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musicAll Sections
UK charts
Sales from the crypto: Muse NFT album to become first new chart-eligible format in seven years
Eamonn Forde
Monday, 01 Aug 2022
# Blockchain
# Muse
# Pop and rock
# UK charts
Industry figures hail 'the future of music' as rock band announce first album of its kind to qualify for official UK charts
When British rock band Muse release their ninth studio album, Will of the People, on 26 August, the NFT (non-fungible token) edition will become the first release of its kind to qualify for the charts in the UK and Australia. It is the first new format to be added to the charts since album streams in 2015.
It will be sold via the "eco-friendly" NFT platform Serenade, which sold official Brit awards NFTs for £10 each in February.
Serenade's founder, Max Shand, describes the Muse release as "the black T-shirt of NFTs", a utilitarian digital format that is straightforward to buy. "What a fan wants is something simple and understandable but that gives them a sense of proximity to an artist and a sense of recognition from other fans," he says.
Unlike with many NFTs, buyers will not require a crypto wallet. After the purchase is made on Serenade's website, a digital wallet is created and the NFT transferred to that wallet. If users have an existing crypto wallet, such as for BitCoin or Ethereum, they can use that.
The UK's Official Charts Company (OCC) made NFT albums eligible for the charts several months ago but this is the first release where the vendor, in this case Serenade, is approved as a chart-return digital retailer.
"There has been loads of noise about NFTs being the future of music, the future of entertainment, the future of ownership," says Martin Talbot, chief executive of the OCC. "It's great this is becoming a reality."
He says the Muse release did not force an update of the OCC's chart-eligibility rules, it will be the first that meets the entry criteria.
In April, UK indie rock band the Amazons released a digital box set NFT, limited to 100 copies, that came with pre-orders of their How Will I Know if Heaven Will Find Me? album, due in September. That was sold as part of a bundle rather than as a standalone release.
Related: Cash 'gifts' and strong-arm tactics: music's problem with NFTs
Serenade had been in discussions with Warner Records, home to Muse, about releasing an NFT album for several months. Muse, who had worked with the blockchain platform CryptoKitties in 2020 to create digital collectables, were deemed the obvious first choice.
"The band have always been at the forefront of technological innovation in their creativity and artistry," says Sebastian Simone, vice president of audience and strategy at Warner Records in the UK.
The Muse NFT album will retail for £20 and will be limited to 1,000 copies globally. As both an NFT and a limited-edition format, it is relatively sparse in its offering. Buyers will get a downloadable version of the album – complete with different sleeve – as high-res FLAC files; the members of Muse will digitally sign it and each of the 1,000 buyers will have their names permanently listed on the linked roster of purchasers.
"We wanted to keep it more about the product than about the ancillary experience," says Simone.
With the number of copies limited – and not all of them to be purchased in the UK – the release will not significantly skew the anticipated chart performance of Will of the People.
"If you want to make an impact on the chart, there are definitely ways to do that," states Simone about the potential for NFTs to dramatically inflate first-week sales. "With Muse it's actually not essential as they are [already] on tens of thousands of pre-orders. We anticipate the No 1 spot to be very clear that week."
Related: Sign up for the Sleeve Notes email: music news, bold reviews and unexpected extras
As with other NFTs, the original buyer can resell it, and 15% of the resale price will revert back to the band and the rights owners – Warner Music for the sound recording rights and Universal Music Publishing for the composition rights.
The OCC confirmed that resales of the album will not count as a "new" sale.
"There are absolutely no plans to change the fundamental principles [of the charts] where we count the sale of something when it is brand new and you first buy it," says Talbot. "We don't count the sales to the second buyer."
Future releases could include extras and fan rewards that are added to the album as the campaign around it evolves. The OCC will ensure the extras on release are not so bloated as to fall foul of the chart rules. "What you're always looking for is something of such high value or such desirability that it overshadows the music itself and people aren't buying it for the music, they're buying it for the [added extras]," says Talbot.
On the matter of whether this could all collapse into gimmickry, Simone says Warner is already planning similar releases for other acts. "It will become more widely adopted," he says. "This is going to be the beginning of the door opening."
Eamonn Forde is a freelance music business and technology journalist and has written about all areas of the music industry since 2001
Muse fly straight to top of UK album chart with Drones
Devon's stadium rock trio knock Florence + the Machine off No 1 with their seventh album
Guardian music
15, Jun, 2015 @7:12 AM
Muse become first act to top UK charts with NFT album
The band's ninth album Will of the People sold 51,500 copies in its first week – but only a fraction of those are NFTs
Shaad D'Souza
UK's top 10 singles of 2022 were all by British artists
A clean sweep led by Harry Styles was an 'astonishing' high note for the music industry – but the domination of older songs reflected the impact of streaming
Laura Snapes
04, Jan, 2023 @12:01 AM
Kylie Minogue becomes first woman to top album chart across five decades
No 1 for 15th album Disco continues a run started in 1988, while Shirley Bassey returns to the Top 5, becoming the first woman with Top 40 albums across seven consecutive decades
Ben Beaumont-Thomas
Glass Animals become first UK band to top global Spotify singles chart
Oxford quartet's single Heat Waves continues its remarkable slow-burn success since being released in June 2020
26, Jan, 2022 @12:02 PM
Muse review – dizzying rock spectacle for the machine age
Neon robots, isolation-suit acrobats, 23rd-century cops … the glam sci-fi fantasists throw the lot at their extravagantly dystopian stadium romp
Mark Beaumont
02, Jun, 2019 @12:41 PM
Muse webchat – post your questions now
Matt Bellamy and Dominic Howard joined us to chat about their favourite conspiracy theories, secret side projects and what exactly Thought Contagion is
Manic Street Preachers score first No 1 album in 23 years
In a dramatic revival of a 90s chart rivalry, the Welsh trio prevail over Steps with their album The Ultra Vivid Lament
Mogwai score first No 1 album after 25 years: 'It's totally surreal'
Scottish post-rockers reach top with 10th album As the Love Continues
Tom Jones, 80, becomes oldest man to top UK album chart
Welsh singer says he is 'forever grateful' for achievement but remains 12 years behind Vera Lynn's all-time benchmark
30, Apr, 2021 @5:00 PM


LONDON (Alliance News) - Angus Energy PLC said Thursday it had entered into a rig contract for its work-over operations at the Brockham oil field in the Weald basin in southern England.
Angus - which is the operator of the PL 235 Brockham licence, where it has a majority interest - handed the contract to PW Well Services Ltd with the rig mobilisation expected in mid April.
Other firms with an interest in Brockham include Alba Mineral Resources PLC, which has a 5% direct interest.
Angus emphasised that under the contract the operating day rates are fixed and that the rig grew are "all experienced onshore personnel".
"We are pleased to have identified and secured this rig and crew on such competitive terms and look forward to getting on with the exciting and important work ahead of us at Brockham", Angus Interim Managing Director George Lucan said.
Shares in Angus Energy were 10% higher at 5.30 pence on Thursday, Alba Mineral Resources 3.2% higher at 0.24p.


As a director or officer, it is your responsibility to take reasonable steps to ensure that you satisfy all your legal requirements for the business you were hired to represent. You have the duty to be diligent, loyal and obedient, and act in the organization's best interest.
If you're working for a non-profit , public or private company, it's vital that they have a D & O liability policy in place to help protect you in the event of any legal claim that is filed against you.
If you are considering accepting a directorship, you should inquire to see if the company offers directors & officers liability coverage. If they don't and you decide to still accept an offer from the company, you may want to consult with a lawyer and/or one of the experienced insurance brokers here at Henninger Insurance, prior to signing any sort of contract.
To learn more about D & O coverage, you can contact Henninger Insurance & Financial Services. Get the coverage you need, from brokers you can trust.


