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Julia Maloof, JHU:
The premise of feminist efforts is the struggle for women to be treated as equals to men in society. Severe economic imbalances arose from society rewarding the male sphere (outside the home) but not the female sphere (inside the home and community). This biased dynamic led to the continual mistreatment and economic servitude of women in society, and further oppression in other spheres of society. But the ways in which we can improve the status of women in society while creating partnerships between men and women instead of a patriarchal hierarchy, continues to be debated within feminist discourse.
Most people understand that in order for women to gain social power, they must gain more economic power. If one is completely reliant on her husband for money, she is essentially enslaved in a world where money is central to survival. In order to gain that power in our patriarchal and capitalist system, women would need to enter into the competitive male sphere.
This prognosis essentially encourages women to "be like men". The idea is that women can and should do everything that a man has typically done to gain power: go to college and graduate school, play sports, work outside the home, make their own money, and compete to move up the economic scale. This can effectively sum up the legal gains of the feminist movement in the last 50 years, including the Civil Rights Act, Title IX, the Equal Pay Act, establishing the National Organization for Women (which functioned as a lobbying group), and the mass production of birth control & legalization of abortion (Roe vs. Wade) so that women could choose when they wanted to start families.[1][2]
Within the economic sphere, this has been moderately successful. While many women are working and making their own incomes, it has been found that even 35 years after the first wave of female lawyers, doctors, politicians, etc entered the economy not only is it difficult for them to move up to the top of the business structure[3] (due to the "glass ceiling" caused by typical familial responsibilities), they are often paid unequally and discriminated against because of the probability of having to take time off for childbirth, aging parents, etc. regardless of the laws in place.[4]
This is where the real issue comes in. After childbirth, there are no laws guaranteeing paternity leave, or paid maternity leave in the US.[5][6] Taking care of children and maintaining the household continues to fall into a women's domain causing what is today named the "second shift"[7][8], where not only do women work the same amount of hours as their husbands for lower pay,[9][10] they are still held responsible for the family and household.[11] Our society continues to be an economic hierarchy in which men dominate women both socially and economically- not a partnership in which the man helps in the feminine sphere (housework, childcare etc.) and the women is equal in the economic [male] and social sphere.
These set of gender roles exist for two main reasons. First, since women continue to be economically less valuable (as they will most likely leave the workforce once they get married and/or have children) and therefore paid less and promoted less often, it is less valuable for them to be working than their husbands, who typically make more money. Essentially, a woman working shorter hours is less damaging to her family's finances than a man working shorter hours, leading to the obvious choice for her to take on more home responsibilities, which gives her less economic power and therefore less freedom.
The second reason, and more important reason, is that second wave feminism (which pushed women out into the corporate world), though encouraging women to be more masculine and compete in a male-dominated working society, never put an emphasis on men being more feminine, or valuing femininity in society. Men are valued because they are economically powerful. But women should be valued because they are intrinsically and infinitely valuable to a society. Not only through childbirth, in which women risk their lives to create a new generation, but also through typically female spheres of work: housework, childrearing, food and nourishment, education, community, communications, emotional health, etc are necessary for a healthy, humane, and well functioning society.
Instead of valuing the feminine and these feminine spheres, both women and men are now pushed to value and portray the masculine. This can be tied to the continual disrespect of nature and our environmental crisis (as eco-feminism has studied[12]), the problems within the food industry and obesity epidemic (no value in preparing food or nourishing your family healthily) and many other major issues that our society is grappling with today.
Anything that is intrinsically valuable to society, such as nature, has been devalued and ignored in the great rush for economic power. The feminist movement, instead of bringing value back to the intrinsic and feminine, has instead simply put even more value into the masculine sphere. While there is a great push for women to be like men, there is little to no movement asking men to be more like women, such as to publically wear dresses, show more emotion and open communication, or to work within the home. Indeed many feminine things are viewed as ridiculous or embarrassing for a man to contemplate doing.
I would argue that socially, along with the destruction of nature and our food industries, this has changed the dating world of the millennial generation (us). As emotion is viewed as "feminine", and casual sex without feelings is "masculine", and since both women and men value masculinity, the hookup culture emerged. The emotional piece of love, community, and communication are feared and shied away from. Girls don't want to be labeled "a girl", and men don't want to be labeled feminine, and so our generation is stuck in a weird seesaw of guessing games and miscommunication. This is never more apparent than when one visits other parts of the world and realizes how strange our dating culture has become in comparison to places that have long histories of valuing the feminine.
Instead of empowering women and women's spaces, which would bring respect to femininity, the mainstream feminist movement continues to work within the patriarchal system in revering the masculine. The only difference is, now both women and men need to be competitive, cutthroat, and work jobs outside the home in order to be respected in society. There continues to be little to no movement to respect the feminine sphere. I would argue that this is why instead of having relationships that are partnerships, in which equal economic and social power is given to both men and women, men continue to dominate, while women continue to work the "second shift", with little thanks or societal recognition for doing so.
If the feminist movement is to succeed in the empowerment of femininity, they need to begin to focus on housework, childbirth, education, community, emotions, sensitivity, compassion, and the importance and benefits of these things in our society and in our population. The competition between men and women in the working world is futile, as it is inevitable that men will win. Biologically, men are more aggressive, more competitive, and more likely to dominate. They are viewed as economically more valuable to companies since they don't give birth. Women being more competitive or masculine cannot change these facts. Only a shift by society as a whole can bring equality, when men begin to value the feminine sphere enough to step into it. This is the difference between women conforming to the patriarchal system that is already in place, or breaking out of it and moving towards a more matriarchal society in which women & the feminine (and subsequently the environment, food industry, community, etc) are intrinsically valued for their biological and social benefits, not for what they bring commercially.
Instead of putting so much effort into competing in a masculine sphere, feminists should focus on increased social recognition of the feminine sphere and all that it entails. Until that happens, feminine traits and subsequently women will be viewed as "lesser than", and feared. Only with an increased respect to the importance of the feminine will partnerships, not domination, become the norm; men and women working together to create a better society, not competing with one another. Women can finally be viewed as equal to men- not the same as men, not able to do all the same things, but valued and treated as just as important, if not more so, to create a strong, progressive, and humane society in America.
[1] http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/sistersof77/movement.html
[2] http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/sistersof77/timeline.html
[3] http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/11/us-usa-women-executives-idUSBRE8BA04Z20121211
[4] http://noceilings.org/#Q152&o
[5] http://noceilings.org/#Q273&o
[6] http://www.forbes.com/sites/anaswanson/2015/01/30/why-paternity-leave-is-just-for-the-rich/
[7] http://www.nytimes.com/1989/06/25/books/she-minds-the-child-he-minds-the-dog.html
[8] http://www.unc.edu/~kleinman/handouts/second%20shift.pdf
[9] http://time.com/105292/gender-wage-gap/
[10] http://www.forbes.com/sites/learnvest/2014/06/03/wage-discrimination-what-women-can-do-to-beat-it/
[11] http://noceilings.org/#Q116&o
[12] http://www.thegreenfuse.org/ecofem.htm


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I've been using the same black pleather rucksack from ASOS for probably the last 6 months now and have found it really easy to carry, plus it was more than plenty big enough to hold everything I carry on a daily basis. Here's a picture of it.
It wasn't too expensive, I think I paid £18 or so for it earlier in the year. I liked the rose gold hardware, i.e. zips, buckles, etc., but the long top zip that opened the bag had always been a bit temperamental, as the teeth of the zip sometimes moved and it wouldn't zip up or open up easily on occasion.
Anyway, I persevered with it, until the other week when one of the teeth fell out, leaving a gap in the zip, so that it just wouldn't work anymore. I was a bit disappointed, as I haven't really had the bag that long.
I proceeded to cut the zip out, with the intention of trying to replace it and carry on using the bag, and then it got set aside for a while and I used a different bag for a month.
On Friday night, I decided to try to sew the new zip in. It doesn't fit exactly, and doesn't match the zips on the front of the bag, but I figured it would do for everyday use, going to the gym, etc. I hand stitched the zip in place, as central as I could and then stitched up the ends where the zip didn't quite reach to. I was pretty happy with the results and my bag is now back in action.
Here's what it looks like now. I t doesn't look too obvious and it has prolonged the life of the bag. In addition, I now don't have to negotiate an annoying zip every time I use it.
I much prefer this bag to the one I was temporarily using, as it has more small pockets to house the various bits and pieces I carry around on a daily basis, instead of them all swimming around in the bottom of my bag. It is also more secure, for use in a big city.
I'm not sure how much longer I will use it for, but at least when I do decide to stop using it, I can donate it to the Give and Take for someone else to potentially use, instead of having to put it in landfill and the repairs cost me nothing as I already had the zip in my stash.

subset: commoncrawl


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Militants kill Christian in Egypt's Sinai, second in a week
The 50-year-old Gamal Tawfiq was shot in the head by two militants on a motorbike who were following him as he walked from home to work at El-Samran School in the morning in the city of el-Arish. A security official said the Islamic State's affiliate in Sinai is suspected in the killing.
A school official confirmed Tawfiq's death to The Associated Press but declined to give details. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to reporters.
Also in el-Arish, suspected militants gunned down a local vet, Bahgat Zakher, on Sunday and in late January, Wael Milad, a merchant was killed by militants who stormed his shop. Both were Coptic Christians.
The Islamic State offshoot in Sinai — formerly known as Ansar Beit al-Maqdis — has been the most active militant group in the region and has claimed responsibility for most of the attacks that have targeted the police and army forces.
Several Christians were also killed in Sinai last year, including priest Rafael Moussa and health ministry employee Massak Nasrallah whom the militants stopped on his way to el-Arish and asked him about his religion. When they learned that he was Christian, they opened fire and killed him, reported the Coptic Watani daily.
Egypt is home to one of the world's oldest Christian communities, with Coptic Christians accounting for roughly 10 percent of its 92 million people. The Copts have long complained of discrimination and have been top targets of Islamic militants. Attacks against them increased after the military's ouster of the country's Islamist president, Mohammed Morsi, in 2013. Christians, along with a large sector of anti-Islamist Egyptians, have supported the army.


