Magickal & Virtual Egregores in the 21st Century

by John L. Steadman

The high tech, pyrotechnic sci-fi writer William Gibson, in his novel Idoru (1996) envisions a future in which a virtual media star, Rei Toei, or the “idol”, marries Rex, a rock star, and the two then create a virtual place to live in Tokyo, in an akashic-type locale known as The Walled City, constructed from inverted kill-file software codes.  Gibson describes the idoru as basically disembodied information, though her holographic persona is artificially intelligent and creative, and the presentation itself is beautiful in an otherworldly way, at least according to human standards of beauty.

If he [Laney, who works as a net-runner in the book] anticipated her at all, it had been as some industrial-strength synthesis of Japan’s last three dozen top female media faces…. the formula tended to be even more rigid, in the case of software agents- eigen-heads, their features algorithmically derived from some human mean of proven popularity.  [But] she was nothing like that.  Her black hair, rough-cut and shining, brushed pale bare shoulders as she turned her head.  She had no eyebrows, and both her lids and lashes seemed to have been dusted with something white, leaving her dark pupils in stark contrast…. the idoru smiled, lit from within…[i]

What is most fascinating about the idoru is that since she is a pure form of information, she affects the mind of the onlooker in different ways; one of the people at the table where she is sitting – a very basic, unimaginative man, to be sure-  sees her as only a big aluminum thermos bottle.  But Laney experiences a nodal vision which takes the form of a narrative; the narrative intensifies when he looks directly at her face.

He seemed to cross a line.  In the very structure of her face, in geometries of underlying bone, lay coded histories of dynastic flight, privation, terrible migrations.  He saw stone tombs in steep alpine meadows, their lintels traced with snow.  A line of shaggy pack ponies, their breath white with cold, followed a trail about a canyon.  The curves of the river below were strokes of distant silver.  Iron harness bells clanked in the blue dusk…Laney shivered.  In his mouth a taste of rotten metal.[ii]

Obviously, the idoru can affect all of the senses of the imaginative person who is in its presence; Laney sees a group of images that reflect historical events in the early dynasties of Japan; flight, privation and migration.  The description is very well developed visually.  And, additionally, Laney’s other senses are stimulated; he hears bells; he feels cold, and he has the unpleasant taste of “rotten metal” in his mouth (this is an interesting sensation; metal can rust, but it can’t really rot and so, there seems to be an almost organic quality to this taste).

For the magickal practitioner who is reading Gibson’s description, he or she will immediately think: egregore, and this is perfectly right.  Egregores are magickal constructs, “beings” if you will, usually created by magickal practitioners for specific purposes and then, deconstructed by the said practitioner when that purpose is accomplished.  However, it is important to understand two important facts about egregores: (1) these beings, once created, have an independent existence from the magickal practitioners who created them; and (2) over time, if the egregore is not deconstructed but rather, allowed to continue its existence, then it will grow stronger and more powerful.  In occult literature, this outcome is often perceived as undesirable, since the egregore will eventually reach a level of development where it can no longer be deconstructed; essentially, it ends up uncontrollable.  For example, Konstantinos, in Summoning Spirits (2005), argues: “Sometimes, creating an egregore can be dangerous…. the legend of the golem illustrates this possibility in an accurate, yet allegorical way…. I recommend…a very careful reading of the actual story before attempting this type of magickal creation.”[iii]   I would argue, however, that egregores do not necessarily become “bad” or “evil” entities, unless their creators are bad or evil men or women.  Indeed, I would contend that egregore can be more or less equivalent to the idoru that Gibson describes above, i.e. benign entities that are thoroughly real in every sense of the term except the physical, and which, in turn, evolve over time and actually “learn” and become more complex, viable beings.  In fact, these entities can ultimately become repositories of information which magickal practitioners, in turn, can access and experience, often as narrative, even though these latter practitioners did not create the entity and have no connection with it other than the basic connection of seeing or experiencing it.

As a case in point, consider H. P. Lovecraft’s Great Old One Cthulhu.  This is a fictional entity, created by Lovecraft in the tale “The Call of Cthulhu” (1926).  Over the years since Lovecraft’s death, Cthulhu and the other Great Old Ones have achieved a level of independent existence and surely, they have grown in power and complexity, drawing energy not only from the countless fans and readers of sci-fi and horror and contemporary gaming culture, but also from a small but dedicated group of magickal practitioners who work with these entities in their magickal rites.  In the popular mind, Cthulhu is usually perceived as being “evil”; he is seen as a monstrous, humanoid creature with wings, sharp claws and teeth, and a face full of tentacles.  But is Cthulhu really a monster such as this?  And is he necessarily evil?  I am not so sure. Like the rest of the Great Old Ones, Cthulhu is rarely interested in humans or human concerns; his interest in humanity is essentially no different than the interest that most humans have in lower, insignificant life forms such as insects.  This attitude might be considered “evil”, but only from a human perspective.  What I find most interesting about Cthulhu and his peers, however, is that they tend to appear differently depending on the perspective and the cognitive level of the person who “experiences” them.  In fact, like Gibson’s idoru, complex egregores such as the Great Old Ones are best understood as experiences, as nodal visions, and even, at times, as narratives that play out the individual minds and the psyches of the observers.  Lovecraft makes this clear right from the onset in “The Call of Cthulhu.”  When Cthulhu’s sunken city R’lyeh resurfaces due to a disturbance in the Pacific Ocean, Cthulhu, momentarily free, is perceived in different ways by a group of sailors: some of them see him as a monster, snatching them up in his claws; others see him as only a vague, overwhelming shape- “A mountain walked, or stumbled”, as Lovecraft puts it.  And one of the sailors perceives Cthulhu in geometrical terms, i.e. as an acute angle that behaves as if it were obtuse.

Clearly, the affinity between egregores and virtual entities such as Gibson’s idoru demonstrates just how close the line between magick and science is becoming in the 21st century.  Skilled magickal practitioners have always possessed the ability to create virtual beings; the presentation is akashic rather than electronic, but the principle is exactly the same.  Scientists, however, are only now in the process of learning how to do this.   This circumstance is a good thing, since it indicates that the two disciplines, science and magick, will eventually become one in a not so distant future, just as they were in a not so distant past.  And as technology finds ways to bridge- at least electronically- the gaps between different dimensions and the diversity of worlds inside and outside of our solar system, magick will have to be there to serve as a philosophical and metaphysical underpinning, helping the scientist/magickian to interpret and understand rightly the wondrous things that are waiting to be discovered.

[i] Gibson, William. Idoru. New York, Berkley Books, Inc., 229-30.

[ii] Ibid., 230.

[iii] Konstantinos. Summoning Spirits: The Art of Magical Evocation.  Woodbury, Minnesota. Llewellyn Publications, 2003, 5.

The Causes of Magickal Power: A Brief Essay

by John L. Steadman

John L. Steadman on H. P. Lovecraft

John L. Steadman, author of H. P. Lovecraft and the Black Magickal Tradition, goes into a bit more depth about the horror writer in the conversation below. Enjoy!

In your book, Lovecraft is associated specifically with the practice of black magick, as opposed to white magick, which has unpleasant connotations in the minds of some readers. Are you suggesting that Lovecraft or his works could be considered evil?

Determining whether or not a person or action is “evil” depends solely on the person or the action itself when judged in terms of behavior or effects. Certainly, a black magickian can be described as good as long as he or she acts ethically, while a white magickian can be considered evil if his or hers actions are harmful to others. In Lovecraft’s works, his view of the magickian is definitely black, but not necessarily evil. His magickal practioners perform their craft to either gain knowledge or power; the fact that some of the these practitioners end up becoming evil is besides the point.

Why do critics and readers refer to Lovecraft’s stories at Cthulhu Mythos?

The term “Cthulhu Mythos” was coined by August Derleth, a friend and colleague of Lovecraft. Lovecraft himself referred to his Mythos stories jocularly as “Yog-Sothothery” and he didn’t formally categorize his stories or divide them up into specific, disparate groups. It is correct that Cthulhu isn’t a major player in the Mythos stories; this Great Old One does only appear in The Call of Cthulhu (1926). But Derleth’s designation seems to have “stuck” in spite of this fact and is generally accepted by readers and critics.

