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(Upcoming Show) Cordero Brings Their Rock en Espanol to Landfall Music Festival in Cedar Rapids, IA 9/24/2010
Posted on September 21, 2010 by mike
picture by Cody Ranaldo
The Landfall Music Festival starts this week. The Landfall Music Festival is the Legion Arts' World Music festival that has taken place since 2008. Like last year, the festival will take place at Greene Square Park in downtown Cedar Rapids. Boasting 16 bands from all around the globe, it will run from Wednesday, September 22 to Saturday, September 25. There will not be any performances at CSPS as it is under construction due to remodeling.
One of the bands I'm looking forward to see is Cordero from Brooklyn, NY. Cordero is a Rock/Latin Rock band fronted by Ani Cordero. Following a very busy run touring in a blur indie bands– including a stint as the drummer Tweety Tone for Man Or Astroman? all-girl "clone" band the Gamma Clones— she moved to Tucson for a brief time. With help from Tucson music scene regulars Howe Gelb of Giant Sand, Joey Burns of Calexico, Naim Amor of Amor Belhoum Duo she self-released her first album Deserter in 2000. Shortly on the heels of this she moved to Brooklyn to assemble what would become Cordero, the band. The band signed to Amy Ray of Indigo Girls record label Daemon Records where they released two albums: 2002's Lamb Lost in the City and 2004's Somos Cordero.
In 2006 Cordero signed with Bloodshot Records (home of Alejandro Escovedo, Neko Case, Split Lip Rayfield and Ha Ha Tonka among many others). They have released two albums here: 2006's En Este Momento and 2008's De Donde Eres. Up until De Donde Eres, the releases from Cordero have been largely bilingual– in an interview around the release of En Este Momento, Ani said that she is comfortable writing in either Spanish or English. To that end, she said that she doesn't even plan which language she's going to write a particular song in. With De Donde Eres the whole album was in Spanish. Ani found that writing this album in her native tongue a catharsis following a string of unfortunate events in her life and those around her. The result is a particularly moving album and possibly her most personal effort to date.
Ani reports from the Cordero Facebook page that they have finished recording the follow-up to De Donde Eres. Produced by Sergio Eres of the venerable Os Mutantes, Cordero has left some hints about the album in the wall feed. Back in March, Ani reported that she had just returned from Las Vegas with material recorded there as well as some field recordings from Puerto Rico– so we can expect some interesting texture to these recordings.
Cordero will be finishing up the Friday night lineup of the Landfall Music Festival starting at 7:30PM. The Landfall Music Festival does not have a cover charge– but graciously accepts donations.
Cordero, "Ruleta Rusa" from Bloodshot Records on Vimeo.
Click Here to visit Cordero's Website
Click Here to visit Cordero's MySpace page
Click Here to visit Cordero's Facebook page
Click Here to listen to "Ruleta Rusa" from De Donde Eres.
The Landfall Music Festival Schedule is: (borrowed from the Legion Arts Website)
Wed Sep 22 Dragon Knights, various times
Barbara Furtuna (France), 6-7:15 pm *
Mahala Rai Banda (Romania), 7:15-8:45 pm
Thu Sep 23 Dragon Knights, various times
Red Baraat (India / USA), 6-7:15 pm
Barbara Furtuna (France), 6:45-8 pm *
Cimmarón (Colombia), 7:30-8:45 pm
Fri Sept 24 Kenge Kenge (Kenya), 6-7:15 pm
Portico Quartet (England), 6:45-8 pm *
Cordero (Mexico / USA), 7:30-8:45 pm
Sat Sept 25 Turkana (Turkey / USA), 1:35-2:45 pm
Salaam (Iraq / USA), 2-3:15 pm *
Calle Sur (Colombia / Panama / USA), 4-5:15 pm
Zedashe Ensemble (Georgia), 5:30-6:45 pm
Salaam (Iraq / USA), 6:30-7:45 pm *
Nation Beat (Brazil / USA), 7-8:15 pm
The Sway Machinery (USA), 8:30-9:45 pm
Performances marked * take place in First Presbyterian Church. Artists and schedule subject to change. For the latest updates visit this Website.
Posted in Bands/Artists, Eastern Iowa, Music, Out and About, Upcoming Show	| Tagged Ani Cordero, bloodshot records, Calexico, Cedar Rapids, Cordero, Daemon Records, Giant Sand, Howe Gelb, IA, Joey Burns, Landfall Music Festival, Man or Astroman?, Naim Amor, Os Mutantes, Tweety Tone	| Leave a reply
(Upcoming Show) The Sway Machinery at Landfall Music Festival- Cedar Rapids, IA, 9/25
The Landfall Music Festival starts this week. The Landfall Music Festival is the Legion Arts' World Music festival that has taken place since 2008. Like last year, the festival will take place at Greene Square Park in downtown Cedar Rapids. There will not be any performances at CSPS as it is under construction due to remodeling.
Legion Arts announced via their CSPS Facebook Page that The Sway Machinery was going to be added to the Saturday lineup. Although I hadn't heard of The Sway Machinery before, the connections to Balkan Beat Box, The Arcade Fire, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Antibalas was enough for me to take a closer look at the band.
The Sway Machinery is the cross-cultural music project of Jeremiah Lockwood who has been the guitarist for the touring version of Balkan Beat Box. Lockwood saw a synergy between American folk-blues, African folk rhythms and his own Ashkenazic Jewish Cantoral heritage. Lockwood is the grandson of the legendary Cantor Jacob Konigsberg as well as the son of composer Larry Lockwood.
Jeremiah Lockwood appeared in the 2000 documentary "Hasidic Blues" directed by BBC veteran filmmaker Robert Mullan. In the documentary clip below Lockwood discusses how he arrived at the fusion of the seemingly disparate musical styles, "I was intentionally trying to do something new with [the Cantoral] music– trying to create a way of listening to the melody and the vocal style that would give it more context. I guess the emotional experience I've had listening to Cantoral music, other people can have that also, so it is important for me to find a way to communicate that."
Lockwood started The Sway Machinery in 2006 as a collaboration with Israeli percussionist Tomer Tzur who stayed with the band until 2007. The band released its debut full length album on JDub Records (also the home of Balkan Beat Box) in 2009. Titled Hidden Melodies Revealed, it was based on a concert performed on Rosh HaShana (the Jewish new year) at Angel Orensanz Foundation in New York City in September of 2007. From the JDub website: "Hidden Melodies Revealed showcases pieces based on mystical texts taken directly from the Jewish High Holiday prayers and reconfigures them in a startlingly new musical landscape."
In January of 2010, The Sway Machinery traveled to Mali to perform at the legendary Festival of the Desert. While in Africa, the group recorded a new album featuring collaborations with Malian artists, including Vieux Farka Toure and Khaira Arby. The resulting album is called The House of Friendly Ghosts, and will be coming out on JDub in 2011.
For me, The Sway Machinery is a compelling intersection of music between the recent insurgence of music influenced by African rhythms– The Budos Band, Antibalas, Extra Golden are all bands I listen to that claim these as their basis– and music from Jewish culture and tradition I am not familiar with. The Sway Machinery will make for a strong wrap up for the four-day festival, and is the show I'm most interested in seeing.
Click Here to visit The Sway Machinery's MySpace Page.
Click Here to visit The Sway Machinery's website.
Posted in Bands/Artists, Eastern Iowa, Music, Out and About, Upcoming Show	| Tagged Balkan Beat Box, Cantor Jacob Konigsberg, Cedar Rapids, csps, Greene Square Park, Hasidic Blues, IA, JDub Records, Jeremiah Lockwood, Landfall Music Festival, Larry Lockwood, legion arts, Robert Mullan, The Sway Machinery	| Leave a reply
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Last night I attended the Euromoney Legal Media Group's Managing IP gala in Washington, DC. I was delighted to learn that my firm, McCarthy Tétrault, was honored with two of the 2013 North America Awards for excellence in intellectual property law.
McCarthy Tétrault was recognized as the top firm in Canada in the category of Patent Contentious. I won the award as Canada's Outstanding IP Practitioner.
Other winners recognized for their excellence in IP including other Canadian winners can be found here.
Quite an achievement. Congratulations for winning the award!


