text:
Contact Information
Neptune Society of Northern California - Walnut Creek
1855 Olympic Boulevard, Suite 110
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
Call Now: (925) 944-5100 or (855) 500-6706
Office Hours:
Monday-Friday: 8AM-5PM
Saturday-Sunday: Closed
Our experience with Neptune Society was wonderful. They explained their program clearly, they helped us plan for our uncle's affairs, and they were very professional in all respects.
The Walnut Creek Neptune society did a great job with all arrangements that had been prepaid by my parents for cremation and the SF Bay boat ride for leaving the ashes. Very efficient with both office services and boat ride. The Neptune people on the boat ride were excellent. Thank you.
My parents prepaid their arrangement with Neptune Society while living in Florida. When they moved back to California, I was able to pay a transfer fee and reached out to the Neptune Society of Northern California in Walnut Creek when both my parents passed away five weeks apart in May and July of this year. The best part of this sad and emotional experience is meeting Bari. She was not only professional in her dealings with me. She was also very caring, genuinely kind, and accommodating towards our family's needs. I had siblings and relatives from out of state that did not get the chance to say goodbye to our parents while at the hospital. Bari made it possible for them to see my parents before they got cremated. Bari and her staff also went above and beyond in meeting the scheduled funeral arrangements for my parents when issues with the death certificate came up. Time was of the essence and I must say, Bari's team was working until the very last minute to make our plans happen. We had a beautiful and memorable church service for my parents. Thank you, Bari, for everything that you have done for our family. It is sincerely appreciated!
My mom had prepaid for her services while living in Nevada. When I called to advise them of her change of address they honored her payment even though the charges in California were a little more. When she passed they were there within 2 hours. Kelly was extremely kind, compassionate and patient as I had to bring my 3 yr old great grandson with me for the paperwork. I will be checking into their services for myself and husband as it took so much pressure off my shoulders I would like our passing to be as pressure free for our kids. Wonderful service…wonderful staff!
My mom prepaid her arrangements w/ Neptune and Kelly could not have been more accommodating, sincere and patient. While grieving I've had to deal w/ my own personal problems that prevented my being available REPEATEDLY but Kelly was very understanding and patient re my situation. I also kept changing my mind later on, like deciding to view the cremation, and she made the process easy and smooth. Kelly is top-notch at her job, a genuinely wonderful person. I'll likely sign up w/ Neptune myself and my auntie will likely as well as she was also pleased w/ the services.
Bari was professional, courteous, and went beyond to find out information and relay it to me. My brother's case ended up taking 8 months to complete, and Bari was in contact the whole time. My experience with Neptune was excellent.
My Brother and I received excellent service From Bari. She was very helpful and accommodating. Everything went smoothly.
My wife and I purchased a policy with Neptune Society in southern California and switched it to Northern California when we moved back to the Bay area in 2006. After my wife passed in early September I contacted the Walnut Creek office and was put in touch with Bari Hendershot. Her professionalism and compassion in guiding me through the process were absolutely outstanding. I was provided with all of the information necessary and received what was required to put my dear wife to rest. I highly recommend Bari and the staff at the Walnut Creek Neptune Society office.
My mother and I used the services of the Neptune Society of Walnut Creek when my dad passed away a decade ago and was absolutely amazed at the professional, yet compassionate treatment we received. I required their services again this past year when my beloved mom herself passed, and again their professionalism and compassion shone through. Kelly Wylie was my "go to" person, and was such a remarkable source of not just information, but of comfort as well. She made a difficult and heartbreaking time in my life easier to bear, and I will be forever grateful for that. I give the highest possible recommendation to Neptune Society of Walnut Creek for their exceptional services, organization, and their warmth and compassion.
The service was excellent. Not only was Meghan efficient and professional she also showed compassion and sympathy as she helped us through the process.
My Uncle purchased a policy with Neptune Society for my Dad. I don't know what I would have done without them I recommend EVERYONE to get one to make it easier for the family you leave behind. All the employees were so kind, calm and patient and Kelly Wylie was absolutely WONDERFUL. I just loved her!
My husband passed away at San Ramon Medical Center. It was April 2, 2018, at 7:20 pm. Unable to function at that time, my sister took over and made one call. The Neptune Society took it from there. No hassles or red tape. My husband was picked up within 90 minutes. Kelly Wylie from Neptune called the next morning and that was it. Ashes were ready within two weeks. Everything was handled kindly and efficiently over the phone. Very personal yet very professional. Would highly recommend them.
As a member of the United States Marine Corps and having to deal with many military funeral honors, I was extremely bias and very nervous on how the service would be handled for my veteran grandfather when he passed away. I am currently stationed in North Carolina and although so far away, Kelly Wylie made it seem as though I was right across the street. She made this evolution extremely seamless and as it was a very hard and emotional time for myself, my mother and grandmother, she not only provided sound guidance but moral support and a true sense of genuine compassion. She was an ear to talk to, she was available any time for my family and she kept in contact with us throughout the entire process. This death in our family took a huge toll on all of us, but Kelly really helped pull us through and picked us up together. Words are powerless to express my gratitude. The Neptune Society was absolutely wonderful and the services rendered will never be forgotten.
After a long illness, my father-in-law recently died. We all thought we were prepared but while we had made pre-arrangements with the Neptune Society, we were overwhelmed with grief.
Their staff was so professional and caring it made the experience seamless. Family flew in from around the country. We met at Pier 39. The boat was spotless. The crew remarkable. The service quite lovely.
Thank you so much.
I have nothing but good things to say about the Walnut Creek office in general and Meghan in particular. Mom passed away in the hospital at the age of 96 on a Friday afternoon after an operation the previous day. We had never made any concrete plans, but I knew what she wanted. I called the office that evening and made an appointment for the following Monday. From that point on, everything went as smoothly as possible. I've read some of the negative reviews, and I just can't credit them. There was no hard sell; Meghan simply laid out the options. She was kind, professional, understanding, and efficient. I highly recommend the services of her and her team in Walnut Creek.
Aloha! I live in the middle of the sea and my mother passed away in Contra Costa County in the middle of the night. At 3 am my time I was able to contact Neptune Society and book services and have her taken care of. The ease at which I could do this while thousands of miles away were worth every star of this 5-star review.
Kelly W. helped me pay for the services and get death certificates, all of the things that needed to be done. They prepared my mother's remains and called my brother to pick them up, taking care of every detail.
I highly recommend Neptune Society to any family seeking cremation services. Neptune Society was my mother's request and I'm glad we could make it happen easily. Mahalo!
I would recommend the Neptune Society and Bari in particular. She did an excellent job of explaining the process.
The assistance received by myself and my family was compassionate and heartwarming. Without the help, the process of filling out forms would have been overwhelming. I will always recommend the Neptune Society to my friends. Thank you so much.
I was very impressed with all aspects of their service. They were at all times helpful, compassionate and kind. I would recommend the Neptune Society to anyone
The staff at the Neptune Society was extremely professional in assisting me with the preparations for my uncle's death. They assisted me prior to his death in arranging all the necessary details that we would not have to deal with upon his death. They were compassionate and kept me informed of when the remains and death certificates would be ready. I highly recommend them without any reservation. Their service is outstanding.
The Neptune Society was an excellent resource helping my family navigate the cremation process after my father passed away unexpectedly. Megan was able to answer all our questions, guide us to make informed decisions, and made the process as simple as possible during this difficult time.
My family is grateful we found the Neptune Society and would not hesitate to recommend them those in need of assistance.
Very honest people work at the company. We received an extra attention and understanding of the moment . Jason helped us a lot . Big thanks .
"I just made my pre-arrangements with the Neptune Society, and it's a relief to know that my children will not have to deal with this in the future. I found them to be very professional and prepared to deal with all the required forms at my death. I chose them because I have previously used them when my husband died, and they were respectful of our family's wishes. They did not pressure us in any way. I highly recommend them and the peace of mind that comes from being prepared pre-need." –Patricia D., Pleasant Hill, CA
"I lost my husband about two months ago. The Neptune Society in Walnut Creek took me through every step of the process of what was going to happen next. My heart is still grieving for my husband, but my heart is also so thankful and grateful for my one contact at Neptune, her name is Linda Feldman and I call her my guardian angel. I never had to go in their office, she brought all of the paperwork to me at my home and went over everything with me. I have since set up my pre-arrangements with her because of her fantastic service she provided me. I do not know what I would have done without the Neptune Society of Northern California in Walnut Creek." –J.H., Brentwood, CA
"The weather was gorgeous – the entire family was there and we had a lovely service. The honor and respect that the Neptune Society of Northern California exhibited for my father and the entire family made a difficult time feel magical. From your office all the way through to the Minister and crew on board the boat. Thank you so much for everything."
"Dear Bari and Edd, thank you so much for helping me through this process as smooth as possible. It brought me great comfort to know that he was in good hands. I wear my heart necklace everyday, it brings me great joy knowing that I still have him close to me."
"This world we live in is a better place because of Neptune's staff loyalty and dedication. Thanks so much from our hearts."
"Thank you, Bari! As hard as this process is, I have been blessed with meeting good and kind people like yourself who help me with each step."
"I visited the Neptune Society office in Walnut Creek last week. I wanted to make you aware of your commendable staff. The receptionist was very cordial and helpful. I spoke with one of the team members previous to coming to the office. I had some paperwork to arrange a burial for my Mom and Dad at the National Veterans Cemetery in Dixon. She took care of all the paperwork that needed to be submitted and made a phone call to the Veterans center while I was at the office. Everything was taken care of in the one visit and all I had to do was to figure out a date and call the Dixon cemetery. I know these employees must have a difficult job to service people under the difficult circumstances they are involved in. Thanks for having an admirable group providing exceptional service!"
"Again, I appreciate so much your kindness and professionalism in the handling of Mom's affairs. It was a pleasure and comfort to me and family members for you and all the staff's care that was provided to us. I know when my time comes, you will provide the same to my dear niece."
About Us
Our office is located at Olympic Boulevard in Walnut Creek, near the scenic and hiking trails of Mt. Diablo, Shell Ridge, and Sugar Loaf Open Space. We are open Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM, and closed on weekends.
Since Neptune Society's start in the 1970's, the Walnut Creek location has been one of the largest and most well known offices in this area. We are in the heart of Walnut Creek's downtown area with accessibility to the beautiful Rossmoor/Saranap community as well as being 2 blocks away from access to the 24/680 freeway.
Our Walnut Creek location works closely with local hospices, health organizations and senior communities by participating in fundraising events and informative programs. To learn more about upcoming activities, please contact us at (925) 944-5100.
Take a Virtual Tour of Our Office
Use your mouse to click the arrows in the photo below to move around our office.
Our Services
Veteran Information
Sacramento Valley National Cemetery
5810 Midway Road
Dixon, CA 95620
Our Staff
Bari Hendershot
Funeral Director (FDR #3758)
Bari Hendershot is our Location Manager and Funeral Director. Bari has been with Neptune Society since 2007 and has been the manager of this location since May 2014. Although her collegiate studies covered Art History and Gallery Exhibition, Bari found her unexpected path in the funeral industry and never looked back. She is a member of several senior resource groups in the East Bay as well as the Regional Trainer for new team members within Neptune Society of Northern California.
Bari is a member of SNAP (Senior Networking Area Professionals) and well known point of contact for cremation information with various local hospices and county facilities. We are a frequent sponsor of events through the Pleasant Hill Senior Center and Hospiceof the East Bay.
As Location Manager and Funeral Director, Bari oversees all immediate need accommodations at the Walnut Creek office. Not only does she meet with families alongside her Funeral Counselors, she also makes sure that everything is running smoothly between families, facilities, and fellow offices. After hours, she is a local dance instructor and professional dance artist. Bari loves travel, photography, cooking, and spending her free time with her significant other, their families and two cats.
Sharon Lizotte
Pre-Planning Specialist
Sharon Lizotte is our Pre-Planning Specialist. An avid hiker and kayaker, she enjoys the outdoors and works with a nonprofit organizations that promotes outdoor activities for girls. Prior to Neptune Society of Northern California, she worked in the health care industry.
Cecilia Granados
Pre-Need Specialist
Cecilia Granados began her professional career in the banking industry and currently serves our local community as a Pre-Need Specialist. Cecilia lost her father early in life which is why she feels a calling to ensure families plan now to protect their loved ones later. Her passion for dance has provided her the opportunity to perform, teach, and choreograph for the NBA, Ohlone College, local schools, companies, and performing arts groups throughout the Bay Area.
Linda Feldman
Pre-Need Area Manager
Linda Feldman is a Pre-Need Area Manager for several Bay Area Neptune Society of Northern California locations including Walnut Creek, Oakland, San Francisco, and Belmont. She is privileged to have been helping families with cremation services for the past ten years. A Bay Area native, Linda enjoys spending time with her family, rooting for the local sports teams and enjoying her two imperial Shih tzus, Bella and Squints.
Laura Waal
Pre-Planning Specialist
Laura specializes in helping those who want to make it easier by planning in advance. She enjoys both meeting with people in person as well as giving seminars regarding advanced planning with Neptune Society of Northern California. An East Bay native, Laura worked with the Neptune Society of Northern California over ten years ago to carry out her own father's plan and appreciates how it can ease family strife. Laura loves spending time with her husband, their two 20-something kids, and her golden retriever who she regularly takes to John Muir Medical Center to ease the stress of both patients and staff.
In the Community
Neptune Society of Northern California's Walnut Creek office recently sponsored the Laugh, Love & Learn Senior Resource Fair. Laura Waal, Pre-Need Specialist, and Bari Hendershot, Location Manager, both worked to distribute information to educate seniors on our services and how we can help them plan for the future.
Neptune Society of Northern California, Walnut Creek - The Laugh, Love & Learn Event
May 2017
Neptune Society of Northern California, Walnut Creek - Holiday Party - "A Trip around the Mediterranean"
December 2016
Neptune Society of Northern California, Walnut Creek - Bagel Delivery for Local Officers
October 2016
Neptune Society of Northern California Walnut Creek - Rossmoor Rotary Presentation
June 2016
Root Beer Float Social Donation
June 2016
Neptune Society of Northern California, Walnut Creek - Laugh, Love, Live Senior Event
On May 6, 2016, Neptune Society of Northern California's Walnut Creek office attended the Laugh, Love, Live Senior Event at the Pleasant Hill Senior Center. This is the 4th time this office has participated in this annual event, with a sponsor table as well as an informational booth. The sponsor table can be decorated in any theme. Last year our office created a nautical theme. This year they choose to decorate the booth as an "Elegant Peacock". Bari Hendershot created a beautiful centerpiece and surrounded it in large faux diamonds. Each place setting had a gift box with peacock feathers, chocolate, brochures, pens and emery boards. The event gave us an excellent opportunity to meet new members of the community, as well as connect with families Neptune Society of Northern California has previously served.
Neptune Society of Northern California: In-House Law Review Class
On April 26, 2016, Neptune Society of Northern California hosted an in-house law review class for new staff working on becoming certified as arrangers and for arrangers who have decided to seek their Funeral Director license. The event was led by Jim Draper, from the California Funeral Director's Association. Attendees included Sammie Miller of Livermore, Faith McCoy of Castro Valley, Rhonda Jones-Richard of San Francisco, and Ruth Brown-Wilson of Novato.
Hope Hospice Fundraisers
This month the Neptune Society of Northern California participated in their first Hospice Fundraiser. This fundraiser benefited Hope Hospice. Raffle tickets for gift baskets were sold, with all money to be donated to Hope Hospice.
6th Annual Holiday Boutiques
Neptune Society of Northern California's Walnut Creek office will be participating in the 6th Annual Holiday Boutique. All members of the surrounding community are invited to attend. Please contact our office for additional details.
December 11, 3PM-8PM
Heather Farm Community Center – 301 N. San Carlos Dr., Walnut Creek
Hospice on the Bay
Neptune Society of Northern California invited hospice staff members for an informative cruise aboard the Naiad Yacht, used for ocean scatterings in Northern California.
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Rossmoor Art & Wine Festival sponsored by Hospice of the East Bay
Neptune Society of Northern California – Walnut Creek is a Gold Sponsor of this prestigious event. Proceeds from the sale of art, wine, and the silent auction benefit the many programs of Hospice of the East Bay.
Monday, October 5, 2015 10 AM to 1 PM
Chateau I in Pleasant Hill
Bari Hendershot, Funeral Director and Location Manager of Neptune Society of Northern California's Walnut Creek office, and Sharon Lizotte, Pre-Need Specialist, will be giving and in depth talk about Neptune Society of Northern California.
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Bari Hendershot - 10 Year Pinning
Caryn Knight performs the 10 Year Pinning for Walnut Creek's very own Bari Hendershot!