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Issue No. 01 - January (2007 vol. 56)
pp: 58-72
DOI Bookmark: http://doi.ieeecomputersociety.org/10.1109/TC.2007.5
Mohammad J. Akhbarizadeh , IEEE
Mehrdad Nourani , IEEE
A partitioned TCAM-based search engine is presented that increases the packet forwarding rate multiple times over traditional TCAMs. The model works for IPv4 and IPv6 packet forwarding. Unlike the previous art, the improvement is achieved regardless of the incoming traffic pattern. Employing small and private memories that dynamically store popular route prefixes inside the ASIC and taking advantage of the inherent characteristics of Internet traffic to exploit parallelism make this improvement possible. Using four TCAM chips, an embodiment of the proposed model delivered more than six times the throughput of a conventional configuration with equal storage capacity and equal clock rate. Power consumption is also reduced in the new system. Other parameters such as storage density and table update performance are not adversely affected.
System design, throughput increase, Internet packet forwarding engine, ternary content addressable memory, block selection scheme.
R. Panigrahy, M. Nourani, S. Sharma and M. J. Akhbarizadeh, "A TCAM-Based Parallel Architecture for High-Speed Packet Forwarding," in IEEE Transactions on Computers, vol. 56, no. , pp. 58-72, 2007.


text: I am struggling with this concept. When does working for my security (health benefits) start to degrade my health to the point that my job is doing me more harm than good? When is the correct time to say, enough is enough and just walk away to enjoy what remains of your time on earth? It seems that what remains of my most productive years is being squandered chasing something I no longer desire.


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The UK's Leading Data & Analytics Jobs Board
£35,000 - £45,000
Established in 2012, a growing research and data consultancy that capture the voice of the consumer. They are experts at collecting the core consumer data that is critical to any business, and delivering the data analysis and insight to their clients. They offer a range of services from online data collection, advanced bespoke online surveys, conjoint analysis or online dashboards and portals. They bridge the gap between offering an advanced technology solution and understanding the research behind the insights. They partner with both other research consultancies and a range of blue-chip clients.
Role of Consultant
They have a flat structure offering flexibility to their staff. Rather than splitting the data functions, all of their consultants handle everything from briefing with the client, project managing, conducting the analysis, scripting and data processing and delivering the results. Hence they are looking for well-rounded individuals who want to expand their skill set.
- Working with clients to understand their needs and initial brief
- Designing and collecting data from online surveys
- Scripting using ConfirmIT
- Reporting on analysis using Reportal and other reporting tools
- Performing relevant analysis for specific projects
- Using Merlin for data processing
Requirements of Consultant
- Extensive experience within market research operations
- Experience in scripting / data processing
- ConfirmIT or Merlin experience in a benefit
- Knowledge of SPSS is a benefit
- Attention to detail and focused approach
- Strong stakeholder management and client facing
This business are massively growing and already have over 40 in the office, they are owned by a bigger market research firm and are based in lovely central London offices fully equipped with break out areas, kitchen, lounge and an open plan environment. They have a competitive list of benefits that we can discuss.


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Sunday, May 13, 2012
mother's day
After a day of feasting, cleaning, hiking, brothers fighting and yelling with undaunted enthusiasm, 5 games of poker (nearly all won by Bodhi) and a snake bite ritual, we were ready to settle into a nice mother's day supper. Owen picked P!nk as the music of choice to serenade the meal (not exactly relaxing) and Bodhi said an unusual prayer about a bird who flew too high and pooped, Amen.
Next the boys "entertained me" by playing with their food and talking about unsavory topics.
We ended the meal by simply getting up and dancing. Bodhi doing the self proclaimed "Grandma shuffle" and Owen repeatedly endangering life and limb with spastic break dance maneuvers,while I flopped around nearby hindered by my tight back and sore shoulders. All in all a good day.
Happy Mother's Day to you!
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Angelina Lloyd
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1 comment:
Happy mothers day! sounds like you had fun.
i love you.
<3 karuna
May 13, 2012 at 10:28 PM
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Friday, June 13, 2008
It doesn't look like much has changed with the Snapdragon cuttings. On one hand the leaves aren't really growing any more, but on the other hand they haven't withered away and died. I could pull it out of the soil and see if any roots are coming out, but I don't want to risk any damage. For now I will just keep them in the greenhouse and see what happens.
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Extended Stay America Indianapolis - North - Carmel
9750 Lake Shore Dr E, Indianapolis, IN 46280
(317) 843-1181
9750 Lake Shore Dr E, Indianapolis, IN 46280
(317) 843-1181
Secure online booking with Expedia Affliate Network Call 866-761-3335 to book by phone
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Rooms Make yourself at home in one of the 72 air-conditioned rooms featuring kitchens with full-sized refrigerators/freezers and stovetops. 32-inch flat-screen televisions with cable programming provide entertainment, while complimentary wireless Internet access keeps you connected. Conveniences include desks and separate sitting areas, as well as phones with free local calls.
Amenities Take advantage of recreation opportunities such as a seasonal outdoor pool, or other amenities including complimentary wireless Internet access and concierge services. Additional amenities at this hotel include a television in a common area and barbecue grills.
Dining For your convenience, a complimentary breakfast is served daily from 6 AM to 9:30 AM.
Business, Other Amenities Featured amenities include a business center, laundry facilities, and a safe deposit box at the front desk. Free self parking is available onsite.
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Check-In Time: 3 PM
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Property Amenities: Free breakfast, Concierge services, Safe-deposit box at front desk, Barbecue grill(s), Business center, Laundry facilities, Front desk (limited hours)
Room Amenities: Shower/tub combination, Private bathroom, Phone, Hair dryer (on request), Air conditioning, Refrigerator, Full-sized refrigerator/freezer, Microwave, Flat-panel TV, Cookware, dishware, and utensils, Kitchen, Iron/ironing board, Cable TV service, Free local calls, Desk, Separate sitting area, Coffee/tea maker, Weekly housekeeping provided, Premium TV channels, Stovetop
No coupons available


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"I don't know much about Algebra but I know that one plus equals two."
"Hey! I don't know much about guns but I... I've been shot by you."
- 1+1
"Maybe we reached the mountain peak and there's no more left to climb. And maybe we lost the magic piece and we both too blind to find."
"Maybe you like it. Well, I don't."
- Start Over
"I'm not a preacher but we can pray if you wanna. Ain't a doctor but I can make you feel better."
- Schoolin' Life
"My persuasion can build a nation."
"Who run this mother?"
- Run the World
and the most debilitating of all:
"So when I think of the time that I almost loved you, you showed your ass and I saw the real you."
- Best Thing I Never Had
Whaaat? LOL!
Sasha Fierce, Beyoncé's extremely liberated alter ego, is largely absent from this album, which means there's no other song in 4 for me to dance to (lol) except Run the World.
Bey's latest single, Best Thing I Never Had
Bey's latest single, Best Thing I Never Had
Hence, I couldn't help but scrutinize her lyrics and they're... cute. Sure, her voice has credence and grit, but those only make the album even more perplexing and camp—which means it's interesting and in an ironic twist, worth listening to. Falling under this category are 1+1, Start Over and Best Thing I Never Had, songs which highlight the power and emotion of Beyoncé's vocals. After all, it's hard to make fun of an artist that sounds like she's putting a tremendous amount of work and effort into her songs—and which sounds excellent—without being sarcastic.
This combination somehow works on all songs except for one: the Diane Warren-penned I Was Here. The moment it started with "I wanna leave my footprints on the sands of time... When I leave this world, I leave no regrets," I knew it'll be a succession of Hallmark soundbites and I was right.
Party (featuring André 3000), which Kanye West helped write, was a disappointment, too. It was a misnomer and lacked the soul and inspiration that Lauryn Hill, or Kanye himself, would have in their ballads.
My favorite would be Love on Top, not necessarily groundbreaking, but the type that's light and positive in a Trina Belamide kind of way (lol). The two tracks after that, Countdown and End of Time, are the most playfully produced of the bunch and which I have played incessantly in my player.
This review on the New Yorker perhaps explains Beyoncé's new album that's not quite Adele or Lady Gaga, but her own.


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EDIS Number: BH-20120328-34682-USA
Date / time: 28/03/2012 03:17:27 [UTC]
Event: Biological Hazard
Area: North-America
Country: USA
State/County: State of California
Location: [Klamath and Tule Lake, Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuges Complex]
Number of Deads: N/A
Number of Injured: N/A
Number of Infected: N/A
Number of Missing: N/A
Number of Affected: N/A
Number of Evacuated: N/A
Damage level: N/A
Roughly 10,000 birds, mostly snow geese, have died of avian cholera on and near the water-starved Lower Klamath and Tule Lake national wildlife refuges. Limited water deliveries to the refuges, combined with large bird migrations, are blamed for the cholera outbreak, said Ron Cole, the Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuges Complex manager. He said limited water deliveries to Lower Klamath last fall and this winter have dried up about half of the refuge's wetlands. In turn, about 2 million birds, including large numbers of migrating pintails and Arctic nesting geese, are concentrated in smaller areas. "When you concentrate that many birds on about half of the available wetlands, you develop a recipe for an avian cholera outbreak," Cole said, noting the bacteria that causes avian cholera spreads more rapidly in heavy concentrations of birds.
Syndicated from RSOE EDIS - Emergency and Disaster Information


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Rhinelander Figure Skating Club members competed recently at the 2017 Badger State Games. Skaters brought home a total of 45 medals. All skaters who earned a medal at Badger State Games have qualified to attend the State Games of America that will be held this summer in Grand Rapids, Mich.
Those winning medals are Rachel Uhlarik, Carmen Incha, Joyce Hauser, Michelle Pazdernik, Cami Buchmann, Lauryn Cook, Morgan Webster, Aubrey Barber, Nicole Brunette, Sadie Jones, Alyssa Lamb and Montana Grabowsky.