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Naperville School Welcomes Back Kevin Cordes
Students at White Eagle Elementary School recently had an Olympic start to their morning.
"Good morning White Eagle Wolves, this is Kevin Cordes, member of the USA Olympic Team, gold medalist and former White Eagle student," said Kevin Cordes as part of the morning announcements.
The Olympic gold medalist and Naperville native was at his elementary alma mater, taking pictures, visiting classes and even being interviewed by a few members of the student council.
But the visit was about more than just pictures.
"The PTA is doing a fundraiser this year and it's all about goal setting, and so we figured we're lucky enough to have a former student athlete but we thought he'd be a great person to talk to us about setting goals and working hard toward them and achieving them, but also setting more for yourself," explained Cordes' former fifth grade teacher and current teacher at White Eagle, Julie Sarno.
It was a message the students were eager to hear.
Cordes also attended Still Middle School and Neuqua Valley High School.
Naperville News 17's Evan Summers reports.
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Are you ready to "Give Back like a 1-Percenter"?
I have found in my life there are not many gifts greater than the gift of being able to pay it forward. Because of this, I have committed to marking down over half of my gross income each year from my various businesses and investments. For me, 'Giving Back like a 1-Percenter' stands for not only donating hundreds of thousands of dollars to deserving charities each year, but also being involved in helping change the world.
The Tom Gentile Distance Education Program is a new sponsorship with Safe Port Initiative. They are an organization dedicated to providing services and advocacy to victims and survivors of human trafficking and other human rights violations. The Tom Gentile Distance Education Program will help deliver all levels of education to survivors around the world by equipping them with the skills, knowledge and confidence they will need to succeed.
I'm doing this to show you I believe in the concept of 'Giving Back like a 1-Percenter'; giving back to my community, my country and the world.


