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Intro: "It is not easy to escape from one's skin, to see the world differently from the way it is presented to us day after day. But it is useful to try. Let's take a few examples."
The war drums are beating ever more loudly over Iran. Noam Chomsky asks us to imagine the situation in reverse. (photo: Daniel Simpson)
Why America and Israel Are the Greatest Threats to Peace
04 September 12
Imagine if Iran - or any other country - did a fraction of what American and Israel do at will.
t is not easy to escape from one's skin, to see the world differently from the way it is presented to us day after day. But it is useful to try. Let's take a few examples.
The war drums are beating ever more loudly over Iran. Imagine the situation to be reversed.
Iran is carrying out a murderous and destructive low-level war against Israel with great-power participation. Its leaders announce that negotiations are going nowhere. Israel refuses to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty and allow inspections, as Iran has done. Israel continues to defy the overwhelming international call for a nuclear-weapons-free zone in the region. Throughout, Iran enjoys the support of its superpower patron.
Iranian leaders are therefore announcing their intention to bomb Israel, and prominent Iranian military analysts report that the attack may happen before the U.S. elections.
Iran can use its powerful air force and new submarines sent by Germany, armed with nuclear missiles and stationed off the coast of Israel. Whatever the timetable, Iran is counting on its superpower backer to join if not lead the assault. U.S. defense secretary Leon Panetta says that while we do not favor such an attack, as a sovereign country Iran will act in its best interests.
All unimaginable, of course, though it is actually happening, with the cast of characters reversed. True, analogies are never exact, and this one is unfair - to Iran.
Like its patron, Israel resorts to violence at will. It persists in illegal settlement in occupied territory, some annexed, all in brazen defiance of international law and the U.N. Security Council. It has repeatedly carried out brutal attacks against Lebanon and the imprisoned people of Gaza, killing tens of thousands without credible pretext.
Thirty years ago Israel destroyed an Iraqi nuclear reactor, an act that has recently been praised, avoiding the strong evidence, even from U.S. intelligence, that the bombing did not end Saddam Hussein's nuclear weapons program but rather initiated it. Bombing of Iran might have the same effect.
Iran too has carried out aggression - but during the past several hundred years, only under the U.S.-backed regime of the shah, when it conquered Arab islands in the Persian Gulf.
Iran engaged in nuclear development programs under the shah, with the strong support of official Washington. The Iranian government is brutal and repressive, as are Washington's allies in the region. The most important ally, Saudi Arabia, is the most extreme Islamic fundamentalist regime, and spends enormous funds spreading its radical Wahhabist doctrines elsewhere. The gulf dictatorships, also favored U.S. allies, have harshly repressed any popular effort to join the Arab Spring.
The Nonaligned Movement - the governments of most of the world's population - is now meeting in Teheran. The group has vigorously endorsed Iran's right to enrich uranium, and some members - India, for example - adhere to the harsh U.S. sanctions program only partially and reluctantly.
The NAM delegates doubtless recognize the threat that dominates discussion in the West, lucidly articulated by Gen. Lee Butler, former head of the U.S. Strategic Command: "It is dangerous in the extreme that in the cauldron of animosities that we call the Middle East," one nation should arm itself with nuclear weapons, which "inspires other nations to do so."
Butler is not referring to Iran, but to Israel, which is regarded in the Arab countries and in Europe as posing the greatest threat to peace In the Arab world, the United States is ranked second as a threat, while Iran, though disliked, is far less feared. Indeed in many polls majorities hold that the region would be more secure if Iran had nuclear weapons to balance the threats they perceive.
If Iran is indeed moving toward nuclear-weapons capability - this is still unknown to U.S. intelligence - that may be because it is "inspired to do so" by the U.S.-Israeli threats, regularly issued in explicit violation of the U.N. Charter.
Why then is Iran the greatest threat to world peace, as seen in official Western discourse? The primary reason is acknowledged by U.S. military and intelligence and their Israeli counterparts: Iran might deter the resort to force by the United States and Israel.