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By DMUAdmin News & Releases
18 Feb: Buono: Pension & Benefits Reform Package Needed Now More Than Ever
TRENTON – Senate Majority Leader Barbara Buono, a prime sponsor of one of the pension reform bills released today, praised the Senate State Government Committee's swift action on the issue of public employee pension and benefits reform and predicted overwhelming passage of each of the measures on Monday.
Buono is the prime sponsor of one of the reform bills (S-4), which would, among other things, uniformly rein in exorbitant payouts for accrued sick and vacation time by requiring local government and school employees to adhere to some of the reforms approved in 2006 for state employees. This would include limiting sick leave payout to $15,000 and allowing only one year's worth of vacation time to be carried over from year-to-year. Buono (D-Middlesex) issued the following statement:
09 Feb: Buono Statement On Newly Introduced Pension & Benefits Reform Package
TRENTON – Senate Majority Leader Barbara Buono (D-Middlesex), a prime sponsor of one of the pension reform bills unveiled today, issued the following statement sizing up the current state of New Jersey's pension and benefits system and underscoring the need for swift and bold action:
"We introduced a package of pension and benefit reform bills this week because our plans are in dire straits and our taxpayers can no longer afford them. In fact, the situation is so bleak that if the state plans were funded by a private business, it would have already declared bankruptcy and terminated them.
By DMUAdmin News & Releases Paul A. Sarlo Shirley K. Turner
16 Dec: Sarlo-Turner-Girgenti 'Main Street Business Assistance Program' Signed Into Law
TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Paul A. Sarlo and Shirley K. Turner and co-sponsored by Senator John A. Girgenti which will establish the "Main Street Business Assistance Program" to support local small and mid-sized businesses in the State was signed into law today by Governor Corzine.
"The economic success of New Jersey lies in the thriving small and mid-sized businesses found along local throughways throughout the State," said Senator Sarlo, D-Bergen, Essex and Passaic, and Vice Chairman of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. "However, as the economy gets worse, consumers have less expendable income to spend, meaning that many of these businesses do not have the resources to survive the current national crisis. Through this new law, New Jersey is doing its part to protect businesses that have long-standing roots in the State, and in so doing, we're preserving the economic engine that drives so many local communities."
24 Nov: Sarlo-Turner 'Main Street Business Assistance Program' Bill Approved
TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Paul A. Sarlo and Shirley K. Turner which would establish the "Main Street Business Assistance Program" to support local small and mid-sized businesses in the State was approved by the full Senate today by a vote of 37-3, receiving final legislative approval.
"New Jersey's economic strength depends heavily on the many small and mid-sized businesses which dot our local landscapes and set up shop in storefronts along our major thoroughfares," said Senator Sarlo, D-Bergen, Essex and Passaic, and Vice Chairman of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. "These are businesses built from the ground up, by New Jerseyans and for New Jerseyans, providing access to jobs and investing in our communities. As we work to address the fall-out from the biggest economic meltdown since the Great Depression, we need to continue to support small and mid-sized business growth, and protect these businesses from the worst of the national crisis."
By DMUAdmin News & Releases Paul A. Sarlo
13 Nov: Sarlo 'Main Street Business Assistance Program' Bill Advances
TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Paul A. Sarlo which would establish the "Main Street Business Assistance Program" to support local small and mid-sized businesses in the State was approved by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee today by a vote of 9-0, with 4 abstentions.
"During this time of nearly unprecedented economic crisis, we need to encourage small and mid-sized businesses to continue to invest in our communities and expand economic development in the Garden State," said Senator Sarlo, D-Bergen, Essex and Passaic, and Vice Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee. "Without the continued support of our business industry – and especially small and mid-sized businesses – our communities would crumble, unable to meet infrastructure needs or provide jobs for a willing workforce. Our economic salvation during the current national recession is going to come in the form of small and mid-sized business growth and continued local economic growth."
08 Jan: Senate Passes School Accountability Bill
TRENTON – The Senate today gave final approval (35-0) to a bill that would make it easier for local taxpayers to detect when school boards are wasting public money on administrators instead of focusing on the learning needs of children.
It now goes to the Governor's Office for enactment.
"We want school districts to describe their spending plans in language regular people can understand," said Senator Joseph V. Doria Jr., a prime sponsor of the bill, S-4/A-5. "You shouldn't have to be a CPA (certified public accountant) to figure out how your school board wants to spend your money."
By DMUAdmin Bob Smith News & Releases Ronald L. Rice Shirley K. Turner
05 Jan: Preview – Senate To Vote On School Accountability, Pilot County School District Program Monday
TRENTON – The State Senate is set to vote on measures which would require greater accountability from school districts and establish a pilot program to look at the effectiveness of county administrative school districts on Monday.
"We're looking forward to diving back into property taxes on Monday, voting on several of the special session committee recommendations, and hammering out further agreements on many of the remaining recommendations," said Senate President Codey, D-Essex.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Der Assif Iriri () ist ein Fluss im südlichen Marokko. Als wichtigster Nebenfluss des Assif n'Tidili trägt er mit dazu bei, den Stausee El Mansour Eddahbi und damit den Wadi Draa zu speisen, den längsten Fluss Marokkos. Es gibt auch eine Minderheitsmeinung, die besagt, der Assif Iriri behalte seinen Namen bis zum Stausee bei und der Assif n'Tidili münde in ihn als Nebenfluss.

Verlauf
Das Quellgebiet des Assif Iriri beginnt in einem Erosionstrichter am steilen Nordhang unter dem Gipfel des Jbel Sirwa im Antiatlas und führt mit allgemeiner Ostnordostrichtung hinab zur Einmündung in den Mittellauf des Assif n'Tidili etwa 38 km westlich von Ouarzazate, dessen wichtigster und längster Zufluss er ist.

In der wüstenhaften Bergwelt der Nordabdachung des Antiatlasgebirges bietet der Assif Iriri tief eingeschnitten zwar Platz für eine Reihe von Flussoasen, ist jedoch zu unwegsam für den durchgehenden Straßenverkehr. Lediglich die Provinzstraße P1702 quert den Mittellauf des Tales mit etlichen Serpentinen in Höhe des Dorfes Tachakchte (Tachokchte).

Einzelnachweise

Weblinks
 Assif Iriri bei geoview

Gewässer in Drâa-Tafilalet

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Q: What is the right approach for this requirements? Need to build the form in SharePoint 2010, where

*

*Logged in user should able to select the domain user to send email from drop down (certainly need to access the domain users in drop down list).

*Second is, user should be able to select the congratulation message or subject from another list of string and user should able to select the greeting (for greeting created the picture library. so need to access this in my form along with thumbnail or something like that, and should comment something as email message. and should send an email to selected user.

Which approach i have to follow / Better ? can we do this in SharePoint designer, VS SharePoint Solutions or else, Infopath forms? I am no longer SharePoint Developer since past 5 years. Now I need guidance for this.

A: IMO the technically best approach would be to develop a custom SharePoint solution (WSP) with Visual Studio: no functional constrain, evolutivity, easiness of deployment and updates, robustness, etc.
The only downside I can see is: you need a SharePoint developer!
Second best option would be InfoPath.
Usually, I don't recommend InfoPath at all, because it's a poor solution when it comes to evolutivity and possibility to deploy it from dev to production. And also Microsoft is not clear about the future of InfoPath.
But here, your requirements are quite simple and can easily be achieved with InfoPath with not too many tricks/hacks (InfoPath hacks usually make the solution a nightmare to deploy/maintain). Your IP form would contain 4 simple fields (a people picker for To, a dropdown list for Subject, something-yet-to-be-determined for the card selection and a textbox for the Comment. IP can easily send emails.
Warning: displaying images in Form Services (Web mode of InfoPath) is no supported.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Was $465 Now $395. A strikingly modern sandal with single toe band, vintage inspired crystal brooch and graceful 3" heel. A slim ankle strap crisscrossing high behind the ankle is finished with a silver buckle.


It's that time of year again – time to get the kids back to school after half-term. And if you're anything like us you'll be grappling with that time-old question of how to do you make your children's school lunch box delicious and nutritious at the same time.
We'll we've got some good news – no need to think too far outside of the (lunch) box, because the humble sandwich can actually be a nutritional powerhouse, just perfect for fuelling your kids through their afternoon lessons. With a couple of careful swaps, this can be a fabulously healthy meal – if you make it correctly. It's possible to combine the perfect blend of protein, veggies and slow-release wholegrain carbs to make a nutritious and filling meal which is quick to throw together.
Here are the changes you need to make to to up the goodness and take taste levels to new heights!
The humble sandwich can be a fabulously healthy meal – if you make it correctly. It's possible to combine the perfect blend of protein, veggies and slow-release wholegrain carbs to make a nutritious and filling meal which is quick to throw together or enjoy as a packed lunch or dinner.
Here are the swaps that you could make to up the goodness and take the taste levels to new heights!
Choosing a wholemeal granary variety will increase the B vitamin, fibre and mineral levels of your sandwich and those malty granary bits will also add texture and flavour too. Likewise, rye and spelt breads which are digested more slowly but also more easily by your body.
Years ago, we were encouraged to ditch butter for a low-fat spread style substitute, but now we realise that heavily processed trans-fats are just not good for us. In contrast butter, especially if you chose an organic butter which is made from milk from grass fed cows, not only prevents your sandwich from going soggy but also contains vitamin A, D, E and K as well as manganese, zinc and chromium. The fat is actually helpful as it will allow your body to absorb the fat-soluble vitamins in the rest of your filling.
"If you love lettuce in your sandwich just swapping it for spinach will make your sandwich more flavoursome and also bump up its nutritional content," says Caroline. "The darker the vegetable, the more nutrients you're going to get, spinach will give you more folic acid and iron than lettuce." Also try watercress which is very high in vitamin K as well as vitamins C, A and potassium.
Ham and salami are certainly go-to sandwich fillings for many but it's best to avoid processed foods where possible and opt for home cooked meats. Fish, prawns and eggs are also great to switch for ham.
Yes, mayo is delicious in a sandwich but just one tablespoon can contain a whopping 90 calories with not a huge amount else to add. In contrast a tablespoon of low fat cream cheese contains 30 calories and also calcium, potassium and protein. "If you love tuna mayo make a much healthier version by combining the drained tinned tuna with cream cheese, a squeeze of lemon and some ground black pepper -which is delicious!" suggests Caroline.
Chutney brings moisture and flavour to a sandwich, but it's also high in sugar. If you are looking for a similar kick try using sliced balsamic pickled onions or roasted red peppers. Hummus will give you the moisture of chutney plus a great shot of flavour and it also boasts the nutritional benefits of chickpeas and tahini. "Hummus is a great source of protein to make you feel fuller for longer," says Caroline.
Condiments like mustard also pack a tasty punch without as much sugar. Adding fresh salad vegetables like radish, grated carrot, tomatoes and even some fresh apple adds flavour and texture as well as a wealth of health benefits, also helping you achieve your five-a-day easily.


