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Still don't know what to make for your Fourth of July cookout? Martha Stewart is here with her take on your favorite summertime recipes. Check out the ideas she shared with TODAY, and take your outdoor BBQ from hot to sizzling.
Seven-layer dip
Serves 4
- 2 tsp. fresh lime juice
- 2 tbsp. water
- 2 cups refried beans, preferably homemade
- Coarse salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup (2 oz.) grated cheddar
- 1 (4.5-oz.) can chopped green chiles
- 2 plum tomatoes, seeded and chopped
- 1 ripe, but firm avocado, halved, pitted, peeled and cut into small dice
- 1 cup romaine lettuce, shredded
- 2 scallions, trimmed and finely chopped
- Tortilla chips for serving
In a medium bowl, stir lime juice and water into the refried beans, and season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a serving dish. Spread the sour cream on top, then layer evenly with cheese, chiles, tomatoes, avocado, lettuce and scallions. Serve with tortilla chips.
Classic homemade lemonade
Makes 1 quart
- 1 1/2 cups fresh lemon juice (from about 10 lemons)
- 1 cup super-fine sugar
- 2 cups water
Strain lemon juice through a fine sieve into a pitcher. Add sugar, stirring until it dissolves. Stir in water.
Muddled ginger-mint lemonade
Makes 1 serving
- 1/2 lemon (cut into wedges)
- 1-in. piece fresh ginger, peeled and sliced
- 4 sprigs fresh mint
- 1 1/2 tsp. honey
- 1 to 2 oz. water
Muddle lemon, ginger, mint and honey in a glass. Stir in water. Top with crushed ice.
Three-bean salad
Serves 4
- 8 oz. green beans, stem ends removed, halved on the diagonal
- 4 oz. yellow wax beans, stem ends removed, halved on the diagonal
- 2 tbsp. Dijon mustard
- 2 tbsp. red wine vinegar
- 2 tbsp. olive oil
- Coarse salt
- Ground pepper
- 1 (15.5-oz.) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
Prepare an ice-water bath. Fill a large pot with 2 inches of water, and set a steamer basket (or colander) inside. Bring to a boil. Place green and wax beans in the basket, and reduce the heat to a simmer. Cover the pot and steam until the beans are bright and crisp (about 6 to 8 minutes). With tongs or a slotted spoon, transfer the beans to the ice bath to stop the cooking, then drain. In a medium bowl, whisk together mustard, vinegar and oil, and season with salt and pepper. Add the steamed beans, and toss to coat. The bean salad can be refrigerated, covered, up to 1 day; bring to room temperature before serving.
Corn dogs
Serves 4
- 2 2/3 cups yellow cornmeal
- 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for hot dogs
- 3 tbsp. sugar
- 2 tsp. baking powder
- Coarse salt
- Freshly ground pepper
- 4 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 1/2 cups whole milk
- 2 qt. vegetable or peanut oil, for frying
- 12 hot dogs
Whisk together cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, 1 tsp. salt and 1 tsp. pepper. Stir in eggs and milk. (You will have about 5 cups of batter). Fill a large, heavy pot, Dutch oven or deep fryer with enough oil to submerge hot dogs, then heat until a deep-fry thermometer reaches 360 degrees.
Meanwhile, pat the hot dogs dry, and insert a 10-in. bamboo skewer through each lengthwise. Roll them in flour to coat. Dip 1 hot dog into batter, turning until completely coated. Let any excess batter drip off, and wipe away extra batter using your fingers so that the hot dog is coated evenly. Lower hot dog into the hot oil. Immediately repeat with 2 hot dogs.
Cook corn dogs, turning to cook evenly, until a deep golden brown (about 5 to 7 minutes). Transfer to a tray lined with paper towels, turning to blot the oil. Working in batches of 3, repeat the process with the remaining hot dogs and batter.
Classic potato salad
Serves 10 to 12
- 4 lbs. russet potatoes (about 8 medium)
- Coarse salt
- 3 tbsp. cider vinegar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 tsp. celery seeds
- 1 tsp. dry mustard powder
- 1/2 tsp. freshly ground pepper
- 3 celery stalks, cut into 1/4-in. dice
- 1 small onion, cut into 1/4-in. dice
- 10 cornichons, cut into 1/4-in. dice
- 3 scallions, trimmed and thinly sliced
- 2 tbsp. fresh flat-leafed parsley, coarsely chopped
- 1 tsp. sweet paprika
In a large saucepan, cover potatoes with water by several inches. Bring to a boil, then add 1 tbsp. salt. Reduce heat and gently boil until potatoes are tender when pierced with the tip of a sharp knife (about 25 minutes). Drain. Peel the potatoes while still hot — using paper towels to protect your hands — and cut them into 1-in. pieces. Transfer potatoes to a bowl and drizzle with vinegar. Let cool.
Place the eggs in a small saucepan, and fill with enough cold water to cover them by 1 inch. Bring to a boil, then turn off the heat. Cover, and let stand for 11 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and cover with cold water, then let cool and peel. Cut the eggs into 1/4-in. dice. Slice the remaining egg into 1/4-in. thick rounds, reserving for garnish.
Combine diced eggs, mayonnaise, celery seeds and dry mustard in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper, and whisk to combine. Stir in potatoes, celery, onion, cornichons, scallions and parsley. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes, or up to 1 day. Just before serving, garnish with paprika and egg rounds.
Individual cherry pies
Makes 6
- 4 cups frozen sour cherries, defrosted until easily separated
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 tbsp. all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling out dough
- 2 1/2 tbsp. cornstarch
- Juice and grated rind of 1/2 lemon
- Pâte brisée (pie dough)
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 2 tbsp. heavy cream
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. In a medium bowl, combine cherries, sugar, flour, cornstarch, lemon juice and zest.
On a lightly floured surface, roll one disk of dough out slightly less than 1/8-in. thick. Use a 4 3/4-in. cutter to cut out 6 rounds. Fit rounds into 3 1/2 in. fluted tart pans with removable bottoms. Divide filling evenly between pans. Roll second disk of dough out 1/8-in. thick. Use a small star-shaped cutter to cut out dough stars. Place them on top of the filling. Put onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.
In a small bowl, whisk together egg and heavy cream. Brush evenly over the tops of the pies. Bake until golden brown, and juices are bubbling (35 to 40 minutes). Remove from oven, and let cool for at least 1 hour before serving.
Miniature blackberry pies
Makes 6
- 20 oz. (5 cups) blackberries
- 3/4 cup sugar, plus more for sprinkling
- 2 tbsp. cornstarch
- 1/8 tsp. salt
- All-purpose flour, for surface
- Pâte brisée (pie dough)
- 1 oz. (2 tbsp.) unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1 tbsp. heavy cream
- Whipped cream, for serving
Cook's Note: After 30 minutes in the oven, the crust will turn light gold and the berries will start bubbling. Although the pies may look done, they need to bake for another 30 minutes to ensure that the bottom crusts are cooked through.
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Gently toss blackberries with sugar, cornstarch and salt in a large bowl.
On a floured surface, roll 1 disk of pate brisee to 1/8-in. thickness. Using a 5 1/2-in. biscuit cutter, cut out 6 rounds. Drape each round over a 4-in. fluted tart pan with a removable bottom, and press dough into bottom and up sides of pan. Edges with be flush with rims. Roll remaining disk of dough to 1/8-in. thickness. Cut out 6 more 5 1/2-in. rounds.
Fill each tart pan with 3/4 cup blackberry mixture, mounding berries in the center. Dot berries with butter. Center 1 of the remaining dough rounds on top of 1 tart pan. Using a small star-shaped cutter, cut out star shapes from the rounds. If making with the individual cherry pies, you can use these dough stars to put on top of the cherry pies.
Gently press top and bottom edges of dough together to seal, and the pinch sealed edges. Repeat with remaining rounds. Transfer pies to a rimmed baking sheet, and freeze or refrigerate until firm (about 15 or 20 minutes).
Lightly whisk yolk and heavy cream in a small bowl. Brush the top of each pie with egg wash, and sprinkle with sugar. Cut 4 vent holes in the top of each with a paring knife.
Bake for 30 minutes. Then rotate the baking sheet, and reduce heat to 375 degrees. Continue to bake until berries are bubbling and crust is deep golden brown (about another 30 minutes). Let pies cool in pans on a wire rack for 30 minutes. Unmold, and let pies cool completely on wire rack. Serve with whipped cream.


