuring, a film that told a story from the case files of real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. The success of The Conjuring, Annabelle, and The Conjuring 2 launched an entire Conjuring Universe, which has grown to include yet another spinoff, The Nun, a film that released last month to become the franchise's biggest hit to date. The next movie set in The Conjuring Universe is an untitled third installment in the Annabelle series.
Related: The Conjuring Universe Complete Timeline: From The Nun To The Warrens
Deadline reports that actress Katie Sarife has been cast as a friend of the Warrens' teenage babysitter, played by Madison Iseman. Iseman's character will be looking after the Warren's 10-year-old daughter, Judy (McKenna Grace). The three actresses will be the film's leads.
Gary Dauberman, who penned the scripts for the first two Annabelle movies and The Nun, will return to both write and direct Annabelle 3. The film will also see Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga reprise their roles as Ed and Lorraine Warren, respectively. However, the Warrens will only be playing supporting roles, despite the fact that the film is expected to take place primarily in their home.
Annabelle 3 focuses on what happens after the Annabelle doll is put in a glass case at the Warren's household, where it was first glimpsed in The Conjuring. The doll is one of many haunted items kept under lock and key in the Warrens' artifact room, and possibly one of the most dangerous.
It appears that the film will center on supernatural activities that occur at a time when Ed and Lorraine are away from home. Instead, Judy, her babysitter, and Sarife's character will be the targets of Annabelle and any other ghosts or demons that might be involved. It's possible that one of the three characters will be responsible for letting Annabelle out of her case. When that happens, nothing may stop Annabelle from freeing the other haunted artifacts. Combined, they could prove to be the most dangerous threat The Conjuring Universe has ever seen. The worst part is that if the Warrens are out of town, the three girls may be trapped with Annabelle for quite some time, which will without a doubt result in a terrifying situation.
More: The Conjuring 3 Should Begin Production In 2019
Tags: annabelle 3


Vision:Each student is a valued individual with unique physical, social, emotional, and intellectual needs. Student learning is the chief priority for the school. A student's self-esteem is enhanced by positive relationships and mutual respect among and between students and staff. A safe and physically comfortable environment promotes student learning. Students learn best when they are actively engaged in the learning process. Curriculum and instructional practices should incorporate a variety of learning activities to accommodate differences in learning styles. Technology is a critical learning tool essential for future success in our global society. Teachers, parents/guardians and community are partners in understanding and educating every student.


text:
Liverpool researchers help pioneer new device that can 'smell' cancer
ODOREADER detects early signs of bladder cancer
How the ODOREADER is likely to look like in the future
A Merseyside university has helped pioneer a device that can "smell" whether patients have early signs of bladder cancer.
Researchers from the University of Liverpool and University of the West of England, (UWE Bristol), have built the device whcih reads the odours in urine, to help with diagnosis.
They say there are currently no reliable biological markers to screen patients for bladder cancer in the same way that there are for breast and cervical cancers.
Previous research suggested that a particular odour in the urine could be detected by dogs trained to recognise the scent – indicating that methods of diagnoses could be based on the smell of certain gases. The team have now built a device, called ODOREADER® that contains a sensor which responds to chemicals in gas from urine.
The device, constructed in the laboratories at UWE Bristol's Institute of Biosensor Technology, produces a 'profile' of the chemicals in urine that can be read to diagnose the presence of cancer cells in the bladder.
Professor Chris Probert, from the Liverpool University's Institute of Translational Medicine, said: "Each year approximately 10,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with bladder cancer. It is a disease that, if caught early, can be treated effectively, but unfortunately we do not have any early screening methods other than diagnosis through urine tests at the stage when it starts to become a problem."
The device works by inserting a bottle containing the urine sample into the device. Results come through about 30 minutes later.
The team looked at 98 samples of urine to develop the device, and tested it on 24 patient samples known to have cancer and 74 samples that did not. The device correctly assigned 100% of cancer patients.
As bladder cancer is costly to treat, researchers believe by reducing the need for repeated tests, it could also to save the NHS money.
Everton FC transfer newsEverton transfer news LIVE - Everton Soares talks held, Allan linked, Blues urged to sell SigurdssonLatest Everton transfer news and rumours including updates on Everton Soares, Allan, Gylfi Sigurdsson and more


text:
Business Events Featured Local News
Cocoon Maldives defends Leading Designer Resort title at South Asian Travel Awards
m@ldives	319 views September 17, 2018
Cocoon Maldives has defended the title for South Asia's Leading Designer Hotel/Resort at the annual South Asian Travel Awards (SATA).
The award was presented to the resort for the second consecutive year, at the SATA 2018 gala held at The Taj Mahal Palace hotel in Mumbai Saturday afternoon.
Cocoon Maldives, located in Ookolhufinolhu Island in the northern Lhaviyani atoll, blends the best of Italian design with the Maldives' stunning natural beauty. The five-star resort, which officially opened in March, houses 150 villas that are exclusively designed by Lago, one of Italy's finest design firms.
The resort, accessible by a 40-minute scenic seaplane flight from the main Velana International Airport, features three restaurants and two bars offering a variety of cuisines from around the world and romantic dining experiences.
The Cube Spa at Cocoon Maldives, meanwhile, is located in the heart of the island to ensure maximum privacy and intimacy, and offers variety of relaxing and rejuvenating treatments with qualified masseurs from Bali.
Launched in 2016 by Maldives based event management company Highrise, SATA has been endorsed by regional tourism authorities and organisations, including the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Sri Lanka (FCCISL), Colombo Chamber of Commerce (CCC), Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC), Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO), Confederation of Associated Tour Operators (India), Association of Travel Agents (ATA) Maldives, Association of Travel and Tour Operators India (ATTOI), Association of Professionals in Tourism (APT, India), Kerala Hotel General Managers Club (KHGMC), Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and Liveaboard Association of Maldives (LAM).
SATA is the first ever regional travel awards endorsed by multi national associations, providing the tourism sector of the South Asian region with recognition towards their facilities and service excellence. It aims to encourage and raise service standards in the region's tourism industry.
A record 500 plus nominations from the Maldives, India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Nepal were received for the 36 categories in 10 segments included in this year's edition of SATA.
TagsAwardAwardsCocoon MaldivesSATASouth Asia Travel Awards (SATA)South Asian Travel Awards (SATA)


By entering the Crusader Caravans Giveaway (the "Competition"), you are agreeing to the following Terms and Conditions.
1. Information on how to enter and the Prize form part of these Terms and Conditions. Participation in the Competition is deemed acceptance of these Terms andConditions.
1. The Competition commences on 20th February, 2019 at 09:00am (AEST) and concludes on 4th August, 2019 at 23:59pm (AEST) (the "Competition Period"). Entries can be submitted via the giveaway entry page up to 5th August, 2019 at 23:59pm (AEST).
iv. Entering the Melbourne Dog Lovers Show from 3rd May, 2019 to 5th May, 2019.
v. Entering the Sydney Dog Lovers Show from 3rd August, 2019 to 4th August, 2019.
vi. Providing evidence of purchase of any of the above.
name, contact number, email address and address.
be signed in person at Crusader Caravans address prior to collection of the prize. If the winner of the major prize does not have a valid Australian Driver's License it can be transferred to a nominated family member at the approval of the Promoter. Neither the Promoter nor the Sponsors are liable for any costs associated with the Winner travelling to collect the Prize or transporting the Prize upon collection.
with in your caravan?"." is judged to be the most creative and original and who satisfies the eligibility requirements as set out in these Terms and Conditions. This is a game of skill and chance plays no part in determining the Winner. Each entry received during the Competition Period will be judged based on its merits.
5. The Winner will be notified via phone or email and announced on the Family Parks, DLS and CIA VIC websites and associated Facebook pages.
9. In the event that the Winner does not accept the Prize it may, at the discretion of the Promoter, be awarded to the next runner up in the Competition. This may take place at any time from 1st June, 2019. The runner up will be notified via phone or email.


