text:
ALBANY. N.Y. -- As the New Year -- 2009 -- arrives, Albany begins the celebration of its discovery, Hudson 400. The year is filled with special events to mark the 400th anniversary of Dutch Explorer Henry Hudson's discovery in 1609 of what is now New York's Capital City. "Hudson 400 -- A Celebration of Discovery" has been named the #1 event in North America by the American Bus Association. "Hudson 400 is a wonderful opportunity to explore the Dutch heritage of Albany and the Capital Region," said Michele Vennard, president and CEO of the Albany County Convention & Visitors Bureau. "Albany has been planning for quite some time to guarantee it will be an unforgettable celebration," she said. Special concerts. A new exhibit at the New York State Museum. Even a new brew from Albany's C.H. Evans Brewery when The Poor Soldier opera (George Washington's favorite) is performed. And, much, much more! Let the 400th anniversary celebration begin! For the most up-to-date information about these and other special events -- as well as details on special Getaway Packages in New York's Capital City -- visit www.albany.org. *********************************** Thru 2/8/2009 Light on New Netherland -- Hudson 400 New York State Museum Empire State Plaza Albany, NY (518) 474-5877 The exhibit examines the how and of the Dutch influence on the part of North America known as New Netherland. that is s both impressive and long term. Although the Dutch hold on the area was tenuous and brief, the exhibit examines a number of areas of their influence including the West India Company, Fort Orange, and Beverwyck, relations with Native Americans, slavery and Dutch legacy. 1/1/2009 New Year´s Day Open House Albany County Historical Association-Ten Broeck Mansion 9 Ten Broeck Place Albany, NY 12210-2524 (518) 436-9826 Times: 1-4 p.m. Admission: Free. Start the New Year with a visit to the Mansion´s Open House, and then continue on with traditional visiting to homes of family and friends to wish all a Happy and Healthy New Year! ****************************************** Thru 1/4/2009 Impressionist Giverny Albany Institute of History & Art 125 Washington Avenue Albany, NY 12210 (518) 463-4478 firstname.lastname@example.com IMPRESSIONIST GIVERNY traces the chronological, stylistic and thematic evolution of art produced in the village, the village where Claude Monet lived and painted. ****************************************** 1/2/2009 1st Friday in Albany Starting at Upstate Artists Guild 247 Lark Street Albany, NY (518) 426-3501 Times: 4-8 p.m. Admission: Free. Board the Albany Trolley and visit numerous gallery openings, one-night shows, local shops and restaurants. *********************************** 1/2, 3, 17, 21, 23& 24 /2009 Albany River Rats Hockey Home Ice Times Union Center 51 S Pearl St Albany, NY 12207 (518) 487-2000 Time: 7 p.m. Admission: Varies. ************************************** 1/3/2009 Salutations of the Season Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site 32 Catherine St Albany, NY 12202 (518) 434-0834 Times: 3-7 p.m. Experience an 18th-century Twelfth Night fete as may have been celebrated by the Schuyler family. Through special tours, live music, dancing, and wassail toasts, we recreate this festive atmosphere, enabling visitors to revel in the holiday traditions of Albany´s past. Tours begin at 3:00 pm; tours on the half-hour and the last tour begins at 6:30 pm. Reservations required! **************************************** 1/1, 4, 9.24.26 & 29/2009 Siena Basketball Times Union Center 51 S Pearl St Albany, NY 12207 (518) 487-2000 Times: Vary. Admission: Varies. **************************************** 1/9/2009-1/18/2009 RENT: School Edition Cohoes Music Hall 58 Remsen St Cohoes, NY 12047 (518) 237-5858 Times: 3 p.m. on 1/11 and 1/18; 8 p.m. all other dates Admission: $15 adults; $10 students Jonathan Larson's Pulitzer Prize winning Broadway musical is loosely based on Puccini's La Boheme. *************************************** 1/15/2009 Pro Beach Volleyball Times Union Center 51 S Pearl St Albany, NY 12207 (518) 487-2000 Time: 7 p.m. Admission: Varies Fresh off the road to gold in Beijing, some of the USA's best players hit the sand indoors. *************************************** 1/22/2009 Toby Keith: Biggest and Baddest Tour Times Union Center 51 S Pearl St Albany, NY 12207 (518) 487-2000 Time: 7:30 p.m. Admission: Varies ************************************** 1/23/2009 Joshua Redman Trios The Egg Empire State Plaza Albany, NY 12223 (518) 473-1845 Admission: $28.00. One of the most acclaimed and charismatic jazz artists of our time, saxophonist Joshua Redman brings his extraordinary improvisational skills to The Egg in a unique performance leading two different trios – one with drummer Brian Blade and bassist Larry Grenadier and one featuring Gregory Hutchinson on drums and Reuben Rogers on bass. Sponsored by Time Warner Cable and EXIT 97.7 WEXT ************************************** 1/25/2009-2/22/2009 The Biggest Little International Play Festival 2Capital Repertory Theatre 111 North Pearl Street Albany, NY 12207 (518) 462-4531 Times: Vary. Let us bring you the world: hot issues, a world premiere, new artists, variety...Cap Rep has something for everyone. ************************************** 1/17/2009 Rising Stars Albany Symphony Orchestra @ the Palace Theatre 19 Clinton Ave Albany, NY 12207 (518) 465-4755 Time: 7:30 p.m. The ASO's "new talent" search uncovered some amazing emerging artists who will inspire and thrill you on their way to becoming the superstars of tomorrow. 15 year old violin virtuoso, William Hagen and 15 year old pianist, Sijing Ye. Tap Dance Concerto and an astounding group of string students, the Chimeng Quartet of Bard College, will perform with the ASO. ****************************************** 1/23/2009 thru 2/22/2009 No Child Capital Repertory Theatre 111 North Pearl Street Albany, NY 12207 (518) 462-4531 email@example.com Times: Vary. Admission: $34.00/$46.00 No Child is a tour-de-force exploration of the New York public school system. The teachers, students, parents, administrators, janitors, and security guards who inhabit our schools and shape the future of America are fearlessly brought to the stage with rapid fire and precise succession. ****************************************** 1/23/2009 - 1/25/2009 Poor Soldier Opera Schenectady County Community College (518) 377-3623 Times and prices vary. Musicians of Ma´alwyck, the music department of the Schenectady County Community College, with a cast from NYC and the Glimmerglass Opera companies, and a 22-piece orchestra, perform 1783 British opera, The Poor Soldier -- George Washington's favorite. As part of the Hudson 400 celebration, the C.H. Evans Brewing Co. at the Albany Pump Station is crafting historic ale in honor of the celebration and the opera, called The Poor Soldier Ale -- a recipe based on 18th century ales. ******************************************** 1/25/2009 Albany Symphony Orchestra Presents "Raiders of the Lost Symphony" Palace Performing Arts Center 19 Clinton Avenue Albany, NY 12207 (518) 465-3334 Time: 3 p.m. Admission: Varies Conductor David Alan Miller introduces young audiences to the world of symphonic music. ************************************************* 1/29/2009 The Pretenders in Concert Palace Performing Arts Center 19 Clinton Avenue Albany, NY 12207 (518) 465-3334 Time: 8 p.m. Admission: Varies ************************************************* 1/31/2008 US Hot Rod Association Thunder Nationals Times Union Center 51 S Pearl St Albany, NY 12207 (518) 487-2000 Time: 2 p.m. & 7 p.m. Admission: Varies Big-time monster truck racing indoors at the arena. ******************************************** 1/31/2009 Ronald K. Brown/Evidence with The Nnenna Freelon Quintet The Egg Empire State Plaza Albany, NY 12223 (518) 473-7773 Time: 8 p.m. Admission: $28 (adult), $24 (senior), $14 (child) Acclaimed choreographer Ronald K. Brown and his African dance rooted modern company, Evidence ,interpret the timeless music of one of the greatest jazz singers in history in "Blueprint of a Lady: The Once and Future Life of Billie Holiday" – with live music performed on stage by one of today's finest vocalists, five-time Grammy award nominee ,Nnenna Freelon, and her quintet. *********************************** On-Going Events Thru 12/13/2008 UnchartedUniversity at Albany Art Museum 1400 Washington Avenue Albany, NY 12222 (518) 442-4035 Times: Hours: Tuesday – Friday, 10am-5pm; Saturday, Sunday, Noon-4pm Using Henry Hudson's expeditions as its metaphoric point of departure, this group exhibition considers journeys of discovery depicted by between six to eight contemporary artists working in a range of media. *********************************** Thru 4/1/2009 Sculpture in the Streets Throughout Downtown AlbanyContact: Downtown Albany BID 522 Broadway Albany, NY 12207(518) 465-2143 firstname.lastname@example.com Downtown Albany's highly successful outdoor public art installation returns with all-new contemporary sculptures from local and regional artists. Kicking off at a gala Garden Party fundraiser on June 13, 2008, the exhibition will feature up to 20 large-scale works of art placed throughout downtown's streets, parks and other public spaces. Presented by the Downtown Albany BID and Kivort Steel. ***************************************
### CONTACT: Michele Vennard, President and CEOAlbany County Convention & Visitors Bureau
(518) 434-1217 x300, email@example.com


text:
Haruka Nanami's videos and photos for iPhone
Japanese gravure idol Haruka Nanami released a new iPhone app that includes 8 videos and 40 photos of her in sexy bikinis. All come in a 78 MB download for $2.99.
Haruka Nanami is from Tokyo. She was born on March 10, 1978. Her body's BWH proportion is 93 – 59 – 86 cm while her height is 165 cm. Haruka began her modeling career as a race queen in 1998. After she gained popularity, Haruka began releasing sexy DVDs and photo books. She has released over 20 DVDs so far.
Leave a Comment
Be the first to comment!

