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To Order Honda CB 750 KZ 79-82 parts: simply enter the number required in the input box marked 'Quantity:' adjacent to the parts required and press the 'Add parts to order' button at the bottom of the page.
All prices are in Pounds Sterling (GBP)and include VAT at 20% where applicable. VAT will be deducted at the checkout for goods supplied to outside the European Union.
Use this link to bookmark this page: http://www.wemoto.com/bikes/honda/cb_750_kz/79-82/
Total: £ 0.00
(incl. VAT). Shipping calculated at checkout.


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Conflict Resolution Policy and Procedures for Postdoctoral Research Fellows
Conflict resolution procedures are available to an LSA Postdoctoral Research Fellow who has a conflict or disagreement with faculty or staff about the equity and fairness of decisions or procedures that affect the conduct of research.
Scope of the Policy
Other University policies and procedures may apply to other allegations of faculty and staff misconduct. Such matters will be governed by appropriate policies administered by other University units:
- Complaints that a member of the faculty or staff has engaged in research misconduct will be handled by the Office of the Vice President for Research.
- Complaints that a member of the faculty or staff has violated the University's non-discrimination and harassment policies will be investigated by the University's Office of Institutional Equity.
- Claims that a member of the faculty or staff has violated employment contracts will be investigated by Academic Human Resources. (http://hr.umich.edu/acadhr/ ) A Fellow who alleges misconduct by a faculty or staff member must pursue the complaint in the most appropriate forum.
A Fellow may not pursue the same allegation in different venues. Fellows who agree to have a conflict mediated under this policy agree not to pursue the same matter in any other forum within the University. Any questions regarding where to pursue a particular complaint should be directed to LSA's Research Process Senior Manager.
Conflict Resolution Procedures
The following procedures are available to Postdoctoral Research Fellows who wish to complain of any action or inaction, within the jurisdiction or control of LSA, which the Fellow alleges to be in violation of law or University policy or to be unfair, arbitrary, or capricious.
A. The Fellow should seek to resolve the matter by informal means through his/her mentor or supervisor.
B. If the matter is not satisfactorily resolved, the Fellow may seek resolution by informal means through the Department Chair.
C. If the matter is not satisfactorily resolved by the Department Chair, the Fellow may seek formal resolution through the Divisional Associate Dean by submitting a written statement to the relevant Divisional Associate Dean describing the alleged wrong; the facts which the Fellow believes support the allegations, and the disposition of the matter at prior informal steps.
D. The Divisional Associate Dean should seek to resolve the matter impartially and promptly.
- The Divisional Associate Dean may seek advice from the Dean or establish an ad hoc committee for advice on the matter.
- The Divisional Associate Dean (or designated representative) will consult with the Office of Academic Human Resources and/or the Office of the General Counsel to assure correct and consistent interpretation of University policy and/or the law.
When the Divisional Associate Dean decides the matter, the Fellow will be informed in writing of the decision and the reasons for the decision. The decision is final. No adverse action may be taken against a Fellow for use of these procedures.

subset: commoncrawl


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Velez Reyes debuted her Ready to Wear line in 2013 and has been on a roll ever since. The latest collection features intricately placed beading, delicate lace, soft tulle and chapel length trains. Keeping something for everyone she has A-line, mermaid as well as fit & flare silhouettes. It's no wonder the Filipino designer gets many, many requests from the U.S. and beyond.
For more information on Veluz Bride click here.
Which dress is your favorite?


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Visionary Leadership
Is your vision worth bottling? How do you articulate a vision that draws people in and speaks to what others see and feel?
Team Engagement
Go beyond typical team building to engage your team or your organisation, Get them inspired, excited and committed to bringing your vision to life.
You are sitting on a wealth of untapped creativity – find out how to access it…..


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|Rediff India Abroad Home | All the sections
The Rediff Interview/Shanta Kumar
January 22, 2003
Former�Himachal Pradesh chief minister�Shanta Kumar is confident�the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party will win next month's�assembly election with a comfortable majority.
The Union�rural development�minister heads a 12-member screening committee to recommend names of prospective candidates to the BJP central leadership.
He told Chief Correspondent Onkar Singh�his party will not be affected even if�its ally, Sukh Ram's�Himachal Vikas Party, withdraws from�the alliance. He also declared that his party rival, Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, would continue in office if the BJP�returned to power.�
Is it true�Chief Minister�Dhumal and you do not get along and that this will�harm the BJP's prospects in the assembly poll?
There is no truth in this allegation. This is a canard�spread by the Congress�in the hope that they would be able to defeat the BJP. Prem Kumar Dhumal will�be�chief minister if the BJP is returned to power. We are not going to let�votes be divided for any reason.
Don't you think�the anti-incumbency factor is working against you?
I do not deny�we will have to cope with the anti-incumbency factor. But this is not going to affect�the party's prospects to the extent that we would be defeated. We are going to win the election. We will have a comfortable majority.
What makes you�optimistic when your ally�Sukh Ram could�decide to go it alone?
The Sukh Ram factor is not as strong this time as it was during the 1998 election. We are holding talks with him. Hopefully, we would be able to arrive at some understanding on seat adjustment.�Even if we don't, we will�counter his influence in the Mandi and Sundernagar belt where he hopes to get six or seven seats. We will give him a good fight.
The Congress is confident the BJP will be voted out of power.
I do not know on what grounds they�claim�we are going to be defeated. We have only one chief ministerial candidate Prem Kumar Dhumal. Whereas the Congress has (Pradesh Congress Committee) chief Virbhadara Singh and (senior Congress leader) Vidya Stokes challenging each other. They are fighting it out amongst themselves. They know it is now or never.
The infighting in the Congress�is going to help the BJP.
Why should the people of Himachal Pradesh vote for you?
We are going to place our achievements before the people of Himachal Pradesh. We have made great strides in the direction of providing power. We have signed Memorandum of Understanding with private companies to produce power. Fifty such MOUs have been signed so far. The state has a potential of producing 20,000 mega watts units. If all the projects are completed in time we would be producing and distributing power to other states and making money.
Likewise, we have done good work in the field of drinking water. Several crore�rupees have been sanctioned and schemes implemented in various districts of the state. Roads are being constructed in various parts of the state to link villages to main towns and cities under the Pradhan Mantri Sadak Rogzar Yojana. Under rural development we have also implemented various schemes to give a boost to the lives of the poor. The list of the BJP government's achievements is�endless.
Two ministers have resigned in protest against denial of party tickets to them.
People keep�leaving one party and join another on the eve of elections in any state. If you want to have a real idea about the BJP's popularity in Himachal Pradesh you should visit some of our district headquarters where thousands are lining up for party tickets. There are many places where I know�more then 20 people are vying with each other to get the party's mandate for a particular seat. Only those who deserve it would get a party nomination. Merit would be the criterion.
Do you feel�Hindutva will�work in Himachal Pradesh just as it did in Gujarat?
I do not think�Hindutva�would work in Himachal Pradesh. The situation in our state is very different from the one that prevailed in Gujarat. Himachal is a peaceful state. Barring the border district of Chamba which�witnessed some incidents of terrorist violence in the last few years, the rest of the state is peaceful.�There is no impact of militancy whatsoever. We would have to stress more on�the Dhumal government's achievements to win the election.
Who are your star campaigners? Will Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi be one of them?
We are going to have a galaxy of political leaders campaigning for the party. This includes Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani, film star-politicians Shatrughan Sinha, Vinod Khanna; other Cabinet ministers Sushma Swaraj, Uma Bharti, Pramod Mahajan, BJP President Venkaiah Naidu and host of other leaders. Of course, the services of Narendra Modi would be utilised to boost the party's chances in the state.
When will the�party�finalise the list of its�candidates?
District level committees are screening the nominations. They will�forward their choices to the state�leadership. We will�screen them and make our recommendations. We expect the final list to be declared on January 29 or 30 in New Delhi.
The Rediff Interviews


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Men: What 'Date Movies' Will You Admit to Enjoying? Big Jim Wants to Know [SURVEY]
This morning we read a list of movies from Egotastic.com that supposedly men LOVE but will not admit to watching. The list included, "Mean Girls," "The Proposal," "The Notebook," "Bridget Jones' Diary," "Titanic," "Sweet Home Alabama," "Never Been Kissed," "Legally Blonde," "Love, Actually," "13 Going on 30."
We hated the list. What about "Pretty in Pink," "16 Candles," "Sleepless in Seattle," "When Harry Met Sally," "Breakfast at Tiffany's," or "Gone With the Wind"?
Some listeners made good suggestions including "A Walk to Remember" and "French Kiss."
Come on men, the survey is totally anonymous. Tell us what movies you enjoy watching with your lady — or may even watch by yourself.


