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With ultralow mortgage rates now starting to creep up, some homeowners might be thinking that it's finally time to refinance.
Despite six weeks of steady increases, fixed rates eased this week and are still below 4 percent. That means borrowers who have higher mortgage rates may still be able to take advantage of savings.
Refinancing originations nationwide totaled $1.5 trillion last year but are expected to fall this year to $1.1 trillion due to rising mortgage rates, said a projection from mortgage giant
Figuring out whether to refinance a loan can sometimes be difficult. Several factors should be considered, from length of the existing mortgage to the borrower's financial goals.
"Make sure you're not refinancing just because your neighbor is refinancing," said Todd Pianin, president and founder of Samuel Scott Financial Group, a boutique mortgage company in San Diego.
How do you know if refinancing is the right choice? Here are six questions to ask yourself:
1: Where am I with my existing loan?
Homeowners who refinance can get a new mortgage with longer, shorter or the same terms. Those who have a 30-year fixed mortgage can refinance into a 15-year fixed loan, or vice versa.
Extending the term could result in a lower monthly payment but may result in paying more over time because the payments are stretched out, said Gabe del Rio, chief business officer of Community HousingWorks. The San Diego nonprofit group provides housing counseling.
Shortening the term could result in higher payments each month but it would shave off interest over time.
Also, consumers should figure out how long they've been paying their existing mortgage to see how much principal and interest has already been paid, said Pianin, the mortgage broker. A borrower who's in Year 20 of a 30-year fixed loan generally shouldn't refinance because most of the payments are going toward principal.
Knowing which term to choose also requires an honest assessment of where the borrower is in life. A retiree's plan may be different from a newlywed's.
2: What are all the costs involved?
Mortgage companies can charge closing costs and fees, including title and escrow insurance and an appraisal of your home. Get a tally of those costs upfront.
Also, there's a chance the appraisal may not come in at a number that will qualify the homeowner for a refinance, warned del Rio. If that happens, applicants may be on the hook for the appraisal cost, which can range from $300 to $800 depending on the home.
3: Will the savings be worth it?
It may be if you're getting an interest-rate reduction of at least 2 percentage points, said Faith Espejo, director of programs and operations of Housing Opportunities Collaborative, a San Diego nonprofit group that provides housing counseling.
For example, a borrower with an interest rate of 6 percent should aim for a refinance at 4 percent. A reduction of 1 percent to 1½ percent may be worth it, Espejo said, if there are no closing costs involved. If closing costs are involved, see how long it would take to break even.
Take the total closing cost of refinancing and divide it by the monthly savings to get the number of months it takes to recoup those upfront costs. Pianin's rule of thumb: Don't bother refinancing if the result is 18 months or more.
An example
Loan amount: $350,000
Principal and interest, existing at 6 percent: $2,098.43
Principal and interest, new at 4 percent: $1,670.97
Monthly savings: $427.46
Recoup period for upfront costs: $7,500 (upfront cost)/ $427.46 (savings) = 17.5 months
Source: Housing Opportunities Collaborative.
4: What does a "zero-cost" refinance really mean?
It costs money to produce a loan, even a refinance, said del Rio, of Community HousingWorks. Mortgage companies make money off refinances in some way; it's just a matter of how. Those firms that promise no out-of-pocket costs from consumers are generally charging higher rates, which are figured out in the secondary market, del Rio said.
Another way to disguise costs is to roll them into mortgage balances. Lenders are supposed to disclose the annual percentage rate, or APR, which factors in all fees and costs, said Dee Sodano, vice president of lending with Community HousingWorks. If the annual percentage rate is higher than the existing mortgage rate, then it may not be worth it to refinance.
5: What are rate locks?
See an attractive mortgage rate? Borrowers may be able to lock it in for a certain period of time. Lenders offer an array of terms, including 15 and 30 days. Ask if there's a cost involved. There may be a hidden cost even if the answer is no. Like rates, locks also are figured out in the secondary market.
6: How do I find a reputable mortgage company?
It's important to find a mortgage professional who will explain the pros and cons of refinancing, said Espejo, of Housing Opportunities Collaborative. Getting referrals would be a good start. Once you have at least three possibilities, interview them.
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Every so often, I follow my own advice. I know that is a radical thing to do, but, hey, sometimes it works.
This advice was to google a name. Well, googling William Magill brought up hundreds of thousands of hits, a lot of them good.
Bingo. You see, William Joseph Magill was a graduate of the Citadel. Actually he was in the first class of graduates in 1846. The class numbered six. I found this information by googling his name and getting a hit on the history of the Citadel. I was actually able to find an obituary for him here, which was good since all other sources failed me. Then I googled Florida Confederate Pensions. What did I find when I searched Florida Confederate Pensions? I found a widow's pension application. Bless her heart, Mary gave her marriage date and location and her husband's death date. It's 9 pages long and I am busily transcribing it.
Census information from 1860 shows that he is a professor of mathematics at the Georgia Military Institute. Heaven only knows why I can't find the family in 1850, when he should be in Kentucky. However, I have tons more than I had the day before, so I won't complain.
My sources:
1. The History of the South Carolina Military Academy, with Appendix, by John Peyre Thomas, published in Charleston, South Carolina by Walker, Evans & Cogswell in 1893.
2. Florida Confederate Pension Application Records. Great site.
Copyright 2010, ACK for Gene Notes

subset: commoncrawl


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This Blog focuses on Ancestor Stories, both the stories themselves about my family's ancestors and discussions of where they come from and how to prepare and share them. These stories may be non-fiction or fiction – we will always tell which is which, of course. Also see my KINNICK blog and The HOMEPLACE Series Blog, left sidebar, scroll down.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
1910 Postcard - front and back
In 1910, she was 22, had been in this country, from her native Denmark, about 6 years. In 1910, he was 18, just graduated from Coon Rapids High School in May 1909 and was going to go to Commercial College in Des Moines; meanwhile, he was working for his father and uncle on their farms in Coon Rapids and Greenfield, respectively.
Monteith, Ia, [a tiny town, about half way between Coon Rapids and Greenfield]
Paul Harold KINNICK, b. 18 Aug 1892; m. 12 Aug 1914 Dorothy Christine SORENSEN, Greenfield, Adair Co, IA
Families are Forever! ;-)
2 comments:
This is a little note to let you know that the Festival of Postcards (6th Ed.) White was published yesterday afternoon here:
and yours is in the "Postcards in the past tense" section. I wanted you to know that I particularly enjoyed the way you wove the genealogy/family history aspect into the post and I hope to see your work in future editions.
Evelyn in Montreal
P.S. I encourage you to paste the Festival link into the body of your paste to help readers navigate between your post and the White Festival.Thank you in advance!
Great postcard, I love it!ReplyDelete


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Report: Think tanks tied to Kochs
A network of think tanks across the country is quietly pushing the agenda of right-wing groups with funding from Koch brothers-affiliated organizations, a new report alleges.
The study, by the liberal Center for Media and Democracy, is aimed at the State Policy Network, which describes itself as "dedicated solely to improving the practical effectiveness of independent, nonprofit, market-oriented, state-focused think tanks," which are operating in all 50 states. The tax-exempt group seeks to "enable these organizations to better educate local citizens, policy makers and opinion leaders about market-oriented alternatives to state and local policy challenges."
Story Continued Below
But that's not the full story, according to the Center for Media and Democracy, which bills itself as a nonprofit watchdog group. CMD alleges that rather than a loose coalition of locally focused think tanks, SPN's organizations are using "dark money" — a term for money donated for elections without disclosing its source — from conservative and corporate donors like the Koch brothers to push a cookie-cutter conservative agenda at the state level.
"These aren't just little think tanks that are doing nonpartisan research based on what's happening in the state and really reflective of the culture of those states," said Lisa Graves, executive director of the CMD, which has received funds from an organization linked to liberal billionaire donor George Soros. "These are a lot of groups that put together pretty cooked books on the issues they are peddling and have been criticized in state after state for how shoddy their research has been."
According to the report's analysis of IRS filings, the State Policy Network and its think tanks' combined revenue in 2011 topped $83 million, in large part with funding from conservative money groups like the Donors Trust and Donors Capital Fund, which receive large donations from groups tied to the Koch brothers and other prominent conservatives. The State Policy Network's associate members also include a who's who of conservative organizations, including ALEC, David Koch's Americans for Prosperity Foundation, FreedomWorks, Grover Norquist's Americans for Tax Reform, the Cato Institute and The Heritage Foundation.
"It really is another part of the Kochtopus," Graves said, using a nickname given to the network of the conservative Koch brothers.
State Policy Network refuted CMD's report, saying each of its think tanks are "fiercely independent" and select their own topics of research.
"Every think tank, however, rallies around a common belief: the power of free markets and free people to create a healthy, prosperous society. They eschew a top-down D.C.-centric approach to running peoples' lives," State Policy Network President Tracie Sharp told POLITICO. "And we practice what we believe: There is no governing organization dictating what free market think tanks research or how they educate the public about good public policy."
Sharp said like most nonprofits, State Policy Network keeps its donors private and voluntary.