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Thursday, July 15, 2010
Do all things without complaining... Philippians 2:14
As all my Northern Hemisphere friends sweat through summer, here's a little post to cool you off…
We're in the depths of winter right now in Cochabamba, a winter that is predicted to last longer than usual.
Now some, like friends currently visiting Cochabamba from Iowa, might laugh, but I'm Texan through and through. Any temperature below 70 degrees F is chilly to me, much less that we don't really dress properly for winter and there's no heating here. During Bolivian winters (approximately May - August) I relish the delicious sun that warms us up by afternoon, usually to the 80s...as long as you're not in the shade! Due to the "hard construction" style here, you can shiver inside all day long.
But I have to say that this time around, my 7th winter in Bolivia, I've seen the season in a whole new light, thanks to my street friends. I've been awed how they never complain about the cold! Just now, as temperatures hover right at freezing all night, two or three have finally made little comments. And it's not even in a complaining sort of way, but rather just making a statement. Yesterday I realized that my best friend in the most hardcore, feared street group had slept up on their breezy hill in shorts and a t-shirt. With one blanket. And that he had a horrible hacking cough. And yet he simply said "It's a little cold right now, isn't it senorita? I think I'm getting a cough", as if he was surprised.
When I wake up early shivering and see that it's 50 something degrees in my room, by far the coldest in our large house, my first thought in years past was something along the lines of "woe is me, winter with no central heating". This year my first thoughts are oh dear, it's at least 20 degrees colder where all my friends are sleeping. By rivers. Under bridges. In doorways. On concrete courts. On a breezy hill.
But I'm learning something. By not verbally protesting about the cold (and normally I'm very grumbly about it), it really, honestly, is not bothering me much.
The street kids, driving home a Biblical principle—I love it!!
So just as I'm getting proud of this fact, that either I'm toughening up or God is giving me special grace this year, as I'm usually out till midnight on the street…..we lose water.
Let me explain. For the past couple weeks, I've heard different people mention not having water in their houses, and the street kids have had to haul water out of the river for a while now to wash cars up at their intersection. I wasn't paying much attention until this week at the Baby Home, we've had irregular water supply. This morning I woke up, and even though they were supposed to send water today, we've run our tank dry over the course of the week washing out diapers and cooking and such……and I needed to wash my hair. Preparing for the possibility of no water, I had brought in the bottle of water from my car that the street kids use. Only that any water left in my room overnight is more or less the temperature of melted ice cubes by morning. And my bathroom isn't any warmer! As I quickly took an icy cold "bath", I had to wonder if God was grinning. (Really, honestly, I wasn't going to complain about the cold this year, but now THIS Lord?!)
Let's just say I've repented on being so grateful for a very light rainy season earlier this year! And they say the water shortage will endure till the next rainy season kicks in, approximately December. Let it rain!!
I actually have good reasons for not posting till now, including the trauma of burying a baby on the street last week who was supposed to arrive to our (relatively warmer) Baby Home possibly the same day. She was just two months old and died from a complication of illness and the harsh temperatures. Until I have time for a proper post, here's a new post on the volunteer blog that you might enjoy!
2 comments:
- jag said...
My heart is heavy with the news of the baby who passed away. For as long as I can remember, I've worried about the homeless and the hungry. But, becoming a mother really intensified that concern. When my babies cry for food,a blanket, or illness, my heart absolutely breaks for mothers who don't have anything to give their babies. Sigh. So so sad. Hugs to you!
This post puts so many things in perspective... Thank you.
- July 15, 2010 at 9:09 PM
- Jennifer T. said...
Definitely! I get so much perspective from my kids' stories and the street kids lives as well. We shouldn't take any of our comforts for granted...or family, for that matter!
Just today I ran in a 13 year old to the ER for a couple stitches. He went from crying quietly on the way to saying "I'll heal quickly, senorita!" on the way back. Tonight as usual, he was juggling flames at the intersection for his money. Such a sweet kid, my heart broke to see him hurt!
- July 16, 2010 at 12:02 AM


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This is so true. Like many others reported in this study, I can attest to the correctness of this. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy does wonders for feeling rested when waking in the morning.
The study reported in the January issue of the journal SLEEP provides the evidence of these reports. The study shows that in three weeks of CPAP therapy does significantly reduce fatigue and increases the energy in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
I have a problem with the number of people that have sleep apnea that do nothing to improve their situation. Many do not even know they have the problem. So if you are always tired during waking hours, you should talk to your doctor or sleep medicine physician to see if you have sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea is common, even if you are unaware it is happening. When you pause in breathing, called an apnea, this can last for a few seconds to even more than a minute. These apneas can occur from five times to over 100 times in an hour. Thus in a night's sleep you can have hundreds of apneas. Each apnea causes the brain to arouse people to resume breathing. This in turn causes sleep to be extremely fragmented and of poor quality. This unrestful sleep results in day time fatigue. Your body needs restful sleep to function proficiently.
Unless your spouse or sleep partner notices these apneas and gasps for air as you resume breathing, they can go unreported and undetected for several years. With approximately 18 million Americans undiagnosed as reported by the National Institute of Health, the US has about one in 15 people suffering from sleep apnea.
OSA, is the most common type and affects about 90% of total sufferers. It can impact one's daily routine and be fatal in some instances. Untreated, sleep apnea can cause high blood pressure and other cardiovascular disease, memory problems, weight gain, impotency, and headaches. Untreated sleep apnea may be responsible for job impairment and motor vehicle crashes. Sleep apnea can put you at risk for Type 2 diabetes.
With the improvements in CPAP equipment and accessories, everyone that may have sleep apnea should be tested in a sleep study to determine if they have sleep apnea. I have written about this in other blogs and the types of equipment. See blog 1, blog 2, blog 3, and blog 4.
Also read about the study here and here. Also read about sleep apnea here.


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Wednesday, April 19, 2017
Poppy Shadowbox
What goes better than black and red?! Other than shiny red foil and sparkly black glitter paper of course.
Black makes a good frame for a shadowbox. So I had to use the glitter black cardstock
To make this little shadowbox, I started with a file I had in my library.
The glitter paper cut simply well and did not snag or tear.
I always keep a little bowl of clips around to clip the corners on things until they dry so I can move forward with my project while the glue dries.
I decided that the pedals of the poppy would look best in red. But not any red, I needed a shimmer red so I turned to my Rinea Foil paper.
Just to bring some flex to the pedals, I maneuvered them around a tooth pick. There was really no art to this step, just playing around until I got the look I wanted!
Assembling the flowers was a fun part. Like a puzzle.
Just taking the extra time to play with the pedals gave them more of a pop.
Next I measured the back of the shadowbox and cut the background paper to size.
I like the red polka dots of this paper. Ties it all together.
Cut Card Stock materials used:
Posted by
Sonja Bakonyi
2 comments:
snappy scrappy
So pretty!
April 19, 2017 at 8:17 PM
Sonja Bakonyi
Thank you!
April 20, 2017 at 10:30 AM
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text:
AKA "Cardiff Day"
I'd planned this visit in my mind for a couple of weeks. I was going to use my time here to create some new footage for That Resolute Desk: Sometimes, Somewhere. Originally I was going to go running by the Bay and have my character, Jarvis, talk to camera from there. Then I would have filmed in the hotel room. For both sequences, I neglected to write any script - ultimately because I just couldn't think anything up between when I first had the idea, and actually being in Cardiff.
It means I produced nothing (despite taking my camera with me!). Perhaps it's for the best, as me and Dad - visiting with me - were that pressed for time during the day, that I'm not sure when the footage would have been shot anyway.
Instead me and Dad had a bit of a Doctor Who day. During the early afternoon, soon after arriving, I took him around the city centre and showed him some of the locations used throughout the years in the production of Doctor Who in Cardiff. Then, we had lunch and went to Cardiff Bay - where Dad was horrified by Ianto's Shrine, and we were both entertained by the Doctor Who Experience.
Later on, after dinner, we went to the BAFTA Cymru preview of Doctor Who series 9's opening two episodes (The Magician's Apprentice and The Witch's Familar). I thought they were OK-to-good episodes, but the main thrill of the evening was seeing writer Steven Moffat, and actors Peter Capaldi/Jenna Coleman in the flesh! During the Q&A afterwards, Jenna was sat facing me, and I *swear* throughout she kept looking at me, and smiling!
They took this photograph:
It infuriated my Dad, as he was stood next to me (I'm bottom left, in the blue shirt)... and was then cropped out of the image! What a shame...
The final bit of the day came afterwards, when I met my friend Lauren for a quick catch-up drink. We've known each other for nigh on 10 years now, but as she's Cardiff based I don't get to see her all that often.
Following that, it was back to my hotel... and bed.
And that was Cardiff. Until next time...!


