text:
English & Farmstay 1 Per week
One week Full Board + 10 hours lessons + 10 hours farm activities1099
English & Farmstay 2 Per week
One week Full Board + 10 hours farm activities
(No English lessons)855
Optional ExtrasPer week
Prices quoted are subject to change
SPECIAL OFFER 2017! 15% discount if you book & pay a €300 deposit by 29th March. *
The English & Farmstay Programme provides the unique opportunity for a full immersion experience, living with your own private teacher and family on their farm in Ireland. Students receive private English lessons from their own private teacher, farm activities and full board accommodation. Staying on a farm in Ireland really is a great way to learn English.
Experience life on an Irish farm, take part in the farm activities and enjoy the home cooking, fresh air and fine views of the beautiful Irish countryside.
Farm activities will vary depending on the farm but some examples are as follows: fruit picking, harvesting the vegetables, collecting eggs from the hens, feeding the farm animals, milking the cows/goats, haymaking, preparing the firewood, working in the garden, preparing bedding for the animals etc. Our English Courses on a farm in Ireland are different to any other English language experience.
Please note that the farmhouses are rustic and students should not expect a high standard of accommodation. They do however offer clean, comfortable accommodation and a charming country and outdoor lifestyle.
This option is for students who would like to experience the farmstay programme but do not require English lessons. It includes 10 hours of farm activities and full board accommodation.
Closer supervision is designed for under 18s. We guarantee that the host teacher or an adult member of the family is at home at all times when the student is there. This guarantee does not include activities.
Dublin is the capital city of Ireland and has a population of 1.1 million. Because of extra costs for families who live in the capital city, placements of students with host families in the Dublin region requires an additional payment.
With this option, we guarantee that you will be placed with a host family where you will have access to your own private bathroom. (This option is included in the English for Business course.)
We can arrange a transfer from the nearest airport, station or seaport to your host family. N.B. Students under 16 MUST take 2-way transfers unless we are informed that they will be accompanied by their parents on arrival and departure.
This option can be selected if you wish to stay an extra night at beginning or end of your stay with your host family. It is only available on a full board basis.
Click on a destination on the map for more information
My teacher encouraged me to talk and increased my confidence. My family was very friendly so I felt included in the family.
Exquisite hospitality from the host family, excellent teaching, plenty of activities with farm animals. My wife Serena and I, thank you very much for giving Laura this opportunity.


text:
FTC rules on Warner Bros. paying PewDiePie, others for positive coverage of Shadow of Mordor
This time, Warner Bros. walked away with a slap on the wrist. Should the publisher make this mistake again, the FTC won't be so lenient.
READ MORE >"meh... It was a good game though. They probably didn't need to do that anyways."
see all 3 commentsReport: Game industry best at keeping mature content away from minors
The Federal Trade Commission's annual shopping survey shows that the video game industry is still the best at self-policing itself, keeping mature content away from minors.
READ MORE >"More important take the time and effort to be a part of their child's lives. "
see all 13 comments

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Distances are calculated in a straight line and may not reflect actual travel distance.
It is important to note that this mortgage calculator is for guidance purposes only. Mortgage lenders have their own affordability criteria therefore it is important you speak to one of our Mortgage Advisers for further information and a more accurate indication of what products may be available to you and what your monthly mortgage payments are likely to be.
This fantastic three bedroom semi detached property is one not to be missed. The property comprises of entrance porch, hall, living room, office/snug, kitchen diner, downstairs family bathroom, landing three good size bedrooms large storage cupboard that could be converted into a bathroom, externally there are gardens front and rear, driveway for several cars. Do not miss out
Contact branch for relevant Energy Performance Certificate
Double glazed uPVC window. Radiator, solid oak flooring.
Solid oak flooring, under stair storage, ceiling light.
Double glazed uPVC window. Radiator and gas fire, solid oak flooring, original coving, ceiling light.
Radiator, original coving, ceiling light.
UPVC double glazed door. Double glazed uPVC window. Radiator, original coving, spotlights and ceiling light. Composite work surface, wall and base units, one and a half bowl sink, integrated oven, integrated hob, overhead extractor.
Double glazed uPVC window with frosted glass. Heated towel rail, vinyl flooring. Low level WC, panelled bath with mixer tap, shower over bath, wash hand basin with mixer tap.
Double glazed uPVC window
Double glazed uPVC window. Radiator, ceiling light.
Double glazed uPVC window. Radiator, ceiling light.
Double glazed uPVC window. Radiator, ceiling light.
Ceiling light.
Oops, something went wrong!
This site requires the use of Cookies to work correctly. It appears that your browser does not support Cookies, or that they have been turned off. Please check your security settings and allow cookies for this site, or obtain a new browser such as Firefox, Chrome or Internet Explorer.


