text:
Peter Fowler's progress was halted by heavy rain in the second round of ISPS Handa PGA Seniors Championship, with the tournament reduced to 54 holes at De Vere Slaley Hall in Northumberland, England, due to a waterlogged course.
After a level par opening round 72, the Australian began his second round on the tenth tee of the Hunting Course and birdied the 11th, 12th and 15th holes to move to three under par.
He then carded six consecutive pars before play was suspended at 10.55am due to the course being flooded, with Fowler through 12 holes.
The continued rain meant that the players were unable to return to the course on Friday, and the tournament was reduced to 54 holes with the second round due to resume at 7.30am on Saturday. The afternoon groups will begin at 8.30am and the field will then be cut to the top 60 players and ties, with the third and final round schedule to take place on Sunday.
"It's always a bit frustrating when you are going well and you have to stop," said Fowler, who celebrates his 53rd birthday tomorrow.
"On the 11th hole I got up and down from 60 yards after two good shots, then on 12 I chipped it to three foot and on 15 I hit a nice eight iron to 15feet and hole the putt. So it was a nice start and I was playing solid. I was keen to carry on but the forecast wasn't good."
The 2011 European Senior Tour Order of Merit winner has had a relatively slow start to his defence of the John Jacobs Trophy compared to his sublime form of last year, with a share of 16th place in the Mallorca Senior Open his only top 20 finish so far.
That is largely due to his pre-season preparations being ruined by injury, with the 1993 BMW International Open winner only having three weeks of practice under his belt before the first Senior Tour event in Mallorca last month.
"As I was recovering from one knee operation in January the other one snapped and I had to have an op on that one too," said Fowler. "So I've had a pretty poor run. The most recent one was worse than the other one ever was. It's no problem hitting golf balls, it's just walking.
"I didn't play much because of the knee. I hadn't walked a round between December and the start of the season, so fitness wise it has been a slow start."
Fowler was joint third in last year's ISPS Handa PGA Seniors Championship and his three birdies moved him two shots behind first round leader Mark James, who was among the players who had been due to start their second rounds on Friday afternoon.
James posted his fourth consecutive round of 67 in tournament play to take a one shot lead over fellow Englishman Bob Cameron, who was also due to tee off in the afternoon groups.
Former Ryder Cup Captain James, who was joint runner up in last week's Benahavis Senior Masters, will begin his second round alongside Anders Forsbrand and Sam Torrance at 8.50am on Saturday.
|Player name
|WESSELINGH, Paul
|FORSBRAND, Anders
|OLDCORN, Andrew
|JAMES, Mark
|CIPA, Steve
|SMITH, Peter A