Let face it i not into dating - Hookup To Relationship!
The beginning of relationships is usually a little interesting as you each dance through the investigatory process in your own way.
Some dive in immediately and ask deep questions e. ENFPs or a myriad of other approaches.
Usually these break apart before they turn into relationships, but there are those times where it goes further. Regardless of the reason, it happens. So what were some of them?
In other words, they show no sign of commitment or investment in the relationship. As soon as you need them, really need them, they are either unexpectedly busy or started a fight to deflect their lack of desire to be there for you.
Guys are lousy at hiding this sort of thing, if they are into you, you know it. You see it in how they look at you, how they talk to you, how they touch you, how they treat you.
No one said dating was easy, though taking the approach of narrowing in and investing in the guys that show you they care could help on the path to finding the guys with real potential of becoming that someone special. You are commenting using your WordPress. You are commenting using your Twitter account.
Notify me of new posts via email. Skip to content The beginning of relationships is usually a little interesting as you each dance through the investigatory process in your own way.
Facebook Email Tumblr Reddit. Leave a Reply Cancel reply Enter your comment here Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: Email required Address never made public.
The Power of Love Languages…. Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Let's face it, he's not into you Maybe because of where you/he is at in life, in dating, after a divorce, or maybe there's hope stronger feelings.
He's outgoing, goal-oriented, spontaneous and, let's face it, just downright smokin' hot. Here are all the "Don'ts" when dealing with a guy who's clearly just not that into you: Dating is the process to see if you click together.
Let's face it—no matter how perfect he is, there's no single guy on earth who can Defensive Dating How many times have you strung a guy along (let's call him the substitute boyfriend) knowing full well you weren't that into him, just to have.


407apartments will give you a tour of Orlando's neighborhoods.
There are so many different neighborhoods in Orlando, how do I find the right apartment in Orlando for me?
This is precisely the reason we developed 407apartments.com. If you are trying to figure out which Orlando neighborhood would be suited for you, check out our Neighborhood guide. Here you will find a full summary of each area with suggestions of activities and shopping available, local Orlando schools, a description of the local business community and major roads serving this area. You can then search for apartments by neighborhood, address or zip code with our real-time search bars on the Orlando Apartments search page.


I tried to explain how can you find HCF of 4052 and 12576 by Using Euclid's Division Algorithm. You know Euclid's Division Algorithm is a =bq+ r In this video, I have tried this formula to find the HCF or GCF or HCD which is 4.
No Comment to " Find HCF of 4052 and 12576 by Euclid's Algorithm | Class 10 Maths "


We would like to introduce the work of the EU Beet Sugar Sustainability Partnership.
Formed in 2013 as a coalition between EU beet growers (represented by CIBE), sugar producers (CEFS) and trade unions in the food and agriculture sectors (EFFAT), the Partnership exists to demonstrate sustainability throughout the beet sugar industry in the region.
We would also like to invite you to join us for an important stakeholder roundtable in Milan on 9th September 2015.
We are now launching our first major project: the Good Practices. We developed the Good Practices to illustrate the sustainability practices in place in beet cultivation, sugar processing and our combined approach to social responsibility and dialogue with stakeholders. As we launch the Good Practices this month, we are encouraging our members, colleagues and collaborators to learn more about how we view our sustainability challenges and responsibilities, and how we are working to address the significant expectations our stakeholders have – for quality products, a sustainable and eco-efficient industry, and for responsible supply chains, to which we contribute every day, around the world.
Alongside the Good Practices, we have developed a range of additional documents and materials you might find helpful.
- Issue Briefs: a set of in-depth, issue-specific backgrouders that explore a topic of key interest, how our industry affects it, and what we are doing about it. We currently have issue Briefs available on soil and water.
- Good Practices handbook: the full, detailed Good Practices - complete with dozens of illustrative case studies and links to relevant European legislation - are available online.
In September, we will convene a workshop of experts, partners and stakeholders to discuss, debate and feed back on the Partnership and the Good Practices, and we would be delighted if you would agree to join us on 9th September. This event will be hosted by DG Agri in the EU pavilion at Expo 2015, in Milan.
Please do let us know whether we can answer any questions you might have at this stage – whether about the Partnership, the Good Practices, or the workshop. You can email us at contact@sustainablesugar.eu. We look forward to hearing from you.