Rates and Rental Surveyors Ltd have secured a reduction in business Rateable Value of a shop and premises in London. 26 Long Wyre Street, Colchester CO1 1LJ. Rates and Rental Surveyors Ltd agreed a reduction from £34,250– £24,500 with the Valuation Office. The reduction now means the following saving will apply excluding any transitional relief (*) or Small Business Rates Relief (*) given by the local authority.
Rates and Rental Surveyors Ltd have secured a reduction in business Rateable Value of a factory and premises in London. UNIT B GROVELANDS INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, COVENTRY ROAD, EXHALL, COVENTRY, CV7 9EY. Rates and Rental Surveyors Ltd agreed a reduction from £94,000– £84,500 with the Valuation Office. The reduction now means the following saving will apply excluding any transitional relief (*) or Small Business Rates Relief (*) given by the local authority.
Rates and Rental Surveyors Ltd have secured a reduction in business Rateable Value of a offices and premises in London. GROUND, 1ST & 2ND FLOORS 158, KENTISH TOWN ROAD, LONDON, NW5 2AG. Rates and Rental Surveyors Ltd agreed a reduction from £75,500– £66,000 with the Valuation Office. The reduction now means the following saving will apply excluding any transitional relief (*) or Small Business Rates Relief (*) given by the local authority.
Rates and Rental Surveyors Ltd have secured a reduction in business Rateable Value of a workshop and premises in London. Unit 5 Clocktower Industrial Estate, Clocktower Road, Isleworth TW7 6GF. Rates and Rental Surveyors Ltd agreed a reduction from £49,750– £41,250 with the Valuation Office. The reduction now means the following saving will apply excluding any transitional relief (*) or Small Business Rates Relief (*) given by the local authority.
Rates and Rental Surveyors Ltd have secured a reduction in business Rateable Value of a warehouse and premises in London. 4, QUATRO PARK, PAYCOCKE ROAD, BASILDON, ESSEX, SS14 3HH. Rates and Rental Surveyors Ltd agreed a reduction from £70,000– £62,000 with the Valuation Office. The reduction now means the following saving will apply excluding any transitional relief (*) or Small Business Rates Relief (*) given by the local authority.
Rates and Rental Surveyors Ltd have secured a reduction in business Rateable Value of a warehouse and premises in London. UNIT B + UNIT C, FIVE ACRE SITE, ARK FARM ROAD, FOLKESTONE, KENT, CT19 5DS. Rates and Rental Surveyors Ltd agreed a reduction from £66,250– £51,500 with the Valuation Office. The reduction now means the following saving will apply excluding any transitional relief (*) or Small Business Rates Relief (*) given by the local authority.
Rates and Rental Surveyors Ltd have secured a reduction in business Rateable Value of a workshop and premises in London. Unit C, Charfleets Road, Canvey Island, Essex SS8 0PQ. Rates and Rental Surveyors Ltd agreed a reduction from £40,250– £21,750 with the Valuation Office. The reduction now means the following saving will apply excluding any transitional relief (*) or Small Business Rates Relief (*) given by the local authority.


Despite the differences between people around the world, there are similarities that join humanity together, such as pain, joy, and love. On board pages.
From the Costa award-winning author of Harvey Angell, comes the sequel to Out of the Clouds. Pa is off again to work on his world-changing scientific discovery, leaving the rest of the Coggins family behind at their hidden clifftop home, Dizzy Perch. Oliver is in charge, with strict instructions about no visitors, in order to protect Pa's top-secret location. But Ma doesn't listen, and invites her favourite author to say. When a woman arrives at Dizzy Perch claiming to be the author, the whole family are enchanted by their guest. All apart from Oliver, that is. A good job too, because the woman is really the sister of Pa's Sworn Enemy Mac, whose mission it is to bring Pa down and steal his research. How is Oliver going to be able to keep his promise to Pa and protect his family, when they simply refuse to listen to him...? A classic mystery adventure perfect for fans of Enid Blyton.
The hero, Chester (Chet) Lake, is part Native American and part African-American, but a citizen of the world. He is a mature person in his fifties, not a kid. He is no stranger to danger or human nature. He uses his heritage, his background in urban planning and his maturity to slip across borders and into and out of communities around the world, enabling him to perform international intelligence work. Along with English, he speaks French, German, Spanish, Arabic and a bit of Mandarin Chinese. Chet has the perfect background, as a city planner, to move through an urban world for which his training and mixed ethnicity are an advantage. Chet faces a new challenge, take a dangerous assignment from the President of the United States or be retired from the Agency. Chet is not alone on this adventure. Young newlyweds he meets in London want to see what Chet's is up to as he revisits World War I urban venues. They follow him through interesting cities and witness his near death adventures. But who is Chet Lake?
Walt Whitman's passionate writing style and bold subject matter have deeply influenced American poetry. Nearly all of his poems were published in Leaves of Grass, which Whitman obsessively expanded, edited, and republished throughout his life, ultimately leaving behind a powerful literary legacy. Twenty of his most commonly read and studied poems are discussed in depth in this volume, which also features ideas for essay topics to assist students in developing critical-thinking skills.
God really does love you, yes, "YOU," whoever you are!
Does God really love every single person? Am I included on God's invitation list for salvation? How can I be sure? Well, let's ask Him! Man has varying opinions on this subject, so let's go to the Source, God Himself. The Bible says every word of God is pure and it declares that God cannot lie. Therefore, let me assure you that, according to God's Word, God really does love you, yes, "YOU," whoever you are!
This story will be especially inspiring to individuals who struggle against the misery of obesity and want to be all they can be. Based on true events, it involves the struggle experienced by two people who develop the courage and commitment to change their lives by taking control of their minds and bodies, and connecting with their spirituality. Be forewarned that some of the story will bring tears of sadness to the reader's eyes, followed by tears of joy!
In this provocative book, the author argues that American Christianity, especially evangelicalism, has been corrupted by the dominance of consumerism in modern life. The church's mostly uncritical adoption of this secular condition has resulted in an idolatrous morphing of the message of Christ into just another brand. With Brand Jesus, Wigg Stevenson names the growing concern felt by many Christians at the commodification of their faith. Using Paul's letter to the Romans as a starting point, Wigg Stevenson 'reads' the letter to today's church, speaking to our consumerist situation through the parallels with Paul's Rome. Though rooted unapologetically in a love for the church, Brand Jesus does not shy away from provocative claims about the melding of Christian faith and consumer ideals; the rise of market-driven theology; the blurring boundaries between the law and religion; and other topics. Wigg Stevenson describes the current situation of both church and society and issues a challenge to it: When faith is a product for consumption, how can the church be faithful to Christ as living Lord, instead of as Brand Jesus?
Where does God live? This is not an idle question. Does God dwell there near us or away from us? Does he live in one place or is he willing to relocate? Is it possible to visit his house--and in this case what are the entrance requirements? Does he live in a closed place, totally, forbidden for any human visit? Answering these questions is the subject of God of No Fixed Address. The tone used is very accessible, and sometimes even disturbing. Misconceptions about the Jewish sanctuary, the Jerusalem temple, and the sacrificial system of the Old Testament will be flattened down and swept when necessary. They will triumph the amazing divine will, which takes man off balance, which refuses any confinement, which tears the sails and demolishes the stones to pitch his tent in every heart and in every community of faith. God of No Fixed Address is a journey for those who love discovering new territories.


Soften cream cheese. Dice and chop mushrooms, cilantro and jalapenos.
Cut backstrap into desired number of servings. Cut each piece into a triple butterfly (slice through the bottom third of the meat, stopping half an inch before completely slicing meat in two. Open meat; cut through top third of meat, stopping about ½ inch before slicing through the top third completely. Meat should open up in a tri-fold effect).
Sauté the mushrooms in the butter in a Stir Fry & Paella Pan.
Open meat flat and spread even amounts of cream cheese on all the pieces of backstrap. Sprinkle with sautéed mushrooms, cilantro and jalapenos. Roll the meat up into a log and secure with Big Green Egg Wooden Skewers.
Grill, rotating meat every 5-7 minutes until internal temperature of 145-160°F is reached.