text:
Tuesday, April 09, 2013
Monsanto's Dirty Secrets and LiesMonsanto has been working its way into the upper tiers of American federal government for decades. Now Obama has given them an order of protection to be able to continue messing with our food supply - without telling us what they are doing, and being held unaccountable for the damage done to our bodies by these altered, corrupted, hybridized, genetically modified, poisoned foods.
In other words, if you become sick from eating these genetically modified foods, you cannot sue for damages. But, you may not have a choice whether you eat these foods.
Cancer, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, vascular disease, birth defects and pregnancy complications, brain disorders, mental illness, metabolic and autoimmune disorders ... ALL of these have their roots in the foods we eat. Do you, like I do, suffer from chronic illness caused by an autoimmune disorder? If so, you can thank Monsanto for that ... they put the poison in your food that has made you sick.
And even growing your own food does not help much ... Monsanto has a monopoly on the seeds we buy, which won't germinate unless you use their fertilizers, and which produce sterile fruit and seed which cannot be used to plant the next year crops - so we have to buy more seed from them next year. Only if you have a source of independent, heirloom seed and grow from them without commercial fertilizers and pest control, will your food be not produced by Monsanto ... and even then, they are moving to outlaw the sale and transfer of heirloom seed, so the only source we will have is theirs.
The Monsanto poison can no longer be completely avoided ... it is in the feed given to livestock, in the plants we eat, even in the water supply either from ground water run off or by direct addition of the poisonous fluoride - provided, of course, by Monsanto.
Between 75% to 80% of the processed food you consume every day has GMOs inside, and residues of Monsanto's RoundUp pesticide outside. But it's not just processed food—fresh fruit and vegetables are next: genetically engineered sweet corn is already being sold at your local grocer, with apples and a host of other "natural" produce currently in field trials.
We can only hope to minimize our exposure to these toxic foods, but we need to know what's in our foods and have viable alternative sources in order to do so. Monsanto is going to fight our right to choose not to eat their foods every step of the way ... until we are too sick to fight or dead.
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Oh hey ... Hi There!Wow. This place sure is dusty ... and needs a good renovation.
I'm thinking this place needs a coat of new paint on the walls and trim ... and the furniture re-arranged. Just a total do-over ...
So, is my RSS still in anyone's feed reader still? Is anyone out there?
Posted by LissaKay on 03/26/13 at 12:27 PM in ~ Blogging
• (3) Comments • Pop Up • Permalink •
• (3) Comments • Pop Up • Permalink •
Monday, May 02, 2011
This is a party I will skipPardon me as I make my exit from this party, I really don't wish to participate in a celebration of death.
Life is precious, whether it is an inconvenient fetus, a precious and welcomed child, a Godly and righteous Christian, a lost atheist or a global terrorist. We are all the same in God's eyes.
Now don't get me wrong, I am as angry over the atrocities of 9/11 as anyone else, as well as all the other terror attacks perpetrated by these savages. I am as harsh of a critic on Islam as anyone could ever be. I do believe that Osama Bin Laden was the mastermind and chief architect of 9/11 and bears full responsibility for the deaths, injury and damage he and his cohorts inflicted upon all of us - that is, the entire civilized world. And I believe that Islam is the antithesis of Christianity, and is evil through and through.
But as a Christian, I cannot and will not celebrate the death of anyone, especially not with the jubilant joy that is on display in the streets of America. To me, it is every bit as ghoulish as the Palestinians that handed out sweets after the murder of an Israeli family, killed while sleeping in their beds, all of them, including a 3 month old baby.
Celebrating death is not something civilized people do. Not even when it is justified and well-deserved. Yes, it is a good thing that he can no longer perpetrate evil in this world and cause further death and misery to those he deems his enemy. I do understand the dangers with capturing and imprisoning him. But killing him will change what exactly? Al Qaida will carry on, doing their evil in the world. A new leader will step up eventually and take the reins. If anything, Bin Laden's death will breathe new life into the fervor and rage of the Islamists around the globe.
Shortly after I first heard the news, I saw a post on Facebook from a pastor whom I greatly admire. He said, "Remember Beloved, God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked. Ezekiel 18:23." and "Harsh, godless responses to UBL's death are easy, not appropriate, natural, not spiritual. Watch your heart and tongue Christian."
Ezekial 18:23 reads: Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord GOD, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?
Thank you, Pastor Steve, for helping me put to rest the conflict in my heart and to face this with a Christian attitude.
On the way to work today, I listened to K-Love, a Christian radio station. Many callers were sharing their thoughts. This one struck me, and I posted it to my Facebook wall:
Only one man's death ever changed the world, and we celebrated that a week ago.
"For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!" --Romans 5:17
And this:
"Though I celebrate the fact that Osama bin Laden will never commit another act of terror, never bomb another embassy, never give another hate speech, never blow up another building, never train another terrorist, never hijack another plane, never take another innocent life, I refuse to celebrate his death, for to do so would be to embrace the same hatred that fueled these heinous acts." ~Randy R. Reed©
In God's eyes, each one of us is both as righteous and as wicked as the next. We are all sinners, we all fall short of the glory. The difference between those who will see the Kingdom of Heaven and those who will not is not God's esteem for us, for he has offered each and every one of us the same gift of salvation, but that each of us has made the choice to follow Christ and be saved, or not and be condemned for eternity.
We should never, ever celebrate what is surely a lost soul being condemned to the fires of Hell. Over and over, the Scriptures tell us that judgment of sin is for God, and God alone.
[10] Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; [11] for it is written,
"As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,
and every tongue shall confess to God."
[12] So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.
(Romans 14:10-12 ESV)
Today, instead, my thoughts and prayers are with the people recently affected by the tornadoes and thunderstorms that tore through the South last week, and with the people of Nashville, who suffered horrific floods one year ago today, and as always, with those around the world suffering poverty, cruelty and terror.
God is in control, and His Will be done.
Posted by LissaKay on 05/02/11 at 02:28 PM in ~ Christianity ~ My Soapbox ~ News
• (1) Comments • Pop Up • Permalink •
• (1) Comments • Pop Up • Permalink •
Wednesday, February 02, 2011
Pragmatic Project ManagementOne of our clients is getting ready to make some upgrades in their implementation of the product we support. Prior to making these changes, they have analyzed all of the issues they have experienced, and with our assistance, found either resolutions or work-arounds and created an action plan. This particular bullet point struck us as rather amusing ...
5. Delay in execution of Report
a. Risk: Execution of reports have a long delay the 1st time you go into this module. Subsequent reports do not have a delay.
b. Cause: Report Logic and data is being cached into memory during the 1st report execution.
c. Work Around: Train staff on how to be patient. The report will run, but it may take a few minutes before you see the results.
We are hoping that they can share this particular training plan with us.
Tuesday, February 01, 2011
Why I got fat; And I what I am doing about itI have been posting on Facebook about my weight loss efforts, and after having posted a before and work-in-progress pictures, I am sure there are some folks that are a bit surprised, shocked even, to see what has become of that little, teeny, skinny chick you used to know ... you know, ladies, the one you used to mentally hiss at as I swung by in my itty bitty size 2 jeans. I will be upfront - in the last 7 or 8 years, I put on about 60 pounds. Yup ... you got that right - SIXTY pounds of flabby blubber hangin' off my once incredibly hawt bod. It's OK, you can gloat. Now get over it and pay attention ... this is important.
OK, this is the me that used to be ... weighing probably about 110 - 115 pounds. Those are Guess jeans, waist size 24. I normally wore a size 2 and my waist measured 22 inches.
That was on my 35th birthday - 1999. I stayed about that same size until sometime around 2003. By 2009, when I got married again, this is what I looked like ... my dress is a size 14, and only by the grace of God and Spanx was I able to squeeze into it that day.
Ughhh ... I know, right?
So, what the heck happened? How in the world could a slender young woman who could eat anything she wanted without gaining an ounce get to look like a fat cow? Holy crap ... that's ME and I still can hardly believe it!
Well, in a nutshell, what happened to me is low fat diets. And what got me on that low fat diet was too much processed convenience foods, too much refined flours, too much sugar, and not enough fat. That's right ... NOT ENOUGH FAT. If you want the detailed explanation of that, check out this book, Why We Get Fat: And What to Do About It by Gary Taubes.
He could have written that book about me and my weight gain adventures. Seriously. And if you are avoiding natural fats in your diet to keep your weight down, or to lose weight, you really need to read that book too.
Long ago, when I would find that a few pounds creeping on, or my jeans getting a bit snug, my go-to eating plan would be chicken, rice and broccoli for dinner every night for a week or two, and I would skip the ice cream and other treats too. It worked. Then. But then a good bit of weight showed up, and I had to get serious about it. My parents had gone on the American Heart Association Heart Healthy diet and lost an amazing amount of weight. So, I sort of followed suit, but I had no idea what I was doing. I just went for low fat ... if it had no fat, it was all good. Rice, pasta, pretzels, even Tootsie Rolls were allowed. But no butter, oil, cheese, ice cream and the like. I would lose some weight, go back to my regular habits, then it would come back. Lather, rinse, repeat. Factor in also that my lifestyle changed - I was no longer working on the ambulance, burning hundreds of calories every call, every shift. I was sitting at a desk all day ... blithely munching away on Tootsie Rolls and Bit O' Honeys all day, then going home and cooking a meal fit for a teenage boy. Plus ice cream for dessert ... low fat ice cream, that is.
So, five ... ten ... fifteen pounds crept on. Then when it became 20, 25 I became mildly concerned. But not really ... at the same time, I completely lost interest in dating. No, that's not quite right ... I became downright hostile towards the idea of being involved with anyone romantically. So I was fat, that just kept the jerks away from me.
Well, times and attitudes change, and the good Lord led me to a good man and that's all been written about before. But at the same time, I found myself caring very much about my appearance again, now that I had someone to look good for. We were engaged, and I was 40 pounds overweight. I was having so much fun being in love, I scarcely noticed that another 20 pounds crept on! In the 3 months leading up to the wedding, I busted my ass in the gym three nights a week, and I counted each and every gram of fat that crossed my lips. It was a carb free for all though. And I weight exactly the same on my wedding night as I did 3 months before. When I got the wedding pictures back, I wanted to die. I could not believe how gross I had gotten to be.
Emotionally devastating ... oh yeah. But I plugged on, following the recommendations for a healthy diet that would lead to weight loss as promoted by the Department of Health, the USDA, WebMD, my personal physician and just about every Tom, Dick and Harry that I would ask. Eat less, eat low fat foods, exercise more. I did as instructed and the scale remained right where it was. Eventually, I nearly gave up.
Then something happened that completely rocked my world (which is very private and personal, so don't ask ... ), and I knew that I had to do something and quickly. Everything I hold dear on this earth depended on my losing this gawd-awful blubber that had accumulated on my skinny self. Being somewhat OCD, I needed a highly structured plan that I could count on - today I will eat this, this and this. So, I got on the Medifast plan. It's like Nutrisystem - food is ordered and delivered to the house, five meals a day plus one "lean and green" meal that we cooked. Rich got on the plan too - as you can see from the wedding picture, he had a pound or two to lose too.
It worked, somewhat. My loss was very slow. The plan boasts an average of 3 to 5 pounds a week. I was losing less than 2. (Rich, on the other hand, was losing 5 to 8 pounds a week!) Though stressful, depressing and disheartening, I carried on. In 4 months, I have managed to lose about 30 pounds. That's still 30 more than I was in the first picture, but I was no longer obese, as classified by my BMI. My waist has gone from 38 inches to 30. I can wear size 8 jeans again, after being in 14s for the last couple of years. Light at the end of the tunnel, but still so far away ... and I was feeling like crap most days, with no energy, fighting the depression and general malaise. My skin broke out, hair is thinning, and other changes were taking place in various bodily systems that were disturbing at best, at times agonizing.
And then I came across Gary Taubes' book, and then another one, The Perfect 10 Diet: 10 Key Hormones That Hold the Secret to Losing Weight and Feeling Great-Fast!. Reading these, it finally all fell together and I figured out what had happened to me ... the low-fat diet, along with the processed, refined grains and carbs that acted together to wreck my metabolism and pile the weight on me. Even the Medifast diet is horrible, nutritionally speaking. Eating 800 calories a day, with less than 30 grams of fat, most of it engineered food and the majority of the protein coming from soy isolate protein is not good for any body. Mine is in full rebellion. The only good part is the weight I have lost, and that I have "detoxed" off of sugar and refined carbs.
I am going to start eating according to the information in these two books starting next week. Why wait until then, I don't know, other than I need time to plan and shop and reorganize my kitchen and life. I know now that what I have been doing has been all wrong ... totally wrong. I have been lucky in that I only put on weight. I could have become diabetic, developed cancer or serious heart disease. I already have heart arrhythmia and some blood imbalances with Vitamin D and iron. I hope it's not too late.
The Perfect 10 diet is one that I am familiar with ... eat whole, natural, unprocessed foods, including fats and oils. Carbs are not restricted, but eaten in moderation from vegetable, fruit and whole grain sources. Organic, preferably. Why familiar? Well, back when I was earth-mama with little babies, wearing Birkenstocks, keeping an organic garden, making all our bread myself from whole grain flours, buying our food from a whole-foods co-op, I lived that lifestyle ... and despite having one babe after another, eating as I pleased - from good, whole, natural foods - I lost pregnancy weight quickly and without even trying. And I stayed slim even after moving away from that way of eating for years ... until I started following the doctors and nutritionists recommendation to limit fats in my diet.
So here I am, 4 months ago and now ...
Check back later to see what happens next. Oh, and Rich's weight loss? He's blogging about it at his site ... go check it out.
Please read those books ... most likely, what you think you know about good nutrition and weight loss diets is all wrong, especially if you got it from the government. Seriously, what you don't know could kill you.
Posted by LissaKay on 02/01/11 at 11:32 PM in ~ Fitness and Diet ~ Food ~ Matters of the Heart ~ Personal
• (0) Comments • Pop Up • Permalink •
• (0) Comments • Pop Up • Permalink •
Monday, November 22, 2010
I want your text, baby ... or very serious undertakingsSo, two of Rich's daughters are expecting baby girls within a few weeks of each other this coming winter. They decided to have their baby shower together, today, while the out of town sister was here for Thanksgiving. We've been crazy busy with the bathroom renovation and generally getting the house ready for the holidays, and I hadn't had time to shop. So, I went today on my lunch break ... and sent a text to Rich to let him know that I did so.
I'm thinking our communication skills are a bit .... lacking ..
Me: I went shopping on my lunch hour ...
Him: What did you get?
Me: Just a few little things
Him: Like ... ?
Me: VERY little things
Him: Like ... ?
Me: Like ... little pink things
Him: 😊
(Can you see where this is going yet?)
Me: Like ... little tiny, soft pink things with bows and flowers and frilly stuff that makes grown women go SQUEEEE!!!
Him: How about grown men???
Me: Well, the ones around here (My team is all men, 'cept me, of course) generally went "Hmmmphf!"
Me: A couple rolled their eyes
Him: ????
(At this point, I knew we definitely had a failure to communicate ... )
(A number of minutes go by ... )
Me: What the heck were you thinking???
Him: Lacy frilly undertakings!
Him: Underthings!
Him: I hate predictive text
Me: (After picking myself up off the floor, wiping the tears from my eyes and catching my breath ... ) Well, either one works ...
Posted by LissaKay on 11/22/10 at 04:39 PM in ~ Home Life ~ Humor
• (0) Comments • Pop Up • Permalink •
• (0) Comments • Pop Up • Permalink •
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Husbands and Shopping - a Bad CombinationBeing still fairly newlywed, Rich and I like to spend as much time together as possible. He even accompanies me on shopping trips, although he does still balk at shoe shopping - but that's a story for another time. However, I may need to rethink the wisdom of letting him come with me, given how he is both very clever and easily bored. The management of one of those big box stores was not amused at his antics, and according to the letter I got, neither of us is welcome back in that store.
Here is the letter* ...
Over the past six months, your husband has caused quite a commotion in our store. We cannot tolerate this behavior and have been forced to ban both of you from the store. Our complaints against your husband are listed below and are documented by our video surveillance cameras:
1. June 15: He took 24 boxes of condoms and randomly put them in other people's carts when they weren't looking.
2. July 2: Set all the alarm clocks in Housewares to go off at 5-minute
3. July 7: He made a trail of tomato juice on the floor leading to the women's restroom.
4. July 19: Walked up to an employee and told her in an official voice, 'Code 3 in Housewares. Get on it right away'. This caused the employee to leave her assigned station and receive a reprimand from her Supervisor that in turn resulted with a union grievance, causing management to lose time and costing the company money.
5. August 4: Went to the Service Desk and tried to put a bag of M&Ms;on layaway.
6. August 14: Moved a 'CAUTION - WET FLOOR' sign to a carpeted area.
7. August 15: Set up a tent in the camping department and told the children shoppers he'd invite them in if they would bring pillows and blankets from the bedding department to which twenty children obliged.
8. August 23: When a clerk asked if they could help him he began crying and screamed, 'Why can't you people just leave me alone?' EMTs were called.
9.. September 4: Looked right into the security camera and used it as a mirror while he picked his nose.
10. September 10: While handling guns in the hunting department, he asked the clerk where the antidepressants were.
11. October 3: Darted around the store suspiciously while loudly humming the ' Mission Impossible' theme.
12. October 6: In the auto department, he practiced his 'Madonna look' by using different sizes of funnels.
13. October 18: Hid in a clothing rack and when people browsed through, yelled 'PICK ME! PICK ME!'
14. October 21: When an announcement came over the loud speaker, he assumed a fetal position and screamed 'OH NO! IT'S THOSE VOICES AGAIN!'
And last, but not least:
15. October 23: Went into a fitting room, shut the door, waited awhile, then yelled very loudly, 'Hey! There's no toilet paper in here.' One of the clerks passed out.
I just can't take him anywhere ....
*Yes, this was stolen from somewhere. It's still funny ... and can't you just see Rich doing many of these things?!
Monday, November 01, 2010
Turn Around ...Where are you going my little one, my little one
Where are you going, my baby, my own?
Turn around and you're two,
Turn around and you're four,
Turn around and you're a young girl going out of my door.
Turn around, turn around,
Turn around and you're a young girl going out of my door.
Where are you going, my little one, little one,
Little dirndls and petticoats, where have you gone?
Turn around and you're tiny,
Turn around and you're grown,
Turn around and you're a young wife with babes of your own.
Turn around, turn around,
Turn around and you're a young wife with babes of your own.
Friday, October 08, 2010
Do OverJust in case anyone reads this thing anymore, I have updated the software that runs the site, and in the process, I am cleaning up the server and getting rid of some old stuff that I don't need on here. I will probably redesign the site along the way and get a better defined focus, Stay tuned!
Thursday, June 17, 2010
God said YesThe Bible tells us that God loves our prayers. We are to pray to Him our praise and worship, tell Him the desires of our hearts, request guidance and strength in our daily lives, and ask that He speak to us. The Bible also tells us that God can and will perform miracles for us, even today - He confirms and attests to us His love and our salvation "by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will." (Heb 2:4)
For the first time in my life, I have found myself in need of a true miracle.
On Memorial Day, Rich's youngest son was in a car wreck. His Jeep slid on a rain-slick curve and ran off the road. He sustained a head injury, in addition to broken ribs, lacerated lung with hemo-pneumothorax, and a minor fracture of his ankle. After a 90 minute extrication, he was rushed to the nearest trauma center. In the ER, he was responding appropriately, smiling at his dad and laughing with his best friend. Due to the knock on the head and the fractured ribs, he was taken to the ICU for observation. Shortly after arriving there, his level of consciousness started to decline. An astute nurse saw this and soon, Luke was being put under heavy sedation, intubated and put on a ventilator. A CT scan showed bleeding in his head and he had signs of increased cranial pressure.
While more than a little concerned, I felt assured that God had this under control. Of course I was praying for healing and recovery for Luke. The possibilities they were speaking of were very dire - the name for the injury he had is Diffuse Axonal Injury. A bit of research on the term revealed a very grim prognosis. Of those who sustain this kind of brain injury, 90% will never wake up. Of those who do, 90% will have major cognitive and/or motor deficits. Of the rest of that 1% the injury results in minor to moderate disability. When I read this, I felt like I had been punched in the gut. I prayed harder.
Wednesday morning, after I spent much of the previous night in deep prayer, the CT scan was repeated. Praise God in Heaven - the damage turned out to be very minor, limited to a small part of the brain and best of all, was not progressing. While he still had sustained the damage from the bleed, it was small.
Our celebration that Luke would be OK was short-lived however. As they started to back down the paralytic that was keeping him still, they soon found that his lungs were not functioning very effectively. After only three days on the ventilator, he developed ARDS - acute respiratory syndrome. His lungs were stiff, filled with fluid and could not transfer oxygen effectively to his bloodstream. They had to keep him on the ventilator and let his lungs heal - but the Catch 22 is that being on the ventilator is what made his lungs sick in the first place.
Over the next week, his progress went from 3 steps forward and 2 steps back to 2 steps forward and 3 steps back. We continued praying - seeking God's face and His divine guidance and reassurance. Rich got some answers, but I still felt adrift and useless. My faith sustained, I continued having faith that Luke would still recover, and I focused on being there to support my husband while he was there for his children and family.
As the days turned into a week, and Luke made little to no progress, in my prayers, I asked God to show me what I needed to do. Two things kept coming to my mind ... the word "supplication" and the verse Jeremiah 29:11 - which happens to be my life verse: "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." To this I answered, "Guide me, Holy Spirit, to do the works commanded of me. Use me as you will."
Sunday evening, I was preparing to leave the hospital when we were called back to speak with the doctor. He gave us the news that we had hoped to never have to hear, that Luke was deteriorating and was headed to what was eventually going to be his final respiratory crisis. It could be days, it could be hours. But there was little else that could be done. But there was one hope - a special bed that would allow them to easily change his position to prone, and rotate from side to side and tilt up and down. The chances of this bed working were small, and the risks in moving him were great. It would take several hours for the bed to arrive, as there were only three in the region. I believe Rich knew that he had to go for the only chance we had - having already placed Luke in God's hands. With my support, he told the doctor to go for it. Get the bed. It was already on the way.
The doctor also told us that it would be reasonable to gather the entire family at that time - even the children who were far away. One daughter in Birmingham, one in California, and even the son deployed with the Army in Iraq. The calls went out and local family began gathering at the hospital within minutes.
And then I began praying. I was begging God to not take him, that we needed him here with us. I said, "Your will, Lord, not ours, but please hear our prayer that he stay here with us - healed, whole and healthy. Lord, Lord, Lord ... please don't take him! Have mercy on his father, his mother, his family, and most of all on his beloved Lindsey. Please don't take him, Lord ... DON'T!"
Even as I spoke with Rich and the rest of the family, that prayer repeated unceasing in my mind. Then we were called back to Luke's bedside. He was deteriorating faster than previously thought. Though his oxygen levels were good, he was not perfusing well, CO2 was building up and he was becoming acidotic. They needed to move him to the prone position right away. But this would be an additional move, and another big risk of causing an irreversible crisis.
We had a while to be with Luke while they prepared for the move. God came down and weighed on me heavily. Hardly thinking about it, I just did it ... I went to Luke's side and layed my hands on his chest, and then I prayed.
I prayed with every ounce of energy, every fiber of my soul, and with every bit of love in my heart. Now it seems as if in a dream, all I remember is repeating the prayer over and over, "Your will, Lord, not ours, but please hear our prayer that he stay here with us - healed, whole and healthy. Lord, Lord, Lord ... please don't take him! Have mercy on his father, his mother, his family, and most of all on his beloved Lindsey. Please don't take him, Lord ... DON'T! In the sweet name of our Glorious Lord Jesus Christ, I pray!" alternating with that supplication that was demanded of me, "Lord, I know I am unworthy, my prayers are but a whisper, but I come to You humbly begging for Your grace and favor. We need a miracle for this child of Yours, please hear me, Lord, and grant us this miracle. In His Name, Lord ... I beg of you!"
Tears washed from my eyes in great torrents, I was shaking and my legs quickly grew weak, but I knew I had to keep on. I had God's ear and I meant to shout our pleas into it. The nursing team was moving around me, I was barely aware of their presence, yet I was taking it all in, every detail. One nurse's aid, despite the gravity of the situation, made jokes and laughed. I prayed for grace and compassion for her. I prayed for divine guidance of the medical team - "Lord, be here with us, work through the nurses, guide their hands so that no harm comes to Luke!"
Rich and I stood across the hall as they moved him, holding each other, still praying. And then it was done. His numbers were bad, and we all held our breath waiting for him to recover. The prayers were unceasing - "A miracle, Lord ... oh please grant us this miracle!" And slowly, but surely, Luke's numbers crept back up ... but we would still have to face the move, and risks, again when the bed arrived later that morning.
Although I was able to speak to others, I remained in this prayerful state. We finally retired to the family lounge to try to sleep, but I could not relax, and so I prayed.
They started calling other families back for doctors rounds at 7:30. They called us last, around 8:30. The bed was there and they were going to start moving him soon. It was a new shift of nurses by then, and Luke had held on in his face down position quite well. We had a glimmer of hope that the bed would be beneficial.
Again, as they prepared, I prayed with my hands on Luke. The same prayers, with some thanksgiving for the hope we had received ... the same physical and total emotional and mental involvement, with same dreamlike state as before. This time though, when the team was ready to start the move, they stopped ... and then they circled around Luke with us, we joined hands and were lead in a beautiful prayer by Jeanie, the clinical specialist.
It would take about an hour to move Luke, and due to the size of the bed, and close quarters in the room, they had us leave the ICU and return to the family lounge. As we did, a strange and wonderful sense of peace settled over me, and I knew in my heart that Luke was going to be OK.
A little while later, we went back in to see Luke in this huge bed ... hanging upside down, gently cradled in this crazy looking contraption, Luke began healing ... REALLY healing. Within a couple more hours, his oxygen was up at near normal levels, and his CO2 was dropping. His fever, though encased in the bed without the cooling blanket, came down to 101. By every measurement and number, he was doing so much better.
Three days later, as I write this, he has improved magnificently. The medical team is astounded. We again speak of WHEN Luke wakes up, not IF. The family that was called in from out of town, and out of country, is not here for the worst a family can face, but a celebration.
We are seeing a miracle unfold here ... the doctors tell us that Luke could wake up with cognitive deficits and possible long term or permanent damage to his lungs, which could limit his activities. But I firmly believe, and have faith that when God starts a miracle, he finishes it. Luke is going to be OK, really OK.
There have been hundreds of people called to pray for Luke, to ask God for this miracle. Hundreds of people obeyed that call. Their lives have been blessed. We are seeing this miracle. We asked, He answered ...
God said "Yes"
Posted by LissaKay on 06/17/10 at 03:38 AM in ~ Christianity ~ Family
• (0) Comments • Pop Up • Permalink •
• (0) Comments • Pop Up • Permalink •

