“
L.G.B.T.Q.I.P.O.Z.A.A.C.V………….”
”
”
Adam Scott Huerta (Motive Black: A novel (Motive Black Series Book 1))
“
A is for Amy who fell down the stairs.
B is for Basil assaulted by bears.
C is for Clara who wasted away.
D is for Desmond thrown out of a sleigh.
E is for Ernest who choked on a peach.
F is for Fanny sucked dry by a leech.
G is for George smothered under a rug.
H is for Hector done in by a thug.
I is for Ida who drowned in a lake.
J is for James who took lye by mistake.
K is for Kate who was struck with an axe.
L is for Leo who choked on some tacks.
M is for Maud who was swept out to sea.
N is for Neville who died of ennui.
O is for Olive run through with an awl.
P is for Prue trampled flat in a brawl.
Q is for Quentin who sank on a mire.
R is for Rhoda consumed by a fire.
S is for Susan who perished of fits.
T is for Titus who flew into bits.
U is for Una who slipped down a drain.
V is for Victor squashed under a train.
W is for Winnie embedded in ice.
X is for Xerxes devoured by mice.
Y is for Yorick whose head was bashed in.
Z is for Zillah who drank too much gin.
”
”
Edward Gorey
“
Q. Is it possible to build a jetpack using downward-firing machine guns? —Rob B A. I WAS SORT OF surprised to find that the answer was yes! But to really do it right, you’ll want to talk to the Russians.
”
”
Randall Munroe (What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions)
“
Tony:...but you need something to do about Noah.
Paul: I know, I know. The only problem being that (a) he thinks I'm getting back with my ex-boyfriend, (b) he thinks I'll only hurt him, because (c) I've already hurt him and (d) someone else has already hurt him, which means that I'm hurting him even more. So (e) he doesn't trust me, and in all fairness, (g) every time I see him, I (h) want everything to be right again and I (i) want to kiss him madly. This means that (j) my feelings aren't going away anytime soon, but (k) his feelings don't look likely to budge, either. So either (l) I'm out of luck, (m) I'm out of hope, or (n) there's a way to make it up to him that I'm not thinking of. I could (o) beg, (p) plead, (q) grovel, or (r) give up. But, in order to do that, I would have to sacrifice my (s) pride, (t) reputation, and (u) self-respect, even though (v) I have very little of them left and (w) it probably wouldn't work anyway. As a result, I am (x) lost, (y) clue-free, and (z) wondering if you have any idea whatsoever what I should do.
”
”
David Levithan (Boy Meets Boy)
“
Put your hands on the headboard.” “Why?” “Because, Princess, you need leverage for when you ride my face.
”
”
Q.B. Tyler (Love Unexpected)
“
Q: Why did the boy take a ruler to bed?
”
”
Johnny B. Laughing (LOL: Funny Jokes and Riddles for Kids (Laugh Out Loud Book 1))
“
This computer-generated pangram contains six a's, one b, three c's, three d's, thirty-seven e's, six f's, three g's, nine h's, twelve i's, one j, one k, two l's, three m's, twenty-two n's, thirteen o's, three p's, one q, fourteen r's, twenty-nine s's, twenty-four t's, five u's, six v's, seven w's, four x's, five y's, and one z.
”
”
Douglas R. Hofstadter (Metamagical Themas: Questing for the Essence of Mind and Pattern)
“
Q: What kind of washing detergent does the ocean use? A: Tide!
”
”
Johnny B. Laughing (LOL: Funny Jokes and Riddles for Kids (Laugh Out Loud Book 1))
“
Q: What are the hottest days during summer? A: Sundays! Q: What dog can tell time? A: A watch dog! Q: Why did the man shoot the clock? A: He wanted to kill some time! Q: What time is it when an elephant sits on your car? A: Time to get a new car!
”
”
Johnny B. Laughing (LOL: Funny Jokes and Riddles for Kids (Laugh Out Loud Book 1))
“
These tits- I want to slide my cock between them and thrust over and over until your silky skin jerks me off and I come all over them. I’ll come so hard and so much that some gets on your face, coating your pouty lips and I’ll watch you lick it off. Lick my cum off your tits because every drop of it belongs in your body somehow. Your mouth, your pussy, your asshole. I want to drain my cock in every one of your holes.
”
”
Q.B. Tyler
“
Q: Your warehouse workers work 11/5-hour shifts. In order to make rate, a significant number of them need to take over-the-counter painkillers multiple times per shift, which means regular backups at the medical office. Do you:
A. Scale back the rate ---clearly, workers are at their physical limits
B. Make shifts shorter
C. Increase the number or duration of breaks
D. Increase staffing at the nurse's office
E. Install vending machines to dispense painkillers more efficiently
Seriously---what kind of fucking sociopath goes with E?
”
”
Emily Guendelsberger (On the Clock: What Low-Wage Work Did to Me and How It Drives America Insane)
“
I don’t want to hear anything out of you unless it’s ‘more’ or ‘I’m coming.’ Got it?
”
”
Q.B. Tyler (Love Unexpected)
“
I don’t need to fix you, baby; you’re perfect.
”
”
Q.B. Tyler (Love Unexpected)
“
Don’t you think I’m pretty enough to kiss?” You’re fucking pretty enough to eat.
”
”
Q.B. Tyler (Love Unexpected)
“
I was craving the intimate feeling of his strong body wrapped around me after not having it for so long. Nothing felt like the safety and security of being in his arms.
”
”
Q.B. Tyler (What Was Meant to Be)
“
life is hard and dark and sometimes it fucking sucks.
”
”
Q.B. Tyler (Love Unexpected)
“
sometimes living is harder than dying.
”
”
Q.B. Tyler (Love Unexpected)
“
Make no mistake, I’m going to explore every inch of you, but right now I want to watch you peel those clothes off. I want to watch you peel your panties away from your wet cunt.
”
”
Q.B. Tyler (Always Been You)
“
That’s fucking right. That’s why you saved it for me, right? You saved this pussy for me because you knew no one could please you like I can.
”
”
Q.B. Tyler (Always Been You)
“
He pushes me into the mattress and a hand snakes up my body and wraps around my throat. “I like to fuck hard.
”
”
Q.B. Tyler (Love Unexpected)
“
I want her, and I can’t have her. So, by that logic, no one fucking can.
”
”
Q.B. Tyler (Love Unexpected)
“
Because I want this to last…” He pushes and a groan floods my ears. “Forever,” he whispers
”
”
Q.B. Tyler (Love Unexpected)
“
I loved you so much and so hard, I don’t know how I expected that love to just go away
”
”
Q.B. Tyler (Forget Me Not)
“
In another life…” he leans down, “I’d make you so happy, and it just kills me sometimes that it can’t be this life.
”
”
Q.B. Tyler (Always Been You)
“
Am I there?” “Where?” “I’m trying to fuck my way to your heart.” “You’re already there,” I tell him. “You’ve always been there.
”
”
Q.B. Tyler (Always Been You)
“
No one knows me better than you. Besides, I would rather spend my birthday with you than just about anyone.
”
”
Q.B. Tyler (Always Been You)
“
The truly transformative power of language occurs when these descriptive root terms are used to form words that convey abstract concepts. A three-letter root compound used to name the spine (Q-W-M) is adapted to describe “flexibility.” The root term for a heated pot boiling over (Gh-Dh-B) constructs a word meaning “hot-headed.” A root term describing the process of carefully separating grains (D-R-S) evolves to express “analyzing” or “interpreting.” From physical sources emerge words for the intangible, like the Qur’an’s parable of the healthy tree with roots anchored in the ground while branches stretch toward the heavens.