text:
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The electorate may be deeply divided, but the two candidates running for president share common ground on their favorite TV show. Both President Barack Obama and his opponent Governor Mitt Romney told TV Guide Magazine that Modern Family is the show they most enjoy watching with their wives. President Obama told us about his TV preferences and pop culture habits in the current issue of TV Guide Magazine. Mr. Romney's campaign missed our print deadline, but here are his answers to our questionnaire.
TV Guide Magazine: What are your favorite current TV shows?
Romney: My favorite shows are Modern Family, Justified, 30 Rock and NCIS. And although it recently ended, I've really enjoyed Friday Night Lights.
TV Guide Magazine: And Ann Romney's favorite?
Romney: Ann loves Modern Family too — it's our favorite show to watch together.
TV Guide Magazine: What is your favorite feature film?
Romney: My favorite movie is O Brother, Where Art Thou?
TV Guide Magazine: Do you remember the first film you and Ann watched together?
Romney: Our very first date was back in 1965, when we went to a small movie theater in Birmingham, Michigan, to watch The Sound of Music.
TV Guide Magazine: What classic TV series do you have the fondest childhood memories of watching?
Romney: Growing up, I loved TV shows about the Old West, like Gunsmoke, Have Gun, Will Travel, and The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp.
TV Guide Magazine: What televised news event that had a lasting impact on you?
Romney: I will never forget watching Neil Armstrong take those first steps on the moon. Ann and I watched together on her parents' sofa. Like all Americans, we went to bed knowing we lived in the greatest country in the history of the world.
TV Guide Magazine: Is there a sporting event that is appointment viewing for you?
Romney: I love all of Boston's legendary teams: the Red Sox, Patriots, Bruins and Celtics. And, every two years, we are glued to the Olympics. Our experience with the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics was a special time. It is inspiring to see the commitment and talent of the young athletes who compete from across the globe.
TV Guide Magazine: What devices other than a conventional TV do you and Ann use to watch a program or movie?
Romney: We always have our iPads and iPhones on the campaign trail.
TV Guide Magazine: Who is in charge of programming the DVR in the Romney home?
Romney: I program the DVR to record whatever Ann tells me we are going to watch!
TV Guide Magazine: Who decided what the Romney children watched when they were growing up?
Romney: Ann and I usually encouraged the boys to spend their time outside playing. When, they did watch television, they loved watching sports, Magnum P.I., The Cosby Show, Seinfeld and Cheers, to name a few. And, when they were much younger, they loved Transformers. It was always fun to watch with them.


text:
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text:
This week, Eurocopter's X3 high-speed helicopter demonstrator wraps up its U.S. tour with a stop in Washington for military-customer demo flights from Fort Belvoir and a static display at the Pentagon on Thursday (July 26).
All photos: Mike Hirschberg, AHS
EADS North America is pushing the compound-helicopter's military potential and Steve Mundt, VP of business development and a former head of U.S. Army aviation, says the company is "very, very interested" in the Pentagon's Future Vertical Lift (FVL) initiative to replace the U.S. military's helicopters with a family of advanced rotorcraft beginning in 2030.
The X3 clearly offers more speed than a conventional helicopter—it has reached 232 kt. in level flight and 242 kt. in a dive—that's 50% faster than a conventional helicopter using just 80% of available power—but the U.S. military has been interested in speed before, and always ended up with conventional helicopters cruising around 150 kt.
The reason, says Mundt, is that more speed and range is great, but you still need to be able to maneuver with the agility of a helicopter when you get there. Especially when, as FVL plans, you are replacing the AH-64, AH/UH-1, UH-60 and MH-60. And the X3 can do it, he says, because it has a conventional helicopter main rotor to which are added two variable-pitch props at the ends of short wings, all driven from the same main gearbox.
The X3 takes off vertically and hovers like a helicopter, but push forward on the "coolie-hat" thumb switch on the collective lever and prop pitch increases, the helicopter accelerates into forward flight and flies—and climbs—like a fixed-wing turboprop. Subscribers who want to know how the X3 flies can read Doug Nelms' pilot report in the July 9 AW&ST.
Mundt sees military value in the X3's ability not only to accelerate and decelerate in a level attitude, but to point the nose up or down in flight to improve target tracking. Also, the props can be used to slow the aircraft in a dive— an ability to "hang" over the target that Sikorsky also claims for its X2 Raider coaxial-rotor compound helicopter.
But what about those big props? Are they vulnerable? No more than a tailrotor, Mundt says, and the X3 can fly with just one prop working. Do they get in the way? Yes, says Mundt, but only if you think in terms of loading and unloading through side doors."We need to change mentally. If we raise the tail and fit clamshell doors, troops can get in and out faster." The X3's ability to point its nose up or down also helps align the fuselage with the ground for slope landings, something a conventional helicopter can't do, he says.
The X3 is a technology demonstrator for something Eurocopter calls the H3—High-speed long-range Hybrid Helicopter—a concept that is scalable from 6 tonnes gross weight to "much more" than 14 tonnes, says Mundt. "We think it can replace the V-22 under FVL, where the desire of the DoD is to go for as much commonality as it can [across its fleet of rotorcraft]," he says.


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text:
|Home > International Air, Space & Water
|Some of the earliest international law arose from nations' use of international waters. When people gained the technology to explore and exploit air and space, as well as new water resources such as seabeds, they recognized the need for legal regimes to govern these resources. This section of EISIL highlights important instruments and web resources for researching the law of space, air, and the Arctic and Antarctic regions. It also includes resources on water law: maritime (navigation and shipping); oceans; international rivers, lakes, groundwater and wetlands. See also the International Environmental Law section of EISIL.


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By Chris Rhatigan
He succeeds on both accounts in Genuinely Dangerous.
From reading his work, I assumed one of his other goals would be "to be balls-out all the time."
This book is one blazing motherfucking ride.
As soon as I finished reading it on my Kindle I looked up how many pages it was. Turns out it clocks in at a few over 300. I thought it was more like 500. Not because it felt long, but because there's so much action and insanity packed into those pages.
Here's the jist: Jasper is a movie producer. Or was a movie producer until his second feature flopped big time. Now he's drowning himself in KFC, anonymous sex, and free-flowing booze. Until he sees that childhood "friend" and trendy Hollywood all-star Wilson Gaines is making a fucking documentary about his failure.
His solution is simple: He's going to make his own documentary in which he's embedded with a group of bank robbers. It's bound to be a hit. Can't miss.
But instead of a "crew" of bank robbers, he falls in with an inbred tribe of psychopaths.
McCrary's first book, Remo Went Rogue, is in my opinion a modern crime classic and one of the funniest, darkest trips around. I was delighted to see that Remo makes a brief (but memorable and perfect) cameo here.
Genuinely Dangerous somehow has more action than Remo--and McCrary does this stuff better than anyone. It's intense, brutal, and funny at the same time.
Yet that's not why the book is great (though it certainly doesn't hurt). The book is great because Jasper is a fascinating character. A self-obsessed fuckstick who goes on this bizarre, substance-fueled quest to impress a girl. He's weirdly self-aware while being delusional and ego-maniacal. His desperation to make this movie will take him down some paths that can only be described as, well, genuinely dangerous.
The bottom line is that those boring Patterson and Lee Child books should on the airport shelves should be replaced by books like this one. Buy it, read it, love it.