subset: commoncrawl


text:
National Parks in Thailand Natural Wonders
There are over 140 national parks in Thailand including and many marine national parks, unique beauty, flora and fauna and amazing waterfalls.
Hong Kong Skyscrapers Timeline of tallest buildings
Jardine House, Bank of China Tower, Central Plaza, Two International Finance Centre, International Commerce Centre
Hua Hin vs Nha Trang Which Is Better?
Nha Trang is a coastal resort city in Vietnam and Hua Hin the oldest beach resort in Thailand.
Attractions in Koh Samui You Should Visit
Thailand's second largest cosmopolitan island offers plenty of nightlife, amazing beaches, viewpoints, lies in the Gulf of Thailand.
Peak Tram in Hong Kong Island Fanicular railway in Hong Kong
A very popular tourist attraction, a historic ride on the Victoria Peak, offers great views over the city.
Top Things To Do in Bangkok named world's favourite city
Bangkok, world's most popular city for travellers, the capital and most populous city of the Kingdom of Thailand.
Waterfalls of Thailand Relaxation Nature Sounds
Adventure and ecotourism, explore the waterfalls in Thailand and get in touch with nature.
Tropical Beaches in Thailand Holidays for Couples & Families
There are hundreds of beautiful tropical beaches in Thailand to discover, perfect places to relax.FreeCurrencyRates.com


text:
I Believe the Children are Our Future
"Teach them well and LET them lead the way,
Show them all the [juvenile delinquency] they possess insiiiiide…"
Because every four-year-old is searching for a hero, that's why. And if that hero can bus' a cap with his 9 mil (check the photo), so much the better.
Play on, Lil' Derrick: play on.
Thanks to Mary B. for pointing this one out over on Photo Basement.