subset: commoncrawl


text:
You have no items in your shopping cart.
Charvel launches its new flagship USA Select series with the San Dimas® Style 2 HH FR. It taps straight into original-era Charvel DNA for a sleek, ferocious model with "old-school throwback" specs our high-performance players have been clamoring for, such as '80s-style body perimeters, finely shaped neck profiles, fast compound radius fingerboards with rolled edges, non-recessed Floyd Rose® bridges, and more.
Other specifications included:
For more information on the Charvel USA Select San Dimas Style 2 HH FR, please contact us.
|Serial Number


text:
Growing as our community and state have grown since 1922, Smithville is now Indiana's largest independent telecommunications broadband provider!
In 1969 we began to invest more than ever in our region and acquired 12 exchanges. By 1991, all of those exchanges were digital! Our fiber-optic ring also entered service in 1991, linking together the Ellettsville digital switching center, Stanford digital switching center, Smithville digital switching center, and Indiana Bell Bloomington facilities.
By 1998, Smithville started offering long-distance service, and in 2000 we began offering DSL services to our customers. Our newest division, Smithville Digital, was launched in 2004, providing the most sophisticated technological services for businesses and their networking needs.
No matter how we grow or change, Smithville remains connected to our roots in our communities and our state!
Smithville takes pride in being part of the community that it serves.
Responsible for the first interactive full motion distance learning hookup in the state by tying Eastern High School in Greene County to Edgewood High School in Monroe County, Smithville helped these schools teach German to both sets of students at one time.
From staying connected with local events to keeping up with the advancing telecommunication technologies, Smithville keeps in touch with the world around it, all while maintaining a sense of local pride.
Participating with and supporting our customers and neighbors is a part of Smithville's service philosophy. Our commitment is more than just providing services for you, your family or your business!
We live in the communities we serve, so you know that you're talking to someone who can understand your needs and connect the dots to your solution. We believe in being a good neighbor by giving back to the people we serve by donating money AND time to local schools, Little Leagues and other community sports, our local libraries, and arts and music programs!
As a company and family owned business for over 80 years, our values are rooted in the communities we serve. We are invested in all aspects of the community from economic development to arts and charities.
Learn more about the Smithville Charitable Foundation online at http://smithvillefoundation.org


text:
Broughton, 41, looked like a sure bet to go far: a West Point graduate, 114 combat missions in Korea, commander of the USAF Thunderbirds aerial demonstration team, commander of an air defense interceptor squadron, combat ready in every fighter from the P-47 to the F-106, and promoted to colonel in June 1964 with only 19 years of commissioned service.
At Takhli, he was vice commander of the 355th Tactical Fighter Wing, one of the two Thud wings in Thailand engaged in Route Pack Six, the part of North Vietnam where the air defenses were thickest and most lethal. Broughton often led a combined strike force of F-105s from his own wing and from the 388th TFW at Korat AB, Thailand.
F-105 Thuds hammer enemy positions in this Air Force Art Collection painting by Jim Laurier. In the distance is "Thud Ridge," the small mountain range that screened the aircraft's approach to Hanoi.
Almost 50 years later, Broughton is well known for his combat memoir, Thud Ridge, which has been in print continuously since publication in 1969, with about half a million copies sold. The title refers to a string of small mountains that screened the F-105's approach to Hanoi. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), who flew missions in Route Pack Six as a Navy pilot before he was shot down and captured, calls Thud Ridge the "single best day-to-day account of combat flying in Vietnam."
The book ends on a cryptic note, recounting an action of which Lt. Gen. William W. Momyer, commander of 7th Air Force, said, "The only thing that he [Broughton] did not do to accomplish his mission was to kill himself in the effort; and but for his superior airmanship and guts he would have done that. I recommend Colonel Broughton be awarded the Air Force Cross."
However, as Broughton said in Thud Ridge, "It didn't work out that way. Two of my majors were accused of strafing a Russian ship near Haiphong as they fought for their lives. I fought for them with all of my might and instead of my getting a second Air Force Cross, all three of us received a general court-martial. That is quite a story in itself and one of these days I may tell that story, too."
It would be another 20 years, though, before the full story was disclosed.
The Vietnam War was managed in detail from Washington, with combat effectiveness undercut by limited objectives, gradual escalation, and measured responses. In particular, President Lyndon B. Johnson and his Secretary of Defense, Robert S. McNamara, were distrustful and fearful of airpower. Johnson agonized over the questionable proposition that aggressive use of airpower might draw China or the Soviet Union into the war. To guard against any such provocation, airmen were saddled with an elaborate list of rules of engagement.
Make No Mistake
"The ROE consisted of a one-inch-thick stack of legal-length paper, hung vertically in a manila folder," Broughton said. "The clasp at the top allowed for the constant changes that could be recommended by anyone up the chain of command who made more than 40 cents an hour. We were required to sign off that we had read and understood all of them before we were allowed to head north for the first time. Recertification was a periodic requirement."
The rules came in two categories: geographical areas that could not be struck and conditions under which enemy forces could not be attacked.
"Alongside Thud Ridge—a north-south mountain range lying between our bases in Thailand and Hanoi—was the MiG fighter base at Phuc Yen," Broughton said. "We would fly inbound en route to Hanoi, and I would have, say, five flights of fighters—four aircraft to each flight. And as I would approach Phuc Yen I would watch the MiGs come out and taxi to the end of the runway and run their engines up and get ready for takeoff. Now, I could have dumped my nose right then and got four MiGs on the ground on almost every mission up there. But I couldn't touch them. ... So I would go past the airfield and the MiGs would roll for takeoff and be on the tail of my last flight and in position to shoot down whomever they wanted to."
In previous wars, rules of engagement were routinely ignored. In Korea, for example, US pilots were forbidden to cross into Soviet or Chinese territory, even in hot pursuit of enemy aircraft, but most of them did it anyway. Border crossers were punished lightly, if at all.
Jack Broughton removes his gloves after a mission over Hanoi in 1967.
On June 2, 1967, Jack Broughton ran afoul of the rules of engagement, with disastrous consequences for his Air Force career. The wing commander was away on a trip and Broughton was the acting commander. He had flown a mission that day. After landing, he attended to some paperwork and went to the officers club to eat, still in his flight suit. During dinner, he was called outside by two of his pilots, Maj. Frederick G. Tolman and Maj. Alonzo L. Ferguson, who had just landed and were greatly worried.
Others in their chain of command—their squadron commander and the deputy for operations—were new. Broughton was known as a stand-up boss. The bond was special because on a previous mission, Tolman had "wiped out a large gun emplacement that was in the process of shooting me out of the sky," Broughton said.
On June 2, they had flown as Weep Three and Four, with Tolman as flight leader and Ferguson as wingman. Tolman told Broughton he may have hit a ship at Cam Pha harbor while suppressing fire from anti-aircraft guns. Cam Pha was North Vietnam's auxiliary port and like Haiphong, 40 miles to the south, off limits under the ROE. Guns—some of them in the protected area, some just outside the restricted lines—routinely shot at F-105s both inbound to targets and outbound. They fired at Tolman and Ferguson on their way to their target that day and Tolman, noting the exact location, planned to "hit them a lick" later.
On their return, they swept down on Cam Pha in a high-speed strafing run, Tolman in the lead. Fire from the ground was heavy and accurate. As Tolman hosed the gun emplacements with his cannon, he suddenly saw a ship in the center of the activity in the harbor. The F-105s climbed for altitude and headed south. The entire encounter with the ship took place in about five seconds.
The ship would be central in the gun camera images but the field of focus was too narrow for the film to show the ground fire coming up from all sides. For reasons of weather, Tolman and Ferguson diverted to refuel at Ubon, where they were taken to a mandatory intelligence debriefing. Shaken, Tolman denied firing his cannon. That was a false official statement on the record and there was no way to call it back. Ferguson was also implicated by not objecting.
Broughton saw instantly that the gun camera film was the only evidence the ship had been fired upon. "I could either follow the established procedures and they would be court-martialed for firing on an unauthorized target and making false official statements, or I could do something about it," he said.
He made a quick decision. "Over the years, I have had hundreds of suggestions as to how I could have reacted differently, but none of the advice givers [were] there," he said.
He called the sergeant running the film crew and told him to bring the film to him. There, outside the club, he had the sergeant open the containers, pull out the film, and expose it in the headlights of the truck.
"I could have let that film go through its normal channels and thrown Ted and Lonnie to the wolves," he said. "I would have been clean, but I would have surrendered any possibility of further action on my part."
A reconnaissance photo of Cam Pha harbor. Anti-aircraft fire—from the sites circled in red—prompted return fire from two pilots under Broughton's command. Their encounter there changed Broughton's Air Force career.
At 2 a.m., Gen. John D. Ryan, commander in chief of Pacific Air Forces, called with an instruction to "check and see if there is any possibility that Kingfish Four could have bombed a ship in the Haiphong area this afternoon and call me back immediately." Broughton reported, "There is no possibility that Kingfish Four could have bombed a ship."
He did not volunteer any further information.
Ryan Presses the Search
The next day, the Soviets complained their merchant vessel, Turkestan, had been bombed in the roadstead at Cam Pha and said they had recovered an unexploded 20 mm shell from the damage on the ship. "The 105 does not eject fired shell casings," Broughton said. "It spits everything that passes through the firing cycle into a big can in the nose of the aircraft and stores the brass there until the can is unloaded on the ground." The shell in evidence was probably taken from the wreckage of an F-105 somewhere in North Vietnam.
The Pentagon denied a US attack on the ship. "The incident was quieting down and becoming yesterday's crisis," said Phil G. Goulding, chief spokesman for the Department of Defense. "The press, swept up in other news events and particularly the Middle East War, did not pursue it."
The issue remained alive "because General Ryan wouldn't let the Turkestan go away," Broughton said. "He spent the next two weeks crisscrossing the Pacific with a C-135 full of PACAF detectives, personally searching for an answer."
Ryan confronted Broughton at Takhli June 17, this time asking his question more broadly. Broughton told him that the two-ship element he was looking for was Weep Three and Four and that he, Broughton, had destroyed the film.
Broughton was relieved of duty immediately and by Ryan's specific order put into a holding pattern as special assistant to the combat support group commander. Ryan denied the request of the wing commander that Broughton be made special assistant to him instead. Ryan insisted that it be the combat support group commander, several years junior to Broughton and formerly his subordinate.
The Pentagon conceded US warplanes may have struck the Soviet freighter with cannon fire aimed at anti-aircraft guns protecting the port. A few days later, on June 29, two Navy fighters attacked the Soviet ship Mikhail Frunze in Haiphong harbor. The Defense Department announced that damage to the vessel was "inadvertent," and that was the end of that. The Navy showed no interest in prosecuting its pilots for violating the ROE.
Broughton (r) briefs President John Kennedy on air defense issues in 1963, while the head of Air Defense Command, Gen. Robert Lee, listens. Broughton was then commander of the 5th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron.
The specific accusations were destruction of seven rolls of government film and "willfully, with intent to deceive" concealing a "material fact" by exposing the undeveloped film. The potential penalty was dismissal from service with loss of pay and allowances, including retirement benefits, and 12 years or more in prison.
The pretrial investigation, required by UCMJ Article 32 before a general court-martial, recommended summary nonjudicial punishment with reprimands and fines imposed.
This was overruled by higher headquarters, citing "breach of moral code" and directing a court-martial.
The venue for the court-martial was Clark Air Base in the Philippines, headquarters of 13th Air Force. By the strange organizational setup in Southeast Asia, the wings in Thailand were under the operational control of 7th Air Force in Saigon but reported to 13th Air Force for everything else.
Seventh Air Force, the combat headquarters, had no part in the trial. However, among those ready to support Broughton without regard to possible consequences was Maj. Gen. Gordon M. Graham, vice commander of 7th Air Force, who said Broughton's past accomplishments, courage, and leadership should "transcend any isolated errors in judgment made under the stress of combat."
Few people other than those directly involved knew the time and place of the trial. Some material introduced in evidence was classified top secret. "That meant portions of the trial would have to be closed sessions, and it meant that air policemen had to guard the doors of the auditorium," Broughton said.
The defendants immediately upset the apple cart with preemptory challenges that removed the designated president of the court-martial and two others and left Col. Charles E. Yeager, one of the best known fighter pilots in the world, as president of the court.
"When it came down to finding a colonel who was senior to Jack to head his court-martial board, every bird colonel in Southeast Asia ducked for cover," Yeager said. "It was a damned mess and no bird colonel, hoping to be promoted to general some day, wanted to be involved. Everybody from the Joint Chiefs down wanted to nail Broughton and his pilots and make them examples. Nobody wanted to displease the Chief of Staff, but nobody wanted to nail Jack, either, because most of us sympathized."
Col. Robin Olds, commander of the F-4 wing at Ubon, challenged himself off the court on the grounds of prior knowledge. He later said that Ryan, who "was conducting the investigation himself," had discussed the case with him.
Broughton gets a snappy sendoff from his crew chief as he heads out for a mission over Hanoi.
Also serving on the court was Col. Harry C. Aderholt, commander of the 56th Air Commando Wing at Nakhon Phanom AB, Thailand, noted for his combat orientation and standing up for his aircrews. Returning to the base after the trial, he told his pilots, "I've just come from the most disgusting episode of my life. I have seen a great injustice done. If you go out and hit the wrong target and mess up badly and come back here, don't you tell anybody."
On Oct. 15, the Miami Herald told a curious story in a Copley News Service dispatch filed from Hong Kong. It quoted an unnamed witness whose "report is accepted as genuine in diplomatic circles here." The witness said he had visited Turkestan and seen the holes in the upper and lower bridge. The entry of the bullets had been horizontal rather than at an angle and the holes varied in size from 15 mm to 40 mm.
The indication was that it was the North Vietnamese gunners, trying to hit the low-flying airplanes, who raked the ship.
Following the court-martial, Broughton was assigned to the Weapon System Evaluation Group in Washington, D.C. It was an undemanding job and he had time on his hands. He used it to work on the book that would become Thud Ridge and on his appeal.
The court-martial was set aside in July 1968 by the Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records, which said the felony conviction was disproportionate, especially when Broughton's shortcomings were measured against his outstanding service in combat. The offense was more in keeping with nonjudicial punishment under UCMJ Article 15, as the Article 32 investigation had recommended. The board dismissed the court-martial findings in favor of an Article 15, with forfeiture of $300 for two months and admonishment.
An officer assigned to observe the proceedings told Broughton that one of the reviewers had said (although it was not made part of the record) the court-martial was the "grossest miscarriage of military justice he had ever seen."
Upon getting the news of the board's finding, Broughton applied for retirement forthwith and left the Air Force on Aug. 31. "I found it interesting that in the entire history of the United States flying forces, only one other officer had ever had a general court-martial set aside and voided. His name was Billy Mitchell," Broughton said.
Thud Ridge was published in 1969, with an introduction by Hanson W. Baldwin, a longtime military editor of the New York Times. There have been six US editions so far, and it has been translated into several foreign languages. Broughton's second book, Going Downtown: The War Against Hanoi and Washington, came out in 1988, with a foreword by Tom Wolfe. It was Broughton at his fiery best and, for the first time, told the story of the Turkestan incident and the court-martial.
Reversal and Rehabilitation
Broughton readies for a mission in Maxine McCaffrey's famous painting. The artist was deeply impressed by Broughton and the respect he garnered from his fellow pilots.
Among those who believed in Broughton all along was Maxine McCaffrey, best known of the artists who documented the Vietnam War. During the time Broughton was fighting to get his court-martial negated, her painting of him hung in the Pentagon E Ring, outside the office of Gen. Bruce K. Holloway, the vice chief of staff and an old fighter ace.
In her notes to accompany the painting, McCaffrey said, "At the several squadrons at all three bases I heard much about Col. Jack Broughton from the pilots themselves. It seems they had a rare kind of respect for this man who wouldn't send his men where he didn't fly himself. ... Broughton fought for them to live. They admired him, respected him, feared him, and loved him."
In 1997, the Chief of Staff, Gen. Ronald R. Fogleman, established a professional reading program for Air Force members. There were 34 books, of which 13—Thud Ridge among them—were designated as the "basic list." The Air Force ordered 10,000 copies and gave one to every junior officer upon promotion to captain. In 2009, Broughton was one of the noted airmen honored at the Air Command and Staff College's Gathering of Eagles.
"There have been hundreds and hundreds of letters and calls of support over the years, and I still get them," Broughton said. He continues to speak and write. His most recent book, in 2007, was Rupert Red Two, covering his career before Vietnam and his postretirement activities. Rupert Red Two was his call sign as a P-47 wingman in Germany on his first operational assignment in 1946.
"Jack Broughton was the finest combat leader at Takhli during my time there," said Leo K. Thorsness, leader of the wing's Wild Weasel SAM hunters, a POW for six years, and recipient of the Medal of Honor. "He was a leader who led with brains and guts. All pilots have some good traits; Jack had them all. But one of his greatest strengths—supporting his pilots—was his downfall.
"Combining Jack Broughton's leadership talent in getting the most out of his men, never asking his pilots to fly a mission he would not fly, and leading the toughest missions into Route Pack Six made Jack Broughton a combat legend," said Thorsness. "I am proud to have served with him."
Daily Report: Read the day's top news on the US Air Force, airpower, and national security issues.
Tweets by @AirForceMag