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Filipino Agencies
Intelligence services of the Philippines are maintained
through four agencies;
National Bureau of Investigation of the Department of Justice (DOJ)
National Counter-Terrorism Action Group
National Intelligence Coordinating Agency
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency
|National Bureau of Investigation
|The National Bureau of Investigation
(NBI) (Filipino: Pambansang Kawanihan ng Pagsisiyasat) (PKP), is an agency
of the Philippine government under the Department of Justice, responsible
for handling or solving sensational cases that are in the interest of the
The NBI is a government entity that is civilian in character, and national in scope which is under the Department of Justice.
It is headed by a director and with an assistant director and six (6) deputy-directors for—Special Investigation Services (SIS); Regional Operations Services (ROS); Intelligence Services (IS); Technical Services (TS); Administrative Services (AS); and Comptroller Services (CS).
The Intelligence Service (formerly known as the Domestic Intelligence Services; Domestic Intelligence Division; Intelligence Section) is the security service arm of the Bureau which undertakes internal security operations against terrorist elements and large organized crime groups who are identified as threats to the State as well as undertake internal security operations and investigation on suspected corrupt government officials or persons deemed or identified as a security threat. It is also mandated to undertake and supervise the security training and education of government, police and military personnel (upon their agency request)on matters relating to intelligence and security and when call upon, conduct security survey and risk assessment of government (and at times, private) infrastructures classified as critical in nature.
IS-NBI operational divisions from time to time are called on by the Bureau management to assist the Special Investigative Services (SIS) in the solution of a number of the high profile-complex crime cases handled by the Bureau during the past several years.
With the assumption of retired Police General, Atty. MAGTANGGOL B. GATDULA as Bureau Director, the entire Manila based Bureau services underwent streamlining in order to make the NBI more effective and efficient in terms of the utilization of manpower and resources in the fight against elements of organized crime and terrorism.
The following operational divisions of the Intelligence Service-NBI were retained:
Counter Terrorism Division (CTD)- formerly the Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU) renamed as per Administrative Order 16, Series of 2010
Counter Intelligence Division (CID)
Criminal Intelligence Division (CRID)
Research and Analysis Division (RAD)
Technical Intelligence Division (TID)
In accordance with Administrative Order No. 11, Series of 2010, the following IS divisions were abolish and there respective functions (as well as some of their personnel, equipment and materiel etc) transferred to the Counter Intelligence Division, namely:
Background Investigation Division (BID)
Field Operations Division (FOD)
Intelligence Special Operations Division (ISOD)
The Security Management Division (SMD) formerly assigned with the IS was transferred to the Administrative Services (AS) in accordance with Administrative Order No. 7, series of 2010. The Reaction, Arrest & Interdiction Division (RAID) was transferred to the Special Investigative Services (SIS) in accordance with Administrative Order No. 13, series of 2010.
A number of experienced operatives from the three disbanded intelligence divisions are to be distributed to two newly created divisions namely the Death Investigation Division (DID) and Environmental Welfare and Protection Investigation Division (EWPID) both of which are under the supervision of the Special Investigation Service (SIS) under Deputy Director RICKSON CHIONG. Still, a number of these same operatives expressed their desire to remain in the Intelligence Service and have requested for reassignment with the Counter Terrorism and Criminal Intelligence Division.
During the past several years, the IS have actively engaged in a number of high-profile anti-crime operations specifically targeting high risk individuals or crime groups. IS operatives however are trained and condition to observe the NBI Rules of Engagement (ROE) wherein priority is given to bringing the malefactor (preferably) alive to face the bar of justice.
However, if a legitimate law enforcement operation is carried out by the IS-NBI and is met by some form of hostile, violent or deadly resistance from the targeted criminal subject(s), IS operatives are trained to utilize appropriate amount or corresponding use of force in accordance with the existing NBI ROE.
Such were the case when IS and NBI-CEVRO operatives served the Warrants of Arrest against the late ALVIN FLORES et al. in their beach resort hide out in Campostela, Cebu island and in assisting operatives of the (now disbanded) Special Action Unit (SAU) in serving the Warrant of Arrest against crime suspect JASON IVLER.
At present, select operatives of the IS-NBI are on detached service with the Task Force Judiciary Protection (TFJP) specifically created to undertake the protection, risk assessment, investigation and security training of members of the Judiciary that are:
1. Assigned to high risk areas;
2. Received death threats in connection with high risk or heinous crime cases filed in their respective courts;
3. Actual victims/survivor of violent action intended to kill, maim or wound them;
4. Assigned to courts which have been the subject or has experienced violent attacks against one of its members, clients or visitors;
IS operatives working closely with the Philippine Judicial Academy (PHILJA) have help train not less than three hundred(300) judges from the 1st and 2nd level courts originating from the various regions of the country on matters relating to Personal Security Awareness.
IS operatives assigned with the TFJP also undertakes overt and covert security inspections of Hall of Justices in various parts of the country in order to gather data for an ideal security protocol for the lower courts. This assignment is undertaken with the guidance and supervision of the Committee on Security of the Supreme Court formerly chaired by Chief Justice (retired), Hon. REYNATO PUNO, but now under the helm of CHIEF JUSTICE RENATO CORONA.
The Intelligence Service is also currently entrusted with securing the persons of a number of High Profile Subjects (HPS) mostly state witnesses believed to be High Risk Targets, as well as some High Valued Prisoners (HVP) most recent of which in the person of DATU UNSAY MAYOR ANDAL AMPATUAN, JR. who was secured by IS operatives 24 hours a day/7 days a week for more than one hundred days at the NBI Detention Building before his transfer to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Detention Center in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City.
IS operatives (mostly from the Counter Terrorism Division) were tasked to help secure the Department of Justice premises in Padre Faura, Ermita, Manila where the hearings of the Incident Investigation and Review Committee (IIRC) regarding the Manila Bus Hostage Crisis were being held as well as provide field security for the IIRC members during their inspection tour of the Quirino Grandstand at the Luneta and the Hong Thai bus currently being secured at a warehouse in Camp Bagong Diwa, Bicutan, Taguig.
Recently IS operatives (mainly from the CTD and RAD)accompanied NBI Director MAGTANGGOL B. GATDULA in securing the person of long wanted Filipino fugitive ROLANDO FAJARDO, regarded as the Philippines Most Wanted Kidnap-For-Ransom-Group leader who illicitly fled the country sometime between 2001-2002 too Italy. FAJARDO is currently under guard at an undisclosed hospital and resting prior to his transfer to a more secure environment as he awaits arraignment for trial in a court of law.
The IS-NBI also maintains close working relationship with its domestic counterparts and at times undertake coordinated security operations against terrorist elements with augmented manpower complements from these units
|Department of Justice
|The Department of Justice (Filipino:
Kagawaran ng Katarungan), abbreviated as DOJ, is the executive department of
the Philippine government responsible for upholding the rule of law in the
Philippines. It is currently under the leadership of Former Commission on
Human Rights Chief, Secretary Leila De Lima. The Department of Justice was
founded on September 26, 1898 under the Philippine Revolutionary Government
of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo. A year later, the American Military Force
established the office of "The Attorney of the Supreme Court" in place of
the department. This new office was renamed "The Office of the Attorney
General" after the Americans put up a civilian government on June 11, 1901.
On September 1, 1901, the office became the Department of Finance and
Justice. In the 1916 government reorganization, the Department of Justice
became a separate entity and was given executive supervision over all courts
of first instance and other inferior courts. The Department continued to
function as such under the Philippine Commonwealth in 1935. When Manila was
overran by the Japanese invaders in 1942, the Department of Justice was
transformed into a commission. Under the civilian government established by
the Japanese in 1943, it became a ministry. In 1945, the government of the
Philippine Commonwealth was reestablished and some government offices were
reactivated, among them, the Department of Justice. The Department was
carried over under the Philippine Republic established on July 4, 1946. With
the adoption of the 1973 Constitution and after the declaration of Martial
Law, the Department again became a ministry. In the same year,
administrative supervision over all courts was transferred from the ministry
to the Supreme Court. The ministry continued to function after the 1986 EDSA
Revolution and the adoption of the Freedom Constitution. The 1987
Constitution reestablished the Department of Justice.
The Department has the following attached agencies:
Bureau of Immigration
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)
Bureau of Corrections (BuCor)
Parole and Probation Administration (PPA)
Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG)
Public Attorney's Office (PAO)
Land Registration Authority (LRA)
Office of the Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC)
Office of the Solicitor General (OSG)
|National Counter-Terrorism Action Group
|The National Counter-Terrorism Action Group (NCTAG) (Filipino: Pambansang Lupon ng Pagsasagawa Laban sa Terorismo) (PLPLT) was formed on November 27, 2007, with its existence announced to the public on November 29, 2007. It is an anti-terrorist body under the Philippine Anti-Terrorism Council. After its formation on November 27, 2007, and the announcement of its establishment on November 29, 2007, the group was trained by the RP-UK Crisis Management Assistance Program, in cooperation with the British Embassy. The training programme was shown to the public in January 2008. Former Philippine National Police chief, Arturo Lomibao, was appointed as the group's first chief officer. The NACTAG held its first anti-terrorist exercises at the Light Railway Transit-2 station in Cubao and at the Metro Rail Transit North Avenue Station to prepare authorities for future terrorist attacks after a bombing was reported at Iligan City. The mandate of the NACTAG is to be "involved in the actual investigation, in case of a terrorist attack, and in providing prosecutors with "enough evidence and witnesses so that the cases will stand in court in accordance with Republic Act (RA) 9372" or the Human Security Act." The NACTAG's manpower, as well as funding, would come from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Immigration, and the Anti-Money Laundering Council.[
|National Intelligence Coordinating Agency
|The National Intelligence
Coordinating Agency (NICA) (Filipino: Pambansang Sangay para sa Pagsasamang
Kaalaman) (PSPK) is the primary intelligence gathering and analysis arm of
the Philippine government, in charge of carrying out overt, covert, and
clandestine intelligence programs. Its motto is: Ang Karunungan ay
Kaligtasan (translated: "Knowledge is Security").
Presently, NICA is in close coordination with the CIA, Mossad, Secret Intelligence Service and intelligence services of ASEAN countries to counter the threat of terrorism. The agency is led by a Director-General and is assisted by a Deputy Director-General. The former reports directly to the President. Its present headquarters are located in Quezon City. The NICA has a National Intelligence Board that serves as an advisory board to the Director-General before he would submit his findings to the President relating to national security matters affecting the Philippines.
Founded in 1949, it was created by President Elpidio Quirino under the authority of Executive Order 235 with further powers relating to intelligence work added by a commission of the Government Survey and Reorganization Commission in 1954. It was abolished on September 16, 1972 by President Ferdinand Marcos under Presidential Decree 51 and replaced by the National Intelligence and Security Authority (NISA) headed by General Fabian Ver. The agency was primarily used to track down and eliminate anti-Marcos opponents before President Marcos was forced into exile. During his reign, it was one of main government organizations accused of human rights abuses. After the 1st EDSA Revolution, it was renamed the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency in 1987, replacing the NISA and was merged with the Civil Intelligence and Security Agency when the Philippine Constitution was revamped, where it refocused its priorities in tackling the communist movement. Their work has resulted in their weakening in the late '90s. In 1990, the Philippine's National Security Advisor was given responsibility to oversee management and control of the agency as to be responsive to the needs of the president and the National Security Council.
Executive Order Number 492, issued on February 1,
2006, orders the NICA to activate the National Maritime Aerial
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Center or NMARSC. The NMARSC shall serve as
the primary IMINT provider for the Philippine intelligence community. Under
the supervision and oversight of the National Security Adviser, the NICA-directed
NMARSC will operate unmanned aerial vehicles or UAVs to cater to the imagery
intelligence demands of various government agencies.
|Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency
|The Philippine Drug Enforcement
Agency (PDEA) (Filipino: Kawanihan ng Pilipinas Laban sa Droga) is the lead
anti-drugs law enforcement agency, responsible for preventing, investigating
and combating any dangerous drugs, controlled precursors and essential
chemicals within the Philippines. The agency is tasked with the enforcement
of the penal and regulatory provisions of Republic Act No. 9165, otherwise
known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
PDEA is under the supervision of the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB), which in turn, is under the supervision of the Office of the President.
For thirty years, the Republic Act No. 6425, or the Dangerous Drugs Act of 1972, had been the backbone of the drug law enforcement system in the Philippines. Despite the efforts of various law enforcement agencies mandated to implement the law, the drug problem alarmingly escalated. The high profitability of the illegal drug trade, compounded by the then existing laws that imposed relatively light penalties to offenders, greatly contributed to the gravity of the problem.
Recognizing the need to further strengthen existing laws governing Philippine drug law enforcement system, the then Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed the Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, on June 7, 2002 and it took effect on July 4, 2002. The Republic Act No. 9165 defines more concrete courses of action for the national anti-drug campaign and imposes heavier penalties to offenders.
The enactment of Republic Act 9165 reorganized the Philippine drug law enforcement system. While the Dangerous Drugs Board remains as the policy-making and strategy-formulating body in planning and formulation of policies and program on drug control and prevention, it created the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency under the Office of the President. The new law also abolished the National Drug Law Enforcement and Prevention Coordinating Center; and the Narcotics Group of Philippine National Police (PNP-NG), Narcotics Division of National Bureau of Investigation (NBI-ND), and the Customs Narcotics Interdiction Unit of the Bureau of Customs (BOC-CNIU). However, these law enforcement agencies have organized the following anti-illegal drugs task force to support the PDEA: Philippine National Police - Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operation Task Force (PNP-AIDSOTF); National Bureau of Investigation - Anti-Illegal Drugs Task Force (NBI-AIDTF); and Bureau of Customs - Customs Task Group/Force in Dangerous Drugs and Controlled Chemicals (BOC-CTGFDDCC).
National OfficePDEA is headed by a Director General (DG) with the Cabinet rank of Undersecretary, who is responsible for the general administration and management of the agency. The Director General is assisted by two Deputies Director General with the rank of Assistant Secretary: one for Administration (DDGA) and the other one for Operations (DDGO). The office of the Director General is also supported by the Secretary for Directorial Staff, Chief of Public Information Office (PIO), Chief of Information Technology Systems Management Office (ITSMO) and Chief of Complaints and Reaction Unit (CRU). The Director General of the PDEA shall be responsible for the necessary changes in the organizational set-up which shall be submitted to the DDB for approval.
The PDEA have the following National Services headed by Directors, namely:
Administrative and Human Resource Service (AHRS)
Financial Management Service (FMS)
Logistics Management Service (LMS)
Internal Affairs Service (IAS)
Intelligence and Investigation Service (IIS)
Plans and Operations Service (POS)
Legal and Prosecution Service (LPS)
Compliance Service (CS)
International Cooperation and Foreign Affairs Service (ICFAS)
Special Enforcement Service (SES)
Preventive Education and Community Involvement Service (PECIS)
Laboratory Service (LS)
PDEA maintains its own PDEA Academy temporarily located at Camp General Mariano N. Castañeda in Silang, Cavite. The PDEA Academy is headed by a Superintendent, with the rank of Director. It is responsible in the recruitment and training of all PDEA Agents and Personnel. The DDB provide for the qualifications and requirements of its recruits who must be at least twenty-one (21) years old, of proven integrity and honesty, a Baccalaureate degree holder and with Career Service Professional Eligibility from Civil Service Commission (CSC) or Board License from Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).
PDEA Agents are issued with a Norinco Pistols upon successful completion of their training at the PDEA Academy while the superior officers are issued with a Glock Pistols in .45 caliber ammunition. The PDEA Agents use M4 Carbine as their assault riffle in urban warfare and special operations. To maximize the capability of the anti-drug operatives in the country, PDEA acquired CTAR 21 Tavor which fires the standard NATO caliber 5.56 mm ammunition.
|Intelligence Agencies
|Australia & New Zealand
|North Korea
|South Africa
|South Korea
|United Kingdom
|United States of America