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I'm a sincere lover of Mexican food – I crave it at least twice a month. When I was in college, I would indulge at the local taquería in muy grande burritos and never gain a single ounce. These days, if I so much as look at a burrito sideways, I gain five pounds.
Two years ago, Mr. CG and I were dining at our favorite local Mexican food restaurant. He ordered the chicken tortilla soup. I tried it for the first time, and fell in love. All the flavor of a delicious taco, in a bowl, but healthier and lower in calories ? Sign me up, señor. Since the restaurant was reluctant to share their recipe, I spent over a year trying to capture the same flavor by tweaking my own recipe for sopa de tortilla de pollo.
On a cold winter day, there's nothing I want more than a hot bowl of soup And a nap. But the latter is not happening. Here's my recipe for 'taco in a bowl'. It's yummy yummy to your tummy. Muy bueno. Enjoy.
Homemade Chicken Tortilla Soup
Pantry (Dry) Ingredients
2 tbsp vegetable oil
Four 14 oz. cans chicken broth (or equivalent with bullion)
1 package taco seasoning
1 tbsp red taco sauce (mild or medium)*
4 oz. can diced green chiles (mild or medium)
6 oz. can tomato paste
8 oz. petite diced tomatoes – half the can and completely optional
3/4 tsp ground cumin
*add another tbsp taco sauce if you like it spicy
Fresh Ingredients
4 chicken breasts
14 oz. water
1 medium onion – finely diced
1.5 cups diced celery
1.5 cups diced carrots
1.5 cups roasted or frozen kernel corn
4 corn tortillas
1 cup shredded jack cheese
Sliced avocado (optional, if available)
Fresh cilantro (optional)
Start by dicing your onion, celery, and carrot. In a large pot or dutch oven, soften your onion, celery and chiles in 1 tbsp vegetable oil for 3 – 4 minutes on medium low heat.
Add chicken broth, and then fill one can with 14 more ounces of water and add to pot.
Add carrots, corn, tomato paste, taco sauce, and cumin. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently, then reduce heat to low.
Meanwhile, coat your chicken breasts in taco seasoning.
Grill chicken breasts on an indoor grill or a panini maker for 6 to 8 minutes. You can also broil in your oven for the same amount of time, but to me, the grilled chicken tastes better.
Once cooked, dice your chicken into chunks, then toss into soup pot.
Cook soup on low for 40 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Ten minutes before your soup is done (or before you intend to serve) thinly slice your corn tortillas.
Toss in pan with 1 tbsp vegetable oil, and stir on medium heat until lightly browned.
Soup can be made one day in advance, stored in fridge and reheated. Serve hot by garnishing with fresh corn tortilla strips, shredded jack cheese and fresh avocado slices (if available).
Other optional garnishes: fresh chopped cilantro, squeeze of lime, sour cream, or diced fresh tomatoes.
One note on ingredients: If celery, or diced tomatoes, or corn is not your thing, then simply leave it out. No worries, amiga. The great 'taco' flavor comes from the combination of the liquid ingredients and the dry seasonings.
This recipe serves six. Total calories per serving: 300 including garnish of cheese and tortilla strips. Add another 60 calories per serving for the avocado. But it's worth it.
Quiero sopa de tortilla de pollo. Y usted?

subset: commoncrawl


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Just a little warning about this post...
I had too many favorite photos to choose from here,
so I decided to post too many photos : ) !
The color of these little iris really pop in the mostly white color scheme of my living room.
I had to take a picture from every angle possible.
I bought this beautiful vintage necklace last week from a dear friend
who makes such amazing pieces.
I had to have it the minute I saw it. I loved this color much too much to let it stay in her display case.
Leslie creates the loveliest pieces of jewelry from vintage elements she finds in her travels.
Leslie has an on-line store and an Etsy shoppe called Tarnished Lace.
I purchased this piece in Picabo, Idaho where she has a few items on consignment.
Leslie is a sweet face-to-face friend that I see often and lives in a town near me.
She has been in Oregon visiting family
so she doesn't know yet that it hangs around my neck now : )
See the pretty little case it is sitting on?
My mother came to visit for Memorial Day and brought it to me.
Thanks mom!!!!!!!!!!
I love it when my mom gives me the things she no longer wants
and decides to edit out of her life.
I made a goal early this season that I would spend four hours in the garden and two hours
cleaning the house daily.
How am I doing???
Good as far as the garden goes.
House, not so much!
My white slipcovers might look white in these photos,
but what you can't see are the little children's dirty footprints from the
past two weekends,
and little white doggie footprints on the arm of the sofa where he
watches me when I go outside without him.
I did get my windows washed yesterday.
(that sound you hear is me patting myself on the back)
I was much better keeping my house clean when I was a crazy young mom with
six kids underfoot.
Now I find too many fun things to do when I should be sweeping and dusting.
six kids underfoot.
Now I find too many fun things to do when I should be sweeping and dusting.
The lilacs are still blooming and I cut a basin full and thought they would look pretty in the house,
but this many lilacs in close quarters wrecked havoc on my allergies
so out to the front porch they went.
but this many lilacs in close quarters wrecked havoc on my allergies
so out to the front porch they went.
Earlier this week I foofed up the front pergola and hung the curtains out and baskets of
lilacs for a welcoming feeling.
Dale calls this space 'his office'.
His favorite place...Spring, Summer and Fall.
Landon loves it too.
He sits out here for a couple hours most evenings in the Summer just
chillin' with his dad.
I hope all of you are enjoying a beautiful season whether it be
Spring or Fall where you live.
Many hugs till next time!


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Type 2 diabetes is a disorder in which the body does not make enough insulin or does not properly use the insulin it produces. Insulin is a hormone that helps the body convert food into energy. Without insulin, glucose (sugar) from the food you eat cannot enter cells, causing your body tissue to become starved for energy.
Complications of type 2 diabetes
Do you know that how well you manage your disease on a day-to-day basis can have a dramatic impact on your degree of risk for the complications of diabetes?
Living with type 2 diabetes
Read about one man's experience with diabetes and how he is able to mange the condition with minimal medication, a balanced diet, and moderate exercise.
If you have diabetes, what three critical factors from The National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP) should you know? Find out.
Chronic diseases are rarely reversible, but most are preceded by a set of symptoms or conditions that serve as a warning, which, if heeded, can effectively alter the course of your health. Type 2 diabetes is one such disease, and in most cases, it can be prevented.
American Diabetes Association
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive & Kidney Diseases


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50 years later, Iranians remember US-UK coup
Iranians mourned this week the consequences of Anglo-American regime change as they marked the 50th anniversary of a CIA coup that toppled their democratically elected prime minister.
At a time when the United States has adopted a policy of preemptive action in its war on terrorists - and is portrayed here as encouraging student street protests - the 1953 overthrow of Mohammad Mossadegh's government is taking on fresh relevance for some Iranians.
"This year, many political groups in Iran are showing more interest in the history of the [US-orchestrated] military coup," says Ibrahim Yazdi, a former foreign minister and leading member of a political party that traces its origins to Mossadegh's National Front. "Now it seems that the Americans are pushing towards the same direction again. That shows they have not learned anything from history."
Organized by the CIA and the British SIS to secure Iran's oil resources from a possible Soviet takeover and secure Iran's oil resources, the coup marked America's first intervention in the Middle East. Its aftershocks are still being felt.
The end of Iran's first democratic government ushered in more than two decades of dictatorship by Shah Muhammad Reza Pahlavi, who relied on US aid and arms. The anti-American backlash in 1979 shook the whole region and helped spread Islamic militancy.
"If there had not been a military coup, there would not have been 25 years of the Shah's brutal regime, there would not have been a revolution in 1979 and a government of clerics," says Mr. Yazdi, who served briefly as foreign minister in the first cabinet after the fall of the Shah. "What we have now is a result of the coup."
Today, Mr. Mossadegh remains a hero to many Iranians who believe he fought against colonial exploitation and dictatorial rule during his 26 months in office. Perhaps because he represents a future denied and what might have been, his memory has approached myth.
Mossadegh incurred the wrath of Britain by nationalizing the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company and then argued his case successfully at the UN Security Council.
After considering military action, Britain opted for a coup d'état. President Harry Truman rejected the idea, but when Dwight Eisenhower took over the White House, he ordered the CIA to embark on one of its first covert operations against a foreign government.
A new book on the coup - "All the Shah's Men," by New York Times reporter Stephen Kinzer - describes how the CIA and the British helped to undermine Mossadegh's government through bribery, libel, and orchestrated riots. Agents posing as communists threatened religious leaders, while the US ambassador lied to the prime minister about alleged attacks on American nationals.
The book isn't on sale here, but the 50th anniversary was front-page news in Iranian newspapers this week. One paper published excerpts from CIA documents on the coup, which were released only three years ago, and lamented how the intervention stunted the country's evolution.
In an allusion to the US-led invasion of Iraq, the daily Yas-e No wrote that some Iranians might wrongly assume the best way to solve the country's problems now would be to turn to a foreign power: "If a foreign country comes to an area, it will think about its own national interest first and not care about the people's rights."
The ruling conservative clergy have portrayed recent street protests in Iran as an attempt by the US to foment discontent among university students. Although student leaders distanced themselves from Washington and monarchist exiles, accusations of foreign meddling carry weight in a country with Iran's history.
The Bush administration has handed the hard-liners valuable ammunition by cultivating relations with Iranian exiles who favor restoring the monarchy and by promoting a media campaign to undermine Iran's clerical leadership.
Washington's tough rhetoric against Tehran and flirtation with the Shah's son are a kind of nightmarish déjà vu for the embattled reformists and students struggling to push for democratic change in Iran.
The reformists allied with President Mohammad Khatami say their country now faces another choice between despotism and democracy, and they worry that the combination of outside interference and internal squabbling within their own ranks could once again defer their dream.
At a conference here this week commemorating Mossadegh, a young Iranian man who asked not to be identified said "If there is going to be [democratic] change, it should not be done by a foreign government but by Iranians, and it should happen gradually," he said.
On Tuesday, the day of the anniversary, there were no official government ceremonies to honor Mossadegh's legacy. Deemed too secular for the Islamic Republic, he is seldom mentioned by the conservative clergy. When they do mention him, they stress the role of clerics at the time and show contempt for Mossadegh.
Abolfathi Takrousta, who worked as Mossadegh's cook, says, "Under both regimes, now and before, they like to hide his name. But the good things he did are clear to Iranians, so I don't know why they would do this. When Mossadegh died, people felt their father had died."


