1Kings Chapter 22 (Bible Marathon Day 156)
Ahab’s Defeat by Aram.*
Three years passed without war between Aram and Israel.
In the third year, however, King Jehoshaphat of Judah came down to the king of Israel.
The king of Israel said to his servants, “Do you not know that Ramoth-gilead is ours and we are doing nothing to take it from the king of Aram?”
He asked Jehoshaphat, “Will you come with me to fight against Ramoth-gilead?” Jehoshaphat answered the king of Israel, “You and I are as one, and your people and my people, your horses and my horses as well.”
Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, “Seek the word of the LORD at once.”
The king of Israel assembled the prophets, about four hundred of them, and asked, “Shall I go to fight against Ramoth-gilead or shall I refrain?” They said, “Attack. The Lord will give it into the power of the king.”*
But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there no other prophet of the LORD here we might consult?”
The king of Israel answered, “There is one other man through whom we might consult the LORD; but I hate him because he prophesies not good but evil about me. He is Micaiah, son of Imlah.” Jehoshaphat said, “Let not the king say that.”
So the king of Israel called an official and said to him, “Get Micaiah, son of Imlah, at once.”
The king of Israel and Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, were seated, each on his throne, clothed in their robes of state in the square at the entrance of the gate of Samaria, and all the prophets were prophesying before them.
a Zedekiah, son of Chenaanah, made himself two horns of iron* and said, “The LORD says, With these you shall gore Aram until you have destroyed them.”
The other prophets prophesied in a similar vein, saying: “Attack Ramoth-gilead and conquer! The LORD will give it into the power of the king.”
Meanwhile, the messenger who had gone to call Micaiah said to him, “Look now, the prophets are unanimously predicting good for the king. Let your word be the same as any of theirs; speak a good word.”
Micaiah said, “As the LORD lives, I shall speak whatever the LORD tells me.”
When he came to the king, the king said to him, “Micaiah, shall we go to fight at Ramoth-gilead, or shall we refrain?” He said, “Attack and conquer! The LORD will give it into the power of the king.”
But the king answered him, “How many times must I adjure you to tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the LORD?”
* So Micaiah said:
“I see all Israel
scattered on the mountains,
like sheep without a shepherd,
And the LORD saying,
These have no master!
Let each of them go back home in peace.”
The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you, he does not prophesy good about me, but only evil?”
* Micaiah continued: “Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD seated on his throne, with the whole host of heaven standing to his right and to his left.
The LORD asked: Who will deceive Ahab, so that he will go up and fall on Ramoth-gilead?* And one said this, another that,
until this spirit came forth and stood before the LORD, saying, ‘I will deceive him.’ The LORD asked: How?
He answered, ‘I will go forth and become a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.’ The LORD replied: You shall succeed in deceiving him. Go forth and do this.
So now, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of yours; the LORD himself has decreed evil against you.”
Thereupon Zedekiah, son of Chenaanah, came up and struck Micaiah on the cheek, saying, “Has the spirit of the LORD, then, left me to speak with you?”
Micaiah said, “You shall find out on the day you go into an inner room to hide.”
The king of Israel then said, “Seize Micaiah and take him back to Amon, prefect of the city, and to Joash, the king’s son,
and say, ‘This is the king’s order: Put this man in prison and feed him scanty rations of bread and water until I come back in safety.’”
b But Micaiah said, “If you return in safety, the LORD has not spoken through me.” (He also said, “Hear, O peoples, all of you.”)*
Ahab at Ramoth-gilead.
The king of Israel and Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, went up to Ramoth-gilead,
and the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you put on your own robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and entered the battle.
In the meantime the king of Aram had given his thirty-two chariot commanders the order, “Do not fight with anyone, great or small, except the king of Israel alone.”
When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they cried out, “There is the king of Israel!” and wheeled to fight him. But Jehoshaphat cried out,
and the chariot commanders, seeing that he was not the king of Israel, turned away from him.
But someone drew his bow at random, and hit the king of Israel between the joints of his breastplate. He ordered his charioteer, “Rein about and take me out of the ranks, for I am wounded.”
c The battle grew fierce during the day, and the king, who was propped up in his chariot facing the Arameans, died in the evening. The blood from his wound flowed to the bottom of the chariot.
At sunset a cry went through the army, “Every man to his city, every man to his land!”
And so the king died, and came back to Samaria, and they buried him there.
d When they washed out the chariot at the pool of Samaria, the dogs licked up his blood and prostitutes bathed there, as the LORD had prophesied.
The rest of the acts of Ahab, with all that he did, including the ivory house he built and all the cities he built, are recorded in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.
Ahab rested with his ancestors, and his son Ahaziah succeeded him as king.
Reign of Jehoshaphat.
Jehoshaphat, son of Asa, became king of Judah in the fourth year of Ahab, king of Israel.
Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Azubah, daughter of Shilhi.
He walked in the way of Asa his father unceasingly, doing what was right in the LORD’s sight.
Nevertheless, the high places did not disappear, and the people still sacrificed on the high places and burned incense there.
Jehoshaphat also made peace with the king of Israel.
The rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, with his valor, what he did and how he fought, are recorded in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah.
He removed from the land the rest of the pagan priests who had remained in the reign of Asa his father.
There was no king in Edom, but an appointed regent.
Jehoshaphat made Tarshish ships to go to Ophir for gold; but in fact the ships did not go, because they were wrecked at Ezion-geber.
That was the time when Ahaziah, son of Ahab, had said to Jehoshaphat, “Let my servants accompany your servants in the ships.” But Jehoshaphat would not agree.
Jehoshaphat rested with his ancestors; he was buried with his ancestors in the City of David his father, and his son Jehoram succeeded him as king.
Reign of Ahaziah.*
Ahaziah, son of Ahab, became king over Israel in Samaria in the seventeenth year* of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah; he reigned two years over Israel.
He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, walking in the way of his father, his mother, and Jeroboam, son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin.
He served Baal and worshiped him, thus provoking the LORD, the God of Israel, just as his father had done.
* [22:1–40] This chapter presents a contrasting parallel to chap. 20, where Ahab enjoyed victories over Aram’s aggression. Here Ahab is the aggressor, but falls in battle against Aram. Like the preceding chapters, it contains a story of Ahab plus an episode of prophetic condemnation. The story ends with the formulaic conclusion to Ahab’s reign (vv. 39–40). Chronicles has a parallel version of this account in 2 Chr 18:1–34. After the story of Ahab’s death come accounts of the reign of Jehoshaphat (paralleled in 2 Chr 20:31–37) and of the beginning of the reign of Ahaziah.
* [22:6] Though Ahab is clearly intended to understand the oracle as prophesying his success, the prophets’ words are ambiguous. “The lord” (not “the LORD,” i.e., the proper name of Israel’s God) who will give victory is unidentified, as is the king to whom it will be given.
* [22:11] The “two” horns probably symbolize the coalition of two kings, Ahab and Jehoshaphat.
* [22:17] Micaiah’s oracle uses the common ancient metaphor of “shepherd” for the king. It means that the Israelite forces will be left leaderless because the king (or perhaps both kings: the word “master” could be singular or plural in Hebrew) will die in battle.
* [22:19–23] Since Ahab’s intention to attack Ramoth-gilead is unshaken, Micaiah reveals God’s plan to trick Ahab to his death, and thus virtually dares Ahab to walk into the trap with his eyes open. The work of the “lying spirit” explains the ambiguities of the prophets’ original oracle in v. 6. Prophets “stand in the council of the Lord” and are privy to its deliberations; cf. Jer 23:22.
* [22:20] Fall on Ramoth-gilead: lit., “heights of Gilead”; even the Lord’s words are double-meaning. God wants Ahab to “fall on” (that is, attack) Ramoth-gilead so that he will “fall on” (that is, die on) Ramoth-gilead.
* [22:28] The last words of the verse are a scribal gloss attributing to Micaiah, son of Imlah, the opening words of the book of a different Micaiah (Micah), the prophet of Moresheth, the sixth of the twelve minor prophets of the Old Testament canon.
* [22:52–54] The account of Ahaziah’s reign continues in 2 Kings.
* [22:52] Seventeenth year: so the present Hebrew text. This is consistent with the figures in 2 Kgs 3:1, but together those figures conflict with information in 1 Kgs 22:42 and 2 Kgs 1:17. The problem of the chronology of the kings of Israel and Judah has never been convincingly resolved; it is complicated by the fact that the ancient Greek translation sometimes has different lengths of reign and different accession dates. See further note on 2 Kgs 3:1.
a. [22:11] Dt 33:17.
b. [22:28] Mi 1:2.
c. [22:35] 1 Kgs 20:42.
d. [22:38] 1 Kgs 21:19.