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April 25, 2006 / EnvironmentBan the bulb!!
Have a read of Desktop Zen – Reducing Visual Clutter on your Desktop by AJ and see if you think your desktop can really go from this:
to this:
I'm a little sceptical, myself, that this will work for everyone. Some people seem to NEED clutter to function.


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Romans 12:10
Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.
I knew what I was SUPPOSED to do yesterday after someone hurt my feelings. I knew what God's Word said. I also knew I had to forgive this person, but I just wanted to stew in my angry juices awhile before I let everything go. I wanted to punish this person for hurting me. I iced over just like these berries and I turned on the silent treatment.
Am I proud of it? No.
Was I talking to God the entire time, pretty much.
I was trying to rehash the words that were said back and forth in my mind. How did it turn into this?
Yes, the stone cold treatment. That is what the person got from me until I could respond without saying things I would regret.
Yes Lord, I know … "Honor one another above yourselves …"
I eventually turned off the ice machine and talked things through with this person. I did forgive and I was grateful God gave me the chance. It wasn't my heart's desire to go through what happened yesterday, but there we were — in the middle of a disagreement. I felt like I had barbs sticking out of me and every word that person spoke tapped those barbs and made the pain worse.
Was I focused on the emotional pain, therefore focusing on MY FEELINGS? YES. If only I had been able to lay down my own junk and focus on what caused this type of reaction from this person, then I would have really been walking in maturity.
Oh Father, help me to honor others above myself.
I am linking with my friend Barbie. Please click on her button below to visit her and read other posts today.
Thanks for visiting me. Have a great Sunday!


text: I have been trying to use the xbox 360 controller ( http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/...3100/list.true ) with my PC all day. I plugged it in, and downloaded the software. I know that in someway it is connected to my PC because when I press the guide button, a small tab opens onscreen telling me the batteries in the controller are fully charged, however whenever I start a game, the mouse + keyboard are still in control. I spent 3+ hours on the phone with microsoft support and was transferred 9 times and received no help. What am I missing? Thanks (BTW I am trying to play Skyrim via steam)


text:
Archive for June, 2010
Wireless tech, R&D drive biosensor growthTuesday, June 29, 2010 10:49 Be the first to comment
A recent study from Frost & Sullivan shows projected growth in the world biosensor market, which the company predicts will grow from a total value of $6.72 billion in 2009 to $14.42 billion in 2016.
POLL: Do you currently offer remote video monitoring as a service?Tuesday, June 29, 2010 10:42 Be the first to comment
The remote services market is growing, and the largest portion of that, according to IMS, is remote video monitoring. Are you taking advantage of this growth area?
Will priority response from PDs change the game?Thursday, June 10, 2010 11:17 2 Comments
DALLAS—What if you could promise your customers that police would come more quickly if you added a video or audio verification component to their alarm system? Are police saying they will come more quickly to a verified alarm? If so, should you begin only selling alarms that have video or audio verification as part of the solution?
IMS Research stat of the month: Entrance Control industryMonday, June 7, 2010 10:21 Be the first to comment
A new report from IMS Research covering the Entrance Control industry shows the breakdown on the different types of entrance control gates out there. Which gate is most popular? Where is there opportunity for growth? The report estimates 44 percent of pedestrian speed gates shipped globally came with swing doors, followed by 33 percent with [...]


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TV Repair Questions? Ask a TV Technician for Answers ASAP
Yes you can connect the wireless keyboard to your Samsung smart tv.
Follow these steps to setup the connection.
First of all, Turn on your TV.
Now connect the USB Wireless receiver to the USB port which is present at the back of your TV.
You will get a message on the TV screen specifying that a USB device have been connected.
Press OK.
Now on the remote control of your TV, Press MENU. Then select SETTINGS.
Then on the list, select DEVICE MANAGER.
You will get KEYBOARD SETTING. Select it and then you will see the name of your keyboard shown there. Once you see it. Then come back to the TV screen and you are ready to go.
If you have any query then revert back for further assistance.
Please rate the chat POSITIVELY.
You have not replied for a couple of days, so i guess your problem is resolved. Please rate the solution positively. Thanks and have a nice day. Cheers.