”
”
Mohamad Jebara (The Life of the Qur'an: From Eternal Roots to Enduring Legacy)
“
What I feel for you is deeper than love, Whitney.” Oh. He lies on his back and stares at the ceiling. “Devotion. Obsession.” He sighs. “Telling you I love you doesn’t seem to feel enough.
”
”
Q.B. Tyler (What Was Meant to Be)
“
Most people are not looking for provable truths. As you said, truth is often accompanied by intense pain, and almost no one is looking for painful truths. What people need is beautiful, comforting stories that make them feel as if their lives have some meaning. Which is where religion comes from."
(...)
"If a certain belief--call it 'Belief A'--makes the life of that man or this woman appear to be something of deep meaning, then for them belief A is the truth. If Belief B makes their lives appear to be powerless & puny, then Belief b turns out to be a falsehood. The distinction is quite clear. If someone insists that Belief B is the truth, people will probably hate him ignore him, or, in some cases, attack him. It means nothing to them that Belief B might be logical or provable.
”
”
Haruki Murakami (1Q84 (1Q84, #1-3))
“
We’ll circle back to my dick in your ass later. Do you think your blow jobs warrant you an A, Miss Mitchell?” “I know they do,” I quip. “So, you’d be willing to bet your entire grade on an oral exam, then?” His face leans down and it’s so close I can almost taste it. “Absolutely.” “Prove it.
”
”
Q.B. Tyler (First Semester (Campus Tales #1))
“
Most people are not looking for provable truths. As you said, truth is often accompanied by intense pain, & almost no one is looking for painful truths. What people need is beautiful, comforting stories that make them feel as if their lives have some meaning. Which is where religion comes from. The man turned his neck several times before continuing. If a certain belief-call it 'Belief A'-makes the life of that man or this woman appear to be something of deep meaning, then for them belief A is the truth. If Belief B makes their lives appear to be powerless & puny, then Belief b turns out to be a falsehood. The distinction is quite clear. If someone insists that Belief B is the truth, people will probably hate him ignore him, or, in some cases, attack him. It means nothing to them that Belief B might be logical or provable.
”
”
Haruki Murakami (1Q84 (1Q84, #1-3))
“
I’m crossing all the fucking lines right now but you’re just so perfect. You’re so untouched and pure and fuck.
”
”
Q.B. Tyler (Second Semester (Campus Tales #2))
“
I am going to fuck you so many times tonight that you’ll lose track of how many orgasms I give you. But right now, I need you to fucking come.
”
”
Q.B. Tyler (Bittersweet Addiction (Bittersweet #2))
“
Don’t make me tell you again,” he says sternly. “Stop holding back on me. I need you to come like I need fucking air, Charlotte. Give it to me.
”
”
Q.B. Tyler (Bittersweet Addiction (Bittersweet #2))
“
I look down again and find his eyes closed and that his hips are grinding into the mattress.
”
”
Q.B. Tyler (Love Unexpected)
“
There’s been an us. For longer than both of us probably realized. You and I, we were unexpected, Stassia. A surprise that I never saw coming. But fuck, am I glad you happened.
”
”
Q.B. Tyler (Love Unexpected)
“
What’s wrong, baby? Talk to me.” Baby? That’s…new. “Will you just…come get me?” “I’m on my way.
”
”
Q.B. Tyler (Love Unexpected)
“
Twenty minutes later, Dominic and I are in his bedroom, sitting on his bed passing a joint back and forth.
”
”
Q.B. Tyler (Love Unexpected)
“
I never imagined this for my life. You…and…me…but now I can’t imagine my life without you. Without us.
”
”
Q.B. Tyler (Love Unexpected)
“
Do not use that tone with her. I let you do that bullshit choking move but you and I both know I let that happen. Do not push me.
”
”
Q.B. Tyler (What Was Meant to Be)
“
You’re so fucking beautiful. You look so good taking my dick, baby. Fuck. Your pussy is soaking me. I’m going to fuck you until you come all over daddy’s cock. Fuckkkk,” I groan.
”
”
Q.B. Tyler (What Was Meant to Be)
“
Q: What do you always get on your birthday? A: Another year older!
”
”
Johnny B. Laughing (LOL: Funny Jokes and Riddles for Kids (Laugh Out Loud Book 1))
“
One glass of wine is a party? Remind me to never ask you to plan one for me.” “I planned your eighteenth and your graduation party so you can fuck off.
”
”
Q.B. Tyler (Always Been You)
“
Make no mistake, Gab.” I reach up and grip her face before bringing her down so that her lips are hovering mere inches above mine. “You have always been mine.
”
”
Q.B. Tyler (Always Been You)
“
Fuck. That feels good.” “Does…it?” He chokes out, and I nod. “I’m going to come.” He clears his throat, and when I meet his eyes, they’re filled with lust. “Tell me when.
”
”
Q.B. Tyler (Unconditional)
“
I won’t mark you here.” His voice is low in his throat and it makes my whole body tingle. “Maybe somewhere less visible.
”
”
Q.B. Tyler (Unconditional)
“
Like…between my legs?” I can feel my cheeks heating with embarrassment or maybe arousal? “Shit, like exactly there.
”
”
Q.B. Tyler (Unconditional)
“
Slip your fingers under your leggings. Don’t take them off and don’t show me your pussy. But just finger yourself for me…and I’ll taste you from your fingers.
”
”
Q.B. Tyler (Unconditional)
“
If I lift your dress up, will your panties be soaked?” “Yes. Yes. Yes,” she whimpers, assumedly as an answer to all of my questions. “Touch me and see for yourself.
”
”
Q.B. Tyler (Love Unexpected)
“
I’d tasted the forbidden fruit, and my God, was it sweet, but I fear taking another bite, another lick, another suck would be nothing but poisonous.
”
”
Q.B. Tyler (Love Unexpected)
“
It scares me…” I swallow as I prepare to expose my thoughts to her. “That I don’t want to end this. That I am dreading ending this.
”
”
Q.B. Tyler (Love Unexpected)
“
I love you,” I whisper into her mouth between kisses. She pulls back and looks up at me, her brown eyes watering slightly. “Finally.” She smiles. “I have you.” “Forever.
”
”
Q.B. Tyler (Love Unexpected)
“
He lifts me into his arms and then up even higher, pushing me against the wall and letting my legs rest over his shoulder.
”
”
Q.B. Tyler (Unconditional)
“
It would kill me to lose you too, Stassia…you’re…you’re all I have left.” “Me?” I squeak. “You have your parents and your siblings, I’m not all…” “You’re all I have left of her,” he corrects.
”
”
Q.B. Tyler (Love Unexpected)
“
It makes me proud as fuck that I’m the only man that’s fucked you the way you need to be fucked. Is it because your pussy knows it still belongs to me? Tell me, baby, how bad has your pussy missed me?
”
”
Q.B. Tyler (What Was Meant to Be)
“
If you even think about getting prude on me, I’ll put you on your stomach, tie your arms and legs to each corner of this bed and eat your ass until you fucking cry,” he growls as his tongue circles my hole.
”
”
Q.B. Tyler (Love Unexpected)
“
It’s not for little girls, baby.” I pout and furrow my eyebrows in indignation. “I am not a little girl.” “No, Stassi. You certainly are not.” His voice is low and his eyes flare with a look I’ve never seen before.
”
”
Q.B. Tyler (Love Unexpected)
“
Fuck, this pussy is mine. You know that. Even if we never do it again. Even if you go on and date other men or fuck other men or marry another man. This pussy will always be mine because I laid my claim first.” “Oh
”
”
Q.B. Tyler (Love Unexpected)
“
Z.B.