text:
We use cookies to continuously improve our website and the user experience for you.
If you require detailed information about the storage of data on this website, please use the following link.
H. Wilhelm Schaumann bought Hülsenberg Estate in 1953 in order to
be able to intensify practice-oriented research trials. The estate, located in Wahlstedt in the district of Segeberg, today comprises about 600 ha arable land, a dairy farm with about 210 cows, and two biogas plants
Hülsenberg Estate is where research meets practice – the estate has been home to ISF Schaumann Research
since mid-2013.
Hülsenberg Estate serves as a venue for seminars and training events that allows participants to gain valuable direct insights into the operating conditions of a working farm.
Hülsenberg Estate provides optimum conditions for animal welfare and thus ideal prerequisites for maximum per-
Our dairy herd has doubled to about 210 cows, as has our yield, which currently stands at almost 12,000 kg milk per cow. The 2 x 12 side-by-side milking parlour represents state-of-the-art technology. Extensive refurbishments and new construction works for cow, heifer and
calf housing have now been completed.
Field work on Hülsenberg Estate includes animal husbandry, management of barn waste and responsibility for feeding, liquid manure and repairs.
Hülsenberg Estate comprises a 776 kW field test biogas plant as well as a second, 75 kW research biogas plant solely for fermenting liquid cattle manure in order to be able to test whether the results of model trials can be applied to practical biogas production.
As a positive side effect of our research on the efficient operation of biogas plants, Hülsenberg Estate now produces sufficient climate-neutral electricity to cover virtually all of the power needs of the Schaumann plants.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
|Sharing knowledge free of feminist indoctrination.
|The antithesis to feminist victim culture and hate ideology.
|This wiki is in preparation: Do you want to edit it? Click here to join us!
From WikiMANNia
Root category for the help files in WikiMANNia.
Pages in category "WikiMANNia:Help"
The following 13 pages are in this category, out of 13 total.


text:
Vienna's metro or U-Bahn is an efficient and quick way of getting around the city.
Hop on one of five lines to get to the most important sights and parts of the city. Integrated tickets, called VOR tickets, cost €1.80 and are valid on all means of public transport for one journey within one zone. (You can change as often as necessary).
If you plan on becoming very intimate with Vienna's public transport system during your stay, consider buying a four-journey strip ticket, or a 24-hour, 72-hour or 8-day pass. Or try the 72-hour Vienna card that offers several tourist discounts.


