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ZTE Complains That Congress' Blanket Bans Should Also Cover Western Devices Made in China
Jason Mick
October 9, 2012 11:45 AM
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ZTE claims transparency, yet an FBI investigation revealed it was funneling U.S. parts to iran
In a tersely worded response, ZTE Corp. (
) lashed out at a U.S. House of Representatives'
Intelligence Committee
draft report
[PDF] which
called for a ban
on the Chinese electronics firm's telecommunications equipment and smartphones.
I. ZTE Asks Congress to Target Apple, et al. Too
David Dai Shu, ZTE's director of global public affairs, comments, "It is noteworthy that, after a year-long investigation, the Committee rests its conclusions on a finding that ZTE may not be 'free of state influence.' This finding would apply to any company operating in China. The Committee has not challenged ZTE's fitness to serve the US market based on any pattern of unethical or illegal behavior."
ZTE describes itself as "China's most transparent, independent, globally focused, publicly traded telecom company", arguing it "set an unprecedented standard for cooperation by any Chinese company with a US congressional inquiry."
Mr. Dai Shu adds, "ZTE recognizes and fully respects the Committee's obligation to protect US national security. ZTE believes the Committee focused its examination too narrowly on vendor locations not on equipment security. The Committee omitted the Western vendors and their Chinese manufacturing partners, which provide most of the US equipment now in use. The Committee also overlooked the opportunity to advance universal application of the Trusted Delivery Model which protects critical telecom networks on a vendor-neutral basis."
ZTE points out that the iPhone and other "U.S." devices are also made in China, and, in theory, equally at risk. It says if its products should be banned, so should Apple,
et al.
He argues, "Particularly given the severity of the Committee's recommendations, ZTE recommends that the Committee's investigation be extended to include every company making equipment in China, including the Western vendors. That is the only way to truly protect US equipment and US national security. National security experts agree that a Trusted Delivery Model will strengthen national security. In fact, major US carriers are increasingly requiring Trusted Delivery Model in their contracts."
Indeed, it does seem a bit odd in the grand scheme of things that ZTE and Huawei Technologies Comp. (
) were scrutinized so closely and are facing sales bans, while other companies like Apple, Inc. (
) -- who
contract their device manufacturing to Chinese electronics manufacturers
-- received no scrutiny.
ZTE does make a compelling argument. If the panel is arguing that large Chinese manufacturers can be coerced by the Chinese government to including hidden spying features in their products, why couldn't Foxconn -- Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd.'s (
) massive Chinese manufacturing subsidiary -- put the same kind of spying features inside iPhones or other U.S.-designed smartphones.
II. ZTE's Iran Secrets
However, ZTE may not be quite as transparent as it says. The company is in a difficult spot as it insists on doing business both with the U.S. and Iran. But U.S. trade laws tightly regulate what U.S. made products can be sent to nations viewed as hostile -- and that includes Iran.
U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigations
is currently
conducting a criminal probe
into whether ZTE sold U.S.-made Cisco Systems, Inc. (
) telecommunications equipment to Iran.
that a July 2011 ZTE parts list clearly lists several Cisco switches as being transferred to Telecommunication Co of Iran (TCI) -- a criminal violation of U.S. trade laws.
The probe is still shaking down, and it may lead to charges for some of ZTE's U.S. employees. In the wake of the Iran incident, Cisco cut ties with ZTE.
ZTE is accused of funneling electronics to Iran. [Image Source: Reuters]
The Iran controversy adds a tricky wrinkle to the ZTE debate. ZTE certainly does seem to have behaved less-than-honestly, according to reports, trying to obfuscate the fact that it was funneling (intentionally or unintentionally) small quantities of U.S. telecommunications components to Iran.
On the one hand, the Iran controversy and the question of Chinese spying are two separate issues. On the other hand, the Iran controversy could be indicative of general opportunism and dishonesty at ZTE, which could lead to the kind of spying Congress is concerned about. As former U.S. President George W. Bush
, "There's an old saying in Tennessee — I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee — that says, fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again."
ZTE on BusinessWire
"People Don't Respect Confidentiality in This Industry" -- Sony Computer Entertainment of America President and CEO Jack Tretton
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Skip to comments.Russia Nuke Attack Drill As China Selects U.S. Targets
Posted on 11/02/2013 6:27:05 AM PDT by raptor22
Global Power: Moscow launches four ICBMs in a large-scale nuclear drill as Chinese state media, brandishing detailed maps, show how Beijing's nuclear submarines can attack U.S. cities. We press "reset," they press "launch."
In March 2009, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton presented Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov with a red "reset button" to symbolize improved ties. The era of confrontation when American presidents demanded the tearing down of walls was over. From now on, we would make nice.
Fast-forward to 2012, when President Obama met with Dmitry Medvedev, Russia's then-president and now prime minister, at the Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul, South Korea.
That was when Obama assured Medvedev he'd have more leeway after his re-election to weaken missile defense. This would help him achieve his dream of U.S. disarmament and bring about, as he expressed in Prague in 2009, "a world without nuclear weapons."
Apparently the Russians and the Chinese do not share that dream. On Wednesday, Russian strategic forces carried out a large-scale surprise military drill that included the test launch of two land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles and two submarine-launched ballistic missiles.
So while Russia expands and tests its offensive and defensive missile capabilities, President Obama lets our missile capabilities wither and caves to Russian demands to halt previously planned expansion.
To placate Moscow, Obama has already betrayed our allies in Poland and the Czech Republic by abandoning plans to deploy ground-based interceptors and missile defense in those countries.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.investors.com ...
Borders? Congress: forgetaboutit
Constitution? Congress: forgetaboutit
Congress could not care. Lured by the scent of
LOVEINT, $$$$$$, Ambien, laws ONLY for others, and al Qaeda,
they simply DO NOT CARE.
The map of Chinese targets was pretty interesting...west coast and northeast...toast. Why would you dispose of your ideological soulmates?
Because it's the grain fields of the plains that you want.
And a rifle behind every grain of wheat.
Likely primary targets of an attack: Washington, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Miami
Largest concentration of liberal scum: Washington, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Miami
That being said, don't do us any favors, thank you.
Once he's out of office and safely tucked away in his multi-million fortified retreat in Hawaii, the US will be nuked and taken over. The gay military will be powerless to do anything, and half of America will be so fat and lazy they won't care.
Obama will probably become the Commissar of North America after all the dust settles, operating out of the new capital in HI.
Yeah, saw that too. Spooky stuff huh? I guess with their subs, no place is "safe".
T-Minus 10 and counting.....
It's like Obama surrendered on the Coldwar that Reagan won.
Grampa Dave; granite; GreenFreeper; grjr21; I got the rope; IchBinEinBerliner; jaredt112; JayB; Jeliota; jmc813; jmcenanly; Jonah Lomu; jsh3180; Judy Jetsun; justrepublican; Kalam; KEVLAR; landertiger; Lawdoc; LeGrande;
Practically speaking, Russia needed to fire missiles to make sure their missiles actually work. While missiles are "high tech", they go through incredible stresses enroute, and seemingly insignificant problems can destroy them. The US used to test fire missiles at frequent intervals.
"Overkill", having multiple missiles aimed at the same target, was not, as misunderstood, so as to be able to "over-destroy" their target, but was based on the idea that most missiles would never reach their target.
There are losses just getting out of the silo. Losses just after leaving the silo. Inertial losses where in the initial boost it goes off course or starts to twirl. Losses at the second stage. Finally, at altitude, there is some peace and quiet right about when missile defenses engage. Then, losses in the descent, with lots of air friction. Then there is missing the target, and finally, the bomb doesn't explode properly because *it* is flawed, or perhaps damaged by vibration and heat.
Even for very good quality US missiles, overkill is very high.
As far as the Chinese, they are more of a concern, in that to successfully conquer Taiwan, they need to severely cripple the US Pacific fleet. The way to do this is less to attack the fleet itself, than to attack the only two deep water ports capable of repair, refueling, and rearming them. This means Bremerton, Washington and San Diego.