text:
The Goodman 3 Ton 14 SEER Air conditioner system is a cooling unit, however, can also provide heat when a heater coil is added to it. The system provides you with efficient cooling with low energy consumption because of 14 SEER rating. The R-410 a cooling refrigerant ensures the ozone layer of the room and house is protected providing you with safe environment. The Goodman GPC1436H41 air conditioner is ideal for rooftop and ground level mounting. Also, it can be used for modular or manufactured homes. This is a self contained packaged unit that only requires return and supply ducts, drain connection and low voltage wiring as extra installations.
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Air Conditioner Brochure | Air Conditioner Specifications | Installation Instructions
- Item #: GPC1436H41
- Manufacturer's Product Number: GPC1436H41**
- Condition: New


text:
You are not logged in.
This is the main forum for the Arabic Team, although this description should be in both Arabic & English.
This section is for new comers to introduce themselves or ask questions.
هذا القسم للأعضاء الجدد لتقديم أنفسهم أو لطرح الأسئله
If you do not receive a reply (within a few days), PM Ray for guidance. It also means that you have an opportunity to help build up the team by attracting more people to help you. ;)
By Ray (Jan 21st 2019, 1:30am)
This is the board for managing all of the translation projects within our care. Before starting, it is imperative that members fully understand the LingTeam Guidelines, which outlines our approach to producing professional results across all language team efforts. Any questions that cannot be fully answered by the team should be asked in the relevant Help Desk section of the forum. We're all here to help each other.
If your language does not yet have a dedicated Language Coordinator and you wish to get started on a project, PM Ray for assistance in getting yourself set up.
[Arabic Proofreading 1] The Venus Project Press Kit
By Ray (Sep 6th 2019, 12:14pm)
This is the goal for everything that requires the focus of the Arabic Language Team. Once any item is fully proofread to the satisfaction of all members involved and delivered to its various Distribution Channels, its thread should be relocated here to allow people to locate them quickly. If an item needs to be reopened for any reason, it should be moved back to the Current Projects section.
[Arabic Published] The Choice is Ours (2016) Full Version
By Ray (Dec 7th 2015, 11:56am)
Projects that have expired are moved to this board to help keep the master "Current Projects" board less confusing.
By nomada (Apr 23rd 2013, 8:12am)
There are no threads available in this forum.
0 threads - 0 posts (0 posts per day)


text:
Sweeteners and Sugar Alternatives in Food Technology
Helen Mitchell
Wiley, Apr 15, 2008 - Technology & Engineering - 432 pages
Sugar replacement in food and beverage manufacture no longer has just an economic benefit. The use of ingredients to improve the nutritional status of a food product is now one of the major driving forces in new product development. It is therefore important, as options for sugar replacement continue to increase, that expert knowledge and information in this area is readily available.
Sweeteners and Sugar Alternatives in Food Technology provides the information required for sweetening and functional solutions, enabling manufacturers to produce processed foods that not only taste and perform as well as sugar-based products, but also offer consumer benefits such as calorie reduction, dental health benefits, digestive health benefits and improvements in long term disease risk through strategies such as dietary glycaemic control. Part I of this comprehensive book addresses these health and nutritional considerations. Part II covers non-nutritive, high-intensity sweeteners, providing insights into blending opportunities for qualitative and quantitative sweetness improvement as well as exhaustive application opportunities. Part III deals with reduced calorie bulk sweeteners, which offer bulk with fewer calories than sugar, and includes both the commercially successful polyols as well as tagatose, an emerging functional bulk sweetener. Part IV looks at the less well-established sweeteners that do not conform in all respects to what may be considered to be standard sweetening properties. Finally, Part V examines bulking agents and multifunctional ingredients. Summary tables at the end of each section provide valuable, concentrated data on each of the sweeteners covered. The book is directed at food scientists and technologists as well as ingredients suppliers.