text:
Date: Tuesday, 18 April 2017
SARATOGA SPRINGS -- Choice is a gift for the fortunate. It was not always given to Ghabriela Donnelly, an immigrant from Eritrea, who now lives in East Greenbush.
"Sometimes there are no good choices -- you do whatever you got to do to survive," said Donnelly.
Growing up and throughout her teenage years, she struggled to find a safe place to live and work. For most of her adult life, she has kept these experiences to herself.
It's taken her years to open up about her life story. But she's finally found a way to tell it with the help of author Ellie Porte Parker.
Parker worked with Donnelly to pen "Escaping the Lion and the Leopard," a book detailing Donnelly's childhood, and her journey to America.
As the title indicates, Donnelly views much of her early life through the lens of a story she was told growing up called "The Lion and the Leopard."
"The story goes that you see a lion and you run away from it, as fast as you can, and you find the first tree you see and run up it for shelter. You are so happy to find that tree, you don't see the leopard on top of it and it jumps on you and eats you up in one bite," Donnelly said.
Throughout her childhood in Eritrea (situated on the Red Sea across from Saudi Arabia) and Ethiopia, Donnelly felt as if she was running from one bad situation to another.
She went from living in a home where her family members abused her to an orphanage where she had to compete for everything. As she grew older she ran away from her factory job (where she would often work double shifts for little to no money) to work for a bar that expected her to have sex with customers.
Every time that she thought she was finally in a better place, that she had finally escaped the lion, the leopard would jump out and surprise her.
But she managed to get away from both.
In 1972, she befriended a few Americans on the United States army base in Eritrea. One soldier, who the book refers to as Jake, asked her to come to the U.S. with him. He hoped that Donnelly would marry him once she got there, but the relationship fell apart and she eventually married Wally, another soldier she'd met on the army base. The two settled into Saratoga Springs.
"Those first few months in America were crazy for me. I feel like I'm in outer space. . . Years later, when I see the movie E.T., I know what he feels like and there is no one to talk to that I know," wrote Parker, in Donnelly's voice.
Even as Donnelly got to know the locals, learned English and began working, she kept her past to herself. She focused instead on her future and on the kindness she found in the people around her.
Capital Region residents may remember one example of that kindness from 1985. When the Ethiopian/Eritrean war broke out, Donnelly wanted to adopt two children from Eritrea to get them out of the war zone. The children, Arseima and Temnit, were relatives of Donnelly's who were malnourished and ill.
Donnelly said she knew they wouldn't survive in Ethiopia. However, when Donnelly tried to bring the children to the United States, they were denied entry by Immigration Services because they weren't technically orphans.
The Gazette featured several articles detailing Donnelly's struggle to bring Arseima and Temnit to the U.S. and it became a national story. Former Congressman Gerald Solomon stepped in and rallied for Donnelly's case. He was able to convince Congress to bypass laws that were in place which prevented Donnelly from bringing the children to America.
Although Donnelly could identify with some of the experiences her children went through, Arseima and Temnit were too young to remember it. So Donnelly made a point of not discussing her own childhood with them.
"I wanted my children to have very American lives," Donnelly said.
While her children are a source of love and joy for Donnelly, it was difficult to raise them in such a different culture than she'd grown up in.
But this challenge became a catalyst for Donnelly to start talking about her background and her story.
"I think I decide to do it the day they [her children] whine they don't have the right designer sneakers. I feel like saying to them be glad you have any sneakers. Actually, I think, be glad you have feet. Be glad you're alive," Donnelly said.
Shortly after the book came out in 2016, Donnelly's phone rang constantly. Friends and family were stunned by her life story. Even her daughters couldn't believe what she had gone through. Whenever people talk with her about the book, Donnelly said they often get teary-eyed, but that wasn't her aim for the story.
"I don't want people to feel sorry for me," Donnelly said. Instead, she hopes people see the kindnesses she's known and that they see how she's able to be grateful for her life now, despite her past.
Opening up about her life in Eritrea and Ethiopia has lifted a weight from her shoulders and in some ways, it's brought her closer to those around her. Especially with her children, who have children of their own now. While Temnit still lives in New York, Arseima lives in Las Vegas.
"I feel like I'm in a cloud. I'm so happy and relieved," Donnelly said of releasing her story.
In celebration, Parker and Donnelly are slated to host a book signing at Caffe Lena. There will be refreshments, appetizers and music.
WHEN: 2-4 p.m. on Sunday, April 23
WHERE: Caffe Lena, 47 Phila St., Saratoga Springs
"Escaping the Lion and the Leopard," by Ellie Porte Parker is available on Amazon and Barnes and Nobles.
Cologne NRW Germany - Celebration of the 27 Anniversary of the ERITREAN INDEPENDENCE DAY by Eritrean in NRW 26 May 2018
Eritrean in Karlsruhe Germany celebrating the 27th Anniversary of Eritrean Independence Day on the 26th May 2018


text:
Monday, April 30, 2012
The Simple Woman's Daybook for April 30, 2012
Outside my window... warm and sunny. Gorgeous spring day for the children to enjoy swinging.
I am thinking... about naptime. I should be thinking about grocery shopping.
I am thankful... for my niece who turned 4 over the weekend.
In the kitchen... the dishwasher needs emptied!
I am wearing... jeans and a purple flowered top.
I am creating... new science plans! We should finish our study of anatomy this week.
I am going... non stop again this week. More soccer and coach pitch. Which reminds me, I must call about tball ...
I am wondering... if it will storm today.
I am reading... The Rich are Different by Susan Howatch. Definitely an adult book, but I've learned a lot about Julius Caesar because of the reading.
I am hoping...
I am looking forward to... more soccer games ... good thing I enjoy them!
I am learning... about Julius Caesar and Ancient Rome.
Around the house... our after school cleanup is still going well.
I am pondering... how to teach Astronomy. I would like to make some changes from reading a textbook to teaching the information in a more complete way.
A favorite quote for today... "I am determined to be cheerful and happy in whatever situation I may find myself. For I have learned that the greater part of our misery or unhappiness is determined not by our circumstance but by our disposition." ~Martha Washington
One of my favorite things... hearing the swings creaking in the yard.
A few plans for the rest of the week... need you really ask?
A peek into my day...
Hosted by The Simple Woman's Daybook
2 comments:
We are studying astronomy this year. We use Apologia. There are a lot of activities and things to do although we don't always get to them. Science is not one of my favorite subjects ;)ReplyDelete
We are busy with soccer too. I enjoyed your daybook today :)
Intreseredted to hear what you do for science!ReplyDelete
Thanks for commenting! I love and reply to comments because I love building community with my readers!
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text:
Read full story....Believe it...abortion funding is in healthcare bill (OneNewsNow.com)
Thanks for visiting Conservatives United!
Of course abortion is in the health care bill. For me, I'm tired of the federal govt. forcing me to pay for things I am morally against.
I have been encouraging others to read that new book just out that's about a small town in America that fights federal tyranny & ends up starting the 2nd American Revolution. Maybe, history is now asking us to take a stand against a govt. that forces us to do something we abhorde. It's a great read!
Dear Anonymous,
I agree.
I guess one could explain it on a deeply philosophical note, as that's really where it all rests...but if we render the philosophical down, we have one word that remains...and that's unbelief...everything about this healthcare bill and the philosophy driving the entire administration is based on unbelief. Did you hear some of the czars and how they idolize the most murderous dictator in the world? He was the same way, he was an atheist.
Since they think there is "no" Creator, they feel that they can determine life and death choices for everyone, and foist that mentality upon the populace. It's about who is more sovereign, God or man.
I too, believe that another revolution is coming, and it is not only a right, but a duty that the people have to remove the government that we have, and put back into place a government that submits to our wishes and not their own.
The healthcare bill will provide funds for prayer based "treatments". What do you say to that?
Personally I think Zeus is most sovereign. He is clearly the best God.