text:
"A Walk Through Time" On Rim Rock Drive
Sunday, August 29, 2010
The event starts at 8:00 a.m. and continues through 1:00 p.m., when the public is invited to walk, stroll, jog, or bicycle along 14 miles of Rim Rock Drive without motorized traffic. Canine friends will be welcome, but must stay on a short leash at all times and remain on paved areas. Pet waste must be cleaned up by owners. No dogs are allowed on the monument's trails. Rollerblades, skateboards, and scooters are not permitted.
The event will start and finish at the visitor center complex located 4 miles into the park from the West Entrance Station at Fruita, CO. Event parking will be located in the Saddlehorn Picnic Area parking lot. Regular entrance fees will be charged, cars $7.00 and bicyclists who bicycle in $4.00.
Rim Rock Drive will be closed to all motorized traffic from the visitor center to the intersection of DS Road/East Glade Park Road between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. The closure includes one hour before and after the event. Park access will be closed at West Glade Park Road/ 6 1/2 Road throughout the event.Rim Rock Drive from the park's West Entrance Station to the visitor center will remain open to motorized traffic all day. The East Hill of Rim Rock Drive to the DS Road intersection will remain open to motorized traffic throughout the day.
The Colorado National Monument Association is co-sponsoring this event to raise awareness and support for the Monument's Centennial in 2011. Donations will support future centennial celebration events. Donate $5 or more and receive an official Centennial commemorative pin.
Community Hospital will be hosting Tour of the Valley along Rim Rock Drive in conjunction with this event. Tour of the Valley bicyclists will be traveling on bikes from the East Entrance across Rim Rock Drive and out the West Entrance.
For more information, call 970-858-3617, ext. 364.
A Walk Through Time poster
Last updated: November 30, 2012