text:
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text:
Tweeaction to Halladay deal
As we close in on midnight here, it is sounding more and more like the Blue Jays will be receiving prized pitching prospect Kyle Drabek, stud outfield prospect Michael Taylor and catching prospect Travis d'Arnaud from the Phillies in exchance for Roy Halladay. With that in mind I posted this question on Twitter:
Here are some of the early reactions:
@jonah_n Still think it's not enough; Aumont should be coming to Toronto.
@TOSportsFever it is what they wanted in the summer. A future ace and a potential star player in Taylor. Pretty good for a pending FA
@Raypold It's a good package but if thats all we get i would be dissapointed. Hopefully Seattle adds some. Was really hoping for Brown
@MatthewKlekner good deal if it's Drabek. Not as much if it's JA Happ.
@Uforseen could use 1 or 2 more guys. Are any of those folks gonna play in majors next year? I'd like one person from the deal to cheer for
@Pagal4321 Seems like a rip-off to me. But then again, so would any deal. Love the Doc!
@drewkuntze I like the deal, D'Arnaud provides Arencibia with competition, Taylor a future cleanup hitter, Drakek a top of the rotation guy
@DarrylSalach not enough. The Jays will need the top 3 prospects from the Phillies and the top 3 prospects from the Mariners to make the deal.
@allllllllllllly it bores me
@AFJaysFan I like that AA is making some bold moves to try to make the Jays competitive in the East but I still hate to see Doc go
@mainevent360 Missing a Seattle prospect to T.O. otherwise there would be no need for this to be a three-way trade. Regardless I'm pleased.
@eric_epp I woulda been happy with that at the deadline. now? AA is a genious!
@hughgas better than Mike Sirotka
@steveconelley I'd rather get Saunders in there somewhere.
@talkinghomer I considered myself a HUGE Halladay fan. The deal had to be done though, and I'm glad they got they got 2 Top 50 prospects.
@OneToolPlayer Brutal. At least 1 of Brown or Saunders or I'm unhappy.
@sboulton Don't know D'Arnaud well but, unless he's a stud prospect, it's not enough of a return for Doc
@aaroningram99 that list is better then any offer/rumour they got in July other than the rumored redsox deal Better then Indians Lee Deal
@ilanbaron good job AA , don't think J.P could pull it off.
@CutlersBarber Pretty solid. Thank god JP didn't trade him in July for the Happ, Donald, etc. poop platter.
@JaysFans15 No matter who we get back still can't get over the fact the Doc is gone, seems childish and whiny. The truth hurts
41 Comments
What's not to like, we get 2 future potential all-stars with Taylor and Drabek and our good Dr. gets a deserving shot at a ring.
Taylor is a 5 tool outfielder with huge power potential, with speed and a high enough obp (.395) that he could be a lead off hitter. Imagine a 6'6″, 250 pound guy who stole 21 bases in 116 games.
Drabek could arguably be one of the top pitching prospects in baseball and both these kids could be in Toronto before the end of 2010. Both should be high impact players. D'Arnaud is a toss in, but could still develop. Considering the fall our rate on draft prospects, getting these two kids is like 10-12 draft picks, assuming you draft well.
An interview with Drabek: http://phillies.fandome.com/video/114321/An-Interview-With-The-Untradeable-Kyle-Drabek/
What isn't being said yet, is how flexible Doc was in agreeing to a 3 year extension at $20 mill per year, proving once again what a class act he is. He could have just sat the year out and got 3-4 years at $25 per year-no doubt, or he could have pressed the Phillies for 4-5 years instead of 3 which would probably have risked the deal.
He deserves a shot at a ring, I really hope he gets it. I for one will be watching and cheering for the Phillies next year as well as teh Jays and really wish him well.
There is one additional point and that is about Travis D'Arnaud. Point is this 20 year old hit 13 home runs in 126 games in A+ ball so he might not be as much of a "throw in" as I thought earlier. At second glance, I lke this kid.
I am really liking this deal, well done Alex.
Folks, if we get this package, we should be very happy. Griffin is reporting a package that is strong on Canadian content, but weak on quality. There are non blue-chip prospects in his package. I am going to keep my fingers crossed, and hope that we get the package reported by Jordan. I have done a little research of my own on D'Arnaud. This kid has the POTENTIAL to match or exceed Arencebia. Again, we should be very happy with this deal, if it is true. Moreover, my hat is off to Antho but especially the Phillies for having the guts to pull off a trade of this magnitude and complexity. Let's hope that Doc wins 20+, the Cy Young, and a WS ring.
My first major thought is that the package is less than the sensational offers we've heard rumours about all along. Keep in mind, none of those packages came to fruition so take them with a grain of salt.
I like this deal better than the rumored package of Aumont, D'arnaud, and Taylor. I consider Drabek to be further along in development and with a slightly higher ceiling. D'arnaud is said to be the 6-7th ranked prospect in the Phillies system. Not bad for the THIRD prospect included. While I would've preferred Dom Brown, Michael Taylor is a 23 year old with decent pop, a high average, and decent speed. I would make one change to the deal…have them include Blanton instead of us paying $6 million. I would rather pay his salary and have him on our staff as a veteran leader. Sure, he might get lit up a little at Rogers centre but he's a bulldog who has pitched in the AL before. He led that rag tag A's staff a couple years back.
Continued at Jays blog: Thoughts and Observations
Some rankings have Taylor ahead of Brown for players currently in the minors.
They both look promising. We don't really know which one will develop better? Brown is younger, and Baseball America chose him as the Top #1 prospect in the Phillies system last year, so there is something to be said for that. Taylor is definately more 'big-league' ready, as he has succeeded at 3 levels in the minors so far.
Drabek might take some more time, but who am I kidding? This is the team that called up Brett Cecil in early-May last year.
As for the deal, I definately like that we got two guys that can potentially make an impact. Taylor and Drabek are top guys in the minors right now. If d'Arnaud excels then Alex will get my praise, but I don't see him any better than a long list of minor-league catchers. I'd have to say that this is about what I expected we'd get for Halladay at this point. If we would have waited till the deadline this season, we might have only gotten one of those guys. The rebuilding process begins again. Hopefully Vernon Wells will be gone by the time we finish. Too bad we had to give up 6MM in the deal! Halladay was the best! I can't wait to see him 'tear apart' the NL! That said, I hope we meet him in a World Series 'down the road.' Down the LONG road. Don't worry I'm not on drugs.
welikeroy , If Jays trade Taylor for Wallace it just adds insult to the injury .
The Jays are now rumour to be swaping Michael Taylor to Oakland for 3B prospect Brett Wallace. Similar hitting prospects, but Wallace might not be adequate defensively at 3B I hear?
The trade rumours/activity so far is blowin my freakin mind!
The fact we are paying 6 mil of Doc's contract and receiving 3 prospects doesn't make AA shine in my eyes. Phillies are getting the best of this deal , they get Halladay , 2 prospects from Seattle and 6 million dollars …..Jays are getting screwed
If Jays are paying 6 mil for Doc to leave, then I would rather keep Doc and let him work with the Jays' young pitchers and take the 2 draft picks .
welikeroy-If that's the case there's another trade coming for EE. Wallace is ready to play at the mlb level now and looks like a great 3rd base prospect.
Naked-Are you joking? We get two impact level prospects and possibly 3. Check out the prospects the Phillies are getting, it's not about quantity its about quality.
Don't you realize that less than 1 of 10 draftees become impact players at the mlb level. Keeping Doc for 2 draft choices, when we can get two prospects that could both be at the MLB in 2010 is insanity.
Or Wallace plays 1st base…..
I am far from joking . As you put it 1/10 of players make an impact in the majors so why would you think 3 prospects we get for Halladay are all going to be studs . I know its about quality but the fact we are getting 3 prospects and paying part of doc's salary is a joke
I did checkout the prospects , Drabek has already had TJ surgery and that doesn't always mean a good thing . They are prospects . The 2 potential prospects Seattle will be sending to Phillie are both high as well , a pitcher and an OF who is very speedy on the base path but they are just propects also . If this deal goes down like this , it is saying Lee is worth more than Doc and to me that is just wrong
No, what is a joke is your suggestion to keep Halladay for the two draft choices, when in fact the chances of actually drafting prospects like this is less than 1 in 10 and 4 years to find out.
Actually, what I sad about these kids is they all look like great prospects, never did call them all studs-but I do think they can be impact players at this level.
Frankly, I'm pleased Drabek has already had TJ surgery and recovered very nicely from it. To me that's an advantage not an obstacle, Does Marcum, Ryan and Litsch ring a bell??????????
"If this deal goes down like this , it is saying Lee is worth more than Doc and to me that is just wrong." For the life of me, I don't understand your logic on this statement. Why does it matter to you what Seattle got, what should matter is we got 3 great prospects,.
Just because I don't agree with you doesn't give you a reason to attack me . You are entitled to your opinion as am I .
welikeroy , It's the money part that I object to , Halladay plus 6-7 mil ( 6.75 difference in Halladay and lee's salary ) for 3 prospects just seems like the Jays are getting the short end here
Of course, everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I'm not attacking you, I'm simply trying to point out why I think your opinion is wrong.
Wallace is younger by a year, and being picked in the first round, he was a lot more highly touted then Taylor was. People knew Wallace could wrake from the time he was drafted, Taylor not so much. Making this deal, Jays scouting, Antho and the organization must be 'incredibly sold' on Wallace. There are setting themselves up for scrutiny if Taylor outplays Wallace, though. Both guys definately have intriguing offensive potential. They are beside each other on a lot prospect rankings. I worry about what we are going to do with Wallace positionally? I thought Lind might convert to 1B? Seems Overbay is going to be out? Also, seems like OF might be more of a positional need for us right now. Jays scouts might thrust 3B upon Wallace, even though scouts report that he struggles there?
The 6 million I didn't like, because it is unfair. The Phillies will be devasting with Halladay, regardless of the money. I really don't like that money included in the deal. As far as the players coming our way, they are much better than picks. Drabek and Taylor are far and away better than anyone we have in our system currently. These are Top 25 minor-league-prospects, and they don't grow on trees. I think we got fair value for Halladay, at this point, except for the 6MM! You'd have a hard time convincing me that that HAD to be included in the deal.
For sure both Taylor and Wallace were both scouted. It could be Wallace moves to 1st base instead of 3rd. From the reports I saw, Wallace has what the scouts called a "bad body" which would put him at 1st instead of 3rd. It could also be that Taylor for Wallace is part of another block buster. I suspect we need to wait till that trade is announced to see all the pieces.
