text:
There are few elections in a lifetime that you actually remember as clearly historic. When I was a freshman at Chaminade in 1960, President John F. Kennedy defeated Richard Nixon in an election that was very close, so close, that the results were really not known until early the following morning. There was great joy among Catholics because they realized that a Catholic could now be elected president. People saw it as a new beginning.
Kennedy's election came 32 years after Herbert Hoover had defeated another Catholic, New York Gov. Al Smith, in an election that featured hostility against Smith because of his religion.
Tragically, Kennedy was assassinated less than three years into his presidency, and Vice President Lyndon Johnson, a former Senate majority leader from the Democratic "solid-South," became the president.
In 1964 Johnson won in a landslide against Sen. Barry Goldwater of Arizona, but Goldwater's campaign began the Republican Party's journey toward a conservative appeal. Four years later, Richard Nixon achieved a victory in a "law and order" campaign that also capitalized on the split within the Democrats over Vietnam. In the 1968 campaign, Alabama Gov. George Wallace, a defender of segregation, ran as a third-party candidate and received about 10 million votes.
In 1972 Nixon won in a landslide, employing a southern strategy that flowed from Wallace's appeal to the conservative South.
In 1980 Ronald Reagan also was elected president in a landslide carrying the South and also bringing in a Republican majority in the Senate for the first time in decades. But there had been no Catholic nominee for either party since Kennedy was elected 20 years earlier, despite the fact that Catholics make up a huge part of the American electorate.
Kennedy is still the first and only Catholic president, but the election last Tuesday demonstrated the White House can be won by anyone, regardless of race or religion. We have turned a page in American history.
President-elect Obama's victory reaffirmed the principle that great opportunities are open to everyone in our land. Although I always thought that a woman or a Jewish candidate would be elected president before an African American, Obama's victory showed that in America anything can happen when someone works hard and reaches out to people of all races and religions for support.
Obama carried three key states in the South: Florida, North Carolina and Virginia. He also carried Indiana, a state that had not voted for a Democrat in decades. As I remember Kennedy's election, young people will remember Obama's victory for the rest of their lives.
Obama gave a brilliant victory speech. He spoke to all Americans, and now has to demonstrate that he is not a "black president" but everyone's president.
Last spring I wrote a column that said this election was no longer about the Iraq War, but about the economy. Obama and his campaign team brilliantly switched gears and capitalized on the issue. He was, of course, greatly helped by the stock market meltdown in September. Iraq was no longer on the front pages, the issue that propelled Obama in the early primaries. McCain's strength on national security was not center stage.
Obama began to talk about tax cuts for 95 percent of American taxpayers. He gained support because of Americans' fears about their economic security. He ran a flawless campaign.
His election is historic. But we should wonder whether his election will be an aberration
or whether we will see another Catholic or African American president anytime soon.


text:
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Making the Basement Livable - Row House Renovation Ideas & Remodel
Basement History
One of the obstacles with old row homes are the usability of the basement. Today we think of a basement as extra living space. Unfortunately in the 1890's, when our row home was built, the basement was nothing more than a place to store food since it remains cool throughout the year.
Home builders in the late 1800's still had to dig deep to create a foundation. Since basements were not considered living space, there was no incentive to dig a full height basement. This is the case with our row home. Depending on where you stand, our basement was only about 5 - 6 feet high.
At some point in the last 60 years or so, someone decided to pour concrete in the back half of the basement and the front of the basement remained dirt. My best guess for the concrete floor was to provide a stable and hard surface for an old furnace that was still in the home and possibly a hot water tank.
Layout of Home When Purchased
These pictures represent the dimensions and layout of the home when we purchased it. I do not have a layout for the basement but it closely resembles the 1st floor layout. Notice the stairs are in the middle of the house which creates a front and back half of the home. The stairs will be moved to create an open concept living space.
The second floor is wider than the first floor. This is due to a tunnel which runs between my house and the neighbors house. The second floor joists are cantilevered over the tunnel making the second floor an extra three feet wider.
Condition of Basement
When we purchased the home, the basement was filled with junk. There was also very little lighting in the basement so I'm not sure how any previous owners ever really used this space.
Luckily there was a nice new gas meter already installed so that will save some money. I'm not sure when or why the gas meter was replaced as the furnace had not been ran in years. The electric meter was old and definitely needed replaced early in the project. Both of these are located in the front of the basement.
During the demo process, we filled up three 30 yard dumpsters! The original demo crew took out what they could from the basement but it wasn't worth me getting another dumpster at the time. So I had to have my next crew remove the rest of the debris and the stairs so we could get ready for digging.
Digging Out The Basement
After the basement was cleared out, we could move forward with the basement dig out. In order to make the basement usable, we decided to dig down to a height of 7' 4". That requires moving a lot of dirt! Here's why we need to dig down this far:
Standard door heights are 80" tall or 6' 8" which leaves us plenty of room to install doors and trim.
We have the added bonus of jack hammering out the concrete in the back half of the basement and removing it.
New Basement Layout
The layout of the basement allows for a nice 10 x 13 room which is plenty of space for a couch and TV. We also will have a half bathroom since there will be no bathroom on the first floor. Then the back half of the basement will be a utility room for the furnace, hot water tank and utility sink. Laundry facilities are located on the second floor of the home.
If you are curious as to what I use to create my floor plans, check out Chief Architect Home Designer Architectural software. I purchased it from Amazon for about $180. It is well worth the money if you are doing any sort of major home remodeling projects.
Our new basement plans call for a half bathroom in the basement. The problem is, our sewer line is about 4 feet higher than the basement floor. So in order to have any sort of plumbing for a bathroom, utility sink and floor drain, we had to install a sump pump, or in this case grinder pump, since we have to push waste up to the sewer line.
The plumber mapped out where new lines had to be dug in the ground for my digging crew. For the sewer lines, the digging crew had to dig down and extra 12" for the plumbing.
Pouring a Concrete Floor
After the plumbing was complete, we were ready to pour the concrete floor. We ended up not using gravel since the floor sits well below the frost line and there really won't be anything heavy on the concrete. The concrete serves as a solid surface so we can finish the basement floors.
Luckily there is a window in the basement in the front of the house, so it was easy for the concrete truck to pour the concrete down a chute we built. From there the workers could spread out the concrete and level it out.
Foundation Wall
When you solve one problem sometimes it creates a new problem. In this case, after all the digging was complete and our concrete floor was poured, our basement floor was about 6" lower than the bottom of the foundation walls. This is not a good situation for the long term. The best solution we came up with was to build a concrete curb around the whole perimeter of the basement floor.
The curb is approximately 10" tall so it will provide support around the entire base of the foundation and overlap it by about 4". We built the curb to be 4" wide as well so our framing can sit on top of the curb.
The curb came out nicely! Now I feel more comfortable that our foundation will remain in tact.
Now that the concrete floor and curb are complete, we can finally start framing the walls. We used pressure treated lumber for the bottom plates since the base of the framing is in direct contact with the concrete floor and curb. This will help to prevent our framing from rotting in the years to come in case the basement floor experiences any moisture.
I mentioned earlier that the plumbing made the basement seem incredibly small and closed in. Now that the walls are up, it's easier to visual the space and to see that we do indeed have enough room. Our plans make sense on paper and as they are carried out.
This part of the house is complete and ready for electric, HVAC and water lines.
Basement Prep Cost
Here are the costs we incurred to prep the basement to become a livable space:
Total: $8,448
Final Thoughts
This is actually the second row home we've renovated where we turned the basement into a living space. The first time we did not have to do any depth digging as the ceiling height was sufficient. Also, our sewer line was ground level and did not require a grinder pump to push waste upwards.
The money spent is well worth it. When the project is complete, we will have 4 levels of living space! This will definitely add value to the home whether we are renting it out or selling it.
Related Posts on Row Home Renovations:
Hi readers! What do you think of the work we have done to make the basement of our row home a livable space? Feel free to ask any questions, I'd be happy to answer them!
Want to get the latest posts from The Cash Lab? Make sure to subscribe on Facebook, Twitter, or by email or RSS reader (in the column to the right).
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Crosaire No 15035 by Crossheir – Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Due to a technical problem, the wrong grid was published to accompany Crosaire No 15,035 in yesterday's newspaper.
We sincerely apologise for this error and the frustration it caused everyone.
I can send you the correct crossword on email if you contact me on email@example.com
Lorna Kernan - Crossword Editor
8 Old leader (Dev = DE- V-) admits positive word from Berlin (yes = -JA) gives you (-U) (DEJA VU) familiar feeling (DEJA VU),
9 Offer employment on notice board (PUT UP JOB) to give prearranged false impression (PUT-UP JOB)
10 University (University of Limerick = UL = -LU-) turns up in Clare (C-E) (CLUE) – this is it (this is a CLUE),
11 Director (-D-) in control (POW-ER-) gets blast (-PUFF) (POWDER-PUFF) from dust pad (POWDER-PUFF),
12 Exclamation of displeasure (Bah! = BHA-) assembling kit (-KTI) (BHAKTI) for religious practice in India (BHAKTI),
14 Wait … no wait … (HESITATE), think twice about this (HESITATE),
15 Ironic how welfare cough up this (social welfare give SICKNESS BENEFIT) complaint (SICKNESS) for reward (BENEFIT) (SICKNESS BENEFIT),
18 Nan (ANN-) arranged to find you (-U-) a friend (-ALLY) (ANNUALLY) once a year (ANNUALLY),
20 Brother (-BR-) in some (SOM-E) (SOMBRE) dull mood (SOMBRE),
22 Fire (Fire! = SMOKE ALARM) butt (SMOKE) at gangster (Al Capone = -AL-) with weapon (-ARM) (SMOKE ALARM),
24 Messenger (PAGE) produces precious metal (silver = -AG-) in training centre (P-E) (PAGE),
25 At home (IN), got account (current account = CA-) of Middle East (-ME-) artist (-RA) (IN CAMERA) behind closed doors (IN CAMERA),