text:
Saturday, September 30, 2006
i'm home!
my tattoo is scabbing up hugely, it's beginning to itch rather than sting, and i still have half a sleeve left to finish on my sweater. i thought i'd get it done this week, but getting the tattoo took two days out of my schedule, what with my wrist being all gooey and hurty.
Thursday, September 28, 2006
this week in denver has been alternately boring and extra-fun. i'm taking notes in a real journal that i'll scan and paste when i get home, but for now here are a few thoughts about today:
- there's this one loud girl who absolutely, positively, must say something (anything!) everytime the instructor takes a breath or otherwise pauses. she answers every fucking question, she has to tell us her every experience, she has to remind us ad nauseum that she's a latina and how that relates to the subject, blah blah BLAH. i want to kill this girl. not with kindness, but with a solid blow to the head with something heavy.
- i'm the oldest one in the class. this is not a surprise to me.
- modern art makes me feel better about the world.
- google mobile maps for your cell phone is amazing and wonderful.
- my cell phone is a lot handier than i ever imagined.
- i'll be glad to go home and bake some cookies and see my kitten-face and catch up with the thousands of blogs i'm missing right now.
- also, go ahead and comment! dude, i can check my email through gmail, and it makes me feel a lot less bored. do it. you know you want to!
miss you! love you lots! wish you were here!
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
i'm a star!
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
where's my razor?
Monday, September 25, 2006
Sunday, September 24, 2006
the good news is that i get to stay at a hotel down in denver for a week, where i plan to finish my sweater (only one sleeve left, then blocking and sewing to go!), watch cable tv, take long baths, and eat out. i'm staying one extra night in town as well, and the roommate and some friends are going to come down and go out with me. i'm also going to try to hit the DAM and find a hom bao. i will not have a computer with me while i'm there, but i might try posting with my cell phone. expect short posts because i have fat fingers.
now i have to pack, which is undoubtably my least-favorite part of travelling.
also, i went out last night with my roommates and came closer to actually talking to a real-life boy than i have in months. it was a step in the right direction. i missed out on the kraken movie (it was hard to leave that behind, trust me) but i figured i could catch in re-runs and that my chances of meeting a boy were better if i actually left my house. you know, it has something to do with math (the amount boys out there versus the amount in my living room). it's been forever since i did something like date or flirt, so i'm easing back into it slowly, and dorkily. i'm pretty sure i made finger-guns at a guy. finger guns. dude! i rule! although to be fair, he was looking at me and he did shoot back.
Saturday, September 23, 2006
magic bullet
i would feel worse about it if that nap hadn't been so good and if fallling asleep after it wasn't so easy.
Friday, September 22, 2006
i ate a breakfast burrito this morning in an attempt to soothe my fussy guts, but i don't know if it's working. i'm also drinking a soda with breakfast. it's too early to be at work, but i am. if you come by the store, please speak softly. at least for a while.
Thursday, September 21, 2006
sister: i'm making a gin & tonic, what are you doing?
me: drinking boxed wine out of a mug.
sister: excellent. i'm making the gin & tonic in a jar. oooh, that's a lot of gin.
me: there's a lot of wine in my mug.
sister: i miss you.
me: i miss you too.
my sister and i have been having cocktails over the phone for years now, since we've been separated by states. however, the amount of over-the-phone cocktails has decreased significantly since she got knocked up and had a baby. hearing her on the phone a little bit tipsy, like me, is a welcome change. it's not that we can't talk while sober or anything, but i admit we have the most fun and retarded conversations after a few drinks. i love my people. bentley's RULE! you drool. well, at least when you sleep.
*also, we decided while having this conversation that this year for christmas we would be buying each other copies of arrested development on dvd. that way we both get what we want. which is a lot of the bluth's!
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
baby cakes
i got my ticket to california for thanksgiving, even though i haven't *technically* been given the time off. mom found a cheap ticket and insisted on just buying it, and we figured if we needed to change the flight out or return that would be easy enough to arrange. i'm really excited. my sister's been calling every day since we got the tickets, and tonight she called to ask what sorts of things i wanted to eat while i was there. this is something mom used to always do whenever my sister and i came home for the weekend from college. you'd get a random call and she'd be on the other end saying, "you like goat cheese, right? how do you feel about gouda? would you eat a lamb roast or should i get beef?" i loved that. what i love even more is that evidently it's a habit mom's passed on to us, because i got to ask my sister to make popovers and teach me how to make a brioche. all my requests were made after i pointed out that i didn't care, that what i really wanted was to chew on my niece's cheeks and take a million photos of her. if we had time for dinner after that, then yay! what i really want though is to nibble on that baby.
well, and that and visit giant robot, chinatown, and kid robot. i also really want to see my people and sleep in late. and maybe ask mom really nicely if she'll make sticky buns. but mostly it's all about that baby.
really, i'd make a good housewife
last night i was watching dirty jobs with my roommate and we spent a good amount of time talking about how hot mike rowe is. i'm not talking a few moment of idle chatter, i'm talking a serious conversation about all the ways he is hot. he's not amazingly handsome or pretty, like say, keanu reeves or brad pitt, but he exudes this manly-manliness that is totally intoxicating. i might have to put him on my list.
mr. man of my dreams did not come back into the store yesterday. although i think i may have talked to him on the phone, and i think i made him laugh. the chances of us actually going out on something like a date or impossibly slim, but i have to say this little crush is pretty fun. it's nice to know that there's a cute, funny man out there. it's gives me hope that there might be another one somewhere in colorado. let's hope finding him isn't too much like a needle in a haystack. (does that make me sound too pathetic? i worried about whether or not to leave it in but decided to. i'm not totally boy-crazy, or desperate for a boyfriend, but i like the idea of having one, and to be honest, it's been on my mind. now you get to read about it. sucks to be you!)
Monday, September 18, 2006
i know, cheesy. what's more cheesy are those pretty noodles pictured above. this weekend i tried my hand at making honest-to-goodness cheese sauce from scratch. it wasn't ar hard as i thought it would be, and even though my sauce needs some work, it was ridiculously good. i carbo-loaded and napped and was very pleased.
speaking of pleasing (god, my segues rule!), i found episodes of arrested development on some channel i'd never even heard of before, G4. i love love love arrested development, and while it's in my netflix queue as we speak, it's nice to tune in at night. it makes my rage seem smaller. in fact, tonight i feel downright chipper. what the hell? being a woman is fascination, frustrating business, yo.
Sunday, September 17, 2006
i hate my job
i'm sure part of my rage is hormonal, part of it is just the grind of working a job where you're basically expected to check all feelings of human dignity in the overheard compartment, and part of it is just that i miss my family. i don't even hate colorado anymore, it's not that, i just miss my people. i just want a few days with them to hang out and goof around, to meet the cutest niece in the world, and to eat all the delicious things my sister and mom cook. is that too much to ask for?
**this weeks rageful outburst fueled by hormones and not enough sleep**
Friday, September 15, 2006
you should live closer to me.
Thursday, September 14, 2006
things i am totally loving right now
- rain! we don't get enough of it here. more, please.
- pumpkin anything. bread, pie, lattes...on that note, i really wish i could go home just for a long weekend to pick pumpkins with the o'neal family. last year that was one of my favorite parts of fall; the fun ride out, the apple cider, the pumpkin throwing and the picking. tiernan was really into clean last year, and i think his favorite part was using the well pumps and giant brushes to wash off the pumpkins. we did that for quite a while.
- adult swim on line. if you go the "fix" section of the site, you can actually watch cartoons commercial free. that means at lunch at work i turn on a little aqua teen hunger force, the venture brothers or metalacolypse. it's like not being at work for up to 22 mins straight.
- having firefox back. oh man, that internet explorer is not so fun.
- finishing knitting projects. i'm pretty sure not much else makes me feel so accomplished. especially since for a long time i was almost incapable of it. now, i'm like a rock star. (albeit a very librarian-looking one.)
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
work hijinx
FINGER COTS. could any work supply be more fun? i suppose post-its are infinitely more versatile as far as work doodles go, but finger cots you get to wear. or pose! and they are freaky looking and feeling! therefore, they are my new favorite thing about going to work. i spent this afternoon with one of my co-workers drawing these guys and cracking each other up. we did the finger mustache thing, we gave the puppets funny voices, we goofed for a good, long time. it was great fun. although we didn't get much done as far as work went. i want to do a whole little series i will call "finger cot theater."
i also got my new uniform today, and it's infinitely cuter than my last one. it's actually a little twin-set, a cute shirt and cardigan combo. it fits well, and makes me feel a hell of a lot more attractive than that giant polo i've been wearing for months. i wish it had come in yesterday, when my current customer-crush came in. dammit.
*dude, that whole web site is all about finger cots. that freaks me out a little.
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
i came right home to a beer
hmmm. i wonder if my period is going to show up soon or if i'm just full of rage because it's fun?
Monday, September 11, 2006
i hope this isn't too horribly narcissistic
When I was about 7 years old my mom taught me how to embroider. An extremely gifted embroiderer, she taught me everything I know about the craft and art of embroidery. As I got older and my ideas about what it means to be a woman and feminism got more specific, so did my embroidery. I feel that embroidery is often relegated unfairly to the world of crafts and not taken seriously as an art form. For me, embroidery is more than just making something prettier; it can be a fully functional piece of art that reflects more accurately the role of women today. I strive to make all of my work surprising, interesting, practical, and above all to challenge the way people think about the traditional arts. For a more detailed look at my work, please visit [website goes here.]
my sister wrote it, don't get too excited. she's way smarter than i am, and after spending all day trying not to sound like a total dork i finally sent her an email that said, "write my bio, i'll give you $5, cash money." good thing she will work for cheap. doesn't that make me sound all smart without also sounding like a pretentious ass? i mean, i hate to admit that i take my work that seriously, for fear of coming off like one of those art school students who spends too much time composing answers to interviews they think they'll have someday, but i do what i do for a reason. sometimes it's just that it cracks me up, but a lot of the time i am actually striving to make things that make people stop and think for a second. i don't need them to re-evaluate how they think about women and so-called women's work, but if they stop for a sec and go, "huh, i wouldn't have thought of that," then i'm happy.
but right now i'm tired and i think futurama is on. why am i here when i could be in bed in my still-warm-from-the-dryer pjs? jeez.
sometimes i just want to be a housewife
that is a macro view of my mom's famous pumpkin bread recipe. i would post the recipe here, but it's top secret. if i were to post it on the internets where just anyone could find it, my mom would have an aneurysm. therefore, if you want it, you have to email me. i'll send it to you, but if you tell my mom about it you will be dead to me.
look! i did indeed finish the first sleeve of my sweater. i would have been done with it, oh, about a week ago if i hadn't made such an amateur mistake the first go-round. i was almost done with it last night, but i admit i got tired early and that was the end of me. i finished this today, and got about five inches into the body of the back of the sweater. i'm hoping by the time the fall bite is really in the air i'll have a new sweater to wear.
i think i have the photo situation figured out. i found out that the pictures themselves are going to be about 1x1 inch squares, so that helps a lot. no one will be able to see my pimples without a magnifying glass, whoo! i had this great idea for a bio too, then i sent it to my sister and she and her stupid english degree kind of tore it down. in a nice, loving way, sure--but she thinks it sucks so now i'm back to working on that again. i will get this done, tonight, if it kills me. i will also make my bed with new clean sheets, which is always an annoying task but also rewarding. it's still early, and i have more to do before i get to go to bed and do some more knitting.
Sunday, September 10, 2006
i'm little betty homemaker
i've spent entirely too much time tonight trying to take a photo of myself that i like and doesn't suck. dude, my chin is fat. oh, and there's the acne to argue with too. this is a very important photo, dammit, and it has to look good enough that when i see it a few years from now i won't be too horribly embarassed. i promise to tell you all about why i'm taking this photo tomorrow.
or i guess i could just tell you know. i was approached in june by a very nice lady about contributing an embroidery pattern to a book that's coming out next year. i wasn't sure if i should do it, but after talking to my friends and family i said yes, and it turned out to be a super fun project to work on. (that and my mom is beyond stoked to see my name in print, and not in a police-blotter kind of way.) i got to make the stuff for the photos, write out the pattern, and now all that's left to do is take a half-way decent photo of myself and write a short bio. the photo part is sort of freaking me out. where's dan when i need him to make me look fabulous? when did my face get so huge? i know it's shallow, but i hate this part of the project most. writing the bio is fun, though. it's just weird knowing that after the book comes out that photo will be all the people see of me, and i don't want any of the chumps i went to high school with seeing it and snickering about how retarded i look. hello, neurosis.
also, i got so irriated with firefox the other night i uninstalled it. i lost all my links, which is a mild irritant (i use bloglines for just about everything i can, so it's not a big loss), but now i'm using internet explorer again and while it's less annoying than the present version of firefox, i hate it too. i need an internet browser that doesn't suck. suggestions?
Friday, September 08, 2006
remember the "suck it" story?
then of course i had to draft a long-ass email to my boss saying, "hi, i probably should have given them ten more minutes to yell and get really irate before asking them to leave, but something about them seriously irritated me and i just had to end the situation before i acted seriously jerky." he doesn't know about the "suck it" incident, and he doesn't need to. i'd say 89% of the time i'm perfectly fine with customers. i'm infinitely more patient, i'm a hell of a lot more pleasant, and i do indeed keep quiet when i want to shout obscenities, but there are some people who just get me in a soft spot. once they've gone there with me, i can't back down, i can't think straight, i can hardly stop from going all hulk on them and freaking out. the crazy part of me, the part of me that think that no job is worth totally suppressing my dignity (slight as it might be), the part of me that actually told an old lady once she could "shove it up your ass," is always there. loudmouth amanda is right under the surface of good customer service amanda, and while she doesn't come out often, it's only because i try to beat her into submission.
at the end of the day there's a line i won't cross for money, no matter how much i need it. it's petty and immature and ridiculous, seeing as i'm a slacker loser, but it's what i have. my parents hate it about me, and know they raised me like that. it's not that i'm full of my own self-import, it's that i think no one should be treated like shit because someone gives them money, because the rent hangs in the balance and i get tired of peanut butter sandwiches. while i did get a little irrational and shrill this afternoon, i did not tell anyone they could suck it, i didn't not storm out of work, and i did apologize to my boss before he even knew what i was apologizing for. it's a small step in the right direction as far as growing up goes, but it's a step nonetheless.
Thursday, September 07, 2006
i hate the new firefox
in other dork-tastic news, i found out one of my co-workers loves* buffy and angel more than i do, and has, in fact, both sets of series in his possession. he's been doling them out, in order, to me the last few weeks and now i get to watch vampire-slaying-goodness every night before bed. me and the cat and my headphones are very happy.
and as a last testament to my own nerdy self, i just ordered this shirt. it's the second one down, the green one. i love it. it's on pre-order right now, meaning you can only order it until this sunday. which i highly recommend you DO. let's get all the kids we know to order them and then wear them around our fundamentalist, evolution-hating friends and family. it'll be a riot!
*he might not actually love the shows more than me, but he's certainly more dedicated to them. i have to say, when i found out that we both loved everything joss whedon's ever touched, i was so happy. marnie was the only other person i knew before now who understood how great buffy and angel are, and i missed that. now everyone at work knows our dirty little secret, and they try to make fun of us for being dorks, but together we are invincible. or at least, not nearly as embarassed to say out loud that we love vampire slayers and their undead-soul-mates.
lately i've been mainlining the pop culture, which i'm pretty sure isn't great for me. last night i dreamt i had to wear mischa barton's awful shorts, all while the pussycat doll's song "don't cha" was on. do i need to point out that i despise both mischa and those pusscat dolls? because i do. i'm sort of sick of women only being famous for being skanks. you can be a talentless, jerkface, idiot, but if you are hot no one will care. thinking about it is making me bitter, so i give up now.
there is a good chance i'm going to get sick this week so i might end up bitching about it here. two kids at work are super sick, and we work in a small office where we like to pass the germy goodness around. i'm drinking a lot of emergen-c, going to bed early, washing my hands all the time and trying to avoid the plague.
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
must go on!
today i got a lot done at work. i signed up for benefits (yes!), ordered new business cards (just as hokey as the last ones), some fancy stationary (which i will then steal from work and use to write letters), and also ordered new work shirts. the ones i have now are so ridiculously lame. not only are they all faded and crappy looking, but they're a million sizes too big because i overestimated my girth at the time i ordered them. these shirts are going to fit, dammit.
being hired on as a real employee is good because of all the stuff mentioned above, but now i actually have to give a shit about commissions, which gives me the willies. i have to suddenly worry about making quota, combing my hair on a regular basis, and being extra nice to jerks that right now i barely tolerate. if i've said it once, i've said it a million times: i don't want to kill them with kindness, i want to use a good old-fashioned shiv. it doesn't feel real yet, and it also sort of cramps my i-want-to-move plans. i'm not going to bore you with my pro and con list right now, suffice to say it's being made on just about a round-the-clock basis.
the best news of all, though, is this delightful book my nephew sent me. it's an alphabet book that's all about day of the dead. i wish i could be there to read it to him and carve pumpkins!
Monday, September 04, 2006
teeny trip recap
Sunday, September 03, 2006
Friday, September 01, 2006
not only am i NOT packed, but i had one too many beers
i just watched brick. when i tell you a movie is totally fucking amazing, you should realize i don't say it often. this was one fo the few "holy shit" movies i've seen in years. if you hate noir, or a lot of talk, don't rent it. if you like both, then do, but watch it with the subtitles. the dialogue is too good to miss. i'm telling you, watching that movie was amazing. when i can't knit a movie is so engrossing, then you know it's good. i was completely sucked in, in the most wonderful way.
also, i sucessfully painted my toenails red, worked on more of my freddy sleeves, and make the cat supremely annoyed when i taunted her with my knitting needles. you might think i live a boring live, but ahem, i don't.
(the title goes here)
my shoes showed up. like most pairs of converse i own now, they are a little too big. i hate the lack of half-sizes! they used to be a lot easier to find in cons. they are extra cute though, and i can't wait to wear them everywhere.
i'm going up to breckenridge this weekend. i actually got sunday and monday off, so tomorrow night after work i'll drive up and meet my roommates. i haven't been into the mountains really since i drove through them with dave. it will be a fun little trip. i should be packing for it now, though, since i work early tomorrow so i could get out of town at a reasonable time. (girly note: today while out running errands i found the absolute cutest top on earth. it's both kind of slutty and perfectly reasonable, and it makes me look hot with two T's. watch out boys of colorado, i might be fiesty this weekend.)
hmmm...i have a million things i want to tell you but there are a million things here i need to be doing. when i get home monday i'll fill you in on all the gory details. topics may or may not include; actually getting hired at work, baby cutting her first tooth, re-discovering dr. katz, being able to wear a size L now rather than XL, that funky cramp in my hand and my efforts to thwart it, kvetching about moving home and how fall in colorado really is ridiculously lovely. the air's been all crisp and delicious, the rain is coming back, and the kitten and i are spending ridiculous amount of time on the couch drinking tea. well, i drink the tea while she just sheds all over me. good times.