text:
Contact l Sitemap
When mining companies started calling tribal offices last year, Navajo President Joe Shirley Jr. issued an edict to employees: Don't answer any questions. Report all contacts to the Navajo attorney general.Decades after the Cold War uranium boom ended, leaving a trail of poisonous waste across the Navajo Nation, the mining industry is back, seeking to tap the region's vast uranium deposits once again.Companies are staking claims, buying mineral rights and applying for permits on the edge of the tribal homeland. They make no secret of their desire to mine within the reservation as well.That prospect has turned neighbor against neighbor and touched off legal, political and financial maneuvering far from Navajo lands.Fifty years ago, a nuclear arms race propelled the search for uranium. Today, the driving force is the quest for new sources of energy. China and India are building nuclear reactors at a rapid pace to fuel their growing economies, and the Bush administration is pushing to expand nuclear energy in this country to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil.With demand increasing, the price of uranium has climbed to more than $60 a pound. Six years ago, it was as low as $7.Mining companies are extracting uranium in Texas, Wyoming and Nebraska, and are taking steps to mine in Colorado.But Navajo country, covering some 27,000 square miles in Arizona, New Mexico and Utah, is the biggest prize of all "the Saudi Arabia of uranium," in the words of Mark Pelizza, a vice president of Uranium Resources Inc.A subsidiary of the Texas-based company holds a Nuclear Regulatory Commission license to mine in and around Crownpoint, a crossroads town of 3,000 Navajos that sits on the largest known undeveloped uranium deposit in the U.S.URI officials are seeking permission to begin mining on a test basis in the nearby township of Church Rock, N.M., in 2008. If results there convince regulators that the project is environmentally sound, the company will be allowed to start operations in Crownpoint.Mining in both places is expected to yield 42 million pounds of uranium over 20 years worth more than $2.5 billion at today's prices.Two Canadian firms Strathmore Minerals Corp. and Energy Metals Corp. are also laying the groundwork for mining.Altogether, the three companies have acquired rights to tens of thousands of acres just outside the reservation's southeast boundary. URI alone has invested more than $25 million.Mining executives say they plan to extract uranium from underground rock formations through an environmentally benign chemical process. There will be no blasting, no unsightly pits and no lasting contamination, they say.Unconvinced, the tribal council last year passed a ban on mining or processing uranium in "Navajo Indian country," a term that embraces both the reservation and neighboring communities such as Crownpoint and Church Rock that participate in tribal government.Federal courts have recognized "Indian country" as extending beyond the reservation's boundaries, but the ban seems destined to be challenged in court.After the measure took effect in April 2005, mining concerns kept calling the Navajo capital, Window Rock, Ariz., hoping to secure support for their projects. So Shirley signed Executive Order 02-2005, which instructs tribal employees to avoid any "communications with uranium company representatives."The directive infuriated mining executives. "You tell me, what kind of a democracy is that?" asked John DeJoia, a Strathmore vice president. "They've got tremendous resources out there. They're a very poor nation. That could change."Robert McNair, director of capital projects for Dejour Enterprises Ltd., a Canadian energy company, asked state officials for help. He reached Derrith Watchman-Moore, New Mexico's deputy environment secretary.A Navajo who had served as the tribe's environmental director, Watchman-Moore told McNair there would be no new uranium mining until past contamination had been purged. "My strategy was to discourage them from asking for a permit," she said.It worked. Dejour decided to focus instead on a huge deposit in Saskatchewan.The tribal government has also tried to block financing for the projects. When Shirley learned Itochu Corp. was considering investing $32 million in the URI venture, he asked the Japanese conglomerate not to do it."The Navajo people have made our wishes and our laws clear: We do not want further uranium mining in our communities," Shirley said in a letter to Itochu's chairman.But URI, Strathmore and Energy Metals have pressed on. They have an important ally in Sen. Pete V. Domenici (R-N.M.), who has been a forceful advocate for nuclear power as chairman of the Senate Energy Committee.In the spring, Domenici pushed Department of Energy officials to meet with mining executives who were worried that the government might sell large quantities of uranium from a 135-million-pound federal reserve that is costly to maintain. The mining officials feared such a step would depress the price of the metal and make it harder to finance their projects.An assistant energy secretary assured the executives that there would be no big sales before 2009, according to records obtained under the Freedom of Information Act. Later, the Energy Department drafted a long-term strategy for the reserve and invited the industry's views.Mining companies say about 100 skilled laborers will be hired at each site. Those jobs, along with income from mineral leases, could help ease pervasive poverty among Navajos, they say.Opponents say the environmental risks are too great. One of URI's planned subterranean minefields is within a mile of six wells that supply drinking water for about 15,000 people in and around Crownpoint. Chronic exposure to uranium in drinking water has been associated with kidney disease and increased risk of cancer.URI's federal license requires it to provide replacement wells, but tribal officials worry that contaminated water could migrate toward the new wells. No company has ever mined so close to a public water supply using the technology employed by URI.The uncertainties unsettle many Navajos, who are surrounded by the legacy of past mining abandoned shafts, tainted wells, radioactive dust."All these promises I don't believe a word of it," said Larry King, a 49-year-old Navajo who raises cattle on his family's ranch in Church Rock. "I've seen too much mining. I'm not convinced."The right solution?Most of the projects would employ "solution mining," in which water fortified with oxygen and sometimes bicarbonate is injected into an underground formation of porous sandstone. The solution washes uranium and other minerals from the sandstone. The uranium-laden water is then pumped to the surface. There, the uranium is filtered out, dried and trucked away for further processing.The oxygen solution is pumped back into the aquifer, and the process is repeated until the sandstone has yielded all the uranium that can be removed economically.The amount of water poured back into the ground is slightly less than was removed, creating a low-pressure area. This causes groundwater to flow into the mining zone rather than away from it, and prevents uranium and other contaminants from spreading, according to the companies.Just in case, they plan to ring mining zones with test wells so that any movement of pollutants will be detected promptly.After an area has been fully mined, the producers would restore the aquifer by repeatedly pumping water to the surface, cleaning it with the same process used to purify bottled drinking water and injecting it back into the ground.Solution mining has a three-decade track record in the U.S. Five facilities are operating today one in Wyoming, one in Nebraska and three in Texas."I'm not aware of any major disasters," said Tibor Rozgonyi, head of the mining engineering department at Colorado School of Mines. "You can control the contamination, if you design correctly."The questions revolve around whether aquifers can be permanently cleaned.In Wyoming, the state Department of Environmental Quality has approved the closure of two solution-mining sites in the last two years. But it took at least six years to clean the aquifers to the state's satisfaction. "We think they can do it faster, in two or three years," said Richard Chancellor, the Wyoming official overseeing the restoration.In a boom and bust industry, time matters, he said: "What if they went bankrupt and walked away?" Bonds posted by mining concerns might not cover all the costs of cleanup and monitoring, skeptics say.In Texas, Uranium Resources Inc. is having difficulty cleaning a solution mine south of Corpus Christi. George Rice, a hydrogeologist hired by a review board in Kleberg County, found elevated concentrations of uranium, radium-226 and other pollutants more than five years after mining had ended.In his report, Rice wrote that a URI official told him a request to relax the state's cleanup standards was "inevitable."The problem, Rice wrote, is that once a closure is approved, the company can stop pumping, cleaning and monitoring groundwater. "There is no guarantee that the water will not migrate beyond the mine's boundaries," he wrote.Pelizza of URI says it shouldn't matter if the water in a solution-mining zone isn't totally purified as long as it meets standards for its pre-mining use. "How clean," he asked, "is clean enough?"Troubled historyThe Puerco River, which runs along the southern boundary of the Navajo reservation, is usually dry in the summer. But early on July 16, 1979, the channel roared with 93 million gallons of radioactive water.An earthen dam at a uranium mill in Church Rock had ruptured, releasing liquefied tailings, a waste product of traditional uranium production.The result was the largest accidental release of radioactive material in American history. The surge was detected 50 miles downstream, in a stretch of the river that Navajos use to graze cattle and irrigate their corn.The dam was considered state of the art, officials of United Nuclear Corp., which operated the mill and a nearby uranium mine, later told Congress.The Environmental Protection Agency is trying to decontaminate groundwater at the site. But project manager Mark Purcell said the task may prove impossible. Some of the tainted water is moving toward Navajo land, he added.With this experience as a backdrop, Navajo organizations and environmental groups are fighting URI's plan to make Church Rock a test site for solution mining.A tribal water resources manager, John Leeper, noted in a written declaration to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission that private wells tap the Church Rock aquifer "for human drinking water."King, the rancher, joined the board of the major opposition group, Eastern Navajo Dine Against Uranium Mining. (Dine, pronounced dih-NEH, is Navajo for "people.") The organization joined outside environmentalists in appealing URI's federal license, stalling the project for years.It has sponsored protests with a rallying cry of leetso doo'da Navajo for "no uranium." Its leaders have traveled to Washington, D.C., and the United Nations to argue against a resumption of mining."We don't want nobody doing experiments around our area, no," King said.To Juan Velasquez, Strathmore's vice president for environmental and regulatory affairs, such talk is "the bane of the uranium industry. We're all fighting against emotional arguments."Velasquez knows mining's troubled history in Church Rock. He became president of United Nuclear four years after the 1979 tailings spill, with responsibility for cleaning up the mill.In 1992, the NRC ordered the company to set aside more than $16 million to guarantee completion of the cleanup. Instead, on Velasquez's instructions, the money was turned over to United Nuclear's parent company.The commission imposed an unusually large $100,000 fine for "willful violation of an NRC order." United Nuclear agreed to pay $99,000 without admitting wrongdoing. Velasquez called that "a business decision" and said "there was never a time in which any surety was at risk."Before Velasquez's arrival, United Nuclear had closed its Church Rock uranium mine, leaving behind a pile of radioactive waste ore. The closure met federal standards then in place. In August, a heavy rain flushed radioactive material from the mine into an arroyo.Velasquez said he had no concerns that today's stricter mining regulations might likewise prove inadequate in the future. The Navajos, he said, have more pressing health issues than uranium mining."We could worry ourselves to death that one additional cancer in a million will be caused," Velasquez said. "It sounds stereotypical, but these Indians jump in their car and drive 90 miles per hour down the road. But they won't take the risk on uranium."Twenty-five miles northeast of Church Rock, the groundwater in Crownpoint is pure. Uranium permeates the sandstone in the aquifer, but it is tightly bound.Water from the six municipal wells, famous for its sweet taste, contains trace concentrations of uranium far below the EPA maximum for drinking water, federal regulators say.URI wants to transform an old uranium drilling site into a solution-mining zone and processing plant.For now, the lone employee at the site is Benjamin House, who signed on with URI 10 years ago, when it was the only company pursuing a mining license. A former delegate to the Navajo council, House has purchased airtime on the Navajo radio station to press the company's case. He has also booked tours of URI's Texas facilities for tribal and local leaders.He steels himself for confrontation as he makes his rounds. URI plans to mine a second site west of Crownpoint. When House stood there recently, in a sparse field of tumbleweeds and pinon trees, a red pickup halted abruptly on the nearest dirt road. The driver leaned out the window to snarl at House.House knows what his detractors think: "I sold out." But, he said, some Navajos approach him on the sly, saying they could use the jobs mining would bring.House's most vocal backers are nine extended Navajo families who signed mineral leases with URI in the early '90s. They look forward to receiving royalties if mining gets underway.Among them is Bessie Largo, a widow who makes ends meet by weaving rugs. Speaking in Navajo translated by House, she said her acreage was not suited for farming. "We are supposed to make a living off that land, and that is exactly what we are trying to do," she said.Preparing for battleThe tribe claims jurisdiction over any territory where mining would affect Navajo residents, regardless of who owns the land or the mineral rights."A sovereign has a right to protect its people against environmental threats," said David Taylor, an attorney in the Navajo Department of Justice.Mining executives, however, are honing arguments that the tribal ban does not apply to their lease-holdings in an area known as the "checkerboard," at the reservation's southeast edge.Here, the tribe's communal land gives way to a hodgepodge of parcels held by federal and state agencies, private businesses and other owners. This is where the planned Church Rock and Crownpoint solution-mining sites are.Strathmore is leasing land owned by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. URI plans to mine on land the Navajos bought from the Santa Fe Railroad in 1929. The railroad retained the mineral rights, and a successor sold them to URI.The uranium firms don't hide their eagerness to move onto the reservation proper. Pelizza sees the checkerboard projects as the key to achieving that goal."There's a concern. Once we've addressed those concerns, maybe the Navajos will see that and make exceptions," he said.Taylor, the tribal lawyer, says it won't happen."We have no intention of letting them mine without a knockdown, drag-out legal battle," he said.
This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.


text:
GLOBAL MARKETS-Asia stocks advance, dollar, oil recover from multi-month lows
* Asia higher but markets nervous about U.S. growth prospects
* US GDP disappointment weighs on Latin American currencies * Real drops as Mantega says dollar "will not melt down" * Real trims losses as central bank sells dollars By Walter Brandimarte and Alexandra Alper RIO DE JANEIRO, Jan 30 The Brazilian real weakened on Wednesday, following gains of over 2 percent since the beginning of the week, after Finance Minister Guido Mantega warned that the government was ready to correct any excessive moves in the exchange rate. The real trimmed losses, however, after the central bank announced it was selling dollars with an agreement to repurchase them in two months, effectively rolling over a line worth some $1.2 billion that expires later in the week. The real closed at 1.9875 per dollar, 0.2 percent weaker than Tuesday's close. The Brazilian central bank's decision to roll over its $1.2 billion line was seen by analysts as the latest sign that the monetary authority is willing to keep the real weaker than 2 per dollar to help anchor inflation expectations. "The central bank is using the currency as an instrument of monetary policy," said Paulo Petrassi, a partner at Leme Investimentos in Florianopolis, Brazil. "I believe the real will now trade between 1.96 and 2.0 per dollar -- that is a level that helps curb inflation without hurting the competitiveness of industry." The central bank's action came right after Mantega's comments weakened the real to nearly 2 per dollar. The real had strengthened past that level on Tuesday as a central bank decision to roll over some currency swaps was interpreted as a green light for a stronger exchange rate in the short term. Piercing the 2-per-dollar mark was a symbolic development in Brazil's foreign exchange market because that had been a limit to an informal trading band of 2.0-2.1 per dollar in effect since early July. For most of last year, the central bank intervened in the market to weaken the real in a strategy to benefit exporters and boost local industry. As late as November, Mantega had promised Brazilian businessmen that a real weaker than 2 per dollar "was here to stay." Despite the recent rally, Mantega still sounded comfortable with the current exchange rate, telling reporters in Brasilia that the real has been "spontaneously moving to a more balanced level." He warned, however, that the government would correct any "excesses" in the exchange rate and assured that the dollar would not "melt down" against the real. An unexpected contraction in the U.S. economy in the fourth quarter announced on Wednesday also weighed on Latin American foreign exchange markets, keeping the currencies of Mexico and Chile little changed against the dollar. The Mexican peso dipped 0.06 percent to 12.7273 per dollar. The U.S. Federal Reserve said it would continue its $85 billion bond-buying plan, as widely expected. Easy monetary policies by the Fed and other major central banks could keep pushing global investors into emerging market assets this year. However, the Mexican peso has fallen more than 1 percent from 10-month high on Jan.17 after the central bank warned it could cut the benchmark interest rate if inflation keeps falling and growth flags. Lower benchmark interest rates could curb the attraction of peso-denominated assets to global investors. Some analysts think the shift in the central bank's stance reflects a desire for a weaker peso. One Mexican central bank board member, Manuel Sanchez, told Reuters he thought external factors were more important in driving peso at the moment than internal factors. Solid U.S. demand has supported Mexico's economy, which sends about 80 percent of its exports to the United States, from sluggish global growth and helped the peso and local stocks, which are trading at record highs. Data last week showed bets in favor of the peso on the Chicago exchange fell back from a record high of nearly $6 billion hit in the middle of the month. The huge number of investors already betting on a stronger peso could discourage new investors from piling in. A sharp loss in the peso could send many speculators running for the exits at the same time, which would drive the currency even weaker. "Internal and external factors do favor the peso, but again given everyone is very long already, it's going to be very choppy," said Thin, who expects the peso to trade in the 12.6 to 12.8 per dollar range over the next week. Latin American FX prices at 21:15 GMT: Currencies daily % YTD % change change Latest Brazil real 1.9875 -0.18 2.64 Mexico peso 12.7273 -0.06 1.07 Chile peso 471.1000 0.08 1.61 Colombia peso 1776.510 -0.19 -0.59 0 Peru sol 2.5670 -0.23 -0.62 Argentina peso 4.9775 -0.05 -1.31 Argentina peso 7.8900 -1.14 -14.07