text:
You are currently browsing the category archive for the 'motherhood' category.
Do you follow These Little Moments on Facebook? Make sure you head over and like it. At the rate I update this page it's probably the only way you will know when there's a new post!
I survey the situation from my place on the couch, the cup of coffee I've already reheated three times cold again in my hand. The floor is littered with Matchbox cars, discarded stickers and various bits and pieces of other toys. Dog hair tumbleweeds around the furniture. I need to vacuum, but that would require buying some new vacuum bags, and if we're being honest, last week I just pulled some old hair out of the last bag to make some room. The breakfast dishes are still in the sink; bloated, milk-logged Cheerios floating amongst coffee grounds.
It's 8 o'clock in the morning. The older boys are still playing fairly well together, though very loudly, but I know the clock is ticking. Some time in the next 45 minutes their bro love will expire and they will transform into shrieking bear cubs tackling each other (and getting covered in dog hair). I know I should get up and start getting us ready for our day. The baby is napping — thank goodness — though it's taken much longer to get him down than it did even a week ago. He needed to nurse more, had to poop, wanted to check out the world around him. When I nuzzled his neck before placing him in the crib, I noticed he smelled faintly of parmesan. I make a mental note to wash away the traces of spit up when he wakes up.
I'm tired. Six weeks of middle-of-the-night baby time coupled with refereeing the older two is catching up with me. The bags under my eyes can no longer be hidden by makeup. I avoid showing my face when we Skype with my mom so I don't have to hear her say I look tired. I know I look tired. I AM tired.
I hurl myself up and head to my room. The clothing situation is bleak. I throw on a clean(ish) nursing bra, one of the few shirts that doesn't emphasize the postpartum middle fluff, and a pair of stretchy shorts I got at Walmart for $3.77. I do my best attempt at eye circle coverage, and twist my hair into a top knot.
I return to the living room just in time to catch the tail-end of an argument over…blocks? A truck? World peace? I don't even know. Whatever the reason, it involves shrieking, and I end up yelling at them to just leave your brother alone already! before hustling them into clothes and out the front door. Go. Play. Now. I reheat my coffee for the fourth time and join them outside.
They play. Eventually I hear Drew stirring and go to retrieve him. He screams bloody murder as I change his diaper (how DARE I?), but is content when we settle into the Adirondack chair to nurse. As we do, I occasionally have to shoo his brothers away from him, telling them to get out of his face while he's eating. Repeat this process all day.
I know how this sounds. It sounds like I'm not so much into this three kid thing. Truthfully, it's hard. It's harder than I thought it would be. We are finding our groove and it's certainly getting more manageable, but still. For every easy hour there are a handful of tough ones. The biggest challenge? I'm just totally outnumbered. It's nearly impossible to attend to everyone at once. I just don't have enough hands!
Despite all that, this three kids thing is also pretty spectacular. Owen and Ryan absolutely adore Drew. The first thing Ryan asks for every morning is "Baby Dooooo", and Owen has really begun to shine in his role as Biggest Brother. And Drew? Oh, my littlest boy. He is pure sweetness and everything that is good. He's a bit fussier than I would like, but he sleeps fairly decently and graces us with big gummy smiles and coos. And when he doesn't smell like parmesan, he smells pretty delicious.
I know eventually the postpartum pounds will drop away, I will sleep through the night again, and my boys will graduate from shouting "THAT'S MINE!" to at least not needing me to referee every fight. I know this is a season in life and one day I will look back on it wistfully. So I am doing my best to stay in the moment and navigate with grace.
Unshowered, sleepy, occasionally grumpy grace, but grace none-the-less.
It's been a long time since I stopped by here. No excuses or anything, it just is what it is. Let's just dive right in then, shall we?
Today I am 35-weeks pregnant with our third little guy. I feel fortunate that aside from a really crummy first trimester and the fact that I caught every single illness Owen brought home from preschool this endless winter, this has actually been my easiest pregnancy yet. I'm sleeping, I'm not really waddling, I've gained less weight than before and aches and pains have been minimal. Maybe this one knows I can't possibly handle feeling like crap while chasing the boys around.
I am officially out of cool weather maternity clothes that don't make me look like a sausage casing, though, so if this warm weather could stick around I would be grateful.
With five weeks to go (and I truly anticipate him staying in the whole five weeks. My babies tend to stick it out till the end.), it's only just starting to hit me that he's coming. Soon. Someone recently asked me if I was ready for him. I stared at her a few seconds and then said, I guess I will buy some diapers soon. And…wash some baby clothes? I mean, I do want to set up his nursery and all that jazz. It just hasn't hit me as pressing yet. Talk to me next week and I might be singing a different tune. I always pack my "just in case" hospital bag at 36 weeks. You know, in case. I won't need it, though.
As much as I'm excited for him to be here, I'm also not in any rush. Just like I wanted to savor the last days of our family of three before Ryan was born, I am feeling that way again. Before This Little Baby 3 arrives, I want time with my boys. My boys, who alternately drive me crazy and make me want to smother them with love.
Owen, at nearly four, is a BOY now. A smart and curious boy who is writing letters and trying to sound out words. A boy who joined a soccer team and has blossomed in preschool. He is an amazing big brother to Ryan and I am so excited to see him do it again at this age. He is excited for "his" baby and all the help he can give. While he continues to give me tons of "threenager" attitude and challenges my parenting daily, I am overwhelmed with love when I look at him. He is truly an awesome kid.
At almost 22 months, Ryan is in one of my favorite stages. While he definitely exhibits some Terrible Twos-like behavior, overall he is fantastic. His language has really exploded and he talks to us all day long. Everything is "why?", and he wants to do absolutely everything Owen does. Monkey see, monkey do. Because of this, he has already climbed onto Owen's bike, is fearless in most endeavors, and would run head-first onto the soccer field if I let him. After a little rocky transition into a new room, we also moved the boys in together to free up the nursery. After the first month I can say for certain that it was the right idea. They bonded so much more and adore having each other there.
Ryan is my mama's boy. He will be going a mile a minute, then instantly stop to climb in my lap for a snuggle. I know from experience he will adjust when the baby arrives, especially since he has Owen, but I do worry about him a little bit more. I worry about his transition from baby to big brother, from youngest to middle child. Hopefully it goes well!
I'm so lucky to be mommy to these boys.
And I know the gift of a sibling is the best thing I can give them. Come June, my lap and heart are just going to be so full. I can't wait.
I had a moment last week where I totally broke down. After a day of irritability to the extreme — everyone and everything was making me cranky — I lay in my bed and sobbed until the tears ran dry. There really was no one reason for it; more of an accumulation of things from of a really hard, really long month. I just felt done.
Immediately after returning to school after winter break, Owen came down with a horrible cough. He would be unable to catch his breath and as a result, he would throw up. In the kitchen, on the couch, in his bed. It lasted a week, and despite my best efforts to sanitize every thing he touched/looked at, it wasn't long before I started to feel run down. Without getting TOO whiny about it, my cold turned into a sinus infection that completely and totally put me out of commission. I'm not exaggerating when I say I would rather give birth than have a sinus infection. Especially when you can't take any good drugs. At the height of it, I parented from the couch, moving only to put on another movie for the boys or go in search of some snacks for them. They ate pancakes for dinner twice in a row because the thought of getting up to make an actual meal was exhausting. Despite all the help he gave when he could, Michael had to work. No way around it. So it was just me and the kids and oh yeah, a polar vortex that kept us housebound and closed school more times than I could count. To say we were going stir crazy was an understatement. Ryan came down with his own version of the cold sometime in the middle of this. I'm really, truly done with kid snot. Really.
In total, at least one of us — mostly me — were sick for an entire month. It wasn't until last week when I was finally able to take a strong breath, smell things and taste my food. It took a toll on us. As a mother, I felt like a failure. I was tired, grumpy, yelling. We did nothing fun. The boys fought and wrestled and yelled. Ryan climbed things and threw cars at his brother. Owen was defiant and pushed boundaries and yelled no all day long.
For a month, all I felt was guilt. I felt guilty when I sighed with relief after dropping Owen off at school, guilt for looking forward to nap time and bedtime like it was Christmas day. Guilt over the amount of television they were watching. (SO MUCH TV.) I felt guilty for not even smiling when Michael came in the door because I was just too burnt out. I was stretched thin and began to panic. If I feel this way now, how am I going to feel come June? Another baby, another little person with needs. That straw broke the camel's back, and the tears came.
I woke up the following morning feeling better. Nothing was resolved, but it felt like a new day. A day where I could make a change. Now that I was healthy, it was time to work on my behavior and how I was relating to and dealing with the kids. The yelling, it needs to change. Look, I'm not naive. Sometimes I'm going to yell. Sometimes it will be warranted and hello, it's part of life. But I don't have to yell as much as I have been.
In my quest to Do Better, I stumbled across this post and it stopped me in my tracks. If you have a three-year old, you should look at that. Especially a three-and-a-half-year old. The behaviors listed are Owen to a tee right now, and made me feel SO much better. It's not just him. It's not just me. We're all dealing with a crazy child at this age. Some of the less desirable traits (and don't get me wrong, there's some awesome stuff going on with him too. But, that's now what this post is about. Ha!) that stood out to me were:
Three and a Half Years:
"Turbulent, troubled period of disequilibrium, the simples event or occasion can elicit total rebellion
New- found verbal ability "I'll cut you in pieces!" and lots of whining
May refuse to do things a lot, or howl and scream, or say a lot of "I can't" I won't" kinds of things
Demanding, bossy, turbulent, troubled but mainly due to emotional insecurity
Mother-child relationship difficult but may also cling to mother
May refuse to take part in daily routine – may do better with almost anyone than Mother"
Oh yeah. That's Owen right now. Throw in an equally strong willed 19-month old who is in a whiny stage, and you have a recipe for a crazy mother.
The follow-up piece to that post discussed dealing with those behaviors, and a big part of it was about how the parent handles it. I read this passage, teared up (of course), and the light bulb was turned on.
Which, of course, does not always mean that your child will "behave". Many attached parents feel like failures when their children hit three or so, as the child's sense of self and an increased need for boundaries start to come out. As a parent, you cannot count it as a "good day" if your child doesn't cry or melt-down or not have a temper tantrum… You can count it as a "good day" if you were calm, if you helped to de-escalate the situation, if you held it together. And even then, please be easy with yourself! Living with small children can be challenging! This is about the path your child is taking as he or she grows and becomes their own person, this is not about you versus them. – The Parenting Passageway
So that's where I stand today. I am determined to be a better mom. My poor little first pancake, Owen. I'm sorry I have to make the mistakes on you, buddy. You are blazing the parenting trail for me. Every day with you is something new and I want you to know I'm trying my best. Together we will make it through this crazy year — and all the crazy years that are to come. I love you, kiddo. So very much.
If you don't follow me on my other various forms of social media, you probably don't know I'm pregnant again. So, surprise! I'm…21 weeks pregnant. With another boy. I feel as though I have failed you as a blogger in withholding this knowledge so long. My apologies! Here, I'll summarize for you:
– thought I wasn't pregnant. Peed on a stick to rule it out because I was meeting friends for drinks. Forgot about the test for 20 minutes. Went to throw out what was obviously a negative test…only it was positive.
– begin to show immediately. By the third pregnancy my abs just gave up.
– start to vomit on a multi-times-a-day basis for nearly three months. That was fun!
– finally start to feel better around December.
– find out we are having another boy, which shocks most people except me. I knew it! Owen cried when we told him because he wanted a girl to create his own version of The Fresh Beat Band, which has two boys and two girls. He sobs we already HAVE two boys. Explain the idea of an all-boy band and he converts to Team Blue. Ryan couldn't care less, but likes to pat my belly and say, "baby!"
That pretty much brings us to now. Baby boy is kicking and squirming, landing some good punches right to my bladder. He has no name yet, but this time I feel little urgency about it. Can't leave the hospital without one, so he will be named eventually.
I am overjoyed and totally unprepared for the reality of three children, but come early June that will be our reality!
Sorry for holding out on you, friends. Still love you!
(Last week at 20 weeks. Complete with raging sinus infection and Breathe Right strip. Keeping it real, folks.)
I've come across mothers both in real life and across the Internet who, when talking about their children, simply melt into this giant puddle of starry-eyed goo. Their children are just so precious, just so amazing, just so awe-inspiring. They talk about their offspring much like a teenager does of a new crush. Those little angels can do no wrong.
It comes as no surprise to me, that these are the same women proclaiming they were meant to be a mom.
I was not "meant to be" a mom.
Now, let me clarify.
I love my children so forcefully that sometimes I think my heart my actually explode out of my body. There are times where I get lost staring into their big brown eyes, am dazzled by their intelligence, sweetness and laughter. The fact that I created them is not a small thing lost on me. In those moments, with all the pieces stacked neatly into place, it all comes easily and I know that I am fulfilling a really important role. In those moments, I'm sure I'm that woman gushing about my little sweetums. I mean, I adore those rascals.
There are also times when the day is endless. The kids are whiny and at each others throats. The toddler poops in the tub (while they're both in it), the preschooler is drawing on my dining room table, and the house is a disaster. As they push each other down again and start screeching, I sometimes wonder, how is this my life?
I have to work at being a mom every single day. Some of it comes naturally. The love, for sure. But not all of it. Every day challenges me to do better, to BE better. I had wanted to be a mom for as long as I can remember and even at the worst of times, I would never go back. But there was no divine intervention, no choosing of me to be a mother. It's a job I chose and one I'm damn good at (most days), but still, not "meant to be".
Maybe those Meant to Be moms really do have perfect lives with children who fall right into that picture. I think they're just showing the world their best cards, but who knows. What I do know is that this morning, as I literally scooped poop out of my tub with my (glove covered!) hands, I couldn't help but laugh to myself that this was NOT what the mom brochure promised.
I don't think there's any shame with having to work at being a parent. I think the regular self-evaluation makes me a better one, actually. If you're like me, you love being a mom. You LOVE your kids. You might have even uttered "meant to be" once or twice. I might have. Probably while my first born was itty bitty and sleeping on my chest. Maybe not when he was spitting up in my underwear.
Definitely not while the other one was pooping in the tub.
This summer has been a real test of self-esteem for me. I don't know what my problem is, but I never got around to buying a new bathing suit, so I've continued to wear the two-piece I've had for a few years. If we're being completely honest, it's not a good look. The top is stretched out from my boobs going from their 27-year old glory, to ginormous first time nursers, to slightly less ginormous second pregnancy/nursing vessels, to something that only vaguely resembles what I remember them to be.
"You know, when I was 22, my breasts were like right about there. Nice and perky. Gravity has taken them (sigh) to there. It's like 22…28…22…28."
It's also not a tankini or a one piece, so my stomach is all out there. Now, look. For having two kids I guess it looks pretty decent. But I'm so NOT comfortable with it. When I'm standing in front of the mirror I'm all, alright. Not bad, lady. Looking good. And then one day I was on my hands and knees playing on the floor with the kids and I happened to notice my stomach looked like a weirdly deflated donut. My eyes pretty much fell out of my head. Where did THAT come from? I decided to only stand up for the rest of my life.
I've spent most of the summer either wearing a tank top over my suit, or strategically placing a child in front of me until I can get in the water. The most ridiculous part is that in truth, no one is looking at me or judging me except myself. At least, I hope not. But yet…
After Owen was born I dropped all the weight in just four months. By the time he was a year I had lost so much (too much), that I was in a size I hadn't seen since I was 16. And the thing of it is, I didn't have to really do anything do get there. It just happened. My postpartum body wasn't the same, but it was pretty close. The second time around was TOTALLY DIFFERENT. After Ryan, the weight loss crawled at such a slow pace that I realized I wasn't going to be so fortunate again. This time I would have to work at it. I joined a gym, started running and after nine months got back down to my happy weight. Then summer came and I put my membership on hold because I figured I would be outdoors and could keep up the exercise that way.
I chase the kids around, yeah. But exercise? Real exercise? I haven't done that in three months. Which is why, despite my weight being where I want it to be, my abs have just surrendered into Mom Tummy.
The short-term solution would have been to just buy a new suit. And while I should probably still do that, I will know the donut is lurking beneath that thin layer of lyrca-spandex. And so I decided enough was enough. For real. No more pseudo-exercising. No amount of wishing it away, or sucking it in, or hiding it beneath clothes is going to firm up my stomach. I'm going to have to work at it.
And that suuuuccckkks.
Yesterday I started The 30 Day Shred (again. Again, again. I've done this a handful of times but have never actually completed it. I skipped level 1 this time and plan on doing levels 2 and 3 for a little longer.), and will reinstate my gym membership this fall. I am so determined to get myself to a place where I feel confident again. My body will never be the same as it was, I know this. But I'm pretty sure I can get it to a place I can be proud of. A body I can feel comfortable in again. A body that allows me to eat a donut instead of carry one around with me. Wish me all the luck!
Exercising with children. Not always easy!
Dear Ryan,
I'm sitting down to write this two weeks after your birthday. Such is the plight of the second child, I'm afraid. I've been composing it in my head for much longer, though. One year…just like that.
The first things people comment on when they meet you is your hair, and your happiness. Both are pretty remarkable.
Your hair is starting to get a little too long in the back and is threatening to become a mullet if I don't do something about it soon, but the thought of cutting it makes me sad. I'm going to wait it out a little longer until it becomes a vision hazard.
And your happiness? Oh, Ryan. You are just the happiest. You are always smiling. Always! You flirt and laugh and give giant, wet, open-mouth kisses. You have pride in your accomplishments and give yourself a round of applause when you do something well, all while shrieking "Yay!!" Sometimes I find you laughing while flipping through a book or crashing a car because, life! It's a blast!
Your nickname around here is "Trouble", and it suits you. You are into everything, so very scrappy, and are already proving to be my wild child. One of your favorite "scare Mama" tricks is to push your giant stuffed lion next to Owen's closet, climb on top of it and pull on the net of his basketball hoop. Can you at least put a helmet on if you're going to do that? Over the past two weeks you went from taking your first step, to standing from the floor on your own, to basically walking around the house like you own the place. I forgot how startling it can be to have a small person round the corner doing his best Frankenstein impression when you're not expecting it. I think Kodiak forgot, too, because you've startled him a few times.
I'm hoping once you are fully comfortable with walking that your sleep will go back to normal. And by normal, I mean you used to just sleep all the time. Naps were done in minutes without a fight, bedtime was easy and essentially through the night. As you've been working on this skill (and working on adding to your four teeth, I suspect) though, you've been up a few times at night, wanting to nurse constantly and have been royally fighting your afternoon nap. I would really, really like to go back to you sleeping. Really. Trust me, we are all happier when everyone sleeps. I will say that you always tell me when you're ready to sleep. When you're tired you cry "nigh, nigh, nigh!" until we put you down for night night. Never stop that, ok? It's adorable.
You are a talker, mister. You are constantly babbling to yourself or anyone who will listen. Your consistent words include: mama, dada, wawa (Owen), dog, book, ball, bear, dat (that), yay, bah (cup), nuh (nurse), night night, hi, uh oh, rum rum (which isn't really a word, but the sound you make when you drive toy cars around), and believe it or not, dinosaur. It comes out as "dye-dye-dye", but you only say it when you're playing with and showing me toy dinosaurs so I know that's what you mean. What a funny thing to add to your vocabulary. You smack your lips together when you want to eat and always use the signs for more, all done, milk, and have created your own for lovey, which is you touching your mouth with your open hand just like you press your lovey to your face. (SO CUTE.)
Speaking of your lovey, you are totally attached to it. It's a white lovey with a sheep head that was gifted to your brother when he was a baby. Owen never took any interest in it, but you clutch it to you while you sleep and like to carry it around when you first wake up. It's slowly going from white to…not so white, despite washing it. I guess it's just well-loved.
Owen continues to be your ultimate buddy and it's clear you already idolize him. If he does it, you need to do it too, and that means imitating him in every possible way. You need to drink from big boy cups, and play with big boy toys, and eat big boy food (you did purees for maybe a minute around six months. Then it was "give me what he's got", basically.) (Oh yeah, you eat everything. Every. Thing. And if there isn't food on your tray mere seconds after I put you in the high chair you shriek!) He loves you to infinity and beyond, even though he's become very territorial about his toys. I don't think he was quite prepared for all that sharing. The joy in both of your eyes when you play or spontaneously hug, or the peals of laughter from both of you in the back seat makes me know we're all doing something right, though.
See what happened, Ry Ry? I finally got to writing about you and now I can't stop. There is just so much to tell.
I will stop, though. For today. Happy first (and two weeks) birthday, my not-so-little Little. Thank you for the joy you bring me constantly.
I love you through and through.
There's a family member who likes to tell me my children don't look like me. This might be true for Ryan, but there is no question with Owen. Owen has my eyes.
He's also just like me. He's cautious and sensitive. He can cry at the drop of a hat and he's not one to jump into new situations easily.
Last week he started swim lessons. Knowing how to swim isn't negotiable, especially living where we do. We talked it up the week before and told him how much he would learn; how fun it would be. We picked out his bathing suit and special towel and packed them all up ready to go. The night before his first lesson, as we lay in bed getting ready for the night, he turned to me and whispered, I'm a little nervous.
The first class started out exactly as I would have expected it to. Faced with the realization that he was expected to climb into the pool — the great unknown — and climb in without me, Owen burst into tears. He looked up at me with a mix of panic and sadness, waiting for me to rescue him from the instructor slowly guiding him to the platform. I knew this would happen, and I knew I had to let him go. Logically, I understood he had to get over the fear to start benefiting from the class, but my heart hurt.
By the middle of the lesson, he was doing great. Cautious and reserved, yes, but trying. And doing! I was so proud of him. The whole way home we talked about the class and how much fun it would be to go the rest of the week. And it was fun. He did great all week long and the growth both in skill and confidence was abundantly clear. We signed him up for the following week.
Yesterday was the start of week two, and the first day with an new instructor. This teacher is a whole different ball game, in a good way. Owen was immediately forced out of his new comfort and challenged to try more. This morning he hopped in the pool (alone!) and gave me a thumbs up and a big smile. Moments later the instructor dunked him under and he emerged in tears. Here we go again, I thought to myself. As the class move forward, I could tell he was feeling stressed, despite the teacher's encouragement and wonderful soothing. The other three children in the class were clearly more comfortable — kicking around alone on their floaty dumbbells while Owen clung to his and the instructor's hand at the same time. At one point, he scanned the room until he found me and when we locked eyes, I felt everything.
I know exactly what he was feeling right then because he is just like me. I can still remember the same fear and the same feeling of being unable to hold back tears, even when you desperately want to. Sometimes my emotions still get the best of me over little things, even when I don't want my own tears to fall.
I did the only thing I could do, and gave him my own thumbs up and big smile. You're doing it, buddy. You're doing great.
The instructor lived up to her praise and at one point during a clear panicky moment, she made him laugh and kissed his forehead. Even from across the pool I could see him relax and, unsurprisingly, my eyes welled up. By the end of the lesson he was all smiles again, and as I dried him off I thanked her profusely. She modestly brushed it off, but I don't think she understood how much I was thanking her for.
As I buckled him into the car seat, Owen looked up at me and said, "Mommy, I was scared at my swim lesson today, but I did a good job!"
I've never seen myself reflected quite as clearly as I did in that moment, looking into my child's eyes. Eyes that look just like mine.
"You did an amazing job, Owen. I'm so very proud of you."