text:
couldn't hurt — Annette Rochelle Aben
Some of us fight sleepy eyes
And pray between yawns
That we shall wake in the morn
A million bucks in our bank
©2021 Annette Rochelle Aben
Author davidbruceblogPosted on May 21, 2021 Categories PoetryTags Annette Rochelle Aben1 Comment on couldn't hurt — Annette Rochelle Aben
David Bruce: 250 Anecdotes About Religion — Education, Enlightenment, Etiquette
• Not being able to spell may have advantages. A young Quaker woman attending Oxford University was very intelligent but completely unable to spell. On a visit to the continent, she filled out a form in Customs. In the space by the word "Occupation," she wrote, "Nun" — and she was amazed at how much quicker than her traveling companions she passed through Customs.
• When Rolf E. Aaseng first began teaching Sunday School, he and another teacher complained about the rooms they taught in. Mr. Aaseng taught in a stinky basement, and the other teacher taught in the kitchen. However, yet another teacher topped them both — because of lack of space, she was forced to teach her Sunday School class in the women's restroom!
• Rabbi Stephen S. Wise knew a couple who had gotten their son accepted into an excellent boys' school before their son was even born. Rabbi Wise asked what they would have done if they had had a girl, but they assured him that they had considered that and had also applied for their child's admission into an excellent girls' school.
• Rabbi Jacob Joseph grew up in a very poor household in Lithuania. His father, who worked in a brewery, used to scrimp on food so that he could pay his son's tuition. Because of this experience, Rabbi Joseph knew that poor people often value Jewish education more than rich people.
• A school in Germany had only one Jewish student. The teacher told her, "Just like all the Jews, you are greedy. Your father pays tuition for only one student, but you are learning enough for three."
• A student came to Zen master Suiwo, seeking enlightenment, so Suiwo gave him a problem to solve: "Hear the sound of one hand." The student meditated for three years, but he never solved the problem and so did not achieve enlightenment. Finally, the student asked to return home in disgrace because he had not become enlightened. Suiwo urged the student to stay another week, which the student did, but without becoming enlightened. Suiwo again urged the student to stay another week, then five days, which the student did, but always with the same lack of results. Finally, Suiwo told the student, "Meditate for three days longer, then if you fail to attain enlightenment, you had better kill yourself." The student attained enlightenment.
• Zen master Ikkyu accepted an invitation to become the abbot of a subtemple; however, at a banquet held after he became abbot, several wealthy people told him that in return for their making large donations to the subtemple, they expected him to give them inka — written confirmation that they had become enlightened. Refusing to be bribed, Ikkyu and his chief disciples immediately left the subtemple.
• Rumi, the founder of the Whirling Dervishes, understood and practiced good etiquette. When an Armenian butcher bowed to him seven times, Rumi returned the bows. On another occasion, several children in a group bowed to him, and Rumi bowed to each of the children. One child was far off, and he called to Rumi, "Wait for me until I come." Rumi waited, the child arrived and bowed to him, and Rumi returned the child's bow.
• In Philadelphia, a homeless person named Carlos was very hungry and wondering where his next meal would come from. A priest appeared and gave him a sandwich. Carlos was so hungry that he ate the sandwich before remembering to thank the priest. After eating the sandwich, he looked for the priest, but the priest had disappeared. After that, Carlos always thanked someone who gave him food, and then he ate the food.
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Author davidbruceblogPosted on May 21, 2021 Categories Anecdotes, FunnyTags ReligionLeave a comment on David Bruce: 250 Anecdotes About Religion — Education, Enlightenment, Etiquette
Music Recommendation: No Worries — "Backwards Upside Down"
BRUCE'S RECOMMENDATION OF BANDCAMP MUSIC
Music: "Backwards Upside Down"
Album: DOWNSTREAM
Artist: No Worries
Artist Location: Cary, North Carolina
Info: "An eclectic, mostly acoustic band based in the North Carolina Triangle, No Worries makes music steeped in all the Americana styles … blues / rock / country / bluegrass … originals, old favorites, and covers of great songs you've maybe never heard yet. No Worries is also the feeling you'll get from our music. We're fun, smooth, but seasoned — with a pinch of red pepper."
No Worries: Only fine roots music
"Released two songs per month starting in fall 2020, this album of [11] songs is nine years in the making. It's the archetypal 'labor of love.' Emphasis on the love. And the labor. It's the best thing to happen all year! All songs are Richard Bowdon originals."
"No Worries Band is Richard Bowdon on lead vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica; Jim Amsden on vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, mandolin, keyboard, dobro; Rob Surra on vocals, bass. Additional lead guitar by Ken Faircloth and vocals by Amelia Kelley."
Price: $1 (USD) for track; $7 (USD) for 11-track album
Genre: Roots Music. Americana.
No Worries on Bandcamp
https://noworriesnc.bandcamp.com
https://noworriesnc.bandcamp.com/album/downstream-2
Author davidbruceblogPosted on May 21, 2021 Categories MusicTags Bandcamp, Music RecommendationLeave a comment on Music Recommendation: No Worries — "Backwards Upside Down"
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50 mines and counting: a woman clears a path to safety in Senegal (Current page)
50 mines and counting: a woman clears a path to safety in Senegal
In southern Senegal, landmines pose a clear and present danger. The violence that rocked Casamance for 30 years is now a distant memory, but the mines laid during the fighting, often on the edges of villages, continue to put people's lives in danger.
© J-J. Bernard/Handicap International
Thirty-one-year-old Fatou Diaw grew up in Casamance amid the threat of lanmines. But it only became real in 2001.
"One of my cousins stepped on a mine," she explains. "He was only about 20. Both of his feet were torn off in the explosion, and he died a couple of hours later. It had a big impact on me."
So much so, that in 2008, Fatou responded to a Handicap International job vacancy for deminers. "I didn't know exactly what the job entailed until I went for my first interview," she explains. "I liked the idea straightaway."
A mine destroyed is a life saved
Out of 12 applicants, only two, including Fatou, were selected. She took a six-week training course and then started her first mission. "I was quite stressed that first week. And I was a bit disappointed because I didn't find anything. My manager said: 'Don't be impatient. You'll find one.'"
"Deminers like finding mines—just like fishermen like reeling in a fish," explains the head of Handicap International's demining team, Charles Coly. "It's sort of their reward for a job well done. A mine destroyed or deactivated is a life saved. Deminers know how important their work is, and they are proud of it."
Fatou's patience paid off. "When I found my first mine, my blood froze and I shrank back," she recalls. "I called a colleague, who took over. Then I started finding more and more of them, and I got used to it very quickly. Since I started working as a deminer, I have identified more than 50 mines."
I'm helping a lot of people
In a region where most women are expected to become full-time homemakers when they have children, a young mother who is also a deminer doesn't go unnoticed.
"A lot of my college friends are surprised when they learn what my aunt does for a living," explains Fani, Fatou's 22-year-old niece. "It's really physical!"
Indeed, working under the weight of a heavy uniform built to protect vital organs from a blast, in the heat of the sun, while kneeling and crouching makes this job an uncomfortable and exhausting one.
But the allure is clear to Fatou. "When I'm working, I'm helping a lot of people: people who had to abandon their villages and fields, who were displaced by the fighting, only to return home to find themselves surrounded by mines. I know I'm saving lives."
No margin for error
Patience is key. "You sometimes work for a long time, and you don't find anything," Fatou says. "You often feel tired, but you need to stay focused. If you let your guard down, you could make a wrong move and trigger an accident. You always need to have a clear head and not let your mind wander. It's really important to be mentally prepared."
Watching Fatou at work is a sight not to be missed. Concentrated on the job in hand, oblivious to the world around her, and moving with extreme precision, whether she's handling a metal detector or unearthing a mine, Fatou knows there is no margin for error.
She has had many memorable finds as a result. "I found a mine that was connected to a trip wire," she says. "It looked very dangerous, but you just have to follow the rules: you take a stick and, without overdoing it, you lightly free it from the plants and follow it to the end, where you'll find the device, which could be a grenade or an improvised explosive device. We destroyed it."
After a long day of work, Fatou arrives home on the outskirts of Ziguinchor, the provincial capital of Casamance. After catching up with her two sons, 11-month-old Pabomar and 4-year-old Mamdulami, she makes dinner, and washes her boys before bedtime. Her husband, who works as a tailor in Dakar, comes home once every four months.
Senegal plans to be mine-free by 2021. In 2016, Handicap International expects to demine 55,000 square metres of land, the equivalent of eight football pitches.
© ISNA Agency / HI
Explosive weapons Rights
Blog: More proof that a small group of campaigners can change the world
Aleema Shivji, Executive Director of Humanity & Inclusion UK, explains how recent events bring us one step closer to protecting civilians caught in armed conflict.
© HI
Weapons clearance drones
Since last January, HI and its partner Mobility Robotics have been trialing the use of drones to support weapons clearance experts in Faya-Largeau, northern Chad.
Weapons clearance platform in northern Chad
Alongside 50 weapons clearance experts working in Chad, HI uses a remote-controlled platform, a German-made GCS 200, to clear large areas in record time.


Journal of Light Construction says although a bottle of yellow glue and a tube of construction adhesive will handle a great many gluing needs, there are times you might want to choose a special glue from the wide range available.
This To That provides directory of links to technical, as well as cool and fun sites on glue and adhesives.
American Society for Testing and Materials testing agency ASTM provdes a directory of its standards on adnesives.
Canadian Institute for Research in Construction says subject to final approval by the Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes, the National Building Code of Canada 2010 will contain new requirements for adhesives employed in the manufacture of fingerjoined studs and prefabricated I-joists to be used in assemblies that require a fire-resistance rating in buildings covered in Part 9 of the NBC (e.g., commercial and multi-unit residential buildings).
Adhesive and Sealant Council new ASTM International standard, D7447-08, Standard Practice for Symbolizing Adhesive Applications and the accompanying electronic symbol, enable engineers, architects, designers and other end-users to more conveniently represent adhesives on computer-aided design (CAD) drawings.
Adhesives industry site describes proper surface treatment as the process whereby the adherend surface is cleaned and/or chemically treated to promote better adhesion. It explains how the adhesive must completely wet the surface of each substrate being joined together, and how strong attractive interactions must form between the adhesive and the substrates.
Home Builder Canada magazine offers some tips on avoiding the most common application errors for adhesives.
Home Builder Canada magazine describes some critical considerations for picking an adhesive for different types of jobs.
This To That resource site, although it does not cover all construction materials, shows you which types adhesives are used to glue different materials together.


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BY Ian Dunn | December 13 | 0 COMMENTS print
Dublin Archbishop apologises over abuse crisis and cover up
Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin has apologised personally to the people of Ballyfermot in Dublin following the abuse of children there by former priest Tony Walsh, 'and about the way this abuse was hushed up by people with responsibility in the parish and in the diocese.'
Speaking during Mass at the Church of the Assumption in Ballyfermot yesterday, he said: '"I came here this morning to renew my apologies to the people of this parish for the facts that this week have emerged."
He was referring to the jailing of Walsh for 16 years last Monday following his conviction of the sexual abuse of three boys from Ballyfermot during the late 1970s to the early 1980s.
"I come to bring my apology to a parish to which I owe much. I grew up here; it is a parish to which I belonged and to which I feel I still belong. It is a parish which grew up in hardship, but whose people worked hard and supported each other and above all gave themselves so that their children could do well in life," the archbishop said. "This has been the story of Ballyfermot for years, as it is today. How do I explain to a community marked by such honesty, good neighbourliness and hard work that the church failed many children of this parish?"
He could not 'but recall that in the years in which I lived in this parish I was exactly at the age of many of the children who were abused by Tony Walsh and sadly by a number of other priests who worked in this parish over the years. I apologise unreservedly.'
The first step on the road to renewal was for the church to 'honestly acknowledge with no 'buts'… the gravity and the extent of what happened,' he said.
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Huachuca City és una població dels Estats Units a l'estat d'Arizona. Segons el cens del 2007 tenia una població de 1.964 habitants.