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"Bible with Awareness (Beibl gydag ymwybyddiaeth)" by Andrew Craig Williams
When readers send me anti-LGBT hate mail, I often refer them to "The Bible and Gays" by Rev. Durrell Watkins, pastor of Sunshine Cathedral in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
It is one of the all-time best articles on the Bible and homosexuality. Rev. Watkins goes well beyond debunking the anti-gay "clobber" passages to present Christ's positive message about queer people in a clear, accessible way. I am pleased to share his article here today.
The Bible and Gays
There are four questions I am most often asked about spirituality in relation to LBGT people. My ministry is within a church that is rooted both within the Christian tradition and the Gay Rights movement. However, I am a spiritual humanist and a religious pluralist and while I speak from a primarily Christian viewpoint, the message that I try to offer is universal. Here are the questions and my answers.
Is it a sin to be gay?
"Sin" means to miss the mark (an archery metaphor). To "be" anything is a matter of ontology (of "is-ness"). So to discover that one is something and to be honest about it can never be missing the mark. Self-discovery and expressing one's truth with integrity is hitting the bull's eye!
Did Jesus condemn homosexuality?
Jesus condemned precious little. One of the few things that he did condemn was the tendency of religious people to participate in condemnation! Jesus seemed to have a great deal of patience with almost everything other than self-righteous people who tried to enforce religious rules in a way to oppress or control others.
Was Jesus ever sympathetic to homosexual persons?
The word "homosexual" would not have been part of Jesus' vocabulary. However, in the 8th chapter of Matthew's gospel (and the story is repeated in the 7th chapter of Luke's gospel) Jesus is said to have healed a centurion's servant. The original hearers of that story would have assumed that the servant was the centurion's lover. From what we know of 1st century Roman culture, we know that such relationships were not uncommon. And for a person of such high rank to be so concerned about a servant that he would approach a faith healer of lower status in a desperate attempt to help his servant suggests an intimacy far greater than one would expect between a military officer and his "servant." How did Jesus respond to the centurion? He praised his faith! His relationship was not condemned or even questioned.
Also, in Matthew 19, Jesus defines "eunuchs" in a much broader sense than we normally hear. He says that, there are those who are castrated, which is the usual definition. But he also says there are 2 other kinds of eunuchs. He says some "choose" to be eunuchs (living a life of celibacy) and that others are "born" eunuchs (people who by nature are sexually different). He also says that not everyone would accept his broad, inclusive, and non-judgmental definition of eunuchs, but he says, "whoever can accept this ought to accept it."
Jesus was giving an example of sexual diversity -- some are different because they've been surgically altered. Others are different because of personal choices to not marry or to remain celibate (e.g. monks and nuns). And still others are different because they are born different, that is, they are innately different. Jesus did not suggest that anything was wrong with any of the eunuchs, and he certainly did not propose an "ex-eunuch" program. Some of us are "different" from the majority, and Jesus seemed to think that was OK and that everyone who can accept such diversity needs to accept it! His teaching reminds us of Isaiah 56 where the prophet places these words in the mouth of God, "The eunuch need not say, 'I am a dry (barren) tree'…I will give them in my house a monument and name which will be even better than having children; an eternal, imperishable name…For my house shall be called a house of prayer for ALL peoples." In any case, Jesus never condemned same-sex love or attraction.
But aren't there bible verses that do condemn homosexuality?
It depends on how you read the bible. The people who wrote the documents that in time became our bible were products of their time and culture. They had specific agendas and were writing to particular communities, usually in response to definite events. None of them had any idea that 21st century Americans would be reading their work. In fact, none of them knew there was a North American continent or that the world wasn't flat. And so, we do read statements in the bible that support slavery, that assume women are in some way inferior to men, that seem to suggest God takes sides in bloody military conflicts.
Today, we do NOT accept that women are in any way inferior to men.
Today, we believe slavery to be one of the greatest evils of human history.
Today, many of us believe that war is almost never the will of God.
Do we read the bible with an awareness of its historical, cultural, and linguistic contexts? Or do we cling to isolated verses that seem to support one prejudice or the other? How we choose to read the bible will determine if we believe the bible promotes homophobia. And how we choose to read it actually says more about the reader than the text.
Out of the entire bible written by many people covering a period of more than a thousand years, there are only about half a dozen sentences that are routinely used to shame, condemn, harass, or terrorize gay and lesbian people! Each of those rare, isolated passages, when taken in their cultural, historical, linguistic, and literary contexts can be deconstructed in ways that are actually quite liberating for same-gender loving people! Love and even mutual attraction are never condemned in scripture.
The bible is against rape, exploitation, and harming your neighbor (and rightly so!). It is not a collection of books meant to condemn love, mutuality, or any life-affirming situation.
Now, reflect on these passages from the bible that some of us believe accurately sum up the divine message for the human family: "God is love and WHOEVER lives in love lives in God and God lives in them!" – 1 John 4.16; "For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the Eternal, plans for your welfare, not for woe! plans to give you a future full of hope." – Jeremiah 29.11; "By the grace of God I am what I am." – 1 Corinthians 15.10; "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law." – Galatians 5.22-23.
There is no law against love and we are all one. This is the message of the bible. It doesn't tell us who to hate; it tells us how to love. We can be sure that LBTG people are as capable of living love-filled lives as anyone else
Rev. Durrell Watkins has been the senior pastor of Sunshine Cathedral in Fort Lauderdale, Florida since 2007. The church is affiliated with Metropolitan Community Churches and the International New Thought Alliance. Watkins has a Doctor of Ministry degree from the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts. This article originally appeared at his blog Kweerspirit.
A Spanish translation of this article is online at the Santos Queer blog:
La Biblia y las personas gays: ¿Es un pecado ser gay? ¿Condena Jesús la homosexualidad?
More resources on the Bible and homosexuality:
Metropolitan Community Churches theological resources
"What the Bible Really Says about Homosexuality" by Daniel Helminiak
"Jesus, the Bible, and Homosexuality" by Jack Rogers
The Gay Debate: The Bible and Homosexuality by Matthew Vines (with translations in 10 langauges)
Homosexuality and the Bible at GayChurch.org
Gay and Christian (gaysandslaves.com)
"From Sin to Amazing Grace: Discovering the Queer Christ" by Patrick S. Cheng
La Biblia y las personas Gays: ¿Es un pecado ser gay? ¿Condena Jesús? (coming soon at Santos Queer)


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[Last updated: 3rd December 2015]
It is against the Terms and Conditions of this forum to post commercial links, or to post comments with the intention of posting links to other websites. URLs in forum profiles are not publicly viewable. All newly registered users are inspected by admins and will be deleted immediately if they are considered not to be genuine. In other words, if you are being paid to post, you won't get any money for a post on this forum, as your post will not survive long enough.
What's this all about then?
At LibriVox, volunteers record chapters of books in the public domain into digital audio (eg. mp3), and then make the audio files available to the world, for free (through our catalog, a podcast, and in a variety of other formats at Archive.org)
Why are you doing this? What's in it for you?
We love reading, love books, love literature, think the public domain should be defended and enriched, we like free stuff, we like to hear people read to us, and we like reading to other people. It's fun, it's a great community, it's a rewarding public service to the world. And "nothing" is in it for us, except the satisfaction of participating in a wonderful project.
Who started the crazy project?
Hugh McGuire started LibriVox in August 2005, and quickly corralled a few friends and random strangers to make a recording of Joseph Conrad's The Secret Agent. The project began spiraling out of control, and Kristen McQuillin came on board, stabilized things and designed our original website. Kara Shallenberg added an almost frightening keenness, and served as cataloger-in-chief; Chris Goringe was the back-end coder who seemed to be able to fix things 2-3 seconds after getting an email. Other early volunteers got the ball rolling, and now over 7000 people have recorded or helped at LibriVox, and we're all just one big family, including, we hope, you.
Who are the LibriVox moderators and what do they do?
The moderators (also known as admins and MCs) are LibriVox volunteers who help in the forums and look after cataloging. Every recording project is assigned one MC. The MC answers any questions the collaborative book coordinator or solo reader might have, puts the project in the 'In Progress' section on the catalog and, upon project completion, sends the completed files to the LibriVox section of archive.org. A new catalog page is then created and the recordings are made available for download so listeners can enjoy them. Admins can also fix some catalogue errors and edit forum posts (see our Forum Policies). Moderators are drawn from within the community of dedicated LibriVoxers, and are identified with "LibriVox Admin Team" next to their forum posts.
What does LibriVox mean?
'LibriVox' is the sort of name you invent when you don't know Latin at all. 'Libri' means book, and 'Vox' means 'voice' -- so it means: 'BookVoice'. But it's possible Latin scholars would cringe at some error in the melding together of the two words. Still, it sounded pretty good. Another Latin word for book is 'Liber', which also means: 'child, offspring'; and 'free, independent, unrestricted'. So we like to think LibriVox might be interpreted as 'child of the voice', and 'free voice'. Finally, the other link we like is 'library' so you could imagine it to mean Library of Voice, which sounds cool too. But all this is the result of using online Latin dictionaries with no formal training.
What does "Acoustical liberation of books in the public domain" mean?
We've had much healthy debate about this tag line. It's been called pretentious, swanky, lofty, inspiring, verbose, unclear, self-important, hype and exciting. Maybe it's all of those things, but it served us well in the beginning of the project, and consensus is we're going to keep it. What does it mean? LibriVox makes free audio books. We free books into audio. Free beer and free speech, we're doing both. We're unlocking text with our voices and freeing the books into the airwaves. We are freeing works of literature to be experienced by those who might not have experienced them before. Some of us are making a stand about public, non-commercial space, about public domain, about the importance of efforts outside the pervasive commercial framework that dominates our world. But some of us are just reading because we like it. This can be political if you wish, or mean nothing more than this: we read books and give the audio files away for free. Both are valid, both are important. In fact, we don't care why you volunteer for LibriVox, or why you listen to our books, as long as you enjoy what you are doing. P.S. we might change the tag line to: "Free Audiobooks," which would probably be easier for all concerned, but Hugh is stubborn.
"Our objective is to make all books in the public domain available, for free, in audio format on the internet." Are you crazy?
Okay, so it's pretty unlikely we'll succeed. Probably impossible. But what's wrong with trying? Like world peace, we think it's a worthy objective. Don't you? It would be silly to say: "Our objective is to make some books available", since we've done that already. We want the project to continue while there are public domain books to read. If that takes 1,000 years, well, nothing could make us happier.
What do all the other acronyms in the forum mean?
Have a look here: http://wiki.librivox.org/index.php/Glossary and just ask if something's not covered.
Updated today, making forum links for all FAQs https, rather than http. Posting to bump this particular thread to the top of the list, since it's the best starting point.