text:
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Scott Adams Thank you
Go to the internet, Find todays Dilbert. Print it out and attach to the team door.
How cool a manager was that! In his honour I have found a collection of Scott Adams Dilbert quotes that should keep you smiling all day
2004-01-30 The goal of public relations is to taint the jury pool. We'll show that the victims had it coming.
2004-02-02 Excuse me while I beat myself with my keyboard.
2004-02-04 Whenever I talk to you, I feel like I should be wearing a wire.
2004-02-05 Never listen to your customers. They were dumb enough to buy your product, so they have no credibility.
2004-02-12 I'm a writer for "Morons on Parade" magazine.Do you mind if I ask you some questions?
2004-02-13 You made the cover of "Morons on Parade."
2004-02-22 GAAA!!! My despair has turned into a searing psychological pain!!! OW! OW! OW!
2004-03-04 The new dress code is "winged monkey."
2004-03-08 This week I achieved unprecedented levels ofunverifiable productivity. I made phone calls, builtconsensus, displayed leadership, attended meetings and set priorities.
2004-04-07 I've added mumbling and peevishness to mywork-avoidance arsenal. I get the benefits of appearingknowledgeable without the burden of sharing.
2004-04-12 The association of doughnut makers asked me toprove that skinny people can't go to heaven.
2004-05-09 Man-duh-tory
2004-05-24 Our office was designed with the science of fengshui.
2004-05-29 If we skip design, prototype, testing and manufacturing, we can afford the product recall.
2004-06-03 The Fertiliar
2004-06-04 I summon the dark demon of ineffectivemanagement to smite the person who wants this decision!!!
2004-06-07 I declare this a pants-optional zone.
2004-06-11 May I point out that he has never producedanything except arrogance and noise?
2004-06-19 A death spiral goes clockwise north of theequator.
2004-06-20 The whatchamacallit has to be whatever or else the whosits will go hey-hey.
2004-06-20 I love my coworkers, until they talk.
2004-07-13 You're not allowed to lie, but I expect plentyof omissions, misdirections, exaggerations, unjustified optimism, lost documents, unclear explanations, gray areas and tactical ignorance.
2004-07-19 Allow me to respond by hacking a hairball inyour direction.
2004-07-27 It's multi-level marketing plus a diet plan suggested by the bible!
2004-08-05 My voice mailbox is full, and my spam filter rejects all incoming e-mail. As soon as I build up a goodload of ear wax, I'll be off the grid.
2004-08-14 Were you correct that your superior intelligence makes you a superb negotiator?
2004-08-15 That's our insurance company. They've beenjumpy lately.
2004-08-22 M.T.T.S.F. — Mean Time To Story Failure
2004-08-26 I always wondered what efficiency looked like.
2004-08-27 When I said cheaper, I meant more fun.
2004-08-28 Now if you'll excuse me, I feel a nap coming on.
2004-09-06 Before you decide, look at this DVD titled, "Is Bribery Right for You?" The narrator might refer to you by name when she dances.
2004-09-16 If you hire me, I will use my enormous brain to develop world-changing products. I require no pay and nocubicle. I will eat used paper, and cling to the ceiling.
2004-09-18 I'm having an unpleasant realization.
2004-09-23 Sometimes I have naughty thoughts during workhours. Should I reimburse the company for lost productivity?
2004-10-19 Is it possible that I'm oblivious to my effecton others?
2004-10-20 I'll pair you with someone whose social defectwill cancel out your own.
2004-10-22 Can a business-led project management process optimize our strategic core issues?
2004-10-23 It's his own fault for not paying me enough toafford entertainment.
2004-10-27 Do you want the simple but misleadingexplanation or the one you won't understand?
2004-10-28 Something that you could never comprehend conflicts with something that you'd never understand.
2004-11-01 How about a nanotechnology stem cell forfighting terrorists?
2004-11-03 My philosophy is that anything worth doing isworth delaying.
2004-11-08 Once you embrace the idea that your customersdeserve to die… it frees your mind to invent splendidlyprofitable products.
2004-11-09 Warning! This product will kill you but that'sokay because it tastes great!
2004-11-12 Now rationalize your decision, you mindless pinkrobot!
2004-11-14 This one goes in the scrapbook.
2004-11-20 Your biggest defect continues to be your inability to handle criticism. And you argue with people who are much smarter than yourself.
2004-11-21 I wonder if it's called whistling when only aircomes out.
2004-11-29 Call me shallow, but I enjoy getting paid forother people's inventions.
2004-12-13 I'm going to ram my fist down your throat, grabyour pants and turn you inside out.
2004-12-25 Do you want the ten-minute explanation of whythe data are useless, or a simple "here you go"?
2004-12-27 My philosophy is that anything worth doing istoo hard.
2004-12-27 A character flaw isn't a philosophy.
2004-12-30 Do you have any more questions like that one?
Monday, October 29, 2007
Thinking of Kids
- Go to the grocery store.
- Arrange to have your salary paid directly to their head office.
- Go home.
- Pick up the newspaper.
- Read it for the last time.
Advice before you finally go ahead and have children, find a couple who already are parents and berate them about their...
- Methods of discipline.
- Lack of patience.
- Appallingly low tolerance levels.
- Allowing their children to run wild.
- Suggest ways in which they might improve their child's breastfeeding, sleep habits, toilet training, table manners, and overall behaviour.
Lesson 3: A really good way to discover how the nights might feel...
- Get home from work and immediately begin walking around the living room from 5PM to 10PM carrying a wet bag weighing approximately 6 kilos, with a radio turned to static (or some other obnoxious sound) playing loudly. (Eat cold food with one hand for dinner)
- At 10PM, put the bag gently down, set the alarm for midnight, and goto sleep.
- Get up at 12 and walk around the living room again, with the bag,until 1AM. Set the alarm for 3AM.As you can't get back to sleep, get up at 2AM and make a drink and watch an commercial.
- Go to bed at 2:45AM.
- Get up at 3AM when the alarm goes off. Sing songs quietly in the dark until 4AM.
- Get up. Make breakfast.
- Get ready for work and go to work (work hard and be productive)Repeat steps 1-9 each night.
Keep this up for 3-5 years. Look cheerful and together.
Lesson 4: Can you stand the mess children make?
To find out...Smear peanut butter onto the sofa and jam onto the curtains.
- Hide a piece of raw chicken behind the stereo and leave it there all summer.
- Stick your fingers in a flower bed.
- Then rub them on the clean walls.
- Take your favourite book, photo album, etc.
- Wreck it.
- Spill milk on your new pillows.
- Cover the stains with crayons.
Lesson 5 Dressing small children
- Buy an octopus and a small bag made out of loose mesh.
- Attempt to put the octopus into the bag so that none of the arms hang out.
Time allowed for this - all morning.
Lesson 6: Ingenuity
- Take an egg carton.
- Using a pair of scissors and a jar of paint, turn it into an alligator.
- Now take the tube from a roll of toilet paper.
- Using only Scotch tape and a piece of aluminium foil, turn it into an attractive Christmas candle.
- Last, take a milk carton, a ping-pong ball, and an empty packet of Cocoa Puffs.
- Make an exact replica of the Eiffel Tower.
- Forget the BMW and buy a mini-van.
- And don't think that you can leave it out in the driveway spotless and shining.
- Family cars don't look like that.
- Buy a chocolate ice cream cone and put it in the glove compartment.
- Leave it there.
- Get a 50p coin.
- Stick it in the CD player.
- Take a family size package of chocolate cookies.
- Mash them into the back seat.
- Sprinkle Sugar Puffs all over the floor, then smash them with your foot.
- Run a garden rake along both sides of the car.
- Get ready to go out.
- Sit on the floor of your bathroom reading picture books for half an hour.
- Go out the front door.
- Come in again.
- Go out.
- Come back in.
- Go out again.
- Walk down the front path.
- Walk back up it.Walk down it again.Walk very slowly down the sidewalk for five minutes.
- Stop, inspect minutely, and ask at least 6 questions about every cigarette end, piece of used chewing gum, dirty tissue, and dead insect along the way.
- Retrace your steps. Scream that you have had as much as you can stand until the neighbours come out and stare at you.
- Give up and go back into the house.
Lesson 9: Repetition
Repeat everything you have leaned at least (if not more than) five times.
Lesson 10: Going to the Supermarket
- Take with you the closest thing you can find to a pre-school child. (A full-grown goat is also excellent).
- If you intend to have more than one child, then definitely take more than one goat.
- Buy your week's groceries without letting the goats out of your sight.
- Pay for everything the goat eats or destroys.
Until you can easily accomplish this, do not even contemplate having children.
Lesson 11: Feeding
- Hollow out a melon.
- Make a small hole in the side.
- Suspend it from the ceiling and swing it from side to side.
- Now get a bowl of soggy Sugar Puffs and attempt to spoon them into the swaying melon by pretending to be an aeroplane.
- Continue until half the Sugar Puffs are gone.
- Tip half into your lap. The other half, just throw up in the air.
Lesson 12: Television
- Learn the names of every character from Pingu , Barney, Disney, the Teletubbies, and Pokemon.
- Watch nothing else on TV but the Kids channel, the Disney channel or Noggin for at least five years.
- (I know, you're thinking What's "Noggin"?) Exactly the point.
Lesson 13: Smells
- Move to the tropics.
- Find or make a compost pile.
- Dig down about halfway and stick your nose in it.
Do this 3-5 times a day for at least two years.
Lesson 14: Mummy
- Make a short recording saying "mummy" repeatedly.
- (Important: no more than a four second delay between each "mummy"; occasional crescendo to the level of a supersonic jet is required).
- Play this tape in your car everywhere you go for the next four years.
You are now ready to take a long trip with a toddler.
Lesson 15: And finally
- Start talking to an adult of your choice.
- Have someone else continually pull on your skirt, shirt- sleeve, or elbow while playing the "mummy" tape made from Lesson 14 above.
- You are now ready to have a conversation with an adult while there is a child in the room.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
FaceBook Surrender
There were many reasons for continued resistance, to name some of them: the flghtly nature of the social networking scene (myspace), the promise of benefits never realised (linked in anybody), the ability to fritter away hours in a pointless way (twitter).
But when enough of your friends and colleages are there it seems somehow rude to continue saying no to those hand crafted please join invitations.
Registration was indeed easy but my homepage or whatever it is called seems to be quite blank. Really I need a FaceBook Personal Assistant (where is that enthusiastic Chennai outsourcing representative when you need them?) to keep my personal page up to date, interesting and topical.
So no more time to blog this morning I have to facebook (is that a verb yet?). Hmmm.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Marathon wahoo Marathon
This was Agatas first marathon and she has been following an intensive Runners world training plan for the last four months. I can now say goodbye to a steadily increasingly long Sunday jaunt, 2 weeks ago we had to do 35Km! So in fact the 42.something Km we sauntered through was a piece of cake.
I swanned around in less than 4 hours as usual and Agata about 15 minutes later.
The weather was both cold and windy. As we got to the start the termperature fell to a paultry 2 degrees centigrade. The wind started about 3 days ago and was so severe that I was grimly hoping those really hoping those tall trees that partially obscure our Lake at home view might fall down. Of course that didn't happen but the wind has persisted.
As usual the Lausanne organisation was exemplary.
- You can book online or sign up in person
- You can park just 200 metres from the start!
- Plentiful water stops and medical facilities
- A beautiful route along the lake road to Vevey and back, completely sans auto fo the the duration
- Facilities to store all your valuables, and free showers and changing facilities
Agata had tipped me off that there were video cameras towards the end, so with this in mind I tried my best to smile the last 500 metres. Here is the grusome marcus finishing video. Here is Agatas finish
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Archers Archers Podcast Archers
This image might appear blurred and almost totally unreadable, but then that seems to be par for the course for old important documents. So in times to come I 'd like to believe this digital print will be truely valuable. Yes this shows my first day download of The Archers, the famous English soap that is now going International.
There are few other series that clutch at the hearstrings of the exiled, banished, or otherwise absent British man or woman abroad. And for everybody else, well just start to listen and find out why this enduring tale of country folk is firmly placed in the hearts and minds or British people everywhere.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
It was acceptible in the 80's
But first I was supposed to migrate our website from Microsoft Frontpage to either Microsoft Web Expression or Adobe CS3 DreamWeaver. DreamWeaver would be best since it is more universally used, however to my horror when I loaded up the website it was totally full of errors and it did not render correctly.
I backtracked to Microsoft Web Expression but of course that's not too easy. First Microsoft Action pack supplies this as a Microsoft Virtual PC image. So first I had to update my existing Virtual PC installation, then load up the Windows 2003 R2 Server which they have pre-loaded with Expression Web. Having a Swiss French Keyboard and a Microsoft Vista Base system, loading the 2003 R2 Server made things more complicated.
Finally I loaded our website and thankfully it rendered correctly. My Athlon 64 system is not compatible with Virtual PC "Hardware-assisted" virtualisation so the emulation was sluggish. Next the maximum VPC emulation is 1600x1200 so it sits rather small inside the native 2560x1600 display.
Worse was to come, my original HTML now resounds to the comments thus: "The World Wide Web Consortium now regards the attribute xxx as outdated. Newer constructs are recommended". Does anybody know a web guru that can help me?
Having suffered this defeat I went back to Cromemco restoration. This was wildly successful. By the end of the day the Cromemco 250 was fully up and running and running Z80 programs, here is how
- The 68020 processor card is unusual for Cromemco in that is does not contain a companion Z80 processor. Without that certain programs like cdoscopy won't run since they are written in Z80 code.
- SO how to run such programs?
- First you will need a slave Z80 processor card: An Octart (8 port serial), Quadart (4 port serial) or IOP (IO Processor) card is required. You wont use that card except to run Z80 programs, i.e. it can't be use for its normal communications tasks
- For my Octart card I set it to a base address of 0x9E via the manual
- In the /gen directory edit the sysdef file and included the zio device driver thus
d /gen
ce sysdef ; make the edit shown in the next line
zio 4
crogen 20071013cromix
boot /gen/20071013cromix.sys
- The last line boots the newly generated OS. When you are convinced it is good you can move it to /cromix.sys so that a regular boot will find it. For more information read the Administration Guide
- And that was it, now I shutdown the 250 and connected up the 3 disk, YE data 8 inch disk cabinet I built in 1979, and crossed my fingers.
- It worked!
cdoscopy -l /dev/disks/fdc ; list the files on disk c
d /u; cdoscopy -bv /dev/disks/fdc ; write the files to /u
And so with this great level of success I sat down, loaded up Calvin Harris's Acceptible in the 80's and fondly remembered the days when a 1.2MB 8" formattted floppy was something to boast about
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Describe how to determine the height of a skyscraper with a barometer
This highly original answer so incensed the examiner that he failed the student who immediately appealed on the grounds that his answer was indisputably correct.
The arbiter ruled that the answer was indeed correct, but did not display any noticeable knowledge of physics. It was decided to call the student in and allow him six minutes in which to provide a verbal answer which showed at least a minimal familiarity with the basic principles of physics.
For five minutes the student sat in silence, forehead creased in thought. The arbiter reminded him that time was running out, to which the student replied that he had several extremely relevant answers, but couldn't make up his mind which to use.
On being advised to hurry up the student replied: "First, you could take the barometer up to the roof of the skyscraper, drop it over the edge, and measure the time it takes to reach the ground. The height of the building can then be worked out from this formula I have worked out for you on my text paper here."
Then the student added, "But, Sir, I wouldn't recommend it. Bad luck on the barometer."
"Another alternative", offered the student, "is this: If the sun is shining you could measure the height of the barometer,then set it on end and measure the length of its shadow. Then you measure the length of the skyscraper's shadow, and thereafter it is a simple matter of proportional geometry to work out the height of the skyscraper. On the paper is the formula for that as well."
"But, Sir, if you wanted to be highly scientific about it, you could tie a short piece of string to the barometer and swing it like a pendulum, first at ground level and then on the roof of the skyscraper. The height is worked out by the difference in a gravitational formula, which I have determined here this time on a long sheet of paper with a very long and complicated calculation."
"Or, Sir, here's another way, and not a bad one at all. If the skyscraper has an outside emergency staircase, it would be easier to walk up it and mark off the height of the skyscraper in barometer lengths, then add them up."
"But if you merely wanted to be very boring and very orthodox about the answer you seem to seek, of course, you could use the barometer to measure the air pressure on the roof, and on the ground, and then convert the difference in millibars into feet to give the height of the building."
"But since we are constantly being exhorted to exercise independence of mind and apply scientific methods, undoubtedly the best way would be to knock on the janitor's door and say to him 'If you would like a nice new barometer, I will give you this one if you tell me the height of this skyscraper'."
The student was Niels Bohr, the only Dane ever to win the Nobel Prize in physics.
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
500K dollar husband
What am I doing wrong?
Okay, I'm tired of beating around the bush. I'm a beautiful (spectacularly beautiful) 25 year old girl. I'm articulate and classy. I'm not from New York. I'm looking to get married to a guy who makes at least half a million a year. I know how that sounds, but keep in mind that a million a year is middle class in New York City, so I don't think I'm overreaching at all.
Are there any guys who make 500K or more on this board? Any wives? Could you send me some tips? I dated a business man who makes average around 200- 250.
But that's where I seem to hit a roadblock. 250,000 won't get me to central park west. I know a woman in my yoga class who was married to an investment banker and lives in Tribeca, and she's not as pretty as I am, nor is she a great genius. So what is she doing right? How do I get to her level?
Here are my questions specifically:
- Where do you single rich men hang out? Give me specifics- bars, restaurants, gyms
- What are you looking for in a mate? Be honest guys, you won't hurt my feelings
- Is there an age range I should be targeting (I'm 25)?
- Why are some of the women living lavish lifestyles on the upper east side so plain? I've seen really 'plain jane' boring types who have nothing to offer married to incredibly wealthy guys. I've seen drop dead gorgeous girls in singles bars in the east village. What's the story there?
- Jobs I should look out for? Everyone knows - lawyer, investment banker, doctor. How much do those guys really make? And where do they hang out?
- Where do the hedge fund guys hang out?
- How you decide marriage vs. just a girlfriend? I am looking for MARRIAGE ONLY
Please hold your insults - I'm putting myself out there in an honest way.
Most beautiful women are superficial; at least I'm being up front about it.
I wouldn't be searching for these kind of guys if I wasn't able to match them - in looks, culture, sophistication, and keeping a nice home and hearth. It's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
PostingID: 432279810
Dear Pers-431649184:
I read your posting with great interest and have thought meaningfully about your dilemma. I offer the following analysis of your predicament.
Firstly, I'm not wasting your time, I qualify as a guy who fits your bill; that is I make more than $500K per year. That said here's how I see it.
Your offer, from the prospective of a guy like me, is plain and simple a crappy business deal. Here's why. Cutting through all the B.S., what you suggest is a simple trade: you bring your looks to the party and I bring my money. Fine, simple. But here's the rub, your looks will fade and my money will likely continue into perpetuity...in fact, it is very likely that my income increases but it is an absolute certainty that you won't be getting any more beautiful!
So, in economic terms you are a depreciating asset and I am an earning asset. Not only are you a depreciating asset, your depreciation accelerates! Let me explain, you're 25 now and will likely stay pretty hot for the next 5 years, but less so each year. Then the fade begins in earnest. By 35 stick a fork in you!
So in Wall Street terms, we would call you a trading position, not a buy and hold...hence the rub...marriage. It doesn't make good business sense to "buy you" (which is what you're asking) so I'd rather lease. In case you think I'm being cruel, I would say the following. If my money were to go away, so would you, so when your beauty fades I need an out. It's as simple as that. So a deal that makes sense is dating, not marriage.
Separately, I was taught early in my career about efficient markets. So, I wonder why a girl as "articulate, classy and spectacularly beautiful" as you has been unable to find your sugar daddy. I find it hard to believe that if you are as gorgeous as you say you are that the $500K hasn't found you, if not only for a tryout.
By the way, you could always find a way to make your own money and then we wouldn't need to have this difficult conversation.
With all that said, I must say you're going about it the right way. Classic "pump and dump."
I hope this is helpful, and if you want to enter into some sort of lease, let me know.
Sunday, October 07, 2007
Vintage Restoration ... peu a peu
To start with the low points: if things we to move any slower than I think I would be going backwards. In the process of trying to get a Cromemco Z2 system with hard disk started, I was intent on making a copy of the 23 year old, 40M Byte hard disk. In fact 1 day after making a copy the original failed. Therefore of course it now became 100% vital to have another copy. This currently working hard disk could fail at any moment.
If this happens the 15M Bytes of nicely organised programs would be practically impossible to put back from floppies. 23 years ago I had totally optimised this system for the fastest most efficient multi-user use and I could not get it back to such a state from initial loads.
In so doing I stupidly plugged in another IBM Type 0663 hard disk into my test computer. There was a pop / bang and the drive and the computer fell silent. Looks like a dead short on the drive had blow the power supply on my test computer.
So, I blew up my test computer, and still had no spare drive. So many eBay sessions later I have tried to buy about 10 MFM hard disks of varying sizes. So far, only one, yes the number above zero and below two has worked. At about 30 GBP pounds a go that means I have spent about 300 GBP on a single working 20MByte hard disk.
Still the good news this weekend is that there has been some progress ...
- The primary system is now running from the original 20MByte hard disk. It is using RDOS 3.12 meaning that it can use the bootstrap ROM on the floppy disk controller to pass control directly to the STDC hard disk controller without needing a boot floppy.
Then the STDC controller reads its boot block and loads the /etc/stdboot program previously copied into that area with the wboot command. stdboot then reads from the Cromix filesystem /cromix.sys and starts cromix.
Since Cromix is not swap based and runs entirely in memory it loads in about 5 seconds. Ah wonderful!
- The backup system now has the copied hard disk connected to its own STDC controller and an older DPU (68000 / Zilog Z80) card. The purpose of the backup system is to try and get the 8" floppy disks reading.
- To make the backup disk you have to mount both disks on the primary system. Then make target directories on the new disk. The for each directory cptree the contents. For example cptree -tv /bin /hd33/bin, where the new disk was mounted using commands: create /hd33; mount std33 /hd33. Finally you would wboot std33 the disk to make it bootable. Actually each disk has 2 partitions, a small emergency maintenance partition std32 and the larger work partition std33
- Now another problem .. reading the 8" floppy collection. Previously on the primary system such disks were being read fine. Then one day it just stopped working. Honest! I did suspect dirty disk heads, and 6 weeks and an expensive US eBay auction later I cleaned the heads confident that it would all be well. It was not!
- So this weekend when the backup system became active I connected another 3, 8" drive chassis to this second system and tried to read some disks. Still no good!
- After much trial and error it seems the backup system cannot format or read any disk that is double sided, nor can the primary system. I have no idea what I can possibly doing wrong. It seems impossibly unlikely that 2 different systems, with differing 64FDC and CPU board levels, with 6, 8" drives between them , all have difficulty reading a double sided floppy disk. Surely I am doing something stupid, I just can't say what it is yet.
I have double checked that the diskette is in the right way around, which for this single hole diskette must be true, otherwise the index hole would not be read at all, and this is confirmed when the wrongly oriented diskette gets the error from initlop that "no index pulses are being received". If it is the correct way around then the RPM displays at about 361, which is 1RPM over the nominal 360.
So the mystery continues.
To conclude, on the positive side; both systems are now up and running. They are able to format single sided CDOS, Cromix and Uniform format 5" and 8" diskettes. Nothing has blown up in the last week! The main system is almost (physcially) clean enough to escape the basement and move up into the study.
Monday, October 01, 2007
Have you tried turning it off and on again?
iBRICK ho ho ho
- With a payment plan (typically 1 year or longer) where you get a mobile at a reduced price because the phone operator gives money back to the airtime provider. Typically this mobile phone will be locked to your selected carrier
- Buy just the phone only, unlocked and without any carrier. Then you can goto any carrier and ask to join, or just use prepaid SIM cards. The phone is naturally more expensive. In fact 600 GBP from Amazon UK
It is therefore a tradeoff. You can have the freedom of the unlocked phone without any ties but it costs more.
I am not totally sure what sort of dim-witted system exists in America, but lately many people have found out that their (by design closed platform) iPhone does not react too well to firmware updates when they have expressely unlocked the phone either for anySIM calls or applications.
Here it is in pictures


