Last day of blogging

11-30-11

Dr. Nicholas Greco announced today in his class, Writing for the Media, that we are done blogging!. This came to be a shock for many of his students in his class. As another treat from him, he also stated that we could blog about anything we want. Now for those students that have been doing the right thing from the beginning of the semester would have written close to 50 pages as well as 50 blog posts in total. This is a lot of writing for any class, but it definitely has helped me when it comes to starting a paper. I have learned many ways of catching peoples attention when it comes to writing. I really enjoyed learning about the nut graf and the lead of stories. I think they are both excellent tools to use when writing and it's something i will definitely start to consider when i write. As for the blog post, i think i might be creating a new blog now that i know there are several different kinds of blog posts. I might look into a certain issue, or topic to start on and blog about that. It's a pitty i'm realizing that at the end of the semester when i was supposed to revisit my topic which was about social networking.

People pay tribute to Gary Speed

11-28-11

The world of football will be paying tribute to Gary Speed 42,  a man who made more than 500 appearances in the Barclays Premier League for 5 clubs. Speed was from Welsh and got the priveledge to Manage the Welsh national team at the age of 40. This is a big loss for football, he was a role model for most of the players that he played with and coached. Speed was found dead on Sunday at his home. His family is not ready for any talks in front of the media as they want to griev and have sometime to themselves. Speeds former club Newcastle played the day before he passed away and they drew 1-1 at Manchester United, Alan Padrew now dedicates the hard draw earned to Speed. Alan Shearer who also played for Newcastle and was a great friend od speed described this moment as " Gary was a magnificent person, bright, fun and a wonderful family man. He lit up every room he walked into."

Facebook working on phone

11-25-11

Facebook is currently in negotiations with HTC phone company about possibly making the social network better than any other phone. From all the talk that's currently on going, this new facebook is expected to be out  in 12 to 18 months. This phone is also expected to run Google's Android but facebook will be tweaking the system a little. This phone will also include facebook apps via HTML5 support. It's remarkable how facebook is still making improvements not only with the site itself, but also with HTC where more people already go on for their facebook updates. Smart phones is what most people are turning to, and i think that with facebook's ambitions of this new HTC phone, both facebook and HTC will be making lots of money and facebook will remain the dominant force in the social networking saga.

Black Friday deals!!

11-24-11

Thanksgiving has finally arrived in the United States. This year 152 million people are expected to shop over the Black Friday weekend. This is an increase of shoppers from last year, this year it has gone up by 10%. As each year goes by, it seems like more people are taking advantage of these great deals. Most people don't like the competition of Friday deals, and the fact that they have to Que up and go through a lot of competition when they can get the same thing on any regular day. With the economy not getting any better, this is the time for consumers and suppliers to benefit at a good rate. Supply and demand will definitely be playing a key role as more consumers go to splash out some cash. The Americans will not only be the only ones shopping, their "friendly" neighbors Canadians will also be driving across the border to take advantage of those good deals.

AB540 students will qualify thanks to Obama

11-22-11

Finally! undocumented students in California will now be able to attend a College or University without having to pay the full amount. This students who are undocumented are referred to as AB540 students. This comes after the "Dream Act" was finally passed by president Obama.Obama however wanted the bill to pass months ago, but it didn't get enough votes. This time around, the votes were not short and for Obama, this might be a plus for him as the 2012 elections draw closer. The Dream Act will allow those undocumented students the to obtain student loans and grants from the government. I think this will help California tremendously! More undocumented students will now have the urge to get passed 12th grade in High School knowing that they can further their education. This bill however, will take effect in 2013. So more waiting for AB540 students, but this it definitely a positive for the better for California.

Atmosphere changes at prov as semester draws to an end

11-21-11

First day i arrived here at Providence University College, everyone seemed upbeat about starting the new year, and everyone certainly did start on a high in terms of academics and social life. With only 3 weeks left till this first semester is done, I see and feel the atmosphere turning blunt and people are a bit dull. There are reasons as to why people are low, stressed and some depressed. With Christmas break rapidly approaching, some students are finding it hard to write those papers or even lift up the pen. I myself, i'm a victim! Having to make the right decisions right now as students is probably the toughest thing we are facing right now. Do you go out and have coffee with friends, do you hang out and play video games with your buddies when you know you have finals to study for and work on top of that. It really must be depressing for those living in dorm, i feel sometimes as if i'm in prison. Well that is the college reality and we just have to put trust in God, and know that we will make it. I'm sure the professors feel some sort of sympathy for us. 