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Gollum's Idolatry: Paradigm of the Human Condition
by Karen Goltz
Idolatry. Martin Luther understood it to mean anything in which we put our trust and faith other than God. (Large Catechism) Idolatry is the reason why God instituted the first commandment in the Decalogue: I am the Lord your God; you shall have no other gods. All other gods are idols.
The bible is full of examples of idolatry, the most famous perhaps being Aaron's golden calf. After the split of the kingdom of Israel into the northern kingdom of Ephraim and the southern kingdom of Judah, the leader of Ephraim molded two golden calves (idols) for the people to worship. (1 Kings 12:26-29) Jesus alluded to the Pharisees' rigid devotion to their religious traditions as idolatrous. (Matthew 15:3-9; 23:29-33; Luke 11:42-44; 20:17-19) In the epistles, idolatry is frequently listed among the sins that followers of Christ should avoid. (Romans 1:23-31; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:19-21)
In western theology idolatry is often equated with people's focus on possessions, wealth, success, or their own power and autonomy. It's a concept with which we're familiar and which many of us, to a certain extent, can recognize in our own lives. Yet at the same time it's easy for idolatry to remain merely a concept, disembodied and disengaged from the practice of daily life. It's easy to ignore the implications of idolatry, and to avoid recognizing what kind of damage can come from engaging in it. It's so embedded in our American culture, so saturating our common experiences that we're blinded to its effects.
Literature provides us with characters who embody aspects of our lives that help us see with clarity, because of the natural distance between reader and story. The harmful effects of idolatry can more easily be recognized in a character who takes the concept of idolatry to extremes. One such character is Gollum.
Gollum, a.k.a. Smeágol, comes from the imagination of J.R.R. Tolkien, and resides in the pages and on the screen in the epic Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit. Commonly mistaken as either an irredeemably evil creature or an innocent victim of malevolent forces beyond his control, Gollum/Smeágol is the most recognizably human of all Tolkien's Lord of the Rings characters. Through this character we can see the somewhat extreme yet undeniably familiar consequences of idolatry, which in turn allows us a glimpse of our own experiences and the consequences that may result from the choices we make.
Smeágol's role in the history of Tolkien's story begins when he first encounters the legendary Ring of Power. Not knowing what it is, he is attracted to its simple, shining beauty. He wants it. Irrationally yet irresistibly, he wants it.
An impulsive, irrational desire for attractive things is certainly not alien to the human experience. For us it may be some object we want to possess; it may be a position we want to hold, a feat we want to accomplish, or even a person we want to subject to our own power in some way. In any case, desire captures our attention so completely that nothing else matters. We become obsessed with our desire, which becomes a "need." It supplants whatever else we may hold in high regard: money, time, responsibilities, and relationships. Without even realizing what we're doing, we willingly sacrifice core values that we'd never give up if we took the time to think rationally about it.
Part of the lure of idols is that they tend to overwhelm us with their desirability. We lack the perspective to take a moment and think rationally about what we're doing. So we make the necessary sacrifices in order to obtain the prize.
In Smeágol's case, he killed for his prize. The Ring had actually been found by a friend of Smeágol, who refused to hand over his new-found treasure. Smeágol tried to take it from him by force and the two began to wrestle. The wrestling match became a fight, and the fight became a fight to the death.
Perhaps Smeágol assumed his friend would give up the Ring once the struggle began, deciding it wasn't worth the effort. Or maybe he didn't think at all, his mind so bedazzled by his need for the Ring that there wasn't room for anything else. Or maybe he simply didn't care what happened to his friend, because his friend was far less important to him at that moment than obtaining his prize. Any one of these scenarios can be found in everyday, non-literary life. The familiar saying, "It's all fun and games until someone gets hurt," addresses what happens when people inadvertently go too far; when a simple contest of skill or agility becomes violent; when an amusing story turns into a scathing attack or crushing humiliation. The idolatry of being the strongest or "the best" blinds us to the reality of the consequences that others will face because of our actions.
Actions have consequences for ourselves as well as for others. Smeágol's friend died and Smeágol achieved his goal, but the story doesn't end there. Smeágol discovers that the Ring has the power to make him invisible; a bonus beyond what he'd hoped for when he first fixated on the Ring. He uses this power for his own personal gain, disregarding the consequences to others. A consequence to himself is that he is eventually ostracized by his community and disowned by his family.
How many people have lost their friends and families while in pursuit of their careers? How many have been locked in an addictive and idolatrous relationship with drugs or alcohol? How many have become dependent upon an unhealthy or destructive person? Sometimes the idol seems noble: the pastors who are so dedicated to their ministries that they neglect their families. Sometimes the idol appears salvific to a person's lost sense of self: the people who engage in an extramarital affair because this person truly "sees" them and "appreciates" them in a way their spouses don't.
The resulting losses we experience can serve to reorient us away from the idol, and help restore a healthier set of priorities. But this reorientation always come as a choice: either give up our idol and try to repair the damage we've caused, or decide for the idol and rationalize that those other influences in our lives are better off gone.
Whichever way we choose, we are forced to give up something that is important to us. Both choices have consequences. Both choices involve loss. And sometimes we, like Smeágol, are caught up in the inertia of our idolatry. We become divided against ourselves, but we remain committed to our idol because it's easier to continue on that path than it is to make the changes and sacrifices necessary to become free.
At the point that our allegiance shifts to our idol, our idol is no longer something we possess; it is a central facet of our identity. Our idol possesses us.
The third movie in the series, "The Return of the King," shows this shift dramatically. Smeágol's physical appearance undergoes a grotesque transformation, while we hear his voice in the background: "We forget the taste of bread. We forget the sound of trees. We even forget our own name." Smeágol has given up absolutely everything for the sake of his idol. Now it rules him completely. He is no longer Smeágol; he has become Gollum.
For many of us the story ends here. We live enslaved to our idols, seeing all other influences as threats to what we have, threats to who we understand ourselves to be. But for Gollum the story doesn't end there. One of these threats, a hobbit named Bilbo Baggins, actually manages to steal Gollum's idol, what he calls his 'Precious.' That loss sends Gollum into a crisis situation. Despite all his efforts to continue living as he had for all the years he'd been with his Precious, he finds he's not able. He needs his Precious in order to live his life, and, by this point, the idea of living another kind of life without his idol apparently never crosses his mind. He leaves the safety of his cave, and goes in search of his Precious.
Once an idol takes hold of us and begins to shape all our influences to serve its own devices, it's nearly impossible to imagine something different for ourselves. Perhaps it's our title, our job, our possessions, our lifestyle; whatever it is, our life wouldn't be life without it. If we were to lose it, we, too, would set out on a quest to search for it and reacquire it. We, too, would strive to make things 'normal' again.
After a long and arduous journey, Gollum eventually finds his Precious. But it is beyond his reach. He finds it in the possession of the nephew of the one who stole it from him; he finds it in the possession of Frodo Baggins. Yet this time Gollum is unable to take his idol by force. This time it is he who is overpowered. Out of necessity he makes a promise to help Frodo and his companion Sam on their journey by being their guide, all with the secret hope that he might somehow be able to wrest the Ring from Frodo and make his escape.
The picture of Gollum cowering on the ground before Frodo, pleading to have his life spared only moments after trying to kill Frodo and Sam, groveling to help them simply so he could be near his Precious, can only be described as pathetic.
Yet before we pass such judgment, what images might be comparable from our own lives? What might we be willing to compromise just so the thing we hold most dear about ourselves (our titles, our passions, our power, our possessions, the way we believe other people see us) won't be denied us? How much are we willing to degrade ourselves for the sake of the one thing we think defines us?
As Gollum continues to travel with Frodo and Sam, something happens. As he encounters Frodo, he encounters someone who, to a certain extent, understands him with an insight that refuses to distort him into something grotesque. He encounters someone who accepts him as he is, weaknesses and all, yet who still sees what he could be, and provides him another chance. As he encounters Frodo, Gollum encounters grace.
What happens to us when we encounter true grace? Often it seems too good to be true. We might find ourselves wondering, "What's the catch?" We wait with suspicion for the inevitable betrayal, as we anticipate being used in the pursuit of someone else's quest for an idol, just as we can imagine ourselves using them.
But Frodo isn't using Gollum. Yes, he relies on him to lead them to Mordor. But this is not in pursuit of some idol; rather, it's in a quest to free himself and all creation from captivity to the idol.
Early on in their acquaintance, Frodo calls Gollum 'Smeágol.' Immediately a change comes over Gollum, a softening, perhaps even a sense of hope. When Frodo confronts him with his given name, at first he is startled. Then he repeats the name as though it brings to him a long-forgotten but not-unpleasant memory. Gollum, without his idol, is addressed as a person. He is reminded of his life before he'd obtained his Precious. He is reminded that such a life is possible, that he himself had once lived such a life, and was happy. Happy without his idol.
Such an image is powerful enough to strike both fear and hope in our hearts: fear that life without our idols is possible, and hope that life without our idols is possible. On the one hand we're frightened by the mystery and uncertainty of an identity that isn't based on the idol upon which we've grown so dependent. But on the other hand we're hopeful that our subjection to and dependence on our idol may finally end. There's a part of us—small, lost, forgotten—that knows how grotesque we've become, knows that we've passed the point of no return. Yet we also recognize that there is One who sees us for who we are, who we truly are, and accepts us in that state. There just might remain a chance for salvation.
Evangelical Lutheran Worship, the current service book of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) published by Augsburg Fortress (2006), recognizes this condition in the 'Confession and Forgiveness' that precedes the settings for Holy Communion. "[W]e confess that we are captive to sin and cannot free ourselves. We have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone…" (p. 95) The 'Confession of Sin' in the Ash Wednesday liturgy is even more explicit: "[W]e confess to you and to one another, and before the whole company of heaven, that we have sinned by our fault, by our own fault, by our own most grievous fault…" (p. 252)
This is no cursory mea culpa that we recite once a week and then continue on as we did before. This is a profound recognition that we are enslaved to sin, to our idols, and that slavery will continue without the merciful intervention of the One who sees us in our wretched condition, with all our evil thoughts and deeds bared, the extent of our grotesque distortion revealed and named. We confess that we will continue in that state because we lack the power to free or change ourselves. We need the grace of the One who has been where we are, who has suffered, and who continues to endure his own crucifixion, despair, and death on the cross in order to free us from our despair. Were it not for the mercy of Christ, we could only continue to be owned by our idols. In Christ, however, we have One who is worthy of the worship and devotion we give so freely to idols.
The longer Gollum continues to live under grace, the more "Gollum" is forced into the background, and the more "Smeágol" emerges. Just as "Gollum," under the enslavement of idolatry, supplanted the inner core of "Smeágol's" identity, Smeágol, under the grace of his encounter with Frodo, reclaims his true identity. In a moving scene in the film "The Two Towers," Smeágol and Gollum engage in a heated debate. Gollum's goal is to kill the hobbits and take the Ring, while Smeágol wishes to remain with the hobbits and help them on their quest. One of the most poignant moments in this debate is when Gollum calls his other side 'murderer,' naming that as the defining element of his identity. Smeágol is clearly wounded by this and struggles with the fact that he has indeed once committed murder. The more he struggles, however, the more he realizes: yes, he has indeed committed murder, but he does not have to be defined by that single act. Gollum has called him 'murderer,' but Frodo has called him 'Smeágol,' and he chooses to be Smeágol. Smeágol tells his 'Gollum' side, "We don't need you…Master [Frodo] cares for us now." When he feels that the 'Gollum' influence is gone, he dances around and shouts in joyous celebration, "We're free! We're free!"
Such is the effect of grace. We consciously struggle with and banish our idolatrous tendencies and put our faith in the One who showed us mercy, just as Smeágol banished Gollum and put his faith in Frodo. But once again, the story doesn't end here.
The 'Gollum' part that wanted the Ring was still with him, lying dormant for the moment, waiting for a more opportune time to reveal himself. In the meantime, Smeágol was struggling to discover his identity without his idol. He couldn't simply return to the way he had been before he'd found the Ring; too many years had passed and too much had changed. He was no longer the innocent young hobbit-like creature who lived with his well-respected family and went fishing with a beloved friend on his birthday. That friend was long dead, murdered by Smeágol's own hand. His family had ostracized and disowned him, fading from existence as the evil power of the Ring stretched Gollum's life to an unnatural length while he served his idol as a slave.
Smeágol couldn't go back; he could only go forward. Knowing that he didn't want to be 'Gollum' only brought him a tiny step closer to knowing his own true identity. Not having anything else by which to define himself, he put his new faith entirely in the only one who seemed to care for him: Frodo.
For a while things seemed to go well. Smeágol eagerly served Frodo and Sam, sometimes going so far as to annoy them with his zeal. Sam never fully trusted Smeágol, unable to look past the heinousness of his past crimes, but Smeágol was able to withstand this distrust as long as he was near Frodo.
As eager and zealous as this new faith was, however, it was still untested. He was still feeling the euphoria of newfound freedom from his idol. His commitment to Frodo had not yet been tested. He had not yet had to suffer on account of his faith. It was still unknown whether the seed of grace had fallen on a hard-packed path to be snatched up by birds, or on rocky soil where it would sprout quickly only to be scorched by the sun, or among weeds where it would be choked, or on fertile soil where it would take firm root and flourish. Only time and testing would tell.
Such is the way with anything we worship. Is the object of our devotion worth the sacrifices we make and the losses we suffer in order to continue our faithfulness? Are the promises of God in Christ worth downgrading the importance of our own abilities, efforts, and accomplishments in ensuring our happiness and fulfillment? Are the lures of our idols worth the disintegration of our relationships and the loss of our selves and our souls? Is trust in Frodo worth some pain and confusion, or is the desire for the Ring so strong it's worth sacrificing the only one who showed mercy, and thereby the destruction of his own self and dignity?
In "The Two Towers" Frodo and Sam are captured by Faramir and his men and taken to a secret abode. That night Smeágol (who had escaped capture) wanders into a pool located within the secret abode, an offense that carries the penalty of death. Frodo must choose between allowing Smeágol to be killed or aiding Faramir in capturing Smeágol. Wishing to spare Smeágol's life and link his own fate to Smeágol's, Frodo chooses the latter. He goes down to the pool and calls to Smeágol, luring him to himself and closer to his captors. The plan works, and Smeágol's life is spared once again by the mercy of Frodo.
Unfortunately Smeágol interprets events differently. He only sees Frodo trick him and help Faramir's men capture and interrogate him. He has no idea that Frodo was responsible for saving his life, or that he had personally vouched for Smeágol. The only lenses Smeágol has to interpret the situation are his current reality and his faith in Frodo's kindness and mercy, based on his prior experiences with the hobbit. This is the moment of truth: is Smeágol's faith in Frodo strong enough to withstand sacrifice and loss? Has the seed of grace fallen on rocky soil or fertile?
Motive makes the difference between an action that is faithful and an action that is idolatrous. The motive behind Frodo's betrayal is concern for Smeágol's wellbeing. This motive is hidden from Smeágol. In fact, Smeágol begins to realize that he has no insight into Frodo's motives at all. He knows that Frodo wants Smeágol to lead him inside Mordor, but he doesn't know why. Frodo's betrayal causes Smeágol to wonder why Frodo was kind and merciful in the first place.
In this moment of doubt and confusion, Gollum reappears. He feigns pity for the wounded Smeágol and begins feeding gentle "I-told-you-so's" into his ear. Smeágol tries to resist and defend Frodo's actions, but his protests are weak. How can he defend the integrity of something he doesn't understand? The struggle continues. Gollum advocates killing the hobbits and seizing the Ring; Smeágol proclaims fondness for his Master and loyalty to the promise he'd made to help him. Which was more worthy of his devotion: the Ring that had twisted and distorted him but had never betrayed him? Or the hobbit who had first shown mercy only to deliver him to his captors?
Anyone who has felt torn between two desires, each demanding sole and undivided devotion, can relate to Smeágol's struggle. Although we have consciously let go of our idols in response to our experience of grace, our idols don't let go of us that quickly. We know what we want to do and what we should do, yet the desire for the comfort of our idols is incredibly strong. The Apostle Paul writes, "I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate…For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me." (Romans 7:15, 19-20)
Smeágol hated his Gollum-self, but he could not banish him. No matter how completely Smeágol embraced the grace he'd been offered and trusted in the one who had offered it, Gollum would always be there to feed his doubt and fear. What Smeágol didn't realize was that continually trusting in grace would be enough to overcome his doubt and fear each time it surfaced. Continually trusting in grace would allow him to temporarily conquer his Gollum side, just as he had before, and live in freedom as his own self once again.
Unfortunately Smeágol does not realize this. Instead he chooses to deceive the hobbits to their death. When that fails, he physically attacks Frodo by the edge of the fire of Mordor. He literally bites off Frodo's finger in order to take the Ring that is on it. Once he has his prize, he begins his victory dance. Gollum has been reunited with his idol. He wears a look of rapture on his face, even as he dances too close to the edge and falls off the precipice. His ecstasy continues until he reaches the fire, and even then he doesn't struggle against his fate. Instead he tries to hold his idol up high, out of the flames that are consuming him, away from the fire that ultimately destroys them both.
Idols, no matter how seductive or appealing they may seem, are only false gods. They cannot offer peace, fulfillment, or salvation. Devotion to an idol only distracts us from devotion to God. Just as Smeágol ultimately had to choose between pursuing his idol or accepting and trusting in Frodo's mercy and kindness, we have a similar choice. We must choose between trusting in something that will twist us, distort us, and lead us to perish in our own idolatrous desires, or trusting in the grace of God in Jesus Christ.
Posted on January 15, 2013 January 20, 2013 Author Karen GoltzCategories Articles/EssaysTags articles-essays
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On Sunday, I had the pleasure of photographing a group of best friends. Even being states apart, they've managed to be as close as ever. Just spending an hour with them I could see their love for each other. Thankfully, they were up for anything, even if it meant heading to a thrift store to buy some old prom dresses for fun! Here are just a few of the shots from the shoot.
I love the train in Station Square!
As you can see, these girls came prepared!