Occult writers often link Lovecraft with Aleister Crowley. In fact, one of these occultists, Peter Levenda, argues that Lovecraft had ma naged to establish a link between himself and Crowley’s Holy Guardian Angel, Aiwass. Is this true?

In a letter written to Emil Petaja, dated March 6, 1935, Lovecraft associates Aleister Crowley with the English decadents of the 1890’s: “In the 1890’s the fashionable decadents liked to pretend that they belonged to all sorts of diabolic Black Mass cults & possessed all sorts of frightful occult information. The only specimen of this group still active is the rather over-advertised Aleister Crowley…” Lovecraft’s view of Crowley here is not surprising; in the mid 1920’s, Crowley and his disciples at the Abbey of Thelema in Cefalu were expelled from Italy by Mussolini and the newspapers in Europe and the US were full of accounts of the lurid rituals and practices that took place at the Abbey. Crowley was universally headlined as the “Wickedest Man in the World”, and labeled a Satanist; thus, Lovecraft’s view of Crowley necessarily reflected the negative press coverage. Other than this, however, there is no evidence that Lovecraft knew anything else about Crowley. Certainly, Lovecraft didn’t forge any link with Aiwass, or indeed, with any extra-terrestrial entity; he didn’t even know who or what Aiwass was, and Lovecraft had no knowledge of Crowley’s experiences on April 8, 9 and 10 in 1904 when Liber AL vel Legis was dictated to Crowley via Aiwass.

John L. Steadman is a scholar of H. P. Lovecraft and western occultism and has been a magickal practitioner for more than thirty years. He is currently a college English professor at Olivet College in Michigan. Visit him at

H. P. Lovecraft: Juvenile Writer or Subtle Craftsman?

by John L. Steadman

The great American critic Edmund Wilson, in an article written for The New Yorker in 1945, argues that H. P. Lovecraft was a bad writer with bad taste and bad artistry. Wilson implies, also, that Lovecraft’s work is juvenile; in a comment about “The Shadow Out of Time”, Wilson makes this devastating remark:  “semi-invisible polypous monsters that uttered shrill whistling sounds and blasted their enemies with terrific winds.  Such creatures would look very well on the covers of the popular magazines, but they do not make good adult reading.”

Although Lovecraft’s reputation since the 40’s and well into the new millennium has managed to transcend such criticisms, nevertheless, the charge of juvenile themes and a less than adult treatment of those themes still persists in the minds of certain readers and critics.  Even more problematic, Lovecraft’s reputation hasn’t been exactly improved by the wholehearted embracing of his literary constructs by popular culture.  Artifacts such as graphic comic book versions of his stories and, of course, the innumerable role-playing games, and, particularly, the over-the-top films such as the Re-Animator series  and the lurid Stuart Gordon movie Dagon, present slimy, tentacled monstrosities that do tend to support Wilson’s charge of juvenilism.

However, when we examine closely Lovecraft’s actual tales, there is a plethora of evidence that indicates an opposite conclusion: that Lovecraft was, in fact, not only an adult writer writing for adults, but moreover, a very subtle, masterful writer indeed.

For example, in “The Whisperer in Darkness” (1930), the focus is on a race of entities known as the Mi-Go (alternate names are the Outer Ones or the Fungi From Yuggoth), pinkish, crustaceous extra-terrestrial entities with membranous wings, articulated limbs and an advanced technology who have settled in the mountainous areas of Vermont to engage in clandestine mining operations.  Popular culture stresses the outré, rather childishly comic appearance of these entities and a reader might make the assumption that  the creator of such creatures is likely childish as well.  Yet, in the story itself, Lovecraft’s treatment of his  monsters is very restrained.

H. P. Lovecraft Juvenile Writer or Subtle Craftsman

Folklorist Albert N. Wilmarth, the main protagonist, from whose viewpoint the reader experiences the story, doesn’t ever see anything directly and thus, there is never any real empirical evidence for the existence of these entities.  Wilmarth reads rather dubious descriptions of  the entities in local papers such as the Arkham Advertiser when a few strange bodies are allegedly seen during a season of flooding; he corresponds with Henry Wentworth Akeley, who lives in a Vermont farmhouse and claims to have had first-hand encounters with these entities; he views some questionable photos of the entities’ footprints (the entities themselves do not appear on photographic plates, due to organic anomalities), but that is all.

Eventually, Wilmarth decides to visit  Akeley to gain some actual empirical evidence, but he ends up being unable to do so.  Previous to Wilmarth’s visit, Lovecraft implies that Akeley has been captured by the entities, his brain presumably  placed in a metal canister, forcing one of the aliens to masquerade as Akeley during Wilmarth’s stay.  When Wilmarth finally meets Akeley, the man is sitting in a dim room, wrapped up in a loose dressing gown and a yellow scarf-like hood, his face and hands strangely mask-like and artificial.  Superficially, this might be a confirmation that Lovecraft’s above implication is correct, but Lovecraft cleverly keeps it all ambiguous.

Later on, up in his room, Wilmarth is awake late and becomes aware that a conference is taking place in the room below.  He hears strange buzzing voices; he hears the clattering of entities moving about the room that suggests that their bodies are insectoid in design, but once again, nothing specific is seen.  And when Wilmarth finally becomes terrified enough to flee from Akeley’s farmhouse, a brief glance inside the room where he had met with Akeley reveals only an empty dressing gown and two artificial hands and a face, items which could support the argument that Wilmarth had been conversing with an alien, but also, the more sensible explanation that Akeley has been doing nothing more than playing an elaborate practical joke on Wilmarth.

Lovecraft’s two great stories, “The Thing on the Doorstep”  (1933) and “The Shadow Over Innsmouth” (1931), likewise, are often cited as examples of Lovecraft’s penchant for juvenile, pulp-fiction mongering, since, after all, in the climax of the former story, a disgusting, decaying, re-animated corpse appears on the doorstep of his best friend, while in the latter story, the narrator finds him threatened by a whole village full of half human, half frog hybrid monsters.

But when we subject these stories to a close examination, we immediately become aware of Lovecraft’s nearly impeccable sense of subtlety and restraint.  The actual “thing” that shows up on the doorstep of his best friend Dan is Edward Derby, who has been forced to inhabit the dead body of his wife Asenath.  Admittedly, the body smells fairly bad (Asenath has been dead for over three months, after all), but Lovecraft presents a very tasteful monster; it is mostly concealed by a large overcoat, the hands covered, the head concealed by a low, slouch hat and the face swathed up in a black silk muffler.

The only horrible thing about it at all is that it makes a long, protracted “glub…glub…glub sound, though even this unpleasantness is rather brief, since the thing soon dissolves into bones.  As for “The Shadow Over Innsmouth”, the narrator, visiting Innsmouth, encounters quite a few Innsmouth locals that have the “Innsmouth” look, i.e. bulging, staring eyes and scaly skin, but he never gets a definite look at any actual monstrosity.  The narrator is forced to spend the night in the town and the hybrids, afraid that he knows too much, try to capture him in his room at the Gilman house.  But the narrator manages to escape and, in the last part of the book, Lovecraft gives us a very exciting, cat-and-mouse chase scene as the narrator flees from the inhabitants.  During the course of this pursuit, Lovecraft could have indulged himself in delineating the horrific shapes of the hybrids, but the glimpses that the narrator ends up getting are never too clear; he sees crowds of the hybrids mostly from large distances away.

Likewise, the narrator hears distant croaking and bleating sounds.  But when he is finally able to take a close look at some of the entities, the sight proves to be too much for his senses and he faints.