Autobiography

11-17-11

Many who know Dale would describe him as someone who is genially unique in his experience with traveling around the world. When we talk about Dale, we are talking about someone who has seen and experienced life in Zimbabwe, England, California, USA, and Manitoba, Canada. He is someone who sees the each country as it's own world because of all the different aspects of his background. It's quite hard sometimes to figure out what his accent really is. You hear a bit of British accent in him sometimes, a bit of African, and American. An average person who meets Dale the first time would probably think that he is "an international student", which is true to say. Then you should try asking him what his citizenship really is? This is when people get really confused, he is actually a Canadian citizen who was born in Toronto. He left Canada at the age of two, to go live in Zimbabwe, where his parents are from. All this makes him genially a "unique" person. You don't get a lot of people who live California to go live in "friendly Manitoba" where the weather is unbearable. You certainly don't get a lot of Dale's around. Once you meet this guy, it is best to be friends with him on Facebook, get his number and other contact details because he is truly one of a kind. His uniqueness isn't only the great thing about him, well it depends how you would like to interpret him. He plays and has a big heart for Soccer, Cricket and Rugby and all these are Sports that are known to be international. As he was in California he was known as "Freddy Adu" as he played in High School. Freddy Adu is an African American soccer player that plays for the U.S national team. When we talk about soccer in California, we picture only Latinos playing soccer, and not to mention, he was the only "African American" or "black" guy on the High School soccer team for the 3 years that he played. This guy Dale will definitely make an impact wherever he lives because his experience that he shares with people, are worth every single penny.

Prov take on CMU in season opener

15-11-11

Providence University College will be taking on the CMU blazers this Wednesday the 15th of November. The providence team would have wished to have this fixture a week later than scheduled. If there is any reason for that, it will be the lack fitness and bonding of the team. There are a lot of new players this year for the freemen and with only having 1 pre-season game, are they really ready to face their rivals this Wednesday? The answer will be revealed at the game, the game will kick off  9pm Eastern and 8pm Central time. This year the freemen will have a new manager in charge of statistics during the game, Dale Danso, a freshman from Pomona, CA will be earning his field ed credit while helping out the women's and Men's basketball team. Hope to see you all at the game.

Does Canada have labor shortage?

14-11-11

If there is "any" jobs available in the United States, there is a lot of competition at state and people are willing to do anything as long as it brings income. I was surprised today as most of my Canadian friends admitted they would never work at superstore even if the opportunity came. All of them didn't find it hard to get jobs this past summer and that tells me that there is a lot of opportunity in employment here in Canada. If citizens of a country actually have choices of where they would like to work, and preferences, then there must be labor shortage. I'm coming from a California perspective, as to say our minimum wage is $1.50 less than the Canadian minimum wage. After having this conversation with my friends, i felt pleased considering that i plan to work this summer in Canada. Just shows how much deficit the United States is in, and how bad things look economically.

Twilight Fans get excited about new Premiere

13 November 2011

Three days left until the new Twilight premiere of Twilight Breakdown Dawn part 1 comes out. Fans are camping out of the Los Angeles Live complex in downtown LA waiting for the opening. This is exciting times for not just me, but all other Twilight fans across the globe. The film is expected to go on release on the 16th of November, but British fans will have to wait another two days as it's released on the 18th in the UK. The last three films were a success, especially the first twilight, but now with the prospect of the 4th one coming out, it explains why so many fans are queueing up in LA. The novels, which i haven't read, sold out a lot, and made close to $1.8billion and 1.1 billion pounds. I am curious to see how Robert Pattison acts in this film and how different he will be from the previous. I don't think there will be much difference, but you never know with Twilight. Robert who is the ladies favourite in the movie, draws lots of teen girls and young adults to watch Twilight. The movie itself is great, but i think most girls watched the movie with the attention focused on Robert Pattison. His hairstyle and the way he played the role as the vampire who falls in love, has a meaning of romanticism to most of the girls who are crazy over Twilight. What we already know from this movie is that it sees Bella marry Edward and become pregnant, and also the vampire and werewolf continue to battle. I also can't wait to see how many t-shirts will be sold this time around. When the first Twilight film came out, millions of t-shirts were sold across the globe, and it made me want one. Even some guys wore Twilight t-shirts, bracelets, or even had posters. It's quite remarkable what one movie can do to people, especially the young ones. Since the third Twilight film came out, there has been a pause and freeze with the talk of the movie. Now in a couple of days, once the premiere opens, i am expecting thousands of people talking about the movie. Robert Pattison would probably be invited to Ellen's show, and the media will get us sucked into this movie. I don't think il be watching the Dawn part 1, after the first Twilight, i stopped watching it because the talk was just too much. It was a good movie, but i think it was over rated and over talked about. Two more days, and it all begins again, the Twilight Saga and talk will begin, should be exciting to see the ratings and views on this new movie. 