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Константин Васильевич Холще́вников (1906—1976) — советский учёный. Лауреат Сталинской премии.

Биография
Младший ребёнок приказчика торгового дома, умершего, когда сыну было 2 года.

В 1923—1925 годах работал во втором доме Реввоенсовета. В 1925—1930 годах — инструктор ПУР РККА. В 1930—1931 годах учился в школе лётчиков, допустив ошибку на лётных выпускных экзаменах, сознательно ушёл из авиации. Год отработав рабочим, поступил в МАИ.

После окончания института (1936) работал в ЦИАМ.

Двигатели для истребителей Сухого, Микояна и Гуревича
В первой половине 1940-х годов опыт показал, что воздушный винт и поршневой мотор исчерпали свои возможности по увеличению скорости самолетов. Среди средств по решению этой проблемы, помимо ЖРД и ТРД, рассматривались мотокомпрессорные двигатели — комбинация поршневого двигателя и воздушно-реактивного двигателя компрессорного типа.

Для нужд авиационных конструкторских бюро Артема Микояна и Михаила Гуревича, а также Павла Сухого под руководством К. В. Холщевникова в ЦИАМе был разработал воздушно-реактивный двигатель-компрессор или ВРДК мощностью 950 л.с.

По расчётам конструкторов, новый двигатель должен был служить в качестве дополнительного к основному поршневому, обеспечивая прирост скорости около 100 км/ч.

В январе 1944 года в ОКБ Павла Сухого в инициативном порядке приступили к эскизному проектированию одноместного истребителя с комбинированной силовой установкой, состоящей из основного поршневого двигателя Владимира Климова ВК-107А с воздушным винтом и дополнительного ВРДК, выполнявшего функцию ускорителя. Компрессор ВРДК приводился во вращение двигателем М-107А при помощи вала.

Законченный проект был направлен для ознакомления в НКАП СССР. 22 мая 1944 года Государственный комитет обороны (ГКО) принял постановление, одним из пунктов которого обязал П.О. Сухого «…спроектировать и построить одноместный экспериментальный самолёт с мотором ВК-107А с установкой дополнительного ВРДК конструкции и постройки ЦИАМ…»

В начале июня в КБ приступили к проектированию самолёта, получившего обозначение «истребитель И-107», позднее переименованного в «Сухой Су-5» За основу приняли выполненный эскизный проект, который был доработан и предъявлен руководству НКАП и ВВС КА. Осенью 1944 года заключения по эскизному проекту и протокол макетной комиссии были утверждены и ОКБ Сухого приступило к проектированию и постройке опытного истребителя Су-5, который и был выпущен в одном экземпляре.

Тем же Постановлением ГКО от 22 мая 1944 года по созданию экспериментального истребителя с комбинированной силовой установкой началась работа в ОКБ Микояна и Гуревича.

Прототип под индексом «истребитель И-250» оснащался комбинированной силовой установкой —  поршневым двигателем ВК-107А и ВРДК как и у самолета Су-5.

После испытаний прототипа самолет был выпущен небольшой серией. Состоящий на вооружении Военно-морского флота истребитель И-250 получил наименование МиГ-13.

Конструкции самолетов Су-5 и МиГ-13 оказались неудачными и в дальнейшем от такой комбинированной схемы движителей отказались.

Научная деятельность и преподавательская работа
В 1950—1957 заведующий лабораторией № 3 ЦИАМ, в 1957—1976 заместитель начальника института.

Одновременно в 1945—1975 преподавал в МАИ.

Доктор технических наук (1957), профессор (1957).

Специалист в области лопаточных машин, теории авиационных двигателей и специальных силовых установок.

Создатель научной школы теории авиационных лопаточных машин. Автор фундаментальных работ по осевым компрессорам и турбинам, теории и расчету турбореактивных двигателей для сверхзвуковых самолетов.

Награды и премии
 Сталинская премия третьей степени (1950) — за работу в области авиационной техники
 заслуженный деятель науки и техники РСФСР (1967)
 орден Ленина
 орден Трудового Красного Знамени (16.09.1945)
 орден «Знак Почёта»
 медали

Источники
 К юбилею учителя
 Биографические ведения
 Двигатель. 2015. № 1

Выпускники Московского авиационного института
Сотрудники Центрального института авиационного моторостроения
Конструкторы авиационных двигателей