text:
- Home >
- Machinery >
- Sanders >
- Bobbin Sanders >
- Jet JOSS-S Oscillating Spindle Sander & Mobile Base - PACKAGE DEAL
Package deal comprises the Jet JOSS-S Oscillating Spindle Sander and Jet Heavy Duty Mobile Base.
Jet JOSS-S Oscillating Spindle Sander
This is a very versatile machine with many uses in the trade workshop. The sander by virtue of its name oscillates up and down while rotating at 1,400rpm, ensuring that the abrasive is not continually exposed at the same point reducing burning and creating a better quality of finish. Worm-drive gears working in an oil filled gearbox drive the 38mm long stroke. The large cast iron table gives adequate support to nearly all types of work, has a 90° positive stop and can tilt to a full 45° if required. The machine comes with 10 metric bobbins all with sanding sleeves attached and the bobbins fit with a taper into the main drive shaft of the machine. The sanding sleeves are spirally wound to ensure that they have no bump where the join is; they are more expensive than simple belts but they do leave an excellent finish on nearly all materials. A fine dust extractor is recommended. Supplied with table insert, service tools, 100mm dust extraction outlet and sanding spindles 6, 9, 12, 19mm plus rubber drums of 25mm, 38mm, 50mm, 75mm and 100mm.
Jet Heavy Duty Mobile Base
This all-steel base is adjustable for size, with fixed wheels on the back corners and 2 lockable castoring wheels on the front. The mobile base takes machines bases from 460mm to 710mm and with a maximum weight of 250kg
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GUILDFORD, a borough and market - town, having separate jurisdiction, and the head of a union, locally in the First division of the hundred of Woking, W. division of Surrey, 30 miles (S. W.) from London; containing, exclusively of that part of the parish of St. Nicholas (called Artington) in the hundred of Godalming, 4074 inhabitants. This place, of which there is no mention either in the British or the Roman annals, is supposed to be of Saxon origin, and to have derived its name from Guild, a fraternity, and Ford, the passage over a stream. It was held in royal demesne, and, by Speed, is said to have been the residence of some of the Saxon kings. About the year 900, Alfred the Great bequeathed it to his nephew Ethelwald; and in 1036 it became memorable for the perfidious cruelty of Godwin, Earl of Kent, who, when Alfred, the son of Ethelred II., had reached Guildford, on his arrival from Normandy, by invitation of Harold Harefoot, then king of England, inhumanly massacred his retinue of 600 Normans, and delivered him up to Harold, by whose orders his eyes were put out, and he was detained a prisoner at the monastery of Ely, where he died. The castle is thought to have been erected subsequently to the Conquest, but by whom, or at what precise time, has not been ascertained: the remains consist chiefly of the keep, which occupies the summit of a mound now forming part of a private pleasure-ground, and some traces of the outer walls in the Quarry and Castle streets and other parts of the town, which serve to mark out its former extent; there are also some extensive caverns remaining, through one of which the workmen had to descend in sinking a well for the house of correction. Henry II. built a palace here, in which he frequently held his court; and emparked a considerable tract of land on the north side of Guildford Down. It was also the occasional residence of several of his successors. Eleanor, queen of Henry III., founded a house of Friars Preachers, which Edward II. ineffectually attempted to convert into a nunnery of the order of St. Dominic; and according to Speed, there was likewise a house of Crouched friars; but of these no remains exist.
The town is romantically situated on the declivities of two chalk hills sloping to the river Wey, which flows in a narrow channel between them; it consists, for the most part, of one spacious street, containing several handsome houses, and is paved, lighted with gas, and well supplied with water by a company. Near the site of the friary were very extensive cavalry barracks, which have been pulled down, though the site and land are still held by government, for any future necessity of rebuilding them. A mechanics' institute was founded in 1834, and a literary and scientific institution in 1835. The theatre, a neat and well-arranged edifice, is opened occasionally; and not far from the town is a good course, where races take place annually, and the queen's plate of 100 guineas is run for, but they are now very little patronised. The trade is chiefly in timber, corn, malt, and beer, which are sent to the metropolis by the Wey, that river having been made navigable to the town in 1650, principally by the exertions of Sir Richard Weston, Bart., and the navigation since extended to the town of Godalming. There is an iron-foundry; and on the banks of the river are several corn-mills. The Wey and Arun Junction canal branches from the Wey at Shalford common, midway between Guildford and Godalming, and, proceeding through the Weald of Surrey and Sussex, joins the river Arun at Newbridge, thus opening a communication with the sea at Arundel and Littlehampton, from the Thames and the port of London. A branch of the London and South-Western railway was opened in May 1845, to this place; its length is six miles. In 1846, acts were passed for making two railways from Guildford, one leading to Godalming, and the other to Farnham and Alton; and in the same year, an act was obtained for a railway from Reading, by Guildford, to Dorking and Reigate. The market-days are Wednesday and Saturday, the latter for corn, of which there is an ample supply. The fairs are on May 4th and Nov. 22nd, for live-stock: the May fair has commonly a very extensive supply of sheep, which are sold here and forwarded into Kent and Essex. A large quantity of poultry is sent to London on the market-days; and there is a fair for lambs on the Tuesday preceding Easter, and on every succeeding Tuesday till after Whitsuntide. The corn-market is held in a building erected in 1818, by subscription; the portico is a fine specimen of the Tuscan order. The market for vegetables is kept in a lofty room, built in 1798, by Lords Onslow and Grantley, originally for the transaction of public business, and the holding of convivial meetings.
Though Guildford was doubtless a corporate town in the time of Alfred, the first regular charter of incorporation on record is that of Henry III., which was confirmed by Henry VI. and Henry VIII., the latter monarch changing the designation of the chief magistrate from seneschal to mayor; and by James II., under whose charter the government was vested in a mayor, high steward, recorder, seven aldermen, and an indefinite number of bailiffs, "or approved men," seldom exceeding 24. Under the act of the 5th and 6th of William IV., cap. 76, the corporation consists of a mayor, 4 aldermen, and 12 councillors, the mayor being one of the 16; it appoints a high steward, and has a recorder, with a separate commission of six magistrates. The recorder holds a court of quarter-sessions for offences committed within the borough. The elective franchise was conferred in the 23rd of Edward I., since which time the town has returned two members to parliament. The right of election was formerly vested in the resident freemen and freeholders paying scot and lot, in number about 170; but by the act of the 2nd of William IV., cap. 45, it was extended to the £10 householders of the borough and an adjacent district, the limits of which comprise 482 acres: the mayor is returning officer. The town-hall, erected in 1683, is surmounted by a turret, in which is a clock; the interior is decorated with portraits of some of the sovereigns, and with other paintings. The summer assizes for the county are held alternately here and at Croydon, and the quarter-sessions for the same once in the year. The petty-sessions for the division are also held at Guildford, which is the place of election for the western division of Surrey. The powers of the county debt-court of Guildford, established in 1847, extend over part of the registration-district of Guildford, and over the parishes of Shalford, St. Martha-on-the-Hill, and Wonersh. The house of correction for the county, completed in 1823, occupies an elevated situation.
The borough comprises the parish of the Holy Trinity, containing 1506; that of St. Mary the Virgin, 1676; and part of that of St. Nicholas, with 892 inhabitants. The parish of the Holy Trinity comprises by admeasurement 142 acres, of which 125 are arable land, and the rest, sites of houses, gardens, and roads. The living is a rectory, with that of St. Mary's united, valued in the king's books, the former at £11. 11. 0½. and the latter at £12. 5. 5., and in the patronage of the Crown; the tithes of the two rectories have been commuted for £142. The church was rebuilt in 1763, after the damage it sustained from the fall of the tower in 1740, and is a handsome brick edifice; the central east window contains a representation of Our Saviour on the Cross in ancient stained glass, and there are monuments to Archbishop Abbot, and Arthur Onslow, speaker of the house of commons. St. Mary's church is an ancient structure of flint and chalk intermixed with pebbles, situated on the slope of a hill, and supposed to have been erected soon after the Conquest; it consists of a nave, aisles, and chancel, with a chapel on each side, circular at the eastern extremity. It was repaired under the superintendence of the late Rev. Henry P. Beloe, by whom many of its most interesting features were judiciously restored. The chapel on the north side of the chancel is now the vestry; a portion of the roof is groined, and in the compartments are various old paintings in fresco. The living of St. Nicholas' is a rectory, valued in the king's books at £21. 0. 10., and in the patronage of the Bishop of Winchester: the tithes have been commuted for £720. The church was taken down, with the exception of the tower and of Loseley chapel on the south, and re-erected in 1837, at an expense of £2700, defrayed by subscription, aided by a grant of £500 from the Incorporated Society. In Loseley chapel are a splendid monument to Sir William More and family, and several neat tablets to the family of Molyneux; and under a niche removed from the old church is an ancient monument of a priest in a recumbent position, with the inscription, "Arnold Brocas, rector, died 1395." This chapel, and the monuments, have been restored and beautified, at an expense of about £300, by J. More Molyneux, Esq., a descendant of the More family. There are places of worship for Baptists, the Society of Friends, Independents, and Wesleyans.
The free grammar school was originally founded in 1509, by Robert Beckingham, of London, who assigned to it lands and tenements; and was endowed by Edward VI. with £20 per annum, under the title of Schola Regia Grammaticalis Edvardi Sexti. In 1671, Joseph Nettle devised land, now producing £32 per annum, for an exhibition from the school to the University of Oxford, or Cambridge. In the Blue-coat school, 22 boys are educated in a part of the tower of Trinity church. An hospital for a master, twelve aged men, and eight unmarried women, was founded in 1619, by Abbot, Archbishop of Canterbury, who afterwards endowed it with £200 per annum; and it was incorporated by letterspatent of James I., in 1622, under the title of "The Master and Brethren of the Hospital of the Blessed Trinity." The archbishop also left £100 per annum for setting the poor to work, half of which is distributed to them, and the other half applied to the support of four additional women in the hospital. Sir Nicholas Kempe, Knt., left £600 to the master, brethren, and sisters; Mrs. Jane Molyneux, of Loseley, in 1798, £2000 in the 3 per cent. Bank annuities, the interest to be given to the inmates of the hospital, except the master; and Thomas Jackman, Esq., in 1785, £600 to the four sisters who were added. The buildings occupy a quadrangular area, on the north side of which is a small chapel, containing some very fine specimens of stained glass, with portraits of the founder, Sir Nicholas Kempe, and Mr. Jackman, and a valuable painting of Our Saviour in the Sepulchre, with Mary Magdalene, &c., weeping over him; the scriptural subjects are said to have belonged to the priory founded by Eleanor, wife of Henry III. The Poyle charity, from a bequest by Henry Smith, amounting to £500 per annum, is under the management of trustees; and there are several other benefactions for the relief of the poor. In 1676, Caleb Lovejoy left funds for endowing almshouses for four widows, and for instructing boys belonging to the parish of St. Nicholas. The union of Guildford comprises 21 parishes or places, and contains a population of 23,085. On the banks of the river is St. Catherine's Hill, so called from the remains of a chapel on its summit, founded about the time of Henry III. Richard De Wauncey, Parson of St. Nicholas', procured a charter to the chapel in 1328, for holding a fair on this hill, on the eve, day, and morrow of St. Matthew, which is still held according to the new style. Loseley House, an ancient mansion near the town, was frequently visited by Queen Elizabeth. Archbishop Abbot, a native of St. Nicholas' parish; Arthur Onslow, speaker of the house of commons; and Bishop Parkhurst, were buried in the church of the Holy Trinity. Robert Abbot, elder brother of the archbishop, was also born here, and raised to the see of Salisbury in 1615. Guildford gives the title of Earl to the family of North.