text:
What's better than a track featuring some of your faves? A video featuring some of your faves. Coming from the critically acclaimed Golden Age of The Apocalypse from Thundercat is the clip for Walkin', with appearances from some of your fave LA cats. Let's see if you can spot them. ;)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)


text:
'Radio Star' (Live)
Bruce Soord and Jonas Renkse perform 'Radio Star' at their debut gig at The Garage, London in July 2013 as part of Kscope's Five Year Anniversary Shows.
WISDOM OF CROWDS is the new album from an exciting new project featuring Bruce Soord from The Pineapple Thief with Jonas Renkse from Katatonia.
Originally written with Renkse's voice in mind, Soord sought out the acclaimed Katatonia vocalist to complete the compositions and release the music to the masses. Despite the rigorous schedules of The Pineapple Thief and Katatonia, the two musicians were eventually able to connect
Wisdom Of Crowds
Radio Star
Frozen North (download here)
The Light
Stacked Naked
The Centre Of Gravity
Flows Through You
Sign up to the Kscope mailing list to download an edit of 'Frozen North'
Order the WISDOM OF CROWDS album here
or download from iTunes
Frozen North promo
Promo for 'Frozen North' directed by Pele Newell
watch on YouTube / Vimeo
Download this track for free when signing up to Kscope's mailing list
Shot and edited by pelecandesign.com
Vimeo: vimeo.com/user4985574
YouTube: youtube.com/user/PelecanDesign
"Wisdom of Crowds is a jaw-dropping work of art..."
"...this is the sound of two supremely talented artists snatching magic from the ether."
9/10 Dom Lawson (Metal Hammer)


text:
The price that the New York Times is urging the Obama administration to sell the people of Taiwan to mainland China for is $49,793.8708 per person. The only thing Leftists, including their Communist faction, care about is money. In this case, the New York Times agitates for selling almost 23 Million people into slavery for the sum of $1.14 trillion. If you think the NYT is trying to deflect criticism by sticking a former Marine on this topic, you are probably right. That is another favorite tactic of the Left, see John F. Kerry (he served in Vietnam) and others.
Slaver Paul V. Kane |
To Save Our Economy, Ditch Taiwan
By PAUL V. KANE
Published: November 10, 2011
. . . There are dozens of initiatives President Obama could undertake to strengthen our economic security. Here is one: He should enter into closed-door negotiations with Chinese leaders to write off the $1.14 trillion of American debt currently held by China in exchange for a deal to end American military assistance and arms sales to Taiwan and terminate the current United States-Taiwan defense arrangement by 2015.
This would be a most precious prize to the cautious men in Beijing, one they would give dearly to achieve. After all, our relationship with Taiwan, as revised in 1979, is a vestige of the cold war.. . .
The NYT vision of Taiwan's future. |
Yes, the same New York Times that employs Thomas Friedman, regular agitator for the mainland Chinese version of "capitalism", which resembles most closely the National Socialism of Adolph Hitler, with a higher death toll.
What has happened since the days of 1863 when Henry Raymond manned a Gatling Gun to defend the paper against rioting pro-slavery Democrats? Nothing good, I assure you.
Update: I do not recognize Paul V. Kane in this video, allegedly of Marines urinating on corpses in Afghanistan. I am not yet convinced that it is authentic either.
If you want to piss on corpses, piss on these. |


text:
Disclosure: We get a commission for links on the blog. You don't have to use our links, but we're very grateful when you do. American Express, Barclaycard, Chase, and US Bank are Million Mile Secrets advertising partners. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or endorsed by our partners. Here's our Advertiser Disclosure.
Don't forget to follow me on Facebook or Twitter!
- Introduction
- Planning
- A Bad Start & a Few Hours in Los Angeles
- Air France Lounge – Los Angeles
- Air France Business Class – Los Angeles to Papeete
- Getting to Moorea
- Hilton Moorea
- Hilton Moorea, Panoramic Overwater Bungalow #87
- An ATV Tour in Moorea
- Whale & Dolphin Watching in Moorea
- Eating in Moorea
- Moorea to Bora Bora
- Bora Bora Airport To InterContinental Thalasso
- Emerald Overwater Bungalow #204 at the InterContinental Thalasso Bora Bora
- Jet-Skiing in Bora Bora
- A 9 Hour Bike Ride Around Bora Bora
- Eating in the InterContinental Thalasso
- InterContinental Thalasso Coral Garden Suite
- Around the InterContinental Thalasso
- Hilton Bora Bora Nui Resort
- Royal Overwater Villa, Hilton Bora Bora Nui
- Dinner at Villa Mahana
- Eating in the Hilton Bora Bora
- Is Food Expensive in Bora Bora?
- A Day in Papeete
- Air Tahiti Nui and Southwest Flights Home
- Conclusion & Blog Giveaway!
Emily: After a day of exploring Papeete, we drove back to the airport to catch our flight back. There was a long line to check-in, but the line for business class was shorter.
After passing security, we went to the lounge which was nothing too special.
There were some snacks and a very small selection of prepared food (if you could find it!).
There was a refrigerator with a selection of juice and sodas.
There was also a bar where you could make your own drinks…
…as well as coffee, tea, and hot chocolate.
The couches were comfortable, but there was no business center with computers or workstations. It was also very cold!
The main airport waiting area looked really nice and modern. In my opinion, it looked even nicer than the lounge but without the free snacks and refreshments.
There was even an art gallery there!
Soon enough, it was time to board our flight. The Air Tahiti Nui plane seemed a bit older from inside.
The seats were bright blue with white flower imprints and had yellow pillows with blue blankets. I loved the bright colors!
We also got amenity kits with the usual toothbrush, toothpaste, and L'Occitane lotions and creams. We also got an eye mask, socks, and ear plugs.
Darius and I were thrilled with the large selection of newspapers and magazines. They even had The Economist!
However, the business class seats didn't recline all the way back.
So it was difficult to lay down for a good night's sleep. But as you can see, Daraius had no problem sleeping!
I did the best I could though, and managed to get maybe five or six hours of sleep which felt great!
Daraius: I had dinner, but wasn't anything particularly memorable.
Here's the menu:
Here's the Drink menu:
I had the bluefish terrine, but wouldn't get it again.
I had the chocolate cake for dessert which was okay.
Here's the wine list:
I skipped breakfast so that I could sleep longer.
After we landed in Los Angeles, we picked up our bags and went through customs, and walked to Terminal 1 for our Southwest flight. We checked in for our flight and and rechecked our luggage to Kansas City.
Everything took about two hours and we had about an hour left before it would be time to board our flight, so we went to the US Airways Lounge to get some work done. The US Airways lounge had a nicer atmosphere than the Air Tahiti Nui lounge in Papeete!
However, there was no prepared food, but there was a lot of seating and two business areas to work in.
Soon enough, it was time to board our flight, so we lined up for our Southwest flight to St. Louis, where we had a 1.5 hour layover. We grabbed dinner at California Pizza Kitchen got some more work done and boarded the last flight of the day to Kansas City. We finally arrived in Kansas City at 9:30 pm dreaming of our third honeymoon!
We were so lucky to be able to use our miles and points to visit such a beautiful place!
* If you liked this post, why don't you join the 8,500+ readers who have signed-up to receive free blog posts via email (only 1 email per day!) or in a RSS reader …because then you'll never miss another trip report!
* If you liked this post, why don't you join the 25,000+ readers who have signed-up to receive free blog posts via email (only 1 email per day!) or in an RSS reader …because then you'll never miss another update!