Of course, I can't convince you on the 6 mill. because we haven't had confirmation it is true, who pays who and why.
My screen name has to change. How bout welikewallace?
The 6 million to me is absolutely a non issue. Imagine if this trade was not made because AA wasn't willing to pay 6 million? He would be a bigger laughing stock than JP was.
I think this deal is good, and fair, and it is more than I thought we'd get for him after JP screwed it all up previously.
I look forward to seeing the new guys come and play, hopefully they all pan out as well as we hope.
Right, gsjays, this deal has already changed about like 5 times over the course of 12 hours.
It might be that the Halladay wasn't traded at all! It was just a 'figure of the MLB's imagination' that got lost in the space-time continum? Just joking. I hope it goes. We made off with 2 top prospects for a guy that wasn't staying here after 2010. Bottom line, regardless of the cash.
My thought process is that the the Phillies are getting Roy Halladay, and they didn't need that 6Mil included. We are essentially having to sign one of these prospects to a 6 million-dollar-deal with this. If you go by that logic. I'm glad the deal is done too, and am happy with the result. The 6mil is just an annoyance to me.
I believe Keith Law mentioned that if the Jays get wallace they will look to move Overbay so it could be that Wallace gets a shot at first. Where does that leave Dopirak though ? Are they not confident in him ?
You guys obviously know these prospects better than I, so i'm wondering who's more major league ready ? based on what i've heard either Taylor or Wallace can play as soon as 2010 and Drabek might have to wait until 2011 ?
welikeroywelikeroy, put the $6 mil in perspective. If Doc had walked, we would have 2 draft picks, which may have been pushed back to the 2nd or 3rd round, as it was for Burnett, and who would stand a 50-50 chance of even having a cup of coffee in the majors. Instead, we get Drabek and Taylor, 2 quality prospects near the top of the minors, that have the ability to impact the club in the next year or 2. Then they send $6 mil to Philly for Travis d'Arnaud, a first round draft pick with 3 years of minor league time behind him. That's pretty much the signing bonus the Jays will pay their first round picks if they want to sign them next year. IMHO, that's way better than letting Doc walk. Looks like our AA can deal a bit!
Drabek pitched 158 innings in 2009, so it looks to me like the Phillies stretched him out pretty well after his 2008 TJ surgery. 96.1 of those innings were in AA so I expect he'll either start in AA with a quick promotion to AAA or start in AAA at the start of the season dependent on what the scouts tell Alex. He might be a September call up, but I do not really see him here full time until 2011.
Michael Taylor only played 30 games at AAA this season, so he would start there and probably be a mid year call up. Wallace played 108 games in AAA last year, so I think he could be ready to go, but that will also depend on the position he plays. If we turn him into a 1st base guy, I'd expect he starts in AAA till mid year, if he plays 3rd base, I think he go north from spring training.
Boys, there is no need for heated debate! Just one week ago, it did not look like we were going to get anything for Roy, except 2 draft picks once he left. Now we are enjoying ourselves talking about the pluses and minuses of various, highly-touted prospects. Let's enjoy this while it lasts. Some of us have waited a long time to see this type of movement in the organization. Without seeming corney, we have a lot to be thankful for. None of this would have been possible if it were left up to the Sox or Yanks. We should post at the philly site, if we haven't, and congratulate their organization on having the guts to pull off such a move. Antho also deserves credit for having the imagination and skill to pull off such a move. This is really a great day in Blue Jay land, so enjoy!!!
Burt-yep it's like an early Xmas present.
This seems like the best offer, of all the "offers" AA had for Doc, It's good he will get his chance to win the WS, but I wish he would have been able to do this as a blue jay, We can all thank JP for that.
andrew-draft picks cannot be traded in baseball,but I also think there's more to come.
Like all deals there are some pros & cons…
Pro – B/c the Jays have the WORST RATED farm system in all of baseball, these 3 players instantly become the 3 top prospects in their system.
Con – $6MM will hurt.
Pro – The Jays got a much better set of prospects than the Phillies did.
Con – The Tigers got a much better set of prospects for Granderson than the Jays got for Halladay even though Halladay is a much better player than Granderson.
Pro – AA got what he said he was looking for SP, OF, C.
Con – AA should have been looking for ****.
Pro – AA got a much better deal than JP would have.
Con – The offer that T-Bay was rumoured to be dangling of Upton & Davis would be much nicer.
That's it so far, but it seems like AA may have a few more tricks up his sleeve with the A's and Pirates and possibly more. So, I'll try and be less judge-mental until I see the whole plan. I still think that there is more to this deal. Possibly draft pick(s) and/or prospects from Seatle coming to Toronto.
By the way, the **** should read a shortstop. Apparently "the man" censored me b/c using a before the abbreviation for shortstop (SS) is too close to a swear word.
yurouttahere – I put Halladay on a pedistal unlike some you I guess? Two top prospects like Taylor and Drabek seems to be 'fair value' for him, in my mind. He is the best pitcher in the game! Getting anything for Halladay at this point is great, and I'm glad about that. AA deserves a lot of credit for coming up with this result, and simply playing the market. Recently, we've heard a lot of rumours with some very good prospect names being thrown about. Not liking that 6MM was involved is only a small knock on AA. The prospects involved in the deals are excellent!
Back to the 6mil. On the face of it, the Jays, who are considered a low-to-mid-market team, are giving up 6 mill to a high-market team that has reaped the finanical benefit of 2 World Series seasons the last two years? It doesn't seem right to me. But, I guess it had to be done, and like I said, the resulting trade is a good one for the Jays.
If the 6MM was only thing holding up the deal, and we know that it was with Cliff Lee involved, then yes, I would definately still go through with it. I realize that you can't put a price on MLB ready talent for draft picks, even though I never made that argument to begin with. I think it was someone else?
I'm really happy about Wallace because it is well known that this kid can wrake! He did it everywhere he played last season, but he spent the majority of the time in AAA with the Cardinals and A's teams. Oakland aquiring Jake Fox a while ago probably tilted the deal, as Wallace was backed up by Fox in the organization. Good deal for both sides, Oakland didn't need another 1B. The Jays, in my opinion, could use help at both CI spots. The A's, with the addition of Fox, who I think can seriously hit in MLB (much like Ruiz after spending most his time in the minors) will be also getting Taylor to star in their outfield.
Scouting report on Wallace: A pure hitter from the left side, he has good plate discipline and the ability to hit for average and power. ?A good athlete stuck in a bad body? is the perfect phrase for him as he?s more athletic defensively than people anticipated. He showed he may be able to stick at third as long as he watches his conditioning.
Upside potential: An All-Star-caliber bat at third base, he?ll never win a Gold Glove, but he can stay at the hot corner and his bat will play in the big leagues soon.
***With Wallace, Lind and Snider, it looks to me like we could be set with 3 very strong left handed power hitters for years to come.
First post here this off-season, Gsjays, i like your optimism about snider lind and wallace, but as we've seen already with snider, the jump from minors to the majors is far from easy. I looked over Wallace's numbers and apart from average (approx. .309 if i remember correct) none of his stats really wowed me. I realize he's young, and the power numbers are hard to project, but if most scouts already say he can't play third, whats so great about a 1st baseman that can't hit for power? And the result is another Lyle Overbay, I pray I'm wrong, but I like this Michael Taylor alot more from what I can see, and I admit what I've seen is statistics.
First post here this off-season, Gsjays, i like your optimism about snider lind and wallace, but as we've seen already with snider, the jump from minors to the majors is far from easy. I looked over Wallace's numbers and apart from average (approx. .309 if i remember correct) none of his stats really wowed me. I realize he's young, and the power numbers are hard to project, but if most scouts already say he can't play third, whats so great about a 1st baseman that can't hit for power? And the result is another Lyle Overbay, I pray I'm wrong, but I like this Michael Taylor alot more from what I can see, and I admit what I've seen is statistics.
?A good athlete stuck in a bad body?…with power potential. Can we liken him to a Lance Berkman (except worse range defensively?) I realize Wallace may have more power potential, but I personally might have gone with Taylor. Based on position alone, we don't need another poor fielding hitter, anywhere on the diamond. I would've rather had the athletic player with a little speed. Either of Lind/Snider could probably pick up 1B. If Double A really wanted an IF, he should have acquired a middle infielder (Truinfel from SEA?)…possibly instead of a catcher? I thought all along they were targeting either a young catcher already established (Napoli), or a star that was almost here (Montero). While I trust Double A's judgement towards D'arnaud's potential, I think acquiring a catcher who is even further along than Arencibia + Jeroloman (while prudent planning) might not have been the best plan for the immediate building future (1-3 years). Most Jays fans are on board with rebuilding (or "building"), but only with the thinking that this team could be competitive with all those building pieces within a couple of years and stay competitive. I wholeheartedly agree with his philosophy to restock the farm system…but we also don't want to replay Ricciardi's early years (or Billy Beane's lifetime) by constantly trading for youngsters at every given moment. Otherwise, what's the point of developing youngsters?
okgojays-That scouting report I posted came from MLB.com. From what I've seen on Wallace, he can play 3rd base, not as good as Rolen, but he can play 3rd base providing he keeps his conditioning up. I mean this guy has massive legs. Take another look at his numbers and remember he's only played 192 games and 734 at bats of pro ball. In other words he's been rushed to the majors and has hit for average and power at each stop-as a 22 year old. He has also been called the best overall hitting prospect of his draft year.
I expect he'll need some adjustment time when he gets here just like every kid does, but I also expect he'll be capable of hitting 25-35 hr's per year in the not too distant future.
I liked Taylor as well and wish we could have gotten him along with Wallace. On the other hand, I'm sure there's a good reason why Alex did this deal and I don't think Alex is finished for the season either.
Don't get Taylor for Wallace – Lind is suited for 1B, Taylor could have taken over in the field. Seems to create a logjam. We'll see how it pans out.