[For more discussion of Lovecraft’s fictional world of “gods and monsters”, so to speak (to paraphrase a line from The Bride of Frankenstein), as well as a full examination of Lovecraft’s connection with the great black magickal systems in the western world, the Vodou cults, the Wiccan religion, the Typhonian order, the Church of Satan and the Chaos Magick Pacts, please read H. P. Lovecraft & the Black Magickal Tradition, released by Weiser Books on September 1, 2015]

The Black & White Magickal Dichotomy

by John L. Steadman

In H. P. Lovecraft & the Black Magickal Tradition, I define black magick as simply magic performed for the purposes of gaining knowledge and/ or power, as opposed to white magick, which is centered on the goal of spiritual attainment.  It is scarcely necessary to observe that this distinction has no connection with any concepts of morality, or with simplistic notions of “good” or “evil”.  And certainly, black magick should not be understood as evil, nor should white magick be interpreted as good.  In Lovecraft’s fictional works, his view of the magickian is definitely black, but not necessarily evil.  Lovecraft’s magickal practitioners perform their craft either to gain knowledge or power; the fact that some of these practitioners end up becoming evil is largely beside the point.  For example, Joseph Curwen, in The Case of Charles Dexter Ward (1927), performs necromancy to raise the spirits of dead persons; this activity is not inherently evil.  However, Curwen also commits wholesale murder; this, of course, classifies him as an evil man. Thus, the goodness or the wickedness of Curwen is based almost exclusively on his behavior and not on his beliefs.

Two prominent magickal practitioners have elaborated on the black/white dichotomy in magick and tried to widen the traditional views of magick by arguing that magickal practice should embrace the whole spectrum of colors.  The late Isaac Bonewits, founder of Ar nDraiocht Fein, the largest neopagain Druid organization in the world, in Real Magic (1993), Chapter Five, “Black Magic, White Magic, and Living Color,” argues that magickal practice can be defined to correspond to the psychic energies fields , or so-called auras, that are presumed to surround the human body. Bonewits’ system of correspondences introduces a variety of different “types” of magick: red magic, orange magic, yellow magic, green magic, blue magic, indigo magic, purple magic, ultraviolet magic (which he further identifies with traditional black magick), and brown magic.  But Bonewits himself rightly admits that magick, in itself, has no color and that his system is merely a series of associational devices.

The Black & White Magickal Dichotomy

As we examine the different types, it becomes apparent that such a classification is an unnecessary complication and elaboration, since each type of magick can be placed into the two categories that I identified in the previous paragraph.  Red magic, for example, involves blessings and curses; this is, obviously, magick performed for knowledge or power.  Indigo magic, on the other hand, is performed to control the weather, or to astral travel; again, this is magick performed for knowledge or power.  Blue magic, unlike the others, focuses on religion and spirituality in part, and thus, this type of magick could be interpreted as white magick.  After perusing all of the different types of magic articulated by Bonewits, it quickly becomes clear that such an elaboration is not necessary at all; the black/white dichotomy, as defined previously, is sufficient.

Peter J. Carroll, author of Liber Null & Psychonaut (1987) and Liber Kaos (1992), and Chancellor of Arcanorium College and Past Grandmaster of IOT Pact, posits a similar system in Liber Kaos, Part 2: The Psychonomicon, Chapter 4: Eight Magics.  Here, Carroll raises the issue of auric energy fields, just as Bonewits did, but then he sensibly drops this issue, seeing that auric fields are largely irrelevant to magickal practice, and argues instead that there are eight different types of “magics”, as he calls them, which can be attributed to the seven classical planets, plus Uranus, and which signify emotional states.  Carroll’s list is certainly creative: he gives us octarine magic (an instinctive drive toward magic); black magic (destruction and entropy), blue magic (material wealth); red magic (combat and aggression); yellow magic (changes to the ego or personality; illumination); green magic (love magic); orange magic (wit and intellect); and purple magic (sex magic).

All of these categories, however, can be placed into either the white or black categories and thus, Carroll’s system is, like Bonewits’ system, an are an unnecessary elaboration.  Yellow magick is clearly white magick, while the other seven colors are focused on black magick, i.e. on power, knowledge, or a combination of the two.


February 11, 2017

Get started at http://www.coderdojokc.com/today

Welcome to CoderDojoKC! Let’s get you started!

Step One: Wifi

3. We recommend using the Google Chrome browser.

Step Two: Start Learning!

Step Three: Learn to Code

Step Four: Check Out the Projects

Today’s theme: Keep track of your own New Years Resolutions. What do you want to learn this year?

Today’s Concept: Variables

In mathematics, we learn that a variable is something unknown that can take a value. In early math, you might see: 2 + □ = 5; we know that □ is 3. Later on, that becomes 2 + X = 5; we know that X = 3 in order for that math sentence to make sense.

In programming, variables can be something unknown that takes a value, as in the case of a variable that takes the value of something that the user inputs. A variable can also take on the value of something more complicated to make referencing that complicated thing more easy. This can be like setting a variable pi to “3.141592653589” instead of having to type out all of those numbers each time you want to use them.

Perhaps variables can be illustrated with a joke:

A variable can also be changed; think about having a variable called “high score.”

In Scratch, you can create a data variable and give it a value. The variable can be used by either the sprite or all sprites. You can show your variable and its value on the stage if you want to; this would be useful for a game score.
Additional information about Scratch variables

In JavaScript, you can create a variable and give it a value.
var myCity = "Kansas City";
Additional information about JS variables

For today’s session, we want to see at least two things in order to be eligible for presenting to the group: The theme of what you want to learn in 2017 and use at least 3 variables.

Example Project:

Step Five: Show Off!


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World War 1

Ground covered by the Kent Yeomanry and Sharpshooters during World War I

The course of the war - 2

With stalemate on the Western Front,  an attempt was made by the allies in 1915 to make a new attack at Gallipoli (part of the Ottoman Empire) but the location was well defended and the allies withdrew after many casualties and no strategic success. Allied troops did achieve success against the Ottomans in Palestine in 1916 and 1917.

However,  the main focus of the war continued to be on the Western Front

In 1917, following a revolution, the Russians made peace with Germany, with the result that the Germans had more men available to fight the allies.  Around the same time, the US joined the war on the side of the allies.

1918 brought new  German successes, before the superior manpower of the allies broke through the German positions, who started to retreat.

Fighting continued to the last hour of the war, with armistice (ceasefire) at 11am on 11 November 1918.


Autoimmune Skin Disease in Dogs

What is an autoimmune disease?

The term autoimmune is a confusing one.

"If you have an autoimmune disease, your immune system attacks itself by mistake, causing serious illness."

autoimmune_skin_disease_in_dogs_general-1Our bodies have an immune system that protects us from foreign invaders that can cause disease and infection; however, if you have an autoimmune disease, your immune system attacks itself by mistake, causing serious illness. The immune cells fail to distinguish the body's normal healthy cells from foreign cells, and thus try to destroy the normal tissues. The cause of this "mistake" is not well understood. Autoimmune disease can affect a single system or multiple body systems. Autoimmune diseases can affect skin, connective tissues, nerves, muscles, the endocrine system (the system that controls hormones and other chemicals), red blood cells, and the digestive system. Dogs and cats with autoimmune diseases should not be vaccinated except under certain circumstances.

What causes autoimmune disease?

"...some theorize that genetics and/or
environmental pollutants play a role."

The cause or causes of autoimmune disease are not fully understood, although some theorize that genetics and/or environmental pollutants play a role. Ultraviolet (UV) exposure is thought to be a predisposing or “triggering” cause of autoimmune skin diseases in some dogs. Certain drugs have also been reported as potential triggers for pemphigus foliaceus, a common form of autoimmune skin disease in dogs and cats. Early recognition is extremely important. Left untreated, the complications of autoimmune disease are serious and multiple system involvement is common. This can make diagnosis and treatment very challenging and complicated.

What are some of the common autoimmune skin diseases in dogs?

Autoimmune skin diseases are relatively rare in dogs. Some of the more common forms of autoimmune skin disease include:

Pemphigus complex
Pemphigus is a group of five autoimmune skin diseases characterized by vesicles and bullae (large and small "blisters") in the mouth and at mucocutaneous junctions (the junction between skin and mucosal tissues). Commonly affected areas include the eyelids, lips, nostrils, and anus.

Pemphigus Foliaceus (PF) - The term means "leaf-like pemphigus" and this is the most common immune-mediated skin disease of dogs and cats. Pemphigus foliaceus is rarely found in the mouth or at mucocutaneous junctions. In this form of pemphigus, the patient develops crusts (scabs) and ulcers around the eyes, ears, footpads, groin and bridge of the nose. The Akita is reported to have a high incidence of this condition. Pemphigus foliaceus usually appears suddenly without a recognized cause, but in some cases, it may be drug-induced or can be the result of years of chronic skin disease.