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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/ Blog / Google Cloud / Cloud Search / Better Search, Better Data, Better Results: Google Cloud Search and SADA Deliver Effective Enterprise Search
Better Search, Better Data, Better Results: Google Cloud Search and SADA Deliver Effective Enterprise Search
By SADA Says | Cloud Computing Blog
Data is the currency by which today's economy operates. Every type of organization — manufacturing companies, services-based enterprises, government agencies, and even small businesses — relies on data to help them innovate, connect with stakeholders, make sense of internal operations, and grow. But as data proliferates at an exponential pace, it's increasingly challenging for organizations to store, track and derive value from all that information. To help enterprises optimize their data and make it a usable asset, Google has partnered with SADA to develop solutions that help organizations reduce time spent on inefficient searching, and ensure that data can connect among disparate apps to create a user-friendly experience.
At the core of this organizational search capability is Google Cloud Search, which identifies and accesses data across the enterprise landscape. It employs machine intelligence to power search across G Suite and other Google apps, as well as within third party apps and services like databases, file systems, content management systems, and content hosted in enterprise repositories. SADA is helping to broaden the reach of that search, and provides a front-end that delivers the best search experience for users.
SADA's Google Cloud Search solution uncovers data, irrespective of where it exists, so it can be utilized and deployed for the purpose of generating business insight and gaining a holistic view of organizational knowledge. The search functionality covers data that resides in the cloud, on-premise, and in hybrid environments. Users in need of a specific type of information can, from a single tool, initiate a search request and get results from on-premise data sources, internal cloud-based applications, public cloud data sources, G Suite apps, and third-party apps.
Connecting apps, data, and functionality across the enterprise
In keeping with Google's legacy of simplifying the complex, Google Cloud Search is built to give users access to data across all applications and sources that touch their environment. With enterprises adopting more and more applications across their IT infrastructure, the complexity of maintaining control of information can increase dramatically. SADA has developed a discipline around adoption and usage of Google Cloud Search to ease the burden of data management and to help enterprises derive significant value from their data in the repositories and workloads they access.
The problem that Google and SADA are solving is ultimately about searching, finding, contextualizing, and delivering usable information from available data. While fundamentally an issue of technology, it is rooted in the need to help organizations increase efficiency. While organizations are rich in data, they can't use what they can't find. McKinsey research indicates that 20% of an employee's time is spent looking for information that is relevant to accomplishing their job. And IDC says that 38% of an employee's time is sucked up by unsuccessfully searching and recreating content that exists, but that they just are unable to find. Time spent searching comes at an opportunity cost to the organization. It also means that a lot of critical information will be ignored.
SADA has built a variety of connectors to applications like SAP Hana, Salesforce, ServiceNow, MindTouch, internal company databases, and a variety of other sources. With these connectors, users get an easier search process and can go more deeply and broadly across a company's environment to locate relevant information. The SADA solution uses a simple interface from which users can refine searches by relevant categories. An organization that is highly organized by geography can, for example, search within specific location-based information. Companies can define categories based on products, customers, internal teams, or whatever is most important to their needs.
Use cases for efficiency and discovery
Consider a task like preparing a sales presentation— sales teams have to be responsive, accurate, and create a convincing case that differentiates their service or product against their competitors. In building a presentation, a typical sales person will pull data from Salesforce, a marketing automation solution, and maybe an internal repository that houses product roadmap information. Missing from that, however, could be critical information that's stored in internal repositories like Sharepoint, in team Google docs, sales optimization applications, or any of a host of other apps that people may not even be aware are being used. Finding something normally requires understanding where it's supposed to be. SADA's Google Cloud Search solution helps users discover data that they might otherwise not know exists.
Companies can also provide better customer service through better search. Connectors built by SADA for Jira, Confluence, Jive, learning management systems, and other support-related applications can help a company discover information that can be put to use to solve customer issues quickly. Especially for employees in the field who are engaging directly with customers, Google Cloud Search can dramatically lower costs (less time searching, more time solving) as well as improve the type and efficacy of support that employees can offer.
In the case of healthcare and pharmaceutical companies, data is not just a competitive advantage, it can contribute significantly to solutions that improve lives. Google Cloud Search gives companies the ability to identify critical data points from among all types of technical documentation stored in all different types of applications and repositories. Using the SADA solution for Google Cloud Search, they are able to search by chemical compound names to uncover research, trial results, and specifications that can be relevant and critical to their work. More detail and better information can help lead to important discoveries.
Rigorous security across all data sources
Google and SADA applications are built on the premise that security isn't just a one-and-done proposition. It has to operate in continuously changing environments to identify potential vulnerabilities and isolate risks. Google has, from inception, been dedicated to a continuous innovation mindset that enables Google Cloud Search to benefit from the latest and most effective ways of thwarting malicious activity before it can wreak havoc and damage a business. These innovations include:
Key management: Google Cloud Search uses Security Key Enforcement (two-factor authentication), and Key Management Service, an encryption tool to maintain a protection layer around searched data in transit and at rest. With that protection, it can also allow data to interact with data from other sources (databases, applications, APIs) to deliver more useful assets to users.
Storage and hardware: Google uses the Titan chip to support and facilitate all cloud operations. Because it has built-in authentication and access management capabilities to ensure legitimate traffic between machines and different types of hardware, Google Cloud Search users get the benefit of security at the storage and computer layers, which protects data being searched, irrespective of where it resides.
Application security: Securing applications and the connections among disparate apps is a top priority for customers operating in the cloud. Google Cloud Search employs a data loss prevention (DLP) API that enables scanning of sensitive data types, and uses an Identity-Aware Proxy (IAP) which is designed to identify and track access for all data sources.
Organizations are always looking for ways to use information to give them a competitive advantage. But that information has to be easily discoverable and usable before it can demonstrate value. Customers of all types and sizes are already finding that SADA's approach to Google Cloud Search is helping them find, use, and transact data to get better results from product development, customer engagement, and ongoing innovation.
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Search || Home » Stonestreet » Latin American Evangelicals vs "Gender Ideology"
Latin American Evangelicals vs "Gender Ideology"
"Don't Mess with My Kids"
John Stonestreet
and by Roberto Rivera
Evangelicals are on the rise in Latin America. And at least one writer at the New York Times is very, very concerned.
The explosive growth of Christianity in what is called the "Global South" - places like Africa, Asia, and Latin America - has been well-documented and reported, including by BreakPoint. While much attention has centered on Africa, the story in Latin America is no less dramatic and no less important.
Someone who's noticed what's going on there is the New York Times but, to put it mildly, they're not very happy about it.
A recent op-ed piece , written by Javier Corrales, a political scientist at Amherst College, starts by describing the growth of Evangelicalism in Latin America. Corrales tells readers that "Evangelicals today account for almost 20 percent of the population in Latin America , up from 3 percent three decades ago."
These impressive numbers are only a prelude to the main point of his article: Evangelicals' growing impact on Latin American politics which, for Corrales, is bad news. While "Evangelical pastors embrace varied ideologies," he writes, "when it comes to gender and sexuality, their values are typically conservative, patriarchal and homophobic."
Thus, "in every country in the region, [Evangelical pastors] have taken the strongest stands against gay rights." This makes the "rise of evangelicalism . . .politically worrisome," Corrales writes.
He goes on to complain that evangelical voters "tend to be intransigent on issues of sexuality, which feeds cultural polarization."
You might ask, "Cultural polarization about what?" The principle example is what Latin American Christians call the "ideology of gender." In Corrales' words, "This term is used to [negatively] label any effort to promote acceptance of sexual and gender diversity," including the idea that "gender identity is a construct."
If this sounds familiar, it should. So-called "gender diversity," among other things, is what fuels our current cultural obsession with transgenderism, gender fluidity, and other rejections of biological reality. It's why, for instance, Britain's National Health Service does not routinely offer breast and cervical cancer screenings to women who self-identify as men.
Latin American Christians, understandably, don't want to go down that road. And by "Christians," I mean both Evangelicals and Catholics. As Corrales tells us, "Politically, we may be witnessing a historic truce between Protestants and Catholics in the region."
Fighting the "ideology of gender" is the result of this cooperation. Another result is the phenomenon known as "Don't Mess With My Kids," which has spread across the region.
The movement originated in Peru as Evangelical and Catholic parents objected to a school curriculum that, in their estimation, sought to indoctrinate their children into a new sexual ideology. They cited readers that made Little Red Riding Hood a boy and the use of a book entitled "Oliver Button is a Sissy. "
In response, 1.5 million Peruvians marched in the streets , telling their leaders that "the people 'refuse to surrender.'" The movement has spread to neighboring Ecuador and other parts of Latin America and everywhere it goes, it's primary objection is to "state meddling" as well as "the exclusion of parents in the sexual formation of their children."
For the New York Times, all of this might be "politically worrisome," but lost in all those worries is the fact that gender ideology is a prime example of what might be called "cultural imperialism." The ideology is being imposed on Latin America by its secular northern neighbors, and Christians there have said, "Basta! Don't mess with our kids!"
I, for one, am grateful to our Latin American brothers and sisters for teaching us with their example.