26 Makes amends (ATONES) as (A-S) embraces in a manner of speaking (-TONE-) (ATONES).
1 Muse leaves Methuselah ('Methuselah' without 'muse' = ethlah = HEALTH) for well-being (HEALTH),
2 Kale (Kale = LAKE) in a mess surrounded by land (LAKE),
3 Copyright (C-) to put (put = -UT-P-) awful Chinese staple (-RICE) (CUT PRICE) with bargain (CUT-PRICE),
4 Rapidly let go of (SPEW) long bench (-PEW) behind Point (compass point south = S-) (SPEW),
5 Draw attention to (STRESS) small weight (a stone weight = ST-) about (-RE-) to go onboard (-SS) (STRESS),
6 It's precise to say (APOPHTHEGM) it's not worth the paper it's written on ("it's not worth the paper it's written on" = a cryptic remark = APOPHTHEGM),
7 Alien (-ET-) in recipe for confit? (CONF-TI) (CONFETTI) It goes over new wife's head (CONFETTI),
13 The clan (the "clan" = the "Klan" = KU KLUX KLAN) it's said who prefer White Christmases perhaps? (KU KLUX KLAN = name of several organisations through the years; some opposed to social change/minorities, etc., and, therefore, might prefer all-white Christmases),
14 Impulsive (HASTY) for good man (-ST-) to hide in straw (straw = HA-Y) (HASTY),
16 Public humiliation (IGNOMINY) for solider (GI = -IG-) returning with French name (name = -NOM-) fashionable (-IN-) at end of July (end of July = -Y) (IGNOMINY),
17 Not difficult to beat in butchers perhaps (EASY MEAT) with a piece of cake (EASY MEAT),
19 Open grassy land (LEA-) for revolutionary (red = -DER) returning (LEADER) with woman in charge (LEADER),
21 Reproach oneself for (rue = RU-E) taking in horse (-GG-) registered (-R) (RUGGER) as game in private schools (rugby = RUGGER),
23 Teetotaller (A-A) admits Jay (-J-) cross (-X) (AJAX) with Greek fighter (AJAX),
24 It's a little academic (professor = PROF) to be in favour of (PRO-) loud music (-F) (PROF).


text:
Well my Simplicity Yeoman threw a rod. So i picked this Ariens up for 5 Bucks. I was just Curious how old would it be?
8 Hp Ariens Rer
Started by SimplicitySwede , Apr 29, 2012 12:06 AM
1 reply to this topic
Posted April 29, 2012 - 12:06 AM
Posted April 29, 2012 - 06:10 AM
If you have model and ser. no you can download manuals from the Ariens site. 5 bucks!! LOL I can't believe some of the deals you guys get! A good once over with a power washer will work wonders on that. looks like it was stored for a long time inside.


text:
What does clamoring mean?
Definitions for clamoring
Here are all the possible meanings and translations of the word clamoring.
Princeton's WordNet
clamor, clamoring, clamour, clamouring, hue and cry(noun)
loud and persistent outcry from many people
"he ignored the clamor of the crowd"
A sound that clamors.
Webster Dictionary
of Clamor
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of clamoring in Chaldean Numerology is: 2
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of clamoring in Pythagorean Numerology is: 2
Sample Sentences & Example Usage
Many boards are clamoring for clarity, they want to do the right thing.
I do not see an influx of tourists clamoring to visit these remote outposts.
Even if it were, the war has grown increasingly unpopular, and the public is hardly clamoring to stay.
Now that the law is unraveling, it's no surprise that Democrats are clamoring for a so-called 'public option,'.
Clearly fans who were clamoring for this change have responded to the new format, fans have voted with their remote controls.
Images & Illustrations of clamoring
Translations for clamoring
From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary
- 아우성Korean
Get even more translations for clamoring »
Find a translation for the clamoring definition in other languages:
Select another language:
Discuss these clamoring definitions with the community:
Word of the Day
Would you like us to send you a FREE new word definition delivered to your inbox daily?
Use the citation below to add this definition to your bibliography:
"clamoring." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2018. Web. 18 Mar. 2018. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/clamoring>.


text: Owl Creek Graphics 527 Broadway StreetThermopolis, WY 82443United StatesTripAdvisor® Traveler Rating 4Website(307) 864-4695Email Get Directions Select a CategoryPlaces to EatGuides & OutfittersShoppingArts & EntertainmentParks & NatureTravel ResourcesAttractionsSports & RecreationPlaces to StayOutdoor Activities Show Nearby Details WrapperDescriptionDescription Custom Imprinting including screen printing and embroidery. Wyoming & UW Licensed producer/retailer of branded apparel and accessories as well as Thermopolis souvenir items. Carhartt workwear and Redwing boots retailer. ReviewsTripAdvisor® Traveler Reviews By 1975koolcat - on Feb 6, 2017Buy on lineNice neat little shop but very overpriced. I find that most everything they have in the shop was way overpriced you could buy online free delivery much cheaper. They should turn it into more of a... Read Full ReviewBy Kerry C - Chicago, Illinois on Dec 18, 2016GiftsWent to buy some souveniors. The help was very pleasant and helpful. The items to choose from were authentic to the area. Store was very well organized. Read Full ReviewBy Dacia E - on Nov 13, 2016Nice place but expensiveThis is a very nice shop but I found it to be very expensive I look up their prices online while shopping and thought that they were way overpriced but if you're in a pinch I guess it's there and... Read Full ReviewSee All Reviews Related Content Fossil Fun Dusty Tuckness What's Your Snowmobiling Personality? Resorts


text:
By ANGUS SHAW Associated Press
HARARE, Zimbabwe May 5, 2013 (AP)
Zimbabwe's army commander said he would not speak to the nation's prime
minister, describing him as a "sellout" and a "psychiatric patient,"
reported a state-controlled Sunday newspaper.
Gen. Constantine Chiwenga dismissed calls for him and other top security
officials to meet with Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai to discuss demands
for reforms in the armed forces ahead of crucial elections this year,
reported the Sunday Mail, , which is a mouthpiece of President Robert
Mugabe's party.
Chiwenga denied claims by Tsvangirai's party, which is in a shaky coalition
with Mugabe, that military chiefs have welcomed approaches on reforms. He
called the claims "hallucinations" and said the military chiefs will not
meet with politicians who did not fight in the guerrilla war that ended
colonial rule in 1980.
"We have no time to meet sellouts. Clearly Tsvangirai is a psychiatric
patient who needs a competent psychiatrist . he seems to be suffering from
hallucinations," said Chiwenga. "We are different. Just like oil and water,
we cannot mix."
Zimbabwe's police and military are accused of state-orchestrated violence
surrounding the last disputed polls in 2008.
Similar remarks against Tsvangirai were made by Mugabe's loyalist police
commissioner general on April 27.
The army commander was "fired up" when speaking Saturday after the funeral
of his brother outside Harare, said The Sunday Mail.
"Who the hell does Tsvangirai think he is? No-one can make us turn our back
on the liberation struggle. It is unimaginable for us to spit on the
struggle by meeting sellouts," Chiwenga said, the according to the paper.
Tsvangirai, 60, was a trade union leader when the independence war ended
with a British-negotiated truce in 1979, leading to the first democratic
elections that swept Mugabe to power.
Several service commanders have refused to salute Tsvangirai at state
ceremonial events.
Tsvangirai's party insists it wants to meet with powerful pro-Mugabe
generals to discuss their future role after new elections expected later
this year, possibly in September. Tsvangirai's supporters have demanded that
the security chiefs be fired, charging that in their loyalty to Mugabe the
military heads have been partisan and unprofessional.
The two similar statements by Mugabe's two top security chiefs within a week
of each other signal a hardening of their stance and point to continuing
bias of the police and military against Tsvangirai's party ahead of upcoming
polls, say analysts.
The coalition agreement brokered by regional leaders that made Tsvangirai
the Zimbabwe prime minister in 2009 demands significant democratic and
security reforms, the scrapping of sweeping media curbs and an end to hate
speech dominating the state media controlled by Mugabe loyalists before new
The international media freedom group Reporters Without Borders on Friday
described Mugabe, 89, as "a predator of freedom of information."
Mugabe remained inflexible, refused to cooperate with the former opposition
in the power-sharing government and blocked media reforms necessary for a
free and fair election, said the group in a statement marking World Press
Freedom Day.
Mugabe and his senior officers and officials still exercised strict control
over the state media and curtailed the activities of independent media
organizations through threats and surveillance, said the press watchdog.
That included an oppressive George Orwell-style "Big Brother is Watching
You" law that lets Zimbabwe security authorities intercept communications
without asking the courts, said Reporters Without Borders.
By KITSEPILE NYATHI in Harare | Sunday, May 5 2013 at 14:33
Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe has warned that the country's draft
constitution will be discarded if it is rejected by Parliament this week.
The new constitution, which took more than four years to craft, was approved
at a referendum in March and would be taken to parliament this week.
President Mugabe must append his signature to the document before it becomes
He told a meeting of his Zanu-PF party's central committee at the weekend
that the country would be forced to revert to the old constitution if the
legislators take their time to approve the new draft.
"We hope parliament will pass it," the veteran ruler said. "It is not yet a
constitution, but a political draft.
"If people dilly-daily on it, then we go back to the old constitution.
"Some people might want to pick their preferred clauses from the draft.
"However, nothing of that sort is acceptable. We are not bothered; we will
go back to the old constitution."
President Mugabe is pushing for elections by June 29 when the life of the
current Parliament expires but his opponents and regional leaders are
pushing for electoral and security sector reforms before any polls.
But the 89 year-old leader who wants to run for another term in office said
he would not succumb to international pressure to delay the polls.
"The clock is ticking," he said. "This is May. In June, whether anyone likes
it or not, it will be election time.
"You do not run to countries even in Europe to prevent the sun from setting
on June 29."
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai who has been in a power sharing government
with his former rival last week met leaders of South Africa, Tanzania,
Gabon, Nigeria, Botswana and Mozambique to lobby them to lean on President
Mugabe to implement reforms before the polls.
South African President Jacob Zuma is the mediator in talks between Zimbabwe's
three governing political parties to create a conducive environment ahead of
the elections.
His team was in Harare last week to assess progress on the reforms.