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Tangerine Infused Oil Recipes
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Roasted Beet and Corn Salad with Tangerine Vinaigrette
10.18.09 by Jackie
I love beets. They have a wonderful sweetness and texture. I sometimes cook beets into hot dishes, but my favorite way to enjoy beets is in a simple salad. For this particular recipe, I paired the beets with a tangerine vinaigrette with tangerine-infused oil and tangerine juice. The vinaigrette brightens the flavor of the dish and acts as a nice complement to the flavor of the beets. I also added corn to create a contrast of texture and color. The result is a salad with some very bold flavors.
Full Recipe...


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You and your doctor will create an asthma action plan. This is a plan you will follow to help control your asthma and handle asthma attacks. Medications and lifestyle changes are the mainstay of asthma treatment. Alternative and complementary therapies are also under investigation to determine whether they may play a role in treatment, as well.
The goals of treatment are:
- Relieve acute symptoms and prevent complications, such as infections
- Reduce underlying inflammation
- Remove or control triggers
- Prevent future exacerbations
- Not to let asthma interfer with your life
Treatment involves the following:Lifestyle changesMedicationsOther treatmentsAlternative and complementary treatments
At this time, there are no surgical procedures for the treatment of asthma.
When to Contact Your Doctor
Stay in contact with your doctor between visits, especially if your symptoms are changing. Whether you stay in contact over the phone, through email, or through your doctor's website, good communication can help you stay out of the hospital and have better control of your asthma.
If you are having a mild to moderate asthma attack and your medication does not work in the time it is supposed to, call your doctor. If you are having a severe asthma attack, take your asthma medication and get emergency medical help right away.
Revision Information
- Reviewer: EBSCO Medical Review Board Michael Woods, MD, FAAP
- Review Date: 09/2018 -
- Update Date: 08/14/2015 -


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I happened to watch the trailer of the upcoming Disney musical "Into the Woods" recently:
Notice anything peculiar? Everyone is white. It's a large ensemble cast of white people. (Scan through the cast on IMDB for more.) I wonder if this occurred to the people making the film. Did Meryl Streep and Anna Kendrick (who I'm guessing are liberals) exchange glances during the shoot and say "Hey Meryl/Anna, how come everyone here is white?"


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I am trying to install Ubuntu/Fedora 64 bit versions on my machine and they shout back saying my CPU does not support x86_64 bit architecture and forces me to use i686 versions.
I am currently running Windows 7 64 bit version on my laptop. The processor is : Intel Centrino Core 2 Duo CPU T6500 @ 2.10 GHz
I am hoping this is the right place to ask this question. Why is it that even though I have a 64 bit CPU, I am unable to install Linux 64 bit OS?


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A woman who lost her partner in last August's stage collapse at the Indiana State Fair said Wednesday she feels "angry" and "let down" by the contention that she and other Sugarland fans are partly to blame for their injuries.
"I've been dealing with emotions of losing my partner and then to have them come back and say it's my fault. It's my fault that she died, really?" said a tearful Beth Urschell, hours after attorneys from the country duo Sugarland said fans share some of the blame.
Urschell, 49, and her life partner, Tammy Van Dam, 42, were among 12,000 other fans at the Aug. 13, 2011, concert when a massive storm struck and blew over the temporary staging. The crush of equipment broke Urschell's clavicle, severed her toe and lacerated her kidney.
Van Dam was among seven people killed.
Survivors, like Urschell, and families of those killed have filed a civil suit alleging negligence by Sugarland, producers and stage riggers. But Sugarland's attorneys say fans should have done more to ensure their own safety, adding that the collapse was an "act of God" and that fans voluntarily assumed risk of injury by attending.
But the plaintiffs' lawyer Kenneth J. Allen says that's nonsense and argues that when the storm was certain to hit the stage, band members were more concerned with finishing the show and moving on to the next one in Iowa City.
"They convinced 12,000 people that despite the appearance [of threatening weather], it was safe. The band was going to perform. The show was going to go on," said Allen.


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What is the OPC position on renewing your marriage vows?
The OPC, in so far as I know, does not take a position on renewing one's marriage vows. Here are some thoughts to help you in your thinking:
1. My wife and I renewed our marriage vows on our 25th anniversary a few years ago. We did it to declare to our children, the church, and especially to the Lord that we had not changed from the commitments we had made in 1971. In fact, we meant them more than ever! After 25 years we realized that the Lord had so worked in our lives that we, though knowing much more about each other than when we got married including one another's failures, weaknesses, and faults, remained and had even grown, in our desire to love each other and share our lives as we got older.
2. Think through the reason you want to renew your vows. Is it simply sentiment or emotion, or is there something deeper? Would you be doing it primarily to draw attention to yourselves, or as a testimony of your commitment to Christ and to one another as a means for glorifying God who brought you together in marriage?
If it were to be an excuse to get the family together, to just enjoy some good things, that would be, to me, a questionable reason for having a ceremony of renewing your vows. If, however, you see a true spiritual purpose in it, and you aim to honor a faithful God, then it could be appropriate. Remember that God warns us about taking vows that we do not mean (Ecclesiastes 5:2, Matthew 12:34-37)
3. It can be an occasion to examine one's marriage, to see ways in which things have gone well, and ways in which it hasn't been so good. If people just do renewal ceremonies which do not actually strengthen their marriages, then the point has been missed.
If you originally used the traditional wedding vows, have you kept them? Have you in fact cherished one another, for example? If you wrote your own vows, as some people have done, what was good and what was bad about them then? Would you do the same thing today?
How does being older now change your commitment to one another? Could you reflect on the teaching of Ephesians 5:25ff. about marriage and ask God for grace to make your marriage like that pictured by Paul as reflecting the love of Jesus Christ for the church?
4. Finally, I would talk to your pastor about your desire to renew your vows. If it would be a "redo" of your original wedding, then you would want to discuss these things with him and seek to make it more than just a sentimental time, but a time and act which honors God (1 Corinthians 10:31).
"Questions and Answers" is a weekly feature of the OPC website. The answers come from individual ministers in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church expressing their own convictions and do not necessarily represent an "official" position of the Church, especially in areas where the Standards of the Church (the Scriptures and the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms) are silent.
The questions come from individuals like yourself. If you have questions about biblical and theological matters, you are invited to send them by e-mail by using the "Pose a Question" link on the OPC home page or by clicking here.
At least one new question is posted each week, so there should always be something new here for you to read. (For those people who would like to look at previous questions and answers, they will continue to be available as well.)
The purpose of the OPC website's "Questions and Answers" is to respond to biblical and theological questions. Matters of church discipline, disputes, or debates go beyond the scope of our work. We recommend that you present your concerns in these areas to the appropriate judicatory. In most cases this will be to a local pastor, elder, or session. We do not want the website to replace personal involvement in, or commitment to, the local, visible church.
While we will respond to every serious questioner, we are not bound to give a substantive answer to every question, should we deem the question to be beyond the scope of our purpose or our own ability to answer.
You will receive an answer by e-mail. Please be patient as many of our respondents are busy pastors. The response to your question may take up to two (2) weeks. Some of the questions submitted will be chosen to be posted here, along with the corresponding answers.
Note that the "Questions and Answers" posted on the site have been editedall personal references are removed, Scripture references or from some source may be added, and sometimes portions are expandedto make the questions and answers more useful to a larger audience.