With surprising frankness, Venezuela's deputy minister of foreign affairs, Mari Pili Hernández, recently set out the guidelines for her government's views on the subject of human rights. Appearing before the new Council on Human Rights at the United Nations, Hernandez, who is directly connected with President Hugo Chávez himself, stated, "All rights are important, but it is a lot more important to feed oneself than to be part of a political party, to have an honorable job than to live in a democratic system, to know how to read and write than to have freedom of expression."
As if any doubt remained about the meaning of her words, the Venezuelan representative added that the "economic and social" rights should play a "predominant role" over the "civilian and political" rights during the Council's debates.
The ideas of the deputy minister, which represent the official position of the Venezuelan government, reflect the same views of totalitarian states that have darkened most of the 20th Century. Imagine, dear reader, a country where the people can read and write, eat every day and hold "honorable" jobs but where they cannot form political parties, have no freedom of expression, and where there is no democracy. A situation where "economic" rights have priority over "political" rights, that is, where people are guaranteed some goods and services, such as education, health care or housing, but where no one can hold political meetings, no one can send news abroad, and it's forbidden to access the Internet or criticize the government.
Would you like to live in such a place? Well, if you answered yes, you can do so without much difficulty. All you need to do is ask for the proper visa and travel to Fidel Castro's Cuba. There, in exchange for an obsolete, primitive and very unequal system, as well as an education that is mostly government political propaganda, the citizens have no right to decide what their jobs will be, cannot engage in commerce or industry, cannot travel abroad or emigrate, and are obliged to show up at all the public demonstrations organized by the regime. This is also a country where people who commandeer a boat to escape from tyranny are sentenced to death, or are sentenced to 25 years in a grim prison for the "crime" of sending news reports abroad.
That is exactly the model that Chávez and his most intimate followers have in mind when they outline the goals of the "Bolivarian revolution" that—with fierce determination and with the large sums of money they derive from crude oil—they are now trying to impose throughout America. Although they have not yet reached their objective in Venezuela, they're just a few short steps from it.
Freedom of the press does exist, but it is very restricted by a law that a docile Congress (which is now totally made up of supporters of the president) passed more than a year ago. With that gag law, and by constantly threatening to not renew the licenses of radio and TV broadcasters, Chávez has managed to silence much of the opposition, which still dares to criticize the government but takes great care not to overstep its limits.
Elections do exist, no question about that, but they are manipulated. The opposition withdrew from the election last December because of the total lack of guarantees for a clean and fair election. Inflated voter registration rolls that listed thousands of fictitious citizens with names like "Superman" or "XXXXX," and included nearly 30,000 people older than 100 years, and a totally manipulated electronic balloting system made it impossible to have anything close to a clean election.
Private property still exists in Venezuela, true, but the government expropriates farms and businesses at will, controls the foreign-currency exchange, and completely dominates the judiciary, which selectively hounds any oppositionist who might ever become a remote threat to the government.
In addition, this false democracy rests on two pillars: a huge army that is rearming at top speed and that (for the time being) is totally faithful to the president, and a series of social programs designed to insure public support of the government.
With an opposition that's divided and in good measure paralyzed, Chávez is trying to export his model of revolution, as all other totalitarian states have done. He has managed to obtain an ally in Bolivia, although he failed in Peru and is now arousing the suspicions of many in the continent. But Chávez will go on unperturbed, trying to export his peculiar vision of human rights until, at some future moment, people will understand the menace he represents to peace and take action to stop him.


text:
Georgia: McCain Still Enjoys Double Digit Lead
John McCain continues to hold a substantial lead over Barack Obama in Georgia. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in the state shows the presumptive Republican nominee attracting 53% of the vote while his Democratic rival earns support from 43%. One percent (1%) of voters would opt for former Georgia Congressman Bob Barr who is running as the Libertarian candidate for President. Three percent (3%) of voters are undecided.
A month ago, McCain enjoyed a similar ten-point lead, 51% to 41%. Rasmussen Reports has conducted four polls in the Peachtree State this year and McCain has led by double digits in all four. Republican Senator Saxby Chambliss appears to be in good shape for his re-election bid.
McCain is viewed favorably by 60% of Georgia voters, Obama by 47%.
The current survey found that up to 6% of Georgia voters might consider voting for Barr. Most of these are currently McCain voters. If all 6% voted for Barr, the race in Georgia might be competitive. However, unless McCain is clearly headed for defeat nationally, it is unlikely that Barr will make enough of an impact to threaten the Republican winning streak in the state.
George W. Bush won the Georgia twice by double digits. Bill Clinton narrowly carried the state in 1992 but lost it to Bob Dole in 1996. Rasmussen Markets data shows that McCain is currently given a % chance of winning Georgia's fifteen Electoral College votes this fall. At the time this poll was released, Georgia was rated as "Likely Republican" in the Rasmussen Reports Balance of Power Calculator.
Forty-nine percent (49%) of Georgia voters say it's more important to get the troops home from Iraq than it is to win the war. Forty-five percent (45%) hold the opposite view and say victory is more important. Those figures are little changed from a month ago.
Sixty-four percent (64%) say that offshore oil wells should be allowed while 25% of Georgia voters disagree. Those figures are similar to the national average.
George W. Bush won 58% of the Georgia vote in Election 2004 but today just 40% say he is doing a good or an excellent job as President.
This survey was conducted in partnership with Fox Television Stations Inc.
See survey questions and toplines. Crosstabs are available to Premium Members only.
Likely Republican
RR Poll
Mkts.
McCain (R)
Obama (D)
This telephone survey of 800 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports on June 26, 2008. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 4 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence.
See Methodology.
Georgia Trends: McCain vs. Obama
Favorable Ratings for Presidential Candidates in Georgia
Very Favorable
Somewhat Favorable
Somewhat Unfavorable
Very Unfavorable
Rasmussen Reports - Electoral College Balance of Power Summary
Toss-Ups & Leaners
About Rasmussen Reports
Rasmussen Reports is an electronic publishing firm specializing in the collection, publication, and distribution of public opinion polling information.
The Rasmussen Reports ElectionEdge™ Premium Service for Election 2008 offers the most comprehensive public opinion coverage ever provided for a Presidential election.
Scott Rasmussen, president of Rasmussen Reports, has been an independent pollster for more than a decade.


Urinary incontinence results from various disorders, such as pelvic organ prolapses, enlarged prostate gland, musculoskeletal diseases, multiple childbirths that stress or weaken the bladder and genetic factors. However, regardless of its cause, embarrassment is often a factor for those suffering from the condition.
If you have experienced this disorder, you will be pleased to know that after consulting a doctor, there are numerous natural remedies available that have proven to be effective for certain individuals.
Alcohol and caffeine can both contribute to urinary incontinence because both are diuretics. Most experts who work in urology departments agree that limiting the use of these substances or eliminating them from your diet entirely may help control the involuntary leakage of urine.
Depending on your current habits and any other health issues from which you may suffer, reducing fluids may be helpful in preventing incontinence. Although your body must be properly hydrated, specifically limiting your intake of fruit juices can reduce your need to make sporadic trips to the restroom.
If you are carrying extra weight, particularly in your midsection, it may be placing pressure on your bladder. For this reason, simply dropping a few pounds and toning up your muscles may go a long way toward alleviating your problem.
Supplementing your diet with magnesium under a doctor's care may reduce bladder spasms and help you to fully empty your bladder each time you urinate. This can ultimately reduce the number of times you must get up during the night to urinate (nocturia) and subsequently lower the risk of nocturnal accidents. Bananas and potatoes are excellent natural sources of this mineral, or you can ingest magnesium in the form of supplements.
Low levels of vitamin D can lead to incontinence in some people. According to certain studies, women who consume adequate amounts of vitamin D were much less likely to develop the problem than women who were vitamin D deficient. The best dietary sources of vitamin D are fish, eggs and milk, but similar to magnesium, supplements are also an option.
Exercises that strengthen the pelvic muscles may also help you combat urinary problems. Such exercises help tone the pelvic floor, resulting in enhanced bladder control.
Apple cider vinegar assists the body to remove toxins and helps fight bladder infections. It can also enhance weight loss, thus alleviating pressure on the bladder. If you choose to add apple cider vinegar to your diet, you will be pleased to know that as little as 1-2 teaspoons is all it takes to see positive results in most individuals.
Numerous traditional herbs offer advantages regarding urinary incontinence. Holistic practitioners who have studied urology often recommend an herb called Gosha-jinki-gan. This herb has been used in China for centuries for this disorder, as it is believed to reduce urgency and frequency of urination.
Women suffering from incontinence can also obtain a pessary from their OB/GYN or urologist. A pessary is a simple device used to support the pelvic floor and enhance bladder control.
If you smoke, talk to your doctor about a smoking cessation program as soon as possible. Smoking is obviously linked to more than one negative health effect, but unknown to many individuals is that a link has been found between urinary incontinence and the use of cigarettes.
The practice of acupuncture is centuries old and concerns itself with aligning all body systems to help them work together. Although not proven to solve urinary issues, there is anecdotal evidence that acupuncture therapy may help with this condition.
Some therapists use biofeedback to help with the various urinary issues patients face. Targeting necessary therapy points helps certain people with urinary problems, provided the therapy is performed on a regular basis.
If your problem is due in whole or in part to chronic constipation, then keeping bowel movements regular and soft is advantageous, as this reduces pelvic floor strain. To accomplish this, add high amounts of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains to your diet to prevent and relieve constipation.
Finally, it is always wise to check with a doctor before taking any new supplements or making changes to your diet and fitness routine. Additionally, you should always consult with a physician before choosing a natural cure for incontinence or any other health condition.