Furthermore Iran must be punished for its "successful defiance," which was Washington's charge against Cuba half a century ago, and still the driving force for the U.S. assault against Cuba that continues despite international condemnation.
Other events featured on the front pages might also benefit from a different perspective. Suppose that Julian Assange had leaked Russian documents revealing important information that Moscow wanted to conceal from the public, and that circumstances were otherwise identical.
Sweden would not hesitate to pursue its sole announced concern, accepting the offer to interrogate Assange in London. It would declare that if Assange returned to Sweden (as he has agreed to do), he would not be extradited to Russia, where chances of a fair trial would be slight.
Sweden would be honored for this principled stand. Assange would be praised for performing a public service - which, of course, would not obviate the need to take the accusations against him as seriously as in all such cases.
The most prominent news story of the day here is the U.S. election. An appropriate perspective was provided by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis, who held that "We may have democracy in this country, or we may have wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we cannot have both."
Guided by that insight, coverage of the election should focus on the impact of wealth on policy, extensively analyzed in the recent study "Affluence and Influence: Economic Inequality and Political Power in America" by Martin Gilens. He found that the vast majority are "powerless to shape government policy" when their preferences diverge from the affluent, who pretty much get what they want when it matters to them.
Small wonder, then, that in a recent ranking of the 31 members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in terms of social justice, the United States placed 27th, despite its extraordinary advantages.
Or that rational treatment of issues tends to evaporate in the electoral campaign, in ways sometimes verging on comedy.
To take one case, Paul Krugman reports that the much-admired Big Thinker of the Republican Party, Paul Ryan, declares that he derives his ideas about the financial system from a character in a fantasy novel - "Atlas Shrugged" - who calls for the use of gold coins instead of paper currency.
It only remains to draw from a really distinguished writer, Jonathan Swift. In "Gulliver's Travels," his sages of Lagado carry all their goods with them in packs on their backs, and thus could use them for barter without the encumbrance of gold. Then the economy and democracy could truly flourish - and best of all, inequality would sharply decline, a gift to the spirit of Justice Brandeis.
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Elie Hirschfeld has been a leader and visionary driver within the highly competitive New York City Real Estate market for decades. This market is one of the most dynamic and profitable in the world, and few know it better than Mr. Hirschfeld.
Elie Hirschfeld was recently invited to participate as an expert presenter at the Titans of Business event produced by Haute Living, on April 28, 2017. The event featured the leaders dominating the residential real estate market in New York City, including Don Peebles, Billy Macklowe, Mitchell Moinian, Bruce Eichner and Michael Stern in addition to Mr. Hirschfeld.
At the event, Mr. Hirschfeld noted his inventory of luxury free market rentals in Tribeca, the Village, Sutton Place, the Upper East Side and other highly desirable neighborhoods throughout the City. As the free market apartments come up for renewal, leaders in this industry explore and compare the luxury for sale market against the luxury for rent market.
This in combination with several other approaches to market analysis, helps hone their understanding of how a prospective renter or the renewal of the current renter might proceed themselves in the market in the alternatives of buying versus renting.
Real Estate developers also rely on the brokerage community to rent units and this provides another opportunity to learn from the market activity and expand their continually growing perspectives of the market. If local buyers or renters were to disappear, foreign regions cannot come to the rescue – this market is highly local in terms of its drivers, and influences.
Interestingly, there are many luxury rental tenants, who believe they save a great deal of money, rather than buying. In addition, many tenants have their home rental costs paid by their local employer, who certainly wouldn't buy them an apartment.
Mr. Elie Hirschfeld has been a leader in this exciting industry through many ups and downs of the global, regional and local markets and has studied key industries that real estate intersects with and is impacted by, on an ongoing basis.
His understanding of this fast-moving, complex industry, combined with his talent and vision have positioned him as a knowledgeable source for industry groups such as Haute Living and the Titans of Business.