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Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Sending our money to the terrorists
So the EU is again pouring money (that's yours and my money) into the Palestinian Authority despite the supposed ban from funding the terrorist organisation Hamas. It is now clear that the Palestinian Authority, even when run by the 'non-terrorist' Fatah, spent almost all of its foreign aid on weapons and that it did this in collaboration with Iran and Hizbollah. And the Palestinians, remember, receive more foreign aid per capita than any other people in the world. When are the idots of the EU going to stop funding terrorism in this way. And when will the Palestinians ever have any incentive to actually build a country and do some work, while they can simply continue to plead poverty and have money poured at them.
Monday, May 15, 2006
Media idiocy
There is little worse in the media than presenters whose notion of 'even-handedness' is to believe that any two sides of any story must always be treated as absolutely equal. The epitomy of this idiocy is Nick Ferrari - the voice of LBC. So, for example, in a discussion about the July 7 bombings enquiry last week he cut short a very eloquent caller who was citing some statements made by members of the Muslim Parliament glorifying suicide bombers. The pompous idiot Ferrari said he was not going to allow Muslims to be defamed without similar defamations being made about other religious groups. If you can work out the logic of that good luck to you, but the implications are that he will not allow valid criticisms of Muslims unless there are equal criticisms made of members of other religions. So, until Jews and Christians start blowing people up in London I guess that's goodbye to any rational arguments. And just think this was the day after Nick Ferrari's show was voted the best radio phone-in in the UK.
So it's hard to think that UK media is much better than this classic example (courtesy of Palestinian Media Watch) of a popular Egyptian music video. You must see it.
So it's hard to think that UK media is much better than this classic example (courtesy of Palestinian Media Watch) of a popular Egyptian music video. You must see it.
Saturday, May 06, 2006
Funding the fanatics
The anti-Zionist (and supposedly ultra-orthodox) Jewish Group Neturai Karta have been much in the news recently. For example, on Purim they burnt Israeli flags outside the (Jewish) Simon Marks Primary School in Hackney and they recently went to Iran to praise that country's attempts to wipe Israel off the map and deny the Holocaust. The fact that it turns out that the Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations has recently given grants worth some £60,000 to this group is a bit hard to stomach. Especially as the most recent grant was given this March, about the same time as their visit to Iran. Courtesy of MEMRI here are two of the Rabbis interviewed in Iran. This is a video you must watch. Nice to know that we are funding these guys.
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How to make a dirty house-style rave hoover sound
Getting started
Step 1: It's easy to get the kind of Juno-esque hoover sound used in classic dance tracks, from Human Resource's Dominator onwards, using GenesisCM, a PC plug-in you'll find on the cover disc that comes with the latest Computer Music Special, Make Dance Music (CMS42), which is on sale now. Install the synth and load it into your DAW. Select the Dominator patch from the list of presets.
The pattern
Step 2: Program this simple two-note pattern - if you're into filthy house music, you should find it more than a little familiar. The patch actually has some LFO pitch modulation that we don't want, so locate the synth's LFO1 Depth knob in the top right-hand corner of the interface and turn it down to zero.
No FX
Step 3: The patch also has some rather big reverb and delay effects on it. We can disable these by turning down the Reverb and Delay knobs at the top left-hand corner of the synth's interface. The little red lights beside the knobs will go out when the knobs have been fully turned down, showing that the effects have been deactivated.
Pitch envelope modulation
Step 4: We've now got a real bare-bones Juno-style hoover patch to play with. A lot of this sound's character comes from the pitch envelope modulation. In this patch this is handled by ADSR3, which is routed to the pitch of Oscillators 1 and 2.
ADSR adjustment
Step 5: By setting the Attack and Decay to relatively low values as we have here, and adjusting the Amount knob, you can hear the kind of extreme effects that can be created with this type of pitch modulation. For a lazy, Bloody Beetroots-style sound, use the settings we have here.
Sidechain compression
Step 6: To get that full-on Bloody Beetroots feel, you'll want to use quite severe sidechain compression on the sound, with a 4/4 kick drum providing the sidechain input.
For more synth programming tutorials, check out the latest Computer Music Special, Make Dance Music (CMS42), which is on sale now.
Liked this? Now read: How to make a Reese bass sound
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The burgeoning brokerage Lee & Associates is adding more brokers, including another executive from the bankrupt real estate services company Grubb & Ellis, executives at the firm revealed.
Robert Kunikoff, a retail leasing executive at Grubb & Ellis, will be moving over to Lee & Associates starting this week the executives said.
Mr. Kunikoff is the latest Grubb & Ellis hire at the company, which last month recruited the Grubb & Ellis office leasing executives Howard Rosen and John Cannon.
In addition to Mr. Kunikoff, Lee & Associates, is bringing on two leasing brokers who formerly worked for the real estate investment company George Comfort & Sons, Dennis Someck and Mitchell Kunikoff, who is Robert Kunikoff's brother. A broker from Jones Lang LaSalle has also been hired but the identity of that executive could not be learned by press time.
"I'm just blown away with the level of response from the brokerage community, it's just been phenomenal," Jim Wacht, president of Lee & Associates told The Commercial Observer. "Months ago I really expected to get five or six brokers but we've been open about two months and have been able to recruit about 12 guys, which has exceeded where our goals were."
Mr. Wacht confirmed that Robert Kunikoff had joined the firm but would not comment on Mr. Kunikoff's brother Mitch or Mr. Someck or the JLL broker. He said that announcements would be forthcoming.
Grubb & Ellis declared bankruptcy on Monday and announced that it intended to sell its assets to BGC Partners, the senior holder of debt on the company and the parent of the major New York brokerage company Newmark Knight Frank.
Questions have since swirled at Grubb & Ellis, which had been in financial trouble for months before the bankruptcy, what will happen to the company's personnel and whether BGC intends to acquire all or just parts of the company's operations. The uncertainty has prompted some brokers to contemplate exit strategies according to a number of off the record interviews The Commercial Observer has had in recent days with several executives at the firm.


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Roselda Vigil Archuleta
March 7, 1924 ~ October 31, 2011
Roselda Vigil Archuleta, age 87, passed away peacefully on October 31, 2011 from causes incident to age, at the Four Corners Regional Care Center in Blanding, UT.
Roselda was born on March 7, 1924 in Monticello, UT, the daughter of Abelardo N. and Lucinda Martinez Vigil.
She married Jose Lionel (Leo) Archuleta, who died December 1, 2007.
Although she had no children of her own, she was revered as a second mother by many of her nieces and nephews.
Roselda was the last living member of her immediate family.
She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband; brothers John, Paul, Isaac and Frank Vigil; and her sister and best friend, Emma Valdez.
A private graveside service and burial was held on November 3, 2011 at the Monticello City Cemetery.
Card of thanks
The extended family thanks the Four Corners Regional Care Center for all the loving care and service they gave to Roselda during the three plus years that she resided there.
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Unemployment benefits: not until Bush tax cuts pass, Senate GOP says
| Washington
The lame-duck Congress, mired in a partisan clash over taxes and spending and preoccupied with a battle over extending the Bush tax cuts, refused Wednesday to restore federal financing of extended unemployment benefits, which had lapsed overnight.
The inaction means the imminent loss of unemployment compensation for some 800,000 out-of-work Americans, with nearly 2 million long-term unemployed expected to be affected by Jan. 1, according to the Labor Department.
US Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, speaking Wednesday at a press conference organized by Democratic congressional leaders, said that by next spring, another 6 million unemployed workers will lose benefits if Congress does not act. "Millions of families are going to struggle to put food on the table or put gas in the gas tank," she said.
The press conference at the Capitol's Visitors Center had the trappings of a rally, with scores of unemployed workers from around the country in attendance.
Belt-tightening for Mary Williams
Mary Williams, a mental-health counselor from Philadelphia who has been out of work for seven months and lost her unemployment coverage with the overnight lapse in funding, was in the crowd.
Congress's failure to act means even more belt-tightening, Ms. Williams says. "I try to take care of a roof, food, and the car I need to go from place to place to find jobs," she says. "It's choosing what's most important – the basic necessities."
She tells of moving from North Carolina to Texas, then to Philadelphia to find work, then going back to college for a graduate degree to improve her skills. She says she is now negotiating extensions on her student loans.
She says she hopes Congress acts quickly. "My car is almost paid for," she says, and without help she will lose it.
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle say that they recognize the unusually difficult economy facing unemployed workers and want to extend benefits. But for now, this measure is held hostage to a larger battle over extending the Bush tax cuts.
"We have never failed to [extend jobless benefits] as long as the unemployment rate was above 7.2 or 7.4 percent," said Sen. Jack Reed (D) of Rhode Island, who proposed a temporary extension of benefits for one year in a floor speech on Monday. The national rate is currently 9.6 percent, according to Labor Department statistics from October.
Obstruction with '19th century maneuvers'
Efforts in the Senate to extend the unemployment benefits were trapped in a procedural wrangle and never allowed on the floor for consideration. It fell to Sen. Scott Brown (R) of Massachusetts to object on behalf of the Republican Party to one proposed measure that required unanimous consent to move to the floor.
"We are in the midst of a historic economic crisis. I realize that," he said. But to avoid "burdening future generations," the $56.4 billion measure must be offset with cuts elsewhere, he said. Senator Brown proposed tapping unspent federal dollars in other programs, such as the 2009 Obama stimulus plan.
Senator Reed objected, noting that the Republican plan to permanently extend the Bush tax cuts gives the wealthiest Americans a $700 billion tax cut that is also not offset – and, unlike the employment benefit, would not expire.
Senate Republicans stepped up the pressure on tax cuts this week by signing a letter pledging to block all legislation on the floor until Congress resolves how to fund government for the current fiscal year and extend the 2001 and 2003 Bush tax cuts, now set to expire on Dec. 31. Senate Democrats want leverage to move legislation critical to their base on issues ranging from immigration and unionizing police and firefighters to compensation for people wounded in the 9/11 attacks.
The result is classic gridlock. While intense bargaining continues behind closed doors on how to wind down the 111th Congress – including extending unemployment insurance – lawmakers are fighting procedural battles on the floor.
"Republicans are using arcane 19th century maneuvers to block the extension of unemployment insurance," said Sen. Tom Harkin (D) of Iowa, at a rally today with unemployed workers. "We're going to get it done. One way or another, we're going to get it done."