Mandala Geometric Design – Another very common yet very beautiful and symbolic design that you can take into account is the Mandala geometric design. For you to know, Mandala has an extremely significant role in the religion known as Hinduism. This is a sacred symbol of the said religion. This is the main reason why a lot of people who follow the religion of Hinduism are engraving this tattoo on their own body. But today, this design is not only very important to the Hindus, but also to some other people who love to have this art.
“About 10 years ago I put a tattoo on my lower back (also known as a tramp stamp) and I have regretted it almost every day since (the only days I didn’t regret it were when I forgot it was there). Each year as bikini season rolls around I dread the thought of people seeing it. Anyway, I did consults at a few other laser tattoo removal places and this is the place to go! Great staff and prices and it is honestly so easy. I was worried about doing this for years, but the procedure is no big deal. Just a minute of little flicks on the skin and you’re done, way better than the agony of getting my tattoo in the first place.”
Geometric shapes and the negative space that forms between them are essentially the visual building blocks of our world. So, it's no surprise that so many people have chosen to impart upon themselves the elegance of those building blocks in the form of elaborate geometric tattoos. Just pause for a moment, and look at the world around you. Everything you see can be broken down into geometric form — from pillows to flora and fauna, all aspects of life can be simplified into graceful or chaotic spatial design. (And yes, pillows are an essential aspect of life, don't kid yourself.)
If you're considering a geometric tattoo with your sweetie, you may want to extrapolate the concept behind this gorgeous piece. The tattoos are tied together by the unifying shapes of the honeycomb (but could be any environmental aspect), and pay homage to the symbiotic relationship of the bee and the flower. Clearly, this tattoo is symbolic on a couple of levels, which is part of what makes it so delightful.
A poll conducted in January 2012 by Harris Interactive reported that 1 in 7 (14%) of the 21% of American adults who have a tattoo regret getting one. The poll didn't report the reasons for these regrets, but a poll that was done 4 years prior reported that the most common reasons were "too young when I got the tattoo" (20%), "it's permanent" and "I'm marked for life" (19%), and "I just don't like it" (18%). An earlier poll showed that 19% of Britons with tattoos suffered regret, as did 11% of Italians with tattoos.
Q-switched Alexandrite: 755 nm. The weakest of all the q-switched devices and somewhat similar to the Ruby laser in that the Alexandrite creates a red light which is highly absorbed by green and dark tattoo pigments. However, the alexandrite laser color is slightly less absorbed by melanin, so this laser has a slightly lower incidence of unwanted pigmentary changes than a ruby laser. This laser works well on green tattoos but because of its weaker peak power it works only moderately well on black and blue ink. It does not work at all (or very minimally) on red, orange, yellow, brown, etc. This laser wavelength is also available in a picosecond speed with anecdotal claims that it removes ink faster.
NEW! We know that the cost of removing a tattoo can often be the reason that a patient waits to make this life-changing decision. We are pleased to announce that we have new financing options for cosmetic surgery, skin care and also tattoo removal – offering high approval rates, low monthly payments and convenient terms. Contact us to learn more about financing plans to make cosmetic surgery more affordable.
Geometric tattoos come in many color palettes and designs. This can go from the completely abstract, to a different kind of interpretation of a famous image. These images are frequently used as a type of entertainment, a point of reference for an artwork, or even an inspiration for something. No matter what kind of intentions a person has with geometric tattoos, all of them will surely look great in the end.
Tattoos are meant to be permanent. Artists create tattoos by using an electrically powered machine that moves a needle up and down to inject ink into the skin, penetrating the epidermis, or outer layer, and depositing a drop of ink into the dermis, the second layer of skin. The cells of the dermis are more stable compared with those of the epidermis, so the ink will mostly stay in place for a person’s lifetime.
Regardless, how you try to crack the code, one thing is true: Scared geometry can be found in the molecules of our own DNA. Perhaps that is why we are so fascinated by these timeless geometric codes. What stories do they hold assuming we can unlock them? For now, all we can do is contemplate and gaze deep into the lines of the universe with wonder.
The gold standard of tattoo removal treatment modality is considered to be laser tattoo removal using multiple separate Q-switched lasers (depending om the specific wavelengths needed for the dyes involved) over a number of repeat visits. There are several types of Q-switched lasers, and each is effective at removing a different range of the color spectrum. Lasers developed during or after 2006 provide multiple wavelengths and can successfully treat a much broader range of tattoo pigments than previous individual Q-switched lasers. Unfortunately the dye systems used to change the wavelength result in significant power reduction such that the use of multiple separate specific wavelength lasers remains the gold standard.
Many people start their tattoo sleeves without intent and that's just fine. If you take the organic approach and let one small tattoo turn into another and somehow tie it all together with a background of some sort later, you'll likely have an armful of meaningful body art. Others go full on with a sleeve from the get-go and that works too. Of course, with this approach, you'll be investing a larger sum of money upfront, and you'll need to dedicate the time in the chair to complete the work. Most likely you'll be going back to the same artist which means their schedule will need to be considered as well. If you have the time and the money to complete the job, get it done. Otherwise start a slower and more balanced approach. Never compromise quality for quantity.
Surveys of tattoo removal patients were done in 1996 and 2006 and provided more insight. Of those polled, the patients who regretted their tattoos typically obtained their tattoos in their late teens or early twenties, and were evenly distributed by gender. Among those seeking removals, more than half reported that they "suffered embarrassment". A new job, problems with clothes, and a significant life event were also commonly cited as motivations. Tattoos that were once a symbol of inclusion in a group, such as a gang, can make it difficult to become employed. Tattoos that indicate a significant relationship such as a spouse, girlfriend or boyfriend, can become problematic if the relationship ends. Angelina Jolie, Eva Longoria, Marc Anthony and Denise Richards are some of the celebrities that have had this kind of tattoo removed.
Eraser Clinic uses hands-down the best tattoo removal lasers that money can buy in 2018. We are the only provider in Dallas that has invested in this incredibly effective tattoo removal technology. Many other providers are still using the “latest lasers” from several years ago. And laser tattoo removal is the only treatment that we perform here. At Eraser Clinic Laser Tattoo Removal in Dallas, we do not offer laser hair removal, vein reduction, photo facials, filler injections, or countless other aesthetic procedures. In other words, we are the laser tattoo removal experts!
Ouch, what an adorable piece of artwork. Getting your arm tattooed in all one colour like that can be pretty painful. The needle penetrates pretty deep to keep the colour the same and it takes a while in the chair. This dramatic look is intense and a bit frightening. Would you choose all one colour like this? We do like how he shakes it up a bit with the geometric-like imagery.
“As a lady who made a few less-than-intelligent tattoo decisions in my youth, I’ve tried several tattoo removal companies over the last few years. After having 15 sessions (yes, 15 sessions) at 2 other reputable places, I finally found Eraser Clinic. From the time I walked in until the time I left, my entire experience was excellent. Firstly, the staff are awesome, they even had me laughing at some points. Secondly, they have this device that blows freezing air onto your skin while performing the removal. If it sounds like this wouldn’t do much for pain-alleviation, you’re very much mistaken. It takes a massive amount of the pain away. Thirdly, results. After two sessions here my tattoo is barely visible at all. This place is incredible all round and I would recommend them to anyone looking for laser tattoo removal.”
The basic meaning of serendipity is good luck that you were not looking for. This is often found in the form of a love of your life that you were not necessarily looking for. We really love the font on this one which looks like it was custom made by the tattooist. There are tattooists that specialise in script and it’s always a great idea to see their work before you begin.


Here are the Best TV Series about Hacking and Technology for those who love to enjoy hacking.
If you are a technology freak, enthusiast or a hacker yourself then some TV series might just prove to be a teaser or inspiration for you. Hacking is an entire genre of movies and TV series based on mind boggling stories of real life hackers and those geniuses sitting infront of the computer screens.
In this article, I have tried to compile the Best TV Series about Hacking and Technology that is a must watch for fans of this genre. Where previously war and action/adventure was a favorite genre, the one gaining all the spotlight now is hacking and technology. There are so many brilliant shows produced under this category and some are surprisingly quite accurate as well.
Best TV Series about Hacking and Technology
Mr. Robot portrays a war against the evil corporations where a group of hackers joins hands to penetrate high-end security. The TV Series is inspired by Elliot who was a security professional but a hacker at night.
The IT Crowd:
Second in the list is the IT crowd from back in 2006-13. The Tv series belongs to the genre of comedy and showcases a witty sense of humor around the two main characters of the TV series who are IT nerds.
Ever wondered what goes inside the Silicon Valley? This entertaining Tv series will tell you the intensity of competition between the techies inside the Silicon Valley and how the underdogs excel in what they do and leave the qualified far behind.
Person Of Interest:
Another must watch TV series is Person of Interest and you might have heard the name before. The TV series is about how an intelligent programmer builds artificial intelligence and is used to fight against the criminals.
The story brings a lot of suspense and drama as a billionaire goes missing and comes back completely changed into a new person.
This TV series portrays the life of Walter O’Brien, who is a computer expert. The story revolves around different situations and scenarios where he uses technology to save lives, stop crimes and maintain peace.
This TV series throws light on a different perspective of the hacking world where a hacker manages to download the government secrets into his brain and in return, his life gets under threat.
These were the best TV Series about Hacking and Technology which show many sides of the complex and brilliant hacking world.