text:
Home > L R A N > Agrarian Reform > Food Sovereignty > The Avery Diet: The Hudson Institute's Misinformation Campaign Against Cuban (...)
Fernando Funes
Cuban Association of Agricultural and Forestry Technicians (ACTAF)
Miguel A Altieri
President, Latin American Scientific Society of Agroecology (SOCLA)
Peter Rosset
Co-coordinator, Land Research Action Network (http://www.landaction.org)
An article written by Dennis Avery, "Cubans Starve on Diet of Lies," was reproduced around the internet in April of this year. [1]
Avery is the director of the Center for Global Food Issues at the Hudson Institute, a notorious Right-wing think tank. The financial
backers of the Hudson Institute include major agribusiness (e.g. Archer Daniels Midland, ConAgra, Cargill), biotech and pesticide manufacturers (e.g. American Cyanamid, Ciba-Geigy, Monsanto, Syngenta). Avery is a veteran of the State Department and the
U.S.D.A. He is a well-known pro-industry pundit, and is an outspoken supporter of genetically-engineered crops, pesticides, food irradiation, industrial farming, and free trade, as well as a long-time critic of organic farming. He famously authored the book
Saving the Planet With Pesticides and Plastic: The Environmental Triumph of High-Yield Farming (2000).
His article begins with the following phrases:
"The Cubans told the world they had heroically learned to feed themselves without fuel or farm chemicals after their Soviet subsidies collapsed in the early 1990s. They bragged about their "peasant cooperatives," their biopesticides and organic fertilizers. They heralded their earthworm culture and the predator wasps they unleashed on destructive caterpillars. They boasted about the heroic ox teams they had trained to replace tractors. Organic activists all over the world swooned. Now, a senior Ministry of Agriculture official has admitted in the Cuban press that 84 percent of Cuba's current food consumption is imported, according to our agricultural attaché in Havana. The organic success was all a lie—a great, gaudy, Communist-style Big Lie of the type that dictators behind the Iron Curtain routinely used throughout the Cold War to hornswoggle the Free World."
Despite the notably bombastic and un-scientific language, his claims deserve examination and rebuttal. He does not cite a source for the 84% figure. Nevertheless, it has been widely reported in the media that Megalys Calvo, Vice Minister of the Economy and Planning Ministry, said in February of 2007 that 84% of items "in the basic food basket" at that time were imported. 2 However, we believe these percentages represent only the food that is distributed through regulated government channels by means of a ration card.
Overall data show that Cuba's food import dependency has been dropping for decades, despite brief upturns due to natural and human-made disasters.