text: by Mike - It is not often that I write about new cars on My Car Quest but today is an exception. No, I did not attend the recent Paris Motor Show but My Car Quest reader Marty Schorr did and he was kind enough to send in these photos. Look … [Read more...]


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If it's Texas, get ready to fire 'em up. Lock and load. One of legendary Eddie Gossage's cooler promotions. (Photo: Getty Images for NASCAR)
By Mike Mulhern
FORT WORTH, Texas
Musings, while awaiting Round Eight of the championship chase, and the next chapter in this season's Matt Kenseth versus Jimmie Johnson saga, and a much closer look at this week's Goodyears.
-- Of all the new tracks and markets that NASCAR has added over the years, this is one of the best.
Fort Worth cow country, and glitzy Dallas.
Adding this Texas heartland to the stock car racing agenda is so perfect that it's difficult now to understand why Bill France Jr. pitched such a fit over it all, back when.
And who will ever forget that monumental first-race traffic jam, the mother of all traffic jams.
Not only was Bruton Smith prescient in building this place, despite all the adversities, he was also brilliant in putting Eddie Gossage in charge. There is no more outrageous, devil-may-care promoter in racing today, in any series, than Gossage. And he will probably be the first to remind you of that.
Remember those 'Shut up and race' tee-shirts? Wonder how much one of those would fetch on eBay or PawnStars today?
-- Yes, Jeff Gordon comes out of Martinsville with that big boost of a win, and a bit closer in this title chase. But: Wonder if Gordon still remembers that hard crash here back when. It was one of the hardest crashes of his career, and since then this has been one of the toughest tracks for him to get a decent finish.
If Gordon were racing at any other track on the tour but this one, his title hopes would be a lot stronger.
-- Wonder how long it will be until team sponsors decide to cut sponsorship money and only include the year's first 26 races....because if a team doesn't make the playoffs, for all the TV coverage it gets in September, October and November, well, it might as well stay home.
Why pay for 36 races if there's no coverage after the first 26? Especially at these prices, say $500,000 a Sprint Cup weekend, and that before 'market activating' expenses.
One downside of this chase playoff format.
"You're a nobody if you don't make the chase," Greg Biffle says. "The face of this sport is the chase, the chase guys. That's what everybody talks about from the Daytona 500 on, the 12 or 13 cars that are going to be in the chase."
Is that good or bad?
Bruton Smith (R) and Texas promoter Eddie Gossage: Mr. Outrageous and Mr. Outlandish. (Photo: Getty Images for NASCAR)
-- What has happened to NASCAR's Hispanic initiatives?
And how did Daytona executives misplay the Juan Pablo Montoya card so badly?
How did one of the world's great racers get mired so deep in muck that he managed only two wins here since 2006?
Why did NASCAR's marketers so misplay this amazing marketing opportunity? When the Formula 1 star and Indy-car champion abruptly left F1 in midseason to join NASCAR, Daytona was dealt a handful of aces.
And stock car racing's next Hispanic superstar will be?
-- Is anyone else worried about the state of this sport when a big-name star like Kyle Busch may have to shut down his Truck/Nationwide operation for lack of enough sponsorship?
But then there wasn't much hue and cry back in the day when stars like Bill Elliott and Ricky Rudd were unable to make a go of it as owner-drivers, against the surge of high-dollar mega-team owners.
Oh, and whatever happened to Dale Earnhardt Inc., come to think of it?
Maybe it's time for NASCAR CEO Brian France to revisit those plans of his to cut back the size of all these mega-teams, to break them up. Are such mega-teams really a plus for the sport any more, or just a barrier to entry for any new team owners?