Demografia
Segons el cens del 2000, Huachuca City tenia 1.751 habitants, 713 habitatges, i 432 famílies La densitat de població era de 241,5 habitants/km².

Dels 713 habitatges en un 31,3% hi vivien nens de menys de 18 anys, en un 44,3% hi vivien parelles casades, en un 12,3% dones solteres, i en un 39,3% no eren unitats familiars. En el 32,8% dels habitatges hi vivien persones soles l'11,5% de les quals corresponia a persones de 65 anys o més que vivien soles. El nombre mitjà de persones vivint en cada habitatge era de 2,43 i el nombre mitjà de persones que vivien en cada família era de 3,13.

Per edats la població es repartia de la següent manera: un 28,4% tenia menys de 18 anys, un 8,8% entre 18 i 24, un 25,5% entre 25 i 44, un 24,6% de 45 a 60 i un 12,7% 65 anys o més.

L'edat mediana era de 37 anys. Per cada 100 dones de 18 o més anys hi havia 89,4 homes.

La renda mediana per habitatge era de 26.311 $ i la renda mediana per família de 33.938 $. Els homes tenien una renda mediana de 26.685 $ mentre que les dones 20.179 $. La renda per capita de la població era de 14.378 $. Aproximadament el 13,8% de les famílies i el 19,3% de la població estaven per davall del llindar de pobresa.

Poblacions més properes
El següent diagrama mostra les poblacions més properes.

Referències

Entitats de població d'Arizona


The Metro also provides a Travel Guarantee. You can read about it in our leaflet Travel Guarantee. The leaflet is also available at all Metro stations.
If the Metro is delayed for half an hour or more, we will pay if you need to take a taxi. We cover your taxi invoice with up to 300 DKK. Initially, you must pay for the taxi yourself, but we will reimburse your expenses. The guarantee is valid up to three months after the taxi invoice has been issued. Reimbursement can take place either via bank transfer or cheque. Simply fill out the coupon (use the link above) and send it to us along with the receipt. It is a condition for reimbursement that the taxi ride started at a Metro station, that experienced a delay. The Metro cannot take responsibility for reimbursement for other costs caused by the delay.
Planned changes that the Metro has announced on www.m.dk ahead of time; meaning at the latest the day before the changes occur.
Force majeure. Force majeure means events upon which the Metro has no influence, and cannot prevent or prevent, and are extraordinary in character, such as fire, was, extraordinary events of nature, and person collisions.


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Mumia Abu-Jamal's appeal fight in judge's hands | The Philadelphia Tribune
Mumia Abu-Jamal's appeal fight in judge's hands | The Philadelphia Tribune After two years of court dates, a Philadelphia judge will now decide whether Mumia Abu-Jamal, who is serving a life sentence for the murder of Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner, will get another chance to appeal his 1982 conviction.
Ravens donate nearly $200,000 for upgrades to heating and AC in Baltimore elementary school | The Baltimore Sun
Aaron Moselle , The Philadelphia Tribune
You'll hear from me shortly," Common Pleas Court Judge Leon Tucker said Monday during a brief hearing, scheduled to give Abu-Jamal's lawyers time to present additional evidence before a ruling on the high-profile, emotionally charged case.
There wasn't any new evidence, so Tucker is teed up to make a decision he has publicly called "difficult" based on the record he has had before him for a couple of months. It's unclear when he will make his ruling.
Abu-Jamal's odds hinge on how Tucker interprets the actions of former Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Ronald Castille who also served as Philadelphia District Attorney earlier in his career.
CLICK TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE, The Philadelphia Tribune
KOLUMN Magazine Staff December 4, 2018


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Pitt Listed as a Top School for Spurring Innovation, Prosperity
By Cara Masset
This is a homepage feature (With small image)
In recognition of its strong commitment to economic engagement, the University of Pittsburgh has been designated an Innovation and Economic Prosperity University by the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU). The designation acknowledges universities working with public and private sector partners in their states and regions to support economic development through a variety of activities, including innovation and entrepreneurship, technology transfer, talent and workforce development, and community development.
Pitt and 13 other public institutions make up the APLU's second annual class of Innovation and Economic Prosperity Universities. The other institutions are Georgia Institute of Technology, Indiana University, North Carolina State University, Pennsylvania State University, Purdue University, South Dakota State University, Texas Tech University, the University of Houston, the University of Illinois, the University of Massachusetts Boston, the University of Massachusetts Lowell, Virginia Tech, and Wayne State University.
"Public universities serve as economic engines for their local communities and states by conducting cutting-edge research to reach new breakthroughs and by developing the talent to help existing businesses grow stronger and enabling new ones to develop and thrive," APLU President Peter McPherson said. "The 14 institutions receiving the 2014 Innovation and Economic Prosperity University designation serve as models. They demonstrate how public research universities extend beyond their campuses to engage their communities in economic development that creates jobs and improves lives."
The universities received the designation after conducting a thorough self-review with outside stakeholder input and subsequently submitting an application that went through a rigorous independent review process. Pitt was recognized for its economic development initiatives such as the Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse; neighborhood revitalization projects in Oakland and other city neighborhoods as well as in the communities of its regional campuses; and workforce development efforts that have stimulated Pittsburgh's new "eds and meds" economy.
"This Innovation and Economic Prosperity University designation is an affirmation of the key role that the University of Pittsburgh is playing as a leader of innovation and economic development in Western Pennsylvania and beyond," said Mark A. Nordenberg. "Since 1995, Pitt has attracted more than $9 billion of sponsored research support into this region. Our research has played a key role in the foundation for such future-oriented technology-based economic development initiatives as the Pittsburgh Digital Greenhouse, the Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse, the Pittsburgh Robotics Foundry, and the Technology Collaborative. And the 'eds and meds'—with Pitt sitting at their center—have been a principal driver of the new regional economy, now accounting for more than 20 percent of the region's total employment. We are proud of this recognition from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities."
As an Innovation and Economic Prosperity University designee, Pitt will work with the APLU's Commission on Innovation, Competitiveness, and Economic Prosperity to assess and further develop its efforts by using the commission's "Economic Engagement Framework" tools for self-assessment and economic impact analysis. Through the partnership, the University will advance its newest innovation and economic development initiatives, including the Innovation Institute and the PittServes program, which connects students with volunteer opportunities in the community.
Through its designation, Pitt also qualifies to submit an application for the APLU's 2014 Innovation and Economic Prosperity University Awards, which will be presented at the association's annual meeting in November. The awards include an "IEP Connections" award, recognizing the university that is doing the most to build connections between categories of economic engagement—innovation and entrepreneurship; talent development; and social, community, and cultural development. "Best in class" awards will also be given in each category of talent, innovation, and place.
The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities is a research, policy, and advocacy organization representing 234 public research universities, land-grant institutions, state university systems, and affiliated organizations. Founded in 1887, the APLU is North America's oldest higher education association with member institutions in all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, four U.S. territories, Canada, and Mexico. Annually, APLU member campuses enroll 4.7 million undergraduates and 1.3 million graduate students, award 1.1 million degrees, employ 1.3 million faculty and staff, and conduct $41 billion in university-based research.


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Брэндон Дуглас Слэй (); , , Техас, США — американский борец вольного стиля, чемпион Олимпийских игр.

Биография
Во время учёбы в школе был чемпионом штата по американскому футболу и трёхкратным чемпионом штата по борьбе. В 1990 году выступил на чемпионате мира по греко-римской борьбе среди кадетов, где завоевал бронзовую медаль, а на следующий год на таком же чемпионате был вторым. В 1992 году выступил на чемпионате мира среди юниоров уже по вольной борьбе, где был пятым.

После школы поступил в Пенсильванский университет, где изучал бизнес. В это время он завоевал «серебро» на чемпионате США по версии NCAA. В 1995 году победил на Играх стран Тихоокеанского бассейна. В 1998 году занял первое место на турнире FILA «Кубок пяти континентов». В 1999 году был чемпионом мемориала Дейва Шульца, в 2000 году там же стал вторым.

На Летних Олимпийских играх 2000 года в Сиднее боролся в категории до 76 килограммов (средний вес). Участники турнира, числом в 20 человек, были разделены на шесть групп, в каждой из которых борьба велась по круговой системе. Победители в группах выходили в четвертьфинал, где боролись по системе с выбыванием после поражения. Проигравшие занимали места соответственно полученным в схватках квалификационным и техническим баллам. Брэндон Слэй в первой своей встрече с трудом, но победил явного фаворита Бувайсара Сайтиева, который не восстановился от травм. Победив в группе, вышел в финальную часть, дошёл до финала, где проиграл немцу Александру Лайпольду. Но вскоре Лайпольд был дисквалифицирован за допинг и лишён золотой медали, соответственно Брэндон Слэй стал чемпионом олимпийских игр.

После олимпийских игр оставил карьеру в борьбе.

В 2000 году стал обладателем приза Джона Смита, вручаемого лучшему борцу-вольнику года в США.