Buzmramja u dridhte ndër afshet e mbramë
të diellit përndimuer
me kuqlim e tisa purpuer,
me kaltrina të kullueta në qiellë e në sy tand.
ku në fund u pasqyronte një dashni e lume
si vegimet e fatbardhsis në lima,
mbi të cilin tërthuer fluturon një pëllumb
dhe gëzime të pamatna gugon pa pra.
Zojushë, q' at buzmramje
unë andrroj me andje
dhe me një dashni të pastër
ata dy sy tuej të kaltër,
që m'u falne letë
me një shikim diskret.
”
”
Migjeni
“
Mr. Today’s Clue: FOLLOW THE DOTS AS THE TRAVELING SUN, MAGNIFY, FOCUS, EVERY ONE. STAND ENROBED WHERE YOU FIRST SAW ME, UTTER IN ORDER; REPEAT TIMES THREE. SAM & LANI’S TAP SYSTEM: A=1 TAP B=2 TAPS C=3 TAPS D=4 TAPS E=5 TAPS OR 1 SLAP F=6 TAPS OR 1 SLAP 1 TAP G=7 OR 1 SLAP 2 TAPS H=8 OR 1 SLAP 3 TAPS I=9 OR 1 SLAP 4 TAPS J=10 OR 2 SLAPS K=11 OR 2 SLAPS 1 TAP L=12 OR 2 SLAPS 2 TAPS M=13 OR 2 SLAPS 3 TAPS N=14 OR 2 SLAPS 4 TAPS 0=15 OR 3 SLAPS p=16 OR 3 SLAPS 1 TAP Q=17 OR 3 SLAPS 2 TAPS R=18 OR 3 SLAPS 3 TAPS S=19 OR 3 SLAPS 4 TAPS T=20 OR 4 SLAPS U=21 OR 4 SLAPS 1 TAP V=22 OR 4 SLAPS 2 TAPS W=23 OR 4 SLAPS 3 TAPS X=24 OR 4 SLAPS 4 TAPS Y=25 OR 5 SLAPS Z=26 OR 5 SLAPS 1 TAP
”
”
Lisa McMann (Island of Fire (Unwanteds, #3))
“
He chuckles. “It’s not for little girls, baby.” I pout and furrow my eyebrows in indignation. “I am not a little girl.” “No, Stassi. You certainly are not.” His voice is low and his eyes flare with a look I’ve never seen before.
”
”
Q.B. Tyler (Love Unexpected)
“
For now, the Simple Daily Practice means doing ONE thing every day. Try any one of these things each day: A) Sleep eight hours. B) Eat two meals instead of three. C) No TV. D) No junk food. E) No complaining for one whole day. F) No gossip. G) Return an e-mail from five years ago. H) Express thanks to a friend. I) Watch a funny movie or a stand-up comic. J) Write down a list of ideas. The ideas can be about anything. K) Read a spiritual text. Any one that is inspirational to you. The Bible, The Tao te Ching, anything you want. L) Say to yourself when you wake up, “I’m going to save a life today.” Keep an eye out for that life you can save. M) Take up a hobby. Don’t say you don’t have time. Learn the piano. Take chess lessons. Do stand-up comedy. Write a novel. Do something that takes you out of your current rhythm. N) Write down your entire schedule. The schedule you do every day. Cross out one item and don’t do that anymore. O) Surprise someone. P) Think of ten people you are grateful for. Q) Forgive someone. You don’t have to tell them. Just write it down on a piece of paper and burn the paper. It turns out this has the same effect in terms of releasing oxytocin in the brain as actually forgiving them in person. R) Take the stairs instead of the elevator. S) I’m going to steal this next one from the 1970s pop psychology book Don’t Say Yes When You Want to Say No: when you find yourself thinking of that special someone who is causing you grief, think very quietly, “No.” If you think of him and (or?) her again, think loudly, “No!” Again? Whisper, “No!” Again, say it. Louder. Yell it. Louder. And so on. T) Tell someone every day that you love them. U) Don’t have sex with someone you don’t love. V) Shower. Scrub. Clean the toxins off your body. W) Read a chapter in a biography about someone who is an inspiration to you. X) Make plans to spend time with a friend. Y) If you think, “Everything would be better off if I were dead,” then think, “That’s really cool. Now I can do anything I want and I can postpone this thought for a while, maybe even a few months.” Because what does it matter now? The planet might not even be around in a few months. Who knows what could happen with all these solar flares. You know the ones I’m talking about. Z) Deep breathing. When the vagus nerve is inflamed, your breathing becomes shallower. Your breath becomes quick. It’s fight-or-flight time! You are panicking. Stop it! Breathe deep. Let me tell you something: most people think “yoga” is all those exercises where people are standing upside down and doing weird things. In the Yoga Sutras, written in 300 B.C., there are 196 lines divided into four chapters. In all those lines, ONLY THREE OF THEM refer to physical exercise. It basically reads, “Be able to sit up straight.” That’s it. That’s the only reference in the Yoga Sutras to physical exercise. Claudia always tells me that yogis measure their lives in breaths, not years. Deep breathing is what keeps those breaths going.
”
”
James Altucher (Choose Yourself)
“
It’s a loud, low, throaty groan that makes every single one of my hairs stand on end. The goosebumps are almost painful as they appear all over my arms and legs and I can’t escape the tingle between my legs that feels like someone has set a fire.
”
”
Q.B. Tyler (Love Unexpected)
“
President George Q. Cannon gave us a marvelous description of how we can recognize the influence of the Holy Ghost. He said this: "I will tell you a rule by which you may know the Spirit of God from the spirit of evil. The Spirit of God always produces joy and satisfaction of mind. When you have that Spirit you are happy; when you have another spirit you are not happy. The spirit of doubt is the spirit of the evil one; it produces uneasiness and other feelings that interfere with happiness and peace.
”
”
Henry B. Eyring (To Draw Closer To God)
“
He proposed an imitation game. There would be a man (A), a woman (B) and an interrogator (C) in a separate room, reading the written answers from the others, trying to work out which was the woman. B would be trying to hinder the process. Now, said Turing, imagine that A was replaced by a computer. Could the interrogator tell whether they were talking to a machine or not after five minutes of questioning? He gave snatches of written conversation to show how difficult the Turing Test would be: Q: Please write me a sonnet on the subject of the Forth Bridge. A: Count me out on this one. I never could write poetry. To imitate that a computer would need deep knowledge of social mores and the use of language. To pass the Turing Test the computer would have to do more than imitate. It would have to be a learning entity.
”
”
David Boyle (Alan Turing: Unlocking the Enigma)
“
A - ALPHA B - BRAVO C - CHARLIE D - DELTA E - ECHO F - FOXTROT G - GOLF H - HOTEL I - INDIA J - JULIETT K - KILO L - LIMA M - MIKE N - NOVEMBER O - OSCAR P - PAPA Q - QUEBEC R - ROMEO S - SIERRA T - TANGO U - UNIFORM V - VICTOR W - WHISKEY X - X-RAY Y - YANKEE Z - ZULU
”
”
Dan Gutman (License to Thrill (The Genius Files, #5))
“
I think if you asked me, I would do just about anything you wanted at this point.” “So…kiss me,” she commands, tilting her chin upwards and staring into my eyes. “Press your lips to mine and kiss me like you fucking mean it. Like I’m all that matters to you.” “You are all that matters to me, Stassi.” “Prove it.