text:
Eddie Vedder Releases 'The Haves' From New Solo Album 'Earthling'
Seattle Surf / Republic
Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder announced details of his new solo album Earthling and released the second single "The Haves."
The song follows the launch of the song "Long Way" two months ago and comes ahead of the LP's arrival on Feb. 11. The record is available for pre-order now. The lyric video for "The Haves" can be seen below.
The album was recorded by Vedder's new band the Earthlings, which includes former Red Hot Chili Peppers member Josh Klinghoffer – a recent Pearl Jam recruit – and his ex-bandmate, RHCP drummer Chad Smith. The group also includes producer and guitarist Andrew Watt, known for his work with Ozzy Osbourne, among others.
The album came about when Vedder visited old friend Watt's home studio in Los Angeles. "We just started messing around," Watt told Variety of "Long Way." "There was something there right away that I wanted to chase and finish," he said. "It was just the right place and the right time and it all happened very organically. It sounds like people playing together in a room, which is what a good rock song should be."
While Pearl Jam ended a three-year absence from the stage with a show in September, Vedder has kept himself busy by working on the soundtrack to the Sean Penn movie Flag Day, recording a cover of AC/DC's classic "Highway to Hell" with Tom Morello and Bruce Springsteen and appearing on Elton John's The Lockdown Sessions LP.
Discussing his main band's time away from the limelight after completing work on its latest album Gigaton, Vedder told The Bill Simmons Podcast: "We're kind of reclusive by nature. So, in some ways it feels normal to be away from people, that's not necessarily out of my wheelhouse. ... I just keep thinking that first time we'll be in front of people – it's even hard to imagine when or how – it's going to be different. It's not like we didn't appreciate it before, it's just even tenfold."
Top 100 '90s Rock Albums
Any discussion of the Top 100 '90s Rock Albums will have to include some grunge, and this one is no different.
Next: Underrated Pearl Jam: The Most Overlooked Song From Each Album
Source: Eddie Vedder Releases 'The Haves' From New Solo Album 'Earthling'
Filed Under: Eddie Vedder
That Time Eddie Vedder Crowd Surfed a Bottle of Wine to His Mom – Video
Eddie Vedder Honors Taylor Hawkins During First 2022 Pearl Jam Show
Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder Interviews Astronauts in Outer Space for Earth Day
Eddie Vedder and NASA Launch 'Invincible' Space Flight Video
Eddie Vedder Shares Heartbreaking Story About Friend During Show
Pearl Jam Reply to Nikki Sixx's 'Boring' Comment Two More Times


It was a great pleasure to attend and celebrate the opening of our latest completed building and fit out at one of Europe's largest business communities in Oxfordshire.
The ceremony started with the ribbon cutting followed by an afternoon high tea reception.
Left: Peter Wrighton-Smith, CEO/Founder, Oxford Immunotec Global PLC.
Right: Mr Ed Vaizey, Member of Parliament for Didcot and Wantage.
143 Park Drive East is located in MEPC's Milton Park in Oxfordshire, part of the UK's 'Science Corridor'. The building has become the new home to Oxford Immunotec, a global high-growth Diagnostics Company focused on developing and commercialising proprietary tests for the management of under served immune-regulated conditions, including Tuberculosis, Lyme disease and Babesia screening.
SRA built the Hybrid Development for MEPC: a 27,000 sqft facility that will now combine two of the three existing Oxford Immunotec facilities already based at Milton Park. Our designs include manufacturing rooms, R&D laboratories, and Oxford Diagnostic Laboratories as well as high-specification offices for sales, marketing and various headquarters functions. Additionally, new communal spaces and rest areas have been specifically designed to provide an environment to facilitate a shift in the working culture towards flexible office spaces.
Oxford Immunotec manufactures all its products at Milton Park, of which, over 90% are exported to over 50 countries around the world. 143 Park Drive will enable the company to expand its manufacturing and laboratory space to support its continued growth, as well as support its transition from a one product company to a four product company.