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Every year we face the same dilemma...what to get parents for Mother's/Father's Day, bdays and Christmas. We have it especially hard with Jeff...his birthday and Father's Day generally are just a few days apart. He's a hard one to shop for and you can only buy a man so much cheesy popcorn! :)
This year for Jeff- we made a family treasure hunt. I put out clues (using family memories/stories and random trivia) on little flags around the property at Davey. Each flag gave a clue which led you to the next point on the treasure hunt. At the end...there was treasure, of course!!
The summer was extremely busy for all three families and getting everyone together seemed down right impossible. It ended up being the end of August before we could give him our 'gift'. Our gift not necessarily being the treasure hunt- but rather something fun for him and the grandkids to do together! (and just so you don't go thinking we're totally cheap...we took him to a baseball game too!)
My original plan involved GPS coordinates and using the entire 80 acres...but because of time restraints and heat that day...I limited it to about 4 acres. It still worked out great!
It was a fun little adventure...but next time it will be "EXTREME treasure hunting" that requires use of the farm truck, satellite GPS and a map of the whole property! Just not in the blazing heat and stifling humidity of summer!


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An An 2 Hotel is centrally located in downtown of Ho Chi Minh. Our newly constructed hotel boasts 37 rooms and are well-equipped with modern facilities Rooms are fully air-conditioned and equipped with cable TV and a safety deposit. Guests can enjoy the use of the minibar and refrigerator. A hairdryer and slippers are also provided.Hotel offers currency exchange and laundry services. Guests can also enquire about local attractions at the tour desk. Car rental is available for guests who would like their own transport around town. The Tan Son Nhat International Airport is a 30-minute drive away and nearby is Bach Dang River Ben Thanh Market and many interesting museums.
Reach us, we're available 24/7.