What is the Best telescope for beginners? Buying telescope is easy, but buying the right kind of telescope, which gives you most value, and best views of universe, isn’t always easy. Especially as there are so many telescopes for amateur astronomers on market.
Aspiring astronomers ask always which telescope they should buy, or if they already bought it, they ask if they bought the good one. To answer for the first question, we decided to write this Best Telescope for Beginners Buyers Guide. It should help you to choose the right one from the very beginning and it should help you to avoid wasting your hard earned money. You should read this guide even if you are buying telescope for gift. Sure, you wish to get the best value for money in all cases.
Things that matter when choosing telescope
Important things to consider when buying telescope are for example aperture size, quality of optical components and tripod stability. Of course you should also pay attention to the price versus your goals, i.e. if telescope could meet your requirements.
Viewing magnification is not so important
Viewing magnification telescope offers is not so important. In fact cheap models are usually sold using viewer magnification power as a main selling point, do not go on that trap. If it offers up to 100x magnification, but lenses and mirrors etc. optical components are poor quality or aperture is small, you will see just awfully blurry views with high viewing magnification.
Aperture i.e. diameter of mirror is important
Aperture, size and quality of the main mirror is extremely important thing, as well as quality of other optical components used. Also, stability is important, especially mount. Unfortunately many manufacturers try cut costs packing poor quality tripods with their otherwise ok scopes, that combination results again to blurry and shaking views. Furthermore weak tripod makes it quite impossible to get nice photos through telescope.
Aperture, i.e. diameter of a telescope determines how much light the telescope can collect. More light means more crisp and detailed views. Bigger aperture means also that telescope can show more deep space objects, it can see more far away than smaller diameter equipment. Bigger aperture makes it possible to use also higher viewing magnification, giving you really amazing detailed views of object far far away in the galaxy. Every increase in aperture, no matter how small, will have an exponential effect on performance. Downside is that bigger diameter of course makes equipment harder to carry, and that is why many amateur astronomers have their main telescope with big enough aperture size and furthermore they have astronomy binoculars for traveling.
- 60-80mm (2 – 3 inches) aperture telescopes are able to provide fine views of neraby objects such as moon and bright planets such as Jupiter and Saturn. You can view also easily a few of the brighter cloudy nebulas and star clusters.
- 90-130mm (3.5-5 inches) aperture telescopes will provide much more detailed and clearer views of the same objects plus also allow viewing of more dim objects including more faint nebulas and star clusters in deep space.
- 150mm (6 inches) and above aperture telescopes will provide extremely bright and detailed views of solar system objects such as planets. Furthermore these bigger size amateur telescopes, provide also nice views of most deep space objects such as sparkling star clusters and distant galaxies.
Size and portability
You should also pay some attention to size and portability, Some amateur astronomers like to take their telescope with them while traveling, or go from city area to better stargazing places. In such case, it is important to have equipment that you can actually take easily with you. Unfortunately this leaves telescopes with bigger diameter out of question. There is an old saying in amateur astronomy “the best telescope is one that is used often.” We agree 100%, but however, only partially. You should not compromise too much aperture size. Our advice is to buy the main telescope with big enough diameter. That is the telescope you do not carry with you. in addition you should get astronomy binoculars for traveling purpose. that’s quite perfect compromise.
Type of telescopes
There are three kinds of telescopes available for amateurs. Those are Maksutov-Cassegrain, Reflector, and Refractor type of telescopes. Generally speaking, it does not matter which one you choose. Those refers to the design of how specific telescope technically works. They are are able to deliver amazing views of universe at amateur astronomy level. However, it is good to know what those actually means, and furthermore there are some important differences between different types of telescopes.
Refractor telescopes are the oldest classical design type, which uses lenses to collect and bend, or refract, light into a cone shape that is focused in an eyepiece. Refractor telescopes could also be used for terrestrial, nature observing. There are many accessories for day time use of refractors.
Optic components such as lenses are fixed, and can not be misaligned easily. That makes refractor type of telescope good choice also for traveling use. Furthermore refractors needs little or no maintenance at all and they are extremely easy to use, making them perfect for beginners.
Below are a few popular refractor telescopes suitable for beginner astronomers.
Reflector telescopes are more complex than refractor types what it comes to design. They reflect light to a focus point by using mirror optics. Large dish-shaped parabolic primary mirror collects light and reflects if to a smaller secondary mirror, which guides the light to an eyepiece. Because of this design, they offers the most value for money as performance is usually greatly better compared to others.
Because reflector telescope design is more complex, they can be more easily get damaged or misaligned during transport. Reflectors need also maintenance, manual re-alignment, or collimation might be needed. But that is not so complex task at all, and you can easily to it by yourself after a little practice.
Reflector telescopes comes usually either tripod mounted or base-mounted. Later are known as Dobsonian”telescopes. That’s because of astronomer John Dobson introduced the base-mounted telescope in 1978.
Below are the most popular reflector telescopes suitable also for beginners.
Cassegrain telescopes are a quite new design which combines elements from refractor and reflector telescopes. Cassegrain design bends and reflects light, giving long focal lenght in a compact size. There are numerous variations of Cassegrain telescopes available including Maksutov-Cassegrain, which includes elements of both Cassegrain and Maksutov designs. It offers excellent higher magnification of relatively cose objects such as moon and planets. Therefore it is the best choice if you are mostly interesting in observing narrow-field objects.
You can find some Maksutov-Cassegrain telescopes we feel are worth considering for beginners listed below the next computerized telescope introduction.
Computerized “GoTo” telescopes for beginners
What it computerized telescope? That’s general term, which refers usually to some kind of automatic or computer aided tracking or targeting etc. It could be extremely useful especially when observing far far away objects in the deep space. Why? Because those objects are not visible without telescope, so if you wish to get a view, you need to know exactly where to point your telescope! And that is where computerized telescopes are good. You need just enter the target, and computer will show you where to turn the scope, or some motorized models could even automatically move the tube exactly to the right direction. That is extremely helpful for beginners, as you might not yet know how to read star charts etc. things. Of course these are nice features also for intermediate and advanced astronomers alike.
TelescopeStargazer.com’s advice is that you should consider computerized models, they could really lower learning curve, and give a smooth start. Of course these features costs, but not so much extra as you might think. Below are two excellent computerized telescopes, that are well suitable for beginners, and prices are very reasonable.
Astronomy binoculars for beginners
There are available several binoculars engineered especially for amateur astronomers. Compared to telescopes astronomy binoculars are easy to carry and lightweight. Furthermore high quality binoculars such as Celestron SkyMaster 15×70 deliver much better views than cheap telescopes.
Binoculars are actually quite good idea for the first stargazing equipment. If you buy high quality product, it will serve you well also when you have bought telescope. As mentioned, the most telescopes are not intended to be carried while traveling. In such situation astronomy binoculars are an excellent option. You can take them easily with you where ever you are going. Actually most telescope owners own also a pair of binoculars just for traveling purposes.
Below are the two most popular models used by amateur astronomers around the world. You can find links to our reviews, and as you see, prices are quite reasonable.
High end amateur telescopes
There are also high end telescopes available for serious amateur astronomers. These offer better optics and various other benefits compared to less expensive models. Views of the universe these high end telescopes give, are really amazing. If you are really serious about astronomy, and ready to invest in your equipment, below are two of TelescopeStargazer.com’s favorite models from Celestron.
Find out if you can attach DSLR easily
Astrophotography is very rewarding hobby, and it allows you to share amazing views with others. So, taking photos or videos of planets and other objects is something what you might want to do in addition to stargazing! However, when buying the first telescope, most of us do not think such things. Anyway, you should find out, how easily you could attach DSLR camera on telescope. Generally, it should be possible with almost all telescopes, but it does not cost anything just to be sure. Usually camera is attached using adapter ring or kit, which could include essential parts almost for all kind of telescope / camera combinations. You can buy adapter ring later, when you are ready to start astrophotography.
Invest in high quality amateur telescope
It is the best advice we can give: invest in quality. This does not mean that you need to spend hundreds and hundreds or even thousands, but do not buy the cheapest telescope available. It could be worse than not having telescope at all. There are numerous people who have lost their interest in this wonderful hobby, because they have bought poor quality equipment, and got very limited & poor quality views of planets and other objects in the space.
It is good idea to put some extra money on quality right on the beginning. If you are serious about your hobby, and wish to enjoy amazing views of deep space or nearer objects such as moon, you really should invest in quality. Read our reviews, and choose safely any of reviewed telescopes, they are all fine for beginners, and most models perform well also at more advanced astronomy.
Hopefully this amateur telescope buying guide was helpful. If you have any questions about buying your first telescope, please don’t hesitate to send us a message!


Here in Aspen, we have taxpayer-subsidized housing for people making as much as $189,000 a year. The subsidy is 60 percent to 90 percent and sometimes more.
To disguise this welfare for the middle to upper class, they euphemistically call it “affordable housing.” I call it freebie housing.
In my neighborhood, there are four units of freebie housing close to the ski slope. Based on nearby comparable places, those units are worth over $3 million each. According to the housing records, the residents got them for less than $300,000.
Aspen’s freebie housing is similarly subsidized with respect to property taxes. Because they are artificially valued at a fraction of their true value, they bear only a fractional portion of the property tax.
The way residents get their freebie housing is by winning a lottery. Insiders are very lucky in this lottery. A few years ago, four of the five city council members were getting freebie housing, including the mayor. They never recused themselves from votes on the subject.
Many of the editors, writers and columnists for the local media also are in. Continue reading
As a fan, I’ll mourn the demise of football. What happens at football games during the national anthem is bad, and I’ll get to it in a moment. But what may end the game is what happens after the anthem.
Post-mortem dissections of the brains of 112 former NFL players recently revealed chronic traumatic encephalopathy (or CTE) in 111 of them. The study was published last summer in the prestigious Journal of the American Medical Association and summarized by the New York Times.
The Times reports that the symptoms of CTE include “memory loss, confusion, depression and dementia. The problems can arise years after the blows have stopped.”
Football players sustain CTE through frequent impacts to their heads. Their helmeted heads routinely collide violently with other helmets, shoulder pads and the ground. Even with a helmet, the impact is equivalent to driving a car into a brick wall at 30 miles per hour.
You may respond that playing football is voluntary. You may say that if people want to risk their brains and bodies to be rich and idolized, that’s their right.
I disagree. Continue reading
Here in Gucci Gulch, the enviros once tried to outlaw fur coats. And the lefty mayor once decried rooftop hot tubs atop private $20 million penthouses that are not even visible from the street on the grounds that they’re “excessive.” The hot tubs, that is.
But nothing is too excessive if the bill is paid by taxpayers. Here’s the story.
Local government bureaucrats with too much time on their hands and taxpayer money in their pockets want to use some of both to build an elevated sidewalk. It would be cantilevered over an embankment alongside Castle Creek Road, which threads through a beautiful canyon that has the misfortune of being within the jurisdictional kingdom of these rich and idle bureaucrats.
The sidewalk would run about a half mile and cost about $6 million.
Let’s do some math on this $6 million sidewalk. Continue reading


