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Thursday, December 11, 2008
In Which I Am Invaded
"Dang cat," I thought. And yet when I turned and walked to the doorway to the back deck - nothing, no cat, no disrupted furniture, no sign of the wee feline.
Suddenly a wiry creature is flying at me and lands splayed across the screen door, claws clutch at the meshed pattern and I nearly faint from terror and adrenaline. Thankfully, I did not voice 'the girly scream'.
A squirrel hangs in mid-air clinging to the screen door, eyeing me with some amusement.
"Hey! What the heck -- HEY!"
Squirrel twitches it's bushy tail, and would surely have laughed had it the ability.
Instead it is all Fearlessness and Bravado. I pondered on opening the door to scare it away, then imagined the house invaded with a scampering hell-beast and wisely decided to do nothing. So we stared at each other for a few minutes. Finally he hurls himself into a roiling back-flip and begins a route outlining the dimensions of the deck by hopping from corner to corner via the posts on the deck railing.
A backyard rich in walnuts and other goodies is of no interest to this creature. I get the feeling he wants something specific. No idea what that might be --- some coffee maybe? A grilled cheese sandwich?
Muttering to myself, I go back to the computer and attempt to recollect my thoughts. About two minutes later, another house-jarring crash makes me jump out of my skin. Now he is hanging on the screen of the kitchen window, turning circles in a frenzy.
"WHAT?? What do you want from me?" I say, realizing instantly these are usually the last words of an imminent horror movie fatality.
He back and side flips over to the deck again.
For a moment, I ponder on offering him one of those pouches of catnip which sit in the cupboard. Could be interesting. Could make it far worse.
I start to ease the screen door open - maybe Timmy fell into the well and Lassie-squirrel here is trying hard to communicate the danger to me. (Timmy is at school and we do not have a well ... maybe a forest fire is approaching? Is Lassie-squirrel blinking a Morse code at me?)
Before I can do anything, the creature tornadoes across the deck and it's carpet of dead leaves, whirls up and back and sideways into the yard, does a bounce and is halfway up the walnut tree.
What the heck was that about?
6 comments:
My legion strikes again. Maybe a gift of squirrel underpants would appease it.ReplyDelete
no one ever thinks of squirrel underpants until it is too late.ReplyDelete
Joe, are you serious? Are you trying to send me to the nut house? That's S. Claws.ReplyDelete
The exact same thing happened some 20+ years ago. I came home from school for Christmas and was sitting there in the den watching...hmmm, I think it was Working Girl on HBO. Or maybe it was Broadcast News. I just remember Joan Cusak. Anyway, loud noise, squirrel, what to do? Three times that night the squirrel would return. On the third visit, I opened the door and the squirrel timidly walked into the kitchen. Thankfully, Mom and Dad were asleep so they couldn't yell at me for letting a wild animal into the house. But at that moment, there was no need. S. Claws (as I later named him) simply walked confidently through the kitchen, into the dining room, and then on into the living room where he proceeded to scamper up the Christmas tree. When he reached the top he seemed to kiss the angel on top and then he scampered back down. I was mystified. What the heck? I mean, really? That's it? You just wanted to kiss the angel? And just as my mind was processing this, the damn squirrel lunged toward me with his mouth wide open. The once gentle little fuzzy fur ball transformed into this insane vampire rodent. He sunk his sharp fangs into my ankle while planting his back claws into the carpet and he literally started pulling my leg. Kind of like I am pulling yours right now.
and you so had me with "insane vampire rodent" ... dammit.ReplyDelete
Squirrel amusement. They are the monkeys of the Tennessee forest. It amuses them to harass humans, dog and cats. They'd fling poo if they could figure out how.ReplyDelete
Oh and by the way, the twitching of a squirrel tail IS the squirrel version of laughter.
"They are the monkeys of the Tennessee forest."ReplyDelete
i love that sentence!


text: Sentence making (step by step), part-4 Hi Dear Learner, Would you like to learn how to make sentence by easy method? Yah, In this lesson you will learn making sentence using easy method & format. So, lets have a look. >> Posted by: Learnenglish99.com >> Prepared by: Sabbir Ahmed Save TOPICS Learn EnglishLearn English banglalearn English dialogue

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- Home » Expat Blogs » France » Delicieux - a private chef for all occasions
Delicieux - a private chef for all occasions
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Delicieux - a private chef for all occasions
Delicieux - I am a busy Mum of two, blogging from my farmhouse kitchen. Celebrating the food and traditions of Gascony. Recipes for family, friends and special occasions.
Latest Blog Posts »
- Lamb & Bean Stew / Petit Pois a la Francais 4 years ago Ok, I admit defeat. I keep promising to blog recipes more regularly, but let's be honest, the last time I said that was February! It's not that I... Read More »
- Gascon Afghani Boulanee with Silk Dip 4 years ago I bet that is a title you were not expecting to see! 'Gascon Afghani Boulanee' ?? What devilish nonsense is she up to now on Delicieux you may... Read More »
- Moon Pie - with Turkey, Bacon, Cranberry & Brie 4 years ago I am not sure that this strictly qualifies as a pie. It is more of a cross between a pasty, a calzone, a pie and a chaussen. Definitely... Read More »
- Winter Wonder Food - Chicken Garbure 4 years ago Those of you who have read my blog before know that I live in Gascony, SW France. You also know that I am completely mad about the cuisine... Read More »
- Incredible Twisted, Meat Free, Leftovers 5 years ago Ahhh, Christmas and New Year. I do so love you but I am left feeling utterly decadent and overindulged. Over the last few weeks I have had my... Read More »
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|Fun Pass (1 Ticket Daily) see below
|Pool Views from 2nd floor Balcony!
|Beach access is only 50 ft away!
|Budget Friendly way to experience Panama City Beach
|Sea Dragon Pirate Cruise, docked only 2.5 miles away!
|Professionally Managed; 24/7 Service
|Queen Bedroom
|Living Room w/sleeper sofa
Nautical Watch D-6 is a family friendly, low rise condo with over 500 feet of private beach just steps away! Located on the east side of Panama City Beach, this cozy, one bedroom unit can sleep up to 4 guests comfortably and features bamboo floori
Nautical Watch D-6 is a family friendly, low rise condo with over 500 feet of private beach just steps away! Located on the east side of Panama City Beach, this cozy, one bedroom unit can sleep up to 4 guests comfortably and features bamboo flooring and tile, a full bath and fully equipped kitchen with granite counter tops. Step into this 2nd floor unit that boasts spectacular views of the pool and is only 50 feet away from the clear emerald green water of the Gulf of Mexico! Check out why Nautical Watch D-6 is a family favorite!
Nautical Watch is a family friendly, low rise gulf front condominium on the east side of Panama City Beach. This beachfront complex is formed in a U-shape around a large pool for the family to enjoy. Nautical Watch has its own private beach for you to enjoy the amazing white sandy beach and the clear emerald green water of the Gulf of Mexico!
*SNOWBIRD / 55+ RENTAL* Snowbird Season is November through February on a monthly basis. The monthly rate for Nov- Jan is $1200 per month + taxes/fees. February only is available at a premium, but Jan & Feb can be reserved together for the standard rate. Snowbird Rentals can be booked online & are subject to an additional $150 cleaning fee. The Fun Pass is not available on monthly rentals.
Fun Pass; PCB Traveler: As a gift to you, FREE activities are included every day of your stay! Enjoy one free admission each day to some of the area's most popular attractions: Island Time Sunset Cruise, Gulf World, and Escape Zone 60 is available March through October. Bay Point Golf is available November through February.
Area Attractions:
The beach is wide and deep and reminds one of "old Florida". Less than a mile away is gorgeous St. Andrews State Park. Grand Lagoon touches the park to the north and to the south, the beautiful Gulf. Swimming and fishing are great at the park without the large crowds! Nearby, at the corner of Thomas Dr and North Lagoon Dr is Captain Anderson's Marina & Restaurant. You will find delicious fresh seafood, charter fishing boats, shell and dolphin excursions. Major grocery stores and retailers are also within a 5-10 minute drive. From exploring the sunken ships in the area, to sailing, go-karting, deep sea fishing to checking out the local animal parks, there are a diverse variety of Panama City Beach attractions for kids of all ages, to enjoy, just minutes from Mariner West! There's never a dull moment on the beaches near these condos and you won't find a better place to stay.
*This property does not allow parties of adults under the age of 25. No Exceptions.*
Have a QUESTION about your booking?
Call us at 850-974-0974 or email us at: firstname.lastname@example.com


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We are quickly coming to that time of year where we all begin to reflect on the past year and dream about the year to come. It is a time for celebrating the milestones we have passed, obstacles we've overcome, blessings that entered our lives, and the hope that the future brings. New Years Eve is a time to be spent with loved ones and an opportunity to create another fond memory. Sometimes finding the right way to bring in the New Year can be overwhelming but if you are interested in an intimate evening in your community, here is a great option!
458 West B&B
After three and a half years of restoration, this southern home was restored to its former glory. With the original pecan trees in the yard, the ten foot wide wrap around porch, and original architectural style honored, this bed and breakfast has such southern charm. With five bedrooms all decorated in different styles, there is something that will please any guest. Want to make your stay extra special? Ask about having roses and wine waiting in your room for your arrival or a picnic basket packed for an afternoon out and about. 458 West B&B strives to provide a special experience while staying with them. When you wake up, expect to be fed a hearty southern breakfast. Stroll through the well kept grounds or make the easy half a mile walk to the round about at the center of historic Pittsboro, North Carolina. This location is conveniently close to beautiful Fearrington Village. 458 West hosts a variety of events from weddings to private parties to celebrations such as this year's New Years Eve Dinner.
The New Years Eve Dinner Menu
Join 458 West B&B for an elegant evening with a complimentary glass of sparkling wine!
First Course:
Vegetarian French Onion Soup
Second Course:
Spinach Salad with Cranberry Vinaigrette
Third Course:
Pepper-Crusted Beef Tenderloin* with Horseradish Sauce
Asparagus and Wild Mushroom Fricasee
Butternut Squash Risotto
Fourth Course:
Decadent Chocolate Espresso Cheesecake
* If you don't eat beef, let them know and they will be happy to prepare fish for you!
This dinner costs $50 per person not including tax or gratuity. Please be sure to make your reservation as soon as possible!
Contact Information
Phone: 919.491.4229
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Driving Directions
However you may choose to bring in the new year, may you have a fantastic and safe evening and may this next year be filled with blessings and joy!
Please contact Lisa Skumpija and Sandy Savage for any questions about real estate in Fearrington Village in Pittsboro, NC. They are Fearrington Village experts on home sales in the area!