”
”
Q.B. Tyler (Love Unexpected)
“
From his beach bag the man took an old penknife with a red handle and began to etch the signs of the letters onto nice flat pebbles. At the same time, he spoke to Mondo about everything there was in the letters, about everything you could see in them when you looked and when you listened. He spoke about A, which is like a big fly with its wings pulled back; about B, which is funny, with its two tummies; or C and D, which are like the moon, a crescent moon or a half-full moon; and then there was O, which was the full moon in the black sky. H is high, a ladder to climb up trees or to reach the roofs of houses; E and F look like a rake and a shovel; and G is like a fat man sitting in an armchair. I dances on tiptoes, with a little head popping up each time it bounces, whereas J likes to swing. K is broken like an old man, R takes big strides like a soldier, and Y stands tall, its arms up in the air, and it shouts: help! L is a tree on the river's edge, M is a mountain, N is for names, and people waving their hands, P is asleep on one paw, and Q is sitting on its tail; S is always a snake, Z is always a bolt of lightning, T is beautiful, like the mast on a ship, U is like a vase, V and W are birds, birds in flight; and X is a cross to help you remember.
”
”
J.M.G. Le Clézio (Mondo et autres histoires)
“
I’ve never loved anyone or anything the way I love you, baby. Ever. I’ve loved you from the second I knew you’d exist.” He cups my face and lowers me to press his lips to mine. “And I’ve never stopped loving you since. The love has changed and morphed into different kinds of love but you’ve always been here from the second you entered the world.
”
”
Q.B. Tyler (What Was Meant to Be)
“
Q: What do you feed a 600 pound gorilla? A: Anything it wants! Q: Why did the gorilla fail English? A: He had little ape-titude! Q: Why are gorillas underpaid? A: They’re willing to work for peanuts! Q: How come the giant ape climbed up the side of the skyscraper? A: The elevator was broken! Q: How do you make a gorilla float? A: Two scoops of ice cream, some soda and a gorilla!
”
”
Johnny B. Laughing (Funny Jokes for Kids: 125+ Funny and Hilarious Jokes for Kids)
“
He imagined a town called A. Around the communal fire they’re shaping arrowheads and carving tributes o the god of the hunt. One day some guys with spears come over the ridge, perform all kinds of meanness, take over, and the new guys rename the town B. Whereupon they hang around the communal fire sharpening arrowheads and carving tributes to the god of the hunt. Some climatic tragedy occurs — not carving the correct tributary figurines probably — and the people of B move farther south, where word is there’s good fishing, at least according to those who wander to B just before being cooked for dinner. Another tribe of unlucky souls stops for the night in the emptied village, looks around at the natural defenses provided by the landscape, and decides to stay awhile. It’s a while lot better than their last digs — what with the lack of roving tigers and such — plus it comes with all the original fixtures. they call the place C, after their elder, who has learned that pretending to talk to spirits is a fun gag that gets you stuff. Time passes. More invasions, more recaptures, D, E, F, and G. H stands as it is for a while. That ridge provides some protection from the spring floods, and if you keep a sentry up there you can see the enemy coming for miles. Who wouldn’t want to park themselves in that real estate? The citizens of H leave behind cool totems eventually toppled by the people of I, whose lack of aesthetic sense if made up for by military acumen. J, K, L, adventures in thatched roofing, some guys with funny religions from the eastern plains, long-haired freaks from colder climes, the town is burned to the ground and rebuilt by still more fugitives. This is the march of history. And conquest and false hope. M falls to plague, N to natural disaster — same climatic tragedy as before, apparently it’s cyclical. Mineral wealth makes it happen for the O people, and the P people are renowned for their basket weaving. No one ever — ever — mentions Q. The dictator names the city after himself; his name starts with the letter R. When the socialists come to power they spend a lot of time painting over his face, which is everywhere. They don’t last. Nobody lasts because there’s always somebody else. They all thought they owned it because they named it and that was their undoing. They should have kept the place nameless. They should have been glad for their good fortune, and left it at that. X, Y, Z.
”
”
Colson Whitehead (Apex Hides the Hurt)
“
Q: Your customer-service representatives handle roughly sixty calls in an eighty-hour shift, with a half-hour lunch and two fifteen-minute breaks. By the end of the day, a problematic number of them are so exhausted by these interactions that their ability to focus, read basic conversational cues, and maintain a peppy demeanor is negatively affected. Do you:
A. Increase staffing so you can scale back the number of calls each rep takes per shift -- clearly, workers are at their cognitive limits
B. Allow workers to take a few minutes to decompress after difficult calls
C. Increase the number or duration of breaks
D. Decrease the number of objectives workers have for each call so they aren't as mentally and emotionally taxing
E. Install a program that badgers workers with corrective pop-ups telling them that they sound tired.
Seriously---what kind of fucking sociopath goes with E?
”
”
Emily Guendelsberger (On the Clock: What Low-Wage Work Did to Me and How It Drives America Insane)
“
A peels an apple, while B kneels to God,
C telephones to D, who has a hand
On E’s knee, F coughs, G turns up the sod
For H’s grave, I do not understand
But J is bringing one clay pigeon down
While K brings down a nightstick on L’s head,
And M takes mustard, N drives to town,
O goes to bed with P, and Q drops dead,
R lies to S, but happens to be heard
By T, who tells U not to fire V
For having to give W the word
That X is now deceiving Y with Z,
Who happens, just now to remember A
Peeling an apple somewhere far away.
”
”
Howard Nemerov
“
I therefore, m a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to n walk in a manner worthy of o the calling to which you have been called, 2with all p humility and q gentleness, with r patience, s bearing with one another in love, 3eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in t the bond of peace. 4There is u one body and v one Spirit—just as you were called to the one w hope that belongs to your call— 5 x one Lord, y one faith, z one baptism, 6 a one God and Father of all, b who is over all and through all and in all.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: English Standard Version (ESV))
“
Since CWIL’s discipline-based practice was grounded not only in process but also in New Genre Theory, their criteria included assigning writing that would enable students to engage in the kinds of thinking typical of the discipline, as well as in writing in the genres typical of professional practice. The UCITF, however, was trying to draft criteria for the new Q (quantitative reasoning) and B (breadth) courses as well as for the W-courses. They were motivated to define courses in ways that would be comprehensive and meaningful, but would not impose demands likely to alienate faculty.
”
”
Wendy Strachan (Writing-Intensive: Becoming W-Faculty in a New Writing Curriculum)
“
I am the good shepherd. n I know my own and o my own know me, 15 p just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and q I lay down my life for the sheep. 16And r I have other sheep that are not of this fold. s I must bring them also, and t they will listen to my voice. So there will be u one flock, v one shepherd. 17 w For this reason the Father loves me, x because y I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 z No one takes it from me, but y I lay it down a of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and b I have authority to take it up again. c This charge I have received from my Father.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: English Standard Version (ESV))
“
His Steadfast Love Endures Forever A Psalm for o giving thanks. PSALM 100 p Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! 2 q Serve the LORD with gladness! r Come into his presence with singing! 3 Know that s the LORD, he is God! It is he who t made us, and u we are his; [1] we are his v people, and w the sheep of his pasture. 4 x Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his y courts with praise! Give thanks to him; z bless his name! 5 a For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his b faithfulness to all generations.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: English Standard Version (ESV))
“
8for b at one time you were c darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. d Walk as children of light 9(for e the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10and f try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 g Take no part in the h unfruitful i works of darkness, but instead j expose them. 12For k it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13But when l anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, m “Awake, O sleeper, and n arise from the dead, and o Christ will shine on you.” 15 p Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 p making the best use of the time, because q the days are evil.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: English Standard Version (ESV))
“
Blessed is the man [1] who a walks not in b the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in c the way of sinners, nor d sits in e the seat of f scoffers; 2 but his g delight is in the law [2] of the LORD, and on his h law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like i a tree planted by j streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its k leaf does not wither. l In all that he does, he prospers. 4 The wicked are not so, but are like m chaff that the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the wicked n will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in o the congregation of the righteous; 6 for the LORD p knows q the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: English Standard Version (ESV))
“
PSALM 139 O LORD, you have p searched me and known me! 2 You q know when I sit down and when I rise up; you r discern my thoughts from afar. 3 You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. 4 Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, s you know it altogether. 5 You t hem me in, behind and before, and u lay your hand upon me. 6 v Such knowledge is w too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. 7 x Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where y shall I flee from your presence? 8 z If I ascend to heaven, you are there! a If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! 9 If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 10 even there your hand shall b lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. 11 If I say, c “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” 12 d even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you. 13 For you e formed my inward parts; you f knitted me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. [1] g Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. 15 h My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in i the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your j book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.