Pemphigus erythematosus (PE) - the term means "red and inflamed pemphigus" and its most common symptom is redness, crusting, scales and hair loss on the nose. Exposure to ultraviolet light worsens this form of pemphigus.

Panepidermal pustular pemphigus (PPP) – previously classified as Pemphigus vegetans - this form is typified by thick and irregular vegetative lesions or lumps associated with chronic "oozing" and pustules. It is believed to be a more benign form of pemphigus vulgaris. PPP has not been documented in cats to date.

Paraneoplastic pemphigus (PNP) - The least common and most severe type of pemphigus. Causes serious tumors to form.

Bullous Pemphigoid
Bullous pemphigoid
may sound like a form of pemphigus, but it is actually a different type of autoimmune skin disease. Bullous is the medical term for a large thin-walled sac filled with clear fluid. Usually the skin is very itchy and large red welts and hives often appear before or during the formation of blisters. Vesicles and ulcers may be found in the mouth, at mucocutaneous junctions, and in the axillae (armpits) and groin. Evaluation of the vesicles is critical to the diagnosis and because they rupture quickly after formation, the dog must often be hospitalized and examined every two hours until adequate biopsies can be obtained. Bullous pemphigoid resolves spontaneously in many cases. It is considered rare in dogs and cats.

Systemic lupus erythematosus
The classic example of a multi-systemic autoimmune disease is systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), commonly referred to as lupus. Lupus is often called the "great imitator" because it can mimic almost any other disease state. The signs of SLE may be acute (sudden onset) or chronic, and usually they wax and wane. A fluctuating fever that does not respond to antibiotics is one of the classic clinical signs of SLE. Stiffness in the legs or shifting-leg lameness is also frequently reported with SLE. Other clinical signs may include blood abnormalities such as hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia (low platelet numbers), and/or leukopenia (a low white blood count), or a symmetrical dermatitis, especially over the bridge of the nose (often called a "butterfly lesion"). SLE is considered a more common cause of autoimmune skin disease in dogs and rare in cats. Dogs or cats with SLE should not be vaccinated.

Discoid Lupus Erythematosus (DLE)
Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) is another autoimmune skin disease seen in dogs and rarely in cats. Another common name for this condition is "Collie nose" although it can appear in many breeds. DLE is seen more commonly in Collies, Shetland sheep dogs, German shepherds, Siberian huskies, and Brittany spaniels. Exposure to sunlight and UV radiation is thought to be a potential cause or trigger. In most cases, affected dogs lose the pigmentation around the nose, although the skin around the lips, eyes, ears and genitals may be also affected. DLE can transform the surface of the nose from its normal "cobblestone" texture to smooth, flat and shiny. Ulcerated sores may occur. Some dogs find the disease irritating while others don't seem affected by it. DLE may be a non-systemic, less-serious type of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). It is considered a relatively benign autoimmune skin disease.

Are there autoimmune diseases that affect other body tissues in the dog?

Yes. Examples of autoimmune diseases affecting tissues other than the skin are:

  • Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (reduction of red blood cells and life-threatening anemia)
  • Immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (destruction of blood clotting cells)
  • Irritable bowel syndrome
  • Immune-related arthritis (polyarthritis)

How is autoimmune skin disease diagnosed?autoimmune_skin_disease_in_dogs_general-2

How is autoimmune skin disease treated?

The general treatment for autoimmune skin disease is immunosuppression. This means that your dog will receive drugs to reduce or attenuate the reaction of the immune system that is causing the disease. For many dogs, treatment with prednisone or dexamethasone will be sufficient. Other dogs require stronger immunosuppressant medications such as azathioprine, chlorambucil or oral cyclosporine. If secondary bacterial infections are present, antibiotics and medicated baths will be used. Your veterinarian will determine the optimal treatment plan for your dog's condition.

What is the prognosis for autoimmune skin disease?

The prognosis for autoimmune skin disease depends on your dog's specific diagnosis and the severity of symptoms.


Hadrian's Villa

       The villa was constructed at Tibur (modern-day Tivoli) as a retreat from Rome for Roman Emperor Hadrian in the early 2nd century. Hadrian was said to dislike the palace on the Palatine Hill in Rome, leading to the construction of the retreat. During the later years of his reign, he actually governed the empire from the villa. A large court therefore lived there permanently. A postal service connected them to Rome.        After Hadrian, the villa was used by his various successors. During the decline of the Roman Empire the villa fell into disuse and was partially ruined. In the 16th century Cardinal Ippolito II d'Este had much of the marble and statues in Hadrian's villa removed to decorate his own Villa d'Este located nearby. Structure and architecture Hadrian's villa was a complex of over 30 buildings, covering an area of at least 1 square kilometre (c. 250 acres) of which much is still unexcavated.       The villa was the greatest Roman example of an Alexandrian garden, recreating a sacred landscape. The complex included palaces, several thermae, theatre, temples, libraries, state rooms and quarters for courtiers, praetorians and slaves. The ruins of Hadrian's Villa in their present state The Villa shows echoes of many different architectural orders, mostly Greek and Egyptian.       Hadrian's Villa is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and important cultural and archaeological site. It is also a major tourist destination along with the nearby Villa d'Este and the town of Tivoli. The Academy of the villa was placed on the 100 Most Endangered Sites 2006 list of the World Monuments Watch because of the rapid deterioration of the ruins

3 photos

Building Activity


Monday, July 26, 2010

Surety Bonds Protect Your Construction Investments

From time to time, the Texas Construction Law Blog would like to feature guest bloggers who offer different perspectives on issues affecting the construction instrustry. The following article is the first of two about the legal protection and financial security surety bonds offer those involved in Texas construction projects. The guest author is Danielle Rodabaugh, a principal for Surety

Unfortunately, the economic downturn has had many detrimental effects on the construction industry. The resulting financial instability of many professionals, companies, and banks have made payment issues increasingly probable when working with projects of all sizes. It is not surprising for individuals to go unpaid when little or no legal protection was established prior to beginning the project. Whether you're the proprietor, banker, or contractor, you want to make sure:

* the project has a solid financial foundation before work begins
* legal protection is in place to guarantee that your work will be compensated later on

Surety bonds provide this legal protection and financial guarantee.

Functionality of Texas Surety Bonds
Many people–even those who are required to be bonded by law–aren't sure exactly how surety bonds work. Essentially, a surety bond is a legal agreement between three parties to help ensure the fulfillment of a contract:

1. The principal performs a service and secures a bond to guarantee his work according to the contract.
2. The obligee receives the work performed by the principal and is protected by the bond's financial guarantee.
3. The surety issues the bond as a neutral third party to ensure that all work done by the principal is completed according to the contract. The surety is also responsible for overseeing obligations on the part of both the principal and the obligee.

Since bonds are legally binding documents, they encourage the principal to fulfill the contract's terms or else face financial retribution. If the principal fails to meet the bond's conditions, such as making necessary payments, the obligee can make a claim on the bond. This means that bond money can be made available to the wronged obligee. A bond's obligee will vary due to a number of factors, such as the specific bond type or the legal language used in the bond's wording.

Financial Accountability
Depending on the bond type and its specific language, the surety bond company can be held fully accountable for the principal's faults, i.e. the surety could be left paying the bills. This encourages surety bond specialists to take great care in completing a thorough financial review of a principal before issuing the bond. If the contractor or construction company is unable to secure a bond then the entity might not be contracted to do the work, as its performance might be viewed as worrisome. This part of the process helps weed out contractors and construction companies that may be financially unstable due to past problems.

Legal Regulations Regarding Bonding
Various state-mandated regulations require different kinds of bond protection depending on the specific project and those involved. In construction, the Miller Act states that contract surety bonds are to be utilized for all federal projects involving the construction, alteration, or repair of any building or public work project in an amount exceeding $100,000. This law also requires a contractor working on such a project to post two bonds: a performance bond and a labor and material payment bond. Consequently, surety bond agencies issue a number of different construction bonds for large projects that involve in-depth, provisional contracts.