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Now India gets smartphone too!
Spice launched Spice Smart Pulse M-9010 which is a smartwatch with 1.5-inch touch screen display (240×320 pixels). The smartwatch supports dual SIM with 2G network and running on Java based OS. It will paired to all Android Smartphones via Bluetooth connection, it needs BT Notification App (apk download) by Spice. As the watch is paired with phone you will receive calls, notifications, view log, remote camera capture, stream music, read and write SMS.
The smartwatch has expandable memory up to 8GB and 1.3-megapixel camera to capture pictures. Built in storage and processor details are not specified. It has 2G and Bluetooth connectivity options. It also has audio and video player, FM radio, and support English and Hindi languages. The Smart Pulse has 420mAh battery which can run for 2 days on standby and 180 minutes for talktime.
The Spice Smart Pulse will be available in Black and Blue colour for Rs. 4,999, and on HomeShop18 it will be available for Rs. 3,999 (MOP) from July 11th. Spice is also giving freebies like a Bluetooth headset and two different colour interchangeable wrist bands.
Battery: 420mAh battery with up to 180 minutes talk time and up to 2 days standby
Vivin is my Real name. I like to play with Gadgets , Twitter is timepass and Facebook is my Orkut, Photography is my new passion, Movie-holic, I am Android supporter, Indian by birth
May 26, 2018
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Postertext compiles the text of books and arranges them on a poster to depict significant or iconic scenes. Currently, only classics are available, but the line will be expanding soon. Little Women is currently my favorite. A Les Misérables poster is in the works, though, and I'm a bit excited to see how it turns out. Which ones do you like? What books would you like to hang on your wall?
Clockwise from top: Pride and Prejudice, Little Women, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and Peter Pan