text:
"Martial arts" is a general term for different traditions of combat practice that exist in many cultures around the world. These traditions teach a combination of self-defense, competition, mental discipline and personal development. Martial arts classes at the Y focus on self-confidence, spatial awareness, coordination and rhythm. Kids learn techniques for kicks, punches and blocks. All classes are grouped by age and ability. See the Ridgedale Y sports schedule
- Classes: each eight-week session is $65 for members and $90 for non-members.
Questions? Contact our Customer Service Center at 612-230-9622.
Session 5, October 21 - December 22
Online class registration is open September 3 through November 4.
Tips and preparation for parents and guardians
- You can also register in person at Member Services
- Have your child bring water and wear active wear and tennis shoes
- Each child will receive a Y T-shirt
- The Y will provide all necessary equipment
- Arrive on time
- Have your child use the restroom before class begins
- Remain in the building throughout the entire class
- Show a photo ID or driver's license as you enter the building if you're not a member of the Y


text:
Northern Kentucky Youth Hockey
Northern Kentucky Youth Hockey Association is affiliated with USA Hockey the amateur hockey association of the United States and Midwest Youth Hockey League (MYHL).
NKYHA has an active membership of approximately 250 members.
Our Mission
Our Mission is to provide the youth of the Greater Cincinnati Metropolitan Area, the highest quality youth sports program. The Association believes that participation in team sports can be an important ingredient in healthy youth maturation. Our programs are designed to generate self-esteem and good sportsmanship through skills development in a positive social environment. Above all, we try to assure that youth hockey is fun!
Levels of Play
House league play is organized to achieve a learning and recreational atmosphere featuring equal ice time for all and intramural competition among players of similar abilities.
Our Travel teams offer players with stronger skills a more intense experience and the opportunity to compete at higher levels.
Organization Staffing & Support
As a volunteer organization, NKYHA is totally dependent on the commitment of parents and others to fill all coaching and administrative positions. NKYHA also relies heavily on the generosity and support of parents and sponsors to keep our programs affordable to all. In this regard the comments and suggestions of players and parents are always welcome.
2015 - 2016 NKYHA Contacts
President -
Vice President -
Treasurer -
Secretary & Communications -
atrick Hijduk
Coaching & Education Director -
rank Banham
Registrar -
egan Craig
Website -
Hockey Commissioner -
Fundraising Director -
hannon Day
Marketing Director -
House Program Director -
New Privacy Policy


text:
About Justin
I always wondered the process we were going to use to ban books in an Orwellian society, now I realize that it it's going to be through the right to be forgotten.
That depends on your definition of the word 'is'
Did I hear that correctly?
Go insane
I started thinking about this is terms of Watergate, the actions taking and the results.
Nixon spied on one group of people and covered it up for 2ish years. It may have been for more personal reasons, but the line of national security was used to try and justify it. We already know that really wasn't the case.
Bush and Obama spied on the entire nation and who knows how many foreigners for 7 years. It may not have been for as many personal reasons that Nixon had, but if not already, it was only a matter of time before this program would have been used to do much more than Nixon ever thought possible.
Nixon was run out of office for his actions, I would hope for a similar resolution to this scandal for anybody that did not try and stop it.
All of a sudden the guy sitting in the corner, wearing a tin foil hat doesn't look quite as crazy anymore.
We don't blame Sports games for making Athletes, or racing games for driving behavior, or Mario for people jumping on Turtles, so lets not go blaming violence on video games either.
In Microsoft's effort to jump on the Mobile bandwagon, they seem to have fallen off the PC one and goten run over by Google and Apple
I like the idea of breaking out the key topics and not placing everybody into a small selection of buckets. So on IT and IP they follow the Pirate Party, Healthcare they are more CDU, economics they agree more with CSU. This removes the party lines and doesn't make it this side vs that side. It lets the members express themselves and truly represent the people rather then having to follow a stance because they are a member of a certain party.
I am not sure I really belief the line "but votes will trump lobbying every single time". If this is true, why ins't TPP dead, why are we hearing about a son of SOPA, why is ACTA being rushed through in the countries that accept it?
The public spoke up when it came to internet regulations, but it just keeps getting pushed. If they truly cared about the votes, they would step up and stop any more BS before it got started. Maybe even try to pass laws that go the other way.
I get the feeling that the Content industries are focusing more time on things like ACTA and SOPA, so stuff like this is getting through. Then all of a sudden you will just wake up one morning to see ACTA on steroids has been passed and is now law.
If each side is so serious about creating jobs, why don't they look to remove one of the biggest barriers to entry for the start-ups that actually create jobs?
There are people that complain they don't get the same opportunities, but when you try to teach them the basic skills to improve their situation, they complain that it is too hard and want to make it easier. My message to you is that you get what you ask for. If you don't want to put the time into some basic math, fine, but than you also can't complain when you don't get the same opportunities as someone who did put the time in. It's like Thomas Edison said, "Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work."
Hey RIAA, if you think this is such a good idea, you go first to show us it works.
Maybe they found a blog they really like reading and had to catch up on everything they missed
Being an American Citizen I would like to say congratulations to the US for spending so much time and money on an agreement with itself. Nothing like ignoring the real issues in your country to abuse your power and sign an agreement that nobody wants. I am glad that our leaders have their shit in the right order.
How about instead of saying DOJ, we call out the person that is making these terribly decisions? There is a person or group behind every decision. It is not really the DOJ that is making this call, but rather a bunch of out of touch old men. So lets start making them feel a little pain for being terrible at their job.
If they were truly innovating he wouldn't of had to show up for this meeting. Also, there don't really seem to be any changes for the end user actually implemented by the RIAA. so what are they doing to innovate??
I am cutting the cable because I am tired of watching commercials and them taking up as much time as the show. So by their logic, that makes commercials illegal.
This literally reminds me that I need to call DirecTV and tell them to stick it.
I look at it this way, I don't watch your crap now because I don't want to sit through 10 min of commercials to see a 20 min show. so either I will watch your shows later when they don't take up as much time, or I am just not going to watch them and forget about you. I guess you really want me to forget about you. I'm OK with that.
If you think the general population got it wrong, the next time something like this comes up, please take the time to educate the people rather then trying to rush it through hoping nobody notices.
If you are trying to pull a quick one over on the public, please understand there is not going to be time to correct all the misinformation that is out there. That is partly your fault for moving it so fast.