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There are many ways to enjoy the water in London. Relax on a lake in a rowing boat; or in summer, take a refreshing dip in one of the city's outdoor swimming pools or London lidos. Find the best places for boating and outdoor swimming in London.
London's outdoor swimming and lidos
Tooting Bec Lido
One of London's best known open-air pools is Tooting Bec Lido. The 90m (295 ft) pool played a starring role in Guy Ritchie's movie Snatch, and is the oldest purpose-built open-air pool in London, and one of the largest in Europe. The lido is open to the public from May until September, with club swimming all year round. There is also a grass area for sunbathers, a paddling area for children and a cafe to enjoy.
Brockwell Lido
Brockwell Lido has a sunbathing area, cafe and changing facilities. The lido first opened in 1937 and retains many of its original features, including an impressive square clock, art deco lettering and Grade II-listed pavilion buildings. The lido is situated in Brockwell Park, perfect for a post-swim stroll. Brockwell Lido's outdoor pool is open all year-round, along with an indoor hydrotherapy pool, gym, cycling studio and cafe.
Hyde Park: Serpentine Lido
Hyde Park's Serpentine Lido is open on weekends throughout May and seven days a week from 1 June to 12 September. Swimmers can refuel at the Lido Cafe Bar, which has waterside tables. The Serpentine Swimming Club is the oldest swimming club in Britain. Members meet to swim in the lake every morning and take part in races at 8am every Saturday, whatever the weather. The highlight of the club's calendar is the legendary Peter Pan Cup on 25 December. Swimmers have been competing in this traditional Christmas dip since 1864!
Hampstead Heath and Parliament Hill Fields
There are three freshwater bathing pools on Hampstead Heath, some of the most picturesque spots for outdoor swimming in London. These beautiful ponds attract thousands each summer, and even a few brave swimmers throughout winter! There is one pond for mixed bathing and separate ponds for male and female swimmers. Swimmers must be aged eight and over and may be required to take a short swimming test to prove their competence. For younger swimmers or those who don't feel confident enough to tackle the ponds, there is also an unheated lido and paddling pool on nearby Parliament Hill Fields.
London Fields Lido
London Fields Lido is a heated 50m (164 ft) outdoor pool. The temperature is maintained at a comfortable 25C (77F) all year round so it's generally open whatever the weather. London Fields Lido first opened in 1932 and was later closed for 18 years up until 2006 when it reopened, rebuilt to modern standards. Now facilities include a sunbathing terrace and cafe. During the London 2012 Games, the American Paralympic swimming team used London Fields Lido as their pre-games training base.
Hampton Pool
Set in a woodland area on the outskirts of Bushy Park, Hampton Pool is a 36-metre tiled pool, with water maintained to 28C (82F) in summer and winter. For learner swimmers, there's a 12.5m (41 ft) shallow pool, as well as a baby and toddler pool where little ones can find their 'water legs' with their parents. There's also a grassed area for visitors to laze in the sun between swims.
Boating in London
Hyde Park
The Serpentine Lake covers a large part of Hyde Park, and is the focal point for many of the park's activities. Hire a pedalo or rowing boat to relax on the water. Boating on the Serpentine is open from Easter until late October.
Regent's Park
The glorious Regent's Park boasts a large boating lake, with a smaller one for children. Boat hire is available daily from April through to September. The rest of the year, it's a lovely spot to walk or cycle. You can see many species of water birds on the lake, including herons nesting on the islands. The children's lake is open weekends, bank holidays and school holidays only.
Battersea Park
You can rent boats in Battersea Park during July and August to row or pedal round the lake (and at weekends in September if the weather's good). Look out for herons, grebes and cormorants.