text:
The Shortlist for April 6
By Jennifer Odell
In today's edition of Heidi Montag Meets the Knife, our fearless heroine "didn't know" what the "back scoop" procedure she had done was even for. "Eh, so they cut out part of my back. I can no longer hug people or jog. No big whoop." (Us)
Photos: Heidi Montag


text:
by Robert Kozak Email: Anonymous
Need to find out if a DLL or EXE was compiled with Delphi (or C++ Builder)? This small console app that examines a DLL, Package or EXE and reports whether it was written with Delphi (or C++ Builder), the version and whether it was compiled with the Standard, Professional or Enterprise (Client/Server) versions.
For Delphi, Version 1.0 to 5.0 1578 downloads Copyright: All rights reserved
We're sorry, but errors in the uploaded zip file prevent it from being explored.
The error generated by the Zip attachment is:
You may still be able to repair the zip file contents if you download the entire zip locally. You may also want to ask the author to repost the attachment.
Server Response from: ETNACDC04


text:
Pareshaan News
Birthday Special: Pareshaan, Zehnaseeb – Check out 5 best songs of Parineeti Chopra!
On the occasion of birthday of Daawat-E-Ishq actress, Bollywoodlife brings you 5 best songs of Parineeti Chopra
The journey of Parineeti Chopra from investment banking to PR agent to an actress has been nothing short of a fairy tale. With in a short span of time in her career, Pari has made a name for herself in Bollywood with her terrific performances in films like Ishaqzaade, Hasee To Phasee and many more. Click here to read more -
GiMA Awards 2013: Barfi! bags 7 nominations
Global Indian Music Academy (GiMA) has announced its nominees for the fourth edition of Star GiMA Awards 2013
GiMA is a pioneering effort by Wizcraft International Entertainment to recognise Indian music. The nominees are voted by GiMA's jury, who have some of the most respected artistes in the country.Click here to read more -
Imran Khan and Vir Das to host MTV Video Music Awards, India!
The musical night (MTV Video Music Awards, India) is going to be the first ever and with the who's who of celebville attending it, it sure will be an exciting night…
This year MTV India is bringing its first ever awards show, VMAI (Video and Music Awards, India) hosted by Imran Khan Click here to read more -
Pani da, Chikni Chameli, Tumhi ho bandhu or Aashiyan: Which is the best song of 2012?
Vote for your favourite song of the year
Which song has been constantly playing on your car stereo this year – Challa from Jab Tak Hai Jaan, Aashiyan from Barfi! or Tu hi mera from Jannat 2? Click here to read more -
Shalmali Kholgade: Deepika Padukone is my favourite
After jamming with Parineeti Chopra and brainstorming with Amit Trivedi, we wonder what the new playback singer on the block will do nextThis young enthusiastic musician made sure that she heard Bollywood music only outside her home environment. She has never been an avowed Hindi music fan, until fate came up with new plans for her, of course. She entered the labyrinth of B-town with a bang. Delivering hit numbers like Pareshaan (Ishaqzaade) and now Daru desi (Cocktail), Ms Kholgade has decided to give working in this industry a shot. Click here to read more
Top 5 songs of the week: Mukhtasar tops the charts!
Check out the songs everybody is humming these days!
The Bollywood songs that have made it to the Top 5 this week are known for their melodious yet catchy tunes. What's more, they have stayed put for a while on the charts, which shows that it's difficult to stop humming them once you are hooked on to it. While the one song that is currently reigning the list is 'Mukhtasar' from Shahid Kapoor-Priyanka Chopra starrer, Teri Meri Kahani, the songs that follow are also known for their quality and controversies. Curious to know what made it to this coveted list? Click here to read more


text:
Smooshers graphics
Friday, March 16, 2012
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Wishing all of our friends, fan, and Polymer Clay Smooshers guild members a Happy St. Patrick's Day! =)
Sculpting O the Green
Curated By: CreativeCritt...
Unique Gifts
To view any of these items more closely simply click on the picture to be directed to the listing.
Thanks for visiting the Smooshers!
Find the Smooshers on Facebook
Visit the Smooshers Blog
Check out the Smooshers guild on ArtFire
0 Smooshing Thoughts:
Post a Comment
Newer Post
Older Post
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)


text:
What you need to know about buying birdseed
Don't Get Stuck Holding the Bag
by Rich Finzer
Related Articles |
Bird Watching
Feeding the Birds - A Family Project Pringles Can Bird Castles |
Every year, millions of Americans spend literally millions of dollars buying birdseed for their outdoor feeders. Feeding birds is a terrific pastime, and in harsh climates, the seed consumed by the little birds at your feeder might be the difference between life and death. I've enjoyed feeding wild birds for nearly 40 years, but what I don't enjoy is being taken to the cleaners when I buy seed. Not all birdseed varieties are created equal.
During a recent trip to the big red farm supply store (you know the one), I noticed a pallet load of 25-pound sacks of birdseed. The price was $12.99. Funny thing was that the bag was not clear plastic, so I could not see what I was buying. I could, however, read the ingredients. And just like people food, the ingredients listed on a bag of seed are listed in order by their weight. On the bag in question, the top two ingredients were cracked wheat and milo. So what's wrong with that? Plenty!
For starters, wheat is not an attractive food source to most wild birds. I don't know what it tastes like to them, but judging by how much of it gets picked out of the feeder and discarded on the ground, it must appeal to birds the same way kale appeals to most humans. As an aside, I believe the only reason grocery stores even sell kale is to persuade people to buy something else. However, if it's all that's available, birds will eventually eat wheat. They will not, however, eat milo. So what exactly is milo? Good question.
Milo seeds are reddish brown little orbs about the same size as a BB. And they were put in that 25-pound bag just for their weight. The good stuff like sunflower and safflower seeds and the white millet were printed much farther down on the ingredient list. That's why the bag was not clear plastic. No one would have bought one. But please don't think that just because birds will not eat milo, that other critters won't. What will eat milo with relish (or ketchup) are field mice or rats. Where large crops of grain are raised, field rats are an unfortunate reality. Now, if you don't mind attracting mice and rats to your property, go ahead and buy inexpensive seed mixes with plenty of milo. You'll save quite a bit of money. And you can use those savings to buy mousetraps.
Here's another thing to keep in mind when you're buying birdseed. Pay no attention to the pictures of the birds on the bags. The 25-pound bags I mentioned earlier featured a likeness of a Rufus Sided Towhee and an Eastern Bluebird. Both are insect eaters. So unless you intend to stock your feeder with grubs and centipedes, they won't come around anyway. The pictures were there because those two species have very distinctive plumage. Remember that what's in the bag is heaps more important than what is on the bag.
So what kind of seed did I buy? I bought a 10-pound clear plastic bag of birdseed containing white millet, safflower seeds, cracked corn and peanuts. The price was $9.99. That's right. I bought 60 percent less seed and paid nearly the same amount of money. The difference is that birds will eat 100 percent of it. Think of it this way; buying seed mixes with wheat and milo is the same thing as not buying any seed at all.
Take the Next Step:
- To purchase birdseed at a great price, visit Amazon.com
- For more on hobbies, visit The Dollar Stretcher Library .
Share your thoughts about this article with the editor
Prices keep rising while my income remains stagnant and I worry I am heading for debt trouble. Tell us: Yes, I think I am heading for debt trouble and could use some help! or No, I am not in debt trouble but I am always looking for new ways to help keep my budget on track!
More Money-Saving Lifestyle Tips
- Why cheap shoes are a bad buy
- 5 ways timing can make a difference in your bottom line
- Barter your way to some of life's luxuries
- 4 steps to a simpler (and more frugal) life
- 6 tips for a fabulously free vacation
- Secrets to living luxuriously for less
- Saving-money secrets of the rich and frugal
- This week's Readers' Tips


text:
Ready to Buy?
Retail: | $3.25 |
Save: | $0.55 (17%) |
Price: | $2.70/EA |
In Stock
Delivery Details
Handy Hands Moonlit Tatting Shuttle
With Hook, Sapphire Gem
Item #: NOM438248
FREE Shipping on this item with any order over $49
- Moonlight Tatting Shuttle With Hook.
- Make tatting easier with a premium Lizbeth tatting and needlework threads (sold separately).
- This package contains one 3x7/8x1/2 inch tatting shuttle with a hook.
- Comes in a variety of colors.
- Each sold separately.
- Imported.
Looking for more items of this kind?
Additional Colors/Styles
Product Reviews
This product is not yet rated. Be the first to Write a Review!