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**We are now accepting applications
for the 2020 season.**
By clicking the "Submit" button below, you are applying for membership in Russell Mill Swim and Tennis Club. You must mail a check in the amount of $50 for the non-refundable application fee within 3 days to secure your place in line for membership. If you are offered a membership there is also a one- time initiation fee of $500 for family memberships and $225 for Single memberships in addition to your Dues and Capital Assessment fee. If you choose to pay for your membership by credit card there is a 2.5% convenience fee. Membership will be offered in the order in which online applications are received, and are not guaranteed for any particular season. Depending on the number of openings, the wait may be anywhere from 0 to 2 years.


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They are compatible up to a point. LTO4 drives can read and write LTO4 & LTO3 and read only for LTO2. So if the original backup was done with a LTO2 or LTO3 drive it has the ability to read the tapes. If the backup was done with a LTO1 drive then the LTO4 drive cannot read it but a LTO3 or LTO2 drive can. It all depends upon the type of drive used for the backup. If you are not sure on the type of tape check out LTO_tape.
Other possibilities are the media was not stored properly and can no longer be read by any drive, or it was backed up with some other application which the current backup application cannot read.
Register Hereor login if you are already a member


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This is the re-posting of my Inquisitor's letter to the wise Athena over at AmbiGaming for her awesome Year of the RPG project. It took like the first 3 months of 2018, but I beat Dragon Age Inquisition after 118+ hours of playing it. And yeah, at least 60 of those hours were spent wandering around and side questing… oops. I also bought the Trespasser DLC, the first DLC I ever bought separately from a game (will likely babble about that at some point too). Anyway, the point of this letter is sum up my Inquisitor's journey through the main game. Enjoy!
MAJOR FREAKING SPOILER WARNING since I will be summing up the entire main game, complete with screenshots. Now I need a moment to get into character – RAWR! DRAGONS, SMASH! Here we go!


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'I cannot praise Grant or the team at Furness Park enough. I have just travelled from Bristol to view a 6 series BMW and am astonished at the level of professionalism and support. The car is amazing and every bit the car they said it was. I bought it and am over the moon.
This is undoubtedly the best car buying experience I can remember and I wouldn't hesitate in recommending Furness Park.'
Nik Heath


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Thursday, December 6, 2012
Winter and Holiday Active Play Ideas
Wrapping Paper Breakthrough. Set up boundaries using Cones or Hop Around Steps 15 to 24 feet apart. Two adults at the "finish line" hold a sheet of wrapping paper (~ 22" x 24") with each hand on a corner. When you say, "Get ready, get set, run," the child at the "start line" (with the palms of his hands touching and pointing forward) runs and breaks through the wrapping paper!
Reindeer Pull. Distribute a Jump Rope to a pair of children. The two children are hitched together by one child placing the rope around the waist of his partner who is a Reindeer (i.e., "Rudolph") and the other child is "Santa" holding onto the rope ends or handles. When "Santa" gives the signal "Giddy up" the Reindeer, "Rudolph" is to gallop, moving forward. Add some fun holiday music, such as "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer or "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" When the music stops, have the children switch places, taking turns being "Rudolph" and "Santa." This is a favorite activity as children go prancing around!
Snowball Throw. Give each child two pieces of white 8 1/2-by-11 inch scrap paper or 9-by-12 inch inexpensive easel paper. Have them wad each piece of paper up and make two "snowballs." Divide the game playing area in half by placing a jump rope or clothesline on the ground. Divide the children into equal numbers and place them facing each other on opposite sides of the rope. Have the guests drop their snowballs onto the ground. Tell them to pick up their snowballs (one at a time) and throw them across the rope to the opposite side when the music starts. (I like to play the song "The Heat Is On"). Now we have a good old-fashioned Snowball Throw going on! The Snowball Throw is over when the music ends. For instant cleanup, have the children try to make a basket as they toss their snowball into a waste basket or brown paper grocer bag.
Holiday Musical Balloons. Give each child an inflated balloon. Christmas Colors: Red and Green. Hanukkah colors: Blue and White. Kwanzaa Colors: Black, Red and Green. I like to use 9" or 11" balloons that are of helium quality, as they are "thicker skinned" and do not pop as easily. Let each child write (help if needed) their name on the balloon with a permanent marker. Have children sit down in the open space. Instruct them to stand up and keep the balloon in the air using their hands when they hear music (play rockin' holiday tunes). When the music stops they are to grab their balloon and sit down immediately. The game continues with the children "keeping" their balloons in the air when the music is playing and holding their balloon and sitting down when the music stops. Provide further physical challenges by asking the children to keep the balloons in the air with different body parts: one finger, an elbow, a knee, a foot, their head. Be creative!
Hang the Stockings. Christmas is coming and its time to hang the stockings on the fireplace. How fast can you do it? String a clothesline between two chairs or two trees. Provide baskets of assorted Christmas stockings (regular socks will work just as well) and spring-type Wooden Clothespins. Young children find enjoyment just in hanging them up. Its a fine motor skill, challenging children to use the small muscles in their fingers. Divide older children into teams and have them "beat the clock."
Indoor Ice Skating. Attach paper plates to the bottom of children's shoes with big rubber bands or by wrapping masking tape around the shoe and plate. The children are now ready to skate away. This technique works great on carpet. For hardwood or tile floors, simply wear a thick pair of wool socks. Add some music (i.e., "The Skater's Waltz") and play freeze skating. When the music is playing, "All Skate." When the music stops, children freeze in place.
Ring the Bell. Hang a bell or Jingle Wrap from the ceiling or beam. Have children stand inside a Hoop and throw a Beanbag or Foam Ball and try to "Ring the Bell."
Very Merry Christmas Wish. This game is based on the old Duck Duck Goose/Tisket a Tasket song activity. Have all the children sit down in a circle and choose one child to be "It." "It" walks around the outside of the circle, holding the jingle bell or Jingle Wrap, while the group sings (to the tune: "A Tisket a Tasket")
It's Christmas, It's Christmas,
And all our friends are with us.
I'll choose the one to give my wish
a Very Merry Christmas!
The child walking around with the jingle bell rings it and then drops it behind one of the children sitting there. That player picks up the bell and runs after "It," who is running around the circle back to his place in the circle. The player holding the jingle bell is now "It" and walks around the outside of the circle, dropping the jingle bell behind someone who has not yet had a turn. The game ends when every player has had a chance to ring and drop the bell.
Scrambled Eggs and Icebergs. Tell the kids that when they hear the words "scrambled eggs," they are to jog around in the open space without bumping into each other. When they hear the word, "icebergs," they are to freeze in place without falling down. Tell them you'll also give them other movement commands, such as "jump," "march," "tiptoe," etc. When they hear the new command, they must switch to the new movement. Try to trick them by repeating a command twice in a row!
8 comments:
- Unknown said...
Playground equipment has evolved to make things more fun for kids. Wilkins Solutions provides playground equipment in Orlando for schools, hotels, apartments and more. playgorund equipment Orlando.
- January 23, 2013 at 8:08 PM
- Symphony of Love said...
Pardon me for using the above photo at my Facebook page, Symphony of Love, without seeking your permission first. I have used it with a quote by Abigail Van Buren on spending time with children. You can look at: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=592467994113551&l=64c100482
Please let me know if you do not like the use of it and I'll remove it immediately. Thank you and sorry for any inconvenience caused.
- January 27, 2013 at 1:35 AM
- aluminumstatues said...
I like this weblog so much, saved to my bookmarks.
This is nice post thank you for posting.
Aluminum Statues
- March 17, 2013 at 11:51 PM
- reginag said...
Best time of the season!
high school volleyball
- May 10, 2013 at 7:34 AM
- Unknown said...
Well, I have got the best information from here the site is fully stuffed with the knowledgeable information. play structures
- November 27, 2014 at 11:37 PM
- Unknown said...
Thanks for the post and great tips..even I also think that hard work is the most important aspect of getting success. party games
- March 9, 2016 at 11:05 PM
- Unknown said...
These ideas are simply amazing for kids to keep them active during snowy winters and I am thankful to you for sharing these game ideas here. These winter's I am also celebrating my son's birthday at indoor Chicago venues and definitely going to include your games in that party.
- March 4, 2017 at 12:16 AM
- essay writing companies said...
Such a big fan of the winter season and cant wait to have them soon and have some fun with my little kids, Thanks for the suggested games.
- August 1, 2017 at 11:38 PM