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Hi Aunt Becky,
My fiance and I are planning on getting married in a little over a year, but with relocation, finding jobs after school, and a bunch of other things going on in our lives right now we have yet to plan a single detail.
It's getting to be about that time to book churches, reception halls, and figure out colors or whatever (my sister is good at the planning so I'm passing it all off onto her). The problem is, I just started a job that is going to be able to pay my monthly bills and that's it, and my fiance is still unemployed.
Here's the kicker: He wants a big wedding with a DJ, food for people (a main meal and drunkie snacks at the end of the night) and other wild things that we just can't afford without taking on more debt. I think we should just invite our guests down to the Church reception hall for coffee and cake after the ceremony and be done with it. I really don't want to spend a ton of money on one day when we could be putting it toward a house or a kick ass honeymoon.
Help please!
-Unhappy Planner
Oh, my Unhappy Planner Prankster, how I empathize with you entirely, because Your Aunt Becky is SO not a wedding person. I'm very much a PARTY person, but not at all a wedding person. I'm the chuck-it-all-and-go-to-Vegas-and-get-married-by-Elvis-kind-of-girl, actually, but you know, apparently that's not en vogue or something.
So here's what my advice is to ALL of those out there planning weddings: this is your first step as a soon-to-be married couple in what marriage is all about: compromise.
I suggest you each make a list of what it is that you want in your ideal wedding without input from the other person. Then, add an approximate cost associated with each item. After that, rank each item from order from most to least important.
THEN, regroup and have a real discussion about what you can combine to make this work for you both.
Marriage is a partnership and nowhere is that going to be more evident than now. So I suggest you start getting accustomed to thinking like a twosome now. Two is the new one, you know.
Good luck, Prankster.
(for the record, I'd do Vegas)
Dear Aunt Becky,
I am turning 21 on July 21st. I really want to go out for my birthday. I don't even want to drink- I just want to go dancing. Here's the kicker. I am going to be 29 weeks pregnant on my birthday. And, as bad as I want to go dancing, I don't want to deal with the fucktards that are going to be giving me the stink-eye the whole time I am there. It's not like I am massively huge pregnant either, I have only gained 4 pounds, and I don't have this raging prego belly, just a little bump.
So, Aunt Becky, does being pregnant mean I have to sit at home and act like I am dead because I have this thing growing in my stomach? Or can I go out and shake my ass?!? I mean, I am just pregnant, not dead!
Aw, Prankster, I missed answering this one in time for your birthday and I'm sorry. Happy Birthday, belatedly, my friend.
So, should you go out and celebrate on your 21st birthday while pregnant? ABSOFUCKINGLUTELY! I was a whopping 37 weeks pregnant (or perhaps 48 weeks?) with Ben when I turned 21, and you bet your ass I walked into that liquor store and bought a bottle of champagne with my brand new driver's license.
Then, I waddled my sorry ass home and went to bed. Of course, I didn't DRINK any of it or anything, but I just did it because I had to.
And frankly, anyone who thinks that pregnant women should stay home with their feet up resting and watching TLC, hiding from the world, should be beaten about the head. If you want to go dancing on your birthday, baby, you shake that ass.
I'll never forget back when I was a bartender, this very pregnant lady came in and ordered a non-alcoholic beer for herself. The bottle does, of course, look like, well, a BEER bottle, and the bar was bumping. That poor woman got SO many dirty looks that I eventually had to start stepping in and fending people off of her.
It's bad enough to be hugely pregnant. If the woman wants to drink a non-alcoholic (blech) beer, let the damn woman do it (and yes, I know it has a tiny bit of alcohol in it. She had ONE).
So I hope you shook that ass and had a great birthday, Prankster.
Dear Aunt Becky,
I did not grow up with a gun in the house. It was never like an "oooh guns are scary" type of thing, they just were never a part of my life. And frankly, I've just never cared for the thought of one around.
My boyfriend on the other hand, has always had guns in the house. He competitively shot as a teen, and his father collects them.
Now basically he has just the one side arm that he keeps in his nightstand, unloaded, with the ammo far from it. He's not an irresponsible gun owner in any way. But still the gun bothers me. He says its just for protection, that it helps make him feel safe. That there's nothing for me to worry about, and still, I worry.
I know he won't just get rid of it because I want him to, and I really don't have a good reason other than it bothers me. How do I get over this? Should I just get over it?
It's not a pressing issue, as we don't live together at the moment, but we're planning on getting married, and moving in with him means moving in with it…
Annie Get Your Gun
Oh Annie, I so get where you're coming from because my hippie parents wouldn't ALLOW us guns of any sorts. Not even SQUIRT guns until I was much, much older (I wasn't allowed Barbies either, which probably explains my personality a lot more, too).
So I'm actually a little afraid of them. Okay, I'm a lot afraid of them. And it's a stupid fear, honestly.
But what I need to do, and what YOU need to do is to do something about it.
A gun is an inanimate object that can't physically JUMP UP and hurt you, right?
So I think that first you should talk to your boyfriend about your fears about the gun. Then, maybe you should have him take you shooting, just so you learn how to use it. Clearly, he's no amateur and isn't going to be unsafe with it, so I'd trust that he knows what he's doing. If you're going to move in with him, you need to be comfortable with him and with his hobby and lifestyle.
Or, of course, not, if that's a deal breaker for you.
And as for me, I need to confront this and learn how to shoot a damn gun.
Good luck to you, Annie.
39 Responses to Go Ask Aunt Becky
Um, why would you have an unloaded gun in your nightstand for protection? That doesn't make any sense! It's not like danger's gonna wait while you load it!
I also grew up in a house were we were not allowed guns as toys but for a very different reason. My parents have guns, and it's a safety thing. Guns are NOT toys, and they didn't give us any toys to make sure it was crystal clear. We did get squirt guns but they were as un-gun like as possible. But they took us out starting at about 7 or 8 and started teaching us the basics of shooting safety. So I'm very comfortable with guns, and now that I live alone, have one for protection in my nightstand and damn straight that it's loaded.
And funnily enough, I don't live in like Texas, or some big gun state, I live in San Diego, and grew up in Southern CA…
But, yeah, get him to take you to a range and check it out. A respect for guns is a good thing. You might end up really liking it. I take my friends out, and now we've got a group that goes desert target shooting pretty regularly. One of them even ended up marrying a gun nut, and now we're all learning to shoot skeet. Same goes for you Aunt Becky!!
Man, we totally had a party in the park, and brought a stereo with our own music mix for our wedding. And I made BEER. It was AWESOME.
Also, geez, ONE DRINK isn't going to hurt. It's the constant, steady abuse of alcohol that causes problems. People need to lighten the f*** up.
Wow. Can I field this one, Becky?
Annie, I am a professional tactical firearms instructor… which is to say that I teach people how to fight with a variety of weapons. I would like to tell you, first thing, that aving guns in the house doesn't make you safe. I'll say that again. Having guns in the house DOESN'T make you safe… it makes you FEEL safe, and those are two very different things.
That your boyfriend keeps his gun unloaded is the preogative of a wise gun owner. Unless you are living at a forward combat base in Afghanistan or an EXCEPTIONALLY rough neighborhood, that likelyhood of having to pull out a pistol and fight off an attacker from your bed isn't all that high.
Your discomfort is reasonable, as the proximity of guns isn't something that is in your normal realm of existance… so I would suggest that you talk to your boyfriend… and then seek some training for yourself… but have someone else teach you. Boyfriends, no matter how experienced, don't always make the best teachers… and don't get any training from "your buddy down the street who is a local cop", because most cops can't shoot worth a crap, and I should know, because I work with them every day.
If you have any uestions on the subject, I would be glad to help.
Amen, my ex-husband is a cop, and I happened to google him last night, which may or may not be weird, I will go with not weird, cuz I like google.
He was an ex-marine (FORMER MARINE LEST HE COME AFTER ME)
He IS a cop, ironically in charge of domestic abuse right now apparently.
I have had a bullet graze my head over burnt pizza, then when I insisted that gun be unloaded BEFORE he comes into the house had a bullet go through my hair. Just because he thought it was funny. You know, because that is just a fucking riot.
I should have known better. When we were merely dating I mentioned I hated motorcycles. I got a motorcycle as a gift for my birthday. When he became a cop, and KNEW I hated guns (for a very good reason), he would flaunt his at all times, and NOT put it in the safe. He even bought me one, which I never even touched.
The likelyhood of getting shot (or shot at) is also very high if you have a gun in the house.
And yes, cops suck at shooting, which is fortunate for me. Guns in the home statistically make you UNSAFE!
I have to stick up for some cops here! My hubby is a cop and while a lot of them do suck NOT ALL of them do! He is one of the top shooters in the state (that we live in) and has been recognized for it… He is incredibly safe with guns and has taught me how to defend myself (I have also taken classes), he has also trained with different methods of self-defense and doesn't rely on his gun as the ONLY means of stopping someone… A lot of the people he works with though, do suck at shooting and as his wife when he needs back-up in a situation where they might have to be used, that does scare the crap out of me because THEY rely on the gun or the taser too much… We do keep a couple of guns (his off-duty carry and his on duty) loaded in the house… We keep them out of reach of children but where I can get to it. At any given time there are at least 5 more UNloaded in our house, they are a combination of rifles and hand guns. I do not feel that because I have a gun I am safe, but at least I'm not defenseless either.
Melissa I am sorry that your ex was a douche, but not all cops are unsafe assholes! It's officers like him that give cops a bad name and that makes me sad.
Annie, I think if you took some classes and had your boyfriend teach you, you would feel more comfortable with it.
By all means go out and enjoy yourself while pregnant. I don't think you should drink/smoke/do drugs, etc, but exercise (dancing) is recommended! Since we don't live under the Taliban, and pregnancy is not some communicable disease, go out and be as active as you feel able to be.
We have guns in the house. Our situation is different because we have small kids in the house. Ours are locked up, with trigger locks as well, and the ammo is kept locked somewhere else. We don't consider them to be for ready self protection. Catherine is right, the only way to get comfortable is to shoot with guidance. I actually enjoy it quite a bit, and women tend to naturally be good shots. Enjoy!
Women aren't naturally good shooters.
Women, however are usually much better students than men, because they don't equate firearms with their sexuality, as many men do. When I am training a woman the has no previous experience with firearms, she tends to listen and has a healthy amount of fear/respect for what guns cabn do when used improperly.
Make your fiance watch a Bridezillas marathon and see if that helps mellow his wedding plans a bit.
Pregnant women should go dancing and do whatever the hell else they want that won't harm the baby because pretty soon they'll be too exhausted to dance.
We only have antique guns in the house, but even they freaked me out at first. It was unfamiliarity, plain and simple. I agree with all the advice about learning about them.
Unhappy planner – AB is totally right, make your lists and try for compromise. Birthday girl, of COURSE you should dance, pregnant or not. I have been pregnant twice, and both times, I was out there shakin it until about a week before I gave birth. There is nothing against dancing while pregnant, it's great exercise!!! Just because there's music involved doesn't make it bad. Annie, again, I'm with AB. Learn more before making any decisions. Good luck!
I was also going to chime in, that if guns bother you because they are just in a drawer, perhaps you could compromise and get a safe?? they make smaller safes that use fingerprint technology to open, so you don't even have to remember a combination if you are in the middle of a scary situation…. just a thought!
Aunt Becky, I think you gave the gun worrier the solution in your reply: she should just sneak into her boyfriend's nightstand, take out the firearm, and replace it with a WATER PISTOL! Possibly a cool green one with a G.I. Joe logo on it! That way, if an intruder breaks into the house, the boyfriend can slooowly reach into the nightstand, draw his weapon, and feel like a big-time macho bad-ass firing a gun like Jason Statham in every movie ever, and that intruder will get a BIG SHOT OF WATER IN THE EYE, and then leave feeling very, very sheepish.
And as an added bonus, if the intruder is actually the girlfriend coming home late, he won't have shot her dead. He'll only have gotten her wet.
Well, I've never planned a wedding, so now help from me on number 1.
As for number 2, when I turned 21, I had an 8 month old at home. I did end up going out, but not without feeling really guilty. (Which could be the subject of a completely different Go Ask Aunt Becky.) I say, go out and celebrate before the baby is born, because after s/he is you'll be too exhausted! Or if you're like me, you'll be too much of a guilt-ridden, I-can't-leave-my-baby, boring face like me. There's nothing wrong with dancing and having a good time with your friends, no matter if your 2 months pregnant, 9 months pregnant or a mother of 3. Everybody deserves a social life!
And number 3, well…I can't help much there either. Though, I'm in a similar situation with my boyfriend. What with his guns and hunting knives. Mr. Outdoorsman, you know?
The dirty looks at the pregnant woman are all a part of this country's problem of not minding their own business.
In Ireland and much of the UK through the industrial revolution a
I didn't want a huge wedding – I had no budget and no interest in spending money I didn't have…so I asked a friend to make my dress, told everyone to wear their favorite Renaissance costume or whatever was comfortable, and had the ceremony and a pot-luck reception in my mother's yard. I even wrote the ceremony, and it took longer to walk down the garden path than it did to say our vows. Hey, there was cake waiting… I don't see the sense in beggaring yourself for one day and burdening your new life with a load of debt. It may behoove you to find out WHY your fiance wants such a large to-do and to explain clearly why you'd rather be a little less formal and a lot more debt-free. Otherwise, I'm thinkin' Aunt B has it right – compromise is going to be your friend for (one hopes) a very long time, may as well get into the swing of it now.
It always cheeses me off when people give me grief over being pregnant and doing…whatever. Don't lift that box, move the table, bend over to pick something up, drum and dance around the fire until two in the morning. Pfft. I often (tartly) reply that my arms, legs, and back are not pregnant and they still function just fine thankyouverymuch. Also, FYI, doctors now say that as much as a glass of wine a day won't hurt, and often advise one after an amnio. Really! So yeah, go out and shake what the gods have blessed you with, and that includes your sweet baby bump. If someone has an issue with that…well, it's their issue and no need to spoil your fun just because they're glued to the dark ages.
Guns, ugh. Yes, that's how I feel about them. I don't want firearms in my home, because of what they represent TO ME. That said…I've lived with firearms in my home. Loaded ones. I know why I don't like them, but I also know I can handle them if I must. I won't, but I can…and that's key, I believe. It's important to both know whether you can handle one safely, and also where you limits are. Lack of familiarity makes things scarier…so I would suggest learning as much as you are comfortable learning. Let your boyfriend show you how to fire his weapon (that's what she said! heh…), how to clean it and load it and handle it safely. While you may never be keen on using one, you may find yourself more comfortable having one around…and if not, at least you will have tried.
Shade and Sweewtater,
K (who has an opinion and isn't afraid to use it)
My birthday was July 21, too. I turned 60. Obviously never been pregnant. But I went to the beach, and on the way home bought a bottle of "frontier" whiskey. So do whatever the hell you want: you'll be 60 before you get the chance again.
From Hollywood to the "to protect and serve" slogan painted on their cars, cops have great PR. It's horseshit. There's a drug dealer living to the left of me and a meth lab to the right of me. Police response is non-existent. Get a gun: I did.
My birthday was July 21, too. I turned 60. Obviously never been pregnant. But I went to the beach, and on the way home bought a bottle of "frontier" whiskey. So do whatever the hell you want: you'll be 60 before you get the chance again.
From Hollywood to the "to protect and serve" slogan painted on their cars, cops have great PR. It's horseshit. There's a drug dealer living to the left of me and a meth lab to the right of me. Police response is non-existent. Get a gun: I did.
K sounds like she had a great wedding- I want my (next one -grin) to be potluck and a party. But, for wedding girl- Hubby needs to understand you can't spend money you don't have- its a major cause for divorce, money issues are that is. Compromise, good, excellent. But maybe also think about putting off the wedding until you can afford it, or having a big party for an anniversary and having a small wedding or courthouse thing now.
I was in labor on my 21st birthday! but prior to that, I hung out in bars, went dancing, etc while I was hugely fat pregnant. (Ex)Hubby thought it was so great he had a sober driver- and I loved getting out of the house. If anyone wants to judge- thats their problem.
I hate guns too. The Ex owns one now because when we camp it's safer to be protected. But I still hate it.
This is such a cultural devide. I'm from England. In the country farmers and a very few landowners have guns, but we are talking about shotguns- for hunting rabbit, pheasant etc. My father and sister bother hunt, but we never had guns in our house. There are laws about them having to be locked away as well. Hand gins are rare. Our normal policemen don't even carry them. There is some gun crime in a few cities, but as far as families having guns in their home? I don't know anyone, I don't think I'd know anyone who who's anyone who'd have one.
A gun is a weapon. It is designed to kill. I don't see why Annie should have to "get used" to them. A fear, uneasiness around a weapon in her bedroom is healthy. Annie- you don't need to handle guns. If you live in a nice area, chances of someone breaking into your house is low, chances if you being home at the time is lower, chances of you intruder coming to your room instead of stealing the car keys, cash and valuables downstairs EVEN lower. If you confronted an intruder with a weapon then they may panic- make a rash choice and attack/shoot you if they are armed, or take the gun from you then shoot you… The best thing to have in your room if there's an intruder in your room is a mobile phone. Call the police. Txt friends and ask them to call if your too scared to talk. Follow your instinct Annie- it's probably right.
Ah Hell I hate when people judge you for being pregnant in a bar. When I was 7 weeks pregnant I went on a roadtrip with a friend. We went out dancing, I made a comment in the bar that I wasn't drinking to my friend and a girl said to to me "how can you be at X bar and not be drinking?" when I told her I was pregnant, she looked at me and said shouldn't you be home nuturing your baby? And I said straight up "I am not drinking, I am not smoking how am I harming my baby?" And she saw my point. Whne I see a pregnant lady dancing and whopping it up on the dance floor I give a silent cheer for her.
I want to go to a shooting range just so I can finally shoot some six-shooters old west style. Thats how I roll
We had virtually no budget for a wedding – besides, it was my second wedding, and my husband, well, he was over 40 and didn't much care about the tux-cake-flowers-fairy princess thing either. So I have a college buddy who now lives WAY out in the boonies, and she's a local judge – we spent the night at Susan's house, then, the next morning, we were married at sunrise, with her husband and my son as witnesses. Celebratory champagne at 6AM – not a bad way to start married life!
As to the gun thing – my husband has a small gun safe he keeps under his side of the bed – it's handy, but inaccessible to anyone other than us.
I've been reading a website for a few years now that really resonates with me, and would perhaps resonate with "Unhappy Planner" and other Aunt Becky readers.
One of Meg's recent posts about the media saying "In this economy people are waiting to get married." : http://apracticalwedding.com/2010/07/ask-meg-fck-the-economy-get-married-now/
I have nothing to do with that website other than I really love the sane advice.
Unhappy Planner: we skipped ANY wedding, went to eh Justice of the Peace, husband wore khakis (refused to wear dress blues) and I wore a strapless white sundress. Best man? Was in his flight suit. It was about ME and HIM. We saved a TON of money and bought a house and now we have a very special day that was abut us, stress free…it was wonderful, personal….and not about anyone else. I am NOT a fluffy dress kind of girl, and I am thinking you aren't either. Stand up for yourself if it bugs you that much and be practical!! I would NOT trade my house for ONE DAY where EVERYONE ELSE gets to get drunk and be obnoxious.
Pregnant Girl: I turned 21 and was 7 months pregnant. I totally understand how you feel. I went and bought all my friends drinks for them, bought beer for my husband, and bought non alcoholic champagne for me. BECAUSE I COULD!!! Having been that pregnant on such a momentous birthday, I can also tell you you may not want to be out that late. People probably will look at you like a horrible person if you go to a nightclub…Not going to lie, I would, but that's mostly because if the secondhand smoke and DAMN when I was that pregnant I didn't even want to move, I was so tired. So you need to do what you want to do because you're an adult, and you are having a baby which means you are going to have to make a LOT of adult decisions very soon. Go or don't go, but don't get mad at other people who look at you like you're a mother of the year candidate if you go out.
Annie, he's an odd duck. My husband keeps his side arm in a safe when he is at home (we have a toddler) but when he is deployed? It's right there with him on his pillow. It freaks me out. I would definitely discuss your concerns with him because…it would freak me out. If you have cats or something, what if one knocks your gun over?? Or…uses cat ninja reflexes to hold you hostage (not knowing it is unloaded?). Cats are known to plan stuff like that, you know!
@unhappy planner – in addition to this bit:
[quote]I suggest you each make a list of what it is that you want in your ideal wedding without input from the other person. Then, add an approximate cost associated with each item. After that, rank each item from order from most to least important.[/quote]
Do this for what you want from your MARRIAGE & your LIFE. Not just the wedding.
Kids? Private school?
Retirement fund?
New computer?
Dinners out once a week?
I see so many spend huge on the wedding itself giving no thought to all the real life, day to day and future expenses they will have. And it sucks to have more debt on your back, and no tangible asset to show for it, than you really need.
Good luck and congratulations!
Unhappy Planner> Go to a bridal show, get the price lists before writing your 'ideal wedding' list. I wrote a 'rough budget' when I started planning my wedding, and very quickly discovered I'd had no idea how expensive everything is.
It may be that your fiance has an idea of what your wedding day should be, but no concept of how much it costs. It's really not uncommon, especially amongst people who got married thirty years ago. For instance, both our mothers had no idea that an average photographer costs over a thousand dollars, and one who'll be there the entire night will be three times that. They thought $50 a head was more than enough for the meal/drinks at a reception venues and were incredibly shocked to learn that it's twice that now.
Either way, I think you're going to have to have The Conversation. You know, the one about how you both treat money, and what you expect when you get married. Work out a system now, before you get married and combine bank accounts, so you're already in the habit of compromise and working towards your goals together. (By the way, I cannot recommend enough the concept of 'guilt-free spending money', that is, each of you gets a set amount of money each paycheque that can be used for whatever the hell you like that isn't the shared expenses of bills or food. It's 'my' money, instead of 'ours', and it makes such a difference. I use mine to buy lunch, the ITGeek uses his to fund his expensive hobbies and there is never an arguement).
I think all women need to learn to shoot. Like i've said in a recent post, it's your right to have a gun should you need to protect yourself.
Dear Planner: I hope you and your fiance can come up with some really happy compromises. My husband and I were married in a State Park (the Mississippi headwaters–so beautiful) right after Labor Day, when many rental rates went down. We used a rural photographer and a rural florist and had the park cater our dinner. We decided what was most important to us (the location was extremely important in our case) and what wasn't (we didn't have any music or dancing; it's just not our thing, so we didn't have to worry about that cost). And the thing is, almost 8 years later, every time we see a wedding, we both talk about how much fun ours was. Not that our flowers were the prettiest or we had the best music, but we really remember having the most wonderful time. I understand not wanting to go into debt just for a wedding, and I understand wanting to live out some longstanding dreams of what it will be like. But if you can compromise (Aunt Becky's advice was great), it can be something you will remember with great joy, and I think that's what you both really want.
And Birthday Girl, I hope you had a marvelous time! The thing about being pregnant (or a new parent or any parent at all) is that people think they now get to judge everything you do. You sound like you understand what is wise and what isn't wise when you're pregnant, and you just want to celebrate your birthday. I hope you did and that you had a terrific time. Be wise, be safe, and congratulations–on the birthday and on the baby!