Jimmie Johnson (L) and Greg Biffle. Is that TV camera live? Ooops. (Photo: Getty Images for NASCAR)
-- Curious that one top stock car marketing veteran could, on race morning, not only drive into Talladega Superspeedway with no problems on Talladega Blvd., but then drive from Talladega Superspeedway back to Anniston an hour later, and then back to the track before the race, all without any traffic hassles. And with not many traffic police along the way either.
-- Wondering if Charlotte Motor Speedway can really support three major Cup weekends each season....or if there might be a more business-effective way to handle the All-Star race.
What did happen to that Mr. Big out in Las Vegas that Bruton Smith was willing and eager to pick up the tab for a second Cup race there?
Would Smith be willing to move the All-star race to Las Vegas? Imagine the fireworks under the lights.
-- Any word on how the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte is faring? Not sure that the May race track crowd or October race track crowd is making the expected big surge to downtown.
-- Still second-guessing NASCAR's decision to move the Darlington 500 from Mother's Day weekend to another, earlier, colder weekend. The Darlington race was doing quite well Mother's Day Saturday, and there would seem no logical reason to move it off that weekend. Some speculate that if Darlington doesn't draw as well on its new date, NASCAR might just drop the track from the Cup tour, as it did Rockingham's North Carolina Motor Speedway and North Wilkesboro Speedway.
-- If Jeff Gordon does rally to win this championship, and he's third in the standings, with an outside chance, wonder if there will be much blowback over that, considering he only made the playoffs, as the 13th man, because of NASCAR intervention after all those Richmond shenanigans.
Jeff Gordon pitting at Texas Motor Speedway (Photo: Getty Images for NASCAR)
-- Wonder what to read into NASCAR's returning to Gateway/St. Louis next season, with its Truck tour. With Nationwide ending its support of NASCAR's number two series, the sanctioning body is looking for a replacement sponsor. Maybe Daytona can persuade Anheuser-Busch to get back in that game.
-- After hearing a few horror stories about sports bars not bothering to turn a TV set to the NASCAR race on Sundays, wondering why NASCAR and its big sponsors don't take things into their own hands and start putting 'NASCAR TV' sets in those places, with DVRs set to play and replay all NASCAR all the time? Technology shouldn't be difficult, for Fox and NBC to figure out.
BTW, some of the best racing on TV may be on ESPN Classic. Does NASCAR still have control over those tapes, or ESPN? And what happens when ESPN drops off the tour at the end of next season?
-- It's disappointing NASCAR didn't take the opportunity to start shaking up the schedules of the various touring series, as NBC was pushing for next season, even if the NBC-for-ESPN swap didn't come off as many hoped.
Juan Pablo Montoya: one of the world's great racers. How did NASCAR manage to misplay this marketing package? (Photo: Getty Images for NASCAR)
Matt Kenseth not only dodged a bullet Sunday at Martinsville Speedway, he made a big statement, leading the most laps and nearly winning the Martinsville 500.
On the other hand, Jimmie Johnson, who has owned the Martinsville track for so many years, was handled handily by Kenseth most of the afternoon.
Yes, that was a missed opportunity for Kenseth, who should have won. But it was a bigger missed opportunity for Johnson, who lost some ground to Kenseth.
Kenseth comes here with seven tour wins this year, to Johnson's five.
For all the pre-race hype about how great the action may be here this weekend, it's hard to forget the 2012 April 500, virtually caution-free races on this 1-1/2-miler on the outskirts of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.
But then it's also hard to forget those final few laps here last fall when Brad Keselowski took Jimmie Johnson to the limit lap after lap, in what could have been this sport's finest finish. Even Tony Stewart was stunned at Keselowski's level of aggression.
And of course there is still that landmark Johnson versus Kenseth duel here a few years earlier.
This place can generate some amazing side-by-side action, when drivers turn it up.
But if the speeds are as 'ludicrous fast' as Kurt Busch says, well, drivers may have their hands full this weekend. Tires were wearing at a significant rate during last week's test.
Not only is wear a potential issue but the temperatures on the inside edge of the right-front tire could be a major issue.