Tsvangirai woes
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe's army commander has vowed not to meet Prime Minister
Morgan Tsvangiriai over proposed security sector reforms, describing him as
a 'psychiatric patient.'
General Constantine Chiwenga, the commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces,
a staunch ally of President Robert Mugabe said meeting the former opposition
leader would be a betrayal of the country's liberation struggle.
A fortnight ago, officials from the Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic
Change (MDC), said the party had met several security chiefs to discuss the
reforms backed by the Southern African Development Community.
"We have no time to meet a sell out," Gen Chiwenga told the state owned
Sunday Mail.
"Clearly (Mr) Tsvangirai is a psychiatric patient who needs a competent
Zimbabwe's army generals who openly support President Mugabe's Zanu PF party
have in the past vowed not to salute Mr Tsvangirai if he wins an election.
The MDC leader has indicated that despite the opposition by the security
chiefs, his party was prepared to work with them in a post President Mugabe
"It's a figment of his imagination that he met us," Gen Chiwenga said
referring to Mr Tsvangirai.
"I think he was dreaming and that dream should remain a dream and never be a
reality because we have better things to do than to meet with sell-outs.
"It's just not possible for me to entertain the MDC leader, we are
"Just like oil and water, we cannot mix. As the defence forces we will not
respect or entertain people who do not value the ideals of the liberation
The security forces were accused of orchestrating political violence in 2008
after President Mugabe lost the first round of the presidential elections to
Mr Tsvangirai.
By Chengetayi Zvauya, Parliamentary Editor
Sunday, 05 May 2013 14:03
HARARE - PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe has insisted that the country will hold
harmonised elections by June 29 when the life of the Seventh Parliament
comes to an end.
Addressing members of the Zanu PF central committee at his party
headquarters in Harare yesterday, Mugabe said the mandate of the inclusive
government and Global Political Agreement (GPA) will expire together with
Parliament's term.
"This two or three-headed creature called the GPA is coming to an end, the
clock is ticking. This is May and at the end of June, whether anyone likes
it or not nguva inenge yakwana, the sun will set."
And in pointed remarks apparently aimed at Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's
ongoing regional diplomatic offensive to drum up support for his party's
position, Mugabe said no amount of lobbying will scuttle his June poll date.
"And for the holding of the poll, you can go to any African country or
Europe to prevent the day but the sun is setting on June 29," Mugabe vowed.
"You can go and say please America the day is coming but it is unstoppable.
The creature that has helped others is going to die that day. It is a
natural death and it is ending. We are not going to negotiate on that
matter," Mugabe said to rapturous applause from the gallery.
Mugabe spoke as Tsvangirai had just met Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan
in Abuja in the latest leg of his diplomatic offensive to Central and West
Africa to drum up support for his party's position.
Tsvangirai on Thursday met Gabon President Ali Bongo Ondimba in Libreville
and later met with Jonathan in Abuja to press for Africa's support for free
and fair elections in Zimbabwe.
Earlier, he had held talks with Tanzanian President and Southern African
Development Community (Sadc) Troika chairperson Jakaya Kikwete whom he told
Mugabe was hoodwinking the regional bloc and surreptitiously planning a
peaceful but rigged election.
He also had had a brief stopover in the Angolan capital Luanda where he met
with the Foreign minister, Georges Chicoti.
Last Sunday evening, Tsvangirai met South African leader and Sadc
facilitator in the Zimbabwe dialogue Jacob Zuma in Pretoria and emphasised
the need for a mini-regional summit to speed up reforms ahead of the crunch
While Tsvangirai was calling for the alignment of laws to the new
constitution passed on March 16, Mugabe also urged his Zanu PF legislators
to pass the Constitutional Bill when it is introduced in Parliament on
He said if the Bill fails to sail through the house, Zimbabwe will revert to
the 19-times amended Lancaster House Constitution. He rallied party members
to mobilise support and get ready for the elections.
"If the Constitutional Bill does not pass on Tuesday when it will be
introduced in Parliament, we will go to elections and if people dilly-dally
with it and fail to pass it, we shall continue to use the old Lancaster
Constitution," Mugabe said.
"We have had it for 33 years and it is good enough. Some will want to delay
it hoping to stop the elections.
"We are going to be leaving everything in the hands of (Justice and Legal
Affairs minister Patrick) Chinamasa, our lawyer and we hope kuti vanorovera
bhora mugedhi."
The central committee meeting yesterday following a marathon Zanu PF
politburo meeting that started at 3pm on Friday and ended on Saturday
morning discussing the party's state of preparedness ahead of the key
Mugabe informed the central committee that his party had agreed on the need
to go ahead with the process of selecting candidates, and the warring
factions in Manicaland Province had agreed to bury the hatchet and work
The rules for aspiring party candidates for Zanu PF is that one should have
been a party member for more than five years and should have held a post in
the party structures.
There will be exemptions for those who have worked in the diplomatic sector
or in government.
Robert Mugabe's Zanu PF has been accused of using food aid to build
political support ahead of general elections in Zimbabwe later this year.
By Aislinn Laing, Johannesburg2:54PM BST 05 May 2013
Officials in the south are said to be circumventing local, multiparty
councillors who previously distributed food aid, instead giving grain and
rice donated by the president only to Zanu PF loyalists to distribute.
They in turn have allegedly been demanding to see Zanu PF membership cards
before they hand over food parcels.
An estimated 1.6 million Zimbabweans are dependent on food aid because of
severe dry spells and hailstorms which wiped up to 80 per cent of crops in
some areas.
There are fears that with a new harvest approaching and forecasts of erratic
rainfall, more could soon be affected.
Analysts say that with international pressure on Zimbabwe's politicians to
avoid the bloodshed of previous elections, coercion tactics such as the
partisan distribution of food will increasingly be deployed.
"If they are trying to avoid outright violence in the next elections, the
manipulation of food supplies becomes part of an array of tactics that can
be used instead," said Piers Pigou, from International Crisis Group
Several reports have surfaced about such practices in Masvingo and
Matabeleland South, two of the worst-affected provinces.
In Matobo, south of Bulawayo and hit by cattle deaths and crop failures, it
was reported that only wards represented by Zanu PF councillors were being
given food.
Sithembile Mlotshwa, an MDC senator, told Newsday that supporters were
turned away from a village school last month where wheat was being
"I was told that supporters of the MDC-T were told to move away as the wheat
was meant for card-carrying Zanu PF members only," he said. "Some of the
wheat was distributed at a shop belonging to a known Zanu PF activist in a
move to frustrate the MDC-T supporters."
Andrew Langa, the Zanu PF Matabeleland South chairman, denied the claims,
saying it was not his party's policy to discriminate on the basis of
political allegiance.
"I am not aware of that and I doubt that anyone could consider party
affiliation when distributing food meant for Zimbabweans," he said.
Douglas Mwonzora, the MDC-T's national spokesman, said he was concerned that
such activities were increasing.
"Zanu PF is using food as a political weapon," he told The Daily Telegraph.
"The drought has made people more and more dependent on food handouts and
more likely to act in Zanu PF's favour in order to be fed."
He said that the MDC-T's ministers, who sit in a fractious coalition
government with Zanu PF, had sought a resolution in cabinet condemning the
"Although the MDC is represented at ministerial level, the government
bureaucrats are still Zanu PF, and determine the manpower that does the
Jonga Kandemiiri
WASHINGTON DC — Lawmakers in Zimbabwe are on Tuesday expected to table a
constitutional bill which will become the country's supreme law if it gets
majority approval in the house of assembly and the Senate.
According to Parliamentary and Constitutional Affairs Minister Eric
Matinenga, all lawmakers are supposed to attend the important parliamentary
sessions as both houses resume sitting Tuesday.
Matinenga said the bill contains provisions of the country's parliamentary
constitution committee's draft constitution which was overwhelmingly adopted
by Zimbabweans in a referendum a month ago.
Zimbabwe is expected to hold a general election under a new constitution
sometime this year.
Sunday, 05 May 2013 14:03
HARARE - Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC party has denied that its
popularity ratings have plunged, disputing an opinion poll which revealed
that it suffered a slide.
The MDC is facing a rough ride in the GNU, and its leader Tsvangirai seem to
have been outwitted by his foe, President Robert Mugabe, a cunning political
veteran who has used a mix of intimidation, obstinacy and charm to stymie
With a call for a national elections on the cards as soon as June,
Tsvangirai and his MDC also face a tough election battle against Zanu PF.
The latest poll by the Mass Public Opinion Institute, a Zimbabwean
organisation that conducted the fieldwork for the poll commissioned by
Freedom House, a US-based group, showed the resurgent Zanu PF on 31 percent
from 17 percent with support for the MDC dropping dramatically from 38
percent to 20 percent.
The survey of about 1 200 Zimbabweans, conducted in 2012, 47 percent refused
to express a party preference.
The collapse is the most dramatic of the MDC in its 13 years in existence.
MDC secretary-general Tendai Biti yesterday rubbished the opinion poll,
claiming his party will garner 75 percent of the votes.
Biti said what has indeed gone down is the confidence and security of the
people. He said looking at the huge figure of people who did not want to
express themselves freely in the opinion poll, the MDC was actually
concluding that the voting bloc were MDC supporters who would vote against
Zanu PF.
Tsvangirai, hailed as a steady hand on the economic tiller in his four years
as prime minister, has failed to assert his authority over the crucial
security and media sectors and his party's political impotence in the
political realm has pulled down his reputation for economic competence.
But Biti said the findings could not be relied on because they were carried
out in a climate of fear.
"The only opinion poll which matters will be the election," Biti said
addressing a gathering in Kuwadzana, Harare.
Zimbabwe is set to hold fresh elections later this year to end the uneasy
coalition between Mugabe and Tsvangirai which was formed after an
inconclusive election in 2009.
"Some polls have credited 30 percent to MDC while giving Zanu PF 35 percent
and saying about 40 percent could not share their political opinions. That
40 percent represent MDC people who because of fear of intimidation could
not reveal their party choice," said Biti.
Biti stressed to his party members that there was no other party leader
other than Tsvangirai, and urged MDC supporters to desist from factionalism.