text:
#12436 closed bug (fixed)
Performance degradation with delegate events and pseudo-classes
Reported by: | menno.vanslooten@… | Owned by: | dmethvin |
Priority: | blocker | Milestone: | 1.8.2 |
Component: | event | Version: | 1.8.1 |
Keywords: | Cc: | timmywil | |
Blocked by: | Blocking: |
Steps to reproduce
Bind a delegate event handler to the document where the selector contains a pseudo-class.
Expected result:
The number of internal calls for the handler is only dependent on the DOM depth of the element that receives the event.
Actual result
The number of internal calls is dependent on the total size and complexity of the DOM.
If a delegate event handler is added to the document like so:
$(document).on('click', 'button', function() {});
The number of calls internally in jQuery when an element is clicked is only dependent on the DOM depth of the element clicked.
But if such a handler is added for a pseudo selector:
$(document).on('click', ':submit', function() {});
The number of internal calls is now suddenly dependent on the total size of the DOM and grows very quickly.
Open the following jsfiddles in Firefox (+firebug):
http://jsfiddle.net/mennovanslooten/DySJq/4/ This fiddle has a single paragraph and results in 223 internal calls.
http://jsfiddle.net/mennovanslooten/EZGys/5/ This fiddle has 10 paragraphs and results in 295 internal calls. Even though the paragraphs are in parts of the DOM that are not affected by the event.
http://jsfiddle.net/mennovanslooten/u9Cmr/1/ This fiddle uses the jquery.com homepage source as an example of a more complex DOM and results in 2993 calls.
The number of calls grows very quickly. For a project I'm currently working on it's almost 12K on some pages resulting in seconds of latency.
Change History (17)
comment:1 Changed 5 years ago by timmywil
- Cc dmethvin added
- Component changed from unfiled to event
- Priority changed from undecided to low
- Status changed from new to open
The expected result is invalid. You're delegating from the document, which is the entire DOM. Take advantage of event delegation by limiting it to a narrower context and it won't have to check every parent.
However, the fiddles made me notice something else. Rather than doing a selection and using .index(), perhaps .is() with contains() would be faster.
comment:2 Changed 5 years ago by dmethvin
Ouch! Yes, we should get matchesSelector goodness where possible. Although it seems like the killer here is just unwise selector and delegation point choice. The importance of both is documented in the Event Performance discussion, I gave a presentation on it last year, I've warned about it in other bug tickets, and mentioned it in commit messages.
comment:3 Changed 5 years ago by menno.vanslooten@…
The expected result is invalid. You're delegating from the document, which is the entire DOM. Take advantage of event delegation by limiting it to a narrower context and it won't have to check every parent.
I know it's bad practice but to say the expected result is invalid is not doing the issue justice, I feel. Neither 1.8.0 nor 1.7.2 show this behavior. Nor is it showing this behavior when a non-pseudo selector is used.
Although it seems like the killer here is just unwise selector and delegation point choice.
I won't deny that it's not the best idea I've ever had. To me the killer is that it looks like jQuery checks the entire DOM in stead of only the chain of ancestors whenever a pseudo selector is involved. Has something changed internally making this a worse idea than it was in the past? I just want to understand.
comment:4 Changed 5 years ago by josh@…
Just hit the same issue on github.com. Upgraded to 1.8.1 earlier today and clicking anything on a big dom was painfully slow.
I can look into a patch to Sizzle if someone isn't already working on one.
comment:5 Changed 5 years ago by dmethvin
- Owner set to dmethvin
- Status changed from open to assigned
@josh, what do your selectors look like? If they're standard CSS3 selectors the problem should be fixed when we switch back to .is() which will end up using the browser's matchesSelector.
comment:6 Changed 5 years ago by dmethvin
- Milestone changed from None to 1.8.2
- Priority changed from low to blocker
comment:7 Changed 5 years ago by josh@…
@dmethvin yeah, no custom pseudo extensions.
Reverting this commit basically fixes the issue for us. https://github.com/jquery/jquery/commit/afd717df9e189d3e374ce938f03e2712f31c29e3
comment:8 Changed 5 years ago by Dave Methvin
- Resolution set to fixed
- Status changed from assigned to closed
Fix #12436, make delegated events fast again. Close gh-923.
Retains the rooted-at-delegateTarget behavior fixed in #12383 by afd717df9e.
Changeset: 9b67b4c0ef311f96d6e035fd38bbfbe42a82b392
comment:9 Changed 5 years ago by mikesherov
#12510 is a duplicate of this ticket.
comment:10 Changed 5 years ago by timmywil
#12513 is a duplicate of this ticket.
comment:11 Changed 5 years ago by timmywil
#12543 is a duplicate of this ticket.
comment:12 Changed 4 years ago by latchkey
I think this just broke my site.
Works fine with 1.8.1, but breaks with 1.8.2.
comment:13 Changed 4 years ago by dmethvin
@latchkey, that was never valid. The selector must be a string. This is a closed ticket. Ask for help on the forum.
comment:14 Changed 4 years ago by info@…
The problem is still existent.
We use something like this in our code and you can feel the performance decrease since 1.8.1. (Commit: https://github.com/jquery/jquery/commit/afd717df9e189d3e374ce938f03e2712f31c29e3)
$("#elementWithID").on('click','.elem:eq(1)', function(){...});
Changeset: https://github.com/jquery/jquery/commit/9b67b4c0ef311f96d6e035fd38bbfbe42a82b392 didn't solve the performance issue.
Tested with: v1.8.3pre d70e64bff2660cf5a801fe818f1170d5ea93e4fe and 1.8.2
We can't use pseudo-selectors in our delegation events as long this issuse is present.
comment:15 Changed 4 years ago by mikesherov
- Cc timmywil added; dmethvin removed
Timmy, thoughts? Needsdocs? Or is there still another fix here?
comment:16 Changed 4 years ago by dmethvin
Please don't throw comments onto a closed ticket if a problem still exists. Instead, open a new ticket WITH a test case so we can investigate.
comment:17 Changed 4 years ago by timmywil
The links don't help much. "All pseudo selectors" is an overstatement. It is only combinators (which will use qsa) and POS selectors (which won't) that still use a selection with .index. All other selectors will do a simple contextual match and no longer have the performance regression.


text:
Updated on 8 November 2013
Ibuprofen, ibuprofen plus paracetamol and steam inhalation provided no advantage to respiratory patients also had no clear benefits
Singapore: A research carried out by the University of Southampton and published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) showed that ibuprofen or a combination of both ibuprofen and paracetamol provided no advantage for patients with respiratory tract infections.
The research, which is titled 'Ibuprofen, paracetamol, and steam for patients with respiratory tract infections in primary care: pragmatic randomized factorial trial', was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Programme Grants for Applied Research programme.
Furthermore, the study found that steam inhalation, another common treatment method, had no clear benefit and around two percent of people get mild scalding but not bad enough to see a doctor.
The research also showed that patients were more likely to come back within a month with worsening symptoms or new symptoms if they were prescribed with ibuprofen or ibuprofen with paracetamol. Between 50 percent and 70 percent of participants in the study, who were prescribed ibuprofen or ibuprofen with paracetamol, came back.
Professor Paul Little, who led the study, commented that, "Clinicians should probably not advise patients to use steam inhalation in daily practice as it does not provide symptomatic benefit for acute respiratory infections and a few individuals are likely to experience mild thermal injury. Similarly, routinely advising ibuprofen or ibuprofen and paracetamol together than just paracetamol is also not likely to be effective. However our research has shown that ibuprofen is likely to help children, and those with chest infections."
Editor's Pick
Featured Links
Survey Box


text:
It's been 26 years since Gordon Gekko of Wall Street pronounced greed is good. We won't take it that far.
What we would say, however, is that paying your bills on time is excellent. Saving some money each pay period is spectacular. Having resources to splurge from time to time is magnificent.
The key to enjoying those types of luxuries is finding a good-paying job. Our Best Jobs of 2013 features a buffet of remunerative occupations spanning the six industries we cover, even the stereotypically starving-artist filled creative industry. Here are those 19 jobs, where both earnings and employment opportunity are ample.


text:
Climate change mitigation
From Library of Congress Subject Headings
Climate change mitigation
- http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh2009009655
- info:lc/authorities/sh2009009655
- http://id.loc.gov/authorities/sh2009009655#concept
Instance Of
Scheme Membership(s)
Collection Membership(s)
- Climate mitigation
- Climatic changes--Mitigation
- Climatic mitigation
- Mitigation of climate change
Broader Terms
- Environmental protection
Related Terms
- Climatic changes
- found: Work cat.: Connecting biodiversity and climate change mitigation and adaptation, c2009: p. 3 (The good management of ecosystems such as wetlands and forests, remains an effective mitigation option given the high sequestration potential of natural systems) p. 6 (climate-change mitigation; climate change mitigation) p. 17 (climate mitigation policies)
- found: Condon, P.M. Urban planning tools for climate change mitigation, c2009.
- found: The economics of climate change mitigation, c2009.
- found: United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change home page, Nov. 24, 2009: Methods & science > mitigation of climate change ("under Article 4.1(b) of the Convention, all Parties are required to undertake efforts to mitigate climate change")
- found: Google search, Nov. 24, 2009 (481,000 results for "climate change mitigation"; 367,000 for "climatic change mitigation"; 12,600 for "climate changes mitigation"; 620 for "climatic changes mitigation"; 76,500 for "climate mitigation"; 4,330 for "climatic mitigation")
LC Classification
Change Notes
- 2009-11-25: new
- 2016-06-30: revised
Alternate Formats
Suggest terminology
The LC Linked Data Service welcomes any suggestions you might have about terminology used for a given heading or concept.
Would you like to suggest a change to this heading?
Please provide your name, email, and your suggestion so that we can begin assessing any terminology changes.
Fields denoted with an asterisk (*) are required.


text:
- Insider Monkey•last year
Is Ellie Mae Inc (ELLI) A Good Stock To Buy?
Hedge Funds and other institutional investors have just completed filing their 13Fs with the Securities and Exchange Commission, revealing their equity portfolios as of the end of September. At Insider Monkey, we follow over 700 of the best-performing investors and by analyzing their 13F filings, we can determine the stocks that they are collectively bullish […]
- Insider Monkey•last year
Should You Buy Kennametal Inc. (KMT)?
The elite funds run by legendary investors such as Dan Loeb and David Tepper make hundreds of millions of dollars for themselves and their investors by spending enormous resources doing research on small cap stocks that big investment banks don't follow. Because of their pay structures, they have strong incentive to do the research necessary […]
- Market Realist•last year
XBI's Top Ten Small-Cap Stocks Perform on Par with Large-Caps
In the small-cap space, the top ten stocks of XBI had an average return of -12.18% for the week ended September 25, 2015. This is similar to XBI's top ten large-cap stocks that returned -12.15%.
KYTH : Summary for Kythera Biopharmaceuticals, Inc - Yahoo Finance
Kythera Biopharmaceuticals, Inc (KYTH)
NasdaqGS - NasdaqGS Delayed Price. Currency in USD
Add to watchlist
0.000.00 (0.00%)
At close: 4:00PM EDT
Previous Close | 0.00 |
Open | 0.00 |
Bid | 0.00 x |
Ask | 0.00 x |
Day's Range | 0.00 - 0.00 |
52 Week Range | |
Volume | 0 |
Avg. Volume | N/A |
Market Cap | N/A |
Beta | N/A |
PE Ratio (TTM) | N/A |
Earnings Date | N/A |
Dividend & Yield | N/A (N/A) |
Ex-Dividend Date | N/A |
1y Target Est | N/A |