”
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Anonymous (Holy Bible: English Standard Version (ESV))
“
June Afternoon"
Didn't I tell you everything is possible in this deja vu?
Try the river boat, the carousel, feed the pigeons, Bar-B-Q.
Look at all the people, happy faces all around.
Smiling, throwing kisses, busy making lazy sounds
It's a bright June afternoon, it never gets dark.
Wah-wah! Here comes the sun.
Get your green, green tambourine, let's play in the park.
Wah-wah! Here comes the sun
Some folks are on blankets, slowly daydreaming
and reaching for their food.
Let's go buy an ice-cream and a magazine with an attitude
and put on a cassette, we can pretend that you're a star
cos life's so very simple just like la-la-la
It's a bright June afternoon...
There's a painter painting his masterpiece.
There are some squirrels jumping in the trees,
There's a wide-eyed boy with a red balloon.
All my life I've longed for this afternoon.
”
”
Roxette
“
12He who is ha hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and ileaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and jscatters them. 13He flees because khe is a hired hand and lcares nothing for the sheep. 14 mI am the good shepherd. nI know my own and omy own know me, 15 pjust as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and qI lay down my life for the sheep. 16And rI have other sheep that are not of this fold. sI must bring them also, and tthey will listen to my voice. So there will be uone flock, vone shepherd. 17 wFor this reason the Father loves me, xbecause yI lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 zNo one takes it from me, but yI lay it down aof my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and bI have authority to take it up again. cThis charge I have received from my Father.
”
”
Anonymous (ESV Classic Reference Bible)
“
PSALM 91 He who dwells in a the shelter of the Most High will abide in b the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say [1] to the LORD, “My c refuge and my d fortress, my God, in whom I e trust.” 3 For he will deliver you from f the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will g cover you with his pinions, and under his h wings you will i find refuge; his j faithfulness is k a shield and buckler. 5 l You will not fear m the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. 8 You will only look with your eyes and n see the recompense of the wicked. 9 Because you have made the LORD your o dwelling place— the Most High, who is my c refuge [2]— 10 p no evil shall be allowed to befall you, q no plague come near your tent. 11 r For he will command his s angels concerning you to t guard you in all your ways. 12 On their hands they will bear you up, lest you u strike your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread on v the lion and the w adder; the young lion and x the serpent you will y trample underfoot. 14 “Because he z holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he a knows my name. 15 When he b calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and c honor him. 16 With d long life I will satisfy him and e show him my salvation.
”
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Anonymous (Holy Bible: English Standard Version (ESV))
“
(BDO) October 22: The Dollar Squeeze A debt is a short cash position—i.e., a commitment to deliver cash that one doesn’t have. Because the dollar is the world’s reserve currency, and because of the dollar surplus recycling that has taken place over the past few years…lots of dollar denominated debt has been built up around the world. So, as dollar liquidity has become tight, there has been a dollar squeeze. This squeeze…is hitting dollar-indebted emerging markets (particularly those of commodity exporters) and is supporting the dollar. When this short squeeze ends, which will happen when either the debtors default or get the liquidity to prevent their default, the US dollar will decline. Until then, we expect to remain long the USD against the euro and emerging market currencies. The actual price of anything is always equal to the amount of spending on the item being exchanged divided by the quantity of the item being sold (i.e., P = $/Q), so a) knowing who is spending and who is selling what quantity (and ideally why) is the ideal way to get at the price at any time, and b) prices don’t always react to changes in fundamentals as they happen in the ways characterized by those who seek to explain price movements in connection with unfolding news. During this period, volatility remained extremely high for reasons that had nothing to do with fundamentals and everything to do with who was getting in and out of positions for various reasons—like being squeezed, no longer being squeezed, rebalancing portfolios, etc. For example, on Tuesday, October 28, the S&P gained more than 10 percent and the next day it fell by 1.1 percent when the Fed cut interest rates by another 50 basis points. Closing the month, the S&P was down 17 percent—the largest single-month drop since October 1987.
”
”
Ray Dalio (A Template for Understanding Big Debt Crises)
“
Walk in Love EPHESIANS 5 j Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2And k walk in love, l as Christ loved us and m gave himself up for us, a n fragrant o offering and sacrifice to God. 3But p sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness q must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4Let there be r no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, s which are out of place, but instead t let there be thanksgiving. 5For you may be sure of this, that u everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous ( v that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 w Let no one x deceive you with empty words, for because of these things y the wrath of God comes upon z the sons of disobedience. 7Therefore a do not become partners with them; 8for b at one time you were c darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. d Walk as children of light
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: English Standard Version (ESV))
“
worthless person, a wicked man, goes about with w crooked speech, 13 x winks with his eyes, signals [3] with his feet, points with his finger, 14 with y perverted heart z devises evil, continually a sowing discord; 15 therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly; b in a moment he will be broken c beyond healing. 16 There are d six things that the LORD hates, d seven that are an abomination to him: 17 e haughty eyes, f a lying tongue, and g hands that shed innocent blood, 18 h a heart that devises wicked plans, i feet that make haste to run to evil, 19 j a false witness who k breathes out lies, and one who a sows discord among brothers. Warnings Against Adultery 20 l My son, keep your father’s commandment, l and forsake not your mother’s teaching. 21 m Bind them on your heart always; n tie them around your neck. 22 o When you walk, they [4] will lead you; o when you lie down, they will p watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk with you. 23 For the commandment is q a lamp and the teaching a light,
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: English Standard Version (ESV))
“
My dad’s name is Jim, and my mother thought their names starting with the same letter was just further proof that they belonged together. So she named each of her babies a ‘J’ name to fit the mold. She wasn’t terribly original, because in Levan you’ll find families with all ‘K’ names, all ‘B’ names, all ‘Q’ names. You name the letter, and we’ve got it. People even have ‘themes’ for their children’s names - giving them monikers like Brodeo and Justa Cowgirl. I’m not kidding.
So in my family we were all J’s - Jim, Janelle, Jacob, Jared, Johnny, and Josie Jo Jensen-the “J Crew.” The only problem with that was that whenever my mom needed one of us she had to run through the litany of ‘J’ names before she stumbled on the right one. I don’t know why I remember this, small as it was, but in the days and weeks before my mom died, I don’t ever remember her tripping over any of our names. Perhaps the distracting details of daily life that had once made her tongue tied dissolved in their insignificance, and she gave her rapt attention to our every word, our every expression, our every move.