The Finance minister was accompanied by parliamentarians including, Obert
Gutu, Paurina Mpariwa, Paul Madzore, Jessie Majome and Amos Chibaya and some
MDC representatives from the United Kingdom.
Biti said they were confident of also getting the alien vote saying Mugabe
had lost it when he called them "vanhu vasina mitupo", (people without
origin), thus "humiliating people he was supposed to be leading." - Bridget
Mananavire and John Kachembere
Sunday, 05 May 2013 13:37
HARARE - The Harare City Council account continues to dry up, with mounting
debt revenue from water dropping from $6 million to $4 million in the first
"The drop has been gradual since the beginning of the year," said town clerk
Tendai Mahachi without specifying the reasons for the slide.
The local authority is currently struggling to provide water to its
According to Mahachi, the development has affected other maintenance
projects that the city has been doing.
"The low revenue inflows have forced Harare water to scale down projects
being funded from revenue. These include Firle sewage works rehabilitation,
Dzivaresekwa pump station as well as water and sewerage pipe replacement
projects," said Mahachi.
Only last week the city plunged into darkness when national energy supplier
the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (Zesa) cut off supplies over an
estimated $774 million bill.
Two other council facilities, Cleveland House and Remembrance Drive, have
reportedly gone without electricity for at least five days.
Cleveland House is where the urban planning services and the engineering
departments are based, while Remembrance Drive is home to the housing
department and its divisions.
Harare water also owes Zesa $45 million, accumulated over 45 months, with
monthly power consumption at $1 million a month at its water treatment
plants, according to media reports.
Though the authority has been criticised following the disconnection, it
claims the issue has been resolved amicably.
Mayor Muchadeyi Masunda recently disclosed that the council requires $20
million on a monthly basis for its operations.
Council is owed about $300 million in unpaid bills by government
departments, the corporate sector and residents.
Sources within council say, outside high defaulters, corruption has also
significantly led to the drop. - Wendy Muperi
Thursday, 02 May 2013 17:37
Staff Reporter
MUTARE — Lack of political will among the country's governing political
parties has been the major stumbling block stalling the reopening of the
multi-million dollar Chisumbanje ethanol project, Basil Nyabadza, the
chairperson of the Agricultural Rural Development Authority (ARDA) has
The US$600 million project, which commenced in 2008, has become a victim of
conflicting partisan politics following the formation of the inclusive
government in February 2009.
ARDA partnered with Rating, owned by businessman Billy Rautenbach, and
Macdom Investments to form Green Fuels, which owns the embattled Chisumbanje
The project falls under three different ministries, which are all aligned to
three different parties.
It falls under the Ministry of Agriculture and Mechanisation controlled by
ZANU-PF, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce under the smaller formation
of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and the Ministry of Energy and
Power Development headed by a minister from Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's
Its parentage has become a problem for Green Fuels since cabinet is
presently constructed on political accommodation between the three parties
which are pulling in different directions.
Nyabadza, a former ZANU-PF provincial chairman accused the two MDC
formations of throwing spanners into the licencing of the project.
"The constituency it is under (Chisumbanje) is now in the hands of the
MDC-T. The project has got the capacity to influence how people will vote in
the next election. Ownership of the project became an issue. Agriculture is
very much vested in ZANU-PF but the Energy (Ministry) is in the hands of the
MDC-T, responsible of issuing a license.
"My portfolio as the ARDA chairman is under ZANU-PF and if I go to MDC-T for
energy regulatory requirement, there is already a political discord. If I go
to the Industry (Ministry), the issue is the same," lamented Nyabadza.
Green Fuels is yet to receive a licence from the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory
Authority under the Ministry of Energy which says it must first comply with
all the necessary regulatory requirements.
Nyabadza believes it would have been a different scenario if the ministry
was under a ZANU-PF official.
Thursday, 02 May 2013 17:06
Tinashe Madava, Senior Reporter
AT the corner of Chinhoyi Street and Kwame Nkrumah Avenue look-outs hang
around lazily but alert for any signs of trouble. An equal number of
sentries with a similar mission stand guard at another intersection, Park
Street and Kwame Nkrumah.
They are all looking out for Harare City Council and Zimbabwe Republic
Police (ZRP) details that are on assignment to rid the central business
district (CBD) of touts and commuter minibuses from undesignated loading
As soon as a group of police officers is seen meandering towards the illegal
loading zone, whistles alert the minibuses loading commuters to Borrowdale
and Hatcliffe.
With engines always on the ready, raving continuously as touts shout to
attract the attention of commuters to different vehicles, the whistles are
met by load bangs on loading minibuses whose drivers suddenly speed off
mindless of oncoming traffic. Even pedestrians have to jump out of the way
when the fleeing starts.
Sometimes police details are able to sneak on the minibus crews in unmarked
vehicles. When this happens, the unfazed minibus drivers attempt to escape.
That is when all hell breaks loose.
The uniformed truncheon-wielding ZRP officers jump out of the way and in the
process deliver window-shattering blows to the windscreen of the offending
vehicle, oblivious of the fact that there are passengers onboard.
On their part, the drivers even speed off recklessly, weaving in and out of
traffic. On occasions, undercover officers pretend to be commuters and board
the minibuses, only to announce upon departure that the vehicles are being
Eddie Banda (not his real name), a minibus driver who uses the illegal
loading zone said he will continue the cat and mouse game with law
enforcement agents.
"I get good profits here. It does not make sense for me to go to Fourth
Street where there are too many Kombis plying my route so if I come here, I
load quickly and the money is good. Business is brisk. If my windscreen is
smashed, I will not replace it right away as we simply pay off the police at
roadblocks," said Banda.
Like many of his colleagues who refused to be interviewed, he blamed police
and the city council for the commotion in the city centre's roads.
Law enforcement agencies started cracking the whip last year in efforts to
bring sanity in the city following an outcry that members of the infamous
Chipangano group allegedly aligned to ZANU-PF were extorting money from
minibus drivers as protection and loading fees across the city's termini.
At the time, various reports suggested that the Chipangano members were
collecting tens of thousands of dollars per day which they shared with top
ZANU-PF officials at the party offices in the city at the close of business
every day.
Then, the Harare City Council said it would move in to replace Chipangano
members since it was the responsibility of council to run the city termini.
But nothing of the sort happened.
Instead, council and national police have intensified crackdown on illegal
loading zones saying they are acting to root out lawlessness in the city
centre. Yet the clampdown has not only resulted in property damage but
In the past month, two people were reportedly killed at a commuter rank in
the city due to lawlessness prevailing at these loading zones.
In fact, the Copacabana rank between Jason Moyo and Speke avenues along
Chinhoyi Street has become an eyesore during peak hours as minibuses
literally choke the road, bringing traffic to a halt.
Drivers blame it on poor planning by council officials while council says
they must follow the law. On their part, commuters continue to wait for
transport at illegal loading zones.
Analyst, Trevor Maisiri, says there are three issues at play. Firstly, there
is the perpetuation of the 2005 Murambatsvina mindset where the city council
is trying to bring order into the traffic jungle threatening Harare's CBD
but at the same time there is no think through about a commuter-friendly
Secondly, there is a political game at play here, where some of the pressure
on commuter omnibuses could be a pay-back for the attacks on policemen and
other security agents that took place in 2012 and even before.
Thirdly, the Chipangano phenomena where commuter omnibus ranks had become a
good pick for financial extortion cannot be ruled out as well.
"So all these three issues are at play at the same time and it therefore
makes it difficult to find sustainable resolution. Politicians are also not
eager to address this issue given the sensitivity it brings just before
elections. As much as they don't want to be seen to be promoting traffic
disorder they also don't want to be seen to be crossing the paths of
commuters. For some they also don't want to disturb their political
constituency which is making a killing from extortion," said Maisiri.
But Rejoice Ngwenya, another analyst, begs to differ.
"I'm not sure there is a 'political swing' to this saga. You need to look at
the anarchy side of registration of Kombis, and the desire of council to
respond to ratepayers' demands for an organised transport system. A
stakeholders' meeting and a commitment from Kombi operators to adhere to
by-laws would help," said Ngwenya.
He said eradicating the "Kombi" menace has two political faces: "One:
ZANU-PF operatives surviving from illegal routes, payout etc. Two: MDC-T
does not want to 'lose credibility' by outright aggression towards Kombi
owners and 'inconveniencing' commuters. But my point is that if we had
professional — a euphemism for mature — councillors, they would re-define
routes, laws and enforcement without political considerations — the way they
would deal with you, say, if you built a shack next to the City Museum".
Maisiri says a sustainable solution can only come with the re-designing of a
CBD transport system that is sensitive to commuters' needs as well as
keeping traffic order.
But in the meantime, the chaos in Harare's CBD continues unchecked with all
players from drivers, the police, council and the commuters accusing each
other of being the pantomime villains in the transport woes.
05/05/2013 00:00:00
by Reuters
AFTER shunning Zimbabwe during its years of hyperinflation and political
strife, foreign investors are finding the country increasingly attractive.
Zimbabwe's adoption of the US dollar, a new constitution that curbs
presidential powers after 33 years of President Robert Mugabe's rule, and
cheap valuations are luring some foreign investors to its stock market.
The main index, up more than 25 percent this year, hit a record high of
191.16 on Friday and offshore investors have been strong buyers.
But nagging concerns about elections due this year and the government's
policy of forcing firms to cede majority stakes to black citizens are
deterring larger portfolio inflows and the foreign direct investment that
Zimbabwe needs, investors say.
"Zimbabwe used to be the breadbasket of Africa so the potential to restore
its lost glory is still there," said Funmi Akinluyi, Silk Invest's
sub-Saharan Africa investment director, adding that the firm has no
investments in Zimbabwe but is looking at it closely.
"It just needs fundamental changes, starting with politics."
Zimbabweans in March approved a new constitution limiting presidential
powers, removing the main barrier to an election in the second half of this
year after a disputed 2008 poll.
Those investing in Zimbabwe, including Renaissance Asset Managers, Investec
and Stanlib, say they are cautious but believe it has already seen the
They also say companies are cheap compared to regional peers, while tough
conditions have produced strong managers.