text:
Christian Articles for All of your Publishing Needs!
Translate this Page Here
Free Daily Devotional
and Verse for Your
Website or Blog
Member Login
Submit Articles
Manage Articles
Writer Benefits
Author Terms
Writer Help
More Writer Help
Recent Articles
Browse Articles
Search Articles
Search Writers
Ezines / Email Alerts
Manage Subscriptions
Terms of Service
Word Count
: 1639
Send Article To Friend
Print/Use Article
Contact Richard L. Provencher
Richard L. Provencher
6/24/2008 / Short Stories
On a high hill under tall maple trees stands a small one-story house. Let's take a peek through the window, so we can see what's happening inside.
A father sits on the edge of a young son's bed that is shaped like a sports car. The man is speaking quietly to the boy. His words drift through the window screen like a gentle breeze. "David, I want to tell you a special story."
"You always tell me bed-time stories, dad."
"But today is different. You're finally ten years old, the same age I was when my father told me this story."
"He told you this story on your birthday, too?" David asked.
"Oh yes. There is so much to learn, as you grow older. And things are often very different than you expect." David listened, eyes opened wide. He loved his father very much. And he really enjoyed bedtime stories.
"This one is called the Hole Story," his father said. "That's h-o-l-e."
" David could hardly wait to hear what dad was going to say.
"This story I'm telling you," his father said, "really happened to me. It also happened to my father when he was ten. Then he passed the story on to me. It's about how precious three wishes can be."
Then he began
"One day in your travels you'll come across a hole in the ground. It's always in a particular place in the forest. Only ten year old boys seem to be able to find it."
His father was almost whispering, "How closely you listen to what I have to say will teach you many things." David listened earnestly as his father explained what happened to him, at the same age.
His adventure began next morning after breakfast. David was just ambling along on a trail in the bush back of his house. He was actually looking around for birds and animals. Suddenly, there it was. The Hole. Just like his father had said. It was surrounded by rocks and stones, and was in the ground at his feet.
How come he had never noticed it before? He had been this way more than a few times the past couple of years. David got down on his stomach, trying to see through some kind of haze. He spoke his thoughts aloud. Exactly the way dad told him.
"I wish a clown with polka dots would come up out of the Hole!" he shouted. And just like that one did. David soon saw a red nose and made up face. Spots peppered fat cheeks. The clown wore a large bow tie, floppy shoes with white gloves and baggy green pants. A yellow shirt with red and white braces finished the outfit. But, something was missing.
Where was the wide red mouth and white teeth with loud laughter pouring out? Right now, there were only tears falling down his cheeks.
"Whywhy are you unhappy?" David asked. "Clowns are supposed to be happy."
"How can I be happy?" the clown asked sadly. "There are so many boys and girls in this town who have nothing to laugh at. Some don't even have enough to eat. And their clothes are sort of ratty."
The clown flopped down on the ground.
David sat beside him. "But I'm happy," he said.
"Yes. You're one of the lucky ones," the clown answered sadly. Then he stamped off as if he was angry with David.
The boy watched the clown march down the road, complaining loudly to himself. "Pollution in the air! Hardly any fish left in Nova Scotia! And the price of an ice-cream cone keeps going up!"
"Are things really that bad?" David wondered.
Later that night in bed David thought about the sad clown. "Dad said I get the opposite of what I expect when it comes out of the HOLE." David was pretty wise for a ten year old. His blue eyes twinkled. "Wait till tomorrow," he smiled to himself.
When morning came, David hopped right out of bed. He swallowed his breakfast, waved good-bye to his mom, and rushed off.
"Where are you going?" Her words followed him as his feet thundered down the trail. He had no time to answer. A mischievous grin hung on his face.
David approached the Hole slowly then hung over the edge trying to see inside. He couldn't wait to see how the Hole was going to handle his second wish.
"I wish for a bird that can only moo like a cow," he said. Slowly but surely a beautiful royal blue bird flew towards him saying, "Moo. Moo."
David pressed his hands together. This was fun, he thought. His blond hair glowed in the sun. A wide smile showed all his teeth. But, all of a sudden "Poof" right before his eyes, the bird changed into a cow. It was a huge black and white Holstein, the same as the ones on the hills near Greenfield.
David couldn't even guess how that large animal came from that bird. As the cow came nearer, David reached out to touch it and find out if it was real. But wow, just like that wings appeared from its back and it flew away.
"I only wished for a bird that could say moo," David moaned. He even hoped the bird would sing when it came out of the Hole. He scratched his head in confusion. David could only watch in awe as the cow flew over the trees. It was going to be interesting explaining this to his mom, he thought. What do you suppose she would suggest?
During lunch his father eyed him thoughtfully. David had the feeling his bedtime story was some kind of a test. And he wanted to solve it himself.
The afternoon was warm as David walked down the path towards the Hole. He searched the sky for the flying cow. Or was it a bird? Oh well, whatever. No sign of them or the clown either. All of a sudden his ears heard the sound of laughter on the other side of the hill. Was it a party?
He ran as quickly as he could towards the Hole. The clown was standing there laughing. So was the Cowbird. Then the clown mooed loudly, as both disappeared out of sight down the hill. It was so rapid David was left shaking in his sneakers. Now he was really confused. He ran all the way home right into the arms of his mother.
At the supper table that night he poured out his heart. Words tumbled from his lips as a mountain stream. His mother's eyes opened wide with understanding.
His father listened quietly, a smile on his face.
David left the house afterwards with a solemn heart.
His parents watched him from the veranda. They were confident their son would understand the message of his bedtime story. And they were right.
This time David sat by the Hole and didn't look down. He pondered about the clown and why he was crying. Should David have asked for a happy clown? At least they were supposed to be weren't they?
Suddenly the clown appeared before him in a cloud of smoke. "I was listening to your thoughts," he said solemnly.
"Why aren't you a happy clown?" David asked.
"But I am," the clown answered. "Most of the time anyway. I just wanted you to see it's normal to be unhappy sometimes too." Then he disappeared.
And a bird burst out of the Hole, landing on the ground beside him. Its song was a beautiful serenade.
"How come you're not mooing?" David asked.
"Because I'm a bird, silly. That's why."
"Why did you turn into a cow?"
"Because you were trying to trick me," said the bird. "But I fooled you."
David agreed.
Then the bird flapped his wings and flew down the Hole.
David had one wish left. It was the thing he wanted most in the whole world. Mom and dad said it was fun to wish but not to be unwise.
When the boy wished for a clown, he didn't realize they could be sad too. And then he wished for a bird that mooed knowing it was a silly wish. It was also a wasted wish.
He made a promise not to be so foolish anymore. Maybe it was okay to cry if you were unhappy. Well, at least he learned something. There was one wish left. David thought very carefully.
Should he wish for clouds that tasted like marshmallows? No, that would be too much sweetness.
Should he wish for a tent that flies around like a magic carpet? No, that wouldn't be very useful.
Should he wish for a rainbow with a pot of gold at the end? That way, he could help mom and dad buy that new car they talked about.
He finally decided on the perfect wish. David wished mom and dad were standing beside him, right now.
And before you could shake a bunny's tail, they were. Their joy was more like a family reunion. Together they watched the Hole disappear. David gave his mom and dad an extra special hug
Many years later
In another town far away there is another house on a hill. What do we see as we look through the bedroom window?
A father is sitting on the edge of his son's bed. If you listen closely you can hear what the man is saying.
"Son before you go to bed tonight, I want to tell you a special bedtime story. It's about wishing for something that might turn out different than you expect."
The father's name is David and his son Brad is ten years old today.
* * *
Richard & Esther Provencher 2007
Richard enjoys writing, especially poetry. Many poems have been published in Print and Online Journals. He and his wife, Esther are co-authors of Kindle e-books which are now available on Amazon.com. They are "born again" Christians and very busy in their church, Abundant Life Victory International.
Article Source:
If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be! Click here and
Read more articles
Richard L. Provencher
Like reading Christian Articles? Check out some more options. Read articles in
Main Site Articles
Most Read Articles
or our highly acclaimed
Challenge Articles.
Read Great New Release Christian Books for FREE in our
Free Reads for Reviews Program
. Or enter a keyword for a topic in the search box to search our articles.
User Comments
Enter comments below. Due to spam, all hyperlinks posted in the comments are now immediately disabled by our system.
Please type the following word below:
Not readable? Change text.
The opinions expressed by authors do not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
Hire a Christian Writer
Christian Writer Wanted
Christian Writer Needed
Christian Content Needed
Find a Christian Editor
Hire a Christian Editor
Christian Editor
Find a Christian Writer
Main FaithWriters Site
Acceptable Use Policy
By using this site you agree to our
Acceptable Use Policy
© FaithWriters.com. All rights reserved.
FaithWriters.com Free Reprint Articles - Your place for Christian articles, Christian poems, Christian stories and much more.


text:
Athletes of the Week
Posted December 17, 2010
Ahjalee Harvey
Eastside Prep basketball
The senior had games of 25, 24 and 26 points while finishing with 75 points (with 16 treys) and earning Most Valuable Player honors as the Panthers went 3-0 and captured the championship of the Paris Sisters basketball tourney.
Kalen Gans
Palo Alto wrestling
The junior wrestler captured four matches, including one by pin over the No. 1 seed and one by major decision, on the way to winning the 160-pound division over the No. 2 seed at the Webber Lawson Memorial Invitational.
Hashima Carothers
Eastside Prep basketballHailie Eackles
Pinewood basketballClaire Klausner
Gunn basketballJenna McLoughlin
Pinewood basketballCat Perez
Gunn basketballNatasha von Kaeppler
Castilleja basketballLydell Cardwell
Mid-Peninsula basketballE.J. Floreal
Palo Alto basketballKyle Scherba
Sacred Heart Prep soccerNick Seyer
Mid-Peninsula basketballStefan Weidemann
Gunn wrestlingBrandon Willhite
Woodside Priory basketball
Short story writers wanted!
The 31st Annual Palo Alto Weekly Short Story Contest is now accepting entries for Adult, Young Adult (15-17) and Teen (12-14) categories. Send us your short story (2,500 words or less) and entry form by April 13, 2017. First, Second and Third Place prizes awarded in each category.