”
”
Amy Harmon (Running Barefoot)
“
Put on h the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against i the schemes of the devil. 12For j we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against k the rulers, against the authorities, against l the cosmic powers over m this present darkness, against n the spiritual forces of evil o in the heavenly places. 13Therefore p take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in q the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14Stand therefore, r having fastened on the belt of truth, and s having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15and, t as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16In all circumstances take up u the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all v the flaming darts of w the evil one; 17and take s the helmet of salvation, and x the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18praying y at all times z in the Spirit, a with all prayer and supplication. To that end b keep alert with all perseverance, making c supplication for all the saints, 19and d also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth e boldly to proclaim f the mystery of the gospel, 20for which I g am an ambassador h in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
”
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Anonymous (Holy Bible: English Standard Version (ESV))
“
The LORD Is My Strength and My Shield Of David. PSALM 28 To you, O LORD, I call; j my rock, be not deaf to me, lest, if you k be silent to me, I become like those who l go down to the pit. 2 m Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy, when I cry to you for help, when I n lift up my hands o toward your most holy sanctuary. [1] 3 Do not p drag me off with the wicked, with the workers of evil, q who speak peace with their neighbors while evil is in their hearts. 4 r Give to them according to their work and according to the evil of their deeds; give to them according to the work of their hands; s render them their due reward. 5 Because they t do not regard the works of the LORD or the work of his hands, he will tear them down and build them up no more. 6 Blessed be the LORD! For he has u heard the voice of my pleas for mercy. 7 The LORD is my strength and v my shield; in him my heart w trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my x song I give thanks to him. 8 The LORD is the strength of his people; [2] he is y the saving refuge of his anointed. 9 Oh, save your people and bless z your heritage! a Be their shepherd and b carry them forever.
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Anonymous (Holy Bible: English Standard Version (ESV))
“
The LORD Is My Rock and My Fortress To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, f the servant of the LORD, g who addressed the words of this h song to the LORD on the day when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. He said: PSALM 18 I love you, O LORD, my strength. 2 The LORD is my i rock and my j fortress and my deliverer, my God, my i rock, in k whom I take refuge, my l shield, and m the horn of my salvation, my n stronghold. 3 I call upon the LORD, who is o worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies. 4 p The cords of death encompassed me; q the torrents of destruction assailed me; [1] 5 p the cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me. 6 r In my distress I called upon the LORD; to my God I cried for help. From his s temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears. 7 Then the earth t reeled and rocked; the foundations also of the mountains trembled and quaked, because he was angry. 8 Smoke went up from his nostrils, [2] and devouring u fire from his mouth; glowing coals flamed forth from him. 9 He v bowed the heavens and w came down; x thick darkness was under his feet. 10 He rode on a cherub and flew; he came swiftly on z the wings of the wind. 11 He made darkness his covering, his a canopy around him, thick clouds b dark with water.
”
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Anonymous (Holy Bible: English Standard Version (ESV))
“
EPHESIANS 3 For this reason I, Paul, o a prisoner for Christ Jesus p on behalf of you Gentiles— 2assuming that you have heard of q the stewardship of r God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 s how the mystery was made known to me t by revelation, u as I have written briefly. 4 v When you read this, you can perceive my insight into w the mystery of Christ, 5which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. 6This mystery is [1] that the Gentiles are x fellow heirs, y members of the same body, and z partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 7 a Of this gospel I was made b a minister according to the gift of c God’s grace, which was given me d by the working of his power. 8To me, e though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, f to preach to the Gentiles the g unsearchable h riches of Christ, 9and i to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery j hidden for ages in [2] God k who created all things, 10so that through the church the manifold l wisdom of God m might now be made known to n the rulers and authorities o in the heavenly places. 11This was p according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12in whom we have q boldness and r access with s confidence through our t faith in him. 13So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering u for you, v which is your glory.
”
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Anonymous (Holy Bible: English Standard Version (ESV))
“
Stewards of God’s Grace 1 PETER 4 Since therefore z Christ suffered in the flesh, [1] a arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for b whoever has suffered in the flesh c has ceased from sin, 2 d so as to live for e the rest of the time in the flesh f no longer for human passions but g for the will of God. 3For the time that is past h suffices i for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. 4With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of j debauchery, and k they malign you; 5but they will give account to him who is ready l to judge the living and the dead. 6For this is why m the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does. 7 n The end of all things is at hand; therefore o be self-controlled and sober-minded p for the sake of your prayers. 8Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since q love covers a multitude of sins. 9 r Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 s As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, t as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11whoever speaks, as one who speaks u oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves v by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything w God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. x To him belong glory and y dominion forever and ever. Amen.
”
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Anonymous (Holy Bible: English Standard Version (ESV))
“
David's Song of Thanks 8 f Oh give thanks to the LORD; g call upon his name; h make known his deeds among the peoples! 9 Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works! 10 Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice! 11 i Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually! 12 j Remember the wondrous works that he has done, k his miracles and the judgments he uttered, 13 O offspring of Israel his servant, children of Jacob, his chosen ones! 14 He is the LORD our God; l his judgments are in all the earth. 15 Remember his covenant forever, the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations, 16 the covenant m that he made with Abraham, his sworn promise to Isaac, 17 which n he confirmed to Jacob as a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant, 18 saying, o “To you I will give the land of Canaan, as your portion for an inheritance.” 19 When you were p few in number, of little account, and q sojourners in it, 20 wandering from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people, 21 he allowed no one to oppress them; he r rebuked kings on their account, 22 saying, “Touch not my anointed ones, do my s prophets no harm!” 23 t Sing to the LORD, all the earth! Tell of his salvation from day to day. 24 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! 25 For u great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and he is to be feared v above all gods. 26 For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, w but the LORD made the heavens. 27 Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his place. 28 Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, x ascribe to the LORD glory and strength! 29 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him! y Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; [2] 30 tremble before him, all the earth; yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved. 31 z Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice, and let them say among the nations, a “The LORD reigns!” 32 b Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it! 33 Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. 34 Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! 35 c Say also: “Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather and deliver us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise. 36 d Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting!” e Then all the people said, “Amen!” and praised the LORD.