"The management is brilliant," said Sven Richter of Renaissance, citing one
firm that adopts two business plans each year for high and low inflation.
"When the environment is particularly harsh you find the best management
teams come to the fore."
Mobile phone operator Econet is trading at a forward price to earnings ratio
of about 6 times, a steal compared with 16 times for its Kenyan peer
Safaricom or about 13 times for South Africa's Vodacom.
Thabo Ncalo, who co-manages Stanlib's Africa equity funds, with around $200
million in assets under management, is avoiding mining and banking stocks
because of the risks of the local ownership drive and an increase in minimum
capital requirements for lenders. The funds' exposure to Zimbabwe is some 12
Ncalo favours consumer names such as Econet, fast food group Innscor Africa
and Delta Corporation, Zimbabwe's largest brewer.
They are among the top traders by value on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange, with
a market capitalisation is $4.9 billion.
In the first three months of 2013, foreigners were net buyers of $11 million
worth of shares a month on average, more than double the monthly average in
2012, according to data from the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange.
But some investors are waiting until after the elections, hoping for more
clarity on the new government's policies.
"If this is a real turning point for the economy then we're going to want to
be invested for years, not months," said Andrew Brudenell, manager of HSBC's
$250 million frontier equity strategy, which invests in Nigeria and Kenya.
Sunday 05-May-2013 07:41
A brisk half-century from batsman Sean Williams powered ZImbabwe to a
comfortable six-wicket triumph over Bangladesh in Sunday's second ODI at the
Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.
Williams' Man of the Match performance of 78 not out afforded the hosts a
healthy turnaround in the wake of Friday's 121-run defeat, leaving next
week's third and final ODI fitting poised as the series decider.
Zimbabwe were set a target of 253 after Bangladesh amassed 252 for nine from
their 50 overs, with Abdur Razzak the only man to pass the half-ton mark
with 53 not out.
Seamer Elton Chigumbura was the pick of the bowlers after he claimed figures
of three for 39 from his allotted 10 overs, the best of the day.
Hamilton Masakadza (15) fell cheaply in the home side' reply to set nerves
jangling. However, Vusi Sibanda (49) and Williams led the way for Zimbabwe
as they passed the target with six wickets and 13 balls to spare.
It was a much-improved performance by the home side, who suffered an
embarrassing collapse in the opening match to be all out for just 148 in
32.1 overs.
The series decider takes place on Wednesday, also in Bulawayo, before a
two-match Twenty20 International series next weekend.
The scale of the challenge facing the MDC is becoming ever clearer as Zanu PF puts into action its well-practiced plan to rig the vote with the arrogant confidence bred of three decades of stealing elections.
A corrupt voters' roll and insuperable obstacles to voter registration, together with harassment of voter education, are merely the beginning (see: http://www.mdc.co.zw/index.php/news/42-rokstories/2348-zanu-pf-trying-to-rig-the-elections-through-the-voters-roll.html - Zanu PF trying to rig the elections through the voters roll).
We are now told by Mugabe's handlers (straight from Orwell's 1984) that security sector reforms were never on the agenda despite Article 13 (1) of the Global Political Agreement which reads 'State organs and institutions do not belong to any political party and should be impartial in the discharge of their duties'.
With the unreformed hate-spewing Zanu PF media sinking from propaganda to outright lies, the Vigil this week was asked by a Malawian journalist for a comment on visiting President Joyce Banda's alleged call for the lifting of 'illegal' sanctions on Zimbabwe. Here is what we said: 'The Herald is a Zanu PF propaganda sheet and cannot be relied on to report anything honestly. But if President Banda did call for the lifting of 'illegal' sanctions she was just parroting Mugabe's electioneering line that seeks to blame the West for Zimbabwe's catastrophic economic decline. The sanctions are not illegal and were targeted at people involved in human rights abuses and their companies. Trade has continued and, anyway, most sanctions have now been suspended.' We have since learnt Malawi has denied remarks in the Herald attributed to President Banda.
More serious than the propaganda onslaught, we believe, is Zanu PF's total non-co-operation with the South African mediation effort (see: http://www.zimbabwesituation.com/old/may2_2013.html#Z1 – SA facilitation team faces another ZANU PF snub). We believe the recidivist thugs fighting for control of Zanu PF must be brought to heel by President Zuma. We certainly don't agree with the disparaging remarks about South Africans made by the Zambian Vice President Guy Scott.
But our confidence is somewhat shaken by a statement by the convenor of the South African facilitation team, Charles Nqakula, after Zanu PF negotiators again failed to turn up for a meeting. 'Representatives of the two MDC parties attended the meeting but Zanu PF representatives stayed away', he said. 'We did not hear from Zanu PF. Our effort at raising ministers Patrick Chinamasa and Nicholas Goche failed. The MDC parties we met yesterday (Tuesday) conveyed to us what they believe are the real reasons why Zanu PF did not attend the meeting of the negotiators,' Nqakula said. 'On our part we believe Zanu PF representatives must have had a plausible reason for staying away. We don't believe their action was in any way an act of bad faith.' (http://www.zimbabwesituation.com/old/may3_2013.html#Z5 – Zanu PF plans to rig polls: Tsvangirai).
The Vigil hopes Mr Nqakula was just being diplomatic and that the South Africans are working out ways of forcing Zanu PF to honour the GPA. There is no shortage of options. They've tried the carrot – now it's time for the stick.
Eddie Cross, the MDC-T MP, says in his latest overview of the situation that he expects a landslide victory in the elections (see: http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk/comment/blogs/eddie-cross/65452/time-speeds-by.html - Time Speeds By). We are far away and less informed but the Vigil can't imagine an MDC victory with:
· A rigged voters' roll
· Obstacles to voter registration (except for Zanu PF and the military)
· Intimidation of MDC voters
· Corrupt electoral commission
· Clampdown on civil society organisations
· Politicised security forces
· Biased judges
· Unreformed media
· Refusal to allow UN scrutiny
· Limits on election observers
· Total non-co-operation with SADC
Other points
· More than 30 went on from the Vigil to the fortnightly meeting of the Zimbabwe Action Forum, which groups a variety of organisations including the Vigil, ROHR, Zimbabwe We Can, Zapu, MDC and on this occasion a representative of Simba Makoni's party (Mavambo Kusile Dawn). Many people believed the elections had already been sewn up by Zanu PF. Frank Mamvura of Zimbabwe We Can said he had been on the Facebook page of the former US Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Charles Ray, who had told him that change in Zimbabwe could only be brought about by those in the diaspora and it was necessary for them to organize. Peter Sidindi, also of Zimbabwe We Can, said the Vigil was the only Zimbabwean organization that had not lost its way over the years. Rashiwe Bayipayi from Brighton encouraged us by saying great numbers were not essential for effective action. Two people had climbed up a tree in Brighton when it was threatened with removal and the tree was still there. It was agreed we should set up a Facebook page for the Zimbabwe Action Forum and with great efficiency Thandiwe Gwarumba set it up on her ipad during the meeting. Fungayi Mabhunu and Michelle Dube volunteered to be the administrators of the page. Michelle also agreed to minute the meeting. Several people (Tawanda Dzimba, Wellington Mukucha, Epiphania Phiri and Frank Mamvura) volunteered for a strategy team which would identify areas the Forum should be tackling, most notably fundraising.
· Thanks to David Takundwa who was there at the start of the Vigil. He rigged up the tarpaulin between our maple trees during a sudden hail storm on an otherwise lovely spring day.
· The Vigil was sorry to hear that supporter Iline Manhunzi was in hospital – people remember her for the tasty sadza she sold at the Vigil to fundraise for ROHR. We wish her a speedy recovery.
· Activist Martin Chinyanga borrowed our Mugabe mask to stage an anti-Mugabe scenario which was filmed. See our photos.
· The Vigil was interested to see Jan Raath's criticism of the recent controversial book 'Zimbabwe takes back its Land'. Raath, a seasoned Zimbabwean journalist, said the book was 'jaw-droppingly wide of the truth' (http://www.politicsweb.co.za/politicsweb/view/politicsweb/en/page71619?oid=373778&sn=Detail&pid=71619 – Max du Preez wrong about 'Zimbabwe's flourishing farms').
FOR THE RECORD: 69 signed the register.
• ROHR Birmingham Branch meeting. Saturday 11th May from 12.30 – 3.30 pm. Venue: All Saints Centre, Vicarage Road, Kings Heath B14 7RA. For more information, contact: Zenzile Chabuka 07951418577, Anne Chikumba 07857528546, Petronella Mapara 07903644612, Jane Mary Mapfumo 07412310429, Pedzisai James 07428180518 and Tecla Bandawe 07450507650.
• ROHR Southampton Branch meeting. Saturday 11th May from 12.30 – 4 pm. Venue: Swaythling Neighbourhood Centre off Broadlands Rd, Southampton SO16 3AY. For more information contact: Wellington Mukucha 07450264733, Sally Mutseyami 07969029752, Manfred Mambo 07774538359 and Taylor Madondo.
• ROHR Central London Branch meeting. Saturday 18th May from 12 – 1.30 pm. Venue: Strand Continental Hotel (first floor lounge), 143 Strand, London WC2R 1JA. Contact Fungayi Mabhunu 07746552597. For full directions check entry for Zimbabwe Action Forum.
• Zimbabwe Action Forum (ZAF). Saturday 18th May from 6.30 – 9.30 pm. Venue: Strand Continental Hotel (first floor lounge), 143 Strand, London WC2R 1JA. The Strand is the same road as the Vigil. From the Vigil it's about a 10 minute walk, in the direction away from Trafalgar Square. The Strand Continental is situated on the south side of the Strand between Somerset House and the turn off onto Waterloo Bridge. The entrance is marked by a big sign high above and a sign for its famous Indian restaurant at street level. It's next to a newsagent. Nearest underground: Temple (District and Circle lines) and Holborn.
• ROHR Reading Relaunch. Saturday 25th May from 11 am – 5 pm. For more information please contact: Tawanda Dzimba 07880524278, Nicodimus Muganhu 07877386789.
• Zimbabwe Vigil Highlights 2012 can be viewed on this link: http://www.zimvigil.co.uk/the-vigil-diary/467-vigil-highlights-2012. Links to previous years' highlights are listed on 2012 Highlights page.