While in addition, they have published white papers from their strategists that unconventional attacks to other parts of the US would be needed as well, so that the US was both distracted and unable to respond before China had landed huge numbers of soldiers on Taiwan, and intermingled them with the Taiwanese, then declare that any future acts by the US Navy amount to unprovoked aggression against China, since the US has technically agreed to the reunification of the two.
However, this does mean that the attacks on the two ports have to be done in such a way that China can claim "plausible deniability."
Of course, the flip side of this coin is called the Office of Naval Research (ONR). A truly amazing military research and development organization, it is their job to design naval weapons 50 or 100 years in the future as well as for right now.
So the brilliant Cold War scheme of using ballistic missile submarines may have some flaws, like the USN releasing The Kraken, Monster X, and Cthulhu to eat their submarines before they can launch, as it were. Or a reasonable high explosive facsimile thereof.
Quiz. Q #1: Which American "Rock Star" President gave the chicoms the ICBM guidance technology that gave them a 20 plus leap ahead in the accurate targeting of the United States?
Hint: Wife was Sec. of State made famous by uttering "What difference does it make".
You made my day!
Cthulhu. Great one.
They are targeting major sub-stations.
Scobie substation in southern NH and the big one in southern Massachusetts, I forget the name of it.
It looks like they want to take out the canal between Lake Champlain, VT and the Hudson River, other than the US naval museum where the US Navy was founded in Whitehall, NY, I don't know what else is a target there.
Maybe Freepers familiar with the power infrastructure near some of the other dots can tell more.
By hitting the substations they are leaving the generating capacity intact, with easily replaceable (by the Chicoms as they make the huge transformers and switchgear need in big substations) infrastructure for afterwards.
If they win the war, they have their conquered country (us) back up and running quickly.
If they lose the war, they sell us the equipment.
Ditto. Other than power infrastructure, looks like they are going after the shipyard in Maine, which produces destroyers.
>>>The map of Chinese targets was pretty interesting...west coast and northeast...toast. Why would you dispose of your ideological soulmates?<<<
Useful idiots are first to get lined against the wall by communist book.
Why the new-found willingness to acquiesce in new debt?
Credible sources here in Washington have shared a chilling back-story that took place involving the President and congressional leaders of both parties as the clock ticked down to the Treasury running out of cash earlier last month. It seems that more than one creditor nation, led by the Chinese, indirectly telegraphed a willingness to take very draconian measures in response to a debt default apparently even if coupon payments were made on outstanding debt owed to them. Those measures were set to go way beyond being financial, and were said to be credible in nature.
At least one senior Republican scoffed at the threat, but relented when briefed by (at least nominally) non-political figures in the national security community. That explains why, in part, the whole stand-off ended with a whimper and not a bang.
The implication? The country is far deeper down the rabbit hole of debt than most fathom. The current paradigm has moved one step closer to the end game. We are no longer masters of our own fate.
From: Another Debt Showdown coming in Washington next year? Dont bet on it.
Thanks for the ping. I think it's going to be a horserace to see if our nation can survive the duration of Obozo's term.
Go in any store in America.
Pick up the item, on any shelf.
You will find a "Made in China" sticker.
We need to bring back American jobs. Now.
Thanks for the ping.
Also,they know where the bodies are hidden...
I'm not worried about The Russkies or the Chinese. I'm worried about the Welfare zombies.
This kind of talk would never take place if we had a real POTUS in charge.
The Russians will hit the cities in the midwest and on the east coast.
Comforting to know we have Obozo in the WH at this time in history more worried about helping our enemies bring us down from within. They won't have to fire a shot.
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One of the fantastic perks of working for Scholastic is that sometimes when a new movie comes out, I get to see an advance screening of that movie. The studios, like 20th Century Fox, have a preview of the movie for "media" in a screening room somewhere in New York or L.A. So I pile into a tiny theater with other members of the media – like other web, magazine, or TV writers – and we get to watch the movie before it hits theaters.
In February, I got to see an advance screening of (drumroll please) Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2: Rodrick Rules (rated PG)! A full month before it would come out in theaters! And after being a fan of the books series, and looooving the first movie, I have to tell you I was psyched.
In Rodrick Rules, much like the book it follows, Greg and his tormenting older brother Rodrick are forced to get along by their mother. She devises a system of awarding them "mom bucks" for each hour of quality time they spend together. Of course Rodrick loves making Greg's life miserable, so we know there's gonna be problems.
When their parents leave them at home alone overnight, Rodrick throws a party, and locks Greg in the basement. But after Greg gets free, they end up actually having a good time together and bonding. Until Greg is forced to tell his mom what happened, and Rodrick finds out.
Along the way, there are tons of hilarious moments. It was especially fun to see the drawings from the book come to life. Like when Greg sat on a candy bar on the way to church, and was forced to go into church with "poop" on his pants. Or when Greg gets stuck in the ladies room at grampa's retirement home, and is mistaken for a Peeping Tom.
And one of my LOL moments came when Greg and Rodrick landed in a dumpster outside a convenience store. I won't tell you what happens. . . but I will tell you it involves a rat.
I can't decide if I liked Rodrick Rules or the first movie better. I'm still on the fence. But overall, I was pleasantly surprised by the sweet story of brotherly love. The movie definitely played on that more than in the book. And I laughed my pants off at the torture it involved! And like in the movies, everything always turns out all right.
What do you guys think? Are you Wimpy Kid fans? Have you read the interviews with the actors here last week? Will you see the movie? Drop a line and let me know in the Comments.
And for more Wimpy Kid coverage, check out this report from the Scholastic Kids Press Corps. One of their lucky reporters even got to attend a publicity event for the movie and chat with author, Jeff Kinney!
— Ratha, Stacks Writer


text:
Skip to comments.Debate: Is giving up alcohol, chocolate or biscuits the best way of marking Lent?
Posted on 02/07/2013 9:58:27 AM PST by Alex Murphy
In the paper this week we asked well-known Catholics what they plan to do for Lent. Frank Cottrell Boyce, writer of the Olympic opening ceremony, is giving up tea and coffee; Bishop Alan Hopes will give up bread; and Stuart Reid will stop reading blogs that make him angry. Ann Widdecombe is abstaining from every kind of drink except water. Sister Wendy Beckett, however, wont be giving up anything. During Lent I do nothing extra, she says. After all, it is surely a time less for giving up and more for looking up: up to Jesus on the Cross.
Does she have a point does giving things up merely distract from what is important? Can it turn into a health drive, or a way of losing weight, rather than helping us prepare for Holy Week and Easter? Would it be better, perhaps, to go to Mass more, or spend time reading great spiritual works?
On the other hand, many saints and Church Fathers attest to the spiritual effectiveness of penance. It keeps our focus on God; it is reparation for our sins and the sins of the world.
So, should Lent be about giving things up? Or is that a distraction?
"...when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you."
-- Matthew 6:16-18
I'm giving up watching Football. ;)
Since this is an anonymous forum and no one sees our faces, perhaps we should all give up FR for Lent?
"Giving up" now and splurging to make up for it before and after is the silliest superstition. It's no sacrifice. Just self-worship.
I'm giving up Barack Obama for Lent.
Wonder what they would think of the Shrove Tuesday bacchanals that have become part of the tradition of Lent?
At the risk of gettin gflamed, I just don't get it. Lent or it's concept is never mentioned in Scripture.
Then, it stands to reason that I'm not giving up anything for religious purposes that is not in the Bible.
The first 18 years of my life had a lot of Catholic in them, including 10 of my 12 years of primary schooling. I frankly never got the concept.
I try to do something extra (that hopefully sticks as a habit after Easter), usually involves scripture reading/study or prayer. I also try to deny myself something but I try not to tell anyone. Kind of defeats the point of self-denial if I do.
Yeah, there's nothing about fasting or almsgiving in the Bible. The Trinity's not mentioned either.
It takes 40 days to break a bad habit, never a bad idea when seeking to follow Christ.