I love these comparison pictures! This one is so interesting to me because Billy looks so much leggier in the three year old picture. Which of course he is, since he has grown a few inches from two to three years old. Inches taller and inches wider as he continues to mature and get thicker and thicker through the chest and shoulders. AND he as lost his baby belly. Finally!
In the two year old picture the saddle has several shims under the front of the saddle and the middle as well. The saddle is actually sitting just perfect on his back in the three year old picture without shims. It’s amazing how a little growth spurt, causing his front end to catch up with his hind end can change how the saddle sits.
This growing- front then back then front then back- is totally normal for horses. Billy’s growth hasn’t been as extreme as I’ve seen some horses exhibit, but obviously if one had started riding him hard as a two year old his body was not yet ready for that. It could have caused him stress on those legs, tends, shoulders and back. Causing undue stress in those areas could have caused him to have a hard time carrying himself correctly which would have caused his posture to deteriorate, no matter how well the saddle fit. When a horse learns to carry himself incorrectly it is very difficult to teach them to carry themselves correctly. Incorrect posture is the cause of many many behavior problems in horses, because when a horse is carrying itself incorrectly this causes pain in different areas of the horse’s body as it carries the human.
It’s amazing to me how many behavior problems could be alleviated if the human would just give the horse time to mature.


Your child’s first smart phone… a time of excitement for your child. A time of relief… and anxiety… for you.
Smart phones can open a whole new world to your child – a world filled with friends, games and fun. However, there are also very real dangers that can present themselves in that world, too.
Far too many parents purchase smart phones, hand them over to their children and allow them to go on their merry way. But that’s exactly the wrong thing to do!
Would you hand your car keys to your child and say, “Go ahead! Drive across the country… just check in with me now and again so I know you’re okay”? Of course, you wouldn’t do that! You would have NO idea where your child is or with whom your child may be connecting.
This same concept holds true with smart phones or other access to the internet. Not prepping your child to know how to safely use this new device is truly like handing him/her the keys to your car without any driver’s education or training.
It’s essential to prepare kids to use digital devices in a safe way. So how can you do that? Well, here are 7 simple steps to help get you started.
1. Work with your smart phone carrier to secure parental controls on your child’s account. Check with your carrier about parental controls they offer (beyond those you can set-up on the phone). Depending on the carrier, you may be able to purchase, for a small monthly fee, features like call blocking, usage restrictions based on time of day, data and text limits that you set, and even designate trusted/safe numbers. There are additional parental controls you can physically set-up on your child’s phone. Learn how to set-up the parental controls on your child’s iPhone or Android… and know that, at some point, those manual controls could be removed by your child (or his/her friends), so refer to #4 below to be sure those controls remain in-tact.
2. Establish boundaries of use. In addition to the parental controls you impose, it’s important to outline your expectations for your child’s usage of this new phone. By allowing your child use of a smart phone, you are instilling a level of trust with your child that s/he will be responsible when using this device… but your child needs to understand what “responsible” means when it comes to using this cool new gadget. So, set expectations, such as:
- The times of day your child is allowed to use his/her smart phone. (For example: no earlier than 7:00 am and no later than 9:00 pm.)
- Limitations for using the phone. (For example, do not use the phone during class, at the dinner table, when guests are over, when crossing the street, etc.)
- Any friend request by someone you don’t know (that isn’t a known friend of your child’s) needs to be approved by you. Sexual predators often portray themselves as other children, lying about their ages, gender, names and background. Help your child be smart about accepting new friend requests. Netsmartz, an initiative by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, offers terrific videos kids should watch to better understand online threats and heighten their awareness about the need to be safe online.


The final novel in Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy is on the book shelf this week, and I was curious to know if it would have the same effect on me as it did when I first read it eighteen years ago.
I remembered nothing of the final half of the book after a heartbreaking incident occurred. It’s as if I blocked it. I remember crying a lot. I made it through a little easier this time, but it was not without a number of tears being shed.
The story is epic in size spanning worlds as our young heroes, Lyra and Will find themselves drawn to their destinies, as Lyra’s father Lord Asriel begins his war against the Authority, planning to tear down the Kingdom of Heaven, and make all worlds the Republic of Heaven.
Lyra’s mother, Mrs. Coulter comes into play, and we also revisit a number of characters we’ve grown to know and love over the trilogy.
There are overtones of Milton’s Paradise Lost running throughout the trilogy, as religion, science, innocence, ignorance and wisdom are themes all explored.
Our young heroes travel through countless worlds, and the book takes on a mythic quality as angels, daemons, harpies, ghosts, talking bears, and beautiful beings are encountered. There is the exploration and discovery of love and wisdom, the restraining influences of churches and religion, and the oneness of the universe.
It’s a beautifully written story, one that wrapped me up in it so much that I forgot the world around me, losing myself in the words, the characters and the moments. There is a lot of depth and layers to the story, and on the surface it works as this wonderful epic tale of youth, discovery, love and adventure.
We see how religions sprang up from the Authority, and its true nature, as well as the beauty of life around us. It speaks to how the moments we have are the important ones. That perhaps we shouldn’t be concerned with the promise of a kingdom to come, one that can only be reached by following the rules of those in power, but should be more dedicated to the heaven around us every day.
The arc for Lyra and Will is so well written, and the resolution of the tale ties up all the loose ends, and while it caused no small amount of tears, it ends with hope and love, and the knowledge that we as a species can be more. We are more, if only we would see it.
There are obvious overtones and references to Christian mythology and while some may take offence to them, I think they are all handled well, and respectfully, while urging the reader to see things in a different way.
A beautiful conclusion to a fantastic trilogy.


Illustration by Federico Manasse
President, manager, local organising committee chairman, captain, ambassador; when it comes to summing up Franz Beckenbauer’s career, it might be easier to list what he hasn’t done. His influence on and off the pitch spread far beyond his own country, and while he has been involved in his fair share of controversy, his status as a leading figure in the history of the game can never be disputed.
Although there were late periods with the New York Cosmos and Hamburg at the back end of his playing career, his connection to Bayern Munich is by far the strongest and deepest – but it could so easily have been very different. His club as a boy was cross town rivals 1860 Munich, but after a mass altercation between his youth team and their 1860 opponents, a 14-year-old Beckenbauer decided to join Bayern instead.
At the end of the 1950s, Bayern were far from the behemothic beast that now breathes over all of German football. In the early days of his senior career, Beckenbauer was indirectly handed the best opportunity to develop when 1860 were invited to join the inaugural Bundesliga in 1963 at their great rival’s expense. Bayern were forced to offload their best talent, with the lure of full-time professional contracts too great to resist for many of them, leaving the club no choice but to blood the younger generation.
In the second of the two seasons spent outside the new top flight, the teenage Beckenbauer scored 17 goals in what was his first full campaign and never looked back. Initially used as a midfielder, intelligence and awareness were his tools as he elegantly dictated matches, but as his career moved onwards, he was used further back to control play in a different way.
Original Series | The 50
Leadership was something that came entirely naturally to Beckenbauer. After only three years as a regular starter, he had already come within moments of being crowned a world champion as a crucial part of the national team’s system, and even had a direct hand in designing the first line of Adidas training gear.
His relationship with the sports company would continue for decades in one form or another, as would his relationship with leadership – after hanging up his boots he would win titles with Marseille, Bayern and West Germany before becoming Die Roten’s club president and eventually the architect behind the successful 2006 World Cup bid. His legacy has come under threat somewhat for his alleged involvement in tax avoidance and cash for 2006 votes, but he has always maintained his innocence.
One of his most enduring legacies to the game was his pioneering of a new approach to defending – the libero position. While others had been employed in a free defensive role, such as Ivano Blason in Helenio Herrera’s infamous catenaccio-inspired Inter Milan side of the 1960s, none were as graceful and visionary as the man who imperiously strode forward in possession. That he earned the title of Der Kaiser was entirely fitting for his style and personality.
As the centrepiece of a world-class Bayern team, he won four Bundesliga titles, four DFB-Pokal trophies and three European Cups, as well as being crowned European and world champion with the national team, before heading stateside on his glamorous sojourn with the mythical New York Cosmos. He even added another Bundesliga title to his collection at the age of 36 when he returned to Germany with Hamburg.
Football in Germany cannot be spoken of without considering the phenomenal impact of its most natural leader. “He’s the hero of our nation,” former teammate Günter Netzer said a few years ago. “It hasn’t happened by chance, he’s earned it by hard work.”


Published at Saturday, October 20th 2018. by Nona Preston in Mountain Bikes.
For the kids, the Mongoose XR-75 24˝ comes in the color of orange or electric green for boys and pink for girls. It is a great bike for kids because they like to ride all over the place whether riding on smooth ground, on bumpy ground or over dirt paths. This bike can handle just about any terrain. The dual-suspension frame makes the bike durable and powerful. It is lightweight making it easier to maneuver and control it. There are 21-speeds to shift through with a rear derailleur. The bike is equipped with linear pull brakes and has alloy, lightweight rims.
Getting such a perfect beauty out in the market involves intensive care and construction and a lot of research and development coupled with thorough testing in the lab and real terrain to ensure that the bike will see through the worst of times. An important component of the bike is the biker itself. The person at the handlebars and the track through which the bike is subjected determine the design and sensitivity of a particular model. The empirical data is modeled in a computer with real bikers providing the feel for the right design that ensures a satisfying ride.
The more you train the better your pace and your stamina will improve. Once these two have improved you will be able to go on longer and better rides than will enhance your fitness.
The sport of mountain biking is one of the best active sports you can do for a number of fitness reasons and depending on what style of mountain biking you partake in, it can be also a great deal of fun as well as keeping you fit at the same time.
Mountain biking, as a sport, has been around since the 1970's. The sport originated when bikers refitted their traditional bikes with stronger brakes and thicker, more durable tires. Groups of riders from around the country would gather and race down mountains or hills on these refitted bikes. Hence, the beginning of mountain biking as we know it today.
Any content, trademark’s, or other material that might be found on the Thetsa website that is not Thetsa’s property remains the copyright of its respective owner/s. In no way does Thetsa claim ownership or responsibility for such items, and you should seek legal consent for any use of such materials from its owner.
Copyright © 2018 Thetsa. All Rights Reserved.