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This is Fire Station No. 1 on Albert & 13th. It is a newer building that was constructed to look old. The original No. 1 Station is on 11th Ave and is now home to local businesses.
Monday, November 5, 2007
Fire Station No. 1
Posted By The Letter A at 7:32 PM
1 comment:
- Jim Klenke said...
I think I'm still a kid, cause I love the fire houses.
- November 5, 2007 at 8:45 PM
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FirstBank Time Out of the Game
FirstBank, a bank in Colorado, Arizona and California, is running "Time Out", an ad without plot, for viewers of the second half of the Super Bowl based in Colorado. A FirstBank Time Out spokesman in an armchair provides 30 seconds of respite from exciting commercials and live action play, just enough time to head towards the bathroom. Seriously!
Click on the image below to play the Time Out video.
Time Out Credits
Time Out was developed at TDA_Boulder by creative directors Jonathan Schoenberg and Thomas Dooley, associate creative director/art director Matt Leavitt, associate creative director/copywriter Jeremy Seibold, and agency producer Susan Fisher.
Filming was shot by director Ryan Ebner via HSI, with director of photography Scott Buttfield, executive producer Michael McQuhae and producer John Winter.
Visual effects were produced at Brickyard VFX by designer Patrick Poulatian. Editor was Katz at Cosmo Street. Colorist was Stefan Sonnenfeld at Company 3.
Sound was designed at Lime Studios by Dave Wagg.
Filed under: Bank Advertising, Commercials, Super Bowl 2012
Tagged: Brickyard VFX, Company 3, Cosmo Street, HSI, Lime Studios, Ryan Ebner, Scott Buttfield, TDA_Boulder
Location: USA


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Wedding Photography
To Love and be Loved, in return... Please Contact ClouStudio LLC. directly for inquiries about your special day! We will check our photographer's's availability and do what we can to help your planning process go as smoothly as possible! email@example.com More
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Research Audiologist
> Learn more
Eriksholm's interest in own voice is long standing. Initially we studied the occlusion effect and how to combat it, e.g. with Completely In the Canal (CIC) hearing aids that seal in the innermost bony part of the ear canal. Later, when open fittings had conquered the market – and everybody expected own-voice problems to disappear – we realised that own-voice issues persisted.
A number of studies have mapped out the own-voice issues that remain once occlusion problems have been dealt with. One of the challenges was that hearing-aid users very rarely discuss their own-voice issues with other people – partly because non-users of hearing-aids are completely oblivious to these problems. The culmination to this line of work was the construction of the Own Voice Qualities (OVQ) questionnaire. Further research has focused on the specific issue of own-voice level control.
Carle R, Laugesen S, Nielsen C (2002). Observations on the relations among occlusion effect, compliance, and vent size. Journal of the American Academy of Audiology, 13(1), p. 25-37.
Laugesen S, Jensen NS, Maas P, Nielsen C (2011). Own Voice Qualities (OVQ) in hearing-aid users. There is more than just occlusion. International journal of audiology, 50(4), p. 226-236.
Laugesen S, Nielsen C, Maas P, Jensen NS (2008). Observations on hearing-aid user's strategies for controlling the level of their own voice. Journal of the American Academy of Audiology, 20(8), p. 503-513.
The Oticon Foundation established the Eriksholm Workshop series for gathering small groups of experts in audiology and hearing science.
> Read more
You can reach us at firstname.lastname@example.com. If you want to contact us regarding a specific study or research area, you can find the appropriate contact person in the top of every research and study page.
Disclaimer Copyright 2017


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Daisy Daisy,Give me your answer do!I'm half crazy,All for the love of you!It won't be a stylish marriage,I can't afford a carriage,But you'll look sweet on the seatOf a bicycle built for two!
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One wonders constantly what the reason might be that the GOP has such a stupefyingly poor Press Office.
There is little doubt the GOP has new ideas – Liberals haven't had a new idea since LBJ – and escalation in Vietnam and the Welfare State didn't work out too well for America.
Privatization? Good idea. Results can be seen in the Britain Thatcher created from the "Sick Man of Europe" she inherited.
Deregulation? Good idea. Results can be seen in post-Carter America.
Open Trade? Good idea. Results can be seen in post-Bush (41) America.
Lower taxes? Good idea. Results can be seen in post-JFK America, post-Reagan America, post-Clinton America.
All of the above contributed to the wealth of the nation – especially to the wealth of the working class Democrats whine about so much but have succeeded in keeping in poverty to support Democrat government handouts.
But where has the GOP Press machine been on these issues? Privatizing Social Security worked well in Chile in a very similar situation – but the GOP Press didn't get the word out. Why not?
Obama makes huge headway with the fiction that raising tax rates will raise revenues – an argument disproven time and again by Presidents of both parties for decades. Where is the GOP Press machine laughing this guy off the stage?
What was the largest domestic catastrophe for the Bush (43) presidency? Katrina. Why? The media and Democrat spin is that Bush didn't send Federal troops soon enough. But there's a problem with this story. Posse Comitatus laws PROHIBIT the federal government from sending Federal troops to a state – for any reason whatsoever – until and unless the state Governor requests them and the Congress releases them – and the Democrat governor hadn't done so.
One would think that liberals, who somehow hate the intrusion of federal law enforcement but are cool with federal intrusion into everything else, and who support Posse Comitatus every time it is discussed, would get this: Bush could only send troops to Louisiana before the Democrat Governor requested them by acting illegally. It isn't as though they like Bush acting illegally, right?
So – why did Bush never bring it up? Why did the GOP Press Office never hammer the Democrats on why they wanted to end Posse Comitatus? Should Ike turn into a nasty hurricane, will Democrats demand an end to Posse Comitatus? What will be the result of that?
And you can bet that under an Obama administration any local disaster wil lbe dealt with by over-sending federal troops, in total violation of the law. But the GOP press office won't point that out then – or now, when it matters.
The federal governmetn now spends over $60B annually on health care – and we have the best in the world. Democrats insist there is no federal health care spending. Wrong. Where is the GOP is pointing this out?
The failure to educate the public on the billions already spent on healthcare by the Federal government likely will result in your local private hospital looking like your major county hospital when the same people who brought you the DMV bring you your medical care.
Can't wait for that.
Where are the GOP Press professionals in educating the public? It isn't as though the liberal media will do so.
Where were the GOP Press teams on Social Security reform? Why did they let the opposition determine the events and strategy in a fight?
Why are the GOP Press hacks so bad at their jobs, and why are they still employed when everyone can see how poorly they perform?
Where was Boomer Bush in hammering the distortions of the media on Katrina, backed up by – and pushed forward by – a GOP press office?
Boomer Obama wants to spend trillions of dollars – and no one knows where it will come from. The only thing we can empirically prove is that the tax rates he is promising to raise will result in lower government revenues to fund his programs. So where is the GOP Press office pointing this out?
Boomer liberals constantly distort facts, make up stories, spread outright upside-down stories.
Boomer Republicans are unable – or unwilling – to counter them. Either way they are not doing their jobs.
And so are not adequately representing their party – or America.
Why is that?


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if your site/blog got dugg/slashdotted often, your users will thank you for this great proxy/cache widget that let your reader choose other mirrors to access your busy site.
you can try it out in my sidebar to see how the widget works.
tips & tricks on computers and gadgets
denny on IT ; let's doIT
documenting the brain


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Jose E. Yanez, M.D.; Stewart R. Reuter, M.D.; A. James Blair Jr., M.D., F.A.C.P.
This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access.
Adrenal venography is becoming an essential diagnostic aid in the assessment of adrenal disease. We have used it in evaluating 36 patients with virilization—by which we mean women with male hair distribution, frequently associated with menstrual irregularities, acne, and obesity but not necessarily showing defeminization. Their ages ranged from 16 to 77 years, and their weight ranged from 112 to 264 lb.
Twenty-six patients had a normal adrenal venous pattern while seven had adrenal hypertrophy. Three had patterns suggestive of adrenal tumor; one was confirmed at surgery. In patients with normal adrenals 11 had elevated urinary 17-ketosteroids. In those patients
Yanez JE, Reuter SR, Blair AJ. Adrenal Venography in Patients with Virilization.. Ann Intern Med. 1969;70:1065. doi: https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-70-5-1065_1
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Published: Ann Intern Med. 1969;70(5):1065.
Adrenal Disorders, Endocrine and Metabolism.
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The Legal Education Board (LEB) has required aspiring law students to attend the Philippine Law School Admission Test (PhiLSAT) examination as one of the qualifications in entering any law school in the Philippines. The PhiLSAT will serve as "uniform test" for all law schools.
It is an aptitude test that will measure their academic potential before admittance to any law school. This is in accordance with a memorandum issued in December last year.
How to apply online for PhiLSAT?
Applicants can register online starting Thursday, March 2 via the website of accredited testing administrator (Center for Education Measurement, Inc. (CEM). Deadline of application will be on April 3, 2017.
Ensure that you have the following before you register:
- A valid e-mail account which you will use for your online application.
- One recent unretouched digital photo with these specifications: 2″x 2″ or at least 600×600 pixels, with white background.
- A valid Passport if you are NOT a Filipino citizen.
How to register online?
- Accomplish the registration form online. Fill out the required fields in the form. Please make sure that all information entered is true and correct. You are responsible for ensuring that your contact information is correct and current at all time.
- Proceed with accomplishing online the Student Information Questionnaire (SIQ).
- Choose your preferred mode of payment — either by credit card or by bank payment.
- Check your e-mail account — inbox and spam mailbox — for your PhiLSAT Identification (ID) Form and a confirmation of your payment if you paid by credit card. Download and print a copy of your PhiLSAT Identification (ID) Form. You will need to submit it on the test day.
- If you need to change some or all the information given on your PhiLSAT ID Form, follow the instructions below.
How much is the examination fee for PhiLSAT?
In its pilot academic year, a payment of Php 1,000 as examination fee will be collected. It may be paid via online or via an over-the-counter deposit in Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) branches nationwide.
PhiLSAT examination dates and venues
The country's first PhiLSAT examination will be on April 16 in the following testing sites (this may still be subject to changes):
- Baguio City – University of the Cordilleras
- Metro Manila – University of Santo Tomas
- Legazpi City – Aquinas University
- Iloilo City – University of San Agustin
- Cebu City – University of San Jose-Recoletos
- Davao City – Jose Maria College
- Cagayan de Oro City – Xavier University
What is the passing percentage of PhiLSAT?
The passing percentage will be 55%, however, law schools are still allowed to admit examinees who got lower than the passing rate on its pilot year. However, the LEB will not allow schools to enroll students who did not take the PhiLSAT.
Who are qualified to take PhiLSAT?
- Graduate of a 4-year bachelor's degree, or its equivalent, from duly recognized higher education institutions in the Philippines
- Graduating student of a 4-year bachelor's degree, or its equivalent, from duly recognized higher education institutions in the Philippines at the end of the school year when the PhiLSAT is administered
- Graduate from foreign higher education institutions with degrees equivalent to a 4-year bachelor's degree as certified by the Commission on Higher Education
Who are exempted to take the PhiLSAT?
Honor graduates granted professional civil service eligibility, who are enrolling within 2 years from their college graduation, are exempted from taking the PhilSAT. Those exempted from the exam will have to submit a civil service recognition to the LEB.