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United States District Court, D. Maryland
September 25, 2014
JAMOHL AARON SWANN, Petitioner,v.UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Respondent. Civil No. RWT 11-CV-2355
ROGER W. TITUS, District Judge.
Pending before the Court is the petition of Jamohl Aaron Swann ("Swann") under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 to vacate, set aside, or correct his sentence. Swann argues that his retained counsel was ineffective on four grounds: (1) counsel failed to argue that the underlying Maryland state convictions for which Swann's sentences were enhanced were Constitutionally invalid, (2) counsel induced Swann to plead guilty by giving him an erroneous sentencing guideline calculation, (3) counsel induced Swann to plead guilty to an offense of which he is factually innocent, and (4) counsel, after negotiating a "defective plea" agreement was disbarred from practicing law before the U.S. District Court of Maryland and the Fourth Circuit. ECF No. 236.
For the reasons stated below, the Court will dismiss Swann's petition.
Factual and Procedural History
On July 10, 2008, Swann was indicted for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine, in violation of 21 U.S.C § 846, among other related charges. ECF No. 1. Swann has three prior drug distribution convictions, stemming from his pleading guilty to three separate instances of cocaine distribution in the Circuit Court for Charles County, Maryland. See A separate Order follows. Maryland v. Swann (Case Nos. CR98-0532, CR98-668, and CR98-777). These prior cocaine distribution convictions qualify as three "serious drug offenses".[1]
On May 9, 2009, Swann pleaded guilty to Counts 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the Second Superseding Information. ECF No. 127. Count 1 charged Swann with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base and 5 kilos or more of cocaine pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 846; Count 2 charged Swann with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 924(c); Count 3 charged Swann with being a felon in possession of a firearm/ammunition pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1); Count 4 charged Swann with money laundering pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1956(a)(1)(B)(i). Id.
On August 31, 2010, Swann was sentenced to 180 months imprisonment for Counts 1, 3, and 4, to be served concurrently. ECF No. 223. For Count 2, Swann received 60 months imprisonment, to be served consecutively. Id. Swann appealed his judgment to the Fourth Circuit on September 15, 2010, but later withdrew his appeal on September 16, 2010. ECF Nos. 225, 227.
On February 9, 2011, Swann filed a Writ of Error Coram Nobis with the Circuit Court for Charles County, Maryland. See Maryland v. Swann (Case No. CR98-0777). A Writ of Error Coram Nobis is an ancient common law writ, allowed without a time limitation, to correct factual errors which affect the validity of a judgment. Skok v. State, 760 A.2d 647, 654-656 (Md. 2000). In the Writ of Error Coram Nobis, Swann objects to the three cocaine distribution convictions in the Circuit Court for Charles County, Maryland. See Maryland v. Swann (Case No. CR98-0777). Swann's Writ of Error Coram Nobis is still pending. Id. On August 23, 2011 Swann filed this timely pro se motion pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255. ECF No. 236.
Attorney History
On July 14, 2008, the Court appointed John Chamble, of the Office of the Federal Public Defender, to represent Swann. ECF No. 3. Mr. Chamble represented Swann during the initial appearance, detention hearing, arraignment, and also for sentencing. ECF Nos. 3, 18, 28, 173. On October 1, 2008 Mr. Chamble withdrew as counsel upon notice of retained counsel, Patrick Christmas. ECF No. 64.
Mr. Christmas began plea negotiations between Swann and the Government. ECF No. 245. On January 28, 2009, Mr. Christmas was not present for a telephone status conference. ECF No. 94. On May 8, 2009, Mr. Christmas withdrew as counsel upon notice of new retained counsel, Elmer Ellis. ECF No. 129.
Mr. Ellis represented Swann for the remainder of plea negotiations and throughout the plea hearing. ECF No. 132. Ellis was later suspended from the practice of law for 120 days by the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. See In re: Elmer Douglas Ellis, No. 07-8511, ¶1 (February 20, 2009). On December 3, 2009, the District of Columbia Court of Appeals ordered reciprocal discipline on Mr. Ellis until he "met the legal education requirements imposed by the D.C. Circuit." Id. ¶ 2.
On September 29, 2009, United State Magistrate Judge William Connelly held an inquiry hearing and appointed prior counsel, John Chamble to represent Swann. ECF No. 173. Mr. Chamble returned to represent Swann throughout his sentencing. ECF Nos. 173, 221.
Under 28 U.S.C. § 2255, to have his sentence vacated, set aside, or corrected, a petitioner must prove that the "sentence was imposed in violation of the Constitution or laws of the United States, or that the court was without jurisdiction to impose such sentence, or that the sentence was in excess of the maximum authorized by law." 28 U.S.C. § 2255.
Relief under § 2255 may be found when the outcome "inherently results in a complete miscarriage of justice and presents exceptional circumstances that justify collateral relief under § 2255." United States v. Metzger 3 F.3d 756, 756 (4th Cir. 1993) (citing David v. United States, 417 U.S. 333, 346-47 (1974) (internal quotation marks omitted). However, if the petitioner's motion and the record, "conclusively show that [he] is entitled to no relief, " a hearing on the motions is unnecessary and the claim may be dismissed. 28 U.S.C. § 2255(b); United States v. White, 366 F.3d 291, 296-97 (4th Cir. 2004).
Courts examine claims of ineffective assistance of counsel under the two-prong test set forth in Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687 (1984). Under Strickland, defendants must first "show that counsel's performance was deficient" (the "performance prong"). Deficient performance is performance that is objectively unreasonable and "requires showing that counsel made errors so serious that counsel was not functioning as the counsel' guaranteed the defendant by the Sixth Amendment." Id. The Court must "evaluate the conduct from counsel's perspective at the time, " and it "must indulge a strong presumption that counsel's conduct falls within the wide range of reasonable professional assistance." Id. at 689.
Second, the defendant must show "that the deficient performance prejudiced the defense" (the "prejudice prong"). Id. at 687. To demonstrate prejudice, the "defendant must show that there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different." Id. at 694. "Unless a defendant makes both showings, it cannot be said that the conviction... resulted from a breakdown in the adversary process that renders the result unreliable. Id. at 687.
"In any ineffectiveness case, a particular decision not to investigate must be directly assessed for reasonableness in all the circumstances, applying a heavy measure of deference to counsel's judgments." Id. at 691. Moreover, if a defendant alleges ineffective assistance of counsel following entry of a guilty plea, he "must show that there is a reasonable probability that but for counsel's errors, he would not have pleaded guilty and would have insisted on going to trial." Hooper v. Garraghty, 845 F.2d 471, 475 (4th Cir. 1988) (internal quotation marks omitted).
Petitioners that challenge guilty pleas under § 2255 on the basis of ineffective assistance of counsel, where the plea was voluntary and the petitioner had indicated satisfaction with counsel, encounter more difficulty. See United States v. Lemaster, 403 F.3d 216, 221 (4th Cir. 2005). "[B]ecause courts must be able to rely on the defendant's statements made under oath... allegations in a § 2255 motion that directly contradict the petitioner's sworn statements made during a properly conducted Rule 11 colloquy are always palpably incredible' and patently frivolous or false.'" Id. "[I]n the absence of extraordinary circumstances, the truth of sworn statements made during a Rule 11 colloquy is conclusively established, and ...
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While RED (Schwentke 2010) may not be a revenge film in terms of its narrative and genre, the film none-the-less offers a revenge fantasy for baby boom audience members faced with marginalization as Generation X and beyond come into power economically and politically. RED's plot, about a group of retired CIA agents banding together to fight back against their old employer who is looking to execute them, takes every available opportunity to allow its protagonists to beat down their successors, demonstrate sexual vitality and simply prove that they are not too old live like the young. As a card carrying member of Generation Y/Next/Echo Boom/whatever-you-want-to-call-us, my reaction to RED is quite simple:
It is a hell of a fun little film.
Now, that does not mean that RED is a great film, or some sort of classic in the action genre. It is not. Nor is it necessarily better than its comic source material, a three issue mini-series by the legendary Warren Ellis. I have yet to read the series, so I cannot comment. What RED is however is a slick little piece of popcorn entertainment that would have been nice to have had available during this past summer, in order to relieve audiences of all the garbage that the studios tried to pass off as fun films (with the obvious exceptions of the great Inception and Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World). RED is a film without any preconceptions of greatness: it knows is strengths and limitations with regards to the material, and the filmmakers do their best to liven up the stock characters and situations with sharper than expected writing, directing and acting.
While director Robert Schwentke's work thus far has been rather undistinguished, with credits on films such as Flightplan (2005) and The Time Traveler's Wife (2009), he brings a steady hand to RED, working from a script by Jon and Erich Hoeber (Whiteout). Schwentke seems to know that the best approach to the material is to simply allow the cast to carry the film and get out of their way. There are no auteur or wannabe-auteur attempts made in the film: Schwentke's direction primarily consists of keeping the film energetic and moving a good clip, and it works. More importantly, Schwentke keeps the film relatively grounded, allowing for moments of comic action absurdity that are fantastic without turning the film into an outright fantasy of superhuman beings.
Carrying most of the film's weight however is the cast, which provide uniformly excellent work. Lead star Bruce Willis, who earlier this year was underserved by the sub par script and direction of the buddy comedy Cop Out, gets to really flex his comedic muscles here as Frank Moses. Willis plays the role in a surprisingly vulnerable manner, downplaying the supposed "badass" coolness of Frank and instead plays up the character's awkwardness with average life and relationships. This of course is helped in no small way by Mary-Louise Parker as Sarah, Frank's possible romantic flame who comes to rather enjoy the dangerous situation she finds herself in. While Parker's character is unfortunately saddled with the damsel in distress role at a certain point in the film, Parker makes the most of every scene she is in, brining a sense of spunk and joy to a character that could easily have been phoned in.
The film's supporting cast is equally worthy of mention. Morgan Freeman and John Malkovich are given somewhat thin characters to work with, with Freeman particularly stuck playing a variation on the wise-old-man role. Both are clearly having fun onscreen however, and it is infectious. Malkovich in particular eats up every odd quirk he is given to play as Marvin, the paranoid and childlike ex-CIA agent who spent years being the subject of LSD experiments. The sight of a sad Marvin holding a stuffed pig by the tail is one of RED's highlights, and Malkovich is given plenty of similar scene stealing moments throughout. Karl Urban as the young but not naïve agent tracking Moses is stuck playing straight man to pretty much everyone else in the film, but he once again proves that he has the charisma to be great leading man if he can ever score the right role to take him to the A-list.
However, RED's best weapon is the duo of Helen Mirren and Brian Cox, as romantically involved agents from opposite sides of the long over Cold War. The pair's subplot romance is almost a delightful romantic comedy onto itself, particularly in the final act of the film as the band of heroes put their final plan in motion. By this point, Cox's character of Ivan Simanov seems vastly less interested in the grandiose nature of Frank's plan than he is in pursuing Mirren's Victoria with as much smooth charm as possible. Mirren meanwhile appears to relish the opportunity she has to play the most badass member of Moses' crew, finding ways to blend flirtatious and motherly types of behaviour with the stone cold professionalism. Combined with the fact that Mirren and Cox have great chemistry, I simply would have loved for the whole film to be nothing more than a charting of their peculiar romance over the decades. A spin off film perhaps?
By the time RED comes to a close, there will likely be members of the audience saying that the filmmakers could easily have made a more substantive film dealing with the issues of an aging population and its rivalry with its offspring, and they would not be wrong. Others will likely be complaining that the film moves far away from leaner and meaner premise of Warren Ellis' original comic. Again, I have not read the comics, though its reviews online point to it being a massively different work, and a fascinating one. Again, such complaints would not be wrong. However, both criticisms would seem to miss the fun to be had with RED, particularly given the lack of action films focused on older characters in modern filmmaking. Besides which, the film simply succeeds at what it sets out to do.
Fans of Ellis' original comics can take one little bit of solace when it comes to the film: at least RED is not as disappointing as The Losers. Or as bad as Jonah Hex. Those are fans who really have something to complain about.
Monday, November 8, 2010
RED (Schwentke 2010)
Labels: 2010, action, Bruce Willis, comics, Mary-Louise Parker, RED
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I was at work bright and early this morning, just finishing up a few introductions on the next series of professional development trainings that were being scheduled over the next few months. Debbie popped in barely 20 minutes after I sat down to work. I can never remember if she is from finance or procurement – partially because I didn't care. What I did remember is that this woman was always in the office. Debbie is here when I arrive and when I leave. She needs a life.
"Hey Leroy, I hear you and Terra broke up. Tough luck, huh?" Debbie dropped a stack of reports in my inbox, probably my training and development budget revisions. "Ron says Terra went on a lunch date with some sort of Russian mafia type. But I still think you have him in the looks department. I mean, you can't blame a gal for wanting a bit more security. Somebody like him can definitely protect her if a thug attacks." Debbie headed out of the door. I noticed a coffee stain on the back of her blouse. Now how did that get there?
I shook my head and looked back at my computer screen – but it was too late, the mood was shot. Great, now I'm distracted! I tried calling Terra, but got her voicemail. That was my cue that it was time to eat. I locked my screen and headed down to the food court for two breakfast sandwiches, juice, cookies for later (or mid morning) and a bottle of water.
After I rushed down my sandwiches, I thought it might be a good idea to call and check on Tomeika. Last I heard from Jada, she was doing better – even starting to get her powers back. Since I wasn't sure if she was at work or still at home, I thought it would be best to call her cell phone. Shout-out to the anytime access.
"Hello?" She answered with a clear voice.
"Hey Tomieka, you sound much better." I still wondered what kind of flu could take her powers away.
"Hey Leroy, baby. YES! I feel perfect. I don't know what was wrong with me, but ya girl is back!" She laughed.
"Good, now I can collect those drinks from you and Jada." I laughed too.
"Now you know when Raz and Tam say it, we mean it." I heard her pause to mention something about photo copies. I assume that meant she's at work today. "Let's do it this weekend. I'll call Terra too, so she knows there were no hard feelings."
"Sounds like a plan. I hope you get paid by then, because I'm going to drink you ladies under the table." I smiled hard, but I meant it.
We ended the conversation and I finally got back to work. I remembered I needed to e-mail these draft versions over to Ms. DeVane before 9 a.m. this morning – and it was already 9:30. Just as I attached the files and sent them, I received an e-mail from Michelle.
Hey L-Baby,
You owe me lunch and I'm not taking "NO" for an answer. See you at your job, at noon.
We can ride in the squad car today.
I thought to myself. Today is going to be real interesting.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
1 comment:
- Dat MF said...
Do some mf push ups!!
- Tuesday, May 20, 2008
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Wednesday, June 15, 2011
What's in my Bag...
I LOVE this wide angle lens! So this is what is in my Canon bag along with some extra batteries and lens hoods and a pop up flash diffuser... What's in your's?
Posted by Mary Gibson at 7:01 PM
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News about Jessica and amazing new pix!
X-pect more from leggy Jess
JESSICA TAYLOR proves the thigh's the limit after this week's shock announcment that Liberty X are splitting up.
The gorgeous singer – currently engaged to cricketer Kevin Pietersen – shows off her perfect pins in a new advert for Veet.
While posing for the pictures in her tiny hot pants, Jessica spoke for the first time about her plans post Liberty X.
She said: "I hate to use the words 'splitting up' as it sounds so harsh."
"But we're all still the best of friends and plan to come together for one-off special events in the future."
"I would love to continue modelling and I would also love to try my hand at some acting roles."
And no chat with Jess would be complete without asking how she keeps her never-ending legs in check.
"I've never dieted in my life," she revealed.
"My biggest vice is a take-away pizza, so I have to make sure I exercise regularly to stay in shape."
More pictures:
source: thesun.co.uk
Also The Sun says about the future plans of each Xers "Jessica Taylor is to wed Kevin Pietersen, Kelli Young and Kevin Simm are working on solo projects and Tony Lundon is going back to university."
"Michelle Heaton has revealed that she and Andy Scott-Lee are planning to appear in a new reality TV show", says another source.
Michelle told Digital Spy: "I think we will be doing (another show) before the end of the year. There is a theme, but I can't disclose that yet. Thank you for trying!"


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Thursday, November 5, 2015
Random Thoughts Thursday: NaBloPoMo (Day...?)
6 comments:
Don't buy pork at Costco and you won't spend so much money. It works. I am proof. ;)ReplyDeleteReplies
Yes, you are!Delete
I just renewed our Costco card, but we still haven't been back. You'd think going to the regular grocery store every other day for stuff would make us go, but nope. I'm determined, though. And no, I didn't know that about grasshoppers. They sure seem like they're going backwards when I come upon them in the basement trying to get to the dryer. Maybe they're leaping UP. Oh, wait, those are crickets. Never mind.ReplyDeleteReplies
For hateful reasons I mention above, I am not *our* regular Costco shopper. I have a hubby for that! He loves it though. Share the grasshopper knowledge! I touch a lot of gross things on a regular basis, but I can't pick up a grasshopper. I swear they poop on me every time (or maybe when I was a kid, someone told me they *would* poop on me. Whatever. Not picking one up any time soon.) Arnebya, you never cease to crack me up.Delete
So seriously, I heard the opposite about our Chicago winter on the radio, and that we were in for a mild season this year! I sure hope I'm right. :)ReplyDeleteReplies
I, too, hope you are right!!!!!Delete