text:
A guy on pinside start 1 year to make reproduction apron for bally
I bought two, one for centaur and one for fathom, i was on the preorder list... got it last week, the guy make and awesome job! Steel is little bit stronger and the powder coat and silkscreen is perfect.
They are pricey, but when you put a lot of money in a playfeild swap, this is the finishing touch you need.
Cost me almost 200$ can each with shipping and custom, but for me, worth every penny...
This is the link for the developpement on pinside, with a lot of very nice pics
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic ... st-3382957
This is pics of mine in my machine
Reproduction apron for bally
Restoration/upgrades/fixes/fabrication of pins and vids
Active topics • 4 posts • Page 1 of 1
- redketchup
- MAACA Wacko
- Posts: 4682
- Joined: Thu Nov 19, 2009 12:15 am
- Location: Laval,Qc
- Contact:
Reproduction apron for bally
Bally Centaur, Fathom, Stern Big Game, Flight 2000, Quicksilver, Catacomb, Stargazer, Nineball, Metallica Pro, Iron Maiden Pro, Wurlitzer 700, 750e, 1100, 1900, 1700, Rockola 1428, tempo 1, seeburg HF 100R, VL 200, Ami I
To see it: http://www.pinballowners.com/redketchup
To see it: http://www.pinballowners.com/redketchup
Re: Reproduction apron for bally
Got the same set as you. The heavier gauge metal feels nice
Re: Reproduction apron for bally
Bought a High Speed apron from this guy 4 years ago.
Was really satisfied.
Was really satisfied.
- HPR Pinball
- Posts: 7247
- Joined: Thu Sep 16, 2010 4:53 pm
- Location: St-Rose, Laval
Re: Reproduction apron for bally
J'ai recu mon apron de Fathom, très impressionné par le ''color match'' et la qualitée en générale.
Pins: http://www.pinballowners.com/hal-9ooo
Vids: http://www.arcade-museum.com/members/me ... _id=454505
Les arcades, j'suis tombé d'dans quand j'tait pti !!
Pins: http://www.pinballowners.com/hal-9ooo
Vids: http://www.arcade-museum.com/members/me ... _id=454505
Les arcades, j'suis tombé d'dans quand j'tait pti !!
4 posts • Page 1 of 1
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest


text:
Center for Tax Law & Employee Benefits
Paul Faherty Tax Law Writing Competition
Congratulations to the Paul Faherty Writing Competition Winners
Sponsored by the Center for Tax Law & Employee Benefits, the Paul Faherty Tax Law Writing Competition is generously funded by James Lynch, a tax advisory board member, to honor Paul Faherty, a former Center director. The grand prize is a $3,000 award, plus two honorable mention awards of $1,000. The scope of permissible topics for the writing competition is broad — a leading public policy issue, critique of a leading case or doctrine, comment on a statute or proposed statutory change, or comment on a common law tax doctrine.
This year's winners are as follows:
Grand Prize
"When Virtual Reality Becomes Real: Taxation of CryptoCurrencies"
Carson M. King, University of Illinois College of Law
Honorable Mentions
"The Internal Revenue Service and Bitcoin: A Taxing Relationship"
Elizabeth E. Lambert, Mercer University School of Law
"A 'Wheel' Home is a Real Home: A Critique of North Carolina's Sales Tax Scheme for Manufactured Housing"
K. Dawn Milam, University of North Carolina School of Law