“Your attitude is like a box of crayons that color your world. Constantly color your picture gray, and your picture will always be bleak. Try adding some bright colors to the picture by including humor, and your picture begins to lighten up”. – Allen Klein
As a colorless winter persists here in Minnesota, I dream daily of bright colors. I crave vibrant colors to make my heart sing and give me energy. When it is gray and barren, I feel less inspired then when the sun is shining bright and the sky is brilliant blue. Thus, I try to add color into my daily life especially during the wintertime.
I wear my paisley-colored boots and dress in bright red, pink or green sweaters. I add a colorful pashmina or scarf for a splash of color and am reminded of the place far away where I bought it. I buy a bouquet of spring flowers and place it in the kitchen. Or I look at my photos of summer flowers, markets or vacations to give me that extra boost of color. It is amazing how simply adding color to my life seems to lift my spirits immensely.
See for yourself….
What are your tricks to adding more vibrant color to you life?


When someone asks, “where are you from?” most people find this to be a welcoming question. It reminds them of home, of a specific place, of blissful, smile-inducing memories that warm them as they enthusiastically respond.
For Third Culture/Expat Kids, this question produces a free-flow pool of anxiety. When you ask someone who has lived an unconventional lifestyle – that is, between worlds, time zones, natural disasters, combat zones, cultures, religions – where they are from, that seemingly harmless question produces a complicated web in their brains as they struggle to answer. Why? Because, “Where are you from?” could mean any of the following (at least, to us):
- Where were you born?
- What is your heritage?
- What is your nationality according to your passport?
- What other places encompass your identity?
- What is your ethnicity?
- What is your race?
- Where have you lived?
- Where is your family currently located?
- What is the specific location that you were in for the longest period of time?
- What is the specific location of the place that feels most like home?
- How do you define “home?”
In a split-second, a TCK has to figure out which one to answer. Often, when I was asked this question by my peers, I froze. My response would be, “Uh, what do you mean?” They would eye me, confused and slightly judgmental, as if it couldn’t possibly be that hard to formulate an answer to such a simple question. So, what do you do in that circumstance? I personally make it a point to run through my entire lineage (born in Queens, New York, childhood in Nairobi, Kenya, puberty in New Delhi India, adolescence in Jakarta, Indonesia, the second half of high school and university in North Carolina) almost as though I was pinpointing red dots on a map of the world. My brain has seen it as such since I was young, and now, at twenty-two, not much has changed. This visual is a complete history, because the question cannot simply be answered in a few short words.
“Where are you from?”
To even attempt to write about where I am from and who I aspire to be is only going to scratch the surface of who I am. I can, however, bring you back to the moment that my five-year-old self realized who I wanted to grow up to be. I was in kindergarten, living in New Delhi, India. It was International Day at the American Embassy School (AES) and I had to choose one country to represent where I was from for the day. However, I struggled with this concept. Coming from a bicultural household and having already lived on three continents at the age of five, it is not surprising that I didn’t know how to pick where I was from. I felt as though I was a part of every country and culture I had been exposed to and because of this, I represented every country I felt connected to in a very unconventional manner. I felt like I represented the United Nations. This is one of the most significant moments in my life and this one decision I made at the age of five exemplifies the person I wish to be. For the entirety of my life, I have been trying to grasp an identity and I have come to terms that I am from everywhere, yet nowhere at the same time. The world is my home. The people you surround yourself with are what ultimately makes a home a home, thus resulting in the identity problem I have faced my entire life. What home is home, when you have had lived in seven houses over the last twenty years. And that one moment when I was five years old was a subconscious self-realization that identity would be my biggest obstacle in life. This obstacle would also shape the platform that I needed to help mold me into the tolerant and opened-minded person that I ultimately aspire to be.


A petition containing more than 1,100 signatures calling for the city of San Diego to stop penalizing the homeless was submitted Tuesday to Mayor Kevin Faulconer.
The petition requests “emergency action” to suspend the citing, arresting and issuance of stay-away orders to unsheltered residents, said Steph Johnson, a musician who helped organize the signature drive.
She said more signatures are being added, so the total will grow.
“It was a grassroots effort that happened over the holidays and it’s continuing,” Johnson said outside the mayor’s office.
The mayor’s office didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Johnson said the city should consider allowing so-called “tiny houses” to be placed on empty lots, and providing better training for law enforcement who deal with the homeless.
“We’re ready for real solutions,” Johnson said.
She said city officials need to put a higher priority on the issue because homelessness is increasingly being noticed by “shocked” visitors, which could impact tourism.
Johnson, a singer and guitarist, formed and directs a choir made up of homeless people called Voices of Our City, which is designed to focus attention on the issue.
—City News Service
>> Subscribe to Times of San Diego’s free daily email newsletter! Click hereFollow Us:


Scripture Reading — Luke 2:8-14
There were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
—Luke 2:8 —
In ancient Israel, shepherds were generally considered “unclean” in the community of God’s people because of the work they did. They were in daily contact with dirty, smelly sheep, their manure, their blood from cuts and scrapes, and the insects that buzzed around them. All of this meant that shepherds were almost never clean enough to worship with God’s people in God’s presence. So they were generally treated as outsiders.
During Jesus’ lifetime, he specialized in welcoming people who were disregarded as unclean and unwelcome outsiders. He healed lepers. He ate with prostitutes and tax collectors. Even when Jesus was born, God showed that something new was happening in the coming of Christ. People who may have been ignored or ostracized by the community were now welcome in the presence of the Savior. In fact, not only was there room for shepherds in the presence of the Lord, but they were the first ones notified and invited to come and see the Savior who had been born!
Do you ever feel as if God won’t have time for you, or that you are not worthy of his attention? Does your guilt and shame stand as a barrier that keeps you from even seeking him? In the miracle of Christmas, God shows that he is willing to pay the price so that any of us can come near to him.
Lord, we marvel at your welcoming grace. You welcome us into your presence, in spite of our guilt and shame. We are so blessed by your amazing love! Amen.


HGA – HarmonicGuard Active
The HGA active harmonic filter actively monitors the load current, reacting to changes in load almost instantaneously, while returning true power factor to near unity:
- Virtual real time correction of the non-linear current
- Synchronization of the current and voltage waveforms
- Always attempting to achieve unity power
- Never allowing for leading power factor
Actively Limits Harmonic Distortion
- TDD reduction to 5% or better at Full Load
- Meets IEEE-519 2014
- Improves true power factor – improves energy efficiency
- System-applied – MCC & Switchboard
- Touchscreen display
- UL 508 Certified. No SCCR required by UL Standards for the filter.
- Communication options include Modbus RTU over RS485, EtherNet/IP, Modbus TCP/IP, and DeviceNet
Fits in Narrow Spots
In a tight spot? The HGA configuration minimizes the space required for harmonics mitigation in the electrical equipment line up, maximizing building space for more productive uses. For example, our 200 A HarmonicGuard Active filter has been re-engineered to have the same form factor as our popular HGA 250 A and suitable for single door MCC integration.
Additional New Features
- The 500 Amp rating for larger systems
- 600 VAC System Compatibility
- UL Type 3R Enclosure for outdoor environments
Fully featured 65k color touchscreen HMI display:
Harmonics and Power Quality
Variable frequency drives and other types of non-linear loads take the incoming power from the utility and modify it for more efficient use within a wide range of applications. The conversion process creates current and voltage distortion.
If non-linear loads represent a significant portion of the entire installed load, this distortion begins to cause problems throughout the electrical system:
- Transformer and distribution equipment overheating
- Random breaker tripping
- Sensitive equipment may fail completely
- Poor power factor
Unfiltered waveform with Injection
Current from the HGA
Resulting Line Current
Waveform with HGA
- By actively monitoring the line or load current, the HGA harmonic filter determines the nature and quantity of harmonic currents in the system and cancels the same by injecting equal amounts of harmonic currents opposite in phase. A state-of-the-art high speed DSP controller and a pulse width modulated (PWM) IGBT based power converter help to provide virtual real time compensation of non-linear load demanded by VFDs and other applications. HGA also inherently tries to synchronize the line current with its voltage resulting in near unity displacement power factor. Thus, HGA provides solutions for both reactive current and harmonic current compensation.
Meeting IEEE-519 Recommendations on Harmonics
The HGA active harmonic filter provides a cost effective, efficient solution allowing the user to meet IEEE-519 requirements. Using harmonic analysis software, TCI can help customers meet IEEE-519. Typical applications include:
- Wastewater treatment plants
- Commercial buildings
HGA Filters Versus Other Harmonic Solutions
The HGA active filter can be a better overall system solution when compared to large, expensive 18 pulse VFDs or multiple passive drive-applied filtering:
- Save money
- Save space
- Reduce energy losses
Bus-Applied Configuration for MCC or Switchboard
This bus-applied filter design can be directly connected to the power bus in standard MCC and Switchboard configurations. As with other bus-applied designs, impedance must be installed on the load side of the HGA filter.
- TDD Reduction to 5% or better at Full Load
- Power Factor Correction to less than or equal to .98 lagging
- Power Factor Improved to near Unity
- Response time of less than 8 ms to step load changes
- Additional filters can be added to increase correction capability
- Units can be paralleled without any calibration
- Self-Commissioning Installation
- Modular design
- Harmonic Cancellation to the 50th harmonic
The HGA active harmonic filter is a very sophisticated, stable, and effective solution for harmonic and reactive power compensation.
IEEE Standard 519-2014
Table 2 – Current distortion limits for systems rated 120 V through 69 kV
|Maximum harmonic current distortion in percent of IL|
|Individual harmonic order (odd harmonics) a, b|
a Even harmonics are limited to 25% of the odd harmonic limits above.
b Current distortions that result in a dc offset, e.g., half-wave converters, are not allowed.
c All power generation equipment is limited to these values of current distortion, regardless of actual ISC/IL.
ISC = maximum short-circuit current at PCC
IL = maximum demand load current (fundamental frequency component) at the PCC under normal load operating conditions.
Manuals: Current and Legacy
The table below includes links to current and legacy active filter manuals. The software version of the filter is noted on the About screen, on the HMI display.
|IOM Manual English||HMI version on About screen|
|Version K||Current-HMI Rev K|
|Version J||HMI Rev K|
|Version H||HMI Rev K|
|Version F||HMI Rev J|
|Version E||HMI Rev I|
|Version B||HMI Rev D – Rev H|
|Quick Start English||Quick Start Español||Quick Start Français||HMI version on About screen|
|Version C||HMI Rev K|
|Version B||Version B||Version B||HMI Rev I|
|Version A||Version A||Version A||HMI Rev D – Rev H|