Home>Discussions>INTERIORS>Molding & Carpentry>My wall problems...Interesting Pictures! Anyone know what causes this?
Re: My wall problems...Interesting Pictures! Anyone know what causes this?
Unfortunately the fact that the neighbors hadn't noticed it is generally of little help. Take the same room fill it with furniture, pictures drapes, and different lighting it may not be noticed by neighbors as they visit.
So it is also possible that it was never properly finished. I would suggest you have a professional pasturer take a look . It may be possible to just apply a bonding agent and skim coating.
Yes, this is rock lath with a two or three plaster coat overlay. I have the very same stuff in my 1960 house.
In my business, I run into the kind of cracking problem that you are experiencing, although yours is an extreme case (I expect a cold winter and unheated house is the immediate explanation for such extensive cracking).
Rock lath and plaster certainly is an improvement over the old wood lath and plaster, but it has one major drawback. The seams between the rock lath were never reinforced with fiberglass tape. I don't know if fiberglass tape even existed then as a building material, but had they used it, most cracking of this sort would not happen.
Modern veneer plaster, put over 4 X 8 and 4 X 12 sheets of plasterboard, is a superior system, for a couple of reasons. One is that they put fiberglass tape on the seams. And, second, modern veneer plaster is pretty tough stuff, although it goes on a lot thinner than the plaster you have.
I believe you have a couple of realistic options. One is to hire a plaster contractor to put on a new, thin coat of veneer plaster over the existing plaster. He will use a bonding agent to get good adhesion, and fiberglass tape over your cracks.
The other option, if you are adventurous and want to save money, is to skim coat the walls yourself with joint compound. You can use regular premix joint mud, or you can use quick set (hot mud) mud for all but the last coat (topping with regular mud for ease of sanding).
You will need to treat the cracks like drywall joints, embedding PAPER joint tape before skim coating the walls. If you are reasonbly fast with the tools, and go for the hot mud option, mix in some bonding agent into the water before adding the powder.
This gives you some extra insurance. If you decide instead for regular joint mud, then skip the bonder. Adding bonder to that might thin the mud too much. Although, you could roll the bonder onto the walls like paint first - if you want - then tape and skim.
Good luck and wishing you the best!
I'm sorry, but in the pics, I don't see and cracks, all I see are indentations like you get when you fill a seam and the filler dries and shrinks.


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text:
Q: rspec email validation I'm learning Rspec. When i run my test case for email validation I'm getting an error which am not able to understand.Please explain.
  1) User should check for email validation
     Failure/Error: @test_user.should have(1).errors_on(:email)
       expected 1 errors on :email, got 2
     # ./spec/models/user_spec.rb:17:in `block (2 levels) in <top (required)>'

Finished in 0.12903 seconds
2 examples, 1 failure

My test cases are below:
  it"should check whether name is present or not" do
    @test_user.name = nil
    @test_user.should have(1).errors_on(:name)
  end

  it "should check for email validation"do
    @test_user.email = nil
    @test_user.should have(2).errors_on(:email)
  end
end

A: If you're validating the email attribute with both the presence validator and some sort of format validator, then you'd get two errors by setting the attribute to nil.
Maybe try something like:
validates :email, presence: true,
                  format: { with: %r\A([^@\s]+)@((?:[-a-z0-9]+\.)+[a-z]{2,})\Z/,
                            allow_nil: true  }

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
TikTok Launches Self-Serve Ad Platform With An Eye On Enticing SMBs
by Allison Schiff // Wednesday, July 8th, 2020 – 8:00 am
TikTok is graduating into self-serve.
On Tuesday, TikTok made Ads Manager, its self-serve ad platform, globally available in a move that should help usher in more ad budgets, particularly among small and mid-size businesses.
To further woo SMBs, TikTok will donate $100 million in ad credits so that SMBs can promote themselves during the health crisis, the company also said on Wednesday.
Both existing advertisers and SMBs that are new to the platform are eligible to apply for a one-time free ad credit, which tops out at $300 and must be used by the end of the year. TikTok will match any additional spending beyond the $300 credit limit on a dollar-for-dollar basis up to $2,000.
It isn't hard to see why TikTok would want a slice of the SMB market.
Millions of SMBs spend so much on Facebook, for example, that Facebook still brings in billions of ad dollars despite the advertiser boycott.
TikTok doesn't share the overall number of paid advertisers across its platform or break out the percentage of SMBs, but it is attracting some of the dollars that would have gone to Facebook from brands that are begging off the platform, at least for the month of July.
SMB advertisers in particular are drawn to the ease of self-serve, which is why Facebook's Ads Manager and Google Ads attract so many small business advertisers.
TikTok's Ads Manager is looking for that same energy.
The self-serve ad platform, which entered beta last year with a small group of customers, allows advertisers to flexibly adjust their spending, access TikTok's proprietary ad formats and target by the usual-suspect targeting options, including by demographic and device.
The most popular format among SMBs are in-feed ads, which appear within a user's content feed and can run for up to 60 seconds with the sound on.
TikTok is also introducing business accounts, which are profile-like pages that can include website links and a contact-via-email button.
Ads Manager sits within TikTok For Business, an umbrella brand of sorts that houses all of TikTok's new and forthcoming marketing solutions. TikTok introduced its business hub during its NewFronts presentation in June.
Why Microsoft's Potential TikTok Acquisition Probably Isn't About Advertising
Microsoft Or Twitter? Ad Buyers Weigh In On TikTok's Future
TikTok Intros Marketing Partner Program To Make It Easier To Spend On Its Platform


text:
Heliconius damysus är en fjärilsart som beskrevs av Carl Heinrich Hopffer 1874. Heliconius damysus ingår i släktet Heliconius och familjen praktfjärilar. Inga underarter finns listade i Catalogue of Life.

Källor

Praktfjärilar
damysus


text:
Q: Wordpress page not changed after I edit in dashboard editor I create a page for "Contact us" in my wordpress dashboard. The url is http://myurl/contactus. But the page is not shown at all. I checked the source code of the customized template which was not created by me. I found there is a file named page-contactus.php. But the contact page is still not shown after I deleted the page-contactus.php. Can anybody tell what could be the reason? Thanks

A: If you have used page-contactus.php then you need to select the Template from the dropdown to 'Contactus` to get the necessary customized template.
Moreover, when WordPress creates a page with Contact us, the slug is http://myurl/contact-us


This book is your introduction to to physical computing with the Arduino microcontroller platform.
Jody Culkin is an artist and teacher. Her comic, "Arduino!" has been translated into 12 languages and her illustrations have appeared in Make magazine. She has received grants and awards from the National Science Foundation, the New York State Council on the arts and many other organizations. She is currently a Professor at CUNY's Borough of Manhattan Community College in the Media Arts and Technology Department. She has a BA from Harvard University in Visual Studies and an MPS from NYU's Interactive Telecommunications Program. Jody enjoys showing projects at the annual World Maker Faire New York.
Eric Hagan is an interactive and kinetic artist and professor based out of Astoria, NY. He has written articles for publications including Make: magazine and Popular Science. He has also worked on several art installation projects around New York City including the annual holiday windows on 5th Avenue and Kara Walker's A Subtlety. He is currently a Professor at SUNY Old Westbury in the Visual Arts Department. He has a BA from Duke University in Philosophy and an MPS from NYU's Interactive Telecommunications Program. Eric enjoys showing projects at the annual World Maker Faire New York.