text:
The title of a recent book by Barbara Forrest and Paul Gross says it all: Creationism's Trojan Horse: The Wedge of Intelligent Design Theory. As these words suggest, those in the pro-evolution camp have often suggested that today's anti-evolutionist proponents of intelligent design theory share a familial resemblance with their earlier young earth creationist compatriots. At the same time, ID proponents centered at Seattle's Discovery Institute bristle at the "creationist" label. Meanwhile, the whole issue takes on an added urgency because ID proponents have increasingly adopted the political behavior once embraced by creationists of yore, meddling in educational battles at the local level and explicitly laying out a First Amendment legal strategy to achieve future successes. Court cases could lie in the near future, and those may hinge on defining "ID." So what gives?
As it turns out, ID is more or less like young earth creationism—and especially like "creation science"—depending on whether you choose to focus on its actual assertions or its strategic behavior. In substantive terms, ID differs quite significantly from the "creation science" movement that preceded it, and in ways that generally make its arguments stronger, or at least less risible. ID doesn't, for instance, deny the validity of radioisotope dating and assert the existence of a young Earth. Neither does it rely on the feverish nonsense of Flood Geology, claiming that a single Noachian deluge laid down the entire fossil record. More generally, whether out of strategic wariness or otherwise, ID proponents tend to shy away from espousing biblically literalist views in their literature and publications (though the religious motivations of many of ID's All Stars are well documented).
So substantively, we have to admit that ID differs significantly from "creation science." Since young earth creationists themselves frequently made arguments about the presence of design in living things, we might even say that ID represents "creation science" stripped of everything but design arguments (as well as various critiques of evolutionary theory). In fact, it has often been noted that ID verges on intellectual vacuity: At least young earth creationists had their own detailed account of how life on earth came into being.
Yet as far as its strategic behavior goes, ID actually appears to represent a kind of natural culmination of the "creation science" movement, which originated in the 1960s and 1970s for specific legal and educational reasons. When compared to "creation science" on a strategic level, it turns out that ID proceeds still further in the direction of PR-oriented pseudoscience and the denial of religious intentions in argument. In fact, we can detect many rudimentary elements of the current ID approach among earlier advocates of "creation science"—though ID has improved and perfected them.
Consider the history of American creationism. As the definitive book on the subject—Ronald Numbers' The Creationists: The Evolution of Scientific Creationism—makes clear, over the last century the creationist movement showed a marked trend towards the appropriation of scientific trappings and the masking of outwardly religious forms of argumentation (at least in the versions of their theories that they wanted presented in public schools). From first to last, American creationism has been primarily motivated by fundamentalist religiosity. But though even early creationists like William Jennings Bryan—who joined the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1924—sometimes claimed to act scientifically, in the 1960s and 1970s the movement transformed.
With the publication of John C. Whitcomb, Jr. and Henry Morris's The Genesis Flood in 1961, the formation of the Creation Research Society in 1963, and finally Morris's explicit adoption of the term "creation science" in the 1970s, creationism dramatically ramped up its scientific pretensions. Its proponents began to insist that you didn't have to believe in the Bible to see the evidence for creationism, and that students could be taught "creation science" without being preached to.
The approach represented a new strategy from the creationist perspective, and one that arose in response to previous a U.S. Supreme Court ruling declaring religious bans on the teaching of evolution in public schools unconstitutional (something the state of Arkansas had tried to do). In the wake of this setback, creationists began to demand "equal time" for their views in science classes, which in turn necessitated a new campaign to present those views as strictly scientific. "'Scientific creationism' was just a sort of an add on to try to get in the public schools," Numbers told me during a recent phone conversation.
But insofar as "creation science" represented a legal strategy, it proved a dramatic failure. Creation science didn't mask its religious content enough, or prove its scientific bonafides in any meaningful way. It didn't really fool anybody who wasn't inclined to believe in it for religious reasons anyway. In the 1987 case Edwards v. Aguillard the U.S. Supreme Court essentially ruled that "creation science" amounted to religion masquerading as science, and therefore couldn't be taught in public school science classes.
But though "creation science" failed, what's intriguing for our current purposes are its tactics: recruit Ph.D.s to outfits like the Creation Research Society and Institution for Creation Research; claim repeatedly to be doing science; and—at least to some extent—keep religion offstage.
All of these attributes also manifest themselves in the intelligent design movement, where they're taken to a much higher level. ID has made significant inroads at major universities, and recruited a wide range of Ph.D.s to serve as fellows at Seattle's Discovery Institute. It claims—repeatedly—to represent a scientific innovation. Finally, when journalists attempt to probe the religious motivations of ID types, they're accused of engaging in ad hominems. ID advocates don't want to be judged on religious grounds, and they do a much better job than "creation scientists" of keeping religion out of their arguments, even if it may lie in their backgrounds and personal belief systems.
In all of these ways, ID represents a strategic upgrade of "creation science." In fact, it turns out that ID's "teach the controversy" program—which advocates instructing public school students in the alleged weaknesses in evolutionary theory, rather than in ID itself—appears to have originated with "creation scientists" as well. Following the Supreme Court's Edwards v. Aguillard decision, the Institute for Creation Research prepared an intriguing evaluation of what should come next. Among other points, the group noted that "school boards and teachers should be strongly encouraged at least to stress the scientific evidences and arguments against evolution in their classes even if they don't wish to recognize these as evidences and arguments for creationism." As Glenn Branch of the National Center for Science Education has observed, this comment shows that "teach the controversy" was "pioneered in the wake of Edwards v. Aguillard."
So what can we conclude from this? First, it's incorrect to call ID proponents "creationists" if by that term we mean to suggest that they're members of the young earth creationist movement. That's simply not true; their arguments differ substantially. Granted, if we define "creationism" minus its historical baggage, and simply claim that it means "opposing the theory of evolution for religious reasons," then ID followers certainly fit the mold.
Either way, though, the bigger point is this: Because ID follows the basic strategy of "creation science," it may also suffer from the same weaknesses. Just like "creation science," ID has failed to convince working biologists of its scientific validity. If a case over ID ever reaches the U.S. Supreme Court, we can therefore expect that, just as in Edwards v. Aguillard, countless Nobel Laureates will sign an amicus brief in the case explaining that ID isn't scientifically credible.
Moreover, although ID has done a much better job of masking the religious elements of its approach, those elements have nevertheless been unearthed by journalists and authors critical of the movement. (See Creationism's Trojan Horse: The Wedge of Intelligent Design Theory for details.) So even as ID has failed to successfully claim the mantle of science, it's also failed to successfully discard the mantle of religion. Once again, that's a legal liability.
So, in short, even though ID may not be young earth creationism, and may not be "creation science," it nevertheless seems doomed to recapitulate that prior movement's errors and failures. That doesn't necessarily prove that ID is like traditional creationism in any detailed way. Rather, it simply just goes to show that both are forms of religiously inspired anti-evolutionism, and will automatically have a near-impossible row to hoe thanks to the firm place of evolutionary theory in modern biology.


text:
Please meet our team below. We look forward to working with you!
Shelly Floyd ~ Licensed Aethetician
Shelly Floyd is a licensed Medical Aesthetician, that has years of expertise in the skincare industry. Shelly's professional goal is to educate about the many common but complex skin conditions and their treatments. She has treated thousands of clients that have battled skin conditions which range from sensitivity, acne, oiliness, dehydration, aging and rosacea. From this knowledge she started her first company, Vitale Skin, in 2007. Vitale Skin offered the first Wheatgrass Skincare line. In 2010, Vitale Skin received great reviews from magazine's such as InStyle, Lucky and Dermascope. In 2012, she sold Vitale Skin and moved on to her new company VIP Skin Spa.
VIP Skin Spa offers comprehensive skincare and treatments that use a systematic approach to treat multiple skin concerns by incorporating a daily skin care regimen with advanced treatments. Inspired by nature and driven by science, her products and services utilize innovative technology and cutting-edge science. The formulations and customized facials are created with potent concentrations of active ingredients to clinically transform the skin. All of the products that are used at VIP Skin Spa are free from parabens, sulfates, fragrance, dyes and mineral oil.
Shelly truly cares for all of her clients and is always passionate about helping, educating and making people feel wonderful about their skin and general health.
Beata Robin ~ Licensed Massage Therapist, Reflexologist, Sports Therapist
Beata truly cares for each and every person that comes her way. She has 10+ years experience in Swedish, Trigger Point, Deep Tissue and Reflexology. She has an in depth knowledge of complete massage therapy including body stretching, trigger pointe and prenatal. She is bilingual in Polish and English.
Please come visit Beata today! If you are not sure what kind of Massage you need, please do not hesitate to call for a consultation.
Sheryl McGowan ~ Licensed Aesthetician
Sheryl is an amazing Aesthetician that is personable, knowledgeable and has the true gift of touch. Graduating from Paul Mitchell School of Esthetics, she has excelled in skin care industry. With treatments like LED light Therapy, Diamond Tip Microdermabrasion and specialized facials, you will be in Awe of your skin after a facial session with Sheryl. Your skin will glow!
3000 Joe DiMaggio Blvd.
Ste. 93
Round Rock, TX 78665
Phone: 512-318-2564
E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
Hours of Operation:
Monday: Closed
Tuesday - Friday:
10 am - 7 pm
Saturday: 10 am - 4 pm
Sunday: Closed
By Appointment Only
Like us on Facebook and get 10% off your next order.