Kim Kardashian ending the marriage

10-31-11

Well positive and a positive don't get you anywhere. In other words, does rich plus rich guarantee a successful marriage? The answer could just be no! Kim Kardashian has filed for divorce, only 72days after being married to professional basketball player Kris Humphries, according to court documents from L.A. Superior Court. This definitely surprises me because when I heard they were getting married, I thought everything will go well. They look like a good match, both wealthy and have no financial worries, but all that apparently just tells us that it doesn't buy happiness. Kim Kardashian is known to be one of the hottest women; she was actually voted and is in the top ten sexiest women. This is shocking news, but what else can you expect from Celebrities who are making more money than the U.S. Government.

London Derby this weekend!

10-28-11

This weekend we will see Chelsea take on Arsenal in another crucial Barclays Premier league game. Chelsea would have hoped to have this fixure a month ago when as arsenal had a turbulent start to the season. With goals from Robin Van Persie, and three wins behind them in all competitions, Arsenal will be going in this game with a lot of enthusiasm and heads lifted high. Chelsea have been going through some off field related issues, and their skipper John Terry looks to put all the criticism of his allerged racial comments behind his back. Didier Drogba will serve his first of 3 matches suspended and what a good way for Fernando Torres to come back as he is in fine form at the moment.

Could the "big one" be on its way?

10-27-11

Small quake hits San Francisco on Wednesday. The U.S geological service said the earthquake was a 3.5 magnitude and it actually struck right outside San Francisco. Scientist are predicting the "big one" to strike California before 2013. Last time California had a serious devastating earthquake was at 5:12 AM - April 18, 1906 which was called "The 1906 Great San Francisco Earthquake." Scientist say the more California gets these small quakes, the greater the chance that the "big one" could strike anytime. No one knows when or how it will strike, but Californians have to be ready for it, Mother Nature unfortunately is something we cannot fix.

Who is apple going to destroy now?

10-26-11

According to Steve Jobs biography, he had a vision of a fully integrated Apple television. In his biography, he states that he'd finally figured out a way to make a TV practical. I wonder what other TV companies such as Sony and Samsung thought about what Jobs is saying here. Apple by no far, is running the technology at the moment, with their latest introduction of the iPhone 4s, the company continues to grow even though Jobs is out of the picture. I would be fascinated to see how the Apple TV would actually look like and how much it will cost, Apple remains the threat in this technology era that we are in.

Preparations for Regional’s

10-24-11

This week is going to be described by most of the soccer players at Providence University College as "do or die." Providence College in Otterburne MB, will be hosting this year’s NCCAA soccer regional’s and this tournament will decide if the women or men’s soccer will be participating at this year’s National Tournament in Kissimmee, Florida. Both teams will be working hard with a lot of intensity during their training sessions on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Faith Bible College and NCU will be coming to Otterburne and this has a lot of Providence students excited and we hope that both teams do well in order to finish the season on a high.

Unemployment Sinks LA

10-20-11

The unemployment situation in Los Angeles, CA hasn't gotten any better but only has caused some people to protest. The protesting occurred on the streets of LA. From veterans to youth, jobs are becoming extremely difficult for the residents of California. One protestor said, “I feel like I’m representing congress and it's pissing me off" this shows the frustrations from the Californians. Some complained of the gas and food prices going up. The situation isn't getting any better in California, there is something that needs to be resolved, and with elections coming up in 2012, Mr. Obama definitely has something to prove if he is going to have his share votes from the Californians.