Unfortunately, the Miller Act can only be enforced on federally-funded construction projects that cost more than $100,000. This means that a great deal of construction contracts are still written without ever giving a thought to bonding those involved. Those working with smaller construction contracts are oftentimes at risk, as such contracts may be agreed to by "word of mouth" rather than being officially recorded, leaving loopholes so that legal accountability cannot be determined at a later date. Even though bonding might not be required by law for all projects, it's important for people to realize that they can still choose to protect their assets with a surety bond in these instances.

Although getting a surety bond in Texas might seem complicated or confusing at first, a little research can go a long way in guaranteeing the validity of your work or investments. For a more detailed look at how surety bonds can help resolve payment issues in the construction industry, check back when the second half of the discussion will be posted.


The Gilbert Collection: Gold Boxes

Gold Boxes

By taking a pinch of snuff from a gold box, wealthy aristocrats could signify their taste, status, and wealth in a single gesture. The display of a gold box also showcased the talents of the designers and the various craftsmen who were commissioned to create these magnificent status symbols. The Gilbert Collection includes some 220 gold boxes from France, the center of production, as well as England, Germany, Russia, and Switzerland. These small treasures are masterful examples of the luxury arts that goldsmiths, jewelers, and miniature portrait painters of the era produced. The boxes served stylish men and women admirably, as they endeavored to advance themselves in fashionable society.

The majority of the boxes were made for the functional purpose of holding snuff, or powdered tobacco. Friar Ramón Pane, who traveled to the New World with Christopher Columbus on his second voyage in 1507, was the first to note the taking of snuff. Initially overshadowed by the practice of smoking tobacco during the 16th and 17th centuries, the taking of snuff developed into an elaborate social custom during the 18th century. Gold snuffboxes—which have a tight fitting lid to ensure that the snuff within remains fresh—were an important part of this ritual that was popular throughout the courts, salons, and elite circles of Europe. In addition to serving a functional and social purpose, gold boxes were also considered a sort of fashion accessory, and were often selected to complement the owner’s couture, or to mirror the attributes of the season.

Beyond possession as a personal effect, gold boxes with miniature portraits of rulers, religious leaders, and other public figures were given as diplomatic gifts or awarded in official recognition of commendable service. This miniature portrait gold box of Napoleon Bonaparte I is a stunning combination of an exquisitely rendered portrait by French painter Jean-Baptiste Isabey and a tour de force of goldsmithing by the Swiss firm Moulinié, Bautte et Moynierm, which was based in Geneva. A pupil of Jacques-Louis David (1748–1825), Isabey became one of the best-known French portraitists with a long list of commissions from the successive rulers of France, including Marie Antoinette and the Napoleonic court. Here Isabey has depicted Napoleon as an official icon, shown in the coronation regalia he wore when he crowned himself Emperor Napoleon I. Surrounded with a border of alternating stars and bees, a symbol of Napoleon’s reign, the emperor wears a gold diadem, and the five-armed cross of the Order of the Legion of Honor lays against the ermine of his coronation robes. The blue pendant with an “N” that Napoleon wears is replicated with the golden “N” set on a ground of blue enamel on the base of the box, and radiating trophées d’armes composed of three different tones of gold encircle the base. Since France annexed Geneva in 1799, it would not have been unusual for a Napoleonic presentation gold box to have been made in Switzerland.

Image: Moulinié, Bautte et Moynier, gold box, 1793–1821, Jean-Baptiste Isabey, portrait miniature, 1767–1855, long-term loan from The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London


Analyst: Increasing tariff is heartless

General News of Monday, 14 December 2015

Nana Yaa Jantuah PURC NewNana Yaa Jantuah – PURC

The Chief Executive of the African Institute of Energy and Sustainability (AIES), Dr Samiu Kwadwo Nuamah, has condemned authorities for increasing electricity and water tariffs in the midst of the current energy crisis.

“I think that in this current situation, it will take a heartless person to actually request for more, because there is something called value for money. Where is the value before requesting for more money?” he asked.

The energy expert believes Ghanaians “should be enjoying more value before you ask for more and, in that situation, I am sure many people will be willing to pay.”

Dr Nuamah said energy is a resource which drives businesses and other money-generating ventures to flourish for people to gain more revenue and “no good government will try to overburden it’s people”.

To him, “nothing works in the absence of energy” and he feels the current energy crisis has crippled Ghanaian businesses, leading to less income and so stakeholders should not overburden citizens with additional increases in utility tariffs.

“When there is energy, people make more money, companies do well, they employ a lot of people, people get more money in their pockets. So when you request for more tariffs people will not hesitate. But in this current situation, when companies are struggling to get power for their machinery etc.?” he asked.

Dr Nuamah said that energy is the driving force of every economy and charged the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) to “cut the rhetoric and do more work to address the energy situation.”

“To move the economy forward, you need to ensure availability of power. It is core. In the absence of that everything collapses and that is exactly where we find ourselves, so, government should step in,” he said in an interview on Citi FM’s news analysis programme ‘The Big Issue’ on Saturday December 12, 2015.

Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer of the Consumer Protection Agency (CPA), Kofi Capito, has expressed disappointment in the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) for allowing the tariff hikes of 59.2% and 67.2% for electricity and water, respectively.

He has, therefore, filed a suit against the PURC, Volta River Authority (VRA), Ghana Grid Company Ltd (GridCo), and the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), seeking to restrain them from implementing the recent upward tariff adjustment as far as power is concerned.


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Orloff Award Winners

Manfred Boehm - Orloff Award Winner

Manfred Boehm, M.D. is a senior investigator in the Laboratory of Cardiovascular Regenerative Medicine at the NHLBI. The Boehm Lab’s research interests are to identify and better understand the molecular mechanisms underlying human vascular diseases and to develop new therapeutic approaches. Dr. Boehm and his team won an Orloff Award for investigating how genetic mutations cause a syndrome of sporadic fevers, skin rashes, and recurring strokes beginning early in childhood.

Cynthia Dunbar - Orloff Award Winner

Cynthia Dunbar, M.D. is a senior investigator in the Molecular Hematopoiesis Section. Dr. Dunbar’s research focuses on understanding the process of hematopoiesis in vivo, as well as on optimizing and improving the safety of gene transfer into primary hematopoietic cells for therapeutic purposes. Dr. Dunbar and her team won an Orloff Award for better treatment options for aplastic anemia aimed at stimulating stem cells in the bone marrow to create key blood component.

Stewart Levine and Jay Chung - Orloff Award Winners

Stewart Levine, M.D. is a senior investigator in the Laboratory of Asthma and Lung Inflammation, focusing on developing new treatment approaches for patients with severe asthma. Jay Chung, M.D., Ph.D. is a senior investigator in the Laboratory of Obesity and Aging Research and his primary research interest is in understanding how aging decreases our ability to burn calories and generate energy. Dr. Levine, Dr. Chung, and their teams won an Orloff Award for discovering a potential novel therapy for asthma.

Hong Xu - Orloff Award Winner

Hong Xu, Ph.D. is a tenure track investigator in the Laboratory of Molecular Genetics. Dr. Xu’s group is using the well-honed tools of Drosophila genetics, while applying some new innovations, to study how mtDNA mutations are governed by tissue specificity and other factors to create disparate pathologies. Dr. Xu and his team won an Orloff Award for solving the mystery of how mothers pass healthy mitochondria to their children.

Technical Award Winners

Bernard Brooks and Team: For further developing the CHARMMING Web Interface as a tool for computational biophysics education

Keir Neuman, Ph.D. and Team: For development of wide-field in vivo background free imaging via magnetic modulation of fluorescent nanodiamond emission

Adrian Ferré-D'Amaré, Ph.D. and Team: For structure determination of a fluorescent RNA mimic of GFP

Robert Fischer, Ph.D.,  Clare Waterman, Ph.D. and Teams: For deciphering the role of myosin II in endothelial cell angiogenic migration in 3D using novel computer vision analysis tools


Alex Daniloff

Parking Frenzy

Game ArtParking Frenzy (2008)

Crazy parking simulation for mobile phones developed by Reaxion. I worked as the Lead Artist on this project. I've made concepts and a part of the artwork.

Different city tilesets and cars. Drawing cars for that game was a great experience for us. They have a lot of palettes and their rotation has been hand-rendered with a static source of light. Also the game includes charismatic characters with different emotions, neat parallax to fake top-down depth in 2D and particle effects of burnt rubber, dust and smoke.