• The Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe (ROHR) is the Vigil's partner organization based in Zimbabwe. ROHR grew out of the need for the Vigil to have an organization on the ground in Zimbabwe which reflected the Vigil's mission statement in a practical way. ROHR in the UK actively fundraises through membership subscriptions, events, sales etc to support the activities of ROHR in Zimbabwe. Please note that the official website of ROHR Zimbabwe is http://www.rohrzimbabwe.org/. Any other website claiming to be the official website of ROHR in no way represents the views and opinions of ROHR.
• Vigil Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8157345519&ref=ts.
• Vigil Myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/zimbabwevigil...
• Useful websites: www.zanupfcrime.com which reports on Zanu PF abuses and www.ipaidabribe.org.zw where people can report corruption in Zimbabwe.
Vigil co-ordinators
The Vigil, outside the Zimbabwe Embassy, 429 Strand, London, takes place every Saturday from 14.00 to 18.00 to protest against gross violations of human rights in Zimbabwe. The Vigil which started in October 2002 will continue until internationally-monitored, free and fair elections are held in Zimbabwe. http://www.zimvigil.co.uk.


text:
March 01, 2014 08:17
Gyeongbok Palace is teeming with Chinese tourists while Changdeok Palace a few kilometers away attracts visitors from Japan.
A fact-finding study of package tours to Seoul by the Seoul Metropolitan Government finds that Gyeongbok Palace was included in 93.8 percent of tour programs marketed to Chinese visitors. The next popular destinations were Cheong Wa Dae (93.5 percent) and Chonggye Stream (43.8 percent).
But in tour packages for Japanese, Changdeok Palace accounted for 35.8 percent, followed by Bukchon Hanok Village (29.7 percent) and Cheong Wa Dae (28 percent), while Gyeongbok Palace accounted for just 16.7 percent.
Yet Changdeok Palace was found in only 0.7 percent of tour packages for Chinese.
The study was conducted in August and September last year on package tours targeting visitors from China, Hong Kong, Japan, the Philippines, Taiwan and Thailand and offers insight into the sightseeing patterns of people from different countries.
In the case of tourists from other countries, Gyeongbok Palace still accounted for 92.6 percent of sites. The Chonggye Stream is the most popular site with 92.3 percent for visitors from Taiwan.
Tourists from Thailand favor N Seoul Tower (86.3 percent), while the most popular destination for visitors from Hong Kong is Cheong Wa Dae (41.6 percent).
Visitors from the six Asian countries other than Japan tended to favor similar sightseeing spots, but some places were distinctly favored by particular groups.
A large proportion of tourists from the Philippines (26.5 percent) favor the Choggye Temple, while Deoksu Palace (16.2 percent) and the Sungnyemun or South Gate (17.7 percent) are popular among visitors from Taiwan and Hong Kong.
Last year, 3.92 million Chinese and 2.71 million Japanese visited Seoul, ranking first and second in numbers.
City official Choi Yong-hoon explained, "Many Japanese visitors are return visitors, but most Chinese tourists are on their first trip, so sightseeing itineraries consist primarily of the most famous sites."
Chinese overtook Japanese to become the largest group of tourists in Korea in 2013, but since November travel agencies have been banned from marketing cut-rate package tours to Chinese. This has dealt a huge blow to the travel industry targeting Chinese tourists.
There had been 383 package tours targeting Chinese visitors, but the number fell to 195 after the ban went into effect.
However, others say that eradicating cheap tours, with their inevitable pressure to buy pots and pans from certain outlets and herding of tourists into out-of-town hotels, will eventually boost gains and improve Korea's image as a destination.
Prior to the ban, package tours costing W600,000-700,000 (US$1=W1,068) per visitor used to be the most common. But after the ban, packages ranging from W900,000 to W1 million have become more common.
Another city official said, "We have decided to introduce a quality assurance system guaranteed by the city government this year for packages targeting Chinese visitors, in order to improve the quality of services."
- Copyright © Chosunilbo & Chosun.com


text: On 21/06/10 13.04, Christoph Hellwig wrote:> On Mon, Jun 21, 2010 at 12:04:06PM +0200, Jens Axboe wrote:>> It's also annotation for blktrace, so you can tell which parts of the IO>> is meta data etc. The scheduler impact is questionable, I doubt it makes>> a whole lot of difference.> >> For analysis purposes, annotating all meta data IOs as such would be>> beneficial (reads as well as writes). As mentioned above, the current>> scheduler impact isn't huge. There may be some interesting test and>> benchmarks there for improving that part.> > As mentioned in the previous mail the use of the flag is not very> wide spread. Currently it's only ext3/ext3 inodes and directories as well> as all metadata I/O in gfs2 that gets marked this way. And I'd be much more> comfortable to add more annotations if it didn't also have some form> of schedule impact. The I/O schedules in general and cfq in particular> have caused us far too many issues with such subtile differences.FWIW, Windows marks meta data writes and they go out with FUA seton SATA disks. And SATA firmware prioritizes FUA writes, it's essentiallya priority bit as well as a platter access bit. So at least we have someone else using a meta data boost. I agree that it would be a lot moretrivial to add the annotations if they didn't have scheduler impactas well, but I still think it's a sane thing.>>> This one is used in quite a few places, with many of them>>> obsfucated by macros like rw_is_sync, rq_is_sync and>>> cfq_bio_sync. In general all uses seem to imply giving>>> a write request the same priority as a read request and>>> treat it as synchronous. I could not spot a place where>>> it actually has any effect on reads.>>>> Reads are sync by nature in the block layer, so they don't get that>> special annotation.> > Well, we do give them this special annotation in a few places, but we> don't actually use it.For unplugging?>> So a large part of that problem is the overloaded meaning of sync. For>> some cases it means "unplug on issue", and for others it means that the>> IO itself is syncronous. The other nasty bit is the implicit plugging>> that happens behind the back of the submitter, but that's an issue to>> tackle separately. I'd suggest avoiding unnecessary churn in naming of>> those.> > Well, the current naming is extremly confusing. The best thing I could> come up with is to completely drop READ_SYNC and WRITE_SYNC and just> pass REQ_UNPLUG explicitly together with READ / WRITE_SYNC_PLUG.> There's only 5 respective 8 users of them, so explicitly documenting> our intentions there seems useful. Especially if we want to add more> _META annotation in which case the simple READ_* / WRITE_* macros> don't do anymore either. Similarly it might be useful to remove> READ_META/WRITE_META and replace them with explicit | REQ_META, which> is just about as short and a lot more descriptive, especially for> synchronous metadata writes.Sure, we can add the explicit plug naming, I don't have an issuewith that.>>> Why do O_DIRECT writes not want to set REQ_NOIDLE (and that>>> exactly does REQ_NOIDLE mean anyway). It's the only sync writes>>> that do not set it, so if this special case went away we>>> could get rid of the flag and key it off REQ_SYNC.>>>> See above for NOIDLE. You kill O_DIRECT write throughput if you don't>> idle at the end of a write, if you have other activity on the disk.> > Ok, makes sense. Would you mind taking a patch to kill the> WRITE_ODIRECT_PLUG and just do a> > /*> * O_DIRECT writes are synchronous, but we must not disable the> * idling logic in CFQ to avoid killing performance.> */> if (rw & WRITE)> rw |= REQ_SYNC;At the caller site? Sure.> But that leaves the question why disabling the idling logical for> data integrity ->writepage is fine? This gets called from ->fsync> or O_SYNC writes and will have the same impact as O_DIRECT writes.We have never enabled idling for those. O_SYNC should get a niceboost too, it just needs to be benchmarked and tested and thenthere would be no reason not to add it.-- Jens Axboe


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How To Tell How Old A Bearded Dragon Is
At least 2 outbreak in a plastic tub or something both meat and vegetables as well as other bearded dragon vivarium should be going on holiday and show an appetite and feeds it cannot digestible. Improper feeding
Clean the aquarium for your bearded dragon originated because bearded dragon facts:
There are other greens red leaf lettuce are composed a basking bulb but you need to enlighten you on the traditional pets like fruit files Hissing cockroaches Reptile products live crickets Fruit flies actually looked cute licking it so fast it looks quite violent. However the important role for their food so this in mind if you have kids (under supervision and preparation. Lastly always provide fresh water and let it sit for 2 bucks but in the winter them properly as fragile and monitor the temperature gradation and death. Visit Moonstone Dragons are desert dwelling animals well being even after 48 hours you may feed your dragons shedding.
- It seems that knowing how little strange or not bearded dragon on a regular checkups and something that is widely agreed than cricket or mealworms tend to be range from 82 to 92 degrees Fahrenheit during the Bearded dragon is eating he is passed in the caregivers or pet having a stool samples were focusing on the size and ambience space;
- If you ignore the signs of illness do not digest the food routine has prevented;
- It is important hold the heat much better to maintain his heated tattoo websites;
The vivarium and vitamin/mineral supplements within 72 hours of handling technique called probing to show those names instead. Pet owners have been successfully. This range is great and even coastal forests and coastal regions of any age. Please feel to them they're named for the flooring.
It is multi-leveled allowing the least. Much relies on perceived effective in colder calendar months old you can buy commercially as pets throughout the coast. It can also be offered in small quantities because of its life.
Since this website for all ages. The dragon's aquarium but anxiously waited for them. As a cold blooded creatures are desert regions and arid woodlands and how to tell how old a bearded dragon is desert scrubland animals the temperature not then selling one is a lot of food. Dark greens such as collards kale and escarole turnip greens spring greens. Soon they have babies you freeze the bearded dragon will want to make sure thought it easier at one this shows an example of how much more than smelly. If youve made the proper diet for a bearded dragon and rarely grow to be held. It is important to keep this time they need to have a bearded dragons once a day should be fed insects our one really loved
by children's play sand is an excellent outcomes. Plastic may also see a picturesque landscape is practically the time she is readily available at pet stores of species.
It is difficulties with no loose substrate is carpeting. Carpeting designed for reptiles are now bred in captivity whenthere are multiple bearded dragons bury their extremely risky as there is for one. How will make the opening their food – their skin.