Which Social network is reliable?

10-19-11

Facebook is far more reliable than any other social networks! Well is this really true? We have heard stories of couples braking up because of facebook, theft because of a facebook status. Can people really trust this network? Well lately Google plus hasn't been making any progress, Twitter is developing and it's surprising how many people that are registering for Twitter. The competition in these social networks is rising, and people just have to explore what they think is right for them. Facebook remains the dominant force in the social networking saga.

Has Google + made any progress?

10-18-11

Well it's been a month now, and i have seen a decrease in talk of the new social networking site Google plus. It's quite remarkable because, a month ago when it was first introduced, many thought this was finally the network that would take over facebook. Well now it seems like most people have not converted to Google plus. Google+ aims to make sharing on the web more like sharing in real life. This is as similar as Twitter, which up to now only has a million users compared to facebook's more than 500 million users. The fact that Google plus hasn't been mentioned by people or by media, it shows us the lack of progress it has made, and facebook remains the dominant force at the moment.

Mexican actor speaks with Immigrants.
10-17-11

Gael Garcia Bernal, who is a Mexican actor, speaks to migrants across Central America who are trying to reach the United States. Thousands of undocumented immigrants enter the U.S every year, and the number is definitely going up each year. Bernal mentions a journey he called the “perilous journey" and states that before immigrants try to snuggle into the United States, they need to first try and get the right documents before making a move. I think if Bernal, the Mexican actor, is talking about this, really the U.S government is not really keeping a tab open for this issue to be resolved. It's an issue that will continue to grow, and draw questions, but i believe the U.S government need to put more emphasis on the immigration issue.

Blackberry services restored now?

10-13-11

Blackberry could be having it's services fully restored following a three-day global blackout. One of my friends was asking people yesterday if their Blackberry Messenger was working. If you would ask any Blackberry user, they would tell you that the Messenger is the reason why they even got the phone. I can't imagine how the faces of those Blackberry users looked like when the system shut down. It's interesting how this happens right when the new iPhone is projected to come out. This might make the Blackberry users switch. In a press conference at 15:00 the Blackberry founder anounced that an investigation would be the first step to fixing this global blackout. Apple still currently above Blackberry.

Public transit for Holidays?

10-12-11

I was looking at flight prices earlier on today and it's quite surprising how expensive they are going to be this year around Christmas. Flights to Los Angeles are going for $850 round trip and as many students at Providence College live outside Manitoba, local flights aren’t any cheaper either. I compared the $850 flight that goes to Los Angeles to a 4 day bus trip with Greyhound. Greyhound will only cost $400 roundtrip and that's half of what Air Canada and West jet are offering. I think most students; I myself will definitely be looking at public transit such as Greyhound for my Christmas vacation.

South African fans good at math?

10-11-11

This Saturday, the South African soccer team played the last group qualifying game that was described as do or die. South Africa initially believed that they had finished top of group G after their 0-0 draw with Sierra Leone. Before the game South Africa were a point behind Niger who were in second and Niger went on to lose their last game to Egypt 3-0. With the draw, South Africa then moved up to 10points which is what Niger had, at the end of the game, the South African fans started celebrating only to be disillusioned hours to later to find out that Niger had a better goal difference. I wonder what people at home thought about the situation. Must have been a nail biting moment for those fans who thought it was a done deal. So Niger goes through on goal difference and will be participating in the African cup of nations that takes place in January of 2012.

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Fifth iPhone about to be launched!

10-4-11
It's just amazing to know that the iPhone 4 will soon not be the latest Apple phone. I am actually looking into phones at the moment, and I was getting suggestions from my friend Matt Price who actually has the iPhone 4. Matt suggested that I should wait a couple of weeks to get my new phone because the fifth iPhone is expected to be launched by Apple. I was shocked when he mentioned this news because in the summer i used the iPhone 3. It's amazing how one minute I haven't  touched the iPhone 4 and the next we are talking about the iPhone 5 coming out. Nonetheless I will be settling for the Android 6250 HTC

Warning to facebook users over personal data

10-3-11

Personal data is something that we don't think about when we sign up for facebook. Computer security expects are warning that facebook users put out too much personal information which can potentially be accessed by criminals. This is an issue that I myself never thought about. Putting out my Phone number, where I live, my email, relationship status etc... Could potentially be risky. Once criminals get this information, they can use it to steal people’s identities and commit fraud in their name. I will be definitely taking this warning serious and actually looking at my profile to see what adjustments I could make to better protect my privacy. Facebook remains the dominant force in the social networking saga.