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chr0n3@gmail.comSkype: Chr0n3LinkedIn


Acoustic guitars - nylon string

Acoustic guitars - nylon string two notes

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Whether there are analogues?

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Robert Bosch

Artist/Professor of Mathematics
Oberlin College
Oberlin, Ohio
Truchet from Truchet Tiles
16" x 16"
Digital print on canvas
Father Sébastien Truchet (1657-1729) was a Carmelite clergyman. He was King Louis XIV's favorite hydraulic engineer. He designed fonts. And in 1704 he published an article, "Mémoire sur les combinaisons," that described his mathematical and artistic investigations into how a simple set of square tiles, each divided by a diagonal into a white half and a black half, can be arranged to form an infinity of pleasing patterns. Today, Truchet's tiles are known as, well, Truchet tiles. To create a Truchet-tile portrait of Truchet, I started with the orientations specified by Pattern D of Plate 1 of Truchet's article. I then allowed the diagonals of the tiles to "flex" or bend at their midpoints. To make a tile darker, I would flex the diagonal into the black half. To make a tile brighter, I would flex the diagonal into the white half. With my Flexible Truchet Tiles, I can approximate any grayscale image, using the image to "warp" any initial pattern of Truchet tiles.
The Serenity Machine
14" x 16" x 4"
laser-cut MDF and hardboard mounted on BRIO labyrinth game
I have used integer programming to design thousands of loops and labyrinths. To give myself and others some sense of what it would be like to travel through these paths, I have made laser-cut versions out of MDF and hardboard. The laser-cut boards can be placed atop a BRIO labyrinth game. The player can then turn the game's knobs to tilt the board and maneuver a steel ball through the course.


Earn Money

Lord Shiva is the lord of all yogis and he spends all his time in Samadhi and yog.

What is Kundalini Yoga?
Kundalini Yoga’s origins come from the beginning of time and seem to have roots in the wisdom traditions of every culture in which a spark of consciousness has been lit. It gives the tools, technology, the sadhana, the personal discipline, to awaken awareness.
               Kundalini Yoga is a science which works on the seven chakras, the arc line and the aura. It works directly on the total energy, and that flow of energy has one simple way: either YOU sway it or IT sways you.
               Either you are above the energy riding it or you go below the energy and it rides you. That is where Kundalini Yoga fits in : you will learn to ride your energy, to experience it and penetrate any given situation to attain balance. What is kundalini actually? It is your creative potential. You experience it when the energy of the glandular system combines with the energy of the nervous system to create such a sensitivity that the totality of the brain receives signals and integrates them. Then you become totally and wholly aware, and your creative potential becomes available to you.

The power of Kundalini Yoga lies in the actual experience. It goes right into your heart and extends your consciousness so you may have a wider horizon of grace and of knowing the truth. Ultimately you come to understand your existence in relationship to the universe and understand you already are, and this brings you to the practical experience of Infinity. You can then radiate creativity and infinity in all aspects of your daily life.


C N D Cymru – the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament in Wales – works, alongside other groups and individuals, to rid Britain and the world of nuclear weapons and all weapons of mass destruction. We also campaign for peace and justice for humanity and the environmental, and against the arms trade.

Nuclear Weapons

Who’s got Nuclear Weapons ?

The Effects of Nuclear Weapons

Trident is Britain’s nuclear weapon system. It consists of four nuclear powered, nuclear-armed submarines, one of which is on patrol, under the seas, at all times. Each Trident submarine carries up to 48 nuclear warheads, each of which can be sent to a different target. Each warhead has an explosive power of up to 100 kilotons, the equivalent of 100,000 tons of conventional high explosive. This is 8 times the power of the atomic bomb that destroyed Hiroshima in 1945, killing an estimated 140,000 people.

Trident and its Replacement: Britain’s Nuclear Weapons

The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons

This new treaty prohibits states from developing, testing, producing, manufacturing, transferring, possessing, stockpiling, using or threatening to use nuclear weapons, or allowing another state’s nuclear weapons to be stationed or deployed on their territory. The treaty also prohibits states from assisting, encouraging or inducing anyone to engage in any of those activities. Britain has not signed this treaty.

The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons

More information:

Nuclear Power

Parliamentary Debate on Trident Renewal 18th July 2016

Welsh Assembly Debate on Trident Renewal 18th November 2015

Militarisation of Wales


Other Free Encyclopedias » History Reference: Ancient History & World History » The Eastern Hemisphere - Europe and Russia

mountains european north sea

Directions: Use a pencil to fill in the circle that has the same letter as the answer you have chosen.

1. A peninsula is best defined as

Ⓐ land that has lakes and mountains.

Ⓑ an island surrounded by water.

Ⓒ land that has water on three sides.

Ⓓ rich, fertile land used for farming.

2. Standard of living refers to

Ⓐ a measure of quality of life.

Ⓑ where most people live.

Ⓒ the culture of a people.

Ⓓ people who want their own nation.

3. Much of Northern Europe has a mild climate. Which of the following causes this mild climate?

Ⓐ the Alpine Mountain System

Ⓑ the Norwegian Sea

Ⓒ the Baltic Sea

Ⓓ the North Atlantic Current

4. What imaginary line divides the Western Hemisphere and the Eastern Hemisphere?

the equator

Ⓑ the prime meridian

the Tropic of Cancer

the North European Plain

5. In the 1990s, ethnic tensions divided which of the following countries?

Ⓐ Denmark

Ⓑ Yugoslavia

Ⓒ France

Ⓓ United Kingdom

6. The goal of the European Union is to

Ⓐ increase trade and raise the standard of living.

Ⓑ have the United States join the European Union.

Ⓒ limit trade to European Union members only.

Ⓓ lower food and energy prices.

7. What mountains divide Europe from Asia?

Ⓐ Ural Mountains

Ⓑ Pyrenees

Ⓒ Alps

Ⓓ Caucasus Mountains

Use the map on page 71 and your knowledge of geography to answer questions 8-17. Place the correct map letter next to each place listed below the map.

8. Italy _________

9. Norway _________

10. Iceland _________

11. Sweden_________

12. United Kingdom _________

13. Mediterranean Sea _________

14. France _________

15. Spain _________

16. Russia_________

17. North Sea _________

Europe portrait For questions 18-20, use the lines below the questions to write your answers.

18. How did Europe's many mountain ranges affect the continent's development?

19. The North of Italy is much more developed that the South. Explain why there is a difference between the two regions. Use at least two facts to support your answer.

20. Italian history can be divided into three periods. Write a sentence that describes each period.

a. Ancient Rome__________________________________________________________________

b. the Renaissance_________________________________________________________________

c. a Unified Italy (came together)_____________________________________________________

Where Is The Eastern Hemisphere? - Where Does the West End and the East Begin?, Comparing Graphs, What Is Culture? [next] [back] Looking At ITALY - Where in the World Is Italy?, What Is the Geography of Italy?

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Where is the love? That exactly is the question, WHERE IS THE LOVE? How can you claim to love someone and open your eyes, fold your arms, keep your mouth shut and watch them treading a path that is obvious to you leads to their death, their grave, an eternal one for that matter.

Love has been widely acclaimed to be a verb, an action and not merely in words or intentions. A thousand and one different of illustrations has been painted all around us, movies especially. Take for instance, Jack and Rose in Titanic, Romeo and Juliet, people willing to go to an extreme length, even death, for the sake of love. It should not be possible that we, who have the Love of God planted in our heart by the Holy Spirit, should have unbelieving friends, family members and folks on the path to eternity in hellfire and not be bothered about their eternity, their eternal security.

This was spoken about Jesus, the man we model our lives after “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless (distressed, dejected), like sheep without a shepherd.” The opposite of compassion is coldness.

If we are going to be sincere with ourselves, what will be our good or permissible excuse for avoiding to share the gospel that saved us with them?

You don’t want to hurt your relationship with them? You are conscious of how they will see or accept you if the “preaching” doesn’t go down well with them? What if they don’t accept? What if you can’t answer some of their questions?