For some reason these new 2013 stockers have shown a propensity for excessive heat on that inner shoulder.
Goodyear has develop a new 'hybrid' tire for such situations. However it will not be using that tire here, rather it will be using the spring tire setup again.
The new hybrid worked well at Atlanta Labor Day weekend, but a different variation didn't work well at all at Kansas three weeks ago.
For years this track was easily Goodyear's hardest to build a tire for. And some of the sport's hardest hits have been right here, beginning with Ricky Craven's nearly career-ending crash.
Carl Edwards says "the thing that makes Texas different is the track itself. The surface of the track -- and it's becoming a rarity to have a surface like that.
"It's a lot like Darlington used to be, a lot like Atlanta is now, where the surface is worn out, bumpy, multiple grooves, takes a lot of rubber.
"And it's going to change throughout the race, especially when the sun goes down.
"To me, it feels a little bit more old school. A lot of people moving forward and a lot of people falling back throughout the day and the night.
"I like that part of racing, where it's dynamic."
Since Bruton Smith opened this track in 1997 only four drivers have run all 25 events, Jeff Gordon, Bobby Labonte, Jeff Burton and Mark Martin.
As it's aged, the track has gained "character," drivers say. Mark Martin: "It's got bumps, it's got worn pavement, the bottom groove works, the top groove works, and everything in between works. Whatever your car seems to like is where you can run."
Turn one, Martin says, "is a gradual turn, but you drive straight for the wall. Before you turn in, you get so close to the wall that it about blows the paint off.
"The entry into turn one is a fairly smooth entry, and fairly uneventful until you get down to where the tunnel is and the track has settled. The track actually feels like it's raised up.
"It's probably settled before the tunnel and hasn't settled at the tunnel, so there's a bump there that is pretty severe. It deals you handling problems. The first thing it does is try to bounce the front-end up the track. As soon as the front tires grip, it tries to spin out because you've put too much wheel in it.
"Coming on around, the banking flattens out. It will suck you into the wall.
"The entry into turn three feels fairly flat, and the cars are usually pretty dang loose getting into that turn.
"There's a series of 'chops' all the way through there, especially in the middle where the tunnel is.
"Turns three and turn four...that last couple of car lengths before you get off the corner up by the wall, if you haven't left yourself a little extra room, you will be in the fence."
Mark Martin. Not so much smoke since moving from Michael Waltrip's team to Tony Stewart's (Photo: Getty Images for NASCAR)
None of David Ortiz' home runs was hit this far out of the park! How do you sleep with all these things trying to bust out of your head? Nice work.
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The Kenwood VGS-1 Voice Guide and Storage unit can serve two important roles: vocal confirmation of frequency, key operation, etc. and recording/playback of messages received by the transceiver. A total of 90 seconds (3 x 30 seconds) can be recorded and stored in Flash ROM for playback and transmission. Additionally, a convenient constant record function means you can always play-back the last 30 seconds of receptions for confirmation. This option does not require soldering to install. |
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Top 10 open source Windows apps
Companies like Google and Microsoft give away free software as a courtesy to their users to hook more people on their services ("free as in beer.") But open source organizations are often non-profit and made up of volunteer developers who release free software because they believe users have a right to control their data ("free as in speech.")
Open source roots are in the Unix operating system, but these days many "free as in speech" applications are available for Windows as well - and today I've got a list of my top 10 favorites.
None of these cost a dime to download and use, but do donate whatever and whenever you can to the projects that benefit you the most.
1. Mozilla Firefox (Web browser)
Crikey, another Firefox plug! Yeah, we love the 'fox, and we'll keep talking about it until EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU USES IT. It really just doesn't get any better when it comes to a cross-platform, open source web browser.
2. Mozilla Thunderbird (Email client)
Firefox's much less celebrated little brother is one helluva email client. We especially like its customizable message filters, built-in adaptive Junk mail filter and ability to install useful add-ons (like Firefox).