The definition of Affirmation from dictionary.com
- the act or an instance of affirming; state of being affirmed.
- the assertion that something exists or is true.<
- something that is affirmed; a statement or proposition that isdeclared to be true.
- confirmation or ratification of the truth or validity of a prior judgment, decision, etc.
Affirmations are very popular and more and more people are using them. Affirmations have a place with us and they work, however, I am a firm believer they do not work if you have not cleared in your mind what is stopping you from achieving, changing or even believing in yourself.
If you stand in front the mirror and say, ” I am wealthy and happy now” and you have a feeling of not believing it, or you feel a weight on your shoulders or there is a feeling in your body which does not feel right or your subconscious does not believe it, or a thought pops up, “you are in so much debt how can you be wealthy”, then they will not work.
To make them work, clear what is going on. If you want to be wealthy and you are in heaps of debt, look at cleaning out what is going on with your finances, look at what you are doing to contribute to your debt, look at your weaknesses, particularly look at your blockages towards money, where did they come from, did you grow up with the understanding rich people are selfish/mean/greedy or you say to yourself money does not grow on trees. You may be a person who likes to give, and in doing so it costs money, you feel great about giving, however, it is not helping your finances.
Once you have cleared your blockages about finances, then roll out your affirmations and say them, say them as many times as you can each day, say them as you mean them and believe in them and see the amazing results. Stay tuned to yourself though, as you need to be self – aware of your thoughts and behaviours during the day and night. For example, you have cleared your blockages about your finances, you have implemented your affirmations and then you start having negative thoughts about your finances > when this happens, stop, think about what triggered that thought and do you need to do something to clear that particular thought? If there is no attachment to that thought, then say your affirmation, your affirmation then acts as a pattern interrupter to your subconscious, tricking the subconscious out of a negative thought to a positive.
Can you see how this is hard work in the beginning, but well worth it. If you find it hard work to do on your own, then book in to see someone so that you can work together >well worth the investment, the investment is for you and for your future.
I have a saying I often suggest to my clients to try, “plant the seed”. Plant the seed in your mind of an idea, plant the seed of what you want, plant the seed of what you want to achieve. By “planting the seed” you allow it to sit in your subconscious and allow it cultivate, “plant the affirmation”
This is the process,
- Prepare your healthy soil (mind)
- Dig out all the weeds (negative thoughts and emotions)
- Fertilise your soil (seek help with a professional if you need to)
- Plant your plants (plant your positive affirmation/s in your mind)
- Water your plants so that they grow (repeat your affirmations often as possible for growth and results and witness how awesome you are)
If you are struggling with what to say as an affirmation, here are a few to help you get started.
‘I now allow success to be mine’
‘I am wealthy’
‘Abundance flows to me easily and effortlessly’
‘This is me, beautiful, brave and bubbly’
‘This is me, I attract money and abundance now’
‘I sparkle, I am energetic, I am me’
‘I am totally open to receiving abundance, with love and thanks’
‘I am deserving and I am ready to receive’


Do you prefer to stay ahead of the crowd as you beach hop through Asia? You started visiting Phú Quốc when it was still a sleepy Vietnamese island. You now prefer the Gili Islands to Bali or even Lombok. Plus you gave up on Phuket—make that most of the islands off of Thailand’s west coast—a long time ago. So where to next?
Sri Lanka has been on your mind for a while now. It’s been years since your last—in truth, your only—visit to the “Pearl of the Indian Ocean.” But the much-disputed historic sites, the powdery beaches, and the peaceful tea plantations stayed in your thoughts. So did the other side of the country. That trip was based solely on the west coast, the Sinhalese side of the island. You vowed to eventually see the Tamil side.
So you planned a trip to Trincomalee, whose prized harbor was fortified by the Portuguese, after their conquest of the Jaffna kingdom. The Danish, the Dutch, and the French followed, before the island became part of Britain’s Ceylon in 1815. Eventual independence led to the Sri Lankan Civil War, which lasted for 26 years. It may have ended in 2009, but you always assumed that the east coast would still feel like a different country.
The differences weren’t as stark as you expected. Temples, including Koneswaram, are sacred places that attract pilgrims. Forts, like Fort Frederick, were once signs of Europeans taking over; they’ve now been adopted by the Sri Lanka Army. While legends live on in places like the Kanniya Hot Springs and Lover’s Leap. But, most importantly, the Tamil people, at least those who didn’t flee during the civil war, are kind, gentle, and eager to share their culture, especially their spicy curries.
As usual, after a few days in the city, you’re more than ready for the second part of your trip: the beach. Though only 30 minutes north of Trincomalee, Kuchchaveli feels worlds away from its built-up harbor. Its golden-sand beach borders the Indian Ocean on one side and thick mangroves on the other. Wild peacocks and parakeets, elephants and crocodiles live around quiet lagoons. While Jungle Beach, an upscale though still eco-friendly resort, is built around the trees, the smaller lagoons, and a four-kilometer stretch of the beach.
Your beach cabin, which looks like a treehouse with an iluk-thatched roof, is completely modern inside. It features a polished concrete floor, indoor and outdoor rain showers, and even an iPod dock. The rest of the resort, including the rustic restaurant, the floating bar, and the small spa are even more open. Don’t be surprised to find trees growing through the open-air buildings and bridges crossing lotus ponds. Giant squirrels and a lone Indian pond heron are your neighbors. Plus informal classes, including cooking and kite making, connect you to the local culture here.
But the best part of both Jungle Beach—and Sri Lanka’s east coast as a whole really—is the fact that it’s still undiscovered. The entire time, whether you’ve been at the temples or on the beaches, it’s been quiet. You’ve experienced the warmth and the kindness of people who aren’t used to visitors, much less crowds. At least not yet.


Which are the places to visit in Delhi? Find it out here!
Delhi is a beautiful mix of tourist attractions that are available all year round. There are places to visit with the family, lovers and even friends. Having a hard time deciding which places to go, here are some places to put on your Delhi itinerary.
Top 10 places to visit in Delhi
Let’s get to the list!
1. Red Fort
Red Fort: The Red Fort is a memorial of the transience of world powers. Red Fort was where the Indian flag was raised when the country became a free state. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The fort gets its name from the red stones and marbles used to build it.
2. Jama Masjid
Jama Masjid: Jama Majid has the biggest mosque in Asia. Its courtyard is big enough to take 25,000 worshippers at once. It also one of the last wonders constructed by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan who was a great art lover.
3. Lodi Garden
Lodi Garden: The garden is also known as the Old Lady Wellington Park. It is a refuge of natural greenery with beautiful monuments from the Sultanate era. You can find the Tomb of Muhammad Shah, King of Persia from the Qajar dynasty and Sikander Lodi, Sultan of Delhi in the 14th century here.
4. Qutab Minar
Qutab Minar: This is the tallest brick spire in India at 73m. It is also the oldest historical monument in Delhi. It is always available to tourists and is extremely popular as an attraction.
5. Humayun’s Tomb
Humayun’s Tomb: It is arguably the most fascinating work of Mughal architecture in Delhi. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built in 1569, this red sandstone tomb is in a 13-hectare garden. You also have a great view of the iconic Taj. The Tomb is a must-go for sightseeing because of its handmade designs on marbles and stone.
6. Khan Market
Khan Market: The market is full of luxury shoppers and food lovers. Close to Delhi Metro, Khan Market complex is replete with everything you can ever think of from boutiques to fast food spots to bookshops. Shop till you drop!
7. Raj Ghat Gandhi Memorial
Raj Ghat Gandhi Memorial: Raj Ghat is where India’s greatest citizen Mahatma Gandhi was cremated. A flame is kept always lit above Gandhi’s shrine, adding more to its allure a place of respect and sober reflection.
8. Lotus Temple
Lotus Temple: The Lotus temple is an example of modern architectural design and one of Delhi’s most popular attractions. The beautiful lotus shaped building is a symbol of unity. Open all day, and it is a top choice for a quiet day out in Delhi.
9. India Gate
India Gate: Built as a tribute to Indian and British Indian soldiers who gave their life for India in World War I. Enclosed by lavish green lawns, you should visit at night to see the bright floodlights and also the great picnic spots.
10. Connaught Place
Connaught Place: Tourism in Delhi is not complete without a visit to Connaught Place. At the center of Delhi, it has everything a modern tourist would want, from five-star hotels to all the global premium brands. The busy pubs, clubs, and nightlife make it a popular destination for young people and thrill seekers.
Are you planning to visit India soon? You won’t regret putting Delhi on your travel plan no matter what you find interesting, if it is these places to visit in Delhi 2017 or some completely different ones. Enjoy!
For your India trip, make sure to read these all posts:
- Top 10 places to visit in Delhi
- 6 reasons to visit Goa
- Top 10 places to visit in Jaipur
- 9 Places to Visit in Bangalore
- 8 places to visit in Mumbai
Pictures in the post about places to visit in Delhi are taken by: Guilhem Vellut, Koen, Thangaraj Kumaravel, Sakeeb Sabakka, Dennis Jarvis, Geoff Stearns, Humayunn Niaz Ahmed, Arian Zwegers, Larry Johnson, Ville Miettinen, Rajarshi MITRA (Flickr links, CC)