Набожный христианин, работал на общество Greater Gold, пропагандирующем христианство и организующем летние лагеря, где Брэндон Слэй тренировал молодых людей в борьбе.

На настоящее время является помощником главного тренера сборной США по вольной борьбе и постоянным тренером в Олимпийском центре подготовки в Колорадо-Спрингс.

Женат, имеет дочь.

Примечания

Ссылки

Борцы США
Олимпийские чемпионы по борьбе
Олимпийские чемпионы от США
Чемпионы летних Олимпийских игр 2000 года
Борцы на летних Олимпийских играх 2000 года
Борцы среднего веса


Recently, I participated in a SANEHA ("message") seminar presented by the Sikh Research Institute (SikhRI) on the Bani of Asa ki Var (literally, The Ode of Hope).
Established in 2003 and located in San Antonio (Texas, U.S.A.), SikhRI is a nonprofit, faith-based initiative whose mission is to "facilitate training and development while inspiring Sikh values, create global awareness of Sikhi, and deliver solutions to the key challenges faced by the Sikh community."
This program, led by Harinder Singh, Simranjit Singh and Gunisha Kaur, was held at the Bridgewater Gurdwara in Basking Ridge, New Jersey. Coordinated by Mandhir Singh, Principal of the Bridgewater Khalsa School, it attracted over 75 participants.
It was divided into five sessions.
The first session centered around the structure and significance of Asa ki Var.
While Nitnem is usually an individual pursuit, Asa ki Var - which forms part of the morning liturgy of the Sikhs - was termed "a collective engagement to develop collective clarity."
Found on pages 462-475 of Guru Granth Sahib, Asa ki Var is one of the scripture's 22 Varaan (odes). Sung in the early morning period before sunrise, it is in Raag Asa, a musical measure that is intended to evoke an intense mood of hope or desire.
It consists of 24 Pauris (which can be envisaged as "rungs of a ladder," on which an idea is unfolded, step-by-step) composed by Guru Nanak. Every pauri has one or more Saloks, which are "couplets" (but not necessarily limited to two lines) meant to express praise or describe various phenomena.
There are 59 saloks in all, 44 of which were composed by Guru Nanak, and 15 by Guru Angad (the Second Guru).
According to the musical instructions recorded by Guru Arjan at the beginning of the Var, the saloks are meant to be recited in the tune of a ballad which had as its hero a prince by the name of Asraja, called "Tunda Asraj" - named thus because of a maimed hand ("tunda").
Asa ki Var also includes six Chhants, comprising four stanzas each (colloquially known as 24 Chhakas or quatrains), authored by Guru Ram Das (the Fourth Guru), each of which is sung before a set of saloks.
This bani's central emphasis can be considered to be the theme of freedom from duality and slavery of the mind, which is attained by "imbibing the glory of Truth."
Portraying human life as a Divine gift, it discusses the transformational role of the Guru, by which an average person can attain "angel-like" behavior. Through it, we are led to explore our Divine potential, which can allow us to operate on "a higher paradigm that goes beyond duality."
Duality, in this context, is seen as a divergence between ideal and practice, with two elements at tension with one another - for example, true and false, sacred and profane.
The second, third and fourth sessions of the seminar dealt with some of the ways in which Asa ki Var leads us to transcend various manifestations of duality.
At the start of each of these three sessions, a handout was distributed with the text (in the original Gurmukhi script, with Roman transliteration and selected vocabulary in English) of a particular pauri and its accompanying saloks (all of the ones chosen were by Guru Nanak).
After reading the text aloud, it was intensively dissected and discussed line-by-line, with further translation being provided by the facilitator, as needed. In one of these sessions, the participants were split up into separate groups, depending on the language - Punjabi or English - in which they felt most comfortable.
The realization was brought forth that we often have "a relationship with things, but not with the Giver of these things." If we do not connect with the Divine, anything and everything can be reduced to utter falsehood. Recognizing Truth is a process that will gradually take place as we invite Divine Love and its ensuing freedom into our lives.
As we ourselves are a part of Divine Light ("Man toon jyot saroop hai"), directions for living a Truth-centered life are to be sought within from Waheguru, not from external sources. But, for this to become possible, an active personal relationship with the Guru is essential. If our thought processes remain mired in duality, like a "split seed," we cannot grow and develop the necessary sense of harmony with the Divine.
However, once we take a "pilgrimage within ourselves," discovering our intrinsic connection with Divine Truth, our thought processes can become clarified and we can attain an understanding of what constitutes virtuous living.
We discussed that, in this portion, which speaks of the dichotomy between belief and practice, the Guru is giving examples of the duality inherent in what people say and what they actually do. We may hypocritically praise the philosophy (which is in the form of the Divine), but continue to slavishly follow overly-stringent laws and blind rituals. Like Yogis, we may attempt to totally empty ourselves, but we cannot get rid of what is truly impure within us.
Without the Guru, nothing can be achieved and union with the Divine is impossible. But, when we meet the Guru and focus our consciousness on the Truth, we will be "liberated by the One who removes attachments," and thus "obtain the life of the Universe."
While dissecting this section, we pondered many of the ills that beset society throughout the ages (and continue to do so today), such as official corruption, hypocrisy, exploitation and unfair double standards.
Unethical religious leaders conspire with ruthless "power brokers" to control the lives of the common people. Cruelty and tyranny prevail everywhere; falsehood is practiced on an immense scale. But Waheguru can never be deceived - the Divine Will always prevails.
Like the brahmins demarcating their cooking squares with cow dung, we futilely seek to find purity within a artificially prescribed "space." But, when we abandon duality, purity will be found within ourselves, according to the new ways in which we think and behave.
The fifth and final session was a "Question & Answer" Forum. Although it began with subjects relating to Asa ki Var, it soon became quite free-ranging. Whatever the topics raised by the participants, the facilitators consistently presented Gurmat perspectives in thought-provoking and non-judgmental ways that were relevantly connected to contemporary life in the diaspora, while fully respecting the attendees' differing levels of personal observance and depth of Sikhi-related knowledge.
At the conclusion of the seminar, Mandhir Singh spoke briefly about the Bridgewater Gurdwara and Khalsa School, and its many exciting programs and activities.
Having previously attended a SikhRI "Mark of Excellence" workshop ("The Guru: Connecting With the Divine Light") in October, 2008 and taken part in two of the organization's webinars held this spring, I came to this seminar with extremely high expectations.
To a very great degree, they were not only met, but also exceeded.
Represented among the attendees were Keshadhari and non-Keshadhari Sikhs of a wide array of ages, high-schooler to retiree.
It could not have been more evident that the three facilitators were deeply steeped in knowledge of Sikhi and Gurmat principles. They consistently encouraged all to actively participate and freely express their views. The spirit of open inquiry and life-long learning - such integral parts of our faith - definitely seemed quite alive and well, and the immense love we all share for our Guru was certainly in ample evidence.
Overall, each of the sessions unfolded in a very cogent and well-organized manner. However, apart from the segment that was deliberately split into separate English- and Punjabi-speaking groups, there were occasions when the desire of some of the participants to communicate exclusively in Punjabi, and the decision of the facilitator to reply in similar fashion, seemed to cause the comprehension level of some of the attendees not fluent in that language (myself firmly among them) to be momentarily lessened.
This occurred repeatedly during the Q&A period. It might have been preferable if the leaders had gone a bit further in these situations (such as quickly translating the questions and responses into English) to ensure that all participants, even the minority who did not possess Punjabi language skills, understood the proceedings as fully as possible.
This seminar might have been of even more benefit if a greater degree of "wrapping-up" after the third "Transcending Duality" session had taken place.
Devoting a little extra time to clearly summarizing and drawing comprehensive conclusions from the numerous lines of thought that arose during the discussion of Asa ki Var's structure and significance as well as the three Gurbani text explication segments would have been extremely worthwhile.
Perhaps this could have taken place either at the beginning or end of the Q&A period, even if it would have resulted in cutting down the opportunity for general, non-Asa ki Var-related discussion slightly.
With the minor exception of the above (which, admittedly, might not have been perceived as shortcomings by many of the participants), this seminar was definitely a very stimulating and valuable experience, as well as a tremendously motivational springboard to further reading, study and discussion of this Bani.
1: Mandhir Singh (U.S.A.), March 17, 2009, 9:10 AM.
2: Arvinder Singh Kang (Oxford, MS, U.S.A.), March 18, 2009, 10:59 AM.
Thanks for sharing. I have attended SikhRI webinars in the past. I agree: highly recommended.
3: Jay (New York, U.S.A.), March 20, 2009, 5:21 PM.
I attended the seminar and enjoyed it very much. I agree with the article and the summary of the sessions. We also had a lively Q&A which brought out some of the nuances of the meanings through discussions.
4: Sargam Sethi (Bridgewater, New Jersey, U.S.A.), March 23, 2009, 6:39 AM.
I was highly impressed with the seminar. Thankyou for the session and this article ... it's well written. I am looking forward to more of these and want to urge my friends to attend.
5: Jodh Singh (Jericho, NY, U.S.A.), March 24, 2009, 6:42 PM.
I wish I had known about it. I would love to have attended it, and would certainly have benefitted from it. Please let us know if there are such seminars in the area in the future.
6: Guravtar ( U.S.A.), May 12, 2009, 5:50 AM.
How can I access the discussion contents of the segment "Mussalmana sifat...". I am particularly interested in the translations of "mitti mussalmaan ki.."
7: Ishmeet Kaur (Delhi, India), July 07, 2009, 3:00 AM.
I am so happy to read about the kind of "parchar" that's going on in the U.S. and elsewhere, and I somehow feel that Sikhs abroad are more attached to our religion than we are in India. I am also jealous of you all who get an opportunity to share your views at forums like these which are rather rare in India. No doubt there are a lot of kirtan darbars but no dedicated seminars like these, at least I am not aware of them. Please do let me know in case any one knows about these in India.
8: Coco Singh (Navi Mumbai, India), March 17, 2010, 9:10 PM.
Is there any way that the transcripts of the different sessions can be had on Asa Ki Var, please, in its entirety?
9: Satsangat Kaur (France), December 27, 2012, 8:00 AM.
Sat Sri Akal. Thank you for this interesting article. Though, I want to ask if maybe some words weren't used very precisely like here in this part: "Found on pages 462-475 of Guru Granth Sahib, Asa ki Var is one of the scripture's 22 Varaan (odes). Sung in the early morning period before sunrise, it is in Raag Asa, a musical measure that is intended to evoke an intense mood of hope or desire." The word at the end ... "desire"? Can you say precisely what was your intention to say here, please? Thank you! Blessings.