text:
Regional Policy Issue Forum #1
Mental Health America convened its inaugural issue forum on Thursday, March 7, at the National Press Club on Critical Mental Health Issues and the Affordable Care Act Implementation. After a brief welcome by Mental Health America's CEO, Dr. Wayne Lindstrom, moderator Mary Agnes Carey from Kaiser Health News moderated an issue forum that included several policy experts. Download the full Executive Summary of the Meeting.
|Reggie Williams addresses the crowd at the issue forum.
Joan Alker, Co-Executive Director at the Georgetown Center for Children and Families, presented on Medicaid as the backbone of heatlhcare expansion. She walked the attendees through a short tutorial on why Medicaid expansion, or lack thereof, will have a great impact on the range of benefits offered - more so than the types of exchange states chosen (i.e. state-run, state-federal partenrship, or federally-run). Joan Alker's full presentation is available for download: Medicaid Expansion.
Reggie Williams, Vice President at Avalere Health Policy and Business Consultants and Mental Health America Board Member, detailed the continually evolving heatlh care landscape, covering Health Exchanges, Medicaid Expansion, and insurance reform. He discussed higher cost sharing for consumers and new protections in the changing model. Reggie's full presentation is available for download: Health Exchanges.
Moe Keller, Vice President of Public Policy at MHA Colorado and former Colorado State Senator, outlined the steps that Colorado has taken to become a natinoal leader in ACA implementation. Moe discussed the forethought and planning, assisted by grants from the governor's office and the Department of Health and Human Services and supported by the Colorado legislature, that will have the state's exchange ready to begin enrollment on October 1. Moe's full presentation is available for download: Benchmark Plans and Essential Health Benefits.
Debbie Plotnick, Senior Director of State Policy at Mental Health America, presented on behalf of two other scheduled speakers who could not make the session due to the weather. She offered a brief history of several evidence-based peer-run programs and detailed how states have added peer services to their Medicaid Plans. Her full presentation is available for download: Peer Services.
Due to inclement weather, two presenters were not able to attend the forum. They provided their materials for the use of our group.
Peter Ashenden, Director of Consumer Affairs for Optum's Behavioral Solutions Business, presented on Peer Services.
Harvey Rosenthal, Executive Director of the New York State Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services (NTAPRS) presented on Medicaid Managed Care/Community Inclusion.
Mary Agnes Carey from Kaiser Health News moderated the session, including a spirited question and answer session that covered a wide range of topics.
The Issue Forum was sponsored by Takeda and Lundbeck.
Mental Health America
Enroll America
Kaiser Health News
For more information about how you can get involved with the Regional Policy Council or attend an upcoming issue forum, contact Debbie Plotnick firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
In July of this year, as part of our move to San Francisco, K and I, along with our friend J, drove from Washington DC to the West Coast. Driving across America is one of the best travel experiences I've had. America is a huge country, as wide as Australia but with geological diversity beyond that contained by our island.
North America is a young continent and it feels this way, both culturally and, especially as you head West, geographically. The land bucks and meanders, evidence of the slow but epic collision between the East and West coasts, the glacial grinding of the last ice age, volcanic activity and tectonic ruptures.
And as is true in many human fields America has numerous biggest, oldest, and oddest, from 4,000 year-old trees to canyons too large to comprehend. The country has an epic vibe to it, which perfectly suits the objection of driving from one side of a continent to the other, spurred on by dreams of success and adventure.
And across this great land sprawls the America nation, ugly and garish as it often looks from the perspective of the Interstate this human culture teems with a diversity and uniqueness to mirror the continent it was forged on.
What "breakfast included" looked like at our motel in Clinton, OK
Driving South-West from Washington you're struck by how lush and bountiful the land is. It's an agrarian idyll of tobacco and wheat fields when it's not what my father calls "house farms", farmland which now sprouts only identikit McMansions, already a relic of the housing boom which produced them, ill-suited for the coming century.
Once we slipped into the Shenandoah Mountains we were treated to a different perspective, of how this all must have looked five hundred years ago; dense shady woodlands where the awnings meet in a swaying contact dance, the shrouded forest flour a soft layer of decomposing plant matter. We camped at Peaks of Otter campground which a friend had recommended. It was genuinely lovely and, on this Sunday night, only about 10% full. It was my first experience of camping in an American National Park and I was very impressed.
The camp grounds were spaced out so that even when full campers wouldn't be on-top of each other. Each plot had flat ground for one or two tents, fire pit, table, bench and a spot for a car. Everything you need. It's not the same as camping in genuinely isolated locations with no-one around of course, but for car camping on the move it's perfect.
From Virginia we moved into Tennessee where we saw the obligatory country band in Nashville before moving on to Memphis where our priorities were: 1) Gracelands (at whose camp grounds we would be staying); 2) The National Civil Rights Museum and; 3) BBQ. Given that we were camped at Gracelands we decided to strike out for the Museum first, optimistically hoping that there might be enough time to see it and get back for a tour of the Mansion. The National Civil Rights Museum is contained in the Lorraine Motel, where on April 4, 1968 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated as he stood upon the balcony.
The balcony where Dr. MLK Jr was killed.
"I may not get there with you..." - from MLK's speech the night before his assassination.
It's a pretty reverent place, and somewhat overwhelming to dwell on the fact that here one of the great leaders of last century was struck down, and what might have been possible had he not been. It was also, unfortunately, closed, as, it turns out, it always is on Monday's. We had a wander around the neighbourhood, stopped for a smoothie, then headed back to Gracelands, just in time to miss the final bus over the mansion by, I swear, one minute. And despite the mansion just being across the road and us already having bought tickets to the tour there was no way for us to catch up.
Resigned, we took our refund and comforted ourselves with thoughts of the delicious meal we were going to spend it on. A friend who previously lived there had recommenced Rendezvous as the "best ribs in Memphis" (I bet this is a good way to start an argument in Tennessee) and we were keen to check it out. I had begun to feel the worst for wear, even after a nap, but we were determined to make something of our visit to Memphis and so made our way downtown. No good, I tried to eat but only felt worst and had to get the ribs in a carry-out box and rush back to camp. What a disaster. Tourist fail.
Tennessee loves them some BBQ. Just ask George.
There was no chance to try any of this again the next day as we were picking J up from Little Rock Airport that morning. With a third driver we had a more ambitious schedule planned but this didn't stop us detouring off the forsaken interstate and through the fantastically kitsch-but-run-down town of Hot Springs. We spent one night in the best value roadside motel in Clinton, OK, then across the Texas Panhandle in a single push and onwards to Taos, New Mexico.
Numerous people in DC had warned me about driving across the Texas Panhandle. "It's so big and boring" they would say. First of all, it's not big. From Oklahoma to New Mexico was about a five hour drive. Half of Australia is roughly as featureless as Texas, four times longer, and I've driven across that four times. But more to the point, I didn't think it was boring. Or, rather, I didn't mind that it was boring. I used to really enjoy those drives from Sydney to Perth and back with my family, and the monotonous terrain was part of what I enjoyed. I've always really liked deserts from this reason. I find them really relaxing, it feels like you can unpack your brain into all that space, allow your thoughts to meander with less visual distraction.
America is almost unbelievably fertile and dense. Town after town, city after city rolls by the Interstate, wheat, corn, tobacco or some other crop usually stretching to the horizon in-between. Everywhere people. Driving across Australia you can literally drive all day while seeing only four gas stations and 16 letterboxes, standing next to driveways that stretch off further than you can see. There's nothing that approaches this desolation in America, not even in the deserts of the West Coast, and in the Eastern half of the country you're only rarely out of site of buildings unless you're in a National Park or reserve.
After Texas we headed north through New Mexico, magically arriving above our destination, Taos, just at sunset, as the last rays of the day streaked the clouds orange and made the walls of the mountains around us glow red. It was lovely.
As our eyes became accustomed to the gloom we realized that the plateau below us, upon which Taos sits, was not solid. A darker area slowly revealed itself to be a massive gash in the landscape. The Taos Gorge impressed us very much at the time, a single shark defile into an otherwise flat mesa spanned by a stark metal bridge. It seemed huge to us, although soon it would be dwarfed by much grander canyon. The desolate plain, the sudden rent in the earth, the simple old bridge, it all had a post-apocalyptic air about it and, indeed, I soon found out from a local that it featured in a scene in Terminator Salvation:
Taos itself is a lovely bohemian town filled with art galleries. The center of town featured large squares, parks and narrow streets with side walks. It was very social and walkable, people sitting in outdoor cafes, walking their dogs or chatting in shop doorways. It was the opposite of 90% of the towns we had seen, where all the action was in the strip malls on the outskirts of town, the shops pushed back from the road by the huge car parks, designed to be accessed only by driving, each mall indistinguishable from the others except for the exact composition of fast food joints and chain stores. The downtown, when we saw them, were often boarded up and near-deserted.
We took our first day off of the trip and wandered around town. It was really nice to not be in a rush and to have nowhere in particular to be. We had great margharita's and watched Lyrics Born perform a free concert in the park.
The next morning we had a look at the Taos Pueblo, a World Heritage site which had been continuously occupied for over 1,000 years and is a gorgeous maze of semi tumbled-down but still lived-in adobe dwellings. Then we were away on a beautiful and epic drive (our longest of the trip) to the Grand Canyon, through Northern New Mexico and Northeast Arizona. The scenery was incredible. At last we were seeing more and more open space, with only the occasional small town to interrupt our view. The first six hours were through steep mountain ranges covered in pines, past lakes and boulders. The second half it was red soil and tabletop Mesa's, the landscape of the classic Wild West films.
The Grand Canyon is really big. I mean, really big. Huge. You could drop a whole bunch of other big things in there and have plenty of space left. I mean, it's really epic. I don't think it would be possible to be disappointed by the Grand Canyon. The scale sends your mind reeling; it's impossible to comprehend. The gradients of colour and terraced cliff faces are stunningly beautiful and absolutely mesmerizing.
We arrived at around midnight during a full moon and first saw the canyon basked in its dim glow. Even lacking the depth and contrast of daylight it was extraordinary. There was no-one around, just us and the wind on the edge of a silent void. We camped for all of three hours, getting up at 4am to get in position for sunrise. It was an incredible experience to watch the sun peek over the cliffs at exactly 5.14am and colour slowly return to the canyon walls. There were only about a half dozen others there and we all sat in silence and watched it in awe. Truly a highlight of the journey.
5.24am, South Rim of the Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon is surprisingly well-managed. Unlike the Niagara Falls (on the Canadian side mind you) which is a scrum of casinos and hotels right next to the main attraction, jostling for water views, and massive tour bus after massive tour bus disgorging tourists right on the spot, many of the best lookouts are only accessible by the free shuttle service run by the park, putting a cap on numbers even at the busiest periods (although creating lines at some bus stops). As with elsewhere the National Park camp grounds were well laid-out and maintained. Impressive.
From the Grand Canyon we drove to Las Vegas for a forgettable night in a casino then on for what would be the best day's drive of the trip: Reno to the Sierra Nevada's via Death Valley.
This is a drive that really sums up the incredible extremes and experiences of America, taking us past the lowest place in North America (282 ft/86 meters below sea level in Death Valley) and then, two hours later, the highest place in the lower 48 states (Mt Whitney in the Sierra Nevada range, 14,494 ft/4,418 meters). We would go within a handful of miles to the oldest organism on the planet, the 4,700 year-old Ancient Bristlecone Pine and the world's largest tree's, the 300 ft-tall giant sequoia's.
Death Valley is also where the hottest temperature was ever recorded in America, 134F/56C, in 1913. It was a mere 118F/48.5C the day we were there. It was like stepping into an oven, my mouth dried instantly and sweat disappeared almost as quickly as it could form. It was a dry, relentless heat, which sat like a blanket over the stark white desert. We experienced the heat in full by following the instructions of a sign which suggested turning the air conditioning off so as not to risk overheating the engine. I half expected a "just kidding, welcome to Death Valley" sign 10 miles down the road but it never came. The terrain alternated from folded rock hills to salt flats to sand dunes, with an oasis or two adding patches of green to the bleached landscape. It was very beautiful, and I felt thrilled to have had the genuinely new experience of experiencing such intense heat.
Coming out of Death Valley you go from below sea level, up and over a 7,000 ft pass, back to near sea level as you cross a flat valley then over another, even higher pass, through a pass in the well-named and seemingly-lifeless White Mountains only to see the Sierra Nevada's, a line of mountains all over 10,000 ft marching North-South before us, blocking all progress to the West. It's a wild and exhilarating drive, full of hairpin turns, sheer drop-offs and epic views.
We turn North, shadowing the eastern flanks of the mountains. The nearest pass to the West was 150 miles to the North, through Yosemite National Park. We spent two nights at the Big Pine Creek campground, not far from Bishop, nestled in the folds of the Sierra Nevada's. The Western slopes of the range is lusher and more famous with Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks alongside it. The Eastern side is in the rain shadow so the slopes are largely bare, the vegetation more hardy and modest. But looking up from our campsite to the snow caps of the mountains directly above us, an ice melt-fed stream absolutely smashing its way down the valley fold alongside us, it was more than beautiful-enough.
We had our second day off here, going for a hike, taking refreshing dips in the freezing-cold stream, playing with circus toys, reading and napping. It was very relaxing knowing we were within an easy drive of our destination and the weather was perfect, warm with a breeze by day, cool enough to enjoy the fire by night.
Finally our journey was coming to an end. J had a 2pm flight leaving from SFO and we were flying to Australia to get our new visas that very night. Even this final drive was filled with delights. Seeing more of the Sierra Nevada's on our way North, going West across Yosemite (where I saw beavers!) and crossing the agricultural middle of California, seeing grape, orange and wheat fields. Then onto a 10-lane freeway and into San Francisco we swept. We had crossed 9 states and the District of Columbia, driving over 3,500 miles in 11 days. I'm so glad I was able to do the great American road trip while I was here and see some of the parts of the country I've only ever flown over. I'd absolutely recommend the drive to anyone who has the time to enjoy it. I only wish we'd had twice as long!
You can see a larger collection of photos here.