text:
Category: Costa Rica
Located just 7km from the entrance to Manuel Antonio, the small, busy town of Quepos serves as the gateway to the national park, as well as a convenient port of call for travelers in need of goods and services. Although the Manuel Antonio area was rapidly and irreversibly transformed following the ecotourism boom, Quepos has largely retained an authentic Tico feel, particularly when you get out of the middle of town. Exuding an ineffable charm absent from so much of the central Pacific, Quepos still has glimmers of traditional Latin America, even while being a heavily traveled stop on the tourist-packed gringo trail.
While most visitors to the Manuel Antonio area prefer to stay outside Quepos, accommodations are generally cheaper and better in town, though you will need to organize transportation to both the national park and the beaches. Quepos can be an appealing place to stay, especially since it's home to a burgeoning restaurant scene that belies its small size, as well as one of the country's best hostels. Quepos is also gridded with easy-to-walk streets, which provide the opportunity to interact with the friendly locals, who have thus far weathered the storm of change with cheerfulness and optimism.
The town's name was derived from the indigenous Quepoa, a subgroup of the Brunka (Boruca), who inhabited the area at the time of the Spanish conquest. As with many indigenous populations across the region, the Quepoa were quickly decimated by newly introduced European diseases. By the end of the 19th century no pureblooded Quepoa were left, and the area proceeded to be colonized by farmers from the highlands.
Quepos first came to prominence as a banana-exporting port in the early 20th century, though a huge bout of banana blight in the mid-20th century obliterated the industry. African oil palms, which currently stretch toward the horizon in dizzying rows around Quepos, soon replaced bananas as the major local crop, though unfortunately they generated a lot less employment for the locals.
The future, on the other hand, is looking bright for locals, as foreign visitors are coming to the Manuel Antonio area by the boatload, and more people means more jobs in the area's rapidly expanding tourism industry. The opening of the Marina Pez Vela may also have profound effects on this humble town, though questions of sustainability and the need for balanced growth continue to be fiercely debated in the local media.
Titi Canopy Tours (Tel 2777-3130; www.titicanopytour.com; Costanera. sur; daytime/nighttime. tours. Us$65/80; h tours. 7:30am, 11am. &. 2:30pm) Offering zip-lining adventures during the day and night, this outfit has friendly, professional guides and a convenient location just outside of central Quepos (150m south of the hospital). Tour rates include drinks, snacks and local transportation; group discounts are available.
H2O Adventures rafting (Rios Tropicales; Tel 2777-4092;. www.h2ocr.com) The venerable Costa Rican rafting company Ríos Tropicales has a franchise in Quepos called H2O Adventures. Rates for Class II to IV rapids start at US$67 in low season. In summer they are US$82.
The dive sites are still being developed in the Quepos and Manuel Antonio area, though readers have recommended the following operator. The dive sites are away from the contaminated beaches, so water pollution is not a problem when diving.
Oceans Unlimited Diving (Tel 2777-3171; www.scubadivingcostarica.com; 2-tank.dive.Us$98) S This shop takes its diving very seriously, and runs most of its excursions out to Isla Larga and Isla del Caño, which is south in Bahía Drake (connected via a two-hour bus trip). It also has a range of specialized PADI certifications, and regular environmental-awareness projects that make it stand out from the pack. It's located 400m up the road to Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio.
Sport fishing is big here, and offshore ventures are said to be best from December to April, when sailfish are being hooked. By and large this is a high-dollar activity and you can expect to pay upwards of US$1000 to hire a boat for the day. If you want to shop around a bit, visit the office of Marina Pez Vela (Tel 2774-9000; www.marinapezvela.com), 500m south of the town center, which can connect you with captains of boats best suited to your needs.
Quepos Sail fishing Charters fishing (Tel 2777-2025 www. queposfishing.com) This Quepos-based outfitter gets good reviews from travelers and offers charters on a fleet of variously sized boats. Rates vary significantly depending on season, number of people and size of boat. It also offers packages that include accommodations and transfers.
There are numerous reputable tour operators in the Quepos area, but the scene can be a bit tricky because of the abundance of third-party booking agents who work on commission. The best way to arrange a tour is through your hotel or hostel. Travelers also give glowing reviews of tours booked out of foreign-language bookstore Jaime Peligro
Iguana Tours Adventure (Tel 2777-2052; www.iguanatours.com; h 6:30am9pm) S With tours that leave for destinations all over the central Pacific coast, this adventure-travel shop offers reputable river rafting, sea kayaking, horseback riding, mangrove tours and dolphin-watching excursions. It's no fly-by-night operation – it's been around since 1989 – and has a proven commitment to ecotourism principles.
Planet Dolphin (Tel 2777-1647, toll. free. 800-943-9161; www.planetdolphin.com) Steve Wofford at Planet Dolphin offers dolphin and whale-watching tours; starlight sailing cruises are also available. The cruises include lunch and transfers to your hotel, and depart from Marina Pez Vela in Quepos. Prices vary depending on the size of your group and the itinerary.
Staying in Quepos offers a cheaper alternative to the sky-high prices at many lodges on the road to Manuel Antonio. It can also be more convenient, as all the banks, supermarkets and bus stops are in Quepos. Still, those who save a bit here on a room may have to spend it on taxi rides to the park. Reservations are recommended during high-season weekends and are necessary during Easter and the week between Christmas and New Year's Eve.
Wide Mouth Frog Backpackers (Tel 2777-2798;.www.widemouthfrog.org; .dm.Us$12,. r.with/without.bathroom.Us$50/40;.p a i W s ) Friendly, secure and ideally outfitted for travelers of all stripes – this backpacker outpost is one of the best hostels in the country. Brightly tiled rooms and dorms with clean-shared bathrooms are situated around the pool, which is fenced for children's safety but also attractively landscaped. The communal kitchen is fully equipped and has a spacious, open-air dining area.
Breakfast is available for only US$3, and there's a TV lounge with a free DVD rental library and wi-fi, a couple of lazy dogs padding around and a security guard watching the place and cars (street parking only) after hours. WMF is a perfect staging area for Manuel Antonio.
Hotel Sirena (Tel 2777-0572;. www.lasirenahotel.com;. s/d/tr. incl. breakfast. from. Us$82/94/105;. p a i W s ) This intimate boutique hotel is a welcome and warm addition to the Quepos scene, and is easily the best midrange option in town. The Sirena's whitewashed walls, blue trim and aromatherapy offer a slice of breezy Mediterranean serenity. In their rooms, guests enjoy crisp white linens, air-conditioning, cable TV and a minifridge. Rooms upstairs get much better light.
Best Western Hotel Kamuk HOtel. $$$ (Tel 2777-0379;. www.kamuk.co.cr;. r. incl. breakfast. from. Us$80-147;. pnaiWs) While the Best Western standard ensures professional service, the Hotel Kamuk is all Costa Rican, from the bones of its historic building to the colonial decorative elements. Rooms are on the small side but have all of the modern conveniences, as well as a pool and open-air restaurant overlooking the waterfront. Check the internet for discounts.
Hotel Villa Romántica HOtel. $$$ (Tel 2777-0037;. www.villaromantica.com;. s/d. incl. breakfast.from.Us$77/111;.paiWs) A short walk southeast from the town center brings you to this peaceful garden oasis, which is overflowing with verdant greens and tropical flowers; rooms are bright and open. If you're looking for a compromise between the convenience of staying in Quepos and the intimate proximity to nature found in Manuel Antonio, this is an excellent choice.
One benefit of staying in Quepos proper is the accessibility of a wide range of dining opportunities – from cheap local sodas to the best sushi on the central Pacific coast – all within a short stroll. The mercado central (Central. Market;. h hours. vary) is packed with produce vendors and good sodas too numerous to list, so follow your nose and the locals. Self-caterers should also check out the farmers market (h 4pm.fri-noon.sat) near the waterfront, where you can buy directly from farmers, fisher folk, bakers and other food producers.
Soda Come Bien (Tel 2777-2550;. mains. Us$3-6;. h 6am-5pm. Mon Sat,. to. 11am. sun) The daily rotation of delicious cafeteria options might include fish in tomato sauce, olla de carne (beef soup with rice) or chicken soup, but everything is fresh, the ladies behind the counter are friendly and the burly portions are a dream come true for hungry shoe stringers. Or, pick up a fresh empanada (savory turnover) before or after a long bus ride.
Super Mas (Tel 2777-1162;. h 8am-8pm. Mon-sat,. to. 1pm. sun;. W) Don't mistake this market for your average supermarket: the wondrous aisles of Super Mas have an astonishing array of imported goods, fresh bread and liquor.
Tropical Sushi (Tel 2777-1710;. meals. Us$10-27,. all-you-can-eat. sushi. Us$26;. h 4-10:30pm) This is without doubt the best sushi on the central Pacific coast. Chef Fuji (originally from Japan, and a resident of Costa Rica for 15 years) serves up delicious sushi and other authentic Japanese cuisine in this cozy little spot. As he's the only one manning the kitchen, expect to have a leisurely dining experience.
Although the sushi is a sure bet, the other menu offerings are also worth a try, such as the donburi (pork or chicken and egg over rice), steamed dumplings and tempura.
Gran Inca (Tel 2777-4347;. mains. Us$7-15;. h 5-10pm. tue-sun) The no-frills look of this Peruvian-run spot belies the excellent food you'll find here. The menu encompasses a variety of traditional dishes, ranging from Peruvian-style ceviche to steak sautéed with peppers and onions. While the dishes might sound similar to Tico fare found everywhere, the flavors are lively and distinctive, and a welcome change of pace.
Escalofrío (Tel 2777-1902;. gelato. $2,. mains. Us$9-20;. h 2:3010:30pm. tue-sun;. W) Gelato lovers should make a point of stopping here, to choose from more than 20 flavors of the heavenly stuff. This spacious alfresco restaurant may also be the only game in town on Sunday night during slow season, a godsend especially if you enjoy wood-fired pizza, pasta and gnocchi.
Across the street, its deli makes excellent sandwiches with imported Italian meats and cheeses, perfect for toting on excursions to Manuel Antonio.
Monchados CAriBBeAN.$$ (Tel 2777-1972;. dishes. Us$8-15;. h 5pm-midnight) Although the food is inconsistent, this counts as a Quepos institution among gringos. The long-standing Mex-Carib spot offers traditional Limón-style dishes and Mexican standards. Food here is eclectic, innovative and never bland, a theme that's also reflected in the vibrant decorations and fairly regular live music.
Drinking & Nightlife
Nightlife in Quepos has a good blend of locals and travelers, and it's cheaper than anything you'll find in the Manuel Antonio area. If you are looking for something a bit more sophisticated, however, it's easy enough to jump in a taxi. Keep in mind that the action won't start warming up until around 10pm.
Café Milagro CAfe (Tel 2777-1707;. www.cafemilagro.com;. drinks. Us$36;. h 7am-5pm. Mon-sat) Café Milagro sources its coffee beans from all over Costa Rica and produces a variety of estate, single-origin and blended roasts to suit any coffee fiend's palate. Aside from the glorious caffeine buzz, you can feel good about purchasing its bagged beans, as it donates 1Tel of its profits to environmental causes via international nonprofit 1Tel for the Planet.
Dos Locos BAr (Tel 2777-1526;. h 7am-11pm. Mon-sat,. 11am-10pm. sun) This popular Mexican restaurant is the regular watering hole for the local expat community, and serves as a venue for the occasional live band. Opening onto the central cross streets of town, it's fun for peoplewatching (and cheap Imperials). There's an English-language trivia night every Thursday. Added bonus: breakfast is served here all day.
El Gran Escape BAr (Tel 2777-0395;.h 6am-11pm) This longstanding pub, formerly located in central Quepos, had moved to a swish new location at Marina Pez Vela at the time of writing. Sportsfishers can disembark to find cold beers and pub grub awaiting them right at the marina (a short taxi ride from town).
Cuban Republik Disco Lounge ClUB (Tel 8345-9922;.cover.Us$4;.h 9pm-3am.thu-sun) Cuban Republik hosts the most reliable party in central Quepos, and it has some kind of drink special nearly every night if you arrive early (before 10:30pm or 11pm). Later, the volume gets loud, the drinks get more pricey and things tend to careen out of control. Women get in for free before 11pm on Friday night.
Musik ClUB (Tel 2777-7060;. h 4pm-2am. Mon-sat) The decor of this futuristically themed place (white plastic furniture and lasers) is a bit heavy-handed, but the centrally located club has theme nights, requisite (dangerously cheap) ladies' specials and a molar-rattling sound system.
Casino CAsiNO (h slot. machines. 11am-6pm,. all. games. 6pm-4am) If you feel like putting your cash on the line, there's a small but suitable casino at the Best Western Hotel Kamuk, but the scene gets a bit seedy.
Downtown Quepos is a small checkerboard of dusty streets that are lined with a mix of localand tourist-oriented shops, businesses, markets, restaurants and cafes the town loses its well-ordered shape as it expands outward, but the sprawl is kept relatively in check by the mountains to the east and the water to the west
southeast of the town center is the Marina Pez vela, whose marine slips opened to much fanfare in 2010 though the global economic crisis slowed development somewhat, the next phase of shops and restaurants debuted in late 2013, with longtime Quepos bar el gran escape relocating to a shiny new spot in the marina's commercial hub
Quepos to Manuel Antonio
From the Quepos waterfront, the road swings inland for 7km before reaching the beaches of Manuel Antonio Village and the entrance to the national park. This route passes over a number of hills awash with picturesque views of forested slopes leading down to the palm-fringed coastline.
This area is home to some of Costa Rica's finest hotels and restaurants, though navigating the area without a car is challenging. While shoestringers and budget travelers are catered for, this is one part of the country where those with deep pockets can bed down and dine out in the lap of luxury.
Note that the road to Manuel Antonio is steep, winding and very narrow. Worse, local bus drivers love to careen through at high velocities, and there are almost no places to pull over in the event of an emergency. At all times, you should exercise caution and drive and walk with care, especially at night. Be particularly aware of pedestrians.
Sights & Activities
Manuel Antonio Nature Park & Wildlife Refuge WilDlife.reserve (Tel 2777-0850;. www.wildliferefugecr.com;. adult/ child. Us$15/8;. h 8am-4pm;. c ) Formerly known as Fincas Naturales, this private rainforest preserve and butterfly garden breeds about three dozen species of butterfly – a delicate population compared to the menagerie of lizards, reptiles and frogs that inspire gleefully grossed-out squeals from the little ones. A jungle night tour (US$39 for adults, US$29 for children) showcases the colorful local frogs and their songs.
Amigos del Río (Tel 2777-0082;. www.adradventurepark.com;. tours. Us$130;.h tours.depart.6:45am,.8:30am.&.10:30am) Pack all of your canopy-tour jungle fantasies into one day on Amigos del Ríos' '10-in-One Adventure', featuring zip lining, a Tarzan swing, rappelling down a waterfall and more. The seven-hour adventure tour includes a free transfer from the Quepos and Manuel Antonio area as well as breakfast and lunch. Amigos del Río is also a reliable outfit for white-water rafting trips.
Cala Spa (Tel 2777-0777,. ext. 220;. www.sicomono.com;. Hotel. sí.Como.No;.treatments.Us$65-140;.h 10am-7pm) If you're sunburned and sore from exploring Manuel Antonio – even better if you're not – the Cala Spa offers aloe body wraps, citrus salt scrubs and various types of massage to restore body and spirit. Open daily by appointment only.
Manuel Antonio Surf School (MAss;. Tel 2777-1955,. 2777-4842;. www.manuelantoniosurfschool.com;.group.lessons.Us$65) MASS offers friendly, safe and fun small-group lessons daily, lasting for three hours and with a three-to-one student-instructor ratio. Find its stand about 500m up the Manuel Antonio road south of Quepos.
Add us to your WhatsApp and contact us any time you need!!!:
web: shuttles.transportation-costarica.com