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For example if you are storing 4no. 200L drums of methanol, the bund capacity needs to be 220L capacity (110% rule).
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Site restrictions and banksman requirements.
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unconscious part of the mental apparatus which is partly made up of inherited instincts and partly by acquired, but repressed components.
see under delusion of reference.
false perception of a real external stimulus.
delusional disorder shared by two or more people who are closely related emotionally. One has a real psychosis whilst symptoms are induced in the other. Separation results in symptomatic improvement in the one who is not psychotic.


Imperial Sandwich Co. is one of the QC's food trucks with a varied selection of sandwiches!
Pike's - a soda shop in South End that is certainly worth the visit!
Nikko is an upscale sushi and Japanese restaurant in the South End.
Tucked away in South End The Oak Room appears to be a good option for all those Top 40 club goers that want a something little different than Uptown or The Music Factory.
Looking for BBQ? Mac's certainly gives any other BBQ place a run for its money!
A Charlotte staple that serves up some very tasty Greek food options!
Gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches? Go to Food Truck Fridays at Southend and give Papi Queso a try! Their range of offerings will have a little bit of something for everyone.


Randy Bruno, Ph.D., currently Assistant Professor of Neuroscience at Columbia University, was once a computer scientist struggling with artificial intelligence problems. He realized the answers he sought could only be found in living brains.
Dr. Bruno is interested in sensory processing – how it is that one can touch a surface or look across the room or hear something and instantly make sense of it. Also, how it is that one can think about that stimulus, learn and remember things about it, and contextualize it among the constant storm of stimuli people are pelted with daily. This is the domain of the neocortex, a six-layer part of the mammalian brain that is involved in higher functions such as sensory perception, cognition, and language.
To study this complex area, Dr. Bruno has focused his research on what is known as the rodent whisker barrel system. In 1970, researchers discovered that the array of whiskers in many rodents corresponds neatly to that of barrel-shaped areas in the fourth layer of the neocortex; further, it was found that there is a one-to-one correlation between a given whisker and its matching barrel within the neocortex, so that if the whisker is moved, signals from the thalamus cause a neuron within the corresponding barrel to fire.
Rodents use their whiskers in much the same way that people would use their fingertips to get information about something in front of them. A person feels something smooth and cool and is able to make a determination about it, just as if it were pointy or hot. We know this happens but we don't know how – yet.
In fact, his experiments are showing that the once-monolithic neocortex is actually more like two cortexes in one, which may prove a fruitful new avenue for research.
What we do know is that the excitation of rodent whiskers causes observable and measurable signals to be spread to specific areas of the neocortex, just as other forms of excitation spread from layer to layer, and area to area. According to Dr. Bruno, this information can be important in identifying ways to address certain neurological disorders.
"A lot of disorders are diseases of propagating excitation," he says. "Epilepsy and Parkinson's, for example, are the result of signals that lead to uncontrolled movements. One of the reasons why we think our research is useful is if the neocortical layers are independent of one another, we should be able to design drugs for different disorders, based on the different layers of the brain and the biophysical properties of the affected neurons. For example, we know that seizures in certain models start in deep layers of the cerebral cortex; knowing what excites them will tell us how to control, target, or stop the excitation.


Last night I found myself in front of the TV watching NFL football games I cared nothing about, when one of my friends sent me a text and suggested I watch the movie "We Were Soldiers" (it was airing on TNT). I'd seen the movie before, but since my Texans had already lost their game and my Saints had pulled out a win in theirs, I figured it was worth watching again. I'm glad I did.
You may recall from my last message two weeks ago that my father was involved in a motorcycle accident and suffered a serious brain injury. Fortunately the EMT's identified the signs of injury quickly enough and had him airlifted from the scene of the accident to the nearest trauma center – San Antonio Military Medical Hospital (SAMMC). It is there I spent a week in the ICU unit watching over my father's recovery. It is there I watched his strength, courage, and dogged determinism turn the situation from a tragedy into a miracle in the making.


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long with the likes of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Beach Boys and The Kinks, The Byrds were one of the most influential groups of the 60s. Starting out as peddlers of Dylan-esque folk-rock, a career that spanned just nine years saw them whole-heartedly embrace psychedelia and then, as the 60s turned into the 70s, pioneering the country-rock sound.
Hits like Mr Tambourine Man and Eight Miles High saw the band achieve huge commercial success in the mid-60s, yet they were never really suited to being teen-scream sensations. In later years, their experiments in country music would alienate them from the prevailing 'counter-culture', while the ultra-conservative Nashville old guard remained unimpressed, and the hits dried up. Nevertheless, the 'jingle-jangle' sound of main man Roger (formerly Jim – he changed his name in 1967, having become a follower of the Subud spiritual movement) McGuinn's 12-string Rickenbacker guitar would go on to influence countless artists, ensuring The Byrds' place in the pantheon of rock greats.
After The Byrds finally disbanded – after numerous line-up changes – in 1973, McGuinn recorded a series of solo albums and toured with Tom Petty and Bob Dylan. But the dawn of the internet era would see him re-emerge as a standard-bearer for traditional American music with the launch of his Folk Den project, in which he releases recordings of traditional songs for free online.
"Okay, so Stories, Songs & Friends is my latest release, and it's a live, two-CD set with a bonus DVD that has interviews with some of my friends. It's kind of an autobiography, it tells the story of how I got into music and all the people I met along the way.
"It started out as a recording for my mother's 102nd birthday. I was playing in Tucson and I went along to see her for her birthday because she'd broken her hip, and she was bedridden. So we recorded the concert with very high-quality equipment, so that she could hear it – that was the primary reason for the recording. And she lived to be 102 and three days, and then she passed away. But I listened to the recording, and thought it was worthy of releasing. And then we had this DVD project that we were working on separately, but decided to include that in the package.
"It's some concert footage, but mostly anecdotes from people that have known me from hanging out and being musicians together – people like Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen. I didn't know Bruce Springsteen knew who I was! But it turned out he'd followed me since Mr Tambourine Man and had even done some of my songs on stage. He likes to include some obscure material in his concerts, and he's done some of my stuff over the years.
Most of The Byrds' songs were co-writes. What can you tell us about how that worked?
"Back in the Byrds days I usually did write with someone else, either David Crosby or Gene Clark or Chris Hillman, and then later with Jacques Levy. I always enjoyed the process of writing with a partner; even today I write songs with my wife, Camilla. I think two heads are better than one when it comes to songwriting. If you look at the great songwriting teams, you've got George & Ira Gershwin, Lieber & Stoller… all the songwriting teams, they've done very well. I think of Lennon & McCartney: they've written some really interesting songs that probably neither would have written by himself. So I think the interplay between two people is really good.
So who would do what, when you were co-writing with the other Byrds?
"Well, it depends what they do. Gene Clark was a guitar player. Jacques Levy couldn't play any instruments but he was kind of musical, he could hum out a tune for you. But I came up with most of the tunes and he came up with most of the lyrics, when we wrote together. With Gene, it was pretty even, where he and I would work on the tune and the lyrics together.
"For example with Eight Miles High, we had this idea to write a song about an airplane ride, which was how we got to the 'high' part… which of course was misinterpreted by the radio community, who thought it was talking about drugs. But it really wasn't, it was about an airplane ride!
So where does inspiration come from, when it does come?
"Well like I said, it's hard work! You sit down like a prose writer and you decide to write, and then you try to think of something. In my case, I'd usually come up with a series of chords that I liked together, and then hum a melody over that, until it suggested something like an idea for a song. Other times, you'd have an idea for a song and then make up a tune for it. But I think the chords and the melody coming first is more common in my case.
"The most recent song I've written hasn't been recorded yet, it's called The Grapes Of Wrath and it's based on the 1951 movie with Henry Fonda. I came up with the chord changes first for that one, and then a melody to go over the chord changes, and then gradually my wife and I sat down and wrote a lyric based on the movie, with ideas from scenes in the movie.
Are there any songs you've written lyric-first?
Do you have a preferred time or place to write?
"It's nice to be quiet, to have a quiet environment where there aren't too many distractions going on. Camilla and I used to have a condo on the beach and we'd go to that, sit down for a couple of weeks and write songs, and usually come out with several that we liked. You can find examples of those songs on a CD called Limited Edition, which you can get on Amazon.
So does that mean you've got hundreds of unrecorded songs sitting in a file somewhere?
Looking back over your years in music… with the benefit of hindsight, are there things you'd have done differently?
In the meantime, Stories, Songs And Friends is out now, and Roger will be touring the UK and Europe in September, October and November to promote it. For a full list of dates, see his official website. Below, you can watch The Byrds performing Mr Tambourine Man on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1965.


text:
Мегалодонът (Carcharodon megalodon) е вид праисторическа акула – хищник, обитавал океаните в периода късен олигоцен – ранен неоген и изчезнал преди 2 милиона години. Името на този хищник се превежда като "голям зъб" ().