Last year, for Lent, I gave up bad-eyeing/ bad-mouthing bad drivers on the Freeway for Lent. It really clarified for me how often I do this (Los Angeles has many bad drivers) and I was challenged to change my ways.
The year before, the Lord had me select 5 (of the many...) people I really did not like (ok, 5 people I hated) and pray for them. One of them, about 4 months later, came up to me at a church picnic. I said, "I have been praying for you,' very casually, as a friend. She was profusely grateful and said she'd had a terrible year (which explained why she'd been so rude to me the year before, which was why I put her on my Foe List, haha).
I find these exercises well worth pursuing. Self-control, reining in the passions, setting aside those things that hold me, choosing to do the right thing in every small situation and so to follow the Lord even more closely - this is Lent, to me.
Three of us at our Italian Club gave up drinking for Lent last year. The treasurer's report for the month reflected a loss of $1,000. Everyone turns around and looks at us.
I've never been a quitter.
It takes 40 days to break a bad habit, never a bad idea when seeking to follow Christ.
Last year, for Lent, I gave up bad-eyeing/ bad-mouthing bad drivers on the Freeway for Lent. It really clarified for me how often I do this (Los Angeles has many bad drivers) and I was challenged to change my ways.
The year before, the Lord had me select 5 (of the many...) people I really did not like (ok, 5 people I hated) and pray for them. One of them, about 4 months later, came up to me at a church picnic. I said, "I have been praying for you,' very casually, as a friend. She was profusely grateful and said she'd had a terrible year (which explained why she'd been so rude to me the year before, which was why I put her on my Foe List, haha).
I find these exercises well worth pursuing. Self-control, reining in the passions, setting aside those things that hold me, choosing to do the right thing in every small situation and so to follow the Lord even more closely - this is Lent, to me.
Maybe to First Worlders it is. But not for much of the rest of the world. Or Muslims - heck, they fast from sun up to sun down during Ramadan.
Fasting on your own is mentioned, but I don't think corporate fasting is?
Good point. So what do third worlders give up for Lent I wonder?
The concept isn't in scripture? I respectfully beg to differ: 1-Jesus' 40 days of self denial in the desert before starting his public ministry. 2- Noah's 40 days of rain. 3- Elijah's 40 day trek. 4-Jonah's 40 day warning to Nineveh. Then there were the Biblical periods where 40 years were significant, such as Israel in the desert. I think there's plenty scriptural support for 40 day periods of reflection, preparation, etc. Just my two cents ;) Peace be with you.
Me too...oh wait...I already have, since 2008.
Wonder if that counts since its like every day of the year? [I mean if 40 days is a sacrifice...whole entire years must be super good...]
"that your fasting may not be seen by others".
Starving and not showing it is quite different from whining about giving up what you should anyway.
Thanks a lot. You're fifty years too late for me to use that argument on my parents. Oh well...probably wouldn't have done a lot of good anyway. My parents were notoriously skeptical of any excuse by a kid for any reason.
You should give that up . . for the Lent season anyway.
Hey! another excuse I could have used on my parents fifty years ago. Now if they can just invent a time machine.
Lent is another vestigal leftover from pagan rituals that should be discontinued.
Don't worry no flaming...that is certainly not christian, especially when discussing the death and resurrection of Christ.
lent is a period of 40 days to contemplate the sacrifice of Christ on the cross in preparation for Easter. Fridays are particularly important because this is the day Christ died and fasting and prayer are ways to remember His sacrifice for humanity. Special emphasis is also in penance and recognizing that all of our sins have been paid for by Christ's blood.
God's desire to have us walk with him on HIs way to the cross can be seen biblically in the garden of Gethsemane when Christ chastises his apostles who fall asleep despite his agony.
There is no mandate (with the exception of meat on Fridays and Ash Wednesday) from the catholic church that one "gives up" anything. It is a suggestion as a way to draw closer to Christ preceding easter. Daily prayer and reflection can be more meaningful than giving up chocolate or alcohol for instance. Incidentally the reason why meat was chosen is because it is a symbol of wealth and status in the world...it is not so much the "meat" itself but the idea of sacrifice. Substituting a lobster dinner for a hamburger for instance would not be in keeping with the spirit of the sacrifice.
Certainly being a practicing catholic is a free will choice, and many people can and do disagree with the dogma of Rome. There are however sound theological reasons why the Catholic Church celebrates the liturgical seasons in specific manners.
I think you have to do a serious fast, as Orthodox Christians do, or as the Muslims do, for it to get through to you and make a difference. Speaking for myself and my hard head and hard heart. Giving up one or two luxuries doesn't mean much
Look here for the Orthodox fast:
No dairy, no meat, no eggs, no fish with backbones, no wine or oil...
First five days of Lent, two meals only, on Wednesday evening and on Friday, although "Few laymen keep these rules in their fullness."
And you could still game the system - grilled lobster and scallops with Pernod, an arugula and avocado salad, flown-in raspberries for desert...
I try to cook simply and humbly and without luxury during Lent, although the definition of luxury is debatable. What strange times we live in, when it is so easy to obtain high calorie sweets and fats, and one can actually be self-indulgent with vegetables - fresh sugar snap peas and red peppers - no flabby turnips and sauerkraut to choke down night after night and be thankful you haven't run out yet.
IN '98 my wife gave up sex (maybe just with me) divorce final two weeks ago. Freeper chicks I'm available
This Roman Catholic is giving up Lent for Lent. I don't believe in dietary fanaticism. I don't think God cares what we eat.With all the evil in the world, we should use Lent as a time to counter it in every way we can.
This is not an appropriate means of determining good doctrine. Cyclotic is right, here...Lent & such is simply not in the Book.
If we look at those prescribed behaviors which are noted after the cross (when we Gentiles were grafted in), there are no such ceremonies/traditions/rituals encouraged by the Apostles. Even the so-called Lord's Supper is simply a remembrance celebration without any "transubstantiation".
Perhaps the greatest truth a believer can lay hold of is that for all people, everywhere the Great High Priest (according to the order of Melchizadek - non-Jewish, pre-Mosaic Law) has now entered the Holiest Place in existence (Heaven) bearing the offering of His blood & body, shed & broken for the elect, and this done once for all time.
The Father has accepted this sacrifice as permanent payment for the chosen and has pronounced them sanctified, holy because they are found in the Son. They bear nothing in their own hands, but come clothed in the holiness of Jesus, Who has called us His beloved and He sat down at the right hand of the Father.
Every form of safety, security, salvation is bound up in what He has done and is doing this very moment as He makes perpetual intercession on our behalf. The Holy Spirit is pouring grace upon the elect as He indwells the adopted children of Yahweh. And He, with groanings too deep for words, tells the Father everything within our soul.
If we would focus on holding these truths in our hearts & minds, we would find no need for human oriented rituals.
I found that when you pray for someone, you usually end up liking them much more.
Years ago, I had a boss who, along with others, smoked in the office. At that time I had been a former smoker for c. 10 years. Of course his smoking drove me crazy but I had to work with the guy. A minister suggested that everytime I saw my boss smoking, I bless him.
So, I did, every time I heard him flick his bic. In just a couple of weeks, I could stand right next to his desk while the smoke blew up in my face from his ash tray and only think kind, generous thoughts about the smoker. Honestly.
Follow up to #31.
Even years later, he was the only smoker I could stand to be around.
I caught on when I was around 20 and I gave up going to Church.
That said, I am a spiritual person. I just don't think "organized religion" has anything to do with faith. In fact, I would say it gets in the way..
Bravo! well-said.
As for Muslims and Ramadan, it's not all that difficult to fast from sun up to sundown for a month; just look at what college students on a budget do all the time, and for longer periods. It's especially not difficult to fast during the daytime hours when you have feasts during each of the night times, which is how some Muslims I know have told me they live during Ramadan. I was told is was like a party in the evening hours. So I have never understood their notion of "sacrificing".