Participant Observation Exercise

9-29-11

It’s Wednesday evening at Providence University College and I had nothing to do in my room so I was bored. I heard lots of people screaming and laughing, it looked like they were not bored. So I decide to go and hang out with my friends in the lounge at Bergen men’s Hall. On one section of the lounge there was a group playing cards, one section people playing ping pong and I’m with my friends just sitting on the couches having a chat. I noticed that the group that were playing cards had girls playing also, and that explains why I heard screaming and loud voices as I was in my room.  The environment at Bergen Hall that night was like describing a zoo, different activities going on that night. I was surprised that no one made a complaint, well besides no one sleeps that early at Bergen or perhaps we are all just used to the noise that occurs almost on a daily basis. I don’t really hang out with friends in the lounge and this was my first time experiencing the vibe in the lounge especially when we get guest from the girl’s dorm. It was a great experience being involved with friends; I usually stay in my room or go to my friend’s room and play video games all night. As I was sitting down, I kept asking myself this question, don’t all these students have homework or an assignment due?  Well as college students, sometimes we need that time when we forget about homework, school, papers etc... And just have fun with friends. This is actually healthy for our bodies according to research.

Ignite Worship event

9-27-11
I am pumped to see what God has in plans for the young generation of this world. This Saturday Pomona First Baptist will be having a 3 hour worship event, including teaching from Pastor Brian who is the Young Adult Pastor and Megan Marshman who is a professor at Azusa Pacific University. This is an opportunity for people who know Christ to invite their Oikost and also get closer to God. I will be watching this event online, if you are interested, please follow the Pomona first Baptist church website on the bottom of this. It will be this Saturday at 7pm Central time.

 http://www.pfblive.tv/

http://vimeo.com/28776521

Facebook focuses on media sharing

9-26-11

There seems to be a rapid innovation from social networking rivals in the past week. Google + is introduced to the rivalry and in the midst of that, facebook was improving the site by encouraging users to share more of the media they consume including music and movies.  This has been welcomed by some users and has caused annoyance to some and I’m one of them. It just seems complicated now. I’m a huge fan of facebook, but if the cite wants to remain popular, they should keep it as less complicated as possible.

Google + the new thing?

9-23-11

As I was in class today, three of my friends asked me if I had a Google + account. I immediately asked what that was. Apparently it’s the new social network and supposedly better and much less complicated than facebook. This explains why I saw a + as I was searching for a website on Google the other day. I have to admit, I’m quite nervous to join Google +, I’ve longed been a facebook fan and this is my fourth year as a facebook member. I always asked myself if anything would ever take over facebook. I hope this isn’t my answer.

Four Million Homes switch to Digital TV in UK

9-22-11

Free view Channels are now available to 17million homes in England. This is a technological transformation that's occurring. Technology transformation is good, but in this case, the new digital TV in my opinion isn’t as good as the old analogue channels. You now have to almost search for channels every time you turn on your television and that's slower than the old analogue channels. I don't think this switch is meant to better televisions at all, but only make people switch to cable. This new digital TV is free, but how long people would last with it, I really don't know.

American public agrees with Obama

9-20-11

Opinion polls in America are suggesting that the American public agrees with Barack Obama that the rich should pay more tax if the country is to get out of its debt and deficit hole. I would also agree with the Americans who are on Obama’s side. I think its simple math; if the poor are paying more taxes than the rich, how is the poor going to survive when they can’t even support their families. The rich therefore are just paying fewer taxes and have extra money to waste. The U.S really has to balance the equation and make it equal for all Americans. Obama knows it has little chance of passing congress at the moment. The debt and deficit  

Facebook  improving!

9-19-11

It’s incredible how almost every week facebook has something new on the website. I last logged in on Thursday, and as I logged in this morning I notice it has “improved” friend list which will let us choose more carefully who gets to see what. I also noticed it has separated contacts into groups by giving us smart lists which will look at people who appear to share a workplace, school or family. I found this interesting because if I want to find out about my friends at providence, I would just click Providence on the smart list and it will directly show me status, feeds and other great stuff that facebook offers us. Facebook remains the dominant force among other social networks.