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Coblands Nursery Online
Just thought you may be interested Coblands online have 30% off today and free delivery...
6 comments
10 Apr, 2016
Happy birthday to me!
Pleased with how my garden is looking. Might get me one of these T-shirts for my...
18 comments
12 Sep, 2015
Just got back from 2 week hols in Kos, Greece
Just got back from 2 week hols in Kos, third year running to the same apartments,...
9 comments
27 Aug, 2015
Ashwood Nurseries John Massey's Private Garden
I haven't been to see John Massey's garden for a couple of years so decided to go...
26 comments
2 May, 2015
Pleasantly Surprised
Thought you may be interested, was just browsing the internet as I had seen a rhododendron...
7 comments
28 Apr, 2015
A visit to Ashwood Nurseries
I'd got the day off work today so I thought I'd have a wander around Ashwood Nursery....
10 comments
31 Mar, 2015
Stipa Gigantea Maintenance
Thought this may be interesting as it was to me, found this article whilst looking...
4 comments
9 Nov, 2014
Photo Size
Just thought I would mention I was about to do a blog and all my photos are above...
5 comments
31 Aug, 2014
Hi all just back from hols to Kos, Greece
Been away for two weeks so will enjoy catching up with all your posts and will do...
22 Aug, 2014
Sights and Flora Our Holiday to Kos, Greece 2013
Thought you may like to see a few photos from our trip to Kos last summer, it was...
15 comments
2 Mar, 2014
Its that Time of Year Again, Gardeners World Live 2013
This is our 10th year going, I think the first time we went was 2003 and then we...
25 Jun, 2013
Gardeners World Live 2012
Hi everyone, bit late putting this on, time goes so quickly, thought you might like...
8 comments
25 Jun, 2012
Grows on You is a community for gardeners. Record the plants in your garden, share your photos, and make like-minded friends.


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Earlier this year I reviewed the audio edition of this book and had mixed feelings. I loved Anne with an E as a little girl but as an adult I felt rather like a Marilla.
However when the new Penguin Classic edition came up for review, I was all in, especially because I wanted to see if I found reading Anne as an adult was better than listening to her. This cover was everything. It captured childhood nostalgia and sentiment and stood out from other edition. Something about the cover screamed 'raspberry cordial' to me. I loved the bright colors and graphics.
L. M. Montgomery's novel Anne of Green Gables recounts the adventures of Anne Shirley, an 11-year-old orphan mistakenly sent to a pair of siblings who intended to adopt a boy to help work on their farm in Prince Edward Island.
Continue reading "Review: Anne of Green Gables (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition) by L.M. Montogomery"


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When you know how…
Purchasing the appropriate Multi-User License (MUL) at HouseofType.com is straightforward and easy.
After you add the font(s) to your shopping cart, you'll be asked for the total number of CPUs (users) in your office. Select the appropriate quantity and download the font(s) you require.
Pro Tip: For larger Multi-User Licenses it is always best to call us directly at USA +610 584 7233 for a specific quote.
Help is on the way…
Not exactly sure what your particular licensing requirements or needs are? No problem! We have a friendly, knowledgeable team of experts on staff waiting to assist you with your licensing questions. We have helped thousands of organizations and companies (large and small), with their unique licensing requirements.
We can also make sure all fonts in your existing library are properly licensed from their respective foundries, whether we actually sell them or not. Contact us for details, we are here to help you.


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A thin silver bracelet with a small heart. The jewelry is made for the bearer to be reminded of love. A perfect everyday jewellery. Made in 925 sterling silver.
Adjustable length: 16, 17 & 18 cm
The best loving words are usually in the form of a whisper. Greatness comes in the small details in life. The Loving Heart was made small for the bearer to wear as a personal reminder of love.


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TUCSON, Ariz. – The Simpson baseball team threatened school records for offense in game one and evened its season record by sweeping Crown (Minn.) in a doubleheader at the Tucson Invitational on Wednesday.
The Storm (3-3) won game one 19-1 and completed the sweep with an 8-6 triumph in the nightcap.
Simpson got the wins despite missing a handful of players – including preseason All-American, Tyler Craig – due to a flu bug making its way around the team.
The Storm close play at the Tucson Invitational on Thursday when they face Wesleyan (Conn.) and Wheaton (Ill.).
The offense cut loose for 20 hits, 18 RBIs, seven doubles and four triples as it scored the most runs by a Simpson team since 2008.
Jake Esdohr tied a school record with five hits, going 5-for-5 with a walk and four RBIs to lead the offensive onslaught. Michael Chia drove in four runs, Nick Anderson and Bud Smith had three hits apiece and Chia and Brett Crable each had a double and a triple.
Simpson broke the game open with eight runs in the second, sending 12 batters to the plate. Both of Crable's extra-base hits came in the big inning. He led off the inning with a triple and scored on a single by Edsohr and then drove in a run on a triple before scoring for the second time in the inning.
Chia hit a three-RBI triple to highlight a six-run seventh.
Jake Scieszinski had a solid day on the hill, striking out nine and scattering seven hits in 6 1/3 to get his first win of the season.
Simpson's four triples tied a school record, the seven doubles were one shy of tying a school record and the 18 RBIs were the third most in a game in school history. Simpson's last offensive outburst also came against Crown when it scored 37 and 25 in a doubleheader on April 1, 2008.
Simpson scored seven runs in the first and held on for the win despite being outhit 12-6 on the day.
Smith and Gage Reis had two RBIs apiece in the first inning to help Simpson build a comfortable lead.
Crown came back with a four-run second, getting a two-RBI double by Blake Jobe and a two-run single by Jacob Tarver to pull within 7-5. Crable drove in a run on a groundout in the second to give Simpson an 8-5 lead, which lasted until the third when Jobe added another run on a double.
Neither team scored the rest of the way. Brock Borgeson held Crown scoreless in the fifth and sixth and Adam Richman closed the door in the seventh to earn the save. Daultan Gibson entered the game in the second for injured starter Aaron Young, picking up the win after allowing two runs in three innings of work.


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United Airlines Time to Fly Again
United Airlines has produced a reprise for "It's Time to Fly Again", the animated television commercials featuring the music of George Gershwin. Five animated videos, set to Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, take viewers on new explorations of flights of fancy. Robert Redford provides the voiceover for each.
Two Worlds
A suit in a black and white world escapes the drudgery of his world by walking through a door into the sky. Directed by Gaelle Denis and SSSR (Kristian Hammerstad, Marc Reisbig and Yu Sato), via Passion Pictures, London with producer Belinda Blacklock.
Click on the image below to play the video.
Sea Orchestra
An ensemble cast of sea creatures performs Rhapsody in Blue in the middle of the ocean. Directed by Shy the Sun (Jannes Hendrikz and Ree Treweek) via Duck Studios, with executive producer Mark Medernach and producer Nina Pfeiffer.
Click on the image below to play the video.
A woman travels across the world to present a paper at a conference, leaving her heart behind. Directed by Jamie Caliri via Duck Studios
Click on the image below to play the video.
A woman soars off into sleep as a butterfly during her international flight. Directed by Aleksandra Korejwo via Acme Filmworks, Los Angeles, with executive producer Ron Diamond, producer David Schmier.
Click on the image below to play the video.
An business class passenger produces a fantastic creation from the moon in the window. Directed by Ishu Patel via Image Par Image with producer Aileen Brophy.
Click on the image below to play the video.
The Time to Fly campaign was developed at Barrie D'Rozario Murphy, Minneapolis, by executive creative directors Stuart D'Rozario and Bob Barrie, art director James Zucco, copywriter Dan Mackaman, agency producers Holly Stone and Jack Steinmann. Barrie and D'Rozario, before founding the agency in November 2006, were responsible for the "It's Time to Fly" campaign at Fallon Worldwide.
Music was produced at Trivers & Myers. Sound was mixed by Ken Chastain at Pixel Farm, Minneapolis.
Filed under: Commercials, United Airlines
Tagged: Acme Filmworks, Aleksandra Korejwo, Barrie D'Rozario Murphy, Duck Studios, Gaelle Denis, Image Par Image, Ishu Patel, Jamie Caliri, Passion Pictures, Pixel Farm, Shy the Sun, SSSR, Trivers & Myers
Location: USA


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Mr. _____ (Albert) Quotes in The Color Purple
Fact is, I got to get rid of her. She too old to be living here at home. And she a bad influence on my other girls . . . . She ain't smart either, and I'll just be fair, you have to watch her or she'll give away everything you own. But she can work like a man.
Unlock explanations and citation info for this and every other The Color Purple quote.
Plus so much more...Get LitCharts A+
I lay there thinking bout Nettie while he [Mr. _____] on top of me, wonder if she safe. And then I think bout Shug Avery. I know what he doing to me he done to Shug Avery and maybe she like it. I put my arm around him.
And I see they [the children] think that me and Nettie and Shug and Albert and Samuel and Harpo and Sofia and Jack and Odessa real old . . . But I don't think us feel old at all. And us so happy. Matter of fact, I think this the youngest us ever felt.