text:
(Reuters) - General Electric Co plans to intensify research focusing on complex energy projects such as waterless fracking and gas turbine efficiency by earmarking an additional $10 billion through 2020 for its "ecoimagination" budget.
The commitment, which represents roughly two years' research spending for the manufacturing giant, comes as General Electric responds to new opportunities created by the U.S. energy boom.
"The reserves are here. The potential is here," Chief Executive Jeff Immelt said on Monday, describing how new drilling technologies have unlocked vast oil and gas reserves.
Energy companies need help reaching fossil fuels but also bringing them to markets and GE can offer that know-how, the executive said.
"There's just technical intensity that is going into these industries," he said at a Bloomberg energy event in Washington.
Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, has revolutionized energy development but the technique requires huge volumes of water to rattle oil and gas from deep underground.
The method is controversial as landowners and communities raise concerns about the safety of drinking water in energy patches and GE is trying to develop drill techniques that use gas rather than water, executives said.
Energy is the fastest growth area for GE as the global manufacturer works to become a dominant supplier of equipment and services to oil, natural gas and alternative power companies.
While GE doesn't forecast what it plans to spend on its main capital budget in future years, the new commitment gives investors a clue as to what the company's priorities will be into the next decade.
The "ecoimagination" project, which was formed in 2005 to broadly focus on sustainability and other environmental issues and has cost nearly $15 billion, had been set to expire next year. Executives are extending it to 2020 with the additional $10 billion.
While the overall goals of the project will remain, a larger percentage of the funds will go to energy-related projects, an acknowledgment of where Immelt and other executives see the future of the company Thomas Edison founded in 1892.
"We have a very broad, long-standing commitment to energy," said Mark Little, GE's chief technology officer and head of global research.
As part of the new focus, GE will study with Norway's Statoil how to use carbon dioxide (CO2) in hydraulic fracturing - a process that mixes more than 2 million gallons of water per well with chemicals and sand to extract oil and natural gas.
The energy industry's copious use of water has put it into conflict with some residents in Texas, New Mexico and other arid states, and many companies have been trying to find ways to curb fracking's use of water, looking at using CO2 and even propane.
While CO2 fracking is not economical today, the companies hope to find a way to collect CO2 at the wellhead, recycle it, use it to frack again, then collect the CO2 and repeat the process, Little said.
"Ideally, we'd have a virtuous cycle going on," he said.
A key challenge will be to help the CO2 carry proppant, a type of sand that holds open the cracks in rock so oil and natural gas can escape, much like water does in current methods.
GE also wants to boost the efficiency of its natural gas-powered turbines to 65 percent from today's 62 percent. The company believes its existing research into jet engine efficiency could help significantly reach this goal, Little said.
The company plans to study how to make wind turbine blades cheaper and more efficient through the use of different composite materials, as well as expand its "CNG In A Box" product, which lets natural gas producers compress the fuel directly at the well to be used locally in engines.
The "ecoimagination" project is part of GE's larger research and development budget, worth roughly $5 billion to $6 billion per year.
A movement into energy is not new for GE, which last year bought Lufkin, aiming to sell the company's oilfield pumps in international shale fields and collect data to help oil producers become more efficient.
GE has also become of the world's largest wind turbine manufacturers since it bought Enron's wind business in bankruptcy.
(Additional reporting by Patrick Rucker in Washington and Ed McAllister in New York; Editing by Terry Wade, Leslie Adler and Bernarrd Orr)


text:
BIANCA brings you this set of towels that will be a valuable pick for your bathroom accessories. Made from premium quality fabric, this set of towels will be extremely soft against your skin. The set includes Seven towels that will surely be a valuable pick for you. Placing the towels in your washroom will make a stylish addition to it. This set of towels has been designed in a way that it will absorb the water from your skin in no time.
Wash Care


text:
Don't forget we have the school photographers in Mon 23rd Sept 2019
Translate / Traduire / Übersetzen / Tłumaczyć / Išversti / Tulkot / Traducir
Home Page
Website Menu
About Us
Headteachers Welcome
Nottingham Schools Trust
Learning Behaviours
School Improvement
School Improvement Plan 2016-2017
School Improvement Plan 2015-2016
School Improvement Plan for Pupils 2015-2016
School Improvement Plan 2014-2015
School Improvement Plan for pupils 2014-2015
Who's Who
The School Day
SMSC Development
Contact Details
Key Information
GDPR- General Data Protection Regulations
Our Vision
Statutory Information we publish on our website
Our Curriculum
Curriculum Organisation: Whole School Long term overview
Our Curriculum: Year Group Long term Overviews of all subjects
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
Year 5
Year 6
Reading at Henry Whipple
Reading and Phonics in Foundation
Reading and Phonics in Key Stage 1
Reading in Key Stage 2
Forest Schools
Quotes from Year 6
Learning Away
EYFS information for parents
Music Information
New Primary Curriculum - Government Documents
Admission Arrangements
SEND information
Challenge Partners
Performance Data
Year 2 Phonics re takes
Year 1 Phonics
Key Stage 1
Key Stage 2
Key Stage 2 2017
Key Stage 1 and Phonics 2017
EYFS Foundation Stage 2017
Key Stage 2 Data July 2016
Key Stage 1 Data July 2016
Progress Our Children Make
Key Stage 1 Performance Data 2015
Progress Our Children Made
Key Stage 2 Performance Data 2015
Key Stage One Performance Data 2014
Progress our children make
Ofsted Data Dashboard
Key Stage Two Performance Data
Progress our children make
Ofsted Data Dashboard
School Performance Tables
Sports Funding
Pupil Premium
Class pages
A new year in Foundation 1
Other learning
Creative Learning
Phonics, reading and writing.
Foundation 2
Year 1
Year 2
Science Learning
Maths learning
Octagon Investigation
Subtracting January 2019
Addition and Subtraction
Year 3
Science Learning
Autumn term learning
Year 4
Year 5
Year 6
Free School Meals
Parent Consultations
Term Dates
Letters home - Autumn Term: 1st September - 21st December 2015
Letters home - Spring Term: 4th January - 1st April 2016
Letters home - Summer Term: 18th April - 26th July 2016
Foundation Letters
Supporting your childs well being and emotional health
E Safety
Advice for parents for children using social media
Pupil Voice- E Safety
Our Curriculum
Safer Internet Day 2015
Useful Websites
Useful Information
Advice on Parental locks for technologies
Ofsted Parent View
School Uniform
School Meals
Childcare Provision
Well Being and Emotional Health
Topic Teams
Miss Keetley - JLT
Mrs Tudor - Weaving
Mr Catchpole - Landscapes
Mrs Duryea - Arts and Crafts
Miss Lenton - Artists from Around the World
Miss Clarke - Team Games
Mrs Weightman - Card Making
Mrs Gunn - Coding
Miss Eaton - Social Games
Healthy Food and Living
Mrs Winter - Board Games
Mrs Chambers - Sewing
Mr O'Leary - Woodwork
Mrs Gordon - Music and Rhythm
Mrs Chambers- Performing Arts
Mrs Duryea- French
Miss Eaton- Community Champions
Mrs Hodgson- Acomplished Authors
Mrs Weightman- Woodland Wonders
Mr Catchpole- Science Curiosity
Mrs Morse- Eager Engineers
Mrs Gunn- Cooking
Mrs Winter- Digital Dynamos
Mr O'Leary- Girls Team Games
Miss Eaton- Reading
Mrs Weightman- Gardening and Growing
Mrs Mariott- Sketching
Mrs Hall- Movement and Music
Miss Mathers- Athletics
Mrs Chambers - Cooking and healthy eating
Mrs Hodgson- Famous Buildings
Mrs Winter- Famous Artists
Mrs Duryea- Team Building
Mrs Burgess - Get Active
Mr Catchpole- Watercolours
Mrs Weightman-
Miss Mathers-
Mrs Hodgson-
Mr Catchpole-
Mrs Rai-
Mrs Chambers-
Mrs Duryea- Zumba and Fitness
Mr O'Leary- Poetry Slam
Mrs Gunn- Sign Language
Miss Eaton- Cooking
Growing and Gardening- Mrs Hodgson
Debating- Mrs Rai
'The News'- Mrs Weightman
Cooking- Mrs Gunn
Drama- Miss Eaton
Photography- Mr Catchpole
Construction- Mr Pollicott
Dance- Miss Mathers
Curiosity- Mr O'Leary
Circuit Training- Mrs Duryea
Road To Rio
Miss Sanghera- Languages
Miss Eaton- Model Making
Mrs Shaw-First Aid Skills
Miss Gardner- Basketball
Mrs Lambley- Cooking
Miss Mathers- Film Making
Mrs Hodgson- Photography
Mrs Weightman- Gardening
Mrs Gunn- Curiosity Club
Miss Buckley- Reading for Pleasure
Mrs Marriott - Water Colour painting
Mr Catchpole- School of Rock Music Appreciation
Mrs Winter - Puzzles and Logic
Week 1- Coloured Shapes team challenge and logic apps!
Puzzles and Games
Week 3
Mrs Shaw- Dance
Mrs Duryea - Art Detectives
Miss Mathers - Drama
Mr Catchpole- 3 D Models
Mr Luck- Film
Mr O'Leary- Blogging
Miss Gardner- Board games
Mrs O'Leary- Music around the world
Miss Sanghera- Art
Mrs Gunn- Cooking
Mrs Marriott- Sketching
Mrs Weightman - Gardening and Growing
Mrs Weightman- Forest Schools
Mr Thorne- Fitness and PE
Miss Bonser- Dance
Mrs Duryea- QR codes and Reading
Mr Catchpole- Film Club
Mrs Marriott- Crochet
Mrs Hodgson- Drama
Miss Mathers- Mad Science
Mrs O'Leary- Cooking Around the World
Mr O'Leary- Blogging and Outdoor Learning
Miss Sanghera- Teamwork Skills
Mrs Winter- Art around the World
Week 1 - Navajo Native American Sand Symbols
Week 2- Japanese Art
Week 3- Australian Aborignal Art
Cooking- Mrs Winter - Summer 2
Teamwork- Mr O'Leary- Summer 2
Textiles- Miss Sanghera- Summer 2
Check out our hard work! :)
Painting- Mrs Hodgson- Summer 2
Coding- Mr Catchpole- Summer 2
Animation- Miss Clarke- Summer 2
Creating our storyboards and models
DT- Mr Pollicot- Summer 2
Forest Schools- Mrs Weightman- Summer 2
Gardening and Growing- Mrs Thornton- Summer 2
Design and Technology
Sewing our fruit and vegetables, we are one very healthy group! :)
3D Sculpture
Forest School
Science Leaders
Junior Leadership Team
1st Meeting September 23rd 2016
JLT action plan for 2016 2017
Primary Parliament
Final Speakers Council Application
Speaker Council Awards - Final application Monday 16th May
Equipment Update- from your discussions with Mrs Burgess
What equipment would we like? May 2016
JLT actions for Summer 2016
Meeting Minutes 27th April 2016
Meeting Minutes 21st April 2016
For info of JLT between October and April please click on our old blogpage
Champions of Change Planning Meeting Thursday 8th October 2015
Our First Meeting- 11th September 2015
Primary Parliment - Photos!
Primary Parliment - June 2015
Red Nose Day - Cake Sale
Primary Parliment - UPDATED
Pupil consulation outcomes
Our New JLT Members
Our First Assembly
Meeting Minutes and Agendas
Primary Parliment
Children in Need Biscuit Sale!
We are Drug Aware!
Eco team
Meetings and Minutes
Digital Leaders
Who are we?
Action plan for this year
Safer Internet Day 2017
Where to get help with anything online
Our top secret project!
Our first meeting Friday 23rd September
Our action plan for this year
Digital Leaders Create New Labels
May 2016 Updates
Our first meeting - September 10th 2015
You Said we Did 2!!
Safer Internet Day Poster Competition! Winners announced!!!
Safer Internet Day- Our Pledges
safer internet day - our assembly
Safer Internet Day is coming!
Meet our Team
Meeting Minutes and Agendas
You said... we did!
Pupil Ambassadors
Attendance Team
Breakfast Club
Outdoor Learning
After School Clubs
E Safety
How do we keep you E Safe in School?
Top Tips to stay safe
Where do I go for help with E Safety problems?
Cool websites to visit
Safer Internet Day 2015
Our Smart Rules
Food for Life
Kids' Zone
Video Resource Centre
Chair Of Governors Welcome
Meet the Governors
The Structure
Our Role
Governors Policies
Register of Interests & Attendance Record
Governors Portal
Log in
Well Being and Emotional Health
Topic Teams
Science Leaders
Junior Leadership Team
Eco team
Digital Leaders
Pupil Ambassadors
Attendance Team
Breakfast Club
Outdoor Learning
After School Clubs
E Safety
Food for Life
Kids' Zone
Video Resource Centre
Our first meeting Friday 23rd September
Digital Leaders
Our first meeting Friday 23rd September
DigitalL agenda.docx
Cookie information
Cookie Notice
We use cookies to track usage and improve the website.
Click here for
more information
I Understand