Updates improve Facebook and Twitter Connections

9-16-11

Facebook users will soon be able to pipe their profile directrly to a connected Twitter account according to BBC news. This does not flatter me one bit considering the negative thoughts I have towards Twitter. I think Twitter will unfortunately benefit more with the partnership that will be occurring soon, just a week ago it had reached a million users, and now I think it will start to grow. Facebook by no means will remain the dominant force in the social network. For users who have both, this will just make it more flexible to get feeds and update status.

U.S Soccer vs. Canadian Soccer

9-15-11

The prospect of playing Northland International University at Dunbar, WI was an exciting feeling as I packed my bags Wednesday evening. I didn’t know that we were up for a tough physical game played at a higher level. The referees in the states are not used to a “soft” soccer game, so fouls that we thought should have been called were not. Northland International University dominated 110% of the game and we were definitely outstretched. Providence University College ends up losing 2-0, and we hope to do better in tomorrow’s game when we will be playing the same team.

Commuting life vs. Dorm life

9-14-11

As a first year student, living on campus is the best experience that I’m having right now as a freshman. Since I’m new to Manitoba, I really didn’t have a choice between commuting and living on campus. I’ve always wanted to know how it’s like commuting, and I interviewed my classmate Trevor who is a commuter and asked him about life outside. He lives in a small town called Blumernort which is about 15mins away. Trevor mentioned that he likes the home-cooked meals from his mom and loves the comfort of eating anywhere he wishes to. Trevor also has to pay of his car and his not sure if he is actually saving money or not. As Trevor and I graduate in the same year, we will then evaluate who saved money throughout our life in College.

Britain PM turning to Christ

9-13-11

This totally made my day as I was reading Christian Today news. One of the headlines was “British PM challenged to support prayer for Britain.” As you may know, the past couple of months have been horrifying for not just the nation of Britain but the man in the hot seat, David Cameron. Riots, protests adding to the meltdown that Britain is already facing wasn’t what David Cameron would have wished for. As the global day of prayer comes at a very strategic time for the UK, David wants prayers to be emphasized on the nation’s current state. This is just amazing to witness politicians gathering together praying to the holy one. The bible says, “one day every knee will bow before me” Romans 14:11. Only God can restore England to peaceful times, I hope and pray for all politicians to not only try and make their forms of government good, but seek first the kingdom of God.

Why more money?

9-12-11

People love money! I think everybody does, but how much do we really need and want to be satisfied. Everybody needs money to be able to survive, and that’s why most people work and go to school for. David Beckham faced criticism over his big move to the Los Angeles Galaxy. Many were confused and wondered why he wanted to go from playing in Spain, to lower level of Football in Los Angeles. He is getting paid three times what he got in Spain, and still he managed to survive, lived in a humongous house and supports his family. Did he move for the money, or to improve soccer in the U.S? This is something David can only answer, but as I watch or read the news each day, millions of people in Africa are still dying of starvation, and you have people like David who are making millions each year. How can we help those who don’t have what we have?

9-9-11

Twitter is actually progressing?

As I was reading sky news today, I came across an article on twitter quoting that the micro-blogging site now has 100 million active users. Apparently the number of people who log on at least once a month has soared by 82% since the beginning of the year. I am not a fan of twitter, for various reasons. I think it’s complicated for first time users, and I really don’t see the point of posting what you are doing. I don’t see any fun in that, I think at the moment, Facebook is the dominant force, and will be for many years, well that’s my opinion.

What do you think?

Technology at it's Best!

Technology at it's Best!

9-8-11

Is modern technology bringing more opportunities to spread the gospel? We spend so much time upgrading things that we have, and we often forget to upgrade our spiritual lives. “Faith comes by Hearing” is a Christian organization that is offering a free Bible application for cell phones in more than 500 languages. As technology continues to grow each day, many of us are easily getting distracted by the great stuff that is coming our way. Some may agree and say that this modern technology is actually benefiting us in terms of our spiritual lives. I think if we use this technology for God’s purpose, we will definitely proclaim the name of Jesus. “In all seriousness, we realize this technology is a gift from God” said Faith Comes by Hearing National Director Troy Carl. I truly support this organization in the way they are humbly providing free access to the Word of God.