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SF OLD REPUBLIC v1.1, created by ShyWedge, 1999.
The following TrueType fonts are included:
- SF Old Republic
- SF Old Republic, Italic
- SF Old Republic, Bold
- SF Old Republic, Bold Italic
- SF Old Republic SC
- SF Old Republic SC, Italic
- SF Old Republic SC, Bold
- SF Old Republic SC, Bold Italic
v1.1 UPDATES
- Improved lettering, spacing, and kerning.
- Includes limited punctuation.
- Small Caps version has been added.
This font package is Freeware. If you wish to distribute it,
please include all of the above fonts along with this document
and send me an e-mail to let me know which font you have so I can
inform you of the latest updates.
Thank you for downloading this font package and enjoy!
ShyFonts by ShyWedge, 1999.
Web Site: http://welcome.to/ShyFonts
E-mail: email@example.com


text:
Emailed Mike with some concerns, and Mike responded. Sharing this with the list. -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Re: CSP 1.1: Paths in source list definitions. Date: Tue, 25 Sep 2012 07:03:15 +0200 From: Mike West <email@example.com> To: Tanvi Vyas <firstname.lastname@example.com> CC: firstname.lastname@example.com <firstname.lastname@example.com> Hey Tanvi, Dan! Thanks for reaching out. Responses inline. On Tue, Sep 25, 2012 at 12:11 AM, Tanvi Vyas <firstname.lastname@example.com <mailto:email@example.com>> wrote: I'm a little concerned that it doesn't allow file level restrictions , since the developer implementing the policy may not have control of the server that hosts a file included in his/her website. Assumestartup.com <http://startup.com/> wants to include newanalytics.com/js/analytics.js <http://newanalytics.com/js/analytics.js>, but nothing else from newanalytics.com/js <http://newanalytics.com/js>. With the below proposal, startup.com <http://startup.com/> wouldn't be able to write a Content Security Policy that allows only analytics.js. I see the current text as a starting point that captures more or less what I thought the group solidly agreed to, but I do hope it's clear that none of the edits I've made are final in any way. I'm putting out strawmen in the hopes of generating conversations like this one. :) I'd like to do something along these lines. My initial pass at the feature behaved more or less like this, and I think it's a good option. We really only ran with a directory-level implementation because it was simple, was fairly clearly accepted by the group, and we knew we could always increase the granularity later. Perhaps we could distinguish between directories and filenames by looking for a trailing slash followed by a star, so that startup.com <http://startup.com> has an option to choose between newanalytics.com/js/analytics.js <http://newanalytics.com/js/analytics.js> or newanalytics.com/js/* <http://newanalytics.com/js/*>. On the one hand, I like having an explicit wildcard at the end, as it makes it quite clear what's meant. On the other, a trailing '/' is probably just as explicit, and doesn't get us into weird discussions about supporting files named '*'. :) I'd suggest that: * newanalytics.com/js <http://newanalytics.com/js> match a file named "js" * newanalytics.com/js/ <http://newanalytics.com/js/> match all files under a directory named "js", and * newanalytics.com/js/analytics.js <http://newanalytics.com/js/analytics.js> match the specific file "analytics.js" under the directory named "js". Does that make sense? On another note, for query parameters and fragments at the end of source expressions, perhaps we should just truncate that part of the source expression instead of ignoring the source. This makes good sense. Looking back at the discussion Adam and I had while working through the experimental implementation[1], this is actually what we'd agreed on. It somehow morphed into a stricter check during the review process. Note, however, that if we support individual files, we'll likely want to support query parameters as well, since those specify a variant of a file in a way that anchors don't. Wanted to get your thoughts (and Dan's, cc'ed) before I replied to the list. Thanks! Generally, I'd encourage you to post your concerns to the list. The more people we can get involved in the discussion, the more likely it is that the end result will actually be implemented. :) [1]: https://bugs.webkit.org/show_bug.cgi?id=89750#c4 -- Mike West <email@example.com <mailto:email@example.com>>, Developer Advocate Google Germany GmbH, Dienerstrasse 12, 80331 München, Germany Google+: https://mkw.st/+, Twitter: @mikewest, Cell: +49 162 10 255 91Received on Tuesday, 25 September 2012 20:40:22 UTC
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Friday, 17 January 2020 18:54:29 UTC


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FC: Journey Around The Countries Of Africa!!
1: Niger | Here is a updated site in the GREAT land of Niger | This is one of the lands or farms where water is kept and stored. | The flag that is presented in Niger.
2: Ethiopia | This is a site in Ethiopia that is really important and has lots of history | Here is the flag that represents the country Ethiopia. | The Beatiful Scenery is great for a romantic vacation
3: Madagascar | Great view makes you feel like your in Hollywood. | Flag in Madagascar which is so colorful
4: We have enjoyed this wonderful journey throughout the countries of Africa and hope you have enjoyed our journey too. | Presented By: Taiyona Brocks Avianne Jones Joshua Pabon Tahj Sampier Marcus Williams


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There are some informative and challenging podcasts coming out of education.au ("Australia's leading Information and Communications Technology agency", provide innovative technology online for education and training). Established in 1996 and funded by all Australian governments, it is a not for profit agency established to meet national education and training priorities.
The following links to podcasts come from the conference titled: "So what's changed? Technology, expectations, connections and collaboration." This podcast is a quick pre-conference intro by Garry Putland and is delivered with gusto. Another podcast features audio from the first session of the day given by ABC Radio Nationals, Phillip Adams. This talk was part of education.au limited's "So what's changed?" event, held at the Wentworth Sofitel Hotel, Sydney Australia on August 4th, 2006. There is also a fascinating lecture by James Farmer from edublogs.org, the educational blogging service we discussed in last weeks webcast. His podcast features the audio from the talk entitled "Engaging and empowering teachers and learners. What does this mean for pedagogies?". These are the only three I've listened to thus far - fascinating stuff - details of the other podcasts from this cutting edge conference are available to "download to your pod" as Phillip Adams says. More are availbale here.


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What Flows Through and Across
What Flows Through and Across, 2017
Assembly Point, London, UK
Video installation: HD video projected onto sheer fabric curtains (13:55 min), vinyl dance floor mat, digital prints on fabrics, aluminium fish tank, crystal candle wax, print on paper, glass shelves, resin, glass light fixtures and lighting devices, dried plants.
Review: Art Viewer
Installation views by Ben Westoby
« Everything started here. This is exactly where the waters of my body first brought me to dance in my work.
As they recall what they've stored and stacked over the years, the waters also understand they are History. Information and knowledge stacked and stored, here in the watery core of a body that is also History. Be aware they won't let you ignore the way they have stratified over time to record the raw quality of what has passed through them.
As they find themselves chatting you up, they realise how much they made my body wander the beaches in a relentless quest for understanding. Probably in the hope that the sea would speak to me, I didn't disobey; oblivious to the feeling of being left exposed.
They now awkwardly echo Audre Lorde's words; at the water seeking a place where her past and future intersect, she writes « I hear the water's song, feel the tides within the fluids of my body »
The waters speculate about embodied History and stories that are also bodies, leaking into and sponging off of each other. They speculate about a metaphorical space where confinement and vastness interact. A space where the body they use as a container would expand beyond the borderzones of its membrane; set adrift while trying to grasp what flows through and across. »


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Vessel ID
Looking out onto the horizon at night one can see lights. If these lights remain in the same place for an extended period of time, they are no doubt fishing, under the cover of darkness, illegally. During the daylight hours we aim to provide images for our reporters so that they can identify the types of fishing vessels they may be seeing along their coastline. This information is useful for us to determine the legality of the boat's presence. Take a look through our images so that when you send a report you can correctly identify the vessels that you may be seeing. Incident reports of fishing vessels should include: Date, time and location, vessel type, fishing equipment type, number of people visible and species being caught. Photographic evidence is optimal.