text:
Vehicle Tracking, Dash Cams and Fleet Management Apps
To begin, select your business size:
We have thousands of customers all over the UK who regularly reap the benefits of using a GPS Vehicle Tracker
Providing Fleet Managers and business owners with the very latest in commercial dash cam technology
Helping businesses to improve efficiency and productivity using our fleet management range of tools
ABOUT RAM
Helping Small and Medium Businesses reduce their costs
Our vehicle tracking systems, dash cams and fleet management tools have helped thousands of SME's to reduce their costs and make significant savings.
Using various automated reports, our vehicle tracking system can help businesses identify how and when they can improve their efficiency.
The benefits of vehicle tracking
RAM Tracking has thousands of customers all over the UK who regularly reap the benefits of using an advanced satellite vehicle tracker device. Our Ultimate Guide to Vehicle Tracking explains everything there is to know about tracking, answers most questions from our customers and explains what companies use vehicle tracking for.
Real time GPS Tracking
Stress-free on boarding
RAM Tracking Mobile App
Speeding reports
Timesheet reports
Award-winning technical team support
Business Dash Cams
Dash cam footage can be used to clear any wrong-doing or blame and have been proven to be incredibly useful for monitoring and improving driver behaviour.
Our 380GW Dash Cams
Dash cams (or dashboard cameras) are increasingly popular in both the consumer and business trade. These usually small, discreet and high-quality cameras usually attach to the front and rear windscreen and record the road ahead/behind in HD quality video onto either an online cloud storage solution or off an SD card.
Dash cams record continuously to monitor footage of accidents, crashes or dangerous driving to be used in insurance claims.
Dash cam footage can be used to analyse driver behaviour and help educate drivers on making better decisions whilst on the road.
Many dash cams send data back to the business, which proves useful in the event of an accident where the driver needs immediate attention.
A dash cam in a business vehicle can act as a deterrent to potential thieves attempting to break into or steal the vehicle.
RAM Assist delivers a range of digital fleet management tools. Designed to aid Fleet Managers and Business Owners in managing the mobile workforce.
About RAM Assist
The latest innovation in fleet management solutions is here! RAM Assist delivers a range of digital fleet management tools. Designed to aid Fleet Managers and Business Owners in managing the mobile workforce. The RAM Assist app is the perfect pocket assistant for drivers to use. With a range of key features and user-friendly functionality which includes storing all vehicle documents safely in one place, it is the perfect addition for any company fleet.
How can RAM Assist help your business?
Check points submitted to ensure your drivers are on track with their scheduled runs and accurate proof of delivery with signature proof
Immediate notification of any accidents or breakdowns reported
Clear records of all documents which are safely stored in one place
Electronic reminders of MOT, Service, Tax Insurance and lease renewals
Vehicle maintenance checks scheduled and carried out on the go
What our SME customers have to say about RAM Tracking
Sprinters Travel
"The system is easy to use and self-explanatory."
Because we have so many vehicles in our fleet, we have all been saying "Why didn't we do it earlier?!", it has been a life-saver as we can now see where the vehicles are at all times of the day. "It has been a completely positive experience so far."
24/7 reporting has been good to know where the vehicles are when they are moving or not moving. We installed it two days before we had very heavy snow, which was a good job as we could then see where the vehicles were stuck and work out what vehicles could get where.
"I love the fact the system is cloud based!"
Fowler's Travel
We interviewed Andrew Fowler, Managing Director of Fowler's Travel to get his take on how RAM Tracking has helped his business. When their vehicle tracking contract came up for renewal with a previous tracking company, Fowler's Travel were instantly recommended RAM Tracking.
RAM Tracking came in and explained how quick and easy the system could adapt to Fowler's Travel and after their live demonstration they quickly made the decision to make RAM Tracking their supplier of choice.
National Maintenance Ltd
National Maintenance case study: Established in 2009 National Maintenance actively approached RAM Tracking requiring a vehicle tracking solution to meet the needs of their growing fleet. Starting with 10 vehicles, tracking was needed for a variety of different reasons to improve business productivity.
National Maintenance provides maintenance services in the East Midlands area, comprising of home refurbishment, maintenance, boiler services, cosmetic repair and gas safety.
Jon Johnson Director at National Maintenance explains how they strive to provide their customers with outstanding customer service levels, and that vehicle tracking was the most effective way.
Academy Leasing Ltd
Academy Leasing Ltd was established in 1987 and is one of the UK's leading providers of vehicle, invoice and equipment finance. We asked Michelle Taylor, Operations Manager at Academy Leasing for her comments on why she chose RAM fleet tracking and the benefits to her company.
"RAM has enhanced the service we provide to our customers"
Rinus Roofing Supplies Ltd
Rinus Roofing Supplies Ltd specialise in roofing supplies and services, including; concrete roof tiles, insulation, roof lights, fibre cement, guttering and flat roofing. Trading for over 8 years, Rinus Roofing have up to 75 vehicles, and are now reaping the benefits of their RAM Tracking system. We spoke to Fleet Administrator, Janet King about her experiences with us.
"They got in touch with us at just the right time!"
Pharm-Assist Healthcare Ltd
Established in 2006, Pharm-Assist Healthcare Ltd are an independent family run community pharmacy group. As a key provider of medicines to the local community and institutions such as care homes, hospital units and prisons, Pharm-Assist Healthcare Ltd play a crucial role in transporting urgent medicine.
When Pharm-Assist Healthcare Ltd approached us, they had no way to track their delivery location, stoppage time or efficiency. A complete lack of telematics data meant that they relied heavily on old fashioned processes such as paper records and using mobile phones to stay in touch with drivers. The group also faced growing concerns from drivers that workload was increasing, yet Pharm-Assist Healthcare Ltd had no way to even quantify this claim.
"Drivers are more efficient"
Alternative Windows - What do they say about us?
Fleet Size: 7
"If you haven't yet got your fleet tracked, do it now and choose RAM!"
Darren Pratt
RAM Tracking was established in 2004 by industry experts, it was built on the principles of customer support and technical innovation. With over 75,000 GPS vehicle tracking units on the road for over 9,500 customers, we're one of the market leaders in the industry.
Due to our technical development team being in-house, we are able to not only give our customers cutting edge vehicle tracking systems, dash cameras and fleet management software; but also keep these up-to-date and provide regular system upgrades. Unlike some systems out there, we store your data securely on our services for a minimum of three years, providing online access via any devices, anytime and anywhere
Vehicles Tracked
Helping Large Enterprise Businesses reduce their costs
Our vehicle tracking systems, dash cams and fleet management tools have reduced costs and increased efficiency for thousands of enterprise businesses in the UK
What our Enterprise Businesses have to say about RAM Tracking
Fleet Alliance Ltd
leet Alliance is a multi-award winning fleet management provider offering contract hire, leasing and a complete range of fleet solutions products to corporate clients throughout the UK, Fleet Alliance initially came into contact with RAM Tracking through a mutual client who recommended RAM Tracking to Fleet Alliance based on the exceptional levels of service they provided.
"Since RAM's introduction we've experienced a steady up-take of vehicle-tracking services from clients due in large part to the very positive feedback we've received."
After working closely together for over a year, RAM Tracking are now Fleet Alliance's recommended vehicle tracking provider.
John Mills Ltd
We love the RAM Tracking reports and the ability to see exactly what our team are doing. It takes no time at all, I can see if they're idling, when and how long they've stopped for, whether they've had a lunch break and if they've been home. Using the reports I like to check on the drivers speeds, driving style and if there have been any instances of idling. We take excessive speeding very seriously and we encourage drivers to ensure they avoid idling by switching off their ignition. We want to keep the associated costs as low as possible, as well as doing our bit for the environment.
Express Bi-Folding Doors
Express is now firmly established as the largest specialist manufacturer and installer of bespoke aluminium folding sliding doors, windows and roofing products in the UK. RAM trackers were installed on Express's fleet of 55 vehicles in March 2011. We asked Steve Young, General Manager at Express Bi-Folding Doors for his comments on why he chose RAM and the benefits to his company.
"It's little simple things like being able to monitor your vans on a weekend"
AMCO Construction
AMCO, a Yorkshire-based construction company now has a total of 150 units installed by RAM Tracking. We talked to AMCO's Transport Manager about why they installed RAM fleet tracking and the benefits to their company.
We are able to track where and how fast our drivers are going, whether they are using the most cost efficient route, locate vehicles and divert crews to urgent jobs quickly and efficiently, and use the system as evidence to refute speeding or accident allegations. RAM currently tracks 98% of our fleet, however we have every intention of this becoming 100% very soon.
Mulberry Group
Given how busy we are, a key factor in choosing the RAM system was its ease of use. We didn't want the system to become another full day chore. Once we started to use it, we discovered it actually saves us time; enabling us to be proactive with our daily duties and provide customers with accurate ETAs on site. We can verify hours worked on site and use this for billing enquires and we can easily find the closest engineer to a job when we receive emergency call outs, saving time calling everyone on their mobiles.
The savings we have made in both time and money more than pay for the use of the vehicle tracking system. We are incredibly happy to have RAM on-board all of our vans!
Rilmac Group
Rilmac took advantage of RAM Tracking's easy-to-use user interface to track all of their vehicles nationwide. Within seconds, their fleet manager could search and locate any vehicle in their fleet. This proved hugely advantageous for Rilmac as they could ensure that drivers were arriving on-time to customer locations and could also better dispatch teams to last-minute nearby jobs.
JML – What do they say about us?
Fleet Size: 128
"We saw an immediate 15% reduction in fuel costs"
Judith Fahey
Why Choose RAM Tracking
With increasing fuel costs making up a large percentage of the running costs for any business, a vehicle tracking system can help to save both time and money, making businesses more efficient
Better Productivity
RAM Tracking is an online system meaning that every mile, movement and expense can be recorded into the cloud, ready to be extracted at a moment's notice
Our GPS vehicle trackers and system mean that a fleet manager, operations team or customer service employee can monitor the exact location of the driver in a matter of seconds and update the end user
One of the main benefits of the RAM Tracking System is that our GPS trackers can prevent vehicle theft and help retrieve a stolen vehicle in a matter of minutes
Savings and Profits
RAM provides you with a complete picture of your business vehicle running costs enabling you to effectively manage your fleet and increase productivity
Monitor the whereabouts of your vehicles and view historical data for any vehicle journeys. This gives you a complete overview of productivity
1. How many vehicles do you want to track?
2. What are your details?
How did you hear about RAM? Referred by a customer Recommended by word of mouth Existing customer Google search Previous correspondence Social media Press Other
We would also like your consent to keep you informed of other related products such as fuel cards, dash cams, vehicle finance, vehicle hire, service maintenance and repair, breakdown and recovery.