The same goes for giving up something during Lent. If you fast from something during the 40 days, but go overboard as soon as the time's up, what have you gained? If you intend to make a better habit about something, just be more mindful of it.
I hope you find the practice of prayerful fasting and self-denial to be edifying and uplifting, and a path to closer communion with Our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Origin Of Lent
I think I WON'T be asking that (self-appointed, self-anointed, self-so-called) "Bible teacher" anything ...
unless, of course, I want to laugh at stupidity. And his stupidity is more tragic than funny.
You can also do good works so I quit the giving up beer and wine thing and went with good works. I think its definitely a better way to go.
While the concept of self-denial is sound, making it a set annual ritual is not what we see in the N.T. church, being contrary in principle to being led by the Spirit in obeying His word.
But here are a few stats:
General Involvement in Parish and Religious Activities other than Mass (2008)
Four percent of Catholics describe themselves as "very" involved in parish or religious activities other than attending Mass.
Differences by Generation [regarding the above]
Among those attending Mass at least once a month, Millennial Generation (40 percent)
and Post-Vatican II Generation Catholics (34 percent) are more likely than older Catholics to say they are at least "somewhat" involved in parish life.
Lenten Practices
Do you abstain from meat on Fridays during Lent? 60%
Do you typically receive ashes at Ash Wednesday services? 45%
Besides giving something up, do you do anything positive, like giving additional money to the needy or trying to be a better person, during Lent? 44%
Besides meat on Fridays, do you give up or abstain from anything else during Lent? 38%
Note: Percentages do not sum to 100 because multiple responses were allowed.
Slightly less than half (45 percent) typically receive ashes at Ash Wednesday services.
A similar proportion try to something positive (as opposed to giving something up) during Lent.
Slightly fewer than four-tenths give up something for Lent (other than abstaining from meat on Fridays).
Midwest Catholics (65 percent) are the most likely to say they abstain from eating meat on Fridays during Lent and those in the West are the least likely to do this (55 percent).
It allows you to learn to "hold things loosely, hold God tightly".
Unless you practice it you might not be able to do it when the time comes that you MUST give things up.
Prayer There are many possible devotions: The Liturgy of the Hours, The Stations of the Cross or spending an extra hour in the Adoration Chapel, for example. What is probably easiest for us is to prepare for the Liturgy of the Word for each Sunday by reading ahead and participating in a1 group to learn more about that liturgy as well as the Eucharist. Couples can read the Readings and discuss them at home. So can families. Get together with friends some evening during the week and read and discuss the readings for the next Sunday in the comfort of your home.
Fasting Fasting is required on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Fasting isnt necessarily a diet. How about fasting from television viewing during Lent as a family? Or fasting from your favorite food? Fasting from gossip or complaining? The choice is yours.
Almsgiving We practice living as Christ commanded. Believers must continually be invited to all the works of charity, piety, and the apostolate. For all these works make it clear that Christs faithful, though not of this world, are to be the light of the world Love one another as he has loved us.
Participate in the Sacrament of Reconciliation Check to see when your Penance Service is scheduled and take part in the Sacrament of Reconciliation..
Freep-mail me to get on or off my pro-life and Catholic List:
Please ping me to note-worthy Pro-Life or Catholic threads, or other threads of general interest.
**Lent or its concept is never mentioned in Scripture**
Christ fasting for 40 Days in the Wilderness?
What kind of a Bible do you have anyway?
Are you a Catholic? Would you like to be on the Catholic Ping List?
I do the Daily Readings, prayer requests, Saint of the Day, seasonal things and apologetics/ catechetics/prayer.
There are two Catholic ping lists. NYer usually posts news stories. Please contact her if you want to be on that list also.
Are you a Catholic? Would you like to be on the Catholic Ping List?
I do the Daily Readings, prayer requests, Saint of the Day, seasonal things and apologetics/ catechetics/prayer.
There are two Catholic ping lists. NYer usually posts news stories. Please contact her if you want to be on that list also.
The Best Kind of Fasting
Conversion Through Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving [Lent]
Ash Wednesday and the Lenten Fast-Family observance Lenten season [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]
Lenten Fasting or Feasting? [Catholic Caucus]
THE TRUE NATURE OF FASTING (Catholic/Orthodox Caucus)
The Three Practices of Lent: Praying, Fasting. Almsgiving
Lent: A Time to Fast >From Media and Criticism Says President of Pontifical Liturgical Institute
Give it up (making a Lenten sacrifice)
The Holy Season of Lent -- Fast and Abstinence
Lent and Fasting
I don't think it's an either/or kind of thing. Or that fasting is a "distraction."
Christ set the example of giving something up with the 40 days in the Wilderness. And John the Baptist also set an example of how to prepare for the coming of the Savior. And giving up meat on Fridays, to honor the day on which Christ was crucified, was a practice that came into the Church very early.
But it would also be a good time to check out your prayer life, or to make extra visits to church, or to schedule daily Bible readings.
If giving up chocolate, coffee, bread or alcohol could make reparations for the sins of world, why did Jesus have to die on the cross? I always suspected the point of "penance" even as a Catholic kid when I gave up bubblegum for Lent. It used to really irk me a little when saying a few Hail Marys and Our Fathers would be my penance at confession. As I hurriedly said them I often wondered what kind of God would be satisfied by saying mere words in exchange for forgiveness. Of course, I didn't understand the whole purpose of the cross until I came to saving faith in Jesus Christ and left the religion of my birth.
I think, far too often, we forget that there is NOTHING we can do to pay for our own sins much less those of the whole world. Christ's sacrifice was "once for all" and His blood made atonement for the sins of the world. We are given forgiveness by God's grace through faith in Christ and, through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, we are enabled to walk in newness of life - a life that brings honor and glory to God because it operates by faith. When we sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, and we are forgiven and cleansed when we confess (come clean, name it as HE names it) to Him. Giving up pleasures in our lives in order to somehow appease the anger of God over sin, kinda makes a mockery of the TRUE cost of sin - the blood of the only begotten Son of God.
I will pray for more eyes to be opened to the truth of the gospel of grace this Lenten season.
Well said!
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By SYLVIA NELSONGuest Writer
Sept. 24 was a long awaited day for Rebecca Norris and family who have been chosen as the homeowners for the next Habitat House being built at 680 North Orange Court, Castle Dale, by Habitat for Humanity of Castle Country, the local affiliate of Emery and Carbon Counties.
Rebecca has been a faithful volunteer for over three years along with her four children Steven, 13, Andrea and Angela, 12, and Dylan, 10, as well as her care-giver Debra Pearson. She needs a handicap accessible home to accommodate her motorized wheelchair.
But being in a wheelchair or on crutches has not kept Rebecca from raising her family, attending College of Eastern Utah, volunteering and helping at workdays on other HFH houses, and at fund-raising projects. She has also used her computer skills to help with mailing lists, labels, newsletters and house plans. She and Debbie, her best friend and care-giver, are a good team.
Rebecca is looking forward to being able to come and go more easily and get into closets, laundry, kitchen, and bath rooms and move around more freely in and out of her own home, enabling her to help herself and her children more with the every day tasks and activities. The plans have been made to allow her to do all this as well as provide a small care-giver apartment for Debbie who has helped Rebecca and children and will continue to do so as Rebecca's health deteriorates.
Rebecca and the children are excited about living close to the schools and events that will be within walking distance of Valley View Subdivision and to be able to catch the bus to the junior high, also.
As Habitat President, Katherine Foster, Board Member Gordon Craft, guests Dennis Oakley and Leslie Henderson and volunteer Sylvia Nelson gathered to meet Rebecca's and Debbie's extended families, neighbors Amy Nelson and children, Shawnee Barnes, and Kyle Johnson also drifted over to help with the celebration and watch the cement trucks and crew finish the cement pour of the foundation.
Rebecca's mother, Sandy Morley, and her sister Kathryne, and baby son Miken came from West Jordan to lend their support. Debra's mother Lyn Pearson, of American Fork, and her brother Robbie, and friends Angie and Allissa, of Orem also came and are planning toward future workdays.