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Kapisa کاپیسا
Major Agricultural Activities
Kapisa is famous for producing mulberries and pomegranates. Some districts grow large amounts of almonds.
Potential Development Themes
Animal husbandry, pasture improvement, value adding (product processing), post-harvest technology and irrigation system improvement are some of the potential areas for development.
Province Summaries
- Province Overview Info Sheet
- Crop Calendar Info Sheet
- Afghanistan Provincial Indicators Link (CFC)
Province Reports
- Ministry Report (MRRD)
- Province Profile Report (1.9 MB) (NAIS)
- Socio-Economic and Demographic Profile Report (2003-2005) (2.8 MB) (UNFPA)
- Social Assessment Profile Fact Sheet (2012) (NHLP)
- World Food Program Link


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The World's Lightest Bike
images by Nick Salazar
Sep 15, 2010
images by Nick Salazar
Sep 15, 2010 1,861,009
It's not every day you get the chance to see something as exotic and beautiful as this, the lightest road bike in the world. The impossibly-skinny Spin Custom frame is adorned with a whole host of featherweight parts to bring the total build weight to a little over 2.7kg, barely over 6 pounds.
Tags » fairwheel, interbike2010, rigs, thmcarbones
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One of our favorite triathletes of all time, multiple Ironman champion Joe Gambles, is now part of Team TriRig!
We've already posted our race-day gallery, but here are some detailed shots of our four pros who rode the Omni at Indian Wells.
The beautiful Indian Wells was home to a 70.3 this weekend, with no fewer than FOUR professional triathletes riding Omni to some great race finishes!
Ben Deal is one of several pros riding the Omni, and here he goes in depth with a detailed video review of his rig and wife Summer's rig as well!
A super snazzy build from the guys at Dephion Performance. Custom paint, clean routing, and TriRig parts all over. Enjoy!
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General McChrystal's infamous interview in which he castigated his country's political management has shocked a lot of people in the US. People are wondering what might have prompted him to do so. While complex issues are being raised, no one dares mention that the partnership with Pakistan's military and its generals might have rubbed off on the US commander who is now sacked.
The fact of the matter is that military commanders all over the world are dissatisfied with civilian leadership. Civil and military cultures are distinctly different. Military commanders, even in the best of democracies, can privately make fun of their civilian leaders and ridicule them privately for not showing discipline and a sense of leadership that is known amongst military circles. However, one of the factors which make one military different from the other is the dominant political culture. According to civil-military relations expert Peter D Fever's principal-agent theory, a proactive civilian leadership ensures that the military stays in line. A leadership that allows its military commanders to go unpunished for their acts of omission or commission, as had happened when Mohammad Ali Jinnah failed to punish his top army generals for act of disobedience, sets a tradition of a powerful political military.
However, there are two other factors which play a critical role in shaping civil-military relations. Unfortunately, academic literature on the subject has not factored in these variables and the manner in which it impacts civil-military balance in a country.
The first factor relates to socio-cultural conditions. Societies that are highly militarised face problems in keeping the civil-military balance. Wars and conflict set a pace for the national psychology. Since it is military commanders who are seen as fighting the battles and on the frontline, they become more acceptable to the society as leaders. Wars tend to weaken political traditions. So, on the one hand wars are theoretically meant to ensure peace, stability, and, hence prosperity. On the other hand, they gradually challenge civilian control and increase internal stability.
The US has experienced wars since the 1990s starting with the first attack on Iraq. The hype regarding these wars were meant to draw public support necessary to seek approval for obtaining financial resources. Nevertheless, it seems to have increased the content of militarisation of society. This means that a civilian president has to be as hawkish as a military commander. While the underprivileged US may crave for a change, a militarised America has built an inner capacity for a Bush-Cheney kind of leadership but surely there are other factors as well.
The other factor, which the academia has not grappled with, is the expansion of the role of the military and its impact on civil-military relations. The growing economic power of the security sector vets a military commander's appetite for organisational autonomy. Although private security companies and projects are theoretically for the welfare of soldiers, the net effect is to develop a sense of autonomy which is dangerous for the military.
In America's case, the private security industry denotes partnership between a dominant private sector and the US military. The private sector uses its financial resources and political contacts to ensure the government's commitment of resources for the war efforts. The military is a critical partner since it provides manpower, the know-how and technology which is sold by the private security industry. There is the emergence of the military-industrial-business complex which empowers the military politically.
Therefore, McChrystal's statement is not an anomaly. He seems to have consistently challenged the US President starting with his statement during an earlier London conference. Political traditions allowed Obama to fire his commander. However, he must focus attention on the fragility of the evolution of the political culture which allowed the commander to challenge the writ of the civilian leadership and the Congress. McChrystal's latest interview was an attempt at redefining policy.
So, a question which American analysts might ask themselves is: what would happen if a Cuban missile crisis were to take place in the US today? The military's organisational autonomy and its cultural implications in particular may not throw up a decision which John F Kennedy was able to take.


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Sofia is the capital of Bulgaria. It is the largest city in the country (had 1,282,386 inhabitants in 2015), and is located in the west of Bulgaria, in the Balkan Peninsula.
The city is marked by a characteristic communist architecture, composed of numerous apartment blocks, wide avenues and numerous parks.
Sofia lies in a large valley at approximately 600 meters above sea level, surrounded by Mount Vitosha to the south, Mount Lyulin to the west and the Balkan mountains to the north.
Some small streams cross the city from south to north, flowing into the Iskar River, which runs east of Sofia and heads north to empty into the Danube in the north of the country.
The biggest activity of the city is in the center, on the boulevards Tsar Osvoboditel and Vitosha, the latter has some exclusive blocks for pedestrians.
The rest of the city is composed of blocks of apartments and some suburbs of single-family homes, most of them to the south of the city.
Sofia had 1,282,386 inhabitants in 2015, while its metropolitan area, which includes cities such as Bozhurishte, Kazichene, Bistritsa and Pernik, reaches 2,100,000 inhabitants.
Bulgaria belongs to the European Union since January 1, 2007, although it is not yet part of the Schengen area. The official currency is the Lev (abbreviated BGN) and at the end of January 2018 the change is 1.57 BGN = 1 USD.
The country had 7,384,000 inhabitants in 2012, an area of 110,879 square kilometers, and its official language is Bulgarian.
Downtown Sofia
The center of Sofia has many shops and a wide range of gastronomy and nightlife, most attractions are close to each other, allowing you to visit them walking through the streets of the city.
Starting from the central area of Sofia, most of the attractions can be visited using two boulevards as axes of our route, the Vitosha and the Tsar Ovoboditel.
In our first stage we will walk through the Vitosha that takes us in a southerly direction. Here, in the most central area of the city, we can visit the small Church of Saint George (Sveti Georgi), a small rotunda temple built in red bricks in the 6th century.
In front we have the Largo building complex, an architectural ensemble of three buildings of Classicism, which were designed and built in the 1950s, with the intention of becoming the new representative center of the city. Today it is considered one of the main examples of the architecture of socialist classicism in Southeast Europe and one of the main constructions of Sofia.
Next to the Largo complex, there is the small Church of St. Petka of the Saddlers. It stands out for its 1 meter thick walls, made of brick and stone.
The church was mentioned for the first time in the sixteenth century and built on the site of an ancient Roman religious building. Today it is a monument of culture known for its mural paintings of the fourteenth, fifteenth, seventeenth and nineteenth centuries that depict biblical scenes. Some experts say that the remains of the national hero Vasil Levski are buried in this temple.
If we walk a few meters to the north, we can visit the beautiful Mosque Banya Bashi (Mosque of the Baths). It was built in the sixteenth century and it is necessary to pay a ticket to enter.
Returning to the area of the Largo buildings, at the intersection of María Luiza and Todor Alexandrov boulevards, we find the Serdica metro station, where the lines of the city, the M1 and the M2 intersect.
On this corner is a bronze statue of about 24 meters, dedicated to the city's protective goddess, Sofia. Although it was not always there, before, in communist times, there was a Lenin monument in the place.
To the west of the intersection is the Saint Joseph Cathedral (Sveti Iosif) and the monument of Pope John XXIII. While to the south of the same is the Cathedral Saint Nedelya (Sveta Nedelya), dating from the tenth century, although on numerous occasions it was destroyed and rebuilt again.
From this point we head south along Vitosha Boulevard, towards the pedestrian section of it.
It is about seven blocks where people walk on the cobbled street and decorated with square flower flower beds on their banks.
In this area we find many clothing stores of all kinds, such as H & M, Orsay, United Colors of Beneton, Niko, among others. Jewelers, perfumeries and gift shops also find their place in these blocks of Boulevard Vitosha.
National Palace of Culture
When arriving at the Boulevard Patriarh Evtimiy, the Vitosha stops being pedestrian and goes to the south of the city. Here we have the Park of the National Palace of Culture. It consists of a fairly large park with fountains and paths that cross it. There is even a small water channel.
Here we find the National Palace of Culture, built between 1978 and 1981 and formerly called Lyudmila Zhivkova Palace. The huge building has an area of 123,000 square meters, distributed in 8 floors and 3 underground floors, and in 2005 it was proclaimed the best congress center in the world by the International Organization of Congress Centers. Here are held congresses, conferences, events, exhibitions, our and concerts.
Walking the Tsar Osvoboditel Boulevard
In our previous tour we walked from the center to the National Palace of Culture, using Vitosha Boulevard as the axis. Now, from the center, where the Largo building complex is located, we propose another route.
This time we will use the Osvoboditel Boulevard as an axis, which has many attractive nearby margins.
Our tour will take us southeast on the boulevard. First of all we find the Alexandre I Square next to the Gradska Park, where until 1999 there was the Georgi Dimitrov Museum, built in 1949 to house the embalmed body of the communist leader Georgi Dimitrov (1882-1949). Its construction took place in a record time of 6 days, time it took to get the body of him from the Soviet Union. In 1990 the body was cremated and the ashes were taken to the central cemetery, and in 1999 the government of Ivan Kostov destroyed the museum. Currently in the square there are very few vestiges of that museum.
A few meters away we find the National Theater Ivan Vazov, and the Grand Hotel Sofia.
We continue walking along the boulevard and a few meters walk we find the Royal Palace that currently houses the National Art Gallery, it is the main museum in Bulgaria, with about 50 thousand pieces of Bulgarian art.
A few steps further on is the Russian Church, also known as the Church of St Nicholas the Miracle-
The National Assembly of Bulgaria is located two blocks further on, following our southeast direction along the same boulevard, behind it a block away is the impressive Orthodox Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky, built in honor of the 200,000 Russian soldiers who they died fighting for the independence of Bulgaria during the Turkish-Russian War in the years 1877 and 1878. The entrance costs 6 levs (3 for students), and can enter between 10:00 and 18:00 from Tuesday to Sunday .
Returning to our tour, we can see the monument of Tsar Alexandar II in front of the National Assembly, and following the Boulevard Osvoboditel we are on the left with the building of the University of Sofia.
In front of the university we have the Knyazheska Park, where in its center we find the monument to the Soviet Navy, made in 1954.
The Kliment Ohridski station, on the M1 metro line, is also located in this square.
At this point, the Tsar Osvoboditel Boulevard crosses a bridge over the Perlovska creek and takes the name of Tsarigradsko Shose Boulevard, which runs to the southeast of the city.
Borisova Gradina
Continuing with the route we had been taking along the Tsar Osvoboditel Boulevard, we visited the Borisova Park (Borisova Gradina), one of the most beautiful and largest in the city. The Vasil Levski National Stadium is located in the northern sector of the same.
The stadium, named after a revolutionary considered a national hero in Bulgaria, is the largest in the country, has a capacity for 43,500 people, and is used as a venue for the national football team.
Near the stadium, at the intersection of Dragan Tsankov boulevards and Evlogi i Hristo Georgie, lies the M1 metro station.
Continuing in the Borisova Park, and next to the Vasil Levski Stadium, we find a small lake called Ariana, which dates from the 19th century and was created with the purpose of providing a place of relaxation for the inhabitants of Sofia.
The lake is about 175 meters long, 75 meters wide and shallow. It stands out especially in spring and summer, when the landscape is dressed in green and the place is full of people who go to the restaurant on the shore or sail on the pedalos.
Following our walk along the Borinava Gradina, we continue towards the south of the park because for its multiple paths covered with tall trees and lush vegetation.
In the center of it we find another stadium, the Balgarska Armiya Stadium, home of the CSKA club of Sofia and with a capacity of 22,015 spectators.
To the east of the stadium, a few meters away, we have a large area of park devoid of trees and with numerous benches to rest.
To the south of the stadium we have the velodrome and the María Luisa pool complex with some pools of different sizes and depths.
In the west sector of the park we find the quietest area of the park, full of vegetation and small trails.
Undoubtedly, one of the places I like most about Sofia is this great park, which stands out especially in spring and summer as one of the most beautiful places in the city.
The city has a wide range of accommodation for all types of travelers, starting from the cheapest such as Hostel Mostel, Nightingale Hostel and Guesthouse or Vega Pension, among others, where prices start from 25 euros for a room shared with other people; Even the most luxurious and complete establishments, such as the 5 star hotels Hilton, Hotel Anel, Marinela Sofia or Sofia Hotel Balkan, with prices of around 200 or 250 euros per night.
One of the great advantages of the Bulgarian capital is that most of the accommodations are in the central area.
Getting to Sofia is not complicated at all. The Sofia Airport (SOF) is located east of the city, about 8 kilometers from the center.
Last 2017 moved some 6,490,096 passengers, thanks to its wide range of destinations, such as London, Rome, Milan, Athens, Tel Aviv, Amsterdam, and many more. There are also several air routes to the rest of Europe thanks to the low cost airlines Wizz Air, EasyJet and Ryanair.
Within Bulgaria, the national airline Bulgaria Air has flights to the city of Varna and in summer also offers flights to Burgas.
To get from the airport to the center of the city there are buses, taxis and the M1 line of the metro.
Meanwhile, by land, you can reach Sofia by train from other Bulgarian cities or neighboring countries such as Greece, Turkey or Romania; As also using the buses that connect the city with others in the country and neighboring countries. The Central train station and the bus station are located next to each other, 10 blocks north of downtown, on Avenida María Luiza. The subway has a station on the M2 line in the same place.
To move within the city you can use the bus lines, trolleybuses and the tram. Sofia has two metro lines (M1 and M2), and a third is under construction to be enabled in 2019.
I will emphasize that there are some free tours in Sofia, guided by English-speaking locals. These are the two-hour walking tour (www.freesofiatour.com), and the one-hour bike or walk tour of Boyana (www.sofiagreentour.com).
Undoubtedly Sofia is a city with a lot to offer, unknown to many, but which invites you to discover it. In the next publication we will be touring the Zaimov Park, the Boyana area and many other beautiful places in the Bulgarian capital.