text:
The Infectious Disease Clinical Research Program (IDCRP) was founded in 2005 under an interagency agreement between the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). The program's work is executed through a unique, adaptive and collaborative, international clinical research network. This network directly affects force readiness by advancing clin ical practice an d informing health p olicy for military personnel. In collaboration with partners from the Department of Defense (DoD), academia, government, and industry, IDCRP supports a broad clinical research portfolio within the Military Health System. From observational, longitudinal cohort studies to field-based interventional trials to evaluation of long term health outcomes, IDCRP conducts protocols that address critical knowledge gaps in the controland prevention of infectious disease in the military. Study outcomes have far-reaching implications for public health and disease pr evention b eyond military communities.
To substantially reduce the impact of infectious diseases in the military population through collaborative clinical research.
To conduct multicenter infectious diseases clinical research, focusing on high-impact cohort and interventional trials, to inform and improve care of the Warfighter.
For more information, please see the IDCRP brochure.
IDCRP is committed to reducing the impact of infectious diseases in the military population through collaborative clinical research
Learn More >>


text:
Parkinson's Disease
Sponsored By
M*A*S*H Star Alan Alda Reveals He Has Parkinson's DiseaseIn a "CBS This Morning" appearance on Tuesday, the 82-year-old actor said that he was diagnosed with the disease three and a half years ago.
Group Uses Boxing To Fight Parkinson's And Other Muscular Diseases"We have almost 100 people in the program now. They range literally from 42-92," says Lisa Oliver.
Linda Ronstadt Not Silenced By Parkinson's Despite Losing Ability To SingDespite losing her ability to sing to Parkinson's disease, multi-Grammy award winner Linda Ronstadt isn't being silenced by her condition.
Was Parkinson's Disease Diagnosis The Final Straw For Robin Williams?"The disease itself can cause depression," says Dr. Jeff Bronstein.
Man Living 14 Years With Parkinson's Disease Stresses There Is HopeAs news spread on Thursday that actor Robin Williams was in the beginning stages of Parkinson's when he committed suicide this week, one man is coming forward to share his struggle with the disease and what's on the horizon to treat it.
What Robin Williams' Death Tells Us About Parkinson's DiseaseWilliams passing has shed light on his overall health; both mental and physical.
Radio Icon Casey Kasem Dead At 82Legendary radio personality Casey Kasem has died following months of declining health and a bitter family battle over his care and treatment, according to a family spokesperson. He was 82.
Kasem Children Ask For Privacy As Casey's Health Continues To DeclineCasey Kasem, now 82, has been in failing health for some time.
Casey Kasem's Daughter, Wife Reach Settlement Over Visitation RightsA settlement agreement concerning visitation and other issues surrounding radio legend Casey Kasem has been reached between the radio legend's feuding daughter and wife, an attorney said Friday.
Judge Rejects Children's Request For Conservatorship Of Casey Kasem A bid by the grown children of Casey Kasem to establish a conservatorship over the 81-year-old radio legend was rejected Tuesday by a judge, who ruled there was no clear and convincing evidence the iconic deejay's health was immediately at risk.
Attorney: Casey Kasem Receiving Adequate CareA judge said he did not see an urgent need to intervene in the affairs of Casey Kasem after a court-appointed attorney told him Tuesday the ailing radio host is receiving adequate medical care for advanced Parkinson's disease.
Casey Kasem's Children Seek Control Of His Health CareThe three adult children of radio host Casey Kasem have filed a legal petition to gain control of his health care.
People With Parkinson's Disease Battle Symptoms Through BoxingPeople with Parkinson's disease are battling their symptoms with a right hook.
Ali's Daughter: The Greatest Is OK, Watching Super Bowl GameMuhammad Ali's daughter knocked down rumors of her father being near death Sunday, saying he was at home watching the Super Bowl.
Breakthrough In The Treatment Of Parkinson'sA breakthrough in the treatment being used to manage Parkinson's Disease. Gene therapy might also one day be used to treat epilepsy.


text:
Part of a series in applying permaculture design principles by
The ideal we're aiming for is a system that is self-managed, and it will take hard work, creativity, and time, to build up a system this level (approximately 3-5 years). To get here we must follow the Law of Return, "Whatever we take we must return; or, Nature demands a return for every gift received; or, The user must pay… Every object must responsibly provide for its replacement; society must, as a condition of use, replace an equal or greater resource than that used." Thus, don't eat all of your potatoes but leave enough leftover for next year's crop. Don't milk your goat until she's got nothing left in her but keep enough surplus for her kids, and for you to use another day. If you chop down a tree for firewood then plant another tree (or better yet two trees) to take its place. If you think about this it's all common sense, but then again, common sense isn't that common.
Richard Walther Darré. Reichsminister of Food and Agriculture
Our systems have energy coming into them in the form of the sun (the sun is the Prime Force, by the way), wind, and rain. Living components (plants, animal, and humans) and non-living components (like a solar panel with battery, for example) translate this energy into a useful form, which we call a resource. The yield is any useful resource surplus to the system over and above what the system needs, and it's available for export and trade.
These components of the system we call elements. There are plant, animal, and structure, elements in any system. All elements have needs (which are to be provided by the system) and each element has a product or use utilized by the system. The system ought to be an organism unto itself. Every element ought to have a connection to every other element; every element performs many functions.
Weeds are niche openings. A niche is a hole in the ecosystem. So if you see weeds growing in your system it means there's a hole in the system. This is not to say that weeds are bad. Far from it, weeds can be great because they have wonderful nutritive and medicinal value, especially if they're wild harvested. Weeds are pioneer species that can tell you a lot about the soil and also about the plants that will grow will in the area. For example let's say you have a lot common dandelion weed (Taraxacum) growing. This means that the soil will be especially good for growing vegetables like lettuce, or chicory, because these plants are all in the same taxonomic tribe, Cichorieae. Or let's say there's lots of thistles growing. This tells you the soil is good for artichokes because thistles and artichokes are taxonomically similar.
Diversity is critical for a successful permaculture system. But do not make the mistake of promoting diversity for diversity's sake. Rather, follow the Principle of Stability: "It is not the number of diverse things in a design that leads to stability, it is the number of beneficial connections between these components." . Diversity in flora and fauna is critical to the long-term success, stability, and security of the system.
When you design your system you must factor into account energy, specifically, how to slow down entropy, and make efficient use of energy. The First Law of Thermodynamics says that energy is conserved, and not created nor destroyed, just changed from one form to another. Entropy is, simply put, the tendency towards chaos. So what we do in our permaculture systems is design them in a way to slow down this energy transfer as much as possible, to slow down the inevitable march towards entropy. A simple example would be a chicken coop and a garden. In an inefficient system (A) a person would have the chicken coop in one location, and the compost pile and garden across the yard and uphill in a different location. In an efficient, permaculture system (B) you'd have your chicken coop, and then the garden and compost pile would be placed adjacent, or even downsill, of the chicken coop, so you can efficiently spread the manure and compost in the garden. In the first design (A) you're using a lot of energy wheel-barrowing the manure and compost around to the garden. In the permaculture design (B) you're using minimal energy to do the same job, and thus slowing down entropy.
The following are the Mollisonian Permaculture Principles:
- Work with Nature rather than against natural elements.
- Don't force a particular element into a system. Allow the system to develop where it wants to.
- Ask, "What is the land most suited to?"
- The problem is the solution.
- Make the least change for the maximum effect.
- There is no limit to richness in a design, only the imagination of the designer.
- Everything gardens.


text:
In just 24 sessions of one hour or less, Sams Teach Yourself Maya® in 24 Hours will help you master Autodesk Maya 2014 and use it to create outstanding 3D graphics and animations. Using this book's straightforward, step-by-step approach, you'll master powerful Maya 2014 tools for modeling, texturing, rigging, animating, lighting, rendering, and more. Every lesson builds on what you've already learned, giving you a rock-solid foundation for real-world success!
Step-by-step instructions carefully walk you through the most common Maya tasks.
Quizzes and exercises test your knowledge of key Maya 2014 tools at the end of each hour.
Notes present interesting information related to the discussion.
Tips offer advice or show you easier
ways to perform tasks.
Learn how to…
Get comfortable with Autodesk Maya 2014's complex interface
Quickly access the Maya 2014 tools you need for any task
Efficiently manage your assets and files
Model with polygonal geometry and NURBS curves/surfaces
Unfold UVs and apply textures
Create node networks in the hypershade
Model highly realistic characters
Utilize relationships and make nodes work together
Rig your objects and characters for animation
Add animated movement to your scenes
Create and adjust cameras
Build diverse shapes with BlendShapes
Animate using dynamics and simulations
Script and automate common tasks
Improve realism with particles, hair/cloth effects, and more
Correctly light your scenes
Render your final imagery
Work effectively with film
Manage your projects and scene workflows more efficiently
On the DVD: The accompanying DVD contains how-to videos for dozens of key Maya 2014 tasks, extensive sample art and models, and additional bonus content.