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Identity Theft - College Students
Do you think you are safe from identity theft because you are in college? You'd better think again.
Current and former college students are hot targets of identity theft. Many are discovering that they have thousands of dollars in student loans or credit card accounts they never requested. Colleges and high schools often post grades by your Social Security or student identification number, giving thieves the perfect opportunity to steal your information.
The number of investigations of student identity theft is growing every year. The U.S. Department of Education's Office of the Inspector General, the Social Security Administration, the U.S. Secret Service, and local and college police investigate these cases on college campuses.
It is vital to pay close attention to your bank, credit card and student loan statements. Now is not too soon to start monitoring and protecting your credit. You can read more to learn about your credit report and how to deal with identity theft.
If you have been a victim of a student ID scam, you can file a complaint with the Georgia Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division.


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Working with Shapes and SmartArt in Microsoft Office 2013
A shape is an object such as a line, arrow, rectangle, circle, square, or callout. You can quickly insert basic shapes in your documents, but after you use Office for a little while, you'll probably want to modify the default shape formats. Fortunately, Office offers a variety of shape-formatting options that enable you to quickly customize a shape to meet your exact needs.
If you want something a bit more sophisticated than a simple shape, consider SmartArt. SmartArt offers ready-made, color-coordinated designs that display lists, processes, organization charts, matrices, and more—in a way that makes the most of Office's many design features.
Inserting Shapes
Office offers dozens of ready-made shapes that you can add to your documents.
To insert a shape, follow these steps:
On the Insert tab, click the Shapes button. The Shapes gallery opens, as shown in Figure 5.1.
FIGURE 5.1. The Shapes gallery offers a variety of options.
- From the gallery, select the shape you want to insert. Gallery options include lines, rectangles, arrows, callouts, circles, and more.
- In your document, click where you want the shape to appear and then drag until the shape is the size you want. You can then format the shape as you would any other object.
Inserting Lines and Arrows
You can add lines and arrows to draw attention to something, show how things are connected, or show how one thing leads to another. For example, you might want to add a line to connect two shapes. Or you might use an arrow to point to text or an object of special importance. You can also create simple images with the line, rectangle, and oval shapes.
To draw a line or arrow, follow these steps:
- On the Insert tab, click the Shapes button to open the Shapes gallery (refer to Figure 5.1).
- Click one of the buttons in the Lines section of the Shapes gallery. The mouse pointer becomes a plus sign.
- Click and hold down where you want the line to begin and then drag to where you want the line to end.
If the line looks crooked or is the wrong length, you can adjust it. First, select the line. Then pause your mouse over one of the handles that appear at the ends of the line. The mouse pointer becomes a line with an arrowhead at both ends. Click and drag the circle to lengthen the line or adjust its angle.
If the line isn't in the right place, you can move it. First, select the line. Then pause your mouse over the line. The mouse pointer becomes a cross with arrowheads at all four ends. Click and drag the line to move it.
Inserting Rectangles and Ovals
You can also draw rectangular and oval shapes. Using rectangular shapes enables you to emphasize important information, group information, or illustrate other ideas or concepts.
To draw a rectangle, click one of the buttons in the Rectangles section of the Shapes gallery. The mouse pointer becomes a plus sign. Click where you want the rectangle to appear and then drag to draw the rectangle.
To draw an oval, click the Oval button in the Basic Shapes section of the Shapes gallery. The mouse pointer becomes a plus sign. Click where you want the oval to appear and then drag to draw the oval.
You can then reshape and resize these images or apply other formatting to them.
Another option is to add text to a rectangular or oval shape. If you want to add only a word or two, select the shape and type the text you want to enter. Alternatively, click the Text Box button on either the Insert tab or the Drawing Tools – Format tab and create a text box inside the original object. Be sure, however, that the text box fits into the object without overlapping its borders.