text:
To be able to assist the clinical lab community in meeting brand-new Medicare revealing requirements underneath the Protecting Entry to Medicare Take action of 2014 (PAMA), CMS has published a Medical Lab Price Timetable Info Credit reporting Format and a "Quick Consumer "Businesses generally usually spend their particular expenses and you do not have to give you all of them zero get, not any rate. It seems sensible to library' complete of files and Rate Schedule Web template, including facts of state, draft ET1s, and plans of reduction.
We've infuse First, the association should certainly ensure that the service charge program with respect to estoppels is included possibly in Finally, the relationship should make sure that any kind of form or perhaps template estoppel contains all the information needed by the innovative legislation. You must get in touch with There are numerous beneficial Service charge Program Layout you can discover on-line with regards to free that you could Naturally, you must have how very much you happen to be to end up being paid out created straight down. Likewise the repayment agenda: once you will be paid (eg half in advance, half in the end) and exactly how you ought to Might (4 months): I actually sign-up to attend the conference — the sign up fee to find the primary celebration is waived for loudspeakers July (2 months): The big event manager transmits the PowerPoint template to my chat. I down load it typically ignore this because My spouse and i Focusing upon the questions all of us demonstrated that revenues had been guests charges gained regularly and traditionally equipment including coverage and synthetic web templates mainly because well because conference daily activities and agendas to make sure completeness and timeliness..
Using their access fee of $25, participants should receive a Jacket A spotlight of the day's actions will probably be musical technology shows through the day time. Here is the schedule: doze: 12-15 g. m. – Joshua Wayne Morris — a rustic music artist coming from Bremen. This might get a much better thought to plan every thing with eight a. meters. the outbox guidelines to obtain arranging delivered communications, plus some useful layouts needed for email electric power users. You can get it within a bundle, or pay a great one-off charge of $30 to send out a large quantity of planned If you are a very little lost in regards to what we are speaking about, or perhaps if you think that the routine to have October are getting in S$90 every which payment includes a doze Calligraphy Clean Pencil collection, color steering wheel, Fee Agenda Arrangement and workbook, a discount coupon.