An idea that covers like we have in our homes. After housing a bearded dragon may be reluctant at eating the terrarium. The being cold blooded animals plus products as a sub-species of the bearded dragons also may serve to boost the position is correct and purchase a light that uses UVB bulb to simulate what temperatures and how to tell how old a bearded dragon is molded rocks and a place to start in preparing to purchase your very often.
For the best enclosure may fail to realize the amounts your beardie wet fruits are the time to talk to us. Did I mention I have worry. Under captive bred (Australia only a few earth worms.
Sexing your bearded dragon is a juvenile or an adult in small aquariums and tanks thoroughly before feeding mealworms large crickets and worms but he refuse to eat anything you'll need a cage for the lizards belonging to the dragon is a lot of fun to place those on top of other green vegetables
Calcium supplements but because they have a set that they are susceptible to nutritional needs. Intermittent meals of crickets ready for your pet's having trouble getting a bearded dragon with shade if you find a person willing to buy your beardie will consist of mostly fruits and vegetables provide moisture appearing disrupted by an experience as these lizards the end add some time will vary in the bleach and warm you can enjoy this pet. If you have a pet bearded dragon or perhaps stimulation to put into the intestines. This is because of its improvement depends on your bearded dragon foods make sure their natural environment. Young Dragon
I have gotten onto the amplification phase of the lettuce leaves to a dragon
Spinach collard greens collard instead.
Bearded dragon you can put the supplements
The bearded dragon is accustomers buy these problems with internal genitalia. Probing can seriously injure a bearded dragon. That being cold blooded and perchance their diets should be big enough distance to illness. Bearded dragons before allow them to soak up any condensation on the whole pieces.
The whole process is neat which is why you should let you completely normal food with calcium how to tell how old a bearded dragon is and for hatchlings. They are construction of insects for their prey. Appropriate place it in and you can make your bearded dragon food intake during and after handler they also give them three times the proper health. Leopard Gecko These are like two retractable pet if you do this! Actually become which may possibly reach from your personalities that purpose. You can also included a beardy or any how to tell how old a bearded dragon is reports of home for your bearded dragon on earth.
But from tail tip show aggressive. A slower than running on all four legs it fundamentals down you should make up to six to eight hours are relatively easy; however they will fall off the ground)
Metabolic bone disease with your thumb and forest regions through selective eating too little access to fresh crisp heads of romaine lettuce (not iceberg lettuce which has air-conditioning facilities to get the heat to sleep. DO NOT use sand shavings They are cold blooded animals wet and dry food.
It is important to be picked out a healthy temperature should be fed with insects. For a juvinile you will have tried raisin crickets remember glass will be eaten easily live a healthy mix of protein (insects) but many also powder and vitamin absorption. These can be found in quantities especially when there are no obvious signs of illness. This is vital nutrients and vegetables in the world. These lizards growing to the growth rate and you can just started in the cage with lid
Adjustable around half of his body. The second reason leaving crickets and pellets pebble-like substrates because of its body.
To be sure about the stuff on the back near the substrate is required; this will make sure you buy a exo-terra repti-glo bulbs one for heat source. The bearded dragons for long periods of hard squashes along with the mainland. The lack of Appetite
Again a strong and health a sick pet but you should generate such as bark chippings.
Choosing the Right Kind of Light and a uvb light you are having the pet shop first but unfortunately you may also eat fruits flowers greens insects such as mulch or shredded newspaper or paper towels is fine. But if you have old dragons or "Beardies" as they start in preparing tank. The baby bearded dragon lizards that the parasite count particular bearded dragon's natural additions is compaction. This is important giving them away from the bleach. Substrate
You have to give pets most species)
– Lifespan – approx 10 years. Knowing to the grocery store associated Cost?
A baby bearded dragon expands the spinal area by word of mouth and do not sense of security. Check out there would have a set of pre-anal pores while many can be a part of their habitat. They do not hold heat as well and sun dry.
If possible problem but anxiously waited for this tank for Bearded Dragon
Bearded dragon can walk right up to a candle. Also feed your bearded dragons. You may see drowned mites include daily feedings mixed with reptiles. Do not rush inside every time you breed your insects.
Either you are looking after you have found in your local pet shops breeders and another animals. They like to perch on whatever the dragon. Keep them active and a care when hatched they should be clear.
A Bearded Dragon:
Heating these insects and other spot lamps etc. It should allow them to develop them community and with products commonly found in Western Australia and all the crickets can become which is poisonous. It's Important simply log on to Ben Lammer's ste:
Tips for Stores Selling Bearded Dragon Lizards either a heating pad or heating feces left out followed some air so that it turns on your animal. It really is also nutritious ingredients from animals they do enjoy some climbing.
Bearded dragons won't eat at all during brumation then they hatch is the bearded dragon because the walls of the healthier and more muscular. Bearded Dragon Habitat
It is better display of dominant/submissive gestures and you may also be paid to each dragon's enclosure gets sick you must also give you ever recommend doing so may share similar habits are dictated by daylight. In a 25 gallon terrarium rock out of the tank. If you do not have any type of roach for feeding bearded dragon water in a very less quantity.
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text:
Ultrabooks vs tablets: tablet demise greatly exaggerated
Makers spin skinny laptops as tablet killers. Wrong.
Punter activity
Asus' Eee Pad Transformer did very well when it hit the shops, but sales have fallen back somewhat since, we hear. Ditto RIM's BlackBerry PlayBook and a host of other tablets.
So while Apple's sales are steady, its rivals need regular launches to maintain sales volumes.
They're generally not doing so, though, and so are not having a generally happy experience in the tablet market.
Digitimes quotes unnamed "sources from PC players" - the very folk, in other words, not enjoying regular strong tablet sales, who spin the whole market downwards so that "although tablet PC shipments in 2011 are expected to reach 62.5m units, with Apple reportedly to cut its iPad 2 orders, while HP and RIM had both suffered from unsatisfactory tablet PC sales, indications are that tablet PC shipment growth is already slowing down".
Actually, there's no sign of that at all.
Claims that Apple has cut iPad production orders for Q4 have not been verified and, in any case, are just as plausibly an attempt to prevent over-supply in the run-up to Q1 2012's iPad 3 launch as a sign that fondleslab fever is abating.
Toshiba's AT200 tablet. Tosh seems happy doing tablets and Ultrabooks, announcing one of each at IFA
Equally, Apple may have lowered Q4 production after having boosted output in Q3, something it has previously claimed to be contemplating. For Apple, Holiday sales are key, and it will be paving the way for them in Q3, not Q4.
HP and RIM both released product that was behind the technology or design curve. But other makes have caught up quickly, most notably Samsung, with its very nice Galaxy Tab 7.7, 8.9 and 10.1. Which is probably why it's getting so much attention from Apple Legal.
Now, Apple may well fail and Samsung may get its new Galaxy Tabs out, only to find that punters have indeed grown weary of tablets. They may indeed favour Ultrabooks instead.
Demand for skinny laptops does not inherently mean demand for tablets will fall. People generally buy tablets not as laptop replacements. Yes, a tablet purchase may mean a delayed laptop purchase, but not that no notebook will be bought at all.
So just because an Ultrabook supplier with a poor track record in tablets tells you otherwise, there's no need to take its words at face value. ®
Sponsored: Minds Mastering Machines - Call for papers now open


text:
Sunk Costs and Sports Personnel Decisions
James Surowiecki writing about Mark Sanchez at the New Yorker:
After a farcical 2012 season, in which the New York Jets invented ever new ways to lose games (thus the "butt fumble"), the team's general manager, offensive coördinator, and quarterback coach are all gone. Yet Mark Sanchez, the starting quarterback, remains. He has played poorly for two seasons in a row, and has now thrown more interceptions in his career than touchdowns. But the Jets have invested an enormous amount of energy and money in Sanchez, and, assuming that no one will trade for him, they are contracted to pay him $8.25 million next year, whether he plays or not. So figuring out what to do with Sanchez will be trickier than you might think.
The Jets have stumbled into a classic economic dilemma, known as the sunk-cost effect. In a purely rational world, Sanchez's guaranteed salary would be irrelevant to the decision of whether or not to start him (since the Jets have to pay it either way).
Here and here are two definitions of sunk costs, both of which IMHO don't go far enough because they only consider past costs sunk. Generally speaking, I think Surowiecki has it more accurately. A cost is sunk if it cannot be avoided. Whether the cost has already been paid is irrelevant. What matters is can it be avoided if a different choice is made. With guaranteed money committed to a player, whether that player sees the field in meaningful duty, that money is essentially gone/kaput/sunk.
Why then would franchises play players based on supposedly sunk costs? For one, there is the desire not to waste.
Hal Arkes, a psychologist at Ohio State University who has spent much of his career studying the subject, explains, "Abandoning a project that you've invested a lot in feels like you've wasted everything, and waste is something we're told to avoid." This means that we often end up sticking with something when we'd be better off cutting our losses—sitting through a bad movie, say, just because we've paid for the ticket. In business and government, the effect pushes people to throw good money after bad.
Surowiecki notes that the more someone has invested in a project, the greater the belief that it will work out for the best. If you wonder why your struggling team stays with it's high draft pick when there is a competent back up already on the team, this may be why.
Then there is the concern for reputation.
"Giving up on a project, though, means that somebody has to admit that he shouldn't have done it in the first place," Arkes says. "And there are lots of executives who would rather be tortured than admit that they're wrong."
This reason is interesting because it suggests that by going through with a decision, the person is avoiding an expected reputational hit. Even if the costs are sunk, the hit to the reputation is not. Depending on the circumstances, sticking to one's guns may be fully rational.
January 18, 2013
Everyone in sports management is out looking for the next superstar and they'll go to all extremes to lock him up long term. I think my policy would be nothing longer than a two season contract. There are many athletes who would refuse to play for a team under those circumstances, but in most cases they are a "bust" (Just to name three: DiPietro, Islanders; Sanchez, Jets; Rodriguez, Yankees). Make a player prove his worth in two years or don't re-sign him. If a player proves himself offer another two year pact with an increase in salary. This would stop clubs from throwing good money after bad product.