text:
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
Guest Post: Series Enders
19 comments:
- Kindlemom said...
Series can be so hard if they are long (more than 5 books) to still love them after so many and of course with duologies and trilogies you get the horror of the books ending horribly or being disappointing (completely agree with you about the Delirium series, hated that ending but loved all the rest!).
I have been happy with quite a few endings though, more so in duologies for whatever reason (and then you don't get that dreaded middle book syndrome either!).
As a writer I can see why it would be so very hard but I know you can't please everyone all the time. - May 6, 2014 at 12:27 AM
- Alise said...
Great guest post, a lot of good points! I think a series ending can either made me really sad or really mad, haha. If it's Allegiant like I would be mad but I remember having such bittersweet feelings about the Infernal Devices and Vampire Academy ending.
- May 6, 2014 at 1:43 AM
- A Voracious Reader said...
I love series, but unless you have a large cast of characters to work with and a long story arc (or several arcs) then the series can get stale. I'm sad when a series ends, but then again...All Good Things Must Come to an End. Right?
- May 6, 2014 at 7:33 AM
- Cathi said...
So I think we can all agree that series endings can be tricky. Now that I'm writing TWO series, I guess I have to learn to avoid the common pitfalls of disappointment and staleness. Thanks for commenting, everyone! And thanks for hosting me, Lauren. :)
- May 6, 2014 at 9:52 AM
- Liviania said...
Interesting. I actually like THG better as a standalone than a series.
- May 6, 2014 at 10:35 AM
- Synchronized Reading said...
I'm always skeptical when I go into the last book in a series. They are always hit or miss for me. Great guest post!
Janina @ Synchronized Reading
- May 6, 2014 at 2:38 PM
- Karen said...
That's so interesting because it was Mockingjay that was my worst series ending. I was so disappointed.
These days I'm like you - I'm just bored after a certain point. It could be because I read so much and can't remember every detail for the 3-5 years it takes.
I read every book as a stand alone now. I don't get that OMG I can't wait for the next book! feeling anymore which is kind of sad but it keeps my expectations in check and preserves my sanity lol - May 6, 2014 at 2:58 PM
- Heidi@Rainy Day Ramblings said...
I so agree, I read so many series and then when I get to the end, I feel like the story still has more to tell. Epilogues are hit or miss. I guess it all boils down to the reader, we have certain expectations and we want things and the author can't possibly please everyone.
- May 6, 2014 at 4:29 PM
- Krysten Gautreaux said...
I feel the same way about series although I think it really depends on the reader. I know a lot of people hated the way the Divergent series ended but I thought that if it had been real life it would have been appropriate.
- May 6, 2014 at 4:57 PM
- kimbacaffeinate said...
It is always to hard to know when to end them. Some series end and I cry because as a reader I was not yest ready to let go. Others I am elated and bid them farewell. Other I think wow, that should have ended two books ago..LOL Great post!
- May 6, 2014 at 5:04 PM
- Lauren D. said...
I'm glad to hear you both loved the end of Mockingjay too, I was beginning to think I was a unicorn cause it seems like everyone hated it. I thought it was totally fitting. Awesome post!
- May 6, 2014 at 5:22 PM
- Medeia Sharif said...
Interesting post. I rarely finish series.
I'd rather read them all after they're published. I don't want to wait between books and forget what they're about. - May 6, 2014 at 5:56 PM
- Andrea Thompson said...
Oh, great topic! Series enders are tough and often are disappointing in some way. I always try to tell myself the author went that direction for a reason, but it is sad when you invest a lot of time and feelings in something that doesn't deliver.
Thanks for the thoughts! - May 6, 2014 at 6:11 PM
- Keertana said...
I wasn't a fan of Mockingjay, but I completely agree that series endings are SUCH DISAPPOINTMENTS since The Deathly Hallows. :/ I've been struggling with them a lot, hence the reason I've taken to picking up more stand-alones lately, but hopefully I'll start to discover more series whose endings I love.
- May 6, 2014 at 6:33 PM
- Aylee said...
I was also very satisfied with the ending to The Hunger Games! I just couldn't see it ending any other way. But, it seems like Cathi and I are in the minority on that one because I know a ton of people hated that ending. Ah well, can't please everyone!
- May 6, 2014 at 8:35 PM
- Michelle @ In Libris Veritas said...
I read a lot of series but I don't always finish them...in fact it's rare that I actually finish them. I don't like reading books from the same series back to back, so often times they simply fall to the wayside as I pick up newer books. But I'm the same way with endings, sometimes they are just disappointing like Allegiant or Narnia. Other times I find that they are perfect like Deathly Hallows or Mockingjay. Sometimes I just avoid the last book because I don't want it to be over.
- May 6, 2014 at 10:24 PM
- Lily B said...
yeah because of this I have a bunch of series I never finished because the last book scares me. It seems to be a hit or miss. I hate that if it's a series you love and the last book ruins it. Which sadly has happened to me before.
- May 6, 2014 at 10:27 PM
- Eileen said...
Yeah I feel like there's so much pressure most of the time to finish the series CORRECTLY and a lot of the times it just doesn't work. Using your example of Alliegant, I loved the concept behind the ending and I thought it was a very fitting ending, but it just wasn't executed well at ALL and it was just ridiculous.
- May 6, 2014 at 11:09 PM
- Candace said...
this is a problem I have too. I actually have several series I haven't finished because I'm afraid of the end. I was disappointed in Allegiant as well. And so many others...
- May 7, 2014 at 10:29 PM


text:
Comic for Wednesday, Jun 29, 2011
Select a comic...
The Goo
Shade, Part 1
Shade, Part 2
Relations, Part 1
April Fools Week
Relations, Part 2
Part 1 - Open The Box
Part 2 - Read The Rules
Part 3 - Set Up The Pieces
Part 4 - Play The Game
Part 5 - Knock The Board Over
Part 6 - Scattered Pieces
Part 7 - Fist Fight
Part 8 - Clean Up
Flipping Cardboard
Lady Mysterious
II slooF lirpA
Squirrel Diplomacy
Lunchtable Revelations
Part 1 - Martial Arts Crew
Part 2 - Elliot's Crew
Part 3 - Ellen's Crew
Tam Eh Tedd
Part 1 - Walk In The Park
Part 2 - Missing Persons
Part 3 - Interviewed By The Devil
Part 4 - Into The Dungeon
Part 5 - The Truth About Grace
Part 6 - The Brewing Storm
Part 7 - Fallen From Grace
Part 8 - Humanity
PB Special Features
Sleepy Time
Second Life
The Child Left Behind
Red Alert
Moping Squirrel
Intro to South
Party Recruiting
Even More Recruiting
Party Fashion
Family Reuinion
Part 1 - Arrivals And Presents
Part 2 - Bending Genders
Part 3 - Festivities
Part 4 - Hold On Hope
Hidden Genesis
In The Shadows
The New Students
Susan Draws The Line
Squirrel In The Classroom
Part 1 - The Trials Of Susan
Part 2 - The Statue
Part 3 - Pent-Up Magic
Part 4 - Evil Monkey
Part 5 - Moperville News
Part 6 - Weregirl
Part 7 - The Dark Clouds Gather
Part 8 - Talon vs. Scythe
Part 9 - Wrath of God
Part 10 - Pandoras Box
Indiana Elliot And The TOSF
T-Minus The Demon Ally
Hammerchlorians - 1
Hammerchlorians - 2
Hammerchlorians - 3
T-Minus Dark Allegiance
New And Old Flames - 1
New And Old Flames - 2
New And Old Flames - 3
New And Old Flames - 4
New And Old Flames - 5
New And Old Flames - 6
One Way Road
Legends of Celida
Death Sentence - 1
Death Sentence - 2
Death Sentence - 3
Death Sentence - 4
Death Sentence - 5
What Is Love
The End Of Spring
Power Fantasy
Rocks Fall Nobody Is Hired
By The Numbers
Duel Of The Discs
There Be Whales Here
There Be Whales Here Pt 2
There Be Whales Here Pt 3
End Of An Era
End Of An Era pt 2
Family Tree
Summer Moments
Guest Comics #1
Guest Comics #2
Squirrel Prophet
SP - Part 2
SP - Final Battle
So A Date At The Mall
So A Date - Part 3
So A Date - Part 4
So A Date - Part 5
EGSNP - Question Mark
Q&A 7 - The Requestioning
Part 1 - Legacy
Part 2 - The Will of Magic
Part 3 - Reply Hazy
Part 4 - Everyone Needs To Talk
Part 5 - The Reservoir
Part 6 - Maybe Sisters
Part 7 - An Unkindness
- Empower and guide
- I will destroy this world...
- Bringing an apocalypse
- The pithos amulet
- Fun with words
- The controlling of Dex
There are a few reasons Raven is having a flashback here instead of just jumping back to Friday with a narration box, but I'm not gonna say what those reasons are. I will say, however, that the description of panel one in my script for this comic was "Raven looking like a grumpy pants".
Way to go, Erasmus!
When I was deciding on a design for the amulet, I decided to do something totally crazy and actually research the Pandora's box myth in greater detail. Nutty, I know. As a result of this madness, however, I learned all that wacky fun info in panel two and got to draw a jar instead of box, which was awesome. Boxes are only fun to draw if there's one or more cats inside, and a cat wouldn't have been mythologically accurate.
What's that, spellcheck? "Mythologically" isn't a word? Well, guess what? RIGHT CLICK! ADD TO DICTIONARY! BAM! It's a word NOW, ain't it?! HMPH!
Anyway, apparently we know the story as "
Pandora's Box
" because some guy translated one Greek word as though it were another Greek word. I'd give him a hard time about it, but it happened back in the 16th century, so he's probably dead by now. That, and I've seen Greek text. I probably would have made a mistake or two myself.
Noah's hair
I haven't received truckloads of questions about it, but some people have asked about those strange tufts of hair under the hairband Noah normally wears. If you think about it, it was a very fair question, and now it has been answered!
Sort of. I guess this raises further questions. At least we get to see his hair without it being tied back for once.