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Denver Post NHL reporter Adrian Dater posts his Avs Mailbag on Wednesdays during the 2010-11 NHL season.
Pose an Avalanche- or NHL-related question for future Avs Mailbags.
No, I'm not related to Chris. Just wanted to get that out of the way. Let's take a big picture look at the Avs trades and acquisitions from the last few weeks. What kind of message do you think the Avalanche brass is sending the fans? Are these "rebuilding" or "youth movement" trades? I ask because it would be easy for a team in a rebuilding phase to just fill injuries with farm team boys. But are the Avs are serious about making another playoff run this year?
—Jeff Osgood, Longmont
Jeff, I think you can argue that it's both. Tomas Fleischmann and Matt Hunwick are both young, so you can say it's part of a rebuilding plan to get them in here. Avs gave up Scott Hannan to get one of them, one of the team's older players. Yes, the Avs gave up a good prospect to get Hunwick, in Colby Cohen. I think it was tough to see him go, and the Avs might regret it some day down the road.
But Hunwick fills what they're trying to do here, which is be a really fast team in all areas. Cohen never would have been a speedster, and perhaps the Avs just didn't want to wait for him to develop, when they could get an established D-man already who fits more into the template of the game they're trying to play.
With the continuous string of injuries and recent trades, do you think the newest additions (specifically Fleischmann) will be able to adapt to the system the Avs play? And another Peter Mueller question, is there any new news on his condition?
—Nico, Colorado Springs
About Mueller, the news hasn't been great. I wrote an update on his condition last week. He is just not progressing at the rate he or the team would like, so he flew to Boston last week to consult with doctors there who helped Bruins star Patrice Bergeron recover from a very serious concussion.
What came out of those consultations has been kept private so far, but obviously there is very serious worry about his health. Originally, people around Mueller thought he'd be able to return this year. Now, nobody is sure.
I think Fleischmann will adapt to the Avs pretty well. He played in a fast, up-tempo system in Washington, so it shouldn't be tough for him.
I think getting him for a player like Hannan was a pretty good gamble.
As a Nordiques fan, we had the three Stastny brothers to root for and we loved them. I am trying to get behind Paul Stastny, but I just can't. He seems like a nice kid, but when the team needs him he is nowhere to be found. When Greg Sherman signed him to his contract, I am not sure what he saw in Stastny. Any idea why Sherman signed Stastny to such a huge contract? And do you think the organization expected more than they have received?
—Wallie the Nord, Quebec City
While Sherman was assistant GM at the time and did a lot of negotiating of contracts, Stastny actually signed under the watch of former GM Francois Giguere.
At the time, L.A.'s Anze Kopitar had just signed for a huge contract with the Kings, and that kind of set the benchmark for what a player with similar numbers like Stastny might get. And the Avs didn't want to take chances on the future market with him, so they opted to lock him up long term.
Yes, you can definitely make the case that Stastny hasn't quite been worth that amount of money so far. But I don't think he was ever the "franchise" player people had him made out to be. It's his contract that made expectations soar, but really he's been the same point-or-close-to-it player he's always been. He has been a disappointment at times in big games or clutch moments in games.
He's still a good player, and in today's NHL, any forward who puts up 70-80 points gets big dollars. Has he been worth the investment made so far? Probably not. But he's still going to be around a while.
Mr. Dater, why can't Ryan Stoa make the jump from Lake Erie to the Avalanche? He's had a decent start to the season in the minors, and it seems like he'd add size to the front line, which the Avalanche seem to be missing.
—John, Houston
Stoa had a big chance in the preseason when Mueller went down, playing in his place on a line with Duchene and Hejduk. And he didn't do much with it, getting zero points in five preseason games.
His speed at this level is a concern, and Joe Sacco has said he just hasn't used his size enough to his advantage with the Avs. There's your reasoning.
Assuming we don't take on additional injuries and Chris Stewart is the guy furthest out and his return is mid-January, how do you see the roster (and ice time) adjusting with the return of T.J. Galiardi, Kyle Cumiskey, Chris Stewart, Adam Foote, and Peter Mueller? Also, is Peter Budaj really our best option as a backup (36th out of 40 in GAA)?
—Derek Knudsen, Seattle
Assuming there won't be anymore injuries until they come back is a gigantic assumption with this team. That assumption is probably doomed to fail. There are always injuries with this team it seems like.
When Galiardi comes back, hopefully in 2-3 weeks if not sooner, Kevin Porter will go back to the third or fourth lines. Stewart obviously will get big minutes at right wing on the top line again.
Cumiskey remains out with a concussion, and hasn't even skated since hurting himself last month. So, nobody knows when he comes back right now.
About Budaj: he hasn't been great of late, no doubt about it. A poor showing the other night in Tampa, for sure. It was his ninth straight start where he allowed three goals or more.
Hi Adrian. How would you rate Ryan O'Byrne's play since arriving?
—Lari, Victoria
I think he's been pretty good actually. He's added some nice physical elements to the team and hasn't embarrassed himself at all with his puck possession. He makes the occasional turnover, though, and doesn't seem to add much at the offensive end. But overall, he's been a pretty good addition I'd say.
Hey Adrian, who is the new Martin Skoula? Is it Ryan Wilson on Kyle Quincey? When Skoula was around, I remember always being worried when he had the puck or was in the area. I get the same feeling with Wilson and Quincey.
—Michael, Colorado Springs
No doubt, both have struggled of late. The fact that Quincey hadn't recorded a single point yet this season entering Tuesday's game in Florida is fairly mind-boggling considering he had 29 last year and 38 the year before.
And his play in his own end hasn't been great lately either. He's taking too many penalties and turning the puck over too much. I don't know if the lucrative two-year contract he signed before the season made him complacent, but he'd better pick up his game soon or he'll be on the pine, because you can tell Joe Sacco is getting sick of this.
Wilson has been caught out of position or turned the puck over numerous times since returning from his latest injury, and was a healthy scratch the last couple games. We've all wondered why the Avs kept him over Jonas Holos, and we're still wondering. I do believe Wilson has talent and can turn things around, but like Quincey he needs to start doing it soon – or at least when he gets another chance to play.
The NHL has done it to me again. I start off every season anew, thinking this will be the year I can appreciate the magnificent skating and stick handling skills of the players. Then, it happens: a fight claims one of my favorites. This year it's Chris Stewart, out for 4-6 weeks. If the Olympics can have hockey without fighting, why can't the NHL?
—Ken Kirkpatrick, Denver
This argument will go on until the end of time. I was critical of Stewart's decision to fight in that instance, but overall I am a defender of fighting in the game. I believe it adds just an element of danger, excitement and accountability that you don't see in other sports. I know that is Neanderthal thinking to a lot of people. To them, I say: Go watch the NBA, then.
Adrian Dater has covered the Colorado Avalanche since the team moved to Denver in 1995. Send him an Avalanche- or NHL-related question for the Avs Mailbag.