RFM Preferred Seating. The brand reviewing the office chair heralded among the most comfortable office chairs in recent history certainly would have been required to do well this year, and they would not disappoint! It's hard to top many of the chairs offered by RFM, but they certainly outdid themselves with the chairs off their Verte series. The 22011 Verte Ergonomic Office Chair by RFM and its two sibling chairs from RFM Preferred Seating features a backside that molds itself towards the shape of the user's backbone, making it one of the most comfortable furniture in existence. They are not alone even though! RFM's mission is to hold designing chairs that are definitely at the forefront of development. Many of their chairs, specially the Verte, Echelon, and Net, feature ergonomic design to improve all aspects of the office encounter, from comfort to efficiency. With a mission like that, it is no wonder they've done so very well this year!
Lovingheartdesigns - Best 25 stadium seats for bleachers ideas on pinterest. Find and save ideas about stadium seats for bleachers on pinterest see more ideas about high neck jumper, women's sports jumpers and sports editorial. Best 25 stadium seat cushions ideas on pinterest. Find and save ideas about stadium seat cushions on pinterest see more ideas about stadium seats, bleacher seating and youth ministry room. 5 best stadium seats for bleachers my junior allstar. Smart ideas foldable stadium chair for bleachers comfortable and stylish the smart ideas for life foldable stadium chair for bleachers has it all, including 2 drink holders and a zipped side pocket to store your keys, cell phone etc it features very thick padding everywhere your behind will not be sore after the game, and even the armrests have 3�� of padding. Best stadium seats for bleachers of 2018 best on internet. The padded stadium seat is reinforced with a sturdy steel frame this best stadium seat with a back is covered with a durable polyester fabric that is easy to clean and is water resistant this best stadium seat for bleachers has 6 backrest positions that you can choose according to your level of comfort. The 25 best stadium chairs ideas on pinterest stadium. Find and save ideas about stadium chairs on pinterest see more ideas about stadium seats, stadium seats for bleachers and roland bn20. The 25 best stadium seats for bleachers ideas pinterest. Find and save ideas about stadium seats for bleachers on pinterest see more ideas about high neck jumper, women's sports jumpers and sports editorial. Best stadium seats for bleachers fab healthy life. Best stadium seats for bleachers cascade mountain tech stadium seat this pick for best stadium seats for bleachers comes in a variety of colors, so you can choose a color to boldly support your team choose from green, black, maroon, navy, orange, purple, red or royal blue. Best of 25 design nats stadium seating chart unimog. Best of 25 design nats stadium seating chart official washington nationals website mlb com the official website of the washington nationals with the most up to date information on scores schedule stats tickets and team news washington nationals tickets washington nationals the official site of the washington nationals includes upcoming game. The best cushioned stadium seats of 2019 your best digs. A fter having multiple people spend 45 hours sitting on six seats on top of a plastic bench for game length durations, we're confident the picnic time portable ventura is the best stadium seat on the market it's comfortable, includes arm rests, has good back support and is easy to lug around for those who don't want to spend more on their seat than a ticket to the game, the rio. 5 best cushioned stadium seats reviews updated 2019. Stadium seats, bleacher seats, whatever you want to call them: they're fantastic for sporting events and other occasions where you'll be seated on a hard surface for extended periods it's a lucrative market, filled with products of all different types, however and that can bring a lot of confusion as to which is the best read more about best stadium seating reviews in 2018.


PITTSBURGH — The attorney representing a Zelienople family suing five other families, the Seneca Valley School District and Butler County will amend the original lawsuit.
The call for an amendment and the motion on word choice came after a Friday hearing in which U.S. District Court Judge Mark Hornak said he hopes the new filing is "narrowed in focus" and provides more concrete evidence of the allegations.
The original lawsuit filed last fall by Alecia and Michael Flood Jr. claims their minor son T.F. suffered physical torment and psychological trauma as a result of false sexual assault allegations. The Floods allege their son was arrested, wrongfully prosecuted, placed on probation, incarcerated, harassed and defamed in a case of gender-based discrimination as a result of the claims.
The suit names Meghan Villegas and minors K.S., C.S., E.S. and H.R; their parents, George Villegas Jr., Pam Villegas, David and Christy Sherk, David and Christine Seaman, Cris and Kimberly Salancy, and David and Lynn Reina; the Seneca Valley School District; Butler County; and the Butler County District Attorney's Office as defendants.
During a nearly four-hour hearing Friday in Pittsburgh, Hornak ruled on the motion asking for the words "mean girls" to be stricken from court documents.
Hornak said unless it is demonstrable that the girls referred to themselves or were well known in the community by that moniker, it could not be legally used.
"It doesn't advance the ball," Hornak said, adding the word "tormentors" was also discouraged.
Hornak heard other oral arguments from attorneys representing the defendants Friday. Following those discussions, Hornak asked Fishman if any hard evidence existed proving T.F. was treated differently because of his gender by either the county or the school district. He said that information, if it exists, could be both interesting and important, but was not included in the original complaint.
Hornak advised Fishman to consider amending the complaint, and only including the individuals or entities against which he felt he had sufficient evidence.
In granting the amendment opportunity, Hornak said Fishman has two weeks from receiving a transcript of Friday's hearing to create a draft that will then be sent to attorneys for all defendants included in the revised complaint.
Fishman must then arrange for a sit-down meeting with all involved attorneys and review the complaint to determine if sufficient evidence exists to proceed. He may then file the amendment with the court two weeks later, after which the defense has 30 days to respond.
Fishman said he would talk to the Floods about potentially dismissing some claims.
Hornak advised Fishman to tighten the complaint as much as possible. He cautioned that based on the original complaint and the arguments heard Friday, Fishman would have an uphill battle against some of the defendants.
That battle includes proving the intent of the minors making the accusations, which defense attorneys argue is not firmly proven in the original complaint.
Additionally, attorney Michael Streib, representing the Salancy family and E.S., argued that the parent-child relationship is not enough for a parent to be held liable for a child's actions, and cited previous cases affirming that.
He said parents have a limited duty to use responsible care to control a child, but in the instances outlined in the lawsuit, they were unaware of the girls' actions.
Attorneys further pointed out the adults involved did not know about the allegations until they saw it on the news.
Joseph Charlton, representing the Villegas family, also argued that Meghan Villegas was an adult at the time, and her parents have no legal responsibility to supervise her.
The suit accused David and Christine Seaman of negligence involving the second incident, during which minors consumed alcohol at their residence. Their attorney, Stephen Magley, said the law stipulates there must be intent shown that the Seamans purchased and furnished alcohol for the minors. He argued that the state's "social host liability" laws did not exist in the case, he said.
Also in question is the county and district attorney's involvement in the suit. Hornak said the District Attorney's office cannot be sued for the charges presented because it is an entity of the county and does not have policy-making authority.
He said the charges against the office either needed to be dismissed or subsumed into the county charges.
Marie Milie Jones, representing the county, said the equal protection claim had no basis, as the girls were not alleged to have committed a crime. There must be definitive evidence the girls and T.F. were treated differently based on their gender, and the complaint did not prove that, she said.
The same argument was made on behalf of the Seneca Valley School District via attorney Matthew Hoffman.
Hoffman said the district took the allegations against T.F. seriously, and counselors reported the information to ChildLine & Abuse Registry as required by law. He said there was no room for discretion in making that report.
Additionally, Hoffman said while the suit claims T.F. was not permitted to play baseball after the second incident, that was not a district decision. He said T.F. was either incarcerated or on house arrest which did not permit him to be at the school.
No intentional harm was done by the district, according to Hoffman.
He added there was no reference to any of the incidents on T.F.'s records.
Because the complaint will be amended, previous motions to dismiss were "moot," Hornak said. However, a motion to suppress the district attorney's investigative file, including recorded interviews with the girls, as well as T.F.'s school file, was not decided upon Friday. Attorneys for all parties said they were concerned about that sensitive information being disseminated if released.
However, Hornak indicated an agreement could be reached to allow parties to review the documents and videos in a secure location without that information being taken off the premises. Attorneys agreed that could be a solution moving forward.
Hornak also said Friday he was unsure as to what would happen with the default judgment against the Rena family, particularly with an amended complaint coming. He advised Fishman to research and indicate how that portion of the case would proceed.