Some even give an excuse of not wanting to lose their friendship. If all you think about is maintaining friendship here on earth without considering having that friend by your side in heaven too then maybe you’re not really a friend at all. A true friend would (even though it hurts) tell the helpful truth to his/her friend always.

Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy is deceitful – Prov 27:6 KJV

I had an extensive chat with a friend and brother, Mr. A for the purpose of this article, a bright young graduate that gave up everything risking his life for the sake of the gospel as a missionary.

Tolu: How will you encourage every Christian to be passionate for the lost and actually go out for them right where they are?

Mr. A: By seeing the lost and letting compassion overwhelm their heart. They can’t reach those they do not love, even though many times men claim to love the lost.

We know according to Apostle John that love is an action word and that actions authenticate love, so if they sincerely analyze their hearts and acknowledge that they do not love well they need to take time out to pray that Jesus will change their heart because they can’t change their hearts on their own.

Some may say it is just fear that they have, but the truth is perfect love cast out all fear. Not that sudden fear will not come, I’ve had that a number of times here, but Love will make you obey God, when he says do not be afraid of sudden fear, it is a spirit of boldness, power love and a sound mind.

So like timothy many people need a heart work, a heart stirring, so that the same spirit of Love that raised Jesus from the dead would work in them. Let them pay close attention to their hearts.

We all have friends, family member or someone around us who needs to hear the message of the gospel, and whatever your reason for holding back thus far is, let love, the same kind of compassion that moved Jesus overcome those reaons and move your heart to reaching out to them.

I know your heart is stirred up now, but don’t rush out in the power of your own might, Like Mr A said, let the Spirit of love, power and sound mind move you.

And incase you notice a coldness in your heart to them, I pray that God will stir up His love in your heart, help you see and feel His compassion to them, give you the right steps and actions to take, and the right words to say, in Jesus name.

Grace and Peace.

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05 June 2010

Living and writing some 500 years before Christ, Isaiah represents a faith totally different from the other religions around him, most of which worshipped many different gods and goddesses. The easiest thing in the world is to carve a figure out of wood and call it your god. But the prophets taught that the one true living God who had created everything could not be captured or depicted by human art.

The world humanity inhabits can look very small to God. To God the vast galaxies of creation can seem tiny. The huge issues that preoccupy humankind can appear trivial from God's point of view. But this does not make humankind insignificant to God.

God is by far the best source of superhuman strength. This divine strength is given to mortals so that they may fulfil God's purposes and reach their full potential. In the words of Saint Irenaeus (c.130 - c.200 AD): "The glory of God is a human being fully alive".

To Ponder

Every culture and faith suffers from the temptation and folly of creating God in its own image. What are the dangers of this?

Take the opportunity to pray quietly while looking into a likeness of 'The Trinity', or 'The Christ', or 'Mother and Child' in a Greek or Russian Christian icon.

Charles Wesley celebrated the coming of Christ into the world by singing, "The invisible appears in sight, and God is seen by mortal eye" (from Author of faith, eternal word - Hymns and Psalms 662). Do you have a favourite hymn of celebration? What is it? And why does it mean so much to you?

Bible notes author: Revd Prebendary Norman Wallwork


Hi there, how can we help you today?

With you whenever you need us

How does Tactivities work?

We reach out to small-to-medium sized travel businesses in Asia, verify them and curate their products to feature them on our platforms. Our online platforms enable travellers discover and book quality experiences in Asia.

Who are your providers?

Our activities and tours providers are quality tour agencies and operators. We work with businesses, professionals, enthusiasts and entrepreneurs.

How do you ensure quality?

We quality control every offer on our site, manually. This means testing the activities personally, asking for licenses and ensuring that negative reviews are acted on.

Are providers safe and trustworthy?

We do our best to curate listings submitted by providers. Before an experience is listed, we will conduct an initial phone or video interview and in some cases, meet the provider in person. You can also refer to the reviews, references and social checks to make sure you are comfortable.

However, due to the unpredictable nature of things, Tactivities does not assume liability for anything that happens at an experience. Travelers and providers enter into an agreement with each other and this should be done at your own discretion.

Does Tactivities provide liability waiver for travelers?

By booking an experiencing with Tactivities, you bear any risks like a regular traveller. Travelers and providers enter into an agreement with each other and this should be done at your own discretion.

How do I book an experience?

Just click on book it when viewing the offer. You will be asked to provide some contact information. This is so that the supplier is able to contact you when you have booked. Your credit card will only be charged once the booking is confirmed.

Do I need to bring the booking voucher along?

Yes. Please print out and bring the booking voucher with you. If not able to print, immediately contact Tactivities.

How can I contact the host of my tour or activity?

Once the host accepts your booking, a booking confirmation voucher is sent to you containing contact details. The supplier has your details as well in case he or she needs to contact you.

Why do I need to make a booking request?

Making booking requests is a way for you to have certainty that a host is able to host you. It also gives you the flexibility to request for multiple experiences you are interested in.

What happens after I have made a booking request?

Your host will either confirm or decline your request within 48 hours. Once the host has accepted your booking, you will receive an email with details of your host. And you’re all set for a great experience!

What happens with my payment once my booking is submitted?

Your credit card or Paypal account will hold the payment until your booking is confirmed by the host. You will not be charged until the booking is confirmed. Once your booking is confirmed the amount will be deducted from your account.

What happens with my payment if the booking is rejected?

Your credit card or Paypal account will release the funds it had on hold. You will not be charged for the booking and you will receive an email and SMS notification.

Can I make multiple booking enquiries?

You will be charged for every accepted booking. Therefore only do this if you are willing to see every booking enquiry through.

How do I cancel a booking?

You can cancel a confirmed booking by contacting Tactivities immediately. We will perform any refunds in accordance with the cancellation policy.

How do I search for specific types of experiences?

On our Home page, select the city you are visiting and you will see a list of experiences in that destination. You can filter them by Categories on the listing page to further narrow down your search. You can sort by Price, Reviews, Relevance.

As we are expanding and finding more experiences to cater to your needs, if there’s something you would like to do in a certain location, please send us a suggestion to contact@Tactivities.com and we will do our best to find it for you.

How do I know if the experience is available for the dates and times I’m looking for?

On each experience page, you will find a calendar where you can check the availability of the activity.

What is your “Lowest Price Guarantee”?

If you find a lower price for the same tour or activity offered by the same provider (priced in the same currency) within 48 hours of receiving a booking confirmation, we will match the price and credit the difference to you for future purchases in the form of a credit voucher.

I’m travelling alone but the experience requires a minimum number of people. Can I still book it?

You are still welcome to book the experience if you are happy with the price required for the minimum number of people. However, please bare in mind that sometimes the minimum people required might be set due to the nature of the activity and hence there will be a chance that the activity provider won’t be able to fulfill the activity with only one person. You may also email sales@Tactivities.com to verify your request, note that there might be an extra payment but not greater than the price displayed for the minimum number of people.

I wish to book a private tour for my group. How can I do that?

Please send us an email to contact@Tactivities.com and we will be able to customise a tour for your group.

I’m travelling in a group but the experience I want to book has a limit to number of guests and cannot accommodate my group. What can I do?

Please request for a customized trip by sending an email to contact@Tactivities.com and let us know the details of your trip and the experience you would like to customize. We will do our best to accommodate your group.

Why can’t I find experiences in the destinations I’m going to?

Tactivities is working city by city to get you the best experiences in each destination. If there is a place you are interested in finding an experience, please let us know at contact@Tactivities.com and we will do our best to find you something.

I contacted my provider after booking confirmation, but there was no response. What should I do?

Please give a few days for the experience provider to reply as they might be busy working with other customers. Do give them a call if necessary as internet connection may not be as good in certain locations. If you are still unable to get a response, write a message to sales@Tactivities.com and we will try to help you!

The host I booked with is unable to show up and he got someone else to do the experience instead. What should I do?

In unexpected circumstances such as illness or emergencies, it is possible that the provider you’ve booked may not be able to show up. Tactivities asks that every provider makes arrangements for such circumstances in order not to disappoint our customers.

What happens if the provider is a no-show?

We recommend that you try to call the provider using the contact number you have been provided in your booking confirmation. If you are unable to reach the provider, please contact us immediately at our emergency phone number +91 9873 111 110 so we can assist you.