text:
537 Studios
Film Scoring
537 Studios is the Atlanta-based studio and film scoring production house founded by American composer, producer, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter, Les Hall.
Les Hall Studio
Les - Piano - East West Studios
LEs Hal Crossfade McSwain Machine
Les Hall Trey Anastasio
Les Hall 537 Studios
Les Conducting Atlanta Symphony based string quartet_edited
Les Hall
Prior to founding 537 Studios, Les spent over two decades as an accomplished international touring and studio musician. Following his early success as keyboard/guitarist for Howie Day's Gold-Certified Stop All the World Now (Epic Records), Les was tapped by Trey Anastasio to play guitars and keyboards in Trey's post-Phish rock touring band, 70 Volt Parade, launching a headlining tour for Trey's album Shine (Columbia Records).
Hall later joined as lead guitarist and collaborative songwriter in the hard rock platinum-selling band, Crossfade. After touring for the band's sophomore release, Falling Away (Columbia Records), Hall served as the principal songwriter and producer for Crossfade's critically-acclaimed 3rd album, We All Bleed (Eleven Seven Music).
In addition to his extensive recording work and touring work with Howie Day, Trey Anastasio, and Crossfade, Hall's studio album credits include working with top selling artists such as Jewel and producers Rick Beato and Martin Terefe.
Hall has also produced and recorded a number of independent artists, including Atlanta-based artist, The Whiskey Gentry, and their 2017 release, Dead Ringer.
In between touring and studio work, Hall's composition work has allowed him to pursue a range of film score and documentary projects. Hall is the composer of the 2021 feature film, East of the Mountains, starring Tom Skerritt and Mira Sorvino. Hall also composed the original score for Freedom's Fury, a Quentin Tarantino executive produced feature-length documentary about Hungary's Olympic water polo team during the Revolution of 1956, narrated by Mark Spitz. He has also composed scores for National Geographic, several short films, and managed string arrangements and piano duties for the film score on Rob Zombie's House of 1000 Corpses.
© 2019 by 537 Studios
leshall1@me.com 803.216.5537