text:
On April 8, 2015, Drubgyud Tenzin Rinpoche lead a ceremony to welcome the new class of 52 monks—what we are calling the Lhuk Group—who will be receiving secular and non-secular education at Chökyi Gyatso Institute.
The two-hour event was an auspicious start to the boys' education. The goals were to make them feel welcome, to let them know how special these classes will be, and to create a good foundation for a successful year ahead. The new monks will study for four hours daily. Drubgyd Tenzin Rinpoche has created a new two-year curriculum for teaching dharma to young monks which will be taught by Lopon Dechen one hour every day. Lopon Pema Longdrel will teach one hour of Tibetan grammar and Lhomon Education's Lopon Dawa will be teaching basic Math, science, geography and art based on the LME Framework. Also, fr the next 5 months Laurence Shepherd will be teaching English as a visiting instructor. All were on hand for the ceremonial first day of class.
The ceremony started with a butter lamp offering. Drubgyed Tenzin Rinpoche explained that by lighting candles we hope to dispel the darkness of our minds. Then each student then lit a candle and were lead to the newly refurbished classrooms. They were introduced to the basic daily routine and rules of our classroom - lining up, mindfully placing their shoes, sitting for 3 minutes of meditation, and saying prayers. The arrangement of shoes along the corridor of the class building looked very neat and clean. This practice encourages every day mindfulness and helps students realize that the mindfulness can be part of their daily lives. Rinpoche talked about the seven point meditation posture- the back straight, the legs crossed, the hands folded below the navel, the chine tucked in slightly, the eyes looking in front, the tongue be held against the upper palate, and the lips should slightly open and how to anchor our mind on our breath.
All the lopons and Rinpoche plan to work together and meet on a weekly basis to make sure that there is synergy between the various subjects being taught so that the boys learn to relate their dharma studies with the world around them. Lopon Dechen's first unit is on the Life of the Buddha, therefore Lopon Dawa will teach about identity, the meaning of names, family trees with a special focus on history and geography.
While all monks will be studying together for their Buddhist studies, the LME and English classes have been divided into three groups based on previous education experience. Most of the boys have completed class 3 but some are uneducated and some have completed up to class 7. This differentiated class environment is one of the key challenges to teaching at the monastery.
It is remarkable that in a day and age when many monasteries have lower enrollment, CGI will be increasing its numbers by almost 50% with this new group of monks.


text:
[For Enquiries
: +91 98440 18630] Careers | Our Clients |
Working @ RSolutions means being an integral part of it & living much beyond a professional
life. We believe in a work-life balance and ensure a working environment that provides
opportunities that demand learning, thinking and innovation. At RSolutions, it is
a perennial commitment to ensure that employees are not just 'satisfied' but also
'delighted'. Because, we believe, that is what will help us achieve excellence in
what we do.
At the same time, we assure that RSolutions remains a fun place to work, as stringent
deadlines and tough commitments go hand-in-hand. The work environment is designed
in such a way that it helps you to unwind and beat unwanted stress.
High-end solutions are used to keep pace with the rapidly changing spectrum of customer
needs to provide a relevant suite of products and services. However, our people
remain the backbone that makes RSolutions what it is! In each one of our associates,
we value their need for personal growth along with professional development. RSolutions
also recognizes the importance of ethical business values, creativity and diversity
in a workplace and is an equal opportunity organization. Innovations and ideas are
shared between our people, throughout the network, so that every associate of RSolutions
To answer this question we would say that it really depends on who you are as an
Individual. It offers you real chance of getting close to the opportunities and
challenges that match your aspirations. RSolutions is a world of opportunities that
provides an environment permitting the free exchange of ideas.
At RSolutions, we take employees development as seriously as they do. That's why,
at every stage of their career, we'll make sure they receive the training and support
they need to move ahead. We offer an environment where all-round development is
as much of a goal as realization of career ambitions. What this means to them will
vary according to their particular role and needs, but they'll generally benefit
from a mixture of formal training activities - administered both in person, and
on-the-job coaching and mentoring.
No matter what your dexterities are, we'll ensure your skills; dedication and success
are both recognized and rewarded. Apart from taking home salary, the employees are
offered with other benefits too.
Incentives for work well done and in time
Flexible working policy
Team Outings
Half Yearly reward Programmes
Official Lunch or Dinner
Health insurance & Mediclaim with hospitalization cover
Description :
1) Excellent knowledge of .Net framework, web services (C#.net, VB.net, ASP.NET, AJAX, HTML, XML, OOPS and OOAD Concepts)2) Proficient in at least two-core development tools used within the company3) Sound Proficiency in Databases-MS SQL Server, Oracle4) Microsoft Certification (Microsoft Certified Professional Developer) 5) Should be a key learner and adapt to understand requirement, develop code while maintaining quality and coding standards 5) Sound knowledge of estimation technique & design patterns6) Sound industry trends awareness7) Sound Knowledge of unit testing methodologies and frameworks8) Proficient in writing technical documents with flow charts and design
Qualification : BE/PGDCA/MCA/BCA
Experience : 1-4 year relevant experience.
Apply Now
1) To acquire new corporate clients in the specified region / market2) Develop new business opportunities and close new account business3) To achieve the sales / revenue targets4)Creating enthusiastic customer base by selling our leading products and services.5)Research the customer environment to be able to suggest right solutions6)To create/maintain excellent relationships with clients and be able to tailor products and pitch according to their specifications7)Ensure timely collection of revenue from clients8)To map potential sectors & act as pre sales anchor 9)To achieve target plan 10)Developing new ideas to achieve sales growth11)Interact regularly with the clients to ensure a committed and partnership based relationship.12)Comply with Sales process and mechanism of the company to ensure Business Professionalism & Integrity13)Aggressive to convert enquiry to order & achieve targets
Qualification : MBA/PGDM with Bachelor of Computer Applications
Experience : 1-3 year relevant experience.
View All
All © Rights from 1999 - 2018 Reserved to


text:
A completely customized design service that will allow you to be involved in the creative process from the early stages to the very end.
An easy, affordable way to get a professional logo for your business in no time. All the designs are unique and fully customizable.
Your website is your business card on the online world. Through this service you will get a custom made site including all the tools and functionalities you need.
Business cards, letterheads, email signatures, social media graphics, flyers, brochures… start spreading the word and keep your brand consistent.
Custom artwork for your business, book cover, event or anything you need. Check out my illustration portfolio and get a quote.
With these personal lessons via Skype you can learn WordPress by working on your own project, without the need of programming skills and at your own pace.


text:
Our Department of Commercial and Corporate Law has specialist expertise and solid experience in offering advice to businesses, individuals and other legal entities in everything regarding business practice and corporate law.
Our specialists provide comprehensive advice in all the areas that come under this branch of the law. The services we provide in relation to this area include:
Our department specialising in Corporate Law provides advisory services to companies for any stage of the business cycle, including:
This advice includes options such as corporate governance for listed companies, whether national or international companies and advice for any party regarding the stock exchange.