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Acne in Latin America

Acne is a common disease that is characterized by chronic inflammation of the sebaceous follicles, causing pimples on the face, scalp, neck, back, shoulders, upper arms and chest of the body.  While acne is not a serious life-threatening disease, it assumes a greater presence in the psyche, because it is common and highly visible.  The damage inflicted by acne is less the physical pain than the psychological damage.  Acne has been known to cause embarrassment, diminished self-esteem, lack of self-confidence, depression, feelings of rejection and unworthiness, obsession, anger, frustration, guilt, social withdrawal, and so on.

We will now cite some survey data from the TGI Latina study.  This is a survey of 52,639 persons between the ages of 12 to 64 years old conducted during the second half of 2001 and the first half of 2002 in eight Latin American countries (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Panama, Peru and Venezuela).  During this survey, the respondents were asked if they had used acne control products during the past 7 days.  A total of 9.4% said that they had done so.

In the next chart, we show the incidences by age/sex groups.  Acne is thought to afflict nearly one hundred percent of people between the ages of twelve to seventeen years old in some form or the other, and this is irrespective of race or ethnicity.  It can be just the occasional pimple or two, or it can be the full-blown chronic version.  Normally, acne goes away on its own later in life, but it may occasionally persist in some people.  The data in this chart certainly confirms these beliefs.

Acne also affects males and females equally.  Although acne among males is likely to be more severe and long-lasting, females are the ones who are more likely to seek treatment, whether it is the over-the-counter non-prescription drug or visits to the doctor.

(source: TGI Latina)

In the next chart, we show the incidences by socio-economic level.  The incidence decreases as we move down the socio-economic scale.  This is not to say that acne is a class disease.  It is simply an indication that the affluent people have the greater need and means to seek remedies.

(source: TGI Latina)

Although acne has been the subject of scientific investigation over many years, the exact causes are still not known with any certainty.  Instead, a number of myths/legends have emerged around the subject of acne.

Myth #1: Acne is caused by dirt, which produces the stigma of acne as the result of unclean habits.  Acne is caused by an inflammation of a sebaceous follicle which is plugged with dead cells, and it is not induced by external matters such as dirt or sweat.  Aggressive scrubbing of the skin does not root out the problem, and it can only irritate the inflamed cells further.

Myth #2:  Acne is related to food consumption, which produces the stigma of acne as the result of gluttonous behavior, especially for chocolate, candies, sweets, potato chips, ice cream and soft drinks.  After many years of controlled studies, in which controlled groups were compared on food consumption and acne outbreaks, there is no scientific evidence to support this hypothesis.  Some people may have allergic reactions to certain types of food which result in acne-like symptoms such as hives, but that is something else altogether.

Myth #3: Acne is due to masturbation.  There is no scientific evidence for this hypothesis.  But the origin of this medieval myth would make an interesting psycho-socio-historical study of the tendency to attribute disease to sinning.

In the next chart, we show the incidences by the use of skin-cleansing products and the consumption of food products.  In all cases, the incidences are significantly higher among the consumers.  Does this not support the myths then?  Ah, but we are forgetting that these are correlational (and not necessarily causal) relationships.  It so happens that (1) teenagers are more likely to suffer from acne; (2) teenagers are more likely to use skin-care products; (3) teenagers are more likely to consume these types of food products, and it follows naturally that consumers of those products would have a higher incidence of acne.  Nowhere does this imply that these products cause acne.

(source: TGI Latina)

(posted by Roland Soong, 12/05/2002)

(Return to Zona Latina's Home Page)


Sunday, February 19, 2017
Exhibit Hall (Hynes Convention Center)
Jennifer Apell, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
In the United States, areas of the environment that have been heavily contaminated by human activity are designated as Superfund sites. Potential Superfund sites undergo extensive remedial investigations to determine the extent of the contamination and the contaminants present that drive the health hazard caused by the contaminated site. For hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOCs) like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), the bulk concentration of the contaminant in the soil and sediment are generally used to determine the hazard and consequently the risk the contaminants pose to ecological and human health. However, the bulk sediment concentrations of PCBs and PAHs have shown to be a poor predictor of health outcomes in aquatic life in numerous studies. Conversely, when the chemical activity instead of the chemical concentration of the contaminant is quantified, health outcomes are observed in a narrower range of values (e.g., baseline narcosis has been observed at chemical activities in the range of 0.01 to 0.1 in several new studies). To determine the impact of using chemical activity instead of chemical concentrations could have on the outcomes of remedial investigations, the chemical activity of PCBs and PAHs were measured in six samples from four different Superfund sites that had designated only PCBs as a contaminant of concern. The results show that for half of the samples, the chemical activity of PAHs is higher than the chemical activity of PCBs indicating that PAHs might pose a greater risk, and policy regarding the investigation of Superfund sites may need to be updated to reflect the current scientific understanding of exposure risks.


-Frank Wolf, former member of the US House of Representatives

With a new attack seemingly launched every week, cybercrime continues to grow as an enterprise threat. As organizations work to protect the stores of valuable data within their databases, network security becomes critical for any enterprise. In the case of WannaCry, understanding the attack, the attackers—and the allies—can help you prepare for future cyber battles.

Shadow Brokers: The villains” of WannaCry

The Shadow Brokers are an anonymous group who surfaced after exposing the EternalBlue and DoublePulsar vulnerabilities discovered by the NSA. They’re partially responsible for the WannaCry attack because they exposed the EternalBlue vulnerability, which hackers later capitalised on.

The Shadow Brokers recently stated that more threats, including zero-day vulnerabilities for different desktop and mobile platforms, will be unleashed by June 2017. They also mentioned that they will be launching a new monthly subscription model.

Through this model, vulnerabilities will be disclosed to subscription members at least a month in advance, allowing them to escape attacks by paying for pertinent information upfront. This subscription service will include exploits for web browsers, routers, smartphones, operating systems, compromised data from banks, and even stolen network information from Russian, Chinese, Iranian, and North Korean nuclear missile programs.

After the fallout from WannaCry, the world should not underestimate these statements.

Marcus Hutchins: Thehero” of WannaCry

When WannaCry hit computers across the world, one of its initial targets was England’s National Health Service, followed by organizations in China, India, Russia, and other countries. Infecting Windows computers through the EternalBlue exploit, WannaCry targeted both end users and corporate servers. Although Microsoft issued patches to recover its Windows XP machines, it was too late because WannaCry was already on the move. But in a turn of events, British cyber security researcher Marcus Hutchins managed to neutralize the first wave of the WannaCry attack.

How did Marcus become the “hero”?

After WannaCry became famous, the 22yearold researcher, head of the MalwareTech tech blog, spent some time researching WannaCry’s code to understand exactly how it worked. After infecting a system with WannaCry, Marcus discovered that WannaCry contained a set of instructions directing it to check a specific URL.

Curious, Marcus purchased the domain the code was pointing to for around $10. Little did he know, he had actually discovered WannaCry’s kill switch. Marcus‘ serendipitous discovery gave other cyber security researchers more time to neutralize the threat by properly patching systems.

Researchers have since discovered that the hackers behind WannaCry used phishing to unleash WannaCry via email attachments. Once WannaCry infects a system, it spreads to other systems with the help of the EternalBlue exploit identified in various Windows operating systems. The creators of WannaCry included instructions in the code to check for a bogus URL every time WannaCry infects a system.

Marcus move was accidental, but it ended up being exactly how hackers planned to stop the infection if necessary. The idea is that as long as the bogus URL is a broken link, the infection keeps spreading. When Marcus purchased the domain associated with WannaCry, he neutralised the attack.

Stay vigilant and safe

Expecting someone like Marcus to show up for future cyber crises isn’t realistic. As cybersecurity researchers scramble to find solutions, the shadow Brokers operate unchecked. Even top organizations, like FedEx and Renault, were unable to withstand the WannaCry attack. Maintaining up-to-date patches and staying aware of vulnerabilities and threats can give enterprises an advantage. But with many WannaCry copycats and other similar threats popping up recently, these strategies can only reduce the probability of attacks, not eliminate them. So please stay vigilant and safe, this battles against cyber threats has just began.

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