text:
Most of the time it's not serious, but, like any gastric illness, resulting in diarrhoea can lead to dehydration. Giardia is an illness caused by poor hygiene and is most often found in underdeveloped countries. When travelling, make sure to take reasonable precautions against getting sick.
What causes giardia?
Giardia is caused by a parasite called Giardia Lamblia which enters the body and lives in the intestines. People can pick up the parasite in contaminated food and water, and from infected people. People carry giardia parasites in their poo, and, if they don't wash their hands after using the bathroom, they can spread the infection to other people.
Is giardia serious?
Not usually, but if diarrhoea caused by giardia continues for more than two weeks, your child can become dehydrated.
Can I prevent giardia?
The best prevention is to avoid coming in contact with giardia parasites. Wash your hands, and don't swallow water from pools, lakes, or streams. If your child has giardia, keep her away from school and child care until her symptoms are gone to avoid infecting other people. Giardia spreads quickly in child care environments where a lot of kids might be potty training.
How do I know if my child has giardia?
It can take one to three weeks for your child to get sick after being infected with the giardia parasite. It's often easy to mistake giardia for other gastro illnesses, but your doctor can use a sample of your child's poo to test for the infection. In addition to diarrhoea, your child might also have nausea and vomiting, abdominal cramps and weight loss.
How do I treat giardia?
Giardia is treated with antibiotics. While your child is sick, make sure that she gets lots of rest and fluids to prevent dehydration.
Should I call the doctor?
Always call the doctor if you think your child has giardia. If your child has diarrhoea and/or vomiting that lasts for more than two weeks, or if she shows signs of dehydration, call your doctor right away.
What you need to know about giardia
- Giardia is a type of gastro caused by a parasite.
- Giardia is found in contaminated food, water, and the poo of infected people.
- Giardia is treated with antibiotics.
Written by Rebecca Stigall for Kidspot, Australia's parenting resource for family health. Sources include Better Health Channel, NSW Health and Health Insite.


text:
now on xfire
Welcome in visitors. This place is open to all who have something to say or look for informations.
1 post • Page 1 of 1
- Outlaw-drizzt
- spadassin
- Posts: 305
- Joined: Thu 15 Jul, 2004 09:13
- Contact:
now on xfire
yes i am now on xfire for those who want to and me and maybe play games together my handle is outlawdrizzt lol go figure
Thanks to ImageShack for Free Image Hosting
s2 outlawbandito s3 outlawdrizzt
1 post • Page 1 of 1
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 4 guests


text:
The federal agency that some credit with saving the housing market during the worst of the recent crash, may now be in need of taxpayer help itself. The Federal Housing Administration (FHA), which insures more than $1 trillion worth of home mortgages, is looking at $16.3 billion in losses, according to an annual audit released today.
"This does not mean FHA has insufficient cash to pay insurance claims, a current operating deficit, or will need to immediately draw funds from the Treasury," according to a release from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). "The need to draw on Treasury funds is determined not by the economic assumptions of this actuarial review but those used in the President's FY 2014 budget proposal to be released in February, with a final determination on a potential draw made in September."
"While the loans made during this Administration remain the strongest in the agency's history, we take the findings of the independent actuary very seriously," said FHA Acting Commissioner Carol Galante in a statement. "We will continue to take aggressive steps to protect FHA's financial health while ensuring that FHA continues to perform its historic role of providing access to homeownership for underserved communities and supporting the housing market during tough economic times."
To that end, HUD announced a series of changes, "that are designed to build on previous steps that have improved the health of the Fund." These include:
- Increasing the annual insurance premium paid by borrowers on new FHA loans in 2013. This should add $13 per month to the average borrower's bill
- Continuing to sell expanded pools of defaulted mortgages that are headed for foreclosure
- Revising its loss mitigation program to offer more payment relief to struggling borrowers
- Expanding the use of short sales (selling the home for less than the value of the loan)
- Reversing a policy to cancel premium payments after a certain period of time.
The FHA losses stem from business it did between 2007 and 2009, when the rest of the mortgage market retreated dramatically. $70 billion in claims are attributable to just those three years when seller-funded downpayment assistance was still allowed. That was prohibited in 2009.
(Read More: FHA May Show Negative Reserves For Mortgage Losses)
The FHA, which requires just 3.5 percent down payment on a loan and which had lower relative credit score requirements, went from just 2 percent of the market during the height of the housing boom to nearly 40 percent at the height of the crash, insuring $330 billion worth of mortgages in 2009 alone. It has recently shrunk its share to around 15 percent of the market, by raising premiums and credit requirements.
"While there is no doubt that the housing finance system needs to be reformed, the contributions that the FHA has made during this economic downturn underscore the need for a government backstop for both the primary and secondary mortgage markets," noted Barry Rutenberg, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders in response to news of the FHA's shortfall. "Without government support for home purchasing and refinancing, the nation's mortgage markets will grind to a halt, throwing the economy back into recession."
In contrast to the loans insured from 2007-2009, the FHA's recent book of business has been quite healthy, providing billions in net revenues to offset earlier losses, though clearly not enough. According to the annual review, the 2013 book of loans should add $11 billion in value to the fund.
(Read More: Why Home Refinancing Boom Is Different This Time.)
There are, however, concerns that impending new rules in the mortgage market, dictated by Dodd-Frank financial reform, will make the overall loan market more expensive and drive more borrowers to the FHA. Most agree FHA's share of the market should shrink.
(Read More: Ready for the Land Mines Embedded in Dodd-Frank?)
"The best medicine for FHA is a steadily growing housing market with stable home price appreciation, a less likely outcome if the rules cause lenders to increase cost or tighten qualification requirements for borrowers," said Debra Still, chairman of the Mortgage Bankers Association.
Sector Watch: US Home Builders
Questions? Comments? firstname.lastname@example.com
Follow me on Twitter @Diana_Olick or on Facebook at facebook.com/DianaOlickCNBC