Homeowners Wayne and Christie Maxfield of Castle Dale came to meet Rebecca and family and offer their congratulations and support.
A prayer of rededication of the property and expected home was offered and refreshments were served. President Foster talked of HFH goals, and the need for more board members, volunteers and donations to be able to complete this house for the Norris family.
"Habitat for Humanity is an ecumenical Christian ministry dedicated to providing housing for people in need who are willing to partner with our organization in working on their house and the houses of others. Through volunteer labor, professional expertise and tax deductible donations, we obtain land and build simple, decent, affordable houses in Carbon and Emery counties. Families who apply and meet our qualifications purchase their home at no profit to HFH; their monthly payments go into a revolving fund to help build more homes in this area. New homeowners have a unique pride in their home which has given them a 'hand-up not a hand-out.' Families and communities thrive when everyone has a sturdy, safe, nurturing place to call home," said Foster.
A workday is planned at the house site for Oct. 9, from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. or longer if people are willing to stay. Volunteers are welcome to bring your gloves and shovel, wear your sunscreen, hat, jacket, depending on the weather. Come and meet the Norris family and help out. If you would like to apply for a home or have questions, call 435-636-3230 (leave a message). If you would consider serving as board member, committee member or chairman, call Katherine 435-636-8149 (leave a message). Your donations can be sent to Habitat for Humanity of Castle Country, P. O. Box 728, Price, UT 84501 - every dollar counts toward getting this home framed up before winter.


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Last week, this C list celebrity offspring of a former A+ list mostly movie actor was asked about the woman who was with him
. He said that his dad paid for her for the week to be with the offspring. Interesting gift.
Scott Eastwood (although why he'd have to pay for it is beyond me).ReplyCancel
Schwarzenegger kid.ReplyCancel
Also, his dad is a pig.ReplyCancel
Maria showed up Saturday looking mad ya'll.ReplyCancel
Jaden Smith came to mind… I don't know that the clues fit.ReplyCancel
@Vintage, Jaden is much closer to C list than Conor Cruise, having been in a couple of successful movies. The only place Conor Cruise is C-list is in the phone book.ReplyCancel
WTF kind of parent does this. How could it possibly be a good idea? Buying friends of any kind for your kid is getting them off to a bad start. It teaches them that they can't make friends on their own, and it teaches them that people are currency to be used.ReplyCancel
Nice one, Wiglet. Cage and Raymond Nicholson are also good guessesReplyCancel
Good Dad points. "Here's a hooker to practice with".ReplyCancel
I like the Nic Cage guess – his son looks like he might need some extra help with the ladies. The DM identified the girl with Swartz's kid to be his girlfriend. He was also randomly photographed holding hands with a guyReplyCancel
I believe that this could happen. What I don't buy is the son telling someone straight-up that his *dad* paid for her. I mean, that's basically saying, "I gotta pay for it" or "I can't get laid unless my dad pays someone", right? Why not lie or be vague?
I feel like there's an age range for guys where you would mock this. The age range of, "I get it. You don't pay them for sex, you pay them to *leave*," perspective comes later. God, I can't believe I just quoted Sheen. Ugh.
Also possible, the kid is an indiscreet idiot.ReplyCancel
Her son Patrick was my first and onlu guess as well. This wouldn't be the first time that good old mom has been the (seemingly only) voice of reason on that family and intervened; remember when she flew out East and immediately put the ki-bosh on Swifty trying to get her hooks into Patrick a few years back? (GREAT mom-move btw.) Taylor immediately realized that's Maria was not someone who she wanted to or could f**k with and took the next Kennedy she actually could get-that poor high schooler Connor.ReplyCancel
I also thought Cage had long ago bought ass for Weirdo Weston before he found steady female company himself. Wasn't it a blind here, lol?
Serious question: how long could you talk, face to face, with Jaden Smith, until you jack slapped the stupidity off of his face? My palm itches whenever I see that constipated faced jizz whistle.ReplyCancel
Long time lurker first team poster. Have to say that without your comments I read daily I would go crazy! Thanks for your entertainment guys!ReplyCancel
Welcome Sophia! Glad to have you on board, unless you're bat $hit crazy, then, grab a chair and make yourself comfortable…
There's gonna be a show tonight folks! Grab the popcorn!
Not one of the Kennedy's can claim the victim card. They are all a victim of the family hubris. The same hubris that catapulted them to the upper echelons in government, power, and pay offs. The same that keeps their criminal asses out of jail consistently, no sympathy for any of them. However, if a family did fare better than any other in the Kennedy clan it was Eunice and Sargent Shriver. They and Jackie, didn't want their kids running wild all over Massachusetts like wildebeests on cocaine and acid.
I was far more worried about Tyler Swifts reputation and well being. She is far too good for any Kennedy off spring.ReplyCancel
di Butler asked: Serious question: how long could you talk, face to face, with Jaden Smith, until you jack slapped the stupidity off of his face?
I have patience now that I didn't have when I was younger. Thirty seconds sounds about right. Is that about how long it takes to walk across the room to where he's standing?
Nutty, I <3 U. That is the best slam, you should get credited if some yobbo uses it!ReplyCancel


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Skip to comments.How Can You Close the College Saving Gap?
Posted on 02/14/2013 1:12:15 PM PST by Kaslin
Dear Carrie, I'm the father of three teenage daughters. I've been saving for college since they were babies, so I'm shocked to find myself $100,000 short. How can I cover this gap? The oldest is 16. --A Reader
Dear Reader, First, I want to congratulate you for making saving for your daughters' educations a priority. It's no easy task to keep that as a primary goal in the face of all the other costs of raising children. A national Sallie Mae study, "How America Pays for College 2012," found that the typical family covered just 28 percent of their kids' college costs through savings and income in 2011-12. So give yourself a little credit.
But it's no wonder that parents are struggling. According to the College Board, average total charges for in-state students at four-year public colleges and universities in 2011-12 were close to $18,000 a year. Total costs for out-of-state students were over $30,000 per year. Yearly total costs at private nonprofit four-year institutions were close to $40,000. And these are just the averages!
Multiply these average annual costs by four years and then by three children and you have a tremendous challenge. Fortunately, with some research and planning -- and a little help from your daughters themselves -- there are ways to meet it head-on.
Research -- and apply for -- all financial aid
A lot of parents make the mistake of thinking their kids won't qualify for financial aid -- and make the even bigger mistake of not applying for it. But whether it's through private scholarships or government grants and loans, there's a considerable amount of financial help out there -- and not all of it is asset based.
Again, according to the College Board, in 2011-12, full-time undergraduate students received an average of $13,218 per student in financial aid from a combination of federal loans and other sources. That's pretty encouraging.
Equally encouraging is the fact that the Department of Education has made the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) process more streamlined and easier to navigate. Consider, too, that in FAFSA calculations, only 5.64 percent of parents' assets are considered available for college expenses. There's also an asset protection allowance (which increases as the parents age), so a certain percentage of assets won't be counted. Retirement accounts and the value of your primary residence are also excluded.
I don't know how close your daughters are in age, but another factor that increases eligibility for aid is how many kids you have in college at the same time. Finaid.org is a good resource to research ways to maximize financial aid eligibility.
Help with student loans
There's a lot written about the burden of student debt these days, and there's no denying that paying back student loans can be an albatross for many years if not managed wisely. But today, student loans are a fact of life and a viable way to pay for an education. The average student loan debt for 2011 graduates was $26,500. However, you don't necessarily have to saddle your daughters with the entire bill. To cover the shortfall in savings, you could finance a certain percentage of college costs through student loans (ideally federal) and help your daughters pay them back over time.
Put your kids to work
If you haven't done it so far, now's the time to get your daughters involved in saving. Encourage them to get a summer job or even part-time work during the school year and put a percentage of their earnings toward college. It's not unusual for kids to contribute toward their education. According to the same Sallie Mae study, students pay about 12 percent of college costs from their own savings and income, and the National Center for Education Statistics reports that about 40 percent of full-time undergraduates work while in college.