text:
CultureReligionShareSubscribe
Legend Says There's a Spiritual Danger Lurking Inside Thailand's Caves
You don't want to mess with the spirit lords.
By Andrew Alan Johnson, The Conversation
Filed Under Geology
After almost three weeks in the dark, 12 Thai boys and their coach, were rescued from a cave deep underneath the mountains that form the Thai-Burmese border. The boys, aged 11 to 16, were part of a soccer team that also dabbled in outdoor adventures with the charming nickname the "wild pigs" ("mu pa"). The snacks they are reported to have carried into the cave, to celebrate the birthday of one of their friends, likely sustained them during the ordeal.
A department-store mannequin used as the votive image for Jao Mae Nang Non, the guardian spirit of Nang Non Cave.
The name of the cave, Tham Luang Nang Non, literally means "the cave of the reclining lady." It is named after a princess who, as the legend goes, committed suicide after she was forbidden to be with her commoner love. Her body became the mountains, and her genitals, the cave. She is now the ruler – the "jao mae" – of both.
I first visited Nang Non Cave in the rainy season of 2007 along with my partner, for my book project "Ghosts of the New City." While the current attention has focused on the treacherous flooded passages, the trapped children and their heroic rescuers, as I found, there is much more to this story.
Nang Non Cave
The cave is enthralling. Its entrance is broad, like a cathedral door, and during the rainy season the humidity pours out of it like steam. It looks like the gateway to another world. In some senses, it is.
I started down the rocky descent toward the entrance, drawn in by its vast scale and emptiness. Only my companion, having heeded better the sign at the entrance forbidding ingress during the rainy season, called me back. I returned reluctantly.
I was right to retreat. As the schoolchildren found out, during the rainy season the water levels at tight spots in the cave can rise dramatically, trapping would-be explorers inside. So in the faces of the trapped children, I can see a little of me, had I kept going.
But I spent a great deal of time in other caves around the region, interviewing religious attendants and local guides about how people in the region understand the power of caves and other sacred sites, and what their role is in Northern Thai mythology.
Lords of Places
Just south of Nang Non Cave and about an hour north of the city of Chiang Mai, the capital of Thailand's northern region, is Chiang Dao peak. It is an impressive mountain, rising straight up from rice fields, with sheer drops on most sides. And, like many such mountains in the region, there is a cave that winds down into its heart.
Local chronicle and oral legend varies on the exact story of the place: Some say the cave was the home of demonic giants – "yaksha" – who were nonetheless ruled from within the cave by a noble king. Others have a noble ruler founding the kingdom of Lanna (Northern Thailand) and then retreating to the cave only to have his realm fall into disarray.
My favorite such story has a Northern Thai lord – Jao Luang Kham Daeng, the Lord of Burnished Copper – who was tricked into following a beautiful woman into the cave, where he was later devoured by the spirits within. However, in his death, according to one version, he became its ruler.
In each of these stories, the cave becomes the home of a powerful but sometimes dangerous spirit, who keeps the Northern Thai region safe, prosperous and healthy so long as the spirit and the dangerous power of the mountain is respected.
It could be inferred that Northern Thai caves, then, have little to do with Buddhism. But religion in Thailand and especially the North is, as scholars such as Pattana Kitiarsa, Erick White, Justin McDaniel, and many others have pointed out, a blend of different influences: a belief in the power of particular people and places, a respect for Buddhist teachings, and a model of kingly power based on older Hindu traditions in the region.
The caves of Northern Thailand are places where these religious traditions blend: There are shrines to the Buddha, Hindu hermits and the spirit lords of the mountain, all in the same space.
These, as some might expect, are not three separate traditions. They blend together, especially so in cave legends. For instance, the caves in Sri Lanna National Park, in between Chiang Dao and Nang Non caves, are rumored to be the home of two princesses that hid after their kingdom was destroyed.
They sought protection in a cave, and the Buddha, hearing their pleas, appointed a monstrous ghost to keep them safe – a ghost that persists, according to legend, today. Thus, kingship, Buddhism, and spirits all combine in one story.
Places of Danger and Possibility
Caves are liminal spaces – an in-between space. They are openings to another world, one that is shrouded in darkness, difficult to access, and, as the story of the 12 boys shows, is often hostile to humans.
And in them are spirits. In Thailand, these nature spirits are often women, and, as counterparts to the figures of Buddhist monks, offer their followers something that Buddhism cannot provide: assistance with love, money, and other things of this world with which monks do not concern themselves. At the same time, they pose a potential danger if slighted.
As such, Thailand's sacred caves are places full of power, but also full of danger. Such places, as I describe in my book, often have yearly rituals in order to ensure that the spirits provide for the village in the future.
In many, the spirits acquire a bit of a ferocious aspect. After all, they are the rulers of an inhospitable natural world that must be tamed before it can be of use to humans.
This acknowledgment of nature's danger is a drama that is played out in rituals across the region, a number of which I attended as a part of my research. In Chiang Mai, for instance, each year the local people hold a tradition wherein two mountain spirits possess two human mediums, who in turn devour a raw buffalo and drink its blood, before surrendering to the Buddha and agreeing to help the city with cool breezes and clean water.
The Thai soccer team in the Tham Luang Nang Non cave
The story of the 12 trapped boys, then, is one that can be read at multiple levels. For some, it is a story of the heroism of rescue workers against an inhospitable environment. For others, it is a story that emphasizes the Buddhist piety of the team's coach and the power of Buddhist prayers over the spirits of the mountain.
In my view, such ideas of danger and power were always a part of the liminal spaces of mountain caves. The stories of the spirit lords under the earth reflect both human fascination and human fears.
This article by Andrew Alan Johnson was originally published on The Conversation.
Media via Andrew A. Johnson, CC BY, Guardian News/YouTube, Unsplash / Peter Hershey
'Midsommar' Review: An Unnerving Summer Horror Where...
A Simple Form of Spirituality Brings More Satisfacti...
How Jeremiah 11:11 Really Explains the Ending of Jor...
Which Came First, God or Society? Scientists Think T...
Gruesome Religious Practice Linked to Spread of Rare...