Luke 9:23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
This text follows two important events. The confession of Peter, where he confesses that Jesus was the Christ of God. And secondly, Jesus foretells his rejection, death and resurrection. (Luke 9:18-22) It is a passage that speaks to the cost of being a disciple of Jesus. Discipleship flows from our confession. If we confess that Jesus is the “Christ of God” and we identify ourselves as a disciple of Christ, Jesus gives us the terms of that discipleship. Terms that are involve us trusting in God wholeheartedly and living a life of self-sacrifice every day till our death.
Jesus gives three aspects of discipleship. Denying, taking up a cross daily, and following him. In the short space here I will give an over view of these aspects, praying that may be helpful in understanding the thrust of discipleship. When we begin to comprehend what is being asked of us, we will understand how radical this call is. Jesus is is telling us that the Christian life doesn’t end at the confession of faith, but that there remains a life to be lived. A life where we die to our self and live in obedience to God.
Denying your self is part of sanctification in the Christian life. We understand that in sanctification there are two components: mortification and vivification. They occur through the Christian life as we struggle with sin. (Romans 7:7-24) Part of the Christian life, is to deny the sinful desires that remain in us and live for the holy tasks God has given us in the moral law. Disciples of Jesus live lives of purity and put to death those desires of immorality and other forms of idolatry. (Col 3:1,5)
“Take up his cross daily” is not our struggle with our current predicament. It is a radical expression of actively dying to our selfishness. A contemporary way of stating this could be “putting our head in a noose everyday” or “putting neck under the guillotine daily”. The Christian is the dead man made alive. This is the reality our baptism signifies
Col. 2:11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.
We are living out our baptism by dying to our sinful inclinations and desires. Baptism, a sign and seal of our dying with Christ and being resurrected with him is not meaningless. It is a font of grace for us, through which we participate in the death and resurrection of Jesus throughout our life. Taking up our cross (the dying to our sinful inclinations and desires) isn’t a one time event, it is a continual process through which we will grow in holiness. Part of the joys of discipleship is rejoicing in the power of the resurrection of Jesus, but we cannot forget that are also called to bear the cross of dying to self daily.
“Follow me” Jesus has already stated what will happen to him. That he will be rejected by the elders of the nation of Israel, the chief priests and scribes. That he would die and then rise again from the dead. This will be our example to follow. As Jesus faced total humiliation for us, we must be willing to live a life of obedience to him even if it means that we are rejected. Sharing the Gospel with someone and watching them reject it, or mock it, can be frustrating. It can be a strong force of discouragement. However, we are called to obedience. Jesus was obedient unto death and so he calls us to a radical form of obedience in the face of being mocked, ridiculed, and rejected till our death.
We may fail in this call. The disciples did. They left Jesus and denied him. Jesus however, graciously found them and spoke of the love he had for them, restored them, and then charged them to live a life of painful obedience. An obedience that would result all of their deaths, save John who was exiled. Many have not endured till the end, but many have because of the Gospel. The Gospel reminds us of the obedient one who forgives our sins and gives us life. In Christ we find the ability to be faithful disciples, and we can pray for perseverance, and victories over our weaknesses in this life for the sake of Christ alone.


Featured Image: A wildebeest migration in Masai Mara National Park, Kenya. Shown are billions of the most pivotal parts of the grassland ecosystem: pathogens, thriving inside each animal.
Today we hosted pathogen ecologist Dr. Andy Dobson, of Princeton’s Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. As an expert on parasites all over the natural world, he studies everything from pathogen evolution to their drastic effects on ecosystems – and it blew our show away. We cover the detriment of a clean gut, how the rinderpest virus devastated the Serengeti, how tourists track wolves with mange, and the dangers of antibiotic resistance. Be prepared to reimagine the place of the invisible pathogen within every ecosystem. And, as always, we dish out some science news (Rosetta’s death, earthquakes in Oklahoma, and spiderweb metamaterials) alongside a brief discussion on rational numbers.
In this installment of These Vibes, we welcomed Joseph Amon, visiting lecturer at the Woodrow Wilson School here at Princeton and Vice President for neglected tropical diseases at Helen Keller International, on human rights, the rights to health and education and their interdependence, and neglected tropical diseases. Later in the interview he describes his path, which takes us in to a discussion on the different approaches to addressing human rights deficiencies.
First hour: Science news and a survey of the science research being done by astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS).
Second hour (56 minutes in): Interview with Joseph Amon. Interview-only recording below.
Featured image: The interstage of a Saturn V rocket falls into the Atlantic, detaching to save on mass and enable further travel in space. Taken on the Apollo 6 mission by NASA.
We welcome Charles Swanson, Princeton PhD candidate in plasma physics, back to the show for a journey into the science of rockets: how expensive is it to travel around our
solar system? What makes rockets with high exhaust velocity better than high-thrust rockets? How hard is it to go to Mars? Also featuring Adam Sliwinski of So Percussion on being an ensemble-in-residence and making music out of cacti, the westerly winds of ancient Tibet, and the life cycles of stars.
In this episode, we brought Cameron Ellis back in the studio. Cameron is a graduate researcher in Cognitive Neuroscience in the Turk Browne lab here at Princeton, whose research focuses on consciousness and mental processing. We first talked to Cameron back in May (2016 – in that show he walked us through the nitty gritty of his research, as well as the fascinating history of the study of consciousness as a scientific discipline and the important research that has had a profound effect on peoples’ lives.
Here’s a short, incomplete list of the topics we discuss in the show:
What does the term consciousness even mean? If we’re going to talk about it, we need to be able to define it. Or perhaps is the study of consciousness our attempt to, in fact, scramble for a definition?
What is the idea of qualia? and why is it important to the discourse on consciousness? That brought us to the discussion of the Mary’s room (aka the Knowledge Argument) – roughly, does experience add anything if you already know everything on a topic – thought experiment and the Inverted Spectrum (is what you see as green what I see as green? how could we know?).
Shortly after, we discussed the Chinese Room thought experiment (could a computer be conscious?), language learning, and Strong AI.
In the last part of the interview Cameron explains the concept of uploading consciousness and the Simulation Hypothesis (that our universe is actually a simulation within the computer of another universe – no but really though).
At the very end of the show, Brian jumps on the mic to discuss a recent New Yorker article on so-called super-recognizers, and a new squad of them in the London police force. Super recognizers are individuals who are incredibly skilled at facial recognition. This may sound strange, but we all know people (and may even be this way ourself) who are terrible at recognizing faces – people with something called face blindness – so it makes sense that there are individuals on the other end of the spectrum, those that are extremely attuned at recognizing an individual, even as they’re trawling through the thousands of faces in a CCTV video searching for that serial lawbreaker.
Featured Image: An artificial neural network, one of our best computational tools for uncovering the circuitry of our brains. Courtesy Wikimedia Commons.
We’re jam packed with science on WRPB this week! Olga Lositsky, graduate student in Princeton’s Neuroscience Institute, graced our show with her thorough understanding of today’s biggest research questions on the brain. We broke down her work on how we make decisions and store memories, which involves both computer models of neurons and psychological experiments. Later in the show, Stevie brings us details on Lucy’s demise and signals that probably aren’t from aliens–and Ingrid Ockert closes it out with her book review on engineers as activists.
Olga began studying neuroscience because its central questions unite other areas of science: psychology, philosophy, and biology come together once we learn how signals propagate around the brain. In fact, scientists categorize neuroscience research into levels of “abstraction.” At the most fundamental level, we can study the machinery of one neuron firing and affecting another; larger than that, we examine groups of neurons that make circuits for more complicated tasks; and finally, looking at the brain as a whole, researchers watch how signals travel from one part of the brain to another with tools like EEG or fMRI, giving a more global understanding. All of these levels pose questions differently, and they often use different terminology–but if we don’t understand each part alone, we’ll never grasp how groups of single neurons can make up a system as complicated as the human personality.
To connect these sub-fields of neuroscience, Olga uses computational modeling as an important tool. With machine learning techniques (which we’ve discussed on this show before), small units called nodes can pass information from layer to layer in a computer program. In the end, the program takes an input and provides an output, just like our brain sees some input and can think of some memory or move a muscle as an output. By changing the architecture of the neural network and observing its behavior, we get clues about what algorithms the brain uses to learn and remember.
Other technologies have been instrumental in unveiling the brain’s inner workings. Making better robots means programming them to learn, and the codes that artificial intelligence engineers use here have given insight into how the brain processes information. Robots make predictions about the way the world works and have to correct themselves when their predictions are wrong–and now, we think that dopamine might have something to do with the way our brain deals with our incorrect predictions.
In fact, the way we learn about general rules might be different than the way we learn about exceptions, or things about the world that surprise us. Some scientists are postulating that we connect these two ways of learning through sleep. For example, learning about birds that can’t fly (like penguins and ostriches) shouldn’t interfere with our understanding that most birds do fly–and maybe sleeping helps us reconcile these exceptions to the rule. But Olga emphasizes that we’re still only developing these ideas, and the new field of neuroscience has a long way to go until we answer these questions definitively.
One fundamental area that we need to learn more about, Olga points out, is exactly what happens within a single neuron when we learn. Maybe storing a memory is more than just building connections between neurons; it might also change the structure of each neuron individually. Such a new idea could have a huge impact on how we simulate the brain on a computer.
In the second half of the interview, we pick apart a few dramatic ideas that are being debated in neuroscience today. Firstly: Why do we make bad decisions? Whether it’s eating another candy bar or refusing to do our homework, humans might seem wired to choose in ways that harm ourselves in the long run. In fact, though, there’s a better question to ask that can tell us why we choose these self-defeating things. Evolutionarily, why might it be optimal for us to make this “bad” choice? For example, a candy bar might have been a great way for a starving hunter-gatherer to shore up calories for the winter; avoiding homework might allow us to go on an adventure and learn about the world. There are evolutionary reasons why we make decisions we ought not to, which can help us understand them.
Secondly, we all know that neurons that “fire together wire together;” that is, the connection between two neurons strengthens as they get used simultaneously. Actually, this might not always be the case. Olga describes how subliminal reminders that fire neurons weakly might actually weaken the connection between them, basically helping you to forget. Again, this is new and preliminary research, but it makes us consider an even more complicated picture of the brain.
Finally, how do we estimate how much time passed between two events? One of Olga’s recent studies tested this question by having test subjects guess how long a radio story took to listen to. It turns out, the more events happened between two parts of a story, the more time people guessed that part of the story took. The difference between perception and reality was sometimes huge, with some estimating as much as five minutes too long (on an interval of only three minutes!).
Thanks to Olga for the coherent and descriptive interview! It’s really clear to me how much insight we have about the brain now, even if neuroscience has a long way to go before we get to concrete psychological answers.
Afterwards, Stevie comes on to clear up two science news stories. A recent finding from the University of Texans examines the death of Lucy, our oldest ancestor found in 1974. By using X-rays and forensic techniques on Lucy’s skeleton, they could tell precisely the injuries that ended her prehistoric life: falling from a tree and hitting the ground at 35 miles per hour. Ironically, the very skills we thank Lucy’s species for developing, walking on the ground and not in trees, may have made them less adept at climbing (and more likely to succumb by gravity).
The second story, spreading around the internet like wildfire, concerns a recent signal from a Russian Academy of Science telescope. The signal comes from nearby, only 95 light years away, and some claim it could come from an extraterrestrial civilization. But it’s wise to wait for more facts to come in: SETI is only just opening their investigation, and there’s a lot of reasons that this signal is probably a false alarm. For one, seeing a signal once is a lot more indicative of a malfunctioning satellite than a repeated broadcast by aliens. More than likely, this is just one more reason to remain skeptical of most things you read on the internet.
As a great show-closer, Ingrid Ockert returns to our show for yet another book review. This time, she brings us Engineers for Change, an investigation by Matthew Wisnioski into the changing perception of engineering over the 1960s. Even today, we often think of the engineer as a cog in the machine–more at home designing missile silos than solving climate change. But various groups of engineers have tried changing this image for the better over time. Even at Princeton, over a thousand students led by Engineering professor Steven Slaby protested University research for weapons in the Vietnam War. For more information on collaborations between engineering and art, Patrick McCray’s blog Leaping Robot has put out some great articles recently. As always, thanks to Ingrid for coming on the show, and especially for bringing us another alternative look into the perception of science and technology over the past few decades.