”
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Anonymous (Holy Bible: English Standard Version (ESV))
“
9A writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, after he had been sick and had recovered from his sickness: 10 I said, x In the middle [4] of my days I must depart; I am consigned to the gates of Sheol for the rest of my years. 11 I said, I shall not see the LORD, the LORD y in the land of the living; I shall look on man no more among the inhabitants of the world. 12 My dwelling is plucked up and removed from me z like a shepherd’s tent; a like a weaver b I have rolled up my life; c he cuts me off from the loom; d from day to night you bring me to an end; 13 e I calmed myself [5] until morning; like a lion f he breaks all my bones; from day to night you bring me to an end. 14 Like g a swallow or a crane I chirp; h I moan like a dove. i My eyes are weary with looking upward. O Lord, I am oppressed; j be my pledge of safety! 15 What shall I say? For he has spoken to me, and he himself has done it. k I walk slowly all my years because of the bitterness of my soul. 16 l O Lord, by these things men live, and in all these is the life of my spirit. Oh restore me to health and make me live! 17 m Behold, it was for my welfare that I had great bitterness; n but in love you have delivered my life from the pit of destruction, n for you have cast all my sins behind your back. 18 o For Sheol does not thank you; death does not praise you; those who go down to the pit do not hope for your faithfulness. 19 The living, the living, he thanks you, as I do this day; p the father makes known to the children your faithfulness. 20 The LORD will save me, and we will play my music on stringed instruments all the days of our lives, q at the house of the LORD.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: English Standard Version (ESV))
“
What Cantor's Diagonal Proof does is generate just such a number, which let's call R. The proof is both ingenious and beautiful-a total confirmation of art's compresence in pure math. First, have another look at the above table. We can let the integral value of R be whatever X we want; it doesn't matter. But now look at the table's very first row. We're going to make sure R's first post-decimal digit, a, is a different number from the table's a1. It's easy to do this even though we don't know what particular number a1 is: let's specify that a=(a1-1) unless a1 happens to be 0, in which case a=9. Now look at the table's second row, because we're going to do the same thing for R's second digit b: b=(b2-1), or b=9 if b2=0. This is how it works. We use the same procedure for R's third digit c and the table's c3, for d and d4, for e and e5, and so on, ad inf. Even though we can't really construct the whole R (just as we can't really finish the whole infinite table), we can still see that this real number R=X.abcdefhi... is going to be demonstrably different from every real number in the table. It will differ from the table's 1st Real in its first post-decimal digit, from the 2nd Real in its second digit, from the 3rd Real in its third digit,...and will, given the Diagonal Method here, differ from the table's Nth Real in its nth digit. Ergo R is not-cannot be-included in the above infinite table; ergo the infinite table is not exhaustive of all the real numbers; ergo (by the rules of reductio) the initial assumption is contradicted and the set of all real numbers is not denumerable, i.e. it's not 1-1 C-able with the set of integers. And since the set of all rational numbers is 1-1C-able with the integers, the set of all reals' cardinality has got to be greater than the set of all rationals' cardinality. Q.E.D.*
”
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David Foster Wallace (Everything and More: A Compact History of Infinity)
“
The Ten Commandments EXODUS 20 z And a God spoke all these words, saying, 2 b “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 3 c “You shall have no other gods before [1] me. 4 d “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 e You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am f a jealous God, g visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6but showing steadfast love to thousands [2] of those who love me and keep my commandments. 7 h “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain. 8 i “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 j Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, 10but the k seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the l sojourner who is within your gates. 11For m in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. 12 n “Honor your father and your mother, o that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you. 13 p “You shall not murder. [3] 14 q “You shall not commit adultery. 15 r “You shall not steal. 16 s “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. 17 t “You shall not covet u your neighbor’s house; v you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.
”
”
Anonymous (Holy Bible: English Standard Version (ESV))
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SUPPLEMENT DAILY DOSAGE Vitamin A 10,000 IU or 6 mg beta-carotene (choose mixed carotenes if available) B-complex vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5: 50 mg B6: 50 mg, or 100 mg if nauseated (can be higher: if necessary up to 250 mg to prevent nausea) B12: 400 mcg Choline, Inositol, PABA: 25 mg Biotin: 200 mcg Folic acid: 500 mcg (increase this to 1000 mcg if you have suffered a previous miscarriage, if there is a history of neural tube defects in your family, or if you are over 40 years of age) Vitamin C 1–2 g (take the higher dose if you are exposed to toxicity or in contact with, or suffering from, infection) Bioflavonoids 500–1000 mg (helpful for preventing miscarriage and breakthrough bleeding) Vitamin D 200 IU Vitamin E 500 IU (increasing to 800 IU during last trimester) Calcium 800 mg (increasing to 1200 mg during middle trimester when your baby’s bones are forming, or if symptoms such as leg cramps indicate an increased need) Magnesium 400 mg (half the dose of calcium) Potassium 15 mg or as cell salt (potassium chloride, 3 tablets) Iron Supplement only if need is proven; dosage depends on serum ferritin levels (stored iron) If levels < 30 mcg per litre, take 30 mg If levels < 45 mcg per litre, take 20 mg If levels < 60 mcg per litre, take 10 mg This test for ferritin levels should be repeated at the end of each trimester, and we give further details in Chapter 11. Manganese 10 mg Zinc 20–60 mg, taken last thing at night on an empty stomach (dose level to depend on results of zinc taste test, which ideally should be performed at two monthly intervals during your pregnancy; see page 172–174 for details) Chromium 100–200 mcg (upper limit applies to those with sugar cravings or with proven need) Selenium 100–200 mcg (upper limit for those exposed to high levels of heavy metal or chemical pollution). Selenium is best taken away from vitamin C, but can be taken with zinc. Iodine 75 mcg (or take 150 mg of kelp instead) Acidophilus/Bifidus Half to one teaspoonful, one to three times daily (upper limits for those who suffer from thrush) Evening primrose oil 500–1000 mg two to three times daily MaxEPA (or deep sea fish oils) 500–1000 mg two to three times daily Garlic 2000–5000 mg (higher levels for those exposed to toxins) Silica 20 mg Copper 1–2 mg (but only if zinc levels are adequate) Hydrochloric acid and digestive enzymes For those with digestive problems. There are numerous proprietary preparations which contain an appropriate combination of active ingredients. Ask your health practitioner, pharmacist or health food shop for guidance, and take as directed on the label. Co-enzyme Q10 10 mg daily
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Francesca Naish (The Natural Way To A Better Pregnancy (Better babies))
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Try any one of these things each day: A) Sleep eight hours. B) Eat two meals instead of three. C) No TV. D) No junk food. E) No complaining for one whole day. F) No gossip. G) Return an e-mail from five years ago. H) Express thanks to a friend. I) Watch a funny movie or a stand-up comic. J) Write down a list of ideas. The ideas can be about anything. K) Read a spiritual text. Any one that is inspirational to you. The Bible, The Tao te Ching, anything you want. L) Say to yourself when you wake up, “I’m going to save a life today.” Keep an eye out for that life you can save. M) Take up a hobby. Don’t say you don’t have time. Learn the piano. Take chess lessons. Do stand-up comedy. Write a novel. Do something that takes you out of your current rhythm. N) Write down your entire schedule. The schedule you do every day. Cross out one item and don’t do that anymore. O) Surprise someone. P) Think of ten people you are grateful for. Q) Forgive someone. You don’t have to tell them. Just write it down on a piece of paper and burn the paper. It turns out this has the same effect in terms of releasing oxytocin in the brain as actually forgiving them in person. R) Take the stairs instead of the elevator. S) I’m going to steal this next one from the 1970s pop psychology book Don’t Say Yes When You Want to Say No: when you find yourself thinking of that special someone who is causing you grief, think very quietly, “No.” If you think of him and (or?) her again, think loudly, “No!” Again? Whisper, “No!” Again, say it. Louder. Yell it. Louder. And so on. T) Tell someone every day that you love them. U) Don’t have sex with someone you don’t love. V) Shower. Scrub. Clean the toxins off your body. W) Read a chapter in a biography about someone who is an inspiration to you. X) Make plans to spend time with a friend. Y) If you think, “Everything would be better off if I were dead,” then think, “That’s really cool. Now I can do anything I want and I can postpone this thought for a while, maybe even a few months.” Because what does it matter now? The planet might not even be around in a few months. Who knows what could happen with all these solar flares. You know the ones I’m talking about. Z) Deep breathing. When the vagus nerve is inflamed, your breathing becomes shallower. Your breath becomes quick. It’s fight-or-flight time! You are panicking. Stop it! Breathe deep. Let me tell you something: most people think “yoga” is all those exercises where people are standing upside down and doing weird things. In the Yoga Sutras, written in 300 B.C., there are 196 lines divided into four chapters. In all those lines, ONLY THREE OF THEM refer to physical exercise. It basically reads, “Be able to sit up straight.” That’s it. That’s the only reference in the Yoga Sutras to physical exercise. Claudia always tells me that yogis measure their lives in breaths, not years. Deep breathing is what keeps those breaths going.