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100-Year Housing Price Index Graph
U.S. Housing Price Index (1900 - 2020) |
The above chart (click to expand) shows a 100-year history of residential real estate prices in the U.S. The graph is based on Robert Shiller's historical housing index, which I have summarized to yearly data. As he readily admits, his data is
imperfect. However, it's the best source of long-term housing data that I am aware of.
Note that he has attempted to adjust for the significant increase in the size and quality of homes over the past 100 years. In effect, he has attempted to estimate the price of houses of constant size and quality; otherwise, we'd be comparing apples and oranges.
In addition, note that this is an index, not actual prices. The index values are relative to the year 2000, which has been assigned an index value of 100. Using the index values, we can convert a price from any year to any other year. For example, we can calculate that a house that cost $100,000 in 2000 would have cost a little over $10,000 in 1950, and a bit less than $200,000 in 2018.
Graph is Consistent With The Way That Many People Think About Residential Real Estate Investments
The graph is, I think, representative of how many people think about investments in real estate. That is, their view is shaped primarily by the change in the price of specific properties -- often over several decades. For example, I've heard stories like "my parents paid $50,000 for this house 30 years ago, and now it's worth $300,000."However, A $50,000 Home Sold for $300,000 Does Not Produce a $250,000 Profit!
If a $50,000 home sells for $300,000 30 years later, many people see this as a $250,000 profit. However, a little thought should convince you that this is not the case. To do a thorough analysis, you would need to consider the total impact that the purchase of the home had on the buyer's finances. That is, we need to look at all of the net additional expenditures associated with the purchase. Otherwise, we will be misled.Housing as an Investment: A More Complete Cost Picture
Here is a sample of some of the most significant additional expenditures -- i.e., beyond "purchase price" -- that need to be factored into a more thorough analysis of residential real estate investments.- Miscellaneous purchasing costs: In addition to the sales price, the initial cost typically includes application fees, appraisals, inspections, legal fees, and possibly other closing costs. In my experience, this adds thousands of dollars to the initial outlay.
- Interest: With a 5.25% mortgage, for every $100,000 in mortgage principal the buyer will pay another $100,000 in interest over 30 years. Higher interest rates produce even higher total interest payments. In the days when rates were more than 10%, total interest payments were often more than twice as much as the principal amount. (Note: Interest payments are currently tax deductible, so the net impact on the buyer is reduced somewhat.)
- Taxes and insurance: Real estate taxes can be thousands of dollars each year. (Note: these are also currently tax deductible.) In addition, mortgage holders require that homes be insured.
- Maintenance & improvements: These costs never seem to end. From repairing/replacing air conditioners, furnaces, appliances and the roof, to interior & external painting, to .... In addition, longer-term owners typically spend significant amounts on "improvements." These can range from a minor bathroom update to adding a new bedroom or patio, to completely redoing a bath or kitchen. A major improvement can cost as much as a small house! These costs are all part of the cost of owning a home.
- Selling costs: Finally, to get that "profit," you have to sell the property. Traditionally, 6% of the sales prices goes to the broker, plus there are additional closing costs such as the title search. In addition, there are often fix-up costs to prepare the home for sale, and "staging" costs to make your home look as attractive as possible to potential buyers while it is on the market.
- Other costs: Additional costs may or may not be appropriate to include depending upon the circumstances. For example, in some cases the net proceeds of the sale are subject to income taxes.
The Impact of Inflation
Comparing a $300,000 sales price in 2005, for example, to a $50,000 purchase price in 1975 without adjusting for inflation is like comparing bananas and cumquats; you are comparing dollars from different eras. Many people forget that, because of inflation, buying a $50,000 home would have been a much greater strain on the average family's budget in 1975 than it would have been in 2005. In fact, spending $50,000 in 1975 was equivalent to spending approximately $180,000 in 2005 dollars. (See 100 Years of Inflation-Adjusted Housing Price History or What Would $10,000 in 19xx be Equivalent to Today?.)The 100-Year Housing Price Increase/Growth Rate
Finally, most people underestimate the impact of time on the return on their housing investment. That huge increase from $50,000 to $300,000 represents a growth rate of only 6.2%/year when spread over 30 years. (Remember, this is price increase only.)You might be more interested to know that the average annual home price increase for the U.S. during the whole 1900 - 2012 period was only 3.1%/year -- just a shade better than the inflation rate of 3.0%/year.
Evaluating Home Purchases/Investments is More Complicated than Most People Think
Evaluating a home purchase is not as simple as subtracting the purchase price from the sales price. Doing the evaluation that way overlooks the factors I've listed above -- all of which tend to make the purchase less attractive.To be fair, there are additional factors that tend to make the purchase more attractive -- especially the facts that a) the purchase price is not all paid at the time of purchase, but in installments, and b) the costs are normally partially offset by the elimination of some other costs (e.g., rent).
We'll look at the impact of some of these factors in more detail in future posts.
Related Materials
100 Years of Inflation-Adjusted Housing Price History: similar to this post, but adjusted for inflation.Planning to Buy a House Calculator: Interactive calculator to help you plan for these housing expenses.
The Risks & Disadvantages of Low & No Down Payment Mortgages: Why I'm wary of 0%-5%, and even 10% down mortgages.
Planning to Buy a House discusses additional strategies for becoming a successful homeowner.
Can I Afford this House? (Benchmark): a helpful benchmark to compare yourself against.
Some Other "100-Year" Posts
100 Years of Stock Market History
100 Years of Treasury Bond Interest Rate History
100 Year Decline in Value of a Dollar
100 Years of Inflation History
Data Source
Robert Shiller "Irrational Exuberance" Housing Data: Shiller's housing price index data beginning in 1890.
For lists of other posts, by category, see the drop down list (mobile viewers) or tabs (computer viewers) just below the blog header at the top of the page. There are additional links in the sidebar if your device supports sidebars.
Copyright © 2011. Last modified: 11/14/2020
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Facebook, not known for respecting users' privacy, is battling a New York County district attorney's demand for all information pertaining to the accounts of several hundred of its subscribers.
DA Cyrus Vance's office issued 381 secret warrants for the information in July of 2013 in a hunt for retired police officers and firefighters wrongfully claiming Social Security disability benefits for their involvement in 9/11.
New York State Supreme Court Judge Melissa Jackson ruled that Facebook did not have standing to dispute the warrants because it served merely as a digital repository, and that only the subscribers whose data was sought had such standing.
Along with ordering the execution of the warrants, she issued a nondisclosure order that, in effect, gagged Facebook.
Facebook filed suit in August to quash the warrants on the grounds that they violated its users' Fourth Amendment rights, or, alternatively, to vacate the nondisclosure requirement or have the court create an independent monitor and minimization protocol to safeguard the privacy interests of its users.
Judge Jackson in September denied Facebook's motion in its entirety.
Facebook has filed an appeal.
Crooks and Bad Blood, Oh My!
Only 62 of the 381 people whose Facebook account data was sought reportedly have been charged.
They were among the 100 or so retired firefighters and police officers whom DA Vance's office charged in January with defrauding New York State of disability payments of up to $50,000 a year.
Facebook reportedly handed over the data after being threatened with having staff jailed, being subjected to a grand jury investigation, or becoming the target of a criminal investigation that might see a search warrant executed on its offices.
Facebook did not respond to our request to comment for this story.
Implications of the Case
"The data demand is far too sweeping," Kurt Opsahl, deputy general counsel at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, told TechNewsWorld.
"Worse, the court order leaves no one in the position to challenge the warrants and assert their Fourth Amendment rights," Opsahl continued.
"We have, underlying this, a single affidavit that seeks information on the full Facebook accounts of almost 400 people," Lee Rowland, a staff attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union, told TechNewsWorld.
"A good chunk of our revolutionary history is concerned with general warrants, and so we have developed a constitutional tradition under the Fourth Amendment that requires warrants to be narrowly drawn," Rowland continued. "So right off, there's a challenge to credibility — that every person in each of those people's accounts was identified with specificity."
Further, "the idea that people will have their day in court to challenge this (as the judge stated) simply doesn't happen in this case," Rowland said. "Every attempt to get oversight here has been rebuffed."
Let the Poster Beware
Judge Jackson ordered the search warrants sealed and Facebook gagged because of the "fungible nature of digital information, the ability of a user to delete information instantly and other possible consequences of disclosure," she said.
The U.S. House of Representatives' Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which is holding hearings into the Internal Revenue Service's targeting of conservative groups and the disappearance of emails related to it would agree.
However, the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that police needed warrants to search data on arrestees' cellphones, noting that data stored on those devices could be stored on remote servers, and holding that digital data might require a greater level of protection.
That "has profound implications for our society" and "gave strength to the idea that judges must be particularly cautious when digital data is sought," Rowland said.
However, social media users "who publish their activities, pushing their data into the public realm, should not have such privacy expectations," tech attorney Ray Van Dyke told TechNewsWorld.
"It's not surprising that prosecutors view this non-private information as a treasure trove, being evidence freely given up and usable," he pointed out. "Let the sharer beware."


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Accessories & Other
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Agnes Brown-Black
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Price: 75 GBP
Order will be dispatched about 2-3 weeks after receipt of payment.
Please type in your measures during checkout
and e-mail us any colour changes after checkout.
Mixed Cotton Colours:
1 brick red - 2 bordeaux - 3 dark green - 4 olive green - 5 saffron - 6 brown - 7 black - 8 ecru - 9 light blue - 10 indigo - 11 navy blue - 12 purple.
This open gown is made according to an authentic medieval design of the mid 14th Century, and can be worn over the other costumes of our range.
The gown features a mi-parti Pattern, and it falls very wide, touching the ground.
The sleeve openings are made in a style called "window-to-hell" which means they are open all the way down to the hip. The top part has been lined in a contrasting colour.
The dress is made of mixed cotton/polyester .
Machine wash at 40 C.
Similar and Recommended Items:
Eleonore Navy Blue
Gown with extended sleeves, and triple lacing
Price: 79 GBP
Agnes Navy Blue-Green
Authentic gown for combination with other dresses
Price: 75 GBP
Eleonore Bordeaux
Gown with extended sleeves, and triple lacing
Price: 79 GBP
Friedrich Navy Blue-Bordeaux
Reversible, color-lined mensurcot with long arms
Price: 125 GBP
Henry Saffron-Navy Blue
Elegant gown with lateral riding slits and collar
Price: 179 GBP
Reversible Ladies' Gugel
An ideal complement for your garment. Available in all colors.
Price: 50 GBP
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Best iPhone 5 Wallet Cases
From hard cases that hold credit cards to leather cases with fold-out pockets, here are our top picks for iPhone 5 wallet cases.
Most people want their phone and wallet with them at all times. But isn't it always better to travel with less than with more? What if you could combine your phone and wallet? There are many case options available on the market. However, not all are created equal. To help you pick the right one, we dug through the pile and picked our favorite iPhone 5s wallet cases.
Col. Littleton No. 50
Why you can trust Tom's Guide
The best wallet cases are made of high-quality material and are fully functional. Col. Littleton's No. 50 Wallet features a good combination of these two elements. Made with dry-milled brown American steer hide, the No. 50 is 100 percent American-made. The design and feel give the wallet a rustic, country style. Its edge-stitched sides reinforce the phone, keeping it safe from bumps and bruises. The No. 50 also comes with two additional pockets for storing bills and cards.
Case-Mate Wallet Folio
If you're looking for a more sophisticated look, the Case-Mate Wallet Folio may appeal to you. The Wallet Folio Case is made from handcrafted leather and has a sleek and professional look. Because black goes with everything, this wallet will go anywhere with class, all while holding your phone, bills and a couple of credit cards.
Otterbox Commuter Series Wallet Case
Some people want a wallet that will both ferociously protect their tech and provide reliable storage for valuables. Otterbox's Commuter Series Wallet Case provides both of those things. The case uses multiple layers of plastic to minimize shock damage. It has a sliding wallet drawer that can hold up to three cards and one bill, and clicks to let you know it's locked. The case uses port covers to protect your iPhone's ports from debris.
Sena Cases Burnished Wallet
Many people prefer their smartphones to a book these days. Sena Cases' Burnished Wallet case can make your smartphone look like a book. The Burnished Wallet uses veg-tanned, burnished leather to achieve a fresh and crisp booklike look. The interior's striped microfiber protects the phone from scratches and shake-ups. The wallet comes with two card slots and a bill sleeve.
DodoCase Durables Wallet
The DodoCase Durables Wallet reflects the functionality of its name. The wallet uses three layers of leather to maximize durability and minimize device damage. It also has two pockets for storing cash and cards. The case's mix of a waxed canvas exterior with a colorful cotton twill center pocket and exterior of mahogany leather lend it a hipster-esque look.
Push Case
Originally funded on Kickstarter, the Push Case is a minimalist wallet that can hold your secrets for you. At first glance, the case seems dull. But the indentation on the top half of the case hides a surreptitious button: It opens up a "secret slot," where cash, cards and an ID can go. The Push Case comes in black, blue, pink, red, white and yellow.
Speck Smartflex Card Case
Some cases are built for style, others are built for protection. The Smartflex is built for the latter. The Speck Smartflex Case uses raised bezel and rubberized plastic to create an shock-absorbing case that can take on anything. The Smartflex has passed military-grade drop testing, and exceeded MIL-STD-810G standards. The case also features a card release slot, where users can store their ID or cards.
Incipio Highland
The Incipio Highland mixes a sleek brushed aluminum back with a leather front cover and microfiber interior to create a case that will keep your phone safe and stylish. A small slot keeps a credit card or an ID protected. The case's contrasting color palettes create a unique metal palette that will appeal to technically minded people. Its kickstand also comes in handy for streaming media hands-free.
PureGear HIP Case+
The HIP Case+ is a low-profile protective case that uses a durable holster to store your phone. The case is made of rubberized plastic, which should minimize damage if you were to drop your phone. The black coloring is simple yet reflects the original iPhone design. The holster can clip onto your pocket or belt, and will store credit cards and IDs for easy access.
Beamhaus Billfold
Most leather wallet cases are made of acceptable quality leather. However, the creators of the Beamhaus Billfold sought out the best. By using some of the highest-quality American leather, Griffin has created a wallet that is visually timeless and that will stand up to wear and tear. It also has three compartments for storing cash and cards, and a suede lining for holding your phone.
Christopher Hutton is an editorial intern for Tom's Guide. Contact him at firstname.lastname@example.com. Follow him @chris_journo and on Google+. Follow us @tomsguide, on Facebook and on Google+.
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Daily Devotional for Friday December 9, 2011
Does God Really have a Plan and Purpose for My Life
(Acts 26:16-18)
One of the most asked questions I get each day is, "Does God really have a plan and purpose for my life?" Let me assure you that there are no accidents, no coincidences with God. The One who created the universe and everything in it, did not just create us in His image to drift from birth to death with no purpose. Those who understand science will tell you that the incredible perfection of creation could never have happened by chance.
Years ago, a dear friend of mine who came to know Christ because of the irrefutable evidence we have from science, told me that the creation of the universe and the incredible precision it takes to operate properly could have never just happened by accident. He said it would be the equivalent of taking an expensive, finely tuned Swiss watch apart, throwing in the air the thousands of pieces that make up the watch, and having it land with every piece in its place and the watch working perfectly.
My friend, the universe did not just happen, God created it. You did not just happen, God created you. God did not just create all of this because He was bored, there is a Divine plan and purpose for everything, including your life!
The scripture today is God revealing to Paul the plan He had for his life. Most of us will never have a Damascus Road experience where God audibly calls down to us and gives us the exact plan for our life. However, as we are surrendered to His will, He will move us, position us, exactly where He wants us. He will open and close doors to guide us where He wants us to be.
As you are surrendered to Him and His plan, there are no accidents where you live, work, go to school, or recreate. It is not an accident who your neighbors are or the people that are in your life. God strategically places us where He wants us to be, as His instruments, so we can do our part in fulfilling His master plan.
The key that you need to hear today is you must be surrendered to Him. If we rebel against His way, then His plan for our lives will never be fulfilled. That is the choice we have to make each day. To live life our way, or His way.
When we choose our way, we can try, try, and try, and life never seems to work out. We may be successful in one area, but miserable in others. You see, when we do it God's way, He takes into consideration ALL areas of our life. Our work, finances, relationships, health, service to Him, recreation, He has every area of our life taken care of.
That is why some people you see may have a great plan for their finances and be very successful by the world's standards, but totally fail in their marriage or as a parent. Or some may have a great home life but are always struggling in their career. The point is, when you are doing it your way, there is a fatal flaw. It is your plan not His.
I love you and care about you so much. I will be praying for you to fully surrender your life each day to God. Surrendering to Him is the key to finding God's plan and purpose for your life. TRUST HIM! He will never let you down, He will never disappoint you, just love you and bless you each day. God has a perfect plan and purpose for your life!
With Christmas less than 3 weeks away, we really only have a few weeks left in December since most people are out of contact between Christmas and New Years. We still have to cover the last $20,000 of our November operational shortfall, in addition to the $40,000 we need for our basic December operations. We desperately need $10,000 immediately for past due operational expenses, and I am praying for the Lord to send 2 people who can make a one-time sacrifice today to help me with this critical need.
Please pray about making a special year-end gift to Liveprayer, especially if it will help you with your 2011 taxes. Over these 12 years, God has always risen up key people at critical moments in order for us to advance His work here. We are on the verge of seeing the culmination of our many years of faithfulness, as we boldly step on a major platform the world won't be able to ignore, and call this nation back to God and His Truth. It is friends like you who have brought us to this place, and friends like you who obediently answer His call who will help me lead this nation back to our only hope and answer, the GOD OF THE BIBLE!!!
Everyone can pray, most everyone can sacrifce something to help me, and there are a few who God has richly blessed who are in a position to help me in a significant way. I have literally given my life, my time, talent, and treasure the past 20 yrs to serve the Lord and bring the lost to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, and need those who are able to take your stand with me today!!!
TO GIVE A GIFT TO LIVEPRAYER, you can use your major credit card on our secure server at: www.liveprayer.com under the "Donation" link, you can give using your PayPal account using my email address: firstname.lastname@example.com or, you can mail your gift to: Liveprayer, 6660 46th Ave. North, St.Petersburg, FL 33709. All gifts to Liveprayer are 100% tax deductible.
Thank you for taking your stand for Christ with me. Know that you and your family are in my prayers each day. Together, we can see this nation turn back to the Almighty and His Truth!
In His love and service, Your friend and brother in Christ,
Bill Keller