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Yes, we need young people to keep the UMC strong. I have witnessed a great presence of growth. I observed generations working together to run VBS last week. In Phoenix there is a move to bring forward a comfort zone for young adults. Some young adults have Bible study at coffee shops. Our young adults need a way to connect with each other. Better yet, it is so cool when they connect with many generations of UMC. It keeps the UMC young and alive.
Cindy McFadden
Shepherd of the Valley UMC


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June 23, 2007
How good does it get? (4) - Fluctuation and progress
2 comments:
I think that's one thing I've truly gained a useful understanding of from learning about SF - things do fluctuate. In "Don't Believe Everything You Think" by Thomas Kida, he explains how not realizing that things fluctuate can lead to biases in thinking. It can lead to people thinking sham treatments work because they may try one of these treatments when they are at the peak of pain. Well, it's likely that after any above average experience there will be below average experiences - a statistical fact called regression to the mean - so a person in pain would experience a drop after their highest level of pain in many cases. If you try a new treatment and notice a pain drop, you may think it was caused by this new treatment (of course it could be caused by a placebo effect too).ReplyDelete
In any case, it's interesting to see how SF relates to principles of accurate thinking.
quite agree with that!ReplyDelete


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Valentines Day
Valentine's Day is almost here again! It's always been a big deal here at Bitto and we are celebrating the Thursday through Saturday with a tasty, romantic package for you and yours. For $80 a couple, we will start you with two glasses of bubbly, our classic homemade bruschetta followed by a 3-Cheese platter with our most popular selections. A lovely chocolate dessert is also included as is a $25 wine credit to be used for any wine we serve. Explore our large by-the-glass program or try out a bottle!
Please know that we now offer reservations for ANY size party so please give us a call at 303-452-4900 to book a time. You can drop us an email using the contact us form or use the opentable form at the bottom of this page. We will offering our regular menu as well during this time. Tax and gratuity are not included.