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Please read Chapter 29 here:
Chapter 30: Explanations and More Trouble
Nina and Rianne stood in the kitchen preparing a mid-afternoon supper for John's family.
"What are you cooking?" Rianne asked
" Marinated vegetables and baby potatoes. I've got a couple salads I'm working on, a Kale salad and a Chinese Noodle Salad.What kind of chicken did you decide to make?"
"Oh, uh spinach and goat cheese. The goat cheese hides the spinach. It's tasty, and Sam and Eric don't notice the spinach in it."
Nina and Rianne heard Edith gasp in the living room and they turned to observe John from the kitchen island, explaining to Edith, Robert, and his brothers, where he had been the last four-months.
Nina had decided John needed to be alone with his family when he told them what occurred. She wasn't entirely sure what parts of his experiences, John wanted to share and which parts he was keeping to himself. She would ask him tomorrow when they were alone.
Nina filled Rianne in on John's experiences, speaking quietly, her voice not much above a whisper as they chopped fruit for dessert. She knew Rianne would hear about what John said from Jasper on the ride home.
Jasper had brought his two small sons with him and Rianne. Sam and Eric excitedly, hugged their Uncle John when they arrived, nearly catching Uncle John and Aunt Nina half-naked. Nina and John had been quick to adjust their clothes and appear decent. It had been difficult given the time they had been apart.
"We thought you was never coming back." Sam told John. "Grandma said you went to heaven but Rianne said Grandma didn't know. She said you were coming back soon. Right Rianne?"
"Yes, Sam. And I was right wasn't I? Uncle John is home." Sam nodded enthusiastically unwilling to let go of his Uncle. His little arms clung to John's neck and played with the silver chain John wore.
"How come you were gone?" Eric asked. He was the younger brother.
"I was sleeping Eric. I was so so tired. When I woke up I was on a beach and I met a man who helped me come home. Then, this morning I saw your Auntie Nina and she was so pretty and happy to see me. I've never seen her so pleased." John said trying to keep his story simple.
"Did you get the witch?" Sam asked John. John looked at Jasper wondering what he should say.
Jasper chimed in: "She wasn't a witch, only a bad woman. But she's gone right?" Jasper asked staring at John who nodded encouragingly.
"Let's go play in the living room with your trucks. While you play, I can tell the grown-ups what happened in detail." John said cheerfully, he glanced back at Nina tiredly. She knew from his expression he wanted to relax and be alone with her.
Nina, however,knew John's family needed an explanation. They needed to know why it seemed he had come back to life after dying. They needed to see John was alive and touch him for themselves.
Jasper coaxed Sam to let go of his Uncle John and play with a new construction truck with Eric on the living room floor. Edith hugged John hard and kissed both his cheeks. Hear head barely reached the middle of John's chest.
"Nina and Jordan kept saying you'd be back. I didn't believe them. I thought they'd only a wing and a prayer. But you're here and you look amazing. You've a healthy tan and you appear more rested than I have seen you in years. Does this mean your curse is broken and you can be together with Nina now? Will your curse ever effect our family again?" Edith asked, hope in her voice.
"Please Mom, everyone, sit down." John's family surrounded him as he sat on a couch. Nina heard John say, "Yes, the curse is broken. It's why I'm back. As in fairy tales, well almost, Nina and I get to be together now and they'll be more horrible events occurring in my life or yours." Edith squealed and John's Dad, Robert patted him on the back cheerfully.
"Good news son. Very good news. We need to hear the whole story. Everything from the night you left on Jordan's motor boat to go find the dagger in Talise's cave. We've heard what happened from Nina and Jordan. We need to hear your version now and why you let us think you were dead."
John appeared shocked: "I didn't have much choice in the matter, Dad . . ."
Nina returned to chopping fruit in the kitchen. Pulling out an ice cream cake to sit and thaw a bit for dessert. She tuned out John and his family, having heard and talked about that awful night with Talise in the Sirene too often in the last few months.
John's return from the in-between place of life and death had been Nina's and John's conversation topic all day and Nina was sure John's family wouldn't be able to stop talking about what happened to John for many months to come.
Rianne put her chicken into cook in a second oven in John and Nina's kitchen.
"John's place is beautiful Nina. Right on the beach. I have to say it was no hardship visiting you here when you feared John wouldn't come back. Even though I had to do the grocery shopping and the cooking to make sure you ate at first, it was worth it to walk down the beach and watch movies on a giant cinema-like room downstairs."
Nina put her hand on Rianne's arm and squeezed it gently,"I'm sorry I was such a pain. I know I was miserable to be around for months on end. Something inside me always told me to keep having faith and believing. I'm still shocked to be able to say this, but I was right; John came home."
"It sounded like he had to learn a few vital lessons first," Rianne remarked. "From what you told me, it was John who didn't have faith the curse would be broken. He couldn't come home to you unless he believed their was benevolent magic working to break the curse so you too could be a couple and live a normal life."
"Yeah, it's exactly what John told me Norman said to him. I can't believe Norman was the homeless guy who saved you."
"Me neither," said Rianne. "But I think we had God looking out for us. Or He had someone keeping watch over us all in Norman. It's nice to know someone up there cares what goes on in our lives."
"So, what's new with you and Jasper?" Nina remarked changing the subject. Rianne sighed gazing at Nina with sad chocolate brown eyes. They reminded Nina of the eyes of a lab dog begging.
"It's, it's okay – only, when John was missing, it was hard on us. Especially with Sam and Eric. You know how all three Eric brothers are close and have always been. When Jasper thought John was dead, it was as if a piece of himself died with John."
"I don't know how to explain it well, but Jasper's been cold. Really cold. He didn't want me to come over often. Partly, why I ended up staying with you so much was because Jasper didn't want me there. And I would go home and there would be this yawning emptiness in my condo. I couldn't bear it." Rianne said softly. She wasn't a crier but Nina knew her friend was near the point of tears..
"I loved it when you came over Ri. I wish you would've said something about was happening between you and Jasper. I love you and care about you and I want you to tell me what's wrong even when I'm not in the best of places myself." Nina said quietly.
"I know you didn't want to burden me, but it would've helped me keep my mind off John, listening to you and finding a way to help Jasper open-up to you. And I think you would've felt much better too, not keeping this trapped inside."
"Shhhh" Rianne said suddenly. Jasper was staring at Rianne while her and Nina talked and the chicken baked.
"He can't hear us," Nina said.
"I think he knows what I'm talking to you about."
" How could he know. Besides, John's back now. Things will become better between Jasper and you too because he won't be mourning his brother's death." Nina remarked confidently.
"Maybe," Rianne said unconvinced." Death is a tricky subject with Jasper. His first wife, Sam and Eric's mom, died of cancer a few years ago. I don't know if he's ready for a serious relationship with another woman yet. I thought so but now, I'm not so sure."
"But it's been five-years or so hasn't it?"
"I don't know he won't talk about his wife, not at all. I know his boys come first and before that night with Talise, we were practically living together. We were seeing how the boys liked it if I lived with them." Rianne said, tears starting to fall without her being aware of them.
"Now, I wouldn't even consider sleeping over at Jasper's house. It feels as if there's this big angry river between Jasper and I and I don't know how to jump over it or swim through it. I miss playing with Sam and Eric so much."
"It will work out Rianne. It will get better, I know it will." Nina said encouragingly. Rianne sighed, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand and checking the chicken in the oven cooking.
Nina sighed. John and her might have at last found happiness together. But it seemed those closest to them, weren't happy at all. Nina felt awful Rianne hadn't thought she could share her problems with Jasper with her, the past few months. She had been too consumed with thoughts of John and too selfish to be a reliable friend to Rianne.
Nina hugged Rianne after she had taken the chicken out of the oven to let it cool a few moments.
"I'll help you get through this Rianne. You're my best friend and I'd do anything for you. You've helped me so much since I've met John and suffered too much for it. You can stay with John and I as long as you want." Rianne smiled.
"Won't John mind?"
Nina laughed, "he doesn't have a choice, but he doesn't know that yet."
Rianne smiled but Nina could tell her smile was forced. She studied Rianne for a moment as she transferred the chicken into a serving dish. Rianne wasn't saying a great deal of what was going on between her and Jasper, and Nina knew it.
Please Read Chapter 31 here.
©Mandibelle16. (2016) All Rights Reserved.