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Sen. SPECTER. "I introduce this legislation, denominated the Habeas Corpus Restoration Act. Last year, in the Military Commissions Act, the constitutional right of habeas corpus was attempted to be abrogated. I say "attempted to be abrogated" because, in my legal judgment, that provision in the Act is unconstitutional.
"It is hard to see how there can be legislation to eliminate the constitutional right to habeas corpus when the Constitution is explicit that habeas corpus may not be suspended except in time of invasion or rebellion, and we do not have either of those circumstances present, as was conceded by the advocates of the legislation last year to take away the right of habeas corpus.
"We have had Supreme Court decisions which have made it plain that habeas corpus is available to non-citizens and that habeas corpus applies to territory controlled by the US, specifically, including Guantanamo. More recently, however, we had a decision in the US District Court applying the habeas corpus jurisdiction stripping provision of the Military Commissions Act, but I believe we will see the appellate courts strike down this legislative provision.
"The New York Times had an extensive article on this subject, starting on the front page, last Sunday, and continuing on a full page on the back page about what is happening at Guantanamo. It is hard to see how in America, or in a jurisdiction controlled by the United States, these proceedings could substitute for even rudimentary due process of law."


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I consider myself a deep web research pro. I've been using the Internet for over 15 years. Back in the day when V.E.R.O.N.I.C.A. (Very Easy Rodent-Oriented Net-Wide Index to Computer Archives) – was a computer search engine for Gopher, the prelude to today's Web. Fast-forward to this year's Nerd Chic best-selling book Rule the Web: How to Do Anything and Everything on the Internet – Better, Faster, Easier by Mark Frauenfelder, is not to be missed. Recently one reviewer described it as "The Joy of Cooking, only it's about the Web instead of meatloaf."
Frauenfelder, who co-founded bOING bOING magazine and writes Boing Boing Blog, which was recently hailed by the New York Times as "one of the leading media sites for young technologically aware sites" captures the beauty of the Web as no one else has before.
Rule the Web is not your dry, technical how-to manual. It's a valuable, entertaining guide to getting stuff done with the Web. Best of all, it comes with a companion website, packed with chapter updates, podcast interviews with guest experts, tutorial videos and live call-in talk shows. In short, it will help you get things done in your online and offline life, by using useful, mostly free Web resources. How perfect is that?
Frauenfelder begins by exploring the entire website set-up process, quickly and easily, explaining the difficult in a way that makes an experienced web-savvy pro like myself mutter "who knew?" Setting up discussion boards, buying domain names, and explaining what blogs are and why you should read them. According to the author, "a good blog is a log of interesting stuff" and a good blogger could be considered a "pre-surfer – a trusted person who spends a lot of time online looking for interesting things from the web and the rest of the world to write about." He must know what he's talking about. Frauenfelder's own blog is one of the five most visited blogs on the Web, with almost 7.5 million page views a month.
He's also a big believer in the joy of Google, demonstrating its useful tools and gadgets as the starting place for building and finding the stuff that many of us take for granted and some of us never imagined was even there to look for.
Graphs, sidebars and website addresses provide additional insight, particularly in the Shopping and Selling chapter. Provided are tips on how to send a mechanic to inspect a used car anywhere in the U.S., how to search for a book on more than one site at once, and where to find digital copies of manuals for everything from kitchen appliances, phones, TVs and even waffle makers.
Tracking news and entertainment online, looking for the best information in concise, efficient summaries, together with photos, video and audio and links to original stories can be a tall order. Along the way readers can be blocked by "paywalls," registration pages, or foreign language issues. Frauenfelder offers efficient many tricks, which as promised, will help you get the news "so fast it will leave skidmarks on your inbox." TiVo for radio? You'll find the closest thing with background on gadgets and music sites that do a great job on steering you to music that you might have missed. The Health, Exercise and Sports chapter includes a trick that actually helps you find recipes that match the ingredients you have in your fridge.
As Fraunenfelder explains, the original purpose for computers and the Internet was for business, not pleasure. But things changed as Web evolved and computers became more productive, resourceful and fun. The increase in personal productivity online has brought with amazing tools and opportunities to work with people, rather than just machines. The Work, Organization and Productivity section includes easy tips on how to use Web-based online applications, how to use wikis to form virtual offices, and how to manage projects with colleagues in other locations.
Find roaming WiFi? Get out of a phone contract? Figure out which social network is best for you? Want to text your friend money? Skype? Bluetooth? How are we supposed to know everything we can accomplish on the Internet? There is no question that this book delivers on its promise, which is to show you how you can unlock the web's potential for yourself. You'll find it a useful treasure, which you regularly highlight, underline and tip corners of the pages. Indeed, this is the book for surfers of every level to keep close to your PC, cherished as a USB flash drive. It is the digest of useful knowledge about things you never heard of but wish you had. Frauenfelder delivers nerd chic to the common man. Viva la geeks!
Rule the Web: How To Do Anything On The Internet – Better Faster, Easier by Mark Frauenfelder. St. Martin's Press, $14.95; 2007)
Rule the Web: How to Do Anything and Everything on the Internet—Better, Faster, Easier Author: Mark Frauenfelder Binding: Paperback List price: $14.95 Amazon price: $15.04 |