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If I were asked by a member of Congress for advice in the current mess, here's what I would say.
1. Don't Panic.
The events on Wall Street seem terrifying partly because the U.S. has not been through a financial panic like this since the Great Depression. But plenty of other countries, even rich countries like Sweden and Britain, have had financial panics in the last few decades, and have worked their way out of them without drastic consequences. So, keep your cool. (Once, when an overwrought friend complained to Adam Smith that some political setback would be the ruin of the British nation, Smith replied "There's a lot of ruin in a nation.")
2. Don't Let Unrelated Issues Get Confused
There seems to be a concerted effort to tie together separate aspects of the financial crisis which are not in fact connected. For example, I think the Fed can make a strong case for ensuring that money market mutual funds do not "break the buck" (the term for what happens when they cannot guarantee that depositors will get back at least the full principal value of their money). But this has very little to do with whether the government should buy up subprime mortgage securities. Do not get stampeded into making a bad decision about subprime mortgages by a suggestion that such a decision is necessary to avoid "breaking the buck."
3. Don't Get Stuck Holding the Bag
Increasingly it seems that there are a lot of desperate schemes to try to force/trick the government into taking the "toxic waste" subprime securities off the hands of the entities who are holding them now. In the end, some solution where the government ends up holding some of this stuff may be unavoidable. But what is eminently avoidable is a solution where basically the government gets only the toxic waste and none of the good assets. Any specific rules you come up with that say "we will take any securities you want to sell that meet the following criteria" will induce the owners of those securities to dump the bad stuff on the government and keep the good stuff for themselves. This is what economists mean when they say that the worst possible solution is one where you "socialize the losses and privatize the profits."
Let me give you a concrete, personal, specific example. Last year, the condo next to my parents was bought by one of these shady real estate speculator types who started cropping up everywhere in the last few years. He was one of the last people in the country, I think, to get one of those subprime mortgages from Countrywide where the interest rate is incredibly low for two years and then skyrockets. Of course, his plan was to flip this property before the two years ran out, on the theory that housing prices could only increase. Oops! Now he is holding the bag — he's still trying to sell, for $50,000 more than he paid, but there are no buyers.
Suppose Congress passes a bill that says everybody's rates will freeze at the level that prevailed in the first two years of their mortgage. Then this guy, who is one of the sleazy bad actors who were responsible for much of this crisis, is off the hook, because his teaser interest rate was absurdly low so he can afford to keep the place indefinitely!
I realize Congress has tried to deal with this kind of situation by insisting that government guarantees are available only for people who live in their property. But this guy is a pathological (and very successful) liar. He will have zero difficulty in producing documentation proving that the 5 different houses he was holding when the music stopped are all his principal residence. Of course, eventually all this will catch up with him, and he will be prosecuted and convicted. But meanwhile, if the government says it will guarantee any mortgage that meets certain criteria, the owner of the securities that include this guy's loans has an incredibly strong incentive conveniently not to notice that the guy is a crook. Once they get into the government guarantee program, the fact that he is a crook is the government's problem and not theirs. So the government will end up being the owner of all 5 of those toxic waste loans, and once he is caught and prosecuted and convicted there is no way to squeeze blood from that stone to make the taxpayer whole.
Whoever was foolish enough to give those mortgages to that guy needs to bear the losses. If they go bankrupt, then they deserve to go bankrupt. The taxpayer should NOT be bailing these guys out.
The problem, in a nutshell, is that the owners of the subprime securities know much more than the government about exactly which of their loans are to the deadbeats who will never repay. (The technical term for this is "adverse selection" — it's different from, but related to, moral hazard). So if the government stands ready to buy any mortgages that match some certain set of objective criteria, what the government is going to get is all those mortgages that satisfy the criteria but are nevertheless rotten to the core.
4. Give Something, Get Something
It may well turn out that a massive bailout of the financial sector is the only way to prevent catastrophic consequences for the economy as a whole. But there is no reason for the government just to get the toxic waste and get nothing in return. The government needs to get the upside as well as the downside, the good as well as the bad. If a financial firm comes begging for a bailout, the response should not be "OK, we'll take the subprime securities off your balance sheet" nor should it be "We, the government, will buy the subprime securities in the marketplace for 10 times what they're worth in order to help you out." The government needs to drive a hard bargain: In the limit, the government should get shares of the firm's assets that bear some relationship to the value of any guarantees the government gives for the subprime securities the firm owns. If the firm goes bankrupt, the government needs to be first in line among the creditors as the assets get sold off.
5. What's Good For The Stock Market Is Not Necessarily Good For the Country
There's a tendency to use the stock market as a gauge of whether a proposed solution is "real" or not. But the stock market is a measure of whether a proposal is good for the stock market, not whether it is good for the economy as a whole. For example, suppose that there was a proposal to tax every living American $10,000 and use the proceeds to buy stocks. This would produce a huge stock market rally, but would be a terrible deal for anyone who had to pay the$10,000 and didn't own stocks. Roughly speaking, I am concerned this might be the right explanation for the stock market rally late last week: Not an assessment that the ideas being floated were good in any broad sense, just that they were good in the sense of letting a lot of people who had made very bad decisions on Wall Street off the hook, at the expense of the taxpayer.
6. Mark to Market
I mentioned Sweden and Britain earlier as examples of countries that had survived financial market panics without the ruin of the nation. But there are less hopeful examples as well. Japan spent more than a decade in the economic wilderness after the collapse of its bubble economy in the early 1990s.
Fundamentally, Japan's mistake was a refusal to own up to the facts. They kept hoping that the problems could just be swept under the rug, and ignored, and if ignored long enough maybe they would go away. There is a consensus among economists that this is the most costly policy mistake in a developed country since the Great Depression. It resulted in a lost decade of growth for Japan. If the Japanese had formed a Resolution Trust Corporation to sell off distressed assets and taken the pain in the short run, they would have been much better off in the long run.
There's a similar fear now of solutions that might result in a lot of foreclosed houses or subprime mortgages coming on the market and driving prices down further. I think these concerns reflect the same reluctance to face the music that Japan felt. It reminds me of the old adage about how, if you want to chop the tail off a dog, do it in one swift stroke, not one joint at a time. The Japanese did it one joint at a time.
It will also be painful to many people if the stock market has to fall another 20 or 30 percent. But it is not the end of the world. And trying to avoid the inevitable, as Japan did, may just make the ultimate reckoning much worse (as it did in Japan's case, or as happened with the S&L crisis in this country two decades ago). There are plenty of countries around the world that have survived stock market declines of 20 or 30 percent; indeed, in real dollars, the stock market in the U.S. fell by almost 50 percent around the time of the 1973-74 recession. It was painful, but not catastrophic.
7. Ben Bernanke is the taxpayer's friend. Henry Paulson is Wall Street's friend. If they disagree, or if there is the tiniest hint that Bernanke isn't very enthusiastic about something that Paulson is proposing, don't do it.
Bernanke is the person at the center of the storm who I think deserves the greatest confidence that he wants to do what's right for the economy as a whole, not necessarily just for Wall Street. I know Bernanke personally and he is a person of the highest integrity and of truly awesome intellect. And, I think, real wisdom. He is not a Wall Street shill.
Having said all of that, the pressures he is under are monumental and the situation is extremely complex and fluid. He may find himself in a position where he thinks the independence and authority of the Fed could be destroyed if he does not go along with a bailout of Wall Street interests. That would be an agonizing choice for him, because fundamentally (and rightly) he believes that an independent Fed is the cornerstone of a sound economy. He will be maneuvering for the maximum ability to do what is good for the taxpayer, but that does not necessarily mean he could not be forced into a position of supporting deals that Congress should not approve.
8. Establish some "safe havens" for sound mortgage lending practices, and then let bankruptcy judges reset the terms of mortgages that in their judgment did not meet those standards It is very clear that a lot of shady practices developed over the past few years of the mortgage lending boom. The Fed is now engaged in a process of trying to create more rigorous truth-in-lending standards to prevent some of the recent abuses from recurring
One step that might be valuable would be to define some "safe haven" characteristics of mortgage products that are sufficiently simple and clear and common that the borrower can be presumed to have understood them. This would cover probably 90 or 95 percent of all the mortgages made over the past 10 years.
But once the "safe haven" characteristics have been defined, I think it would be appropriate to give the power to bankruptcy judges to rule in specific cases that a mortage product that did not conform to those rules was effectively an invalid contract, whose terms can be redefined in the bankruptcy proceeding. One would need to be very careful here not to open the door too wide, because many of the 5 percent of mortgages that did not conform to such safe haven rules were still legitimate products. And there would need to be an explicit determination that if a higher interest rate was charged in order to account for the borrower's higher risk of default, that does NOT constitute an unsound or dubious practice. (Risk-based pricing is a key reason that many minority and other kinds of previously- excluded people were able to get mortgage loans over the past 10 years; it is critical here not to throw out the baby with the bath water).
In the medium run, I think we need to rethink the standards for how to make sure that consumers know what they are getting themselves into when they sign a mortgage contract; in particular, I think it would be a good idea to require a video or audio recording of the borrower saying, in their own words, what they understand the terms of the mortgage to be. If that borrower subsequently ends up in bankruptcy court, this could prove decisive evidence on whether or not the borrower went into the deal with eyes wide open.
9 .Securitization is not the problem.
There has been a lot of chatter about how maybe this crisis is a consequence of fundamental flaws in the whole idea of bundling mortgages together into big securities that can then be traded and distributed around the country or the world.
These criticisms are (mostly) misguided. The problem is not with securitization per se. Securitization has permitted a vast expansion in the number of people who can get mortgages and a remarkable reduction in the interest rates that they pay on those mortgages.
The problem is that those securities are much more complex and opaque than more traditional securities, and our securities regulators have not required nearly enough information to be disclosed about the details of what is in these securities. A reform that required any securitized mortgage-backed security to disclose every single bit of information that the originator has about the mortgages encompassed in the security could have provided for much more transparent valuations of these securities, and might have prevented many of the highly questionable loans that were granted in the last few years from ever having been made. Justice Louis Brandeis said it a long time ago: Sunlight is the best disinfectant.


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SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — The following stocks could see an uptick in trading volume Monday as investors return from the Christmas holiday.
With a holiday week of travel on tap, the airline sector could be one of the busier sectors. The group came under pressure on Thursday, with US Airways LCC, +0.00%, United Continental Holdings UAL, -2.86% and AMR Corp. AMR, +0.00% all shedding more than 3%.
Retailers likely will remain in investors' spotlights as final tallies for Christmas-season sales come in. Bed Bath & Beyond BBBY, -0.63% shares were on the move Thursday with a 6% pop. The household-goods retailer posted a higher fiscal third-quarter profit a day earlier and said its board of directors authorized a $2 billion share repurchase program set to start in early fiscal 2011.
Office Depot ODP, +0.00% should see some more attention after a fierce rally in the past week. The office supplies retailer filed "change in control" paperwork with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which fanned speculation the company is preparing to be acquired.
Nike NKE, -0.09%, down more than 4% in the past week, will look to get back on track. The shoe and apparel giant reported a second-quarter profit of $457 million, or 94 cents a share, on revenue of $4.84 billion, compared with earnings of $375 million, or 76 cents a share, on $4.41 billion in sales in the same period a year ago


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This traditional brooch is manufactured in 9ct gold, hallmarked in Edinburgh. It is a stunning example of celtic knotwork.
Hebridean craftsmanship at its finest!
39mm in diameter.
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Carancas Meteorite: Peru, *2007
The Carancas meteorite landed in Puno, Peru on 15 September 2007, around 11.45am. The impact site is remote, at altitude, and close to Lake Titicaca – right on the Peru/Bolivia border.
Initial reports were confused. There was a crater. There was a mushroom cloud. People and animals were being affected by poison gas. Buildings had been hit and damaged by the falling debris.
Once things calmed down it became clear that a sizeable object had overflown Titicaca and buried itself in the soft soil of Carancas. It threw material to over 150m, excavating a crater several meters deep and about 14m across:
Well-know meteorite hunter Michael Farmer arrived at the site 2 weeks after the event, accompanied by two colleagues. The fall attracted controversy and generated a good deal of press coverage. Not for the first time, it raised the perennial debate about meteorite hunters: are they simple cultural profiteers? Are they people taking personal risks at their own expense for the benefit of science? Both? (You can read Mike's own account).
My own view is simple. There are nowhere near enough well-funded scientific outfits willing and able to recover the material which showers us annually. If they aren't recovered – and quickly, before they become contaminated, weathered or lost – then the loss to science is incalculable. The Apollo missions returned a total of 382kg of moon rock, at a cost of $100bn at today's prices – around $250 million dollars per kilo.
Other than meteorites, and a few grains recovered from high-altitude aircraft and spacecraft, these are the only examples we have of extra-terrestrial material we have to analyse. If not for people who are prepared to finance their own expeditions, sometimes at considerable personal risk, we wouldn't have them. So I support their endeavours. If they make the contributions for research and also turn a profit selling to collectors, so be it – they're taking the risks, they should be able to reap the benefits.
In the case of Carancas, through a combination of politics and local government decisions, very little of the material was recovered. From the size of the crater, it's obvious that the object was large – perhaps several tonnes. But to date, only 342g has been recovered, and the rest – very soft, friable material – is likely lost forever.
Here's my small specimen of Carancas. It's not large, but then there's not very much to go around!