text:
Easy product returns
Buy a product and check it in your own time, at home.
You can return the product without providing a reason within 14 days.
Show details
You can return the product without providing a reason within 14 days.
14 days for a return
Your satisfaction is very important to us, therefore you can make a return without providing a reason within
Free return
We care about your convenience, therefore we offer you an easy-to-use return module.
Easy returns wizard
All returns processed by our shop are managed in a easy-to-use returns wizard which gives you the ability to send a return parcel.
This product is available in our stores
You can buy this product without placing an online order at one of our stores in your area. Check where the product is in stock.
Check availability
Durable PU leather case with fine stitching
Inner adhesive tape to hold the phone
Vertical flip design
User-friendly cutouts
Secure magnetic flap closure
Package included:
- 1 x BAIWEI Flexi Flip Case
- Accessory only, phone not included
Tech specs:
Product Type: | Case, cover |
Color: | Black ,
green |
Case type: | Vertical Flip Case |
Material: | PU Leather ,
Users reviews
3-months limited seller warranty - Warranty is granted by the seller for a period of 3 months.
3-months limited seller warranty


text:
JRuby on Rails with Nine Lives: Running a JRuby on Rails Application on Tomcat
Creating Your Migration
You will use Rails Migrations to manage the creation and deletion of the database table that you are going to use to manage your Guitars from your app. Your table is going to conveniently be named guitars. Run the following from the railswartest direcrory:
jruby script/generate migration add_a_new_table
This will create the db/migrate/001_add_guitar_table.rb file:
Click here for a larger image.
Figure 10: Creating our add_guitar_table migration
This file contains a Ruby class named AddGuitarTable that extends Rails' ActiveRecord::Migration class. Edit this file to contain the following:
class AddGuitarTable < ActiveRecord::Migration def self.up create_table :guitars do |table| table.column :make, :string, :null => false table.column :model, :string, :null => false table.column :color, :string, :null => false end end def self.down drop_table :guitars end end
Click here for a larger image.
Figure 11: AddGuitarTable migration class
Now, run the migration:
jruby -S rake db:migrate
Click here for a larger image.
Figure 12: Running your migration to create the guitars table
Running MySQL Query Browser confirms that the guitars table has been created by the migration:
Click here for a larger image.
Figure 13: Empty guitars table in MySQL
Page 4 of 8


text:
Review: Motorola Droid 3
The Droid 3 offers several ways for users to enjoy music. First, you can side-load tunes to the stock Android music player application. This app is bare bones, but can interact with MP3s, AACs, and so on. Thankfully, Motorola has at least included some of the basic equalizer tools so you can shape the sound to suit your tastes.
The Droid 3 also includes Slacker for those of you who prefer to stream music to their handset. Slacker allows users to cache stations for offline use, which can come in handy when you're on an airplane.
Last, the Droid has access to Verizon's V CAST Music store, Media Manager software, and Tones. The Music Store and Tones Store offer music and ringtones for download at a cost of $1.29 per track for songs and $2.99 per ringtone (usury!).
AD article continues below...
You're welcome to download tons of other music apps/services from the Android Market.
VideoVideo that has been captured by the Droid 3 or sideloaded to it is played back in the gallery application. I wish the Droid 3 has a stand-alone video player, because the Gallery isn't an obvious choice, but you can download a separate video player if you want.
The Droid also has the BlockBuster application for renting/buying movies, and the stock Android YouTibe application.
The Droid 3 includes DLNA sharing software, so content (images, video, etc.) can be shared via Wi-Fi with other DLNA devices, like you TV. You can also use the microHDMI port to attach the Droid 3 directly to an HDTV.


text:
Old Marketing Budgets vs. New Marketing Budgets
First let's get one thing straight: I strongly dislike the terms "old marketing" and "new marketing." While I agree with most analyses of the massive shifts in consumer behavior that we're experiencing, there are many characteristics of marketing that has stayed somewhat the same.
True, we have many more tools at our disposal. And true, audiences are so fragmented today (more on that later). But many of the underlying theories of branding, marketing and PR still hold their weight today (in fact, I'll argue in a later post that social media best practices is rooted in some theories that were explained by Dr. James Grunig, noted public relations theorist and my former professor).
Today, though, I want to focus on budgets, especially in comparison to how budgets were treated in the "golden age of advertising."
You've heard it a million times, I'm sure: clients want you to prove ROI. On everything. As a result, budget is what drives today's marketing campaigns.
You can't help but watch a show like Mad Men and not get the impression that huge companies liked to toss around money like candy. There were such a limited number of channels, highly captive audiences, that it was probably a bit like throwing darts blindfolded–at the broad side of a barn. What it came down to was positioning. Get the positioning wrong, and you've sunk your client's product.
Today, there are an infinite number of channels, and an audience (which itself is becoming an outmoded word) that's as both fragmented and fickle. It's still all about positioning. But it's also about finding the right channels and maximizing those channels. And making sure the channels talk to each other. And making sure those channels are two-way conversations. Indeed, it's not the size of the budget anymore. It's the effective use of it.


text:
That's always been one of my favorite songs. I remember hearing it as I lay in my bed as a little girl, listening to the soft music playing on the radio down the hall in the living room.
Even then I spent too much time worrying about the future. I want to let the worry go, and accept whatever comes. Instead I just let everything go. Or else I turn completely around and grab the past to cling to.
Okay, I know I'm in a whiney/depressed mood. I blame it on people who blog without realizing that others will read what is written.
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Monday, September 26, 2005
Show me the way to go home...
It's late, and I need to be finding my way to bed soon. I have to get up very early tomorrow -- even earlier than normal! And it's been a long couple of days.
Yesterday we spent the afternoon at the zoo. It was a lot of fun. I haven't been to the zoo in a while, so it was nice to wander around and see everything.
Sunday, September 25, 2005
Macroday Challenge: Food
Personally, I don't even like french fries. But we were at a fast food restaurant for lunch this afternoon, so of course the kids ordered fries. I decided they would make a good subject for the Macroday challenge.
Lately I seem to be drawn to images of chaos. My pictures have no orderly composition, no balance or focal point -- they just are what they are. (Do I really need to state the obvious parallel to my life?)
Friday, September 23, 2005
It's not enough that we do our best;
sometimes we have to do what is required.
(Winston Churchill)
Thursday Theme - Furniture
Monday, September 19, 2005
Bubbles are just visual giggles
Becky and I played with Bubbles this afternoon, trying to get an interesting picture. It took us forever, trying to coordinate my snapping the shutter with her blowing the bubbles. It sounds a whole lot easier than it really is!
Out of the strain of the Doing,
Into the peace of the Done.
(Julia Louise Woodruff)
I can't believe it's 1:30 am and I'm still awake. After rushing around all day, I don't feel like I've really accomplished anything worthwhile. But at least my homework is done, the last load of laundry is in the dryer, and I've got (almost) everything ready for the morning.
I didn't get to take any time to stop and smell the flowers today -- or to take any pictures of them either! This is actually a shot I had taken back in February of this year at the Dreher Park Zoo.
I didn't get to take any time to stop and smell the flowers today -- or to take any pictures of them either! This is actually a shot I had taken back in February of this year at the Dreher Park Zoo.
Saturday, September 17, 2005
Friday, September 16, 2005
Photo Friday - "Divine"
Before I start anything new, I always do a lot of research to see what's already been done and to get ideas. I found some daily challenges that sounded like a lot of fun. They give you a theme for the day, and you're supposed to come up with a picture to illustrate it.
Today's theme was "Divine". This picture was taken on our camping trip last summer (June 2004) in the Blue Ridge Mountains. In the hills I've always felt God's arms surrounding me, hugging me and keeping me safe. The evidence of God's presence is Divine.
It started off innocently enough, with a family blog. It was supposed to just be a way of keeping my extended family in touch. But as usual, I got carried away with the idea of the blog itself. I found myself playing with the html code, tweaking and adding to the site design. I was having a lot fun playing around with it.
Soon I realized that I needed to have a blog of my own; where I could play, and create, and do whatever I wanted. After seeing some really great photo blogs, especially Willow Grace and Photo-A-Day, I've decided to post my own pictures. This will serve two purposes -- I'll have an excuse for taking more pictures (one of my great loves in life) and I'll be forced to reach out creatively in order to illustrate my life without boring anyone.
Feel free to comment, but please be kind.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)


text:
Active Tags
Click tags to the right to narrow your search. Unclick tags to remove.
Beach Trips: The Final Chapter
— Chad's brother tries to ruin everything.Beach Trips & Sex on the Beach
— Chad and Andy catch feelings.Beach Trips & Road Head
— Unexpected passenger gets some.Me - The Inconvenience
— My straight older brother has to babysit me for the weekend.Straight Boy Blowjob
— I convinced Dean (my str8 Aussie roommate) for a blowjob.My Friend's Boyfriend Pt. 02
— The aftermath of Mark and James' night together...My Friend's Boyfriend
— Mark's housemate has her boyfriend over...Jim's Jock Ch. 01
— Straight man turns roommate gay.Black Friday 69
— First time blow job in the middle of a parking lot.Big Flipping Deal Ch. 02
— Lindsey reveals her secret. Nick has a strange dream.It Was The Summer Of '85
— First time male-male sexual experienceLust and then Some
— A guy finally meets the one who turns him out.My Sister's Boyfriend Joey
— Seduced by his sister's sexy, horny boyfriend.Bus Stop
— A straight guy meets a charming older guy at a bus stop.Bi-Side Affair
— A straight guy drinks with friends and discovers his bi-side.I'm Not Gay
— Noah returns home to his straight guy crush.Short-Term in Chicago
— Straight guy is seduced by gay neighbor.Hotel Hook Up
— Horny straight guys hook up hotel sex.The Wet Dream
— Straight male has help while dreamingThe Chance of a Lifetime
— Straight guy gets fucked for the first time.Holiday Bi the Sea
— Straight guy suprises himself and discovers bi-sexuality.A Different Way of Making Up
— It was an unexpected way to patch up their differences.My First Experience Of Male Sex
— Straight guy gets an introduction to gay sex.Drunken Follies Ch. 01
— A young straight man sucks dick.Zonked
— Doing Sleeping Beauty.Friends 'til the End Ch. 02
— A new job and new guy in town shakes Adam up.Jailhouse Buddies Reunited
— The tricks Harry learned in jail are put to good use.My Girlfriend
— They needed to teach a straight guy about bisexuality.Straight Guys Are The Best!
— How I ended up in in bed with my straight best friend.Roommates to Bedmates
— Two roommates begin a romantic entanglement.The Stuff of Life
— Two brothers initiate a friend.Gay 4 Str8
— Gay guy goes for some glory hole action and finds romance.First Release Ch. 01
— Guy working at home gets an eyeful.Chat Line Leads to More
— Video night shows him what he never suspected.Bi Friends: By Accident? By Design?
— Girlfriend arranges a taste test.Curious: The Beginning
— A straight guy goes looking.Three's Perfect for a First-Time
— A mind-blowing first with two great guys.Active Tags
Click tags to the right to narrow your search. Unclick tags to remove.
Please, separate your tags with comma: anal orgasm, oral sex.
Read the Literotica Story Tag FAQ for more information on these tags.