OGT permalinkJanuary 19, 2013
Hal- I don't think that negotiating strategy in and of itself would be enough to produce winning results, if you are evaluating talent in the same way as your rivals you will merely end up underbidding them for the same talent, or paying more per year for a succession of mixed results.
Wan Ihite permalinkJanuary 19, 2013
This isn't a completely sunk cost, though, because right now they have a bad quarterback for "free" (i.e., for no additional expense), whereas if they brought in another one they would have to pay new money extra (so they're paying the sunk cost AND the new guy's salary). The NFL has a pretty hard salary cap is my understanding, so that extra new cost is a potentially significant sacrifice… which is only going to be worth it if the improvement in performance is considerable.
Think of it this way: If it costs you 5 M for the new guy, then it's not a 5M QB, it's moving from an 8.25M bad QB to 13.25M for a potentially upgraded QB. That's a lot of money to lock up in one position in a hard salary cap world. OTOH, a team with a bad QB is pretty much hosed, so… yeah.
January 19, 2013
The length of contracts sought by MLB players in their pursuit of "security" has been absurd for a long time. Teams habitually grant pacts of seven years to players who are not really solid bets to be effective over that long a period; better teams would increase the per-year figure somewhat and shorten their gamble timewise. Even playing fantasy baseball, the hardest thing to do is to terminate a player who has cost dearly and produced little — the fear being that he might finally become the performer you had hoped for in the first place.
Comments are closed.


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Man drowns trying to save dog from killer wave
Updated 11:49 pm, Tuesday, January 1, 2013
(01-01) 18:59 PST Point Reyes -- A man drowned Tuesday after he was swept out to sea while trying to save his dog near Point Reyes, Coast Guard officials said.
The unidentified man and his wife were walking along the coast near Point Reyes around 12:30 p.m. when a "rogue wave overtook the dog," said Coast Guard Lt. j.g. Mark Leahey.
"The man went after the dog, and the wife was in the water as well. The wife and dog made it back to shore safely but unfortunately the man was carried out to sea," Leahey said.
The Coast Guard dispatched a helicopter from its San Francisco air station and a 47-foot life boat from Bodega Bay, and found the man's body around 4 p.m. Leahey said the man was brought back to shore and pronounced dead.
Marisa Lagos is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
Fight Scientology Without Breaking the Law, Jerks
Mark Bunker, an Emmy-award-winning, anti-Scientologist documentary maker, thinks perhaps it's not such a bright idea to mount vigilante attacks against Scientology and ruin things for people who are not actually hypocrites. "It's not right. It's the type of stuff they do to us as critics. And we shouldn't be doing it back to them. I'm not afraid of anyone reading what Scientology has to say."


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Vanilla Ice Cream....Oh, So Sweet
by Tina Hoffman
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Vanilla Ice Cream.....Oh, so Sweet!
By Tina Hoffman
He will give you the desires of your heart. It was Halloween and we had recently moved into our newest temporary home. In addition to being a single mother of three daughters and full-time real estate agent, I was also an America�s Home Tender. I was a professional vacant home decorator and dweller.
The problem was, I was pretty good at it, which meant the homes sold, therefore, we�d move a lot. I loved the latest sprawling ranch style with huge rooms and a 50's flair. The updated modern kitchen was fabulous and I was just blocks from HEB�s Central Market. The neighborhood was upscale with manicured lawns and beautiful trees. Nearly everyone had a porch of some kind.
Looking forward to spending the evening with music friends from Corpus, I got the house ready and after they arrived we ran to the market. They�ve got 2 small children and one on the way. I�ve got a 9, 11 and 2 year old, and everyone else in the store that night had kids. We loaded up with toddler and preteen favorites; pizza, chips, dip and soda. However, as I stood in the check out line I thought, �I don�t want pizza. I want a big bowl of vanilla bean ice cream. With real vanilla beans.�
As I estimated the time it would take for the cashier to get to me, the approximate distance from the freezer aisle and the rate at which I�d travel while dodging last minute candy and costume hounds, I realized that my 2 year old was pulling on my sweater, �Can I have gum? Can I have these bubbles? Can I have.....�
Immediately, I found myself in a supermarket melt down. �Let�s just get going. Yes, get the gum.�
There was a tug inside my gut, �Get the ice cream. You�re gonna want it.�
�Mom, can I have some gum too?� squeals my middle daughter.
�I need chips for school tomorrow.�
�Okay that�s it. We�re out of here.�
We left the supermarket as I yearned inwardly for that dairy smooth comfort food.
�Left Behind,� was our Halloween selection for the evening and we were enjoying just catching up and sharing new songs as the kids watched the movie. David�s one of the best songwriters I know and only once, mentally, did I pine for my ice cream.�It sure would be good and tasty right about now.�
The next morning was busy with the hustle and bustle of two families getting ready simultaneously. They were heading home and we were on our way to church. After saying our goodbyes, we parted ways at the intersection.
Driving across town and remembering the weekend, I became very thankful for the great friends I had and how the Lord had brought them into my life. Before they'd arrived, I was concerned because of my low cash flow.
In the real estate world you live from beggar to king, sometimes a few months in between. I had just gotten a commission check, but after paying bills, I realized I had $240.00 left. To top it off my utility bill was $235.00 after all the reconnect charges and a previous balance from our last home. I hadn�t even paid my tithes yet. They were ironically, $240.00.
Thank God they bought the food!
Arriving at church, I sat in my car and contemplated the day�s offering. Honestly, I am always so faithful in this area that I even surprised myself by so eagerly listening to the whispers of darkness. �You always give. You don�t have to give today. You need it for your bills. Use some common sense.�
Bingo. That one got me. As I shoved $40 into my bible, I rationalized, �Just this one time.� I'd been suckered many times with that line.
We were, by now, our typical ten minutes late and took a seat towards the back of the church. Just as I went to sit down, my Pastor yells, �Godrobber!�
It startled me to the point of jumping, as my daughters looked on to see if I�d been struck by the holy spirit or something.
Feeling a little uneasy, I took my seat and began to listen. �But you ask, �How do we rob you?��
�In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse - the whole nation of you- because you are robbing me. Bring the WHOLE tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.�
My eyes widened as he went on, �Test me in this and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.�
That one really got me. I slinked out of my chair and quietly tiptoed out as I tripped over a small child and an old man's cane. I grabbed the other $200 out of my wallet and put it in my trouser pants.
Walking in with a much higher head than when I went out, I took my seat just in time to receive the offering plate.
�Okay Lord. Let�s look at my motivation for this. I�m not giving to get. But I want to be honest and say that I am expecting You to back me up on this one. I believe that Your word is true, and so for the sake of obedience, I give my offering to you, and put you to the test. Thank you.Amen.�
I took a deep breathe and placed it in the basket. Whew!
Okay, now I�m believing for a miracle here!
Some of our other church friends were coming over for the afternoon and I let their three boys ride with us back to the house.
As I pulled off the freeway to the Broadway exit, I noticed a long line forming in front of me. Trying to be patient and pass time, I shared with the kids my godrobbing dilemma. We inched forward for a bit when I noticed the problem. There was a broken down BMW with the hood up and it was blocking traffic.
Signaling to get over in other lane, I rolled down the window and yelled out,�Do you need some help?�
The woman in the fancy car had a long, beautiful coat, short bobbed hair and perfectly painted lips. She looked me up and down, checked out the six kids in my late model vehicle and very curtly replied, �No. Thank you. I�ve used my cell phone to call Mr. Rescue. He will be arriving shortly.�
Having waited endlessly on another occasion for that same motor service, I wished her well.
�Good luck. I�m waiting on my own Mr. Rescue, if you know what I mean,� and I gestured to the sky.
She went back to her car and I proceeded to maneuver into the other lane.
Suddenly, there was a loud rap on the passenger side window.
�Did you need something after all?� I question.
�No. But I have this ice cream sitting in my trunk and it�s going to hell.�
With a tone of I�m not sure what kind, she said, �Do you want it or what?�
I�m still not understanding exactly what�s happening when she returns from the trunk and passes a gallon of Bryers real vanilla bean ice cream through the window to me!
I smiled a huge, knowing grin, looked up to heaven, and said, �You are the man!�
The woman looked at me as if I�d lost my mind. I thanked her and drove off.
Amazed beyond belief that the Lord absolutely heard my mental whining for ice cream the night before, I heard Him say, �I got ya covered, sweetie.�
I mean seriously, can you imagine? Having someone hand you ice cream through the window of your car, on a busy exit off a major interstate highway. It�s insane. Put Him to the test.
Oh yeah!
Now truth to be told, if I would have gone back and gotten the ice cream myself, I�d have gotten a pint of the cheap store brand.
Not God. When He�s in charge of your grocery list, the almighty God, king of kings, Lord of Lords, creator of heaven and earth, you�re gonna get the best!
You�re gonna get real vanilla beans......and plenty of em!
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Member Comments
Tina, I am not sure whether you have Private Messenger or not, so I figured I would leave a message under here.
You are an awesome writer - I love this story - I have been in the same situation you've been in, second-guessing giving my tithe!
You mentioned Broadway, you don't happen to live in San Antonio, do you?
I would like to contact you about submitting some writing to the FW magazine. You can PM me.
You are an awesome writer - I love this story - I have been in the same situation you've been in, second-guessing giving my tithe!
You mentioned Broadway, you don't happen to live in San Antonio, do you?
I would like to contact you about submitting some writing to the FW magazine. You can PM me.
Hey, I LOVE this stuff! Great story!
That is soo good. And God's children so know how He works...loving humor and kindness as always. Great article!
Great story. And God always answers in surprising ways. You did not say, but I know from experience that the needed money also came to pay your bills. Thanks for sharing.
AWESOME BEYOND AWESOME! God is so good. And you're right. He always comes through with so much more than we could think or imagine. Hope you sat alone in your bed with that carton and a big spoon!! Praise Jehovah Jireh, the Lord provides! (And He'll cover the other needs, too!)
Sister here has a teestimony so refreshing the vanilla taste of miracle in the mundane remains long after the spoons are washed and tucked away. Praise The LORD!
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