Изчезването на мегалодона се свързва със захлаждането на климата през палиоцена: океаните се охлаждат, картата на океанските течения се променя, ледниците задържат огромно количество вода, което предизвиква намаляване на шелфовите води; китовете започват да обитават по-богатите на планктон и по-студени води, а по това време се появяват и косатките, които вероятно са ловували млади мегалодони.

Разпространение
Мегалодонът е бил разпространен повсеместно – останки се откриват в Европа, Северна и Южна Америка, Африка, Малта, Нова Зеландия, Австралия, Индия, Япония и други.

Описание
Точната форма на тялото на мегалодона не може да бъде възстановена, тъй като най-разпространените останки от този вид са зъбите – те наподобяват зъбите на бялата акула, но са по-назъбени и по-големи (до 18 cm). Липсата на повече останки се обяснява от факта, че скелетът на мегалодона е бил изграден от хрущял, а не от кост. Все пак, изхождайки от приликата между зъбите на мегалодона и съвременната бяла акула, някои учени предполагат, че формата на тялото на праисторическата хищна риба е наподобявала тази на бялата акула.

Предполага се, че мегалодонът е достигал 18 метра дължина и тежест до 60 тона. В по-старата литература се посочва, че видът е достигал до размери от 30 метра и 120 тона, но това се дължи по-скоро на погрешни изчисления.

Хранене
Мегалодонът е бил хищна риба, специализирана в лова на едри морски животни – най-вече праисторически китоподобни, като основна част от менюто му са били цетотерите (древни китове). Жертвите на мегалодона са обитавали предимно плитките и топли шелфове на океаните.

Селдови акули
Изчезнали акули


text:
Home > Faculty Scholarship > 586
Do Defendants Pay What Juries Award - Post-Verdict Haircuts in Texas Medical Malpractice Cases, 1988-2003
David A. Hyman, Georgetown University Law Center
Bernard S. Black, Northwestern University
Kathryn Zeiler, Boston University School of LawFollow
Charles Silver, University of Texas at Austin
William M. Sage, University of Texas at Austin
Cornell Law School and Blackwell Publisher, Inc.
Legal scholars, legislators, policy advocates, and the news media frequently use jury verdicts to draw conclusions about the performance of the tort system. However actual payouts can differ greatly from verdicts. We report evidence on post-verdict payouts from the most comprehensive longitudinal study of matched jury verdicts and payouts. Using data on all insured medical malpractice claims in Texas from 1988-2003 in which the plaintiff received at least $25,000 (in 1988 dollars) following a jury trial, we find that most jury awards received "haircuts." Seventy-five percent of plaintiffs received a payout less than the adjusted verdict (jury verdict plus pre-judgment and post-judgment interest), 20 percent received the adjusted verdict (within 2 percent), and 5 percent received more than the adjusted verdict. Overall, plaintiffs received a mean (median) per-case haircut of 29 percent (19 percent), and an aggregate haircut of 56 percent, relative to the adjusted verdict. The larger the verdict, the more likely and larger the haircut. For cases with a positive adjusted verdict under $100,000, 47 percent of plaintiffs received a haircut, with a mean (median) per-case haircut of 8 percent (2 percent). For cases with an adjusted verdict larger than $2.5 million, 98 percent of plaintiffs received a haircut with a mean (median) per-case haircut of 56 percent (61 percent). Insurance policy limits are the most important factor explaining haircuts. Caps on damages in death cases and caps on punitive damages are also important, but defendants often paid substantially less than the adjusted allowed verdict. Remittitur accounts for a small percentage of the haircuts. Punitive damage awards have only a small effect on payouts. Out-of-pocket payments by physicians are rare, never large, and usually unrelated to punitive damage awards. Most cases settle, presumably in the shadow of the outcome if the case were to be tried. That outcome is not the jury award, but the actual post-verdict payout. Because defendants rarely pay what juries award, jury verdicts alone do not provide a sufficient basis for claims about the performance of the tort system.
David A. Hyman, Bernard S. Black, Kathryn Zeiler, Charles Silver & William M. Sage, Do Defendants Pay What Juries Award - Post-Verdict Haircuts in Texas Medical Malpractice Cases, 1988-2003 , in 4 Journal of Empirical Legal Studies 3 (2007).
Available at: https://scholarship.law.bu.edu/faculty_scholarship/586
Find on SSRN
Jurisprudence Commons, Medical Jurisprudence Commons, Torts Commons


Vinny Marotta bought five acres of land in Thorndike a few years ago hoping to build a small house without going into debt. He cleared a patch of forest, landscaped a portion of it and as he had money he built a 10-by-10 foot building, often using repurposed materials.
Vinny Marotta works on installing a temporary pump in the well at his Thorndike property. Marotta bought five acres of land in Thorndike a few years ago hoping to build a small house without going into debt. He cleared a patch of forest, landscaped a portion of it and as he had money he built a 10-by-10 foot building, often using repurposed materials.
Vinny Marotta bought five acres in Thorndike a few years ago hoping to build a small house without going into debt. "It was all forest when I started," he said.
Vinny Marotta bought five acres in Thorndike a few years ago hoping to build a small house without going into debt. "It was all forest when I started." He built a 10-by-10-foot building, often using repurposed materials.
Vinny Marotta bought five acres of land in Thorndike a few years ago hoping to build a small house without going into debt. "It was all forest when I started."
Vinny Marotta, 35, plats seedlings in the garden at his Thorndike property. Marotta bought five acres of land a few years ago hoping to build a small house without going into debt. He cleared a patch of forest, landscaped portion of it and as he had money he built a 10 by 10 foot building, often using repurposed materials. Marotta continues to work on his property making improvements as he is able to afford it.
In a small clearing off a sleepy dirt road in Thorndike, something surprising is tucked behind a screen of trees: an emerald-green lawn with a handmade tiny house sitting on it that juts up to the sky.
The house, the lawn and the other myriad homesteading projects happening in the clearing are the product of one man's imagination, rabid work ethic and ability to make something cool out of mostly reclaimed and recycled materials. Vinny Marotta took advantage of a recent sunny, 80 degree day to work on his raised bed garden and on the installation of a temporary pump for his well. Despite the heat, the sweat trickling down his face and the swarming blackflies, it was apparent Marotta was exactly where he wanted to be.
His life wasn't always this way. Marotta, 35, grew up in suburban New Jersey but never quite fit in there. He didn't really want to go to college, either, but he found out about Unity College and got interested, though not necessarily because of academics. Instead, it was Maine's rivers and lakes he liked because he was "really into fishing." Marotta came to Maine to check it out and has called the Pine Tree State home ever since.
"I took to it pretty quick," he said.
At Unity, he studied park management and environmental studies and after graduating scored a seasonal job working for the Maine Island Trail Association. He has worked as the summer caretaker on Jewell Island in Casco Bay ever since. He loves his job, but for years longed to have a fixed place to go when he wasn't on the island.
In 2013, he had saved up some money and was looking around for land to buy. He found a 5-acre parcel in Thorndike that was affordable and started spending evenings on the island sketching the home he wanted to build there. Marotta, who also is a carpenter, wanted to keep the house on a 10-by-10 foot footprint so he could avoid the hassle of getting a building permit.
"I just wanted a shack with a stove," he said.
But even though he wanted something simple, he wanted to do it right — and didn't want to borrow money to make it happen. Instead of paying a monthly mortgage to the bank, Marotta has paid for it in time and sweat equity.
"The years are just flying by, and I'm not too far along yet," he said, ruefully.
But that's not entirely true. The four years since he bought the land have also brought a lot of changes, to his homestead and to his life. There's a fancy outhouse and a plan to have reliable running water and an outdoor bathing facility on the property. Early on, Marotta used his trusty Jeep to log out his clearing, reducing it to stumps and boulders, and then had that cleared out and turned into lawn.
He also built that 10-by-10 structure, but it is more substantial than a mere shack. He sleeps in an upstairs loft that's accessed by a ladder, which is not atypical of tiny houses. But in place of the classic badly lit and claustrophobic sleeping area with a ceiling so low you could bump your head if you sit up suddenly, he built a full — if steeply pitched — second story with large windows that allow lots of light to come in. The downstairs is taken up by a simple kitchen area, benches for seating and a small but efficient wood stove in one corner. There are also some children's books and toys, clues to another important recent change in Marotta's life: the birth of his daughter, Rhea Marotta, who now is 15 months old.
Back in 2013, at the same time he was thinking seriously of buying land and building a home, he met the woman who would become his partner when she camped on Jewell Island. Kelsy Ross, the head coach of the Bates College soccer team, has a life that is based in Lewiston, so that is where Marotta spends most of his off-island time. But she supports his goal to build the homestead in Thorndike.
Right now, it's hard to have an active, busy baby on the property. The house is too small for her to crawl around and the bugs can be ferocious. But that's part of why Marotta is working so hard. One day, he would like to turn his talent and time toward building a larger house on the land — a two-story home with about 1,280 square feet of living space. Although that would dwarf his tiny house, it still would be much smaller than the average new American home, which has more than 2,600 square feet. It would also allow the three of them to be comfortable there together, and that drives Marotta forward.
"That's what keeps me motivated," he said of his family.
And that's why those hot, hardworking days are so satisfying to him.