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Completely Unplugged, Fully Green
By JOANNE KAUFMAN
Published: October 19, 2008
SIMON WOODS, who is 6, would like to play on a baseball team. His mother, Sharon Astyk, is sympathetic, but is also heavily committed to shrinking her family's carbon footprint. ''We haven't been able to find a league that doesn't involve a long drive,'' she said. ''I say that it isn't good for the planet, so we play catch in the yard.''
That is one way that Ms. Astyk, a mother of four, expresses her concern for the environment. She has unplugged the family refrigerator, using it as an icebox during warmer months by putting in frozen jugs of water as the coolant (in colder weather, she stores milk and butter outdoors). Her farmhouse in Knox, N.Y., has a homemade composting toilet and gets its heat from a wood stove; the average indoor winter temperature is 52 degrees.
Many people who can comfortably use ''carbon footprint,'' ''global warming'' and ''energy offset'' in a sentence will toss a bottle or can into a blue recycling bin and call it a day. Those who are somewhat more committed may swap incandescent bulbs for compact fluorescents, rely on cloth shopping bags and turn to mass transit.
Then there are people like Ms. Astyk, 36, a writer and a farmer who is trying, with the aid of a specially designed calculator, to whittle her family's energy use to 10 percent of the national average. She and her husband, Eric Woods, a college professor, grow virtually all their own produce, raise chickens and turkeys, and spend only $1,000 a year in consumer goods, most of which they buy used. They air-dry their clothes, and their four sons often sleep huddled together to pool body heat.
They began this regimen in 2002. ''My husband and I started to talk about climate change, and oil prices were going up,'' Ms. Astyk said. ''The other factor was a justice issue. There was a great disparity between the resources used by the third world and by us, so we decided we had to cut back.'' Some people may view Ms. Astyk and her family as role models, pioneers who will lead us to a cleaner earth.
Others may see them as colorful eccentrics, people with admirable intentions who have arrived at a way of life close to zealotry. To others they come across as ''energy anorexics,'' obsessing over personal carbon emissions to an unhealthy degree, the way crash dieters watch the bathroom scale.
Ms. Astyk has heard such talk but says her neighbors' attitudes have softened as energy prices have risen. ''People have moved gradually from 'Sharon is a fruitcake' to 'Sharon is a fruitcake who might make some sense,' '' she said.
Jay Matsueda, who might also answer to the name energy anorexic, or carborexic, has neither heat nor air-conditioning in his condominium in Culver City, Calif.
He runs his car, a 1983 Mercedes SD Turbo, on waste oil from a Los Angeles restaurant. When he gives a gift, it is usually an organic cookbook, a copy of Al Gore's book ''An Inconvenient Truth'' or reusable bamboo flatware. ''That way, people don't have to accept plastic cutlery at takeout places,'' said Mr. Matsueda, 35, who wrote in an e-mail message that he occasionally relieves himself on his lawn in order to ''save a flush.''
Although he concedes that there is ''sometimes an impracticality'' to habits like filtering vegetable oil for fuel, people do view him as part of the mainstream, he said. ''I'm not perceived as a very radical guy,'' said Mr. Matsueda, the marketing director for a company that manufactures compact fluorescent bulbs. ''People will say, 'Jay's doing it, and he's normal.' ''
How normal? Mr. Matsueda lives the sort of life that the public relations firm Porter Novelli recently called ''dark green.''
The company conducted a poll of 12,000 people, examining their commitment to various environmental practices -- reducing energy use at home, buying energy-efficient appliances, boycotting companies with bad environmental records. Seven percent earned the top designation, dark green.
Some people who organize their lives around carbon emissions do so in a private way, aiming to help the planet, and secondarily to influence friends and relatives. Others want to prove a point in public, including several who are pulling stunts.
David Chameides, a cameraman in Los Angeles, is collecting all the waste he generates in a year in his basement, and keeping a blog that describes his detritus. A sample entry (from Oct. 6, Day 279 out of 365) includes ''1 bag of hair from haircut -- put out on lawn for birds,'' ''1 plastic wrapper from ice cream -- garbage'' and ''2 aluminum tuna cans -- recycle.''
Similarly, Colin Beavan, a writer in New York City, is working on a book and movie, ''No Impact Man,'' about the efforts that he and his wife, daughter and dog are making to spend a year without harming the planet. ''In other words, no trash, no carbon emissions, no toxins in the water, no elevators, no subway, no products in packaging, no plastics, no air conditioning, no TV, no toilets ...'' he has written on his blog.
Not even Al Gore recommends such privations.
The former vice president, who is cited as an inspiration by some carborexics, is the founder of the Alliance for Climate Protection, a nonprofit group that sponsors the We Campaign. On that campaign's Web site -- wecansolveit.org -- the advice is fairly prim: turn down the heat and air-conditioning when you aren't at home, wash your clothes in cold water, pump up your tires, car-pool at least once a week.