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Latest Article|September 3, 2020|Free
::Making Grown Men Cry Since 1992
4 min read
Thursday 24 See "Idiot Box" above. Friday 25 "Jingle All the Way" (Hallmark 5 p.m.) Now that Thanksgiving is over, it's time to get on with the Christmas specials, starting with this animation starring Jingle the Husky Pup. If you love Jingle (and you'd damn well better), you can get interactive storybooks, stuffed animals, cards and iPhone apps at your nearest Hallmark store. "Hoops & Yoyo Ruin Christmas" (KRQE-13 7 p.m.) If Jingle isn't your thing, maybe you'll appreciate Hallmark's other corporate mascots, Hoops & Yoyo. They have a CD and e-cards and calendars and Halloween costumes and … "The Elf on the Shelf: An Elf's Story" (KRQE-13 7:30 p.m.) The Christmas "tradition" of placing a creepy elf doll on one's mantle to perform surveillance on the pre-Christmas habits of children dates all the way back to the 2005 publication of Carol Aebersold and Chanda Bell's picture book The Elf on the Shelf . Now, this Patriot Act-inspired Christmas fable comes to life as an animated special. "Tyler Perry's For Better or Worse" (TBS 8 p.m.) If there's one thing this world needs, it's another Tyler Perry TV series. Saturday 26 "America's Cutest Pet" (Animal Planet 7 p.m.) Sadly, this is just a bunch of Internet videos and not a reality competition in which animals are judged and then kicked off the show every week. Sunday 27 Desperately Seeking Santa (ABC Family 6 p.m.) What says season's greetings more than a pun on a 25-year-old Madonna movie? A Holiday Engagement (Hallmark 6 p.m.) An overworked woman (Bonnie Somerville) hires an out-of-work actor to pretend to be her fiancé over the holidays. … Honey, if it didn't work for Jennifer Aniston in Picture Perfect , it ain't gonna work for you. Mitch Albom's Have a Little Faith (KOAT-7 8 p.m.) ABC turns to so-inspirational-it-hurts author Mitch Albom for some unsubtle holiday uplift. Monday 28 "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" (KOAT-7 7 p.m.) Gotta see it at least once per season. Tuesday 29 "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" (KRQE-13 7 p.m.) At least once per season. "America's Supernanny" (Lifetime 7 p.m.) Yeah, to hell with that stuck-up Mary Poppins wannabe Jo Frost. Isn't it time we had a supernanny without an accent? "The Epic History of Everyday Things" (History 7 p.m.) Learn the background details on objects we interact with on a daily basis and never think twice about. Like string. And cans. Scott Turow's Innocent (TNT 7 p.m.) Scott Turow's not innocent. That's just the name of his latest crime novel to get the made-for-TV treatment. Turow's guilty as hell of something, I'm sure. "Victoria's Secret Fashion Show" (KRQE-13 9 p.m.) Talk about stocking stuffers! Wednesday 30 "Christmas in Rockefeller Center 2011" (KOB-4 7 p.m.) Of course, Justin Bieber is there. Even the Black Eyed Peas are like, "Dude, give it a rest. You're overexposed." "Trek Nation" (Science 7 p.m.) Science Channel investigates the legacy of "Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry. "I Hate My Teenage Daughter" (KASA-2 8:30 p.m.) Jamie Pressly ("My Name is Earl") and Katie Finneran (a Tony Award-winner) star in this sitcom about a pair of mothers doing battle with their overprivileged daughters. "The Soup" (E! 11 p.m.) The perfect antidote to all things idiot boxy moves to Wednesdays.


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Actor Tom Hanks in the movie Forrest Gump tries to strike up a conversation with a tired nurse seated beside him on a park bench. Holding a box of chocolates in his hand, Forrest offers her a treat, "My mother always said, "Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get." You remember the scene. Here is a 38-second clip from the movie:
"Health by chocolate" is one of the phrases that popped up on the web when I researched the health benefits of eating chocolate, which may stem from the antioxidant flavonoids find in the cacao bean. Another website listed 9 benefits of eating chocolate. Rich and delicious dark chocolate especially (at least 70 % cacao, a disease-killing bullet) is "good for more than healing a broken heart" it touts.
Among the nine benefits included in this article were a healthy heart, possible weight loss (because it lessens one's cravings for other sweet, salty, and fatty foods), stress reduction, and even higher intelligence in the short term because chocolate boosts blood flow to the brain.
The box of chocolates Forrest Gump was holding contains way more calories than this article suggests because the candies were probably filled with nougat, sweet cherries, caramel, and other taste-bud ticklers. But he's right, unless the box lid is imprinted with the different flavors, you never know what you are going to get. Usually, though, the surprise is pleasant.
In the 2000 movie Choclat, Vianne Rocher, played by Juliette Binoche, tries to guess Roux's (Johnny Depp's) favorite chocolate confection. Vianne tries more than once to offer the treat that will get an "Aha" from him, including presenting him with one in a special white box. Later she succeeds unexpectedly as you can see here:
Receiving or giving a box of chocolates (or even savoring hot chocolate) is a welcome experience any time of year.
What is your relationship with chocolate? What is your favorite kind of chocolate?
What do you think of the Forrest Gump quote?
Coming next: Signs and Wonders at Chincoteague!


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All Star provides scanners for every capture situation. From a centralized capture system that requires a 100+ page per minute scanner to the distributed capture scenario that requires many smaller scanners on user's desktops, All Star can provide the appropriate hardware solution for your system.
Unlike warehouse stores with little to no knowledge of the industry, All Star has been in the industry for 20 years. We employ experts that can help you choose the right scanner, provide installation services and the support services you need in the future. Our vision and focus is to passionately assist any company or person who needs to find solutions for their document imaging needs. We listen wholeheartedly to the situation and approach each solution with careful thought and insight. Our team of document scanning experts brings an avid drive to fulfill the requirements of every scanning project keeping time constraints, ease of use and budgets in mind.
At All Star, our solutions include durable and reliable scanner hardware from the proven leaders in the scanning industry, such as Fujitsu, Canon, Ricoh, Bell & Howell, Panasonic and Kofax. Through our long and well maintained relationships with these manufacturers, we are able to establish the highest standards of excellence for service and account management in the document imaging industry. All Star is a Platinum partner for Fujitsu and a top reseller for all of the other top brands including: Canon, Ricoh, Bell & Howell, Panasonic, Epson and Kodak.


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Founders: Tony Jamous (CEO), Eric Nadalin
Date launched: 2010
Funding: $22.8 million
Industries disrupted: Mobile, Software, Telecom
Disrupting: Facebook (WhatsApp), Microsoft (Skype), Verizon
Competition: Layer, RebTel, Twilio
Nexmo—the name is short for "next + mobile"—is a cloud-based communication company that lets businesses reach customers through phone messages. With the rising demand for text-messaging applications, this 4-year-old company provides customers such as Airbnb, Expedia and Alibaba, to name a few, with the software tools that connect applications to wireless carriers and phones.
This is a boon for Nexmo's customers, since it eliminates the time and cost of working with individual networks to send out high-volume automated messages to their users.
Read More
Nexmo makes money by taking a piece of the fee that's paid to carriers for network access. So far, the company is doing well with this strategy. Growth has been explosive. Founder and CEO Tony Jamous reported that Nexmo has 5 billion users in 200 countries across a network of 700 mobile operators. Its platform can handle more than 250 million messages a month.
From 2012 to 2013, Nexmo grew its revenue by more than 350 percent. The company—backed by such investors as Sorenson Capital and Intel Capital—reported revenue of $40 million last year, up from $8 million in 2012.
On the company's disruptive impact:
"Eighty percent of the world's leading messaging apps, the globe's top form of communication, rely on Nexmo to reach their users, including Line, Viber and WeChat."


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From TVSeriesFinale.com
Veteran character actor and voiceover artist Lucille Bliss has passed away at the age of 96. She died on Thursday, November 8th.
A native of New York, Bliss lived in both San Francisco and Los Angeles throughout her career. Her first professional voiceover job was playing wicked stepsister Anastasia in Walt Disney's classic 1950 feature film, Cinderella.
She went on to play Auntie Lou on ABC/KRON-TV's Birthday Party Show and have a long career in commercials and animated cartoons. Bliss was the original voice of Crusader Rabbit, the voice of the Kanine Krunchies jingle in 101 Dalmations, Miss Bitters in Invader Zim, and literally played hundreds of other roles.
She will likely be best remembered for playing spunky Smurfette on The Smurfs, a hugely successful animated series that ran on Saturday mornings on NBC for nine seasons.
Source: http://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/the-smurfs-lucille-bliss-dies-at-96-farewell-smurfette-25574/


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Clean Pro Long Island
Best Gutter Cleaning Service in Long Island NY !
Clean Pro Long Island is the best provider of gutter cleaning services in Long Island NY. Our unique qualities are years of experience, prompt service, attention to detail and concern for safety. We provide affordable gutter cleaning results near you.
Long Island is a densely populated island in the southeastern region of the U.S. state of New York, part of the New York metropolitan area. With over 8 million people, Long Island is the most populous island in the United States and the 18th-most populous in the world. The island begins at New York Harbor approximately 0.35 miles (0.56 km) east of Manhattan Island and extends eastward about 118 miles (190 km) into the Atlantic Ocean, being 23 miles (37 km) wide at its most distant points. The island comprises four counties: Kings and Queens counties (the New York City boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens, respectively) and Nassau County share the western third of the island, while Suffolk County occupies the eastern two thirds of the island. More than half of New York City's residents (58.4%) lived on Long Island as of 2020, in Brooklyn and in Queens.
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