text:
Shaquille Harrison: A Journey from Obscurity to Eminence
By Mason Kern
It was 2012 and Shaquille Harrison had a decision to make. He could either play Division I college football at the University of Kansas or go a different route toward Division I basketball at Tulsa University. He opted for the latter, which was a pinnacle decision that has wholly defined his life ever since.
Harrison grew up in Lee's Summit, Missouri, and attended Lee's Summit West High School. His former basketball coach, Michael Schieber, watched Harrison's progression throughout high school and, subsequently, at the collegiate level.
"I don't know of a kid who has worked harder for everything that he's gotten from the time that he was a 5'7", 110-pound freshmen to the point that he is now," Schieber said in a Kansas City Star report. "I couldn't be prouder of him."
Mar 28, 2018; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Shaquille Harrison (10) goes up for a layup against LA Clippers guard Tyrone Wallace (12) during the first half at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Harrison became a four-year starter for the Golden Hurricane. At 24-years-old and 6 feet 4 inches tall, he is a lengthier point guard than the traditional type. He utilized that length to his advantage while honing his skills in college. For the first two seasons of his college career, Tulsa competed in the Conference USA (CUSA) before switching to the American Athletic Conference (AAC) for the 2014-15 season and beyond.
Harrison's main prowess throughout his career has been on the defensive end of the ball. His career totals at Tulsa saw him average 11.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game while also maintaining a clip of 1.8 steals. He is the only player in Tulsa history to register 1,300 points, 400 assists and 200 steals in his entire career. In his senior season, Harrison was also awarded the AAC Men's Basketball Scholar Athlete of the Year.
"I like to go out there and match up and just go at them hard," Harrison said.
Ever confident, Harrison put himself into contention for the 2016 NBA Draft after completion of his senior season but went undrafted amid concerns about his offensive production. He shot only 21.6% from three-point range and 64.5% on free throws throughout his stint with the Golden Hurricane.
Eventually, Harrison started his professional career by signing with the Phoenix Suns on September 25, 2016. However, he was waived on October 10 of the same year. He then moved to the Suns' affiliate G-League team, the Northern Arizona Suns. In two seasons with the affiliate, he averaged 10.3 points while keeping up with his defensive production averaging 1.6 steals.
Harrison fortuitously then went on to join the Phoenix Suns' 2017 Summer League team, during which time he made a notable mark. On February 21, 2018 he was signed to his first professional 10-day contract. That contract was extended another 10 days, and Harrison was signed to his first official NBA contract on March 13, 2018, signing a multi-year deal with the Suns.
During his multiple 10-day stint contracts with the team, Harrison actually made NBA history. In his first four appearances, Harrison had eight steals; four in his debut against the Los Angeles Clippers and then four in the road win against the Memphis Grizzlies–when all four came within a four-minute fourth-quarter stretch to help seal the victory. In the process, he became the first player to have multiple four-plus steal performances in his first four career games since Mario Chalmers in 2008. The only other Suns player to achieve that feat was Alvan Adams in 1975.
"You know Shaq is a guy that can come in and bring that type of energy," Suns' backup point guard Tyler Ulis said. "It's just about playing hard, he has a great motor."
In his 18 games with Phoenix thus far, Harrison has fought for minutes with Ulis, as well as point guard Elfrid Payton–whom the team received in a trade deadline deal with the Orlando Magic.
Mar 28, 2018; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Shaquille Harrison (10) dunks over LA Clippers forward C.J. Williams (9) during the first half at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
After a downward trend by Ulis, and no chance at a playoff push for the Suns, interim head coach Jay Triano has allowed Harrison more minutes on the court, and he has delivered in droves.
Harrison poured in a career high 17 points in 30 minutes of action to go along with four steals in the March 28th home contest against the Clippers. Although the Suns lost the game 111-99, the game was a bright spot for the future of Harrison's career.
"There's a lot of people out there that want to be in my position," Harrison said. "I'm just trying to make the most of it the best I can."
In the 18 games he has played, Harrison is averaging 5.7 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 14 minutes per game. He is also contributing 1.1 steals. However, with only five games remaining in the season, Harrison will surely see those averages increase with an uptick in minutes played.
The Suns–who maintain a 19-58 record on the year–will most likely attain a top-3 pick in the upcoming draft. This is the last season that the "tanking" method will work, as commissioner Adam Silver has changed the rules for the NBA Draft going forward after this season.
"I'm just trying to work hard every day and continue to put up numbers," Harrison said. "Help the team win in any way possible."
Mason Kern, Host of "The Sports Watchdog" Radio Show on NBC Sports Radio AM 1060 Phoenix, spotlights newsworthy current events and happenings in the world of pro, college and youth sports as well as gadgets and gear suited for sports and fitness enthusiasts. Mason frequently appears as a sportscasting guest on various TV and other radio programs, including Good Morning Arizona, KUSI-TV San Diego, "The Sports Hangover" Show on NBC Sports Radio Phoenix and more. View his TV segment clips online at www.tinyurl.com/TTWVideos. Reach Mason on Twitter @ASportsWatchdog, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SportsWatchdog and on LinkedIn at www.tinyurl.com/TT
basketball FEATURED LATEST mason kern nba news Northern Arizona Suns phoenix suns Shaquille Harrison the sports watchdog	2018-04-16
Mason Kern
Previous: Podcast Audio: 'The Sports Watchdog' Radio Show Features WWE's Diamond Dallas Page
Next: North Italia Santa Monica Founded on Food with Integrity