3. Open Office (Office suite)
Used to be that anyone who wanted to open a Word document had to drop a few Benjamins on Microsoft Office or risk pirating it. No more - Open Office is a free alternative to M$ Office for students, freelancers and poor people just wanting to save their spreadsheet as an .xls.
4. Gaim (Instant messenger)
Chat on any service you'd like - AIM, Yahoo! Messenger, MSN, Jabber, ICQ - with this multi-platform, tabbed IM client.
5. ClamWin (Antivirus)
Norton bugging you again to break out the credit card and subscribe? Uninstall! ClamWin is free anti-virus software with automatic updates and scheduled scans, no credit card required.
6. VLC Media Player (Audio/video player)
Got a video or audio file Windows Media Player or Quicktime can't play? Betcha VLC can.
7. KeePass (Password manager)
Another app you really don't hear a lot about, but for anyone with more than 6 different passwords, KeePass is indispensable. Check out my previous feature, Securely track your passwords for more on using KeePass.
8. Cygwin (Unix command line emulator)
That DOS command line just doesn't cut it. Wanna turn into a CLI ninja on your PC? You need Cygwin.
9. Eraser (Data deletion utility)
Before you donate, sell or trash your hard drive, you want to make sure there are no traces of your
10. TrueCrypt (File encryption utility)
You've got a folder full of files you don't want anyone to access but you. Lock it (or an entire thumb drive) up with the free TrueCrypt software.
Author - Gina Trapani
Courtesy - LIFEHACKER


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The Nightshade Stretch Selvedge is a 12oz indigo rope dyed Japanese selvedge denim, woven on vintage shuttle looms in a right hand twill construction. The color of the denim is created with the addition of a black dye to the indigo, the combination creates a rich indigo tone that is nearly black. This denim is made with 2% stretch for added comfort, without compromising durability. Other details include contrast stitching, natural tan leather patch, red selvedge ID, silver metallic waist button and rivets. The High Skinny is a skinny fit; high rise, tight throughout with a small leg opening.
- 12oz Japanese Selvedge Denim
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The B.C. government exceeded its financial targets for the last fiscal year, and the economy grew enough that unions that signed on to the government's growth sharing formula will likely see a small pay increase in 2016.
Finance Minister Mike de Jong presented the province's audited public accounts Wednesday, with a surplus of $1.68 billion, almost 10 times the size it was forecast to be. That was due mainly to higher personal, corporate and sales tax revenue in the later part of the fiscal year that ended in March.
Gross domestic product growth came in at 2.6 per cent for the year, ahead of the finance ministry's economic forecast council figure of 2.3 per cent. Public service union contracts signed last year included a formula to distribute half of any gain above that independent forecast, translating to a 0.15 per cent additional raise on top of negotiated increases.
De Jong said the GDP numbers must still be finalized by Statistics Canada, and the adjustment to pay levels for employees in the health, education and other public services who signed on will be made in 2016.
De Jong said he is tracking the steeply rising cost of the current forest fire season, and there is a contingency fund to cover whatever is needed. That uncertainty and international instability in Asia and Europe mean the government will not assume higher revenues will continue this year, he said.
Sales tax revenue exceeded budget forecasts by $322 million, and corporate tax revenue was up $208 million. Property transfer tax was up $128 million, and all other taxes brought in $254 million more than forecast.
Natural resource revenue decreased by $18 million from 2013-14, despite an increase in forest revenue of $35 million due to economic recovery. Less rainfall and snowpack led to a decrease of $74 million in power production.


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While most Americans oppose government funding of abortion, a new Pew Research Center survey finds that concern about abortion funding plays only a small role in driving opposition to the health care reform legislation under consideration by Congress.
When health care opponents are asked in an open-ended question to describe their main reason for opposing the congressional proposals, just 3% raise the issue of abortion funding.