U.S. President Donald Trump is naming Larry Kudlow, a longtime conservative economic analyst and television business show commentator, as his new top White House economic adviser.
The 70-year-old Kudlow told news media he accepted Trump’s offer Wednesday to become director of the White House’s National Economic Council. Reports say a formal announcement could come Thursday.
He will replace former Wall Street financier Gary Cohn, who resigned last week after breaking with President Trump on trade policy. Cohn had lost an internal debate, among Trump advisers, aimed at convincing the president not to impose steep new tariffs on steel and aluminum imports.
Kudlow, who was an informal economic adviser to Trump during the first year of his presidency, also opposed Trump’s imposition of the 25 percent levy on steel and 10 percent tax on aluminum. Kudlow, however, was also an adviser to Trump during his successful 2016 White House run and worked with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin in designing the tax cut plan Trump pushed through Congress in December.
Kudlow worked decades ago in the White House of President Ronald Reagan, but has spent much of the time since then as a television show host, much like Trump, who served as executive producer of The Apprentice reality television show before turning to politics.
One of Kudlow’s first White House efforts is likely to involve the ongoing renegotiation of the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement, the U.S. pact with Canada and Mexico.
Kudlow has said that it would be a “calamitously bad decision” to end the accord, but Trump has said NAFTA has left the United States at a disadvantage in trade deals with the two countries. The president has said he wants better terms for American farmers in their exports to Canada and wants Mexico to step up its border security at the U.S. line to keep undocumented immigrants from crossing into the United States.


How Climate Change Program Is Encouraging Adoption of Research Findings
Evidence-based results provide a firm platform on which to build new programs and initiatives. But what if no one is listening?
The adaptation of study results requires more than just solid science; it also requires people in the areas concerned to embrace the findings and make them their own. It’s a two-part process.
Climate Change Hazard and Vulnerability Mapping in Lupanga Village, Malawi. ARCC researchers found that they could increase acceptance of study findings and enhance its relevancy (salience) by engaging local people in the assessment process.
USAID’s African and Latin American Resilience to Climate Change (ARCC)program designed the Malawi Climate Change Vulnerability Assessmentto gauge the impact of climate change on agriculture, fisheries, water, natural resources, and livelihoods in Malawi in order to analyze the extent to which government, communities, and households in that country were equipped to adapt to these changes. The program then used the assessment’s results to inform USAID's food security programming and climate change investment decisions.
The assessment was developed with three characteristics which contributed to adoption of its findings among people affected by climate change and institutions with the mandate to do something about it: credibility, salience, and legitimacy. These characteristics are described in the science-policy literature as critical for translating science findings into policy and planning. In the context of the Malawi assessment, these characteristics are defined as follows:
- Credibility refers to the perceived quality and adequacy of the evidence and findings presented in the assessment. To be fully credible, the evidence and findings must also be authoritative, believable, and trusted.
The Malawi assessment established credibility by compiling an evidence base for decision making using the best available data and information, by applying recognized analysis procedures, and by clearly communicating the limitations of the analysis. A recognized climate research organization conducted the climate portion of the analysis, which lent authority to the results, further increasing its credibility.
- Salience is defined as the perceived relevance and timeliness of the information provided and integration of contextual factors.
The ARCC program achieved salience by fully embedding the assessment results in the local context. During the course of the assessment, the team carried out in-depth, participatory rural appraisals in nine representative villages in eight districts. These were supplemented by approximately 50 key informant interviews. These interactions greatly enhanced the team’s understanding of the local context, allowing a wider audience to accept the assessment results beyond just USAID. Once the assessment was completed, the team structured its findings in a way that directly addressed the most critical needs and released the results in a timely manner aligned with investment cycles.
- Legitimacy is the value whereby assessment results are recognized and accepted as an accurate reflection of reality. But "reality" is colored by individual or group values, beliefs, and perspectives; they may also be colored by the perception of the transparency of the assessment process.
To establish legitimacy, the team engaged stakeholders at critical points throughout the assessment—during its design and implementation, and when the team began assessing recommendations for adaptation options. The process was inclusive—it provided a voice to many actors—and it was transparent. The team also shared the findings with farmers and farmer associations, who validated the historical climate trend analyses with their own real-world experiences of adapting to climate change impacts that were already occurring. The results of the assessment informed a participatory options analysis that engaged decision makers and encouraged them to explore approaches to strengthen adaptive capacity and manage risk across communities and institutions.
While many programs are involved with conducting research and generating new knowledge, translating the results of their efforts so that they are used by decision-makers is often overlooked. In the case of ARCC’s program, generating and presenting assessment results deemed to be credible, salient, and legitimate by decision makers was essential for improving their understanding of the potential impacts of climate change and enabling them to act effectively to address them. Making the entire process inclusive, and keeping lines of communication open, increases the chances that stakeholders and beneficiaries will embrace change.
 For example, Carly N. Cook, Michael B. Mascia, Mark W. Schwartz, Hugh P. Possingham and Richard A. Fuller (2013) Achieving Conservation Science that Bridges the Knowledge–Action Boundary. Conservation Biology, 27(4): 669–678.
 The Climate System Analysis Group at the University of Cape Town.
CLA in Action articles are intended to paint a more detailed picture of what collaborating, learning, and adapting (CLA) looks like in practice. Unlike other disciplines, CLA is not a technical "fix;" it looks different in different contexts. This series will showcase examples of intentional collaboration, systematic learning, and resourced adaptation, some of which you may find applicable to your own work. The case studies, blogs, and resources represented in this series document the real-world experiences of development practitioners experimenting with these approaches for the benefit of sharing what's possible.