text:
Obama for president
Four years ago, President Barack Obama took office as the economy was in steep decline with millions in the process of losing their jobs, the nation was locked in seemingly endless military conflicts, Wall Street firms were getting bailed out but not held accountable and a growing number of Americans were unable to afford health insurance.
Today, the economy is growing, albeit modestly, the U.S. military has largely withdrawn from Iraq and will do so in Afghanistan, Osama bin Laden is dead, the federal government has begun more closely regulating the kind of large banks and finance companies that contributed to the mortgage crisis and health care reform is gradually making sure working Americans can get affordable insurance for themselves and their families -- including those with pre-existing conditions.
For those notable successes alone, we would endorse Mr. Obama for a second term. But the incumbent also compares favorably to his Republican challenger, Mitt Romney, who has so often altered, obfuscated or outright lied about his positions from his math-defying plan to cut taxes and reduce the deficit to his recent false claims that Jeep is moving jobs from Ohio to China.
An Obama second term offers the best opportunity for Washington to find room for compromise and devise a long-term plan for reducing the deficit that fosters economic growth, relies on shared sacrifice, but would not devastate the nation's environment, public health or safety.
// Cardin for Senate //
Forget those "My friend, Ben" TV ads that show Maryland's junior senator working on a waterman's boat or loading luggage from a passenger jet like he was on a Southwest ground crew. That's the sort of stuff political consultants dream up. Sen. Ben Cardin deserves re-election for what he really is -- a canny and knowledgeable veteran lawmaker whose views on the critical issues of the day are closely in line with a majority of Maryland residents.
Few in Annapolis, where he served as speaker of the House, or in Congress, where he has held office since 1987, can match his detailed understanding of unemployment insurance, Medicare and health care insurance, Social Security or tax policy. He is a professorial as he is politician, perhaps more so since his rumpled, modest style does not make him the darling of Sunday morning talk shows.
With Washington poised to take up entitlement programs, a necessity given their impact on the federal deficit, Mr. Cardin's presence in the Senate is required now more than ever.
// For Questions 1 and 2 //
Most Marylanders probably have never had a first-hand experience with the Orphans' Court, the 3-judge probate court where disputes over wills and estates are settled. But that should not prevent them from ensuring that the court's judges be qualified for their jobs.
Questions 1 and 2 would amend the Maryland constitution to require those who run for these offices in Baltimore and Prince George's counties to be lawyers, a common sense requirement, considering that Orphans' Court judges must often make decisions based on an interpretation of the law. The change should help the courts work more effectively and efficiently.
// For Question 3 //
Maryland has seen its share of corrupt politicians, including some convicted of a crime while in office. Unfortunately, state law has long had something of a catch -- convicted politicians are only booted from elected office at sentencing, which can be weeks, if not months, after a guilty verdict is handed down.
This constitutional amendment would suspend elected officials from office the moment they are found guilty, automatically removing them from office after a guilty plea or when the appeals process is exhausted. That would, for example, prevent a repeat of Baltimore's experience with Mayor Sheila Dixon, who was found guilty of stealing gift cards in 2009 but continued in her job until a plea agreement was negotiated.
// For Question 4 //
The Maryland Dream Act is not only good for those relatively few who will benefit directly from it (perhaps fewer than 300 college students in any given year) but for everyone who lives in the state. That's because making tuition more affordable for illegal immigrants is a kind of economic stimulus -- reducing social service costs and raising tax revenue.
A dozen states have passed similar measures to provide in-state college tuition rates for illegal immigrants, and Maryland's version may be the strictest in the nation. It requires parents to be taxpayers and students to first attend community college. Yet the payoff is still substantial, as those better-educated young adults take on higher-paying jobs in the workforce.
The Dream Act doesn't set immigration policy. That's the job of Congress and the White House. But whether comprehensive immigration reform happens or not, the Dream Act gives the state the tools to better deal with the reality of today.
// Against Question 5 //
Toothpaste squeezed out of a tube follows as more sensible path than Maryland's revised congressional districts. Why so bizarre? Mostly to benefit incumbent Democrats and to expand their reach. (This time around, that means knocking off incumbent Republican Rep. Roscoe Bartlett in the 6th.)
Democrats justify such gerrymandering on the grounds that Republicans do the same in other states. But what about the broader interest in making sure Maryland voters aren't disenfranchised by these serpentine districts that snake across county lines and geographic boundaries? Better to force Gov. Martin O'Malley and lawmakers back to the drawing board.
// For Question 6 //
Maryland voters have an historic opportunity to stand up for equality and affirm state law allowing same-sex marriage. A generation ago, this would have seemed unimaginable. Today, it seems mostly overdue.
The law won't force gay marriage on anyone. It merely makes sure that same-sex couples in committed relationships have the same legal rights and privileges as their heterosexual counterparts in such matters as health care, real estate transactions and inheritance.
Opponents have used scare tactics (that it would change school curriculum or restrict free speech) that are so patently false as to be laughable under different circumstances. Maryland already recognizes out-of-state same-sex marriage; voters should have no problem with allowing the paperwork to be done closer to home.
// Against Question 7 //
What a shame that tens of millions of dollars have been spent trumpeting such a shameful rip-off of Maryland taxpayers -- a handout to casino owners offered the same year the General Assembly raised income taxes.
We think Maryland should authorize table games and perhaps even a casino in Prince George's County at some future date. Unfortunately, the devil is in the details, and Question 7 lowers taxes to existing and future casino owners in a manner that seems, at best, haphazardly decided upon. At worst, it's unconscionable, given the huge sum of money involved.
That one West Virginia casino might benefit from a delay is hardly sufficient reason to let a bad law stay on the books. Better to force lawmakers back to the drawing board and devise a proposal that is justified by something more substantial than sheer speculation, political intrigue and favoritism.


text:
Welcome to the Blackstone Society
The Blackstone Society, the UWA Law Students' Society, is the peak representative body for students studying law at the University of Western Australia. Established in 1928, we represent approximately 1,000 students across the Faculty of Law.
For students, we offer a number of ways to get involved both within the Society and in extracurricular activities. This is achieved through a number of inclusive events and programs; by students for students is the guiding mantra of the Society.
For the legal profession, the Society is the conduit between students and firms, non-governmental organisations and government departments. We publish current opportunities to students, an annual careers handbook showcasing the diverse experiences of law graduates, and maintain a database of legal and professional service firms.
For the community, we run a myriad of social justice and volunteering programs, and facilitate the placement of a number of law students across a number of not-for-profits.


text:
Fright Night
The end of the October Challenge can only me one thing... silly Halloween image time!
Brave 6/31
6 October. It was beautiful at the beach this morning. This intrepid bather went for an early October swim in the sea.
View 2012 set or View 2011 set
I'm doing a 365 this year too
A month in 31 pictures. View all the group shots
Trumpet Involuntary 226/365
Prctice, practice, practice
Party People 178/365
It was my brother and his wife's joint 40th birthday party. The theme was Out of Time. I'm sure Out of Mind was more realistic!
Exeter Chiefs Rugby
Party People
The joint 40th for my brother and his wife was a storming success!
Shot of The Day 217/365
The 365 project must be getting to me.... the constant pressure to get the shot of the day!
Weeee! 146/365
Swinging a small boy around is fun for everyone, but don't do it too much as it walking in circles for a few minutes afterwards can get tedious.
I thought I'd have another go at this concept shot.... the only problem is that it's very difficult to make a GoPro take a slow-shuttter speed shot. You have to hack the software, and although I got the code, it didn't work. No doubt I will have another go at this with a either a different camera or someone with a computer science degree knocking about.
The Old Boys
... keep on going. Must be the fresh air!
Winter Warmer 26/365
Steve seems to have taken winter a bit seriously with the extra fur.... he might need it next week I hear.
Harping On 132/365
C Strings on my daughter's harp. This is a Clarsach Harp, also known as a Celtic Harp. All harps are 'infernal instruments' according to my late father-in-law. He was referring to their complexity rather than disagreeing with their heavenly provenance.
As I battle my way through this second 365 project I have very few ideas about what I am going to take each day. This is a rare moment of planning... I thought this up yesterday!
Peace in our time 47/365
The children are all away this week, things are going to be awfully quiet. I think we might go to the cinema or something.
Might as well Jump! 137/365
A bit of fish-eye lens woodland madness for Sunday stroll. Really this is a test of my new reote shutter release and timer: you can set it to delay taking the shot for any amount of time, in this case 1 second then JUMP!
Lucked Out 72/365
The second Friday the thirteenth isn't going to get me this tiime. Oh no. I've got protection.
We tried a few shots to get this right, but I liked the simple nature of this one. Apart from the layer mask to do the selective colour this is straight out of the camera.. in other words she really does have green eyes.
Pharrier Graph 134/365
Farriers are still very active in the countryside and doing good business. This one also happens to be a photographer!
Call the AA
How many men does it take to change a tractor tyre?
At least two of them are about five years older than the machine. It still works quite well.
The Boy in the Bubble 150/365
These are the days of miracle and wonder
This is the long-distance call
The way the camera follows us in slo-mo
The way we look to us all
The way we look to a distant constellation
That's dying in a corner of the sky
These are the days of miracle and wonder
And don't cry baby don't cry
Don't cry
Pool Party 212/365
So my wife has abandoned me to go on a hen weekend leaving me to look after this lot... with only one leg. I do love a challenge! I'm not sure I like the way they are looking at me.
No Smoke without Pat 1/31
1 October. I thought I'd start with a good old Patrick portrait. Here he is in his naural habitat... burning something! Patrick has worked on farms in Ashcombe for well over 40 years and I can't remember seeing him take a whole day off!
View 2012 set or View 2011 set
I'm doing a 365 this year too
A month in 31 pictures. View all the group shots
Riders on the Dawn 254/365
Early start this morning. Quad riders admire the sunset over the Exe Estuary this morning. Looks like a bromance to me!
Panning Specialist 250/365
I took a few shots of cyclists competing in a road race up at Haldon Forest today, I was out for a walk but I do love panning practice! This one came out the best I think. It started raining as I took this... so you can see the drops coming down too, Thank goodness my weather app on my phone is really good or I would not have worn my (photography) anorak.
Farrier 239/365
Some skills can't be replaced by a mouse and screen.....
Night of Passion 257/365
Jockey Nick Scofield with racehorse Night of Passion. Why? What were you thinking?
Spent a few hours yesterday with my cousin and her husband Jeremy Scott who has 50 racehorses in training.
The Best Trousers 286/365
Too late I realised that it had started raining... but we still had to go for a walk.
On the Woo 258/365
Here's Tommy in the village off to woo himself a lady. Unfortunately I just happened to be passing and was able to catch him all brushed up and heading out on the woo!
At Play
Let the children (and the dog) run free on the beach.
Don't steal my Photos! (Halloween) 304/365
No one will miss the odd IP copyright thief - but they do make surprisingly good apple tree compost.. in time.
Happy Halloween!
Sunday stroll in the shallows
Log Run
Devon style child transport
Somersby won the The Haldon Gold Cup this year by the tightest of photo finishes with Module. Here he is posing for the press photographers. Not many Nikons in there!
Entrance 334/365
Been busy photographing a local wedding this afternoon, I rather liked this one with a bit of an edit (she was coming through a firedoor so it was a required edit!)
Darker 352/365
A darker self-portrait tonight. One born out of necessity - trying to complete a 365 project when busy and with atrocious weather is not easy!
Running the Halls 359/365
Some more fun lighting to be messed with... I took a similar shot earlier this year. But not in the 365. Happy Christmas all.
All I want for Christmas is my... 357/365
.... two front teeth!
Catwalk 219/365
Day 219 and some borrowed shades and a small child make for a simple catwalk impression.
Pat's Progress
This is my office door. I have an open door policy so if someone wants me they come and find me! Pat's been hard at work and on his way to a well earned cup of tea!