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Thursday, June 08, 2006
The Other Tea - Oolong
Okay, so we've heard so much about the wonders of green tea and white tea now that we're all just about blue in the face. Then there's black tea, the old tried and true standby.
One tea that doesn't seem to get a whole lot of press is oolong, a tea that, to oversimplify quite a bit, falls somewhere between black and green.
But since we're speaking of oolong tea getting press, we should speak of TeaMuse, Adagio Tea's monthly newsletter. If you cruise on over to the latest edition you'll find an eminently informative article - Oolong Tea: Covering the Basics - by Richard Goodness.
Now, if you ask me, Richard Goodness sounds a little bit like a pseudonym. But you didn't ask me and that's beside the point, so go read the article. It's located here.
While we're at it, here's a brief piece from the archives about oolong tea and here's a review of a few of Adagio's oolong varieties.
Image: Adagio Teas
tea, food, food and drink, oolong, Adagio
Shop for tea at Amazon.com
2 comments:
- Richard said...
Hey, Tea Guy! Thanks for linking to my article. "Richard Goodness" is actually not a pseudonym--it's actually the legal name that I was born with. Which makes it nice, since it's obviously memorable. You've got a great blog--we use it to catch up on some of the tea trends. Keep up the good work!
--Richard Goodness
Customer Service
Adagio Teas
- William I. Lengeman III said...
Well, it certainly seems like an appropriate name. Thanks for the comments.
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PHOENIX (Reuters) - Lawyers will ask a federal judge on Friday to prevent Arizona from denying driver's licenses to young illegal immigrants granted temporary legal status by the federal government in the southwest state's latest court clash over the Obama administration's immigration policies.
Civil rights groups filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Phoenix last November against Arizona Governor Jan Brewer and two state transport department officials on behalf of five immigrants from Mexico who qualify for deferred deportation status under President Barack Obama's program.
The suit challenges the legality of an executive order issued by Brewer in August that denied young migrants licenses, saying that the federal government program did not give them lawful status or entitle them to public benefits.
The lawyers say that Brewer's order is preempted by the federal government's authority to regulate immigration and violates the constitutional rights of the plaintiffs. They will seek to have the measure enjoined while the case is pending.
"We want the judge to block the governor ... from continuing to discriminate against these students," said Victor Viramontes, national senior counsel for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, one of the groups that brought the suit.
The court battle is the latest for Brewer, a Republican who has become a major antagonist of Obama's Democratic administration and its immigration policies.
About 40 states and the District of Columbia have confirmed that they are granting driver's licenses or plan to do so for undocumented youths who received a short-term reprieve from Obama under the program in June.
While Republicans in some states have opposed drivers licenses for illegal immigrants, only Arizona and Nebraska have said outright that young immigrants are not eligible.
Under Obama's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, immigrants who came to the United States as children and meet certain other criteria can apply for a work permit for a renewable period of two years. They also can obtain Social Security numbers.
An estimated 1.7 million youths are potentially eligible for the program, of whom about 80,000 live in Arizona. As of mid-February, about 200,000 applicants nationwide been granted deferred action, according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
They are considered to be lawfully present during that period, although they do not have full legal status. But Brewer maintained that the president's policy did not "confer upon them any lawful or authorized status and does not entitle them to any additional public benefits."
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This might be a long post but I really need some insight...sometimes it makes me question my own sanity. Every since I was about 10 years old I have had dreams of family members who have passed. For starters, at the age of 10 my second cousin who I never met was murdered. I had a dream where he came to me, I couldn't see his face just a shadow with a bunch of colors behind him. He told me to tell my great-aunt that he was ok and told me to write the addresses down that he gives me because those would be the addresses of the people who were involved with his murder. When I woke up I wrote them down. I called my dad and he had the same dream with the same addresses, my grandmother (his mom) had the same dream same addresses and my great-aunt had the same dream. Long story short my great-aunt went to the police and arrested 3 out of the four people. The fourth committed suicide two weeks later. I didnt have any more experiences until November 2007 when my great-grandfather died. He came to me in a dream just to tell me he was ok. Exactly a year to the day that he died I started experiencing a lot of strange things. I woke up a year to the day that he died with my friend calling me to wake me up. When I opened my bedroom door my surround sound on the tv was blasting. I thought maybe my cat had accidentally hit the remote button and turned it on. The remote controls were in the coffee table drawer and the volume was turned up to 72. I shrugged it off and went on through my day. A couple days later I got home and my dresser drawer was pulled out. I am very OCD about my dresser drawers staying out so I always close them before I leave and shut my bedroom door so the cats aren't in there. I shrugged it off again and thought I was going crazy. The next day I got home and not only was my dresser drawer pulled out but it was laying on the floor upside down with all of my clothes dumped. Nobody was home at the time. A couple weeks later my husband started on nightshift. It was my first night home by myself. I got to sleep at 1am. At 4am on the dot my body woke me up and I was froze..I couldn't move, couldn't think. All of the sudden I heard footsteps walking up our stairs and down the hall. I thought someone broke into my house. I was so afraid to look. When I finally got the courage to move a little bit it would stop. I would stop moving and it would start again. I turned on the light really quick and nothing was there, my security alarm was on. From that moment on I have felt really strange. I am afraid of the dark which I never was. I feel like someone is always watching me. My heart starts to race like I am watching a scary movie. Right after my grandfather died November 2009, I felt a static feeling on my arm like someone was rubbing up and down my arm to give me a sign that he was there. That didn't scare me as much as hearing footsteps down the hallway. I can sense peoples personalities and if I walk into a room I can sense good and bad. My husband told me that I was crazy and that he never had any experiences while being in our house. I have someone that has stayed with us for a couple months. He has never been a believer of spirits until a couple nights ago. He told me he went downstairs to go to the bathroom and he got a really bad cold chill as if someone were standing right behind him. He was so scared that he ran up the stairs and left all the lights on. He told me he knows whatever it was tried to scare him. Please tell me I am not crazy.
New and Need Feedback
Started by Carrie.Smallwood , Jun 28 2010 02:37 PM
2 replies to this topic
Posted 28 June 2010 - 02:37 PM
Posted 13 July 2010 - 03:04 AM
You're not the least bit crazy but you shouldn't be so frightened either. All of your prior experiences seem to have clearly involved family members, I know what that is like as it's a fairly common occurrence in my own family. That said, I would assume someone is just trying to get your attention for whatever reason. Your things getting moved around can be distressing at first but I don't beleive that is malevolent at all. I would try communicating the next time you feel a presence, let them know that you do not understand.
I know a medium of sorts who was once plagued all day by a shadowy figure before she finally shouted "who are you?". This was followed by a loud thump in her pantry that turned out to be a can of green beans, signifying her grandfather. (sounds odd but it makes sense to the family) Stay calm and look for a sign.
I know a medium of sorts who was once plagued all day by a shadowy figure before she finally shouted "who are you?". This was followed by a loud thump in her pantry that turned out to be a can of green beans, signifying her grandfather. (sounds odd but it makes sense to the family) Stay calm and look for a sign.
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Posted 28 July 2010 - 03:59 PM
You might be crazy in some other way - but not about this. All of the things you describe are typical in family spirit communication. The fact that the information about the addresses led to arrests confirms that it is information that doesn't come from either a deluded or confused mind.
No one was trying to confuse you, but someone was trying to get your attention. Don't be frightened, just notice.
There is more to this life than just physical life.
No one was trying to confuse you, but someone was trying to get your attention. Don't be frightened, just notice.
There is more to this life than just physical life.
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