You could also encourage your daughters to put a portion of any monetary gifts toward a college account. Speaking of gifts, when grandparents or other relatives want to buy something for the girls, suggest a contribution toward their education. It all adds up!
Be tax-smart
If you don't have your savings in a 529 College Savings Account, consider opening one for each of your daughters now. A single person can contribute up to $70,000 per child (or $140,000 for a married couple) without gift tax implications, and earnings grow tax-free. Withdrawals are also tax free if used for qualified education expenses.
Once your oldest daughter is in college, talk to your tax advisor about available college tax credits and deductions.
Protect your own retirement
One last -- and very important -- thought. Even though you're saving for your kids, don't short-change your retirement. There are many ways to pay for college, but retirement savings is pretty much up to you. By all means help your daughters, but make sure that when they're graduated and on their own, they can feel confident that you've not only take care of them, you've taken care of yourself, as well.
First, you find all the community colleges within driving distance and sign up to those for the first two years. Second, if the kid is fairly smart...sign up for CLEP and DANTES testing on five or six subjects. Almost all community colleges will accept a couple of these as part of the overall credit. Finally, maybe the kid realizes after two years that some technical area at the community college was better than wasting four years at a real college.
Community College for the basic courses, a State School for the last two years; Or online learning (from MIT, etc.)
DO NOT borrow money from the Federal government "Direct Loan" program! We did that for one year and they are a nightmare to deal with. But what did we expect from a bureaucracy created to fund 0bamacare?
We can, by pinching pennies, pay for about 80-90% of our son's costs out of current income. The rest we are paying through our home equity line of credit. Lower interest rate and the interest is still tax-deductible as mortgage interest. It's much better than the government route.
Do cost/benefit analysis on the degrees your daughters pursue.
If you don't do this, then you have no right to complain when they are buried in college debt and waiting tables at Applebee's.
Allow the promise of the web to full filled.
The Sate University Unions don't allow classes to be taught online.
Don't send 'em to college. The return on investment is minimal to non-existent and you and they will have to suffer through a lifetime of leftist indoctrination.
My lessons learned from college financial aid?
No one pays the full amount, except for Bill Gates' kids.
Do not have savings in the childrens' names. It is taken right off the top before financial aid is calculated
Do not contribute to 529's. It also is taken right off the top before financial aid is considered.
Or, in some states, after child is accepted at college and financial aid is calculated, open a 529 and put the maximum amount in. Withdraw it the next day to pay for college expenses. You still get the state tax deduction.
Assets, such as primary home, are less important, vs. W-2 income, which should be minimized.
Like most things the Gov't does, its anti-family - its better off if you are divorced. Child can go with the spouse who has lowest income for FAFSA calculation
Now that the Gov't controls education, financial aid and higher-education is like welfare, medicaid and foodstamps - the prudent and conservative pay more. Scammers pay less.
It depends on why they are going to college. If they want a technical degree; engineering, chemistry, medicine, yes, they need to go to college. I am not going to see a doctor who "self studied."
For the rest, it's optional.
FAFSA and Direct Loans are the collegiate collective farm, comrade. And they are just government rip-offs.
Paying to send your kids to hell doesn't sound like a good investment.
That is a great idea!
Other ideas: Tell the kids right up front (say, about sophomore year of high school) the fixed amount you are willing to pay and for what time frame. Whether it is $50,000/year for 8 years or $10,000/year for 4 years, be sure they know what you are willing to put on the line, so that they will own any decisions that require them to take on debt.
Help them see the "cost" of going longer than is really needed, and the "cost" of going for degrees that are worthless. At one point my daughter thought she might not graduate (BSN/RN) in 4 years. I showed her that one more year of college would cost X for more school expenses PLUS Y for the lack of income at her occupation for that extra year; which made it more than twice the "cost"... about a week later, she had met with an advisor, and they worked out a plan that kept her on track for the 4 year graduation.
Be sure they understand the "cost" of taking student loans that will end up just financing a party or frivolous lifestyle while in college. The extra $100 or $300 per month, borrowed now to allow for plenty of pizza and beer, turns fairly daunting when amortized for the 10 year repayment plan, with interest....
Consider deferring borrowing as long as possible and/or making some interest payments while the kid is still in school; will keep the interest from compounding the first 4 years or so.
Do what I did...WORK!!!
I was a waiter in college, I made a killing especially on football weekends.
And employers will want to know how you financed your education.
Community College for the basic courses, a State School for the last two years;
That's worked for my son, he graduates in June!
Damn, you learned that the hard way too! I also found out that there is a huge difference in tuition between colleges in the east (where we live) and in the midwest and west. One year in Virginia, even in a modest conservative college, was more than double what we paid for the same thing in Idaho.
Yeah, it is hard having the kids that far away, but you can buy a lot of airline tickets for the difference in tuition. After the first year, we gave them very little help. With the greatly lowered tuition rate, they didn't need it.
All graduated with less than 20K in loan debt. Not fun, but manageable since they actually learned marketable skills.
College doesn't pay and as it is 100% gov't funded now you can expect that if they borrow even a penny they WILL be required to work for the gov't for a number of years to pay it off... it isn't the rule now but THINGS CHANGE...
I suggest learning a trade ... plumbing , HVAC , splicing fiber cable , anything to do with gas and oil ,, move to Montana ... YES , even for girls.. farming is GOOD ,, have them take out a college loan and buy a 20 acre farm... nothing says the money has to be spent on college ... college kids spend their loan money on tattoos and beer...
Not every child should go to college, even if you can afford to send them
That is due to change under Obamacare.
Yes, WORK! Also not mentioned yet (I don't think) on this thread is GI Bill Benefits. My son started college then determined he was not sufficiently self-disciplined to go through at age 18, joined the Marine Corps for 4 years. Then worked full time at Home Depot and went to school full time, getting GI Bill Benefits, plus HD gave some bonuses or subsidy for his tuition. Got his degree 9 years after high school graduation, but saw it through and has been steadily employed since age 15.
And, all you really did was fund a bunch of lazy, Liberals in so-called "Education".
I have two in college. Both work. Both live at home. Both are going to a state supported school. My son is saving up to be able to pay next year to live on campus. They rent their books from Chubb when they can. Tuition and fees run about 4K a semester for each one. Book prices are Crazy! No Loans.
Exactly. Minimize any money that is in your child's name. The FAFSA process will consider that ALL of it is to be used for tuition.
Instead, take the money that you would have used to put in a 529 account, and use it to pay down your mortgage. Equity in your home is NOT considered in the FAFSA process. Read the FAFSA calculation document(available online). If your house is paid off, then max out your 401K contributions in the years leading up to your kid going to college.
Did all of that. Enjoyed it. Have no regrets.
Would I have borrowed money or taken my parents' money to do all that?
Part of the problem with colleges is the lack of transparency in prices so that people can compare prices. The other problem is the treatment of college as a wealth transfer method - charging people based on income by subsidizing the "poor", pretty much all of them. The third failing is the introduction of social engineering and political correctness, essentially charging whites and Asians more to subsidize the less capable minorities.
1. Not all universities take the full amount of 529 savings off the top in calculating "expected financial contribution."
2. The income of the non-custodial parent is included in financial-aid calculations.
Nevertheless, it is shocking how much middle-class families are expected to pay toward college costs, and how little of the total assistance distributed is in the form of merit-based aid.
Each kid costs 7-8 thou/semester in state school (tuition, books, room and board). TUITION MANAGEMENT is the way to go. T.U. takes around $1600 out on the 10th of every month for each of our kids and it works for us as long as don't buy a new house, truck, boat, or anything else. $3200 on average/month, our only real expense and it works for us and no loans to ever be payed back to anybody.
Can't even imagine how people send their kids to schools that cost 40-50k/year?????
With what I made from my summer jobs, my parents didn't have to pay a dime.
Obama will be out in 4 years, and we're going to need good young officers to help rebuild the force.