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James Altucher (Choose Yourself)
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THIS IS MY ABC BOOK of people God loves. We’ll start with . . . A: God loves Adorable people. God loves those who are Affable and Affectionate. God loves Ambulance drivers, Artists, Accordion players, Astronauts, Airplane pilots, and Acrobats. God loves African Americans, the Amish, Anglicans, and Animal husbandry workers. God loves Animal-rights Activists, Astrologers, Adulterers, Addicts, Atheists, and Abortionists. B: God loves Babies. God loves Bible readers. God loves Baptists and Barbershop quartets . . . Boys and Boy Band members . . . Blondes, Brunettes, and old ladies with Blue hair. He loves the Bedraggled, the Beat up, and the Burnt out . . . the Bullied and the Bullies . . . people who are Brave, Busy, Bossy, Bitter, Boastful, Bored, and Boorish. God loves all the Blue men in the Blue Man Group. C: God loves Crystal meth junkies, D: Drag queens, E: and Elvis impersonators. F: God loves the Faithful and the Faithless, the Fearful and the Fearless. He loves people from Fiji, Finland, and France; people who Fight for Freedom, their Friends, and their right to party; and God loves people who sound like Fat Albert . . . “Hey, hey, hey!” G: God loves Greedy Guatemalan Gynecologists. H: God loves Homosexuals, and people who are Homophobic, and all the Homo sapiens in between. I: God loves IRS auditors. J: God loves late-night talk-show hosts named Jimmy (Fallon or Kimmel), people who eat Jim sausages (Dean or Slim), people who love Jams (hip-hop or strawberry), singers named Justin (Timberlake or Bieber), and people who aren’t ready for this Jelly (Beyoncé’s or grape). K: God loves Khloe Kardashian, Kourtney Kardashian, Kim Kardashian, and Kanye Kardashian. (Please don’t tell him I said that.) L: God loves people in Laos and people who are feeling Lousy. God loves people who are Ludicrous, and God loves Ludacris. God loves Ladies, and God loves Lady Gaga. M: God loves Ministers, Missionaries, and Meter maids; people who are Malicious, Meticulous, Mischievous, and Mysterious; people who collect Marbles and people who have lost their Marbles . . . and Miley Cyrus. N: God loves Ninjas, Nudists, and Nose pickers, O: Obstetricians, Orthodontists, Optometrists, Ophthalmologists, and Overweight Obituary writers, P: Pimps, Pornographers, and Pedophiles, Q: the Queen of England, the members of the band Queen, and Queen Latifah. R: God loves the people of Rwanda and the Rebels who committed genocide against them. S: God loves Strippers in Stilettos working on the Strip in Sin City; T: it’s not unusual that God loves Tom Jones. U: God loves people from the United States, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates; Ukrainians and Uruguayans, the Unemployed and Unemployment inspectors; blind baseball Umpires and shady Used-car salesmen. God loves Ushers, and God loves Usher. V: God loves Vegetarians in Virginia Beach, Vegans in Vietnam, and people who eat lots of Vanilla bean ice cream in Las Vegas. W: The great I AM loves will.i.am. He loves Waitresses who work at Waffle Houses, Weirdos who have gotten lots of Wet Willies, and Weight Watchers who hide Whatchamacallits in their Windbreakers. X: God loves X-ray technicians. Y: God loves You. Z: God loves Zoologists who are preparing for the Zombie apocalypse. God . . . is for the rest of us. And we have the responsibility, the honor, of letting the world know that God is for them, and he’s inviting them into a life-changing relationship with him. So let ’em know.
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Vince Antonucci (God for the Rest of Us: Experience Unbelievable Love, Unlimited Hope, and Uncommon Grace)
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REPROGRAMMING MY BIOCHEMISTRY A common attitude is that taking substances other than food, such as supplements and medications, should be a last resort, something one takes only to address overt problems. Terry and I believe strongly that this is a bad strategy, particularly as one approaches middle age and beyond. Our philosophy is to embrace the unique opportunity we have at this time and place to expand our longevity and human potential. In keeping with this health philosophy, I am very active in reprogramming my biochemistry. Overall, I am quite satisfied with the dozens of blood levels I routinely test. My biochemical profile has steadily improved during the years that I have done this. For boosting antioxidant levels and for general health, I take a comprehensive vitamin-and-mineral combination, alpha lipoic acid, coenzyme Q10, grapeseed extract, resveratrol, bilberry extract, lycopene, silymarin (milk thistle), conjugated linoleic acid, lecithin, evening primrose oil (omega-6 essential fatty acids), n-acetyl-cysteine, ginger, garlic, l-carnitine, pyridoxal-5-phosphate, and echinacea. I also take Chinese herbs prescribed by Dr. Glenn Rothfeld. For reducing insulin resistance and overcoming my type 2 diabetes, I take chromium, metformin (a powerful anti-aging medication that decreases insulin resistance and which we recommend everyone over 50 consider taking), and gymnema sylvestra. To improve LDL and HDL cholesterol levels, I take policosanol, gugulipid, plant sterols, niacin, oat bran, grapefruit powder, psyllium, lecithin, and Lipitor. To improve blood vessel health, I take arginine, trimethylglycine, and choline. To decrease blood viscosity, I take a daily baby aspirin and lumbrokinase, a natural anti-fibrinolytic agent. Although my CRP (the screening test for inflammation in the body) is very low, I reduce inflammation by taking EPA/DHA (omega-3 essential fatty acids) and curcumin. I have dramatically reduced my homocysteine level by taking folic acid, B6, and trimethylglycine (TMG), and intrinsic factor to improve methylation. I have a B12 shot once a week and take a daily B12 sublingual. Several of my intravenous therapies improve my body’s detoxification: weekly EDTA (for chelating heavy metals, a major source of aging) and monthly DMPS (to chelate mercury). I also take n-acetyl-l-carnitine orally. I take weekly intravenous vitamins and alpha lipoic acid to boost antioxidants. I do a weekly glutathione IV to boost liver health. Perhaps the most important intravenous therapy I do is a weekly phosphatidylcholine (PtC) IV, which rejuvenates all of the body’s tissues by restoring youthful cell membranes. I also take PtC orally each day, and I supplement my hormone levels with DHEA and testosterone. I take I-3-C (indole-3-carbinol), chrysin, nettle, ginger, and herbs to reduce conversion of testosterone into estrogen. I take a saw palmetto complex for prostate health. For stress management, I take l-theonine (the calming substance in green tea), beta sitosterol, phosphatidylserine, and green tea supplements, in addition to drinking 8 to 10 cups of green tea itself. At bedtime, to aid with sleep, I take GABA (a gentle, calming neuro-transmitter) and sublingual melatonin. For brain health, I take acetyl-l-carnitine, vinpocetine, phosphatidylserine, ginkgo biloba, glycerylphosphorylcholine, nextrutine, and quercetin. For eye health, I take lutein and bilberry extract. For skin health, I use an antioxidant skin cream on my face, neck, and hands each day. For digestive health, I take betaine HCL, pepsin, gentian root, peppermint, acidophilus bifodobacter, fructooligosaccharides, fish proteins, l-glutamine, and n-acetyl-d-glucosamine. To inhibit the creation of advanced glycosylated end products (AGEs), a key aging process, I take n-acetyl-carnitine, carnosine, alpha lipoic acid, and quercetin. MAINTAINING A POSITIVE “HEALTH SLOPE” Most important,
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Ray Kurzweil (Fantastic Voyage: Live Long Enough to Live Forever)