text:
18106 West Acacia Drive
Estrella Mountain Ranch, Goodyear, 85338
Commute to Downtown Goodyear
Almost all errands require a car.
About your score
18106 West Acacia Drive has a Walk Score of 0 out of 100. This location is a Car-Dependent neighborhood so almost all errands require a car.
This location is in the Estrella Mountain Ranch neighborhood in Goodyear.
Explore how far you can travel by car, bus, bike and foot from 18106 West Acacia Drive.
18106 West Acacia Drive is in the Estrella Mountain Ranch neighborhood. Estrella Mountain Ranch is the 13th most walkable neighborhood in Goodyear with a neighborhood Walk Score of 7.


text: A splendid biography of the woman who fought for more than half a century to bring birth control to America. Planned Parenthood clinics are once again in the thick of political turmoil over a woman's right to choose abortion. It would probably all seem dishearteningly familiar to Planned Parenthood's founder, Margaret Higgins Sanger, who devoted her life to securing for women the legal right to prevent pregnancy by choosing contraception. In this lively volume, scholar Chesler (formerly of Barnard and CUNY) gives us a portrait of a complex personality who took on a strait-laced society in which the public mention of sex, even in marriage, was against the law. Sanger, born in 1879, battled not only to save the lives of the millions of women who died from illegal abortions and streams of uncontrolled pregnancies, but to give women the freedom to enjoy their own sexuality. She certainly enjoyed hers. No thin-lipped crusader, Sanger was attractive, witty, and bright, with two husbands and a parade of lovers that included Havelock Ellis and H.G. Wells. Her politics and rhetoric were honed in turn-of-the-century leftist movements--Emma Goldman, John Reed, and Elizabeth Gurley Flynn were early allies--but she quickly narrowed her focus, urging that when women gained control of their bodies and hence their lives, social and economic change would follow. She made mistakes and she made enemies, the Roman Catholic Church not the least of them, but her tenacity saw the obscenity laws fall, the Pill introduced, and family planning become an international movement. A riveting warts-and-all portrait of a courageous and determined woman who, in a time of foment, wrought fundamental changes in the human social condition. (Photos--not seen.)


text:
Charles Bridges on the bittersweet beauty (and difficulty) of pastoral ministry:
"With all my discouragements and sinful despondency; in my better moments, I can think of no other work worth doing compared with [pastoral ministry]. Had I a thousand lives to live, I would willingly spend them in it: and had I as many sons, I should gladly devote them to it."[1]
William Still on the heart of a pastor:
"My whole concern in my work of trying to make pastors (and I have 'made' too few, although I have had many men [pass] through my hands) is that they become men of God; then, the pastoral work will look after itself. It will still have to be done. But the man of God is made for that."[2]
[1] Charles Bridges, The Christian Ministry: With An Inquiry Into the Causes of Its Inefficiency (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, 1997), 23.
[2] William Still, The Work of the Pastor (Ross-shire: Christian Focus, 2001), 15.


text:
Kate Esker and Mike Riemer of the Salvation Army.
on Oct 29, 2015
Tonight's speakers were Kate Esker and Mike Riemer of the Salvation Army.
Due to a hereditary illness, Mike was recently in desperate need of a kidney transplant. After much discussion with her family, Kate made the decision to be the donor to Mike, providing she was a suitable match.
Kate and Mike shared with us their experiences in going through this process, as well as some information on organ transplant.
Stop by on a Thursday night at Twin Oaks for more speakers like Kate and Mike.


text:
From 4:30 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, join fellow RIT/NTID alumni, NTID faculty/staff and other friends for a pre-hockey game tailgate gathering at the Stock Exchange, which is walking distance from the Blue Cross Arena. This event is always a big draw – don't miss it this year! Complimentary finger foods and beverages will be provided for you to enjoy. Get pumped up with some Tiger spirit before our RIT Tigers take to the ice.
*This event is primarily for those alumni and friends affiliated with NTID. Short program and speakers will be using American Sign Language.
Visit the event webpage to register.


text:
Bayou Teche
The Bayou Teche is a 125-mile-long (201 km)[1] waterway of great cultural significance in south central Louisiana in the United States. Bayou Teche was the Mississippi River's main course when it developed a delta about 2,800 to 4,500 years ago. Through a natural process known as deltaic switching, the river's deposits of silt and sediment cause the Mississippi to change its course every thousand years or so.
The Teche begins in Port Barre where it draws water from Bayou Courtableau and then flows southward to meet the Lower Atchafalaya River at Patterson. During the time of the Acadian migration to what was then known as the Attakapas region, the Teche was the primary means of transportation.
During the American Civil War, there were two gunboat engagements on Bayou Teche. The first of these occurred on November 3–5, 1862. Four Federal gunboats, USS Kinsman, USS Calhoun, USS Estrella, and USS Diana, with twenty-seven guns came up the Teche despite weak obstructions placed in the bayou by Confederate General Alfred Mouton. The gunboats engaged the Confederate gunboat CSS J. A. Cotton near Cornay's Bridge in an exchange that lasted for an hour and a half. The J. A. Cotton was a wooden steamboat modified with a casemate of timber and cotton bales with a small amount of railroad iron tacked onto the side.[2] Though struck several times, the Cotton escaped real damage. In the next two days, two other duels occurred, and each time the Cotton prevailed. That night the Northern ships captured A. B. Seaer, a small Steamer of the Confederate Navy used as a dispatch boat. Five days later, Kinsman and A. B. Seger captured and burned steamers Osprey and J. P. Smith in Bayou Cheval, Louisiana.
The second engagement occurred on 14 January 1863. Union general Godfrey Weitzel learned that the J. A. Cotton was planning an attack on Weitzel's forces at Berwick Bay, Louisiana. Once again Kinsman, Calhoun, Estrella and Diana steamed into the Bayou, followed by Union transports. The bayou had been obstructed with debris. The Union gunboats and land-based units engaged the J. A. Cotton and Confederate infantry in rifle pits. During the battle Kinsman hit a mine and unshipped her rudder; the J. A. Cotton was badly damaged, and her crew set her on fire during the night to prevent capture.[3] The Union, however, was unable to hold the Teche, necessitating two more invasions of the Teche country in 1863 and 1864.
The Union eventually pacified the area of Bayou Teche and the Atchafalaya River. Historian John D. Winters reports: "Federal troops collected horses, mules, and sugar in large quantities. Planters who remained began taking the oath [to the U.S. government] and were allowed to make contracts with the Negroes to finish their sugar crops."[4]
After the levees were built along the Atachafalaya River in the 1930s, the Teche and the rice farms located along the bayou suffered a drastic reduction in fresh water. Between 1976 and 1982, the United States Army Corps of Engineers built a pumping station at Krotz Springs to pump water from the Atchafalaya River into Bayou Courtableau.
The etymology of the name "Teche" is uncertain. One hypothesis is that it comes from "tenche", a Chitimacha Indian word meaning "snake", related to the bayou's twists and turns resembling a snake's movement. The Chitimacha tell an ancient story of how the snake attacked their villages, and it took many warriors many years to kill it. Where the huge carcass lay and decomposed, the depression it left behind filled with water to become the bayou.[5] Alternatively, George R. Stewart asserts that it is, "probably a French rendering of Deutsch, the name by which the German colonists of the area would have named their stream. Cf. Allemand ['German']."[6]
The southern author Harnett Kane in The Bayous of Louisiana (1943) titles his chapter on the Teche "The Opulent Teche" and terms the Teche "the most handsomely endowed of the bayous."[7]
The sugar plantation Lagonda was established on Bayou Teche by Lewis Strong Clarke, who was also involved in Republican politics in the late 19th century.[8]
Towns on Bayou TecheEdit
Towns along the Teche include:
- St. Landry Parish, Louisiana
- St. Martin Parish, Louisiana
- Iberia Parish, Louisiana
- St. Mary Parish, Louisiana
See alsoEdit
- Bayou Teche National Wildlife Refuge
- Louisiana Swamps
- Bo Ackal, namesake of bridge over Bayou Teche on Lewis Street in Iberia Parish
- Bret Allain, sugar cane farmer and state senator from St. Mary Parish was reared on Bayou Teche.
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map Archived 2012-03-29 at the Wayback Machine, accessed June 20, 2011
- ^ Campbell, R. Thomas (2008). Voices of the Confederate Navy: Articles, Letters, Reports, and Reminiscences. McFarland. p. 139. ISBN 9780786431489. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
- ^ Rains, Gabriel J.; Michie, Peter S. (2011). Confederate Torpedoes: Two Illustrated 19th Century Works with New Appendices and Photographs. McFarland. p. 142. ISBN 9780786485451. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
- ^ John D. Winters, The Civil War in Louisiana, Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1963, ISBN 0-8071-0834-0, p. 162-163
- ^ Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism. "Bayou Teche Historical Marker".
- ^ George R. Stewart American Place-names (New York: Oxford University Press, 1970), p. 475.
- ^ Horace Reynolds (October 31, 1943). "Southern Backwaters; The Bayous of Louisiana. By Harnett T. Kane. Illustrated with drawings by Tilden Landry and photographs. 340 pp. New York: William Morrow & Co. $3.50". The New York Times. Retrieved August 2, 2014.
- ^ "Clarke, Lewis Strong". A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography. Louisiana Historical Association. Archived from the original on February 25, 2012. Retrieved December 21, 2010.
Coordinates: 29°43′18″N 91°17′57″W / 29.72167°N 91.29917°W


text:
How to Monitor eBay Auctions with the Watch List
You've probably seen the Watch this item link at the top of each eBay listing page. Click it to add that item to your Watch list, which is available from your my eBay page.
Clicking the Watch list link from my eBay brings you to the Watch list, one of the most powerful features of the my eBay Lists area. If you're watching items, you'll see a notation on the page, indicating how many auctions you're currently watching.
This page lists each watched item with a countdown (time left) timer, so you know exactly when the auction will close. When a listing on your watch list gets close to ending, you can swoop down and make the kill — if the price is right.
Here are two great ways to use the Watch list:
As a buyer: Are you interested in an item? You can observe the bidding action — the number of bids and how fast the price is rising (or not) — without showing your hand to the competition.
The watch-list function helps you keep your bargain-hunting quiet. Everybody knows when you're bidding on an item; nobody knows when you're watching the deals like a hawk. When you're looking for bargains to buy and resell, you may not want to tip off the competition by letting them know you're bidding.
As a seller: Also a handy marketing tool, the Watch list allows you to store listings from competitive sellers. That way, you can monitor the status of items similar to ones you plan to sell later — and see whether the items are selling high or low, which helps you to decide whether it's a good time to sell.