And, the student gets no useful education, only indoctrination. Sounds like good reasons to bag the whole idea to me.
Having said that, I put both of my kids through state universities.
The son is a Deputy Sheriff with 4 kids in Podunk, USA making $17 an hour. The daughter is an engineer with a large defense contractor making 6 figures. She has no spouse, no kids, no pets, no houseplants, no debt and is having a grand old time.
Go figure.
Dear Mr. Stupid.
The simple solution to the problem is to get government "free money" and "bennies" out of the Colleges of our country.
When the students have to pay for their college (like back in the old days) the amazing fact would be that the price of college would revert to "supply and demand" and the old business saying "what the market will bear."
Suddenly, the cost of college would almost have a free-fall to justifiable costs.
The second thing is that not everyone has to go to college. A good technical education in many cases is far better since the demand for skilled trades is far more reliable than the market for heavy thinkers and pencil pushers.
FYI. Mr. Stupid does not refer to you....it refers to the man writing the letter in the article.
Rule #1.
My parents and my own college employment made that true for me. I passed along the boot strapping, at least for my kids' undergraduate degrees (2 out of three in Science).
I am not a Mister anyway.
In the good old days, only the rich went to college, then the WW2 Vets got to go and that changed everything. Then the Universities got to figuring out how they could again make awesome money by getting the Government involved and here we are with 4 year degrees taking 5 years and costing huge amounts of money and not teaching graduates decent skills.
I agree you don't need College for everything. You know what, I think its a form of daycare for lots of Parents.
I'd like to see a cap of 4 years for a B.S. for one.
Now they get the money from foreign students paying full freight and using TAs who can barely speak English to teach classes.
Outstanding points!
Please excuse my ignorance, but what is Chubb in this instance? I know that there is a huge insurance company by that name but I don't know of a Chubb involved in education. Thanks.
"DO NOT borrow money from the Federal government Direct Loan program! We did that for one year and they are a nightmare to deal with."
We never did that, but what was the nightmare?
"Nevertheless, it is shocking how much middle-class families are expected to pay toward college costs, and how little of the total assistance distributed is in the form of merit-based aid."
No, it's not. At least if you think as a conservative. The ENTIRE GOAL of the left-wingers that run our colleges has ALWAYS BEEN to punish the rich...and to them, the rich is anyone above the federal poverty level. So they have FINALLY achieved their long-term goal, which was to charge tuition based on family income - you make more, you pay more - that simple (and, by the way, try to think of anything else priced that way). Of course they couldn't say that outright, so they took an indirect route to the same place. They simply have a very high "sticker price", but give discounts to those that 'qualify', due to 'hardship'.
Do you see the message...when Harvard and the rest of the Ivory League stated that there would be NO MORE MERIT-BASED scholarships (about 2 years ago), they had finally achieved their dream...from their early LSD days...and there is NOTHING we can do about it, since they OWN the schools.
Judge Smails is THE MAN !!
It's the "big education" cycle, dear to the hearts of Democrats:
1) make massive borrowed funds available to students
2) increase school tuition to absorb funding
3) schools pay inflated salaries to inflated ranks of profs and admins
4) profs and admins donate heavily to Democrats
and repeat
Its the big education cycle, dear to the hearts of Democrats:
1) make massive borrowed funds available to students
2) increase school tuition to absorb funding
3) schools pay inflated salaries to inflated ranks of profs and admins
4) profs and admins donate heavily to Democrats
and repeat
worth repeating
If you're paying full price you're doing it wrong.
Kids can work their way thru. They'll value it more if they do. Help out, but no free ride.
Be flexible with school and degree. Few employers care where you went, just that you did and can finish long term hard projects. Go somewhere you can afford. There is a lot of free money out there if you're willing to go to it.
Go somewhere cheap for the first couple years, taking classes taught the same everywhere. Finish somewhere special.
Get a real job which is willing to invest in you. Many will pay your way if you get a relevant degree.
My error. My daughter says its Chegg.com
I started my own business about six years before our kids started college. The turn in the economy cost a lot of our savings. The college accounts were the last to go...but they were raided.
I discovered that if your kids are good students, good citizens, and can sell their abilities to a college, there is a ton of financial aid out there.
I have two kids in college. They each work many hours a week on campus. Combined, their debt will be about $25k. Now our business is moving again...we will help pay off their debts in about five years.
It's possible to do it. It just takes work.
They don't respond to inquiries. They don't apply the funds to the loans you direct them to. If a private lender did what they do, thekd be prosecuted.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.


text:
I couldn't quite place it until just the other day when I was looking at old photographs. At times, my daughter's smile has reminded me of the smile of her great grandmother, Ethel Murrell. Take a look and let me know what you think.
Just my way of sharing with family, friends, and anyone who will listen, the things that I have learned about my ancestors with a little bit about myself and my own little family in the mix.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Wordless Wednesday: A Smile Comparison
7 comments:
Yes I see it. Two beautiful girls with a lovely smile.ReplyDelete
I definitely see it, too. Very sweet!ReplyDelete
awww. yes, I see it.ReplyDelete
Betty, Heather, and Kristin...I am glad to see that other people see it.ReplyDelete
They do smile alike! The resemblance isn't just the lips either. It's the gentle radiance in the eyes. They are beautiful.ReplyDelete
I can certainly see why you felt this way . . . 2 very lovely smiles!ReplyDelete
YES! And I love it that she resembles your grandmother so much.ReplyDelete
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Behind the Scenes: The Corporate Governance Preferences of Institutional Investors
Joseph A. McCahery
Tilburg University - School of Law; European Banking Center (EBC); Tilburg Law and Economics Center (TILEC); European Corporate Governance Institute (ECGI)
Zacharias Sautner
Frankfurt School of Finance & Management gemeinnützige GmbH
Laura T. Starks
University of Texas at Austin - Department of Finance
June 2015
Journal of Finance, Forthcoming
We survey institutional investors to better understand their role in the corporate governance of firms. Consistent with a number of theories we document widespread behind-the-scenes intervention as well as governance-motivated exit. Both governance mechanisms are viewed as complementary devices, in which intervention typically will occur prior to a potential exit. We find that long-term investors and investors that are less concerned about stock liquidity intervene more intensively. Finally, most investors use proxy advisors and believe that their information improves their own voting decisions.
Number of Pages in PDF File: 46
Keywords: Institutional investors, corporate governance, shareholder activism
Date posted: March 15, 2010 ; Last revised: July 7, 2015
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By Harriet Laird/MSU University Relations
STARKVILLE – With ground already broken around north campus' Chadwick Lake, Mississippi State University is beginning construction of a walking and exercise track to provide additional health benefits for university employees, students and local community members.
The $497,000 project is part of the "MSU on the Move" health initiative, a collaboration of the University Health Service's health education and wellness department and the Jackson-based Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation.
Noting the consistent patterns of recent late winter-early spring rains, project manager Bill Broyles said the MSU Division of Student Affairs is "so pleased construction finally has begun.
"This track will be a tremendous asset to both the university and surrounding communities in helping us all develop a healthier lifestyle," the associate vice president for student services added.
Broyles said the .95-mile walkway will include a .80-mile concrete loop circling the lake, with an additional .15-mile exercise loop just north of the Sanderson Center.
The 6-foot-wide concrete trail will feature four primary access points: near the west-side boat launch, Bryan Athletic Administration Building's east side, George Perry Boulevard's east-side multi-use path, and varsity softball and tennis' shared parking lot.
The project's expected completion date is early fall. Weathers Construction Inc. of Columbus is general contractor.
"This construction project is another example of our excellent partnership with the BCBS Mississippi Foundation in a committed effort to promote health and wellness for the state," said Joyce Yates, health education and wellness director for University Health Services.
Said Sheila Grogan, executive director of the BCBS of Mississippi Foundation: "Our investment in the MSU on the Move initiative is another component in our work to build a healthy Mississippi, and we're excited to be part of providing students, faculty and the entire community with a great venue for exercise. We appreciate the university's leadership in helping promote an environment of health and wellness for the Starkville area."