text:
Submit a Critic ScoreClose
Foster Wine Estates Beringer Luxury Beringer Lux Alluvium Re 2005
Winemaker's Notes:
"Temperatures are kept cool throughout fermentation and just before the wine reaches dryness, winemakers bring it down even further, capturing the fresh white peach and fragrant honey character. The resulting wine has heady aromas of citrus and orange blossom leading in to rich flavors of stonefruit and spice. Semi-dry and spicy, this is a solid California gew?rztraminer, balanced between sweetness and just enough acidity to make it a good aperitif wine. "
Member Reviews for Foster Wine Estates Beringer Luxury Beringer Lux Alluvium ReAdd your review
deep bouquet, very earthy, with pepper, spicy fruits, oak, tobacco throughout. a shade less round in the mouth than the knights valley cabernet because of the soil tones, which is perhaps why the finish is just slightly less smooth as well. but overall, a pleasant evening wine in cooler weather.
Nice. Not a Beringer fan but it stood out over others in the Beringer family. Notes of damp soil, berries, oak, sweet tobacco.
Not the most complex, but great drinkability. Citrus & Tobacco notes on the palate, with a short & sweet (almost vanilla) finish. Let it breath & serve chilled before serving.
Three glasses
External Reviews for Foster Wine Estates Beringer Luxury Beringer Lux Alluvium Re
Wine Tasting NotesBright red fruit, plum, toffee and cedar aromas lead into a mouthful bursting with black cherry, coffee and blackberry flavors, with just a hint of fresh rosemary and spice. This wine has fleshy tannins giving an overall impression of plushness and depth to the wine.
Food Pairings for Foster Wine Estates Beringer Luxury Beringer Lux Alluvium Re
Orange-Scented Rice Pilaf with Fennel Recipe
Sicilian Vegetable Lasagna Recipe
Barley & Black-Eyed Pea Salad Recipe
- Show more recipes
Luxurious Four-Cheese Macaroni & Cheese Recipe
Orzo & Grilled Vegetable Salad with Feta, Olives & Oregano Recipe
Fennel Layered with Potatoes & Breadcrumbs (Tortiera di Finocchi e Patate) Recipe
Mashed Potatoes with Caramelized Shallots Recipe
Root Vegetable & Barley Soup with Bacon Recipe
Butternut Squash & Potato Gratin with Walnut Crust Recipe
Photos+ Add an Image for this wine
Best Wine Deals
$21.6917% offVaeni Damaskinos 2004
$16.9926% offKing Estate Pinot Gris 2014


text:
"Love Letters To My Queen Bride" are God's words to His Bride to heal, comfort, encourage, and edify her. Most of the words were received in a small group of worshipers who met weekly for years to purely worship God and receive His love. God's letters are divided into four sections. The four sections are titled Love for My Beloved, Healing for My Beloved, Comfort for My Beloved, and Direction for My Beloved. Our prayer is that by reading this book you will fully receive His love, comfort, healing, and direction.
Read More


text:
Go Ape & Forest Segway
Go Ape Tree Top Adventure and Forest Segway, Dalby Forest
Experience the classic Tree Top Adventure, Tree Top Junior and epic Forest Segway, all in Dalby Forest - they don't call this the Great Yorkshire Forest for nothing.
Go Ape Tree Top Adventure
Enjoy hill-to-hill zip wires with stunning views of the Vale of Pickering. Take to the tree-tops for an aerial adventure and see the fantastic Dalby Forest from a completely different perspective.
Ladders, walkways, bridges, tunnels, Tarzan swings and a series of adrenalin-pumping hill-top to hill-top zip wires will all get you from start to finish. It's an exhilarating experience and you'll pick up fascinating facts about trees and forests along the way too.
Also home to Tree Top Junior Adventure for Tiny Tarzans everywhere. Release your little monkeys onto a Go Ape course designed for them, perfect for explorers 6 years plus (over 1m) and is for all abilities!
So what are you waiting for? Let your hair down and get in touch with your inner Tarzan.
Go Ape Forest Segway
Get off the beaten track and explore the forest on the latest in green technology – self-balancing electric Segways.
From two legs to two wheels – the rugged all-terrain Segway will give you the ultimate forest experience!
Opening times
Forest doors are closed during December and January, reopening daily for February half-term, then weekends only until Easter. Check their website for the latest opening times.
- Visiting
- North York Moors Coast
- See and do
- Enjoy outdoors
- Walking
- Cycling
- Fell and road running
- Adventure activities
- Horse riding
- Wildlife watching
- Health and wellbeing
- On the water
- Organising events
- Shooting
- Golf
- Flat green bowling
- What's on
- Eat
- Made in...
- Sleep
- Travel and information
- Discover
- Looking after
- Planning
- About us


text:
James Walker: Veterans? Sometimes breaking the rules feels good
Like most people, I try to follow the rules and guidelines put forth by a business or organization.
But I admit, it doesn't always work. Sometimes, I find the rules senseless or more cumbersome than I am prepared to deal with — so I do what a lot of people do: break them.
And not for a second would I take back the rule I broke.
I don't remember the exact year, but sometime between 2001 and 2003 in the months leading up to Christmas, I heeded a call to volunteer at the veterans hospital in Newington.
I was sent to a ward where many of the veterans were elderly and propped up in wheelchairs.
I wasn't exactly sure what I would be doing but assumed I would be running errands around the hospital, reading to them or just listening to what they had to say.
But the biggest thing many of them wanted was to be taken outside.
There was one old veteran who was really kicking up a fuss.
He was either 92 or 94 years old; I have forgotten his age but for the sake of this column, I will use 92.
I was warned to tread lightly with him.
They were not lying. He was a cantankerous old guy with a foul mouth and nasty attitude. I guess that is why I so vividly remember our time together because it ended as a lesson in life.
I decided to take the old guy for some fresh air anyway. On any given day and under the right circumstances, that foul mouth and nasty disposition could come from me. I figured a lot of his attitude may have to do with his inability to get out of the wheelchair and move around freely.
Veterans may get good care at veterans hospitals, but they are dreary places to be. I haven't been in one yet that doesn't look and feel like it needs a serious upgrade and a fresh coat of paint.
So I didn't blame him for wanting to get a breather.
I was warned by the nurses not to give him a cigarette under any circumstance because of his health problems.
As we made our way through the hospital heading toward the exit doors, he kept up his stream of expletives as he damned any and everybody and everything — and he wasn't shy about who heard him.
I am a naval veteran and live in urban America, so foul language does not fall on virgin ears. But I had no intention of listening to his rant for the rest of our time together.
That's when I went veteran-to-veteran on him.
I read him the riot act and told him if he couldn't control himself, I would rather take him back to his ward. I told him to make a decision because there were other veterans who wanted fresh air who wouldn't give me a hard time.
His simply grunted but was quiet the rest of the way until we got outside.
"Give me a cigarette," he demanded.
I told him I couldn't do it.
"Give me a cigarette," he demanded again, his voice rising.
Again, I said I could not do it.
Then his whole attitude changed and that is when he went veteran-to-veteran on me.
"Look at me," he cried out. " I'm (92). What difference does it make? Come on, give me a cigarette."
There was something about what he said that made me hesitate. I had been looking at him as an elderly, feeble patient whose body was worn out, not as a man still in control of his faculties. Did I really have the right to tell him no? He was my elder and I was not his doctor. It may sound strange but I really felt wrong not giving him one. I kept hearing him say, he was 92.
So I pulled out my pack of Marlboros and gave him one.
His hand trembled as he took the cigarette and I lit it for him.
He took a deep drag — and then went into a coughing fit that almost stopped my heart.
He was coughing so hard the wheelchair was rattling back and forth and I was afraid he was going to go into cardiac arrest and die.
I knew I had made a big mistake by not listening to the nurses.
I rushed forward to take the cigarette from him and that's when I found out that 92 year old men still have a lot of spunk in them.
He started flailing his arms toward me, protesting "no, no, no."
He stared at me daringly as he took another deep drag, sucking it in like a Hoover, and went back into a coughing fit.
I really didn't know what to do at that point.
He must have seen fear on my face because between the coughs he started saying, "I'm all right. I'm all right."
And indeed, he was.
By the time he took the fourth puff, the coughing had settled down — and he was grinning from ear-to-ear as he looked at me. He had found a friend and he was no longer nasty and combative.
He even laughed — and smoked a second cigarette as we sat talking.
The next day when I returned to the ward, I suddenly had become a very popular volunteer.
Several veterans were eagerly waiting for me to take them outside — including the old guy with the nasty attitude.
"They really like you," one of the nurses remarked.
I took each one of them outside.
And yes, they all wanted a cigarette.
And yes, I gave them all one.
And no, I don't regret a minute of it.
Bad or habit or not, I know I put a smile on their faces and brought a little independence back to their lives as we smoked in solidarity.
Lessons in life come from many chalkboards and I learned a lesson from that old nasty guy.
What good is life at 92 if everything that gives you pleasure is taken away — whether it is good or bad for you? At that age, you really don't have long and in most cases, are even considered lucky to still be alive. So who cares if cigarettes are going to shave off a minute or two or send you into a coughing frenzy? What good is being alive if you have no voice?
My volunteer effort ended sometime during the week of Christmas. The veterans had pooled their money and brought me a really cool-looking sweater as a gift. I remember standing in that ward as they presented it to me with broad smiles on their faces. We were like little boys who had conspired to break the grown up rules and had gotten away with it.
But I doubt very seriously if I fooled any of the nursing staff at the hospital. Cigarettes carry a distinctive odor and in a non-smoking facility, the scent would really stand out.
But maybe secretly, the nurses agreed with what I was doing and decided to let it be. Maybe the rules and guidelines prevented them from doing the "human" thing for a group of old veterans, but they knew, it did not prevent me.
I don't if that is true or not — and quite frankly, I don't care.
Veterans? Sometimes breaking the rules feels good.
James Walker is the New Haven Register's senior editor and a statewide columnist for Hearst Connecticut newspapers. He can be reached at 203-680-9389 or email@example.com. @thelieonroars


text:
The family of Pink Floyd legend Syd Barrett have revealed they will donate a percentage of the money raised from the auction of his belongings to aid educational development.
The event will be held at Cheffins Auctioneers in Cambridge, the star's home city, on November 29. Barrett's family decided to auction his possessions following his death in July aged 60 from pancreatic cancer.
Among the items which will be auctioned off are a number of paintings – Barrett trained at Camberwell Art School in London before founding Pink Floyd in the Sixties. After becoming a virtual recluse in 1974, he returned to his first love.
More details on the auction can be found at Cheffins.co.uk.