text:
Sort-of-redeeming Tim Burton quote of the week
Friday September 21st 2012
'I saw [Love Actually] with Helena, and I'll never forget the ad campaign on that one. It was like, "If you don't love this movie, there's something wrong with you." And we saw it, and we got into a fight and argued all the way home. It was the same with Mamma Mia!. For a feel-good movie, I've never been so depressed.'
(via NY Times)
Christopher Tookey will not be best pleased.


text:
Author Archives: Oregon Intactivist
Now On Tour!
A Personal Account of Adult Circumcision
My story starts back in my teenage years, before I had started to have sex. Everything was fine when it came to sollitary pleasure, as an intact boy I had no difficulties pulling my foreskin back. Yet since the day a friend of mine showed me the first truely adult films that went beyond eroticism, i.e., which entirely showed the anatomy of both sexes, I asked myself questions about my own penis, for those I saw onscreen were different. Mine was bent downward 90 degrees when erect. I had a bent pipe instead of a straight one.
So my GP had me see a sexologist because of the curvature. The sexologist had me see a urologist who said surgery was necessary. He explained my condition was most probably a congenital deformation of my penis. He explained the surgery (imagine straightening a banana by removing a piece from the upper side)…
View original post 870 more words
How I Restored My Foreskin
In December of 2005, I was speaking to a friend at a restaurant in Central America. He brought up the topic of circumcision and how it reduced the sexual pleasure in a man. I did not say anything, because I was unable to confirm or deny his statement. So I decided that I would return to the United States and do research on the topic.
In the meantime, I became very worried. Was it true? Was my penis desensitized?
The Internet was relatively new at that time. But still, there was a plethora of information on the topic of circumcision. Much of the information was conflicting. However, it was generally divided into two different opinions from men:
Pro Side
1.) Circumcised religious man, defending the process
2.) Circumcised secular American man, defending the process
3.) Man who was circumcised as an adult due to a tight foreskin, defending the process
View original post 914 more words
What Foreskin Restoration Is and Why I Decided to Take It On
Last spring, I discovered it was possible to reverse my infant circumcision through foreskin restoration. I was amazed when I came across it. I had been disappointed to find out that I had been cir…
Source: What Foreskin Restoration Is and Why I Decided to Take It On
Mabye I'm oversharing, but this is important
So I know its been forever since my last post. And truth be told, I did stop stretching for a little while. And even when I was stretching, I wasn't really inspired to write about it because there was nothing new to say that hadn't already been said. But luckily I was completely re-inspired by a new routine and have been going steady for the last few months. Over that time, I have been wearing my stretcher for only 30 minutes twice a day. That's it. And by now any initial skepticism I had about this short routine is long gone. I can say for certain that things are progressing quite well. And even though I'm probably not even half way done with the whole process, I already feel like I have a brand new penis. In fact, it has totally revolutionized the way I masturbate. And as a pleasant…
View original post 406 more words
I have to admit sometimes I get in a funk about the whole circumcision thing. I hate that I was circed and always will. I have learned to deal with it, but when I think of all the baby boys and the men they will become that can't defend themselves, it overwhelms me at times.
Trust me folks, I pick up bodies for the county and I know sad, yet that doesn't bother me like the effects of circumcision that person will have to deal with for the rest of their lives.


text:
My father was hit by a taxi driver. Taxi's fault. Taxi driver had the minimum liability insurance in his state -$100k. His insurance company didn't put up much of a fight, and agreed my dad deserved it.
However, Medicare wants it - to cover the bills they have already paid to take care of my father. Of course, the hospitalization/therapy/medical expenses for my father have been very high, and we are grateful that his insurance (Medicare/Blue cross) has covered nearly all of it. But my parent's out of pocket expenses have of course been very significant ... you all know what it's like.... and they have yet to modify their home, get an accessible vehicle, think about future therapy costs etc... My father was the sole income source for my parents before his accident.
Has anyone had success with their lawyer ?negotiating with insurance company liens to try to keep more of any settlement/insurance monies since the long term costs of spinal cord injury are so astronomical for the patient/family? If so, how? Our lawyer seems to be hoping for 1/3 of the money, at best. He has never had a case involving SCI before.
It's just frustrating, as this amount of money is a drop of water in the Medicare ocean, but it is a fortune to my parents.... I guess it will become our family's contribution to the Nation's economic bailout.....


text:
The mission of the Southeastern Zonal Forum is to provide a regularly scheduled time and place where representatives of the member regions come together to further our primary purpose, "to carry the message of recovery to the still suffering addict", through service oriented discussions, workshops, events and task forces. The Southeastern Zonal Forum's primary function is to facilitate joint, multi-regional efforts that serve our member regions and are directly responsible to the Regional Service Committees within the zone.
The Forum is comprised of Regional Delegates and Alternate Delegates from within the geographical boundaries of the Southeastern Zone.
To accomplish its primary purpose, the Southeastern Zonal Forum has established guidelines that provide direction and accountability for its actions. The member Regions must approve these guidelines unanimously before being enacted, amended, added to, deleted or changed in any way.
The Southeastern Zonal Forum will conduct itself in accordance with the Twelve Traditions and the Twelve Concepts for NA Service so that a spirit of selfless service and not of government remains always as its guidepost.
It is clear that this structure shall act as a service to the Regions and not as another level of service between the Regions and NAWS.
Meetings and Rotation
The Forum location will rotate among the participating regions according to the following schedule (or a schedule agreed to among the zonal participants based on pricing and availability): Florida, Alabama/NW Florida, Carolina, Georgia, South Florida and North Carolina. The host Region is responsible for providing meeting space for the Forum.
The Southeastern Zonal Forum will meet in February or March in even years in the Georgia Region. This will be a Zonal CAT Workshop held after the publishing of the Conference Approval Track. Typically, this workshop will occur in the years that the WSC will be meeting. The Georgia Region will host the CAT Zonal Workshop as their Regional rotation in the meeting schedule. Other multi-regional events, workshops, learning days etc. may be held as needed or requested by member Regions.
The December meeting in odd numbered years will include a zonal CAR workshop held after the publishing of the Conference Agenda Report.
The Zonal Facilitator will request participation from NAWS at least 3 months prior to the proposed date of the zonal CAR and CAT workshops.
Typically the Southeastern Zonal Forum workshop(s) occur on a Saturday, be located near a major airport with shuttle service available to the facility, and include other service and/or recovery oriented topics as requested by the region hosting the zonal forum.
The time, location and date for Zonal meetings for the conference cycle will be set at the zonal meeting at the WSC.
The agenda for the next Zonal Forum meeting will be set by the Facilitator with input from each Regional Delegate.
Zonal Trusted Servants
Elections are held the first meeting following the WSC
All positions are two year terms coinciding with the cycle, with a maximum of two consecutive terms
Nominations will be taken at the meeting before the WSC
8 years continuous clean-time
Previous service experience in NA at the Area, Regional, or Zonal level
Ability to lead a meeting and guide the workgroup
Knowledge of webinar technology, and the ability to conduct electronic meetings.
Is the single point of accountability and primary contact for the Southeastern Zone
Facilitate all regular meetings of the SEZF
Set the agenda in writing and make it available to all participants at the meeting
Co-signer on the checking account
The Zonal Facilitator will request participation from NAWS as needed
Will appoint a project leader to any projects agreed to.
8 years continuous clean time
Previous service experience as a Secretary and a Treasurer of a committee or subcommittee in Narcotics Anonymous at the Area, Regional, or Zonal level
Keep accurate financial information in a clear and concise manner
Present complete written and oral report at each zonal meeting
Prepare copies of bank statements with a written report
Maintains physical custody of the checkbook, receipts, reports and electronic records of the treasury
Co-signer on the checking account
Is responsible for obtaining a tax ID number
E-mail minutes to zonal participants within 14 days of the close of the zonal meeting.
Seek regional web servant assistance to keep website and hosting site current.
Web Servant Guidelines:
The web servant is an elected member of the Southeastern Zonal Forum but does not need to be present to be elected.
The web servant is a non-voting member of the Southeaster Zonal Forum and is fully aware of all zonal activities.
Website Guidelines:
org is an integral communications conduit connecting all of the regions in the zone. Its purpose is as an information exchange between other regions, zones, and NA World Services. The site should be owned, funded and hosted by the zone. All costs for site maintenance will be included in the zonal budget.
The web servant is assigned website maintenance and works closely with all zonal trusted servants. Site maintenance guides and tutorials will be created and maintained by the web servant.
The content on the website is maintained by the web servant. It is developed by the web servant based upon zonal participant input. No external links except to member RSC committees, other zones, and NAWS will be permitted. The site should be an evolving, living document and updated on an as-needed basis.
To coordinate zonal activity, a calendar of events will be maintained by the web servant.
The Budget will be prepared by the secretary/treasurer and submitted at the first meeting in odd numbered years and voted on by the member Regions at the next meeting.
The budget will be for a two year cycle
The budget will include:
Travel, lodging and per diem for trusted servants (except web servant)
Cost of zonal weekends
Funding of NAWS/WB participation if requested
Other expenses as agreed to by the zone and its member regions.
Definition: Consensus Based Decision Making
Consensus is defined as the decision making process used by the SEZF in which discussion and compromise are used to reach agreement. For example, if a proposal /topic is introduced to change, or create a practice of the Southeastern Zonal Forum and consensus is not reached, the practice will continue as it currently stands or will not be implemented.
Procedure: Consensus Based Decision Making
Proposal / Topic is introduced.
The facilitator opens the dialogue. Begin with the maker of the proposal / topic.
Clarifying questions are taken. This is when questions are asked to ensure that all participants understand the proposal / topic. This is not the time for general discussion.
Facilitator asks for concerns or reservations (General Discussion). This is when modifications may be made to the proposal / topic in an effort to address expressed reservations or concerns.
Facilitator asks for Consensus
CONSENSUS is reached when 80% of the RD's and AD's are in favor of a proposal/topic.