Last year, the BCBS Mississippi Foundation awarded a total of $562,485 for the "MSU on the Move" program to promote a healthier culture throughout campus and the community.


text:
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Operation: End War - Complete Video Released
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text:
Disclaimer this story isn't exactly family friendly
So, this might seem a bit long winded, however since it's been so long since I've posted on these forums and I've been going through some 'historical' internet sites from my past. I decided the best place to post this would be on the Managshare forums because.. ehh why the hell not. So without further adieu the Tranny Hooker story.
While I was in college I met this guy named Mark, who was kinda a quiet stoner guy. He always befriended women with out ever having any luck getting into their pants, yet would hang out far past the point of Friend Zone.
All throughout college and in high school I don't believe he ever got laid.
Regardless, he had some issues in school and didn't wind up graduating from College and smoked perhaps a little too much weed. However managed to land a job at the place I worked in the IT Help Desk. So we continued to keep in touch.
Chapter 1: The meeting
After knowing Mark for around 4-5 years with out him ever being on a single date it was odd to hear him mention that he started seeing someone. He explained that he had met her on the Bus and that she was a really great girl, and in fact I would soon be meeting her at our mutual friends Birthday party.
A little later in the work week I was chatting with a colleague and he mentioned that he thinks he might have met a friend of mine, Mark. After a brief exchange of what he looks like we indeed confirm that we're talking about the same person and he lets it slip that she, used to be a he.
This was going to be an awkward birthday...
Chapter 2: The deceit
Being the slight asshole that I am, I felt the need to tell all of our mutual friends that he was dating a transexual person prior to the birthday party. -- You know, to avoid any bad comments.
The birthday rolls around and largely goes off with out a hitch, she seems like a nice enough person. However she liked to bring up odd conversation topics such as her precious polyamorous relationships, etc.
We make it through the birthday, and the following Christmas party where the only hiccup is the transexual claims my friend grabbed her boob. Which doesn't make sense considering the lack of boobs.. but I digress.
All of my friends have kept tight lipped that they knew she was a transexual through all of these events.
Chapter 3: The reveal
After around a year, Mark and the transexual decide they're going to be serious and move in together. Some would consider this early considering her job was working at a grocery store and making near minimum wage but to each their own.
After his birthday they decide to finally come out of the closet and announce on Facebook of all things that She used to be a He and they he is fine with it... about a week later they break up.
They got into an argument and she gave him a black eye. So he kicks her out and she moves into a homeless shelter. Horrible timing for him as he could have saved some face by just holding out on that announcement a week or two more.
Chapter 4: The hooker ads
Fast forward a few months, and I'm talking to another transexual person I know. They are discussing that they are low on money as they are paying their way through school and being the helpful person I am. I decide to send them a link to the Transexual Hooker ads.
Lo and behold I find Mark's ex-girlfriend is advertising her services. So being the gentleman I am I create a fake email account to get some pricing.
Now admittedly at this point it wasn't confirmed to be 'her' as someone could have stolen the photos off Facebook etc. (Wouldn't be the first time a Craigslist hooker ad had fake photos, but I ran with it)
Again I feel the need to update all of my friends, and set up a Google Alert for all future ads with her name in them.
This sparks a great debate between myself and my friends on if we should tell Mark. After all he may feel bad and take her back. We settle on not telling him anything.
Chapter 5: The porn
Fast forward a few weeks and I'm checking my email. I see my Google Alert and I notice it now mentions a web site. Being intrigued I click on the link and find myself on a Tranny Porn website.
It appears that my friend's ex-girlfriend is now not only a hooker, but a porn star. Again, I feel the need to update everyone on the situation and most find it funny. Few find it truly disturbing. (No I won't be providing links..)
Again my friends and I go into a debate on if we should update him on these rather humorous life developments, but again we decide to let the past be the past and not bring it up unless needed.
Chapter 6: The reunion
Browsing Facebook I see that Mark has been tagged in a new Photo and he is with the Transexual ex-girlfriend again. So I promptly update everyone and one of my friends being a little drunk at the time fires up the Facebook.
He browses her page and sees the lovely status 'Having icecream for third time this week; what am I pregnant'. He finds this amazing and feels the need to comment 'I think having a penis makes that impossible'.
That short simple sentence causes a flood of text messages, and Facebook messages. Mark is giving him shit saying being rude isn't needed so my friend decides to take the high road and tell him he's fucking a Tranny Hooker Porn Star.
-- Radio silence for fifteen minutes --
He replies saying that he knows she is a tranny hooker, and that she is doing porn and he has seen all her stuff and loves it. Personally I think this is bullshit and that fifteen minutes was really the best possible argument to have in a relationship.
She later sends a message to my friend stating that yes she is indeed a tranny hooker and does porn. Truly ruling out and shadow of doubt that people might have had.
Thankfully someone said something which means Mark will at least know he's banging a potentially aids infected person nightly and we can all rest easy our conscience on holding this back from him.
Final Thoughts
I'll be sure to update this thread with any update regarding the situation. I debated making this a blog post but bah, no-one reads those anyways.


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"Try to read this without laughing out loud
Quality work at a fair price with excellent customer service!
Romans Ch's 5-6-7-8
2 Chronicles 7:14
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Bet they don't do that again .
It is not so much what you say, but HOW you say it...... !
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Those who believe, appear ignorant to those who do not know God.
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There is an article in the Cosmetic Surgery Times Vol 11 No 5 2008 on the subcutaneous injection of carbon dioxide (CO2). The treatment is called carboxytherapy.
Subcutaneous injections of carbon dioxide (CO2) can safely and successfully treat cosmetic concerns such as skin laxity and fatty deposits that may remain following liposuction, as well as psoriasis and hair loss, says an expert based here. Additional uses for this treatment — called carboxytherapy — include stretch marks, scars and cellulite, he says.
This is the first time I have ever read or heard of carboxytherapy. So I did a search using carboxytherapy on Medscape -- no articles. I searched the database of the Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery -- no articles. I changed the search to carbon dioxide/ subcutaneous injections and got this one relevant hit:
- Carbon dioxide therapy in the treatment of localized adiposities: clinical study and histopathological correlations. Aesthetic Plast Surg, May 2001
I didn't do any better with a google search. At least not for scientific information. So back to the CST article, here is a description of carboxytherapy:
I've been using this technique for more than a year, and getting fantastic results," says Raphael Nach, M.D., a head and neck surgeon in private practice. He estimates that he has treated at least 40 patients for post-liposuction problems such as persistent islands of fatty tissue, skin irregularities and skin laxity. Dr. Nach explains that by adding CO2 gas to the subcutaneous tissues, localized post-operative accumulations of fat can be reduced or eliminated." Alternative forms of treatment have been advised to assist the general recuperate process," he says, "but none have been as successful in eliminating these localized fatty deposits."
TECHNIQUE IN BRIEF The technique requires no anesthesia. First, one sterilizes the skin with Hibiclens (chlorhexidine topical antiseptic; Mölnlycke Health Care U.S., Norcross, Ga.) or its equivalent, he details. "Then a 30-gauge needle connected to the carboxytherapy machine is used to infiltrate the tissues with different volumes of carbon dioxide gas, depending on the condition that's being treated," Dr. Nach explains. A typical treatment site requires about 50 cc to 200 cc of gas, injected either once or twice a week, he says. Each session lasts 15 to 20 minutes. Depending on the treatment area, he says, four to six puncture sites with the 30-gauge needle may be necessary.
I found some references that state that this procedure is FDA approved (including Dr Nach), but according to the ASPRS website (2008) it isn't.
Injection of carbon dioxide for cosmetic purposes, namely to treat cellulite. Not U.S. FDA approved.
I then tried a search of the FDA website and got no hits on carboxytherapy or carbon dioxide/ cellulite.
So for now I would suggest being very skeptical of any claims that carboxytherapy would improve anything. Dr Oliver or anyone else have any information on this? Preferably scientific information.


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