Even when they are asked to choose among a list of reasons, fewer than one-in-ten (8%) opponents of health care legislation say the most important reason for their opposition is the possibility that government money might pay for abortions. Although a majority of health reform opponents (56%) cite the abortion issue as one of the major factors for them, far greater percentages cite concerns about big government, costs and the impact of reform on people's own coverage.
The new survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press and the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life finds the public now divided over the health care proposals in Congress, with 42% in favor and 39% opposed. Earlier this month, before the House voted on its bill, 38% supported the reform proposals and 47% were opposed. The current poll was conducted Nov. 12-15 among 1,003 adults on landlines and cell phones.
A 55% majority of Americans say that abortion should not be included as a guaranteed medical benefit if the government health care reform plan passes. Only about half as many (28%) say it should be included. The public was more evenly divided in a comparable Gallup survey conducted during the health care debate in 1994. At that time 42% said abortion should be covered by government benefits while 49% said it should not be. More than seven-in-ten (72%) of those who oppose the legislation say coverage of abortion should not be included in government benefits. Even among Americans who favor health care reform, a 46% plurality says abortion should not be included in government benefits, while 35% say it should be.
But when respondents in the survey were asked to explain, in their own words, the main reasons for supporting or opposing the reform proposals, few brought up abortion funding. Supporters of reform cite the expansion of coverage to the uninsured (32%), the need for change (17%) and the need to control costs (14%) as most important to them. Opponents of reform mainly cite either the cost (27%) or the increased role that government would play (27%). Other reasons for opposition include the complexity of the legislation (8%) or skepticism that reforms won't work (8%). Few opponents of reform – just 3% – volunteer abortion as a principal reason for their opposition.
Even when respondents were specifically asked about government funding for abortion in the context of health care reform, the issue ranks at the bottom of a list of possible reasons for opposing the legislation. While 56% of opponents say the issue of government funds possibly paying for abortions is a "major reason" they oppose the bill, that ranks far below other arguments against the bill. Fully 85% say that "too much government involvement in health care" is a major reason for their opposition, and nearly as many (78%) say this about the expense of health care reform. Seven-in-ten (70%) say concern that their own health care might suffer is a major reason they oppose the legislation, and nearly as many (67%) say the possibility that reform might cover illegal immigrants is a major reason for opposing it.
White evangelical Protestants (74%) and white Catholics (72%) were more likely than white mainline Protestant opponents of reform to say that abortion funding was a major reason for their views. But even within these religious groups, larger shares list the expansion of government as a major factor. Nearly all opponents of the legislation cited multiple concerns as major reasons for their position, and not one cited abortion as the only major reason they opposed the bills before Congress. In other words, every single person who said abortion funding was a major reason that they opposed the bill also cited one or more other major reasons.
When asked to choose the single most important issue from a list of possible reasons, 8% of opponents selected abortion funding. This translates into just 3% of all Americans who both oppose the legislation and say abortion funding is the main reason for their position. Among opponents, concern about too much government involvement topped the list, with 38% saying it was the most important reason, followed by 27% who cited the expense of reform. Fewer cited the risk to their own health care (14%) or the possibility that illegal immigrants might be covered (7%).
Abortion funding is rarely cited as the key factor behind opposition to the health care bills even among white Catholics and evangelical Protestants. While 84% of white evangelical Protestants say they oppose allowing abortions to be included in government medical benefits, just 10% of those who oppose the bill say this is the most important reason of the five factors asked about. Similarly, 63% of white Catholics oppose the idea of government funding going toward abortions, but just 11% of white Catholics who oppose health legislation say this is the biggest factor in their position. And just 4% of the white evangelicals and 3% of the white Catholics who oppose the health legislation before Congress volunteer abortion as their main concern in an open-ended question.
The debate over abortion funding and health care flared up just prior to the reform bill's passage by the House on November 7. Yet, if anything, opposition to health reform has declined somewhat since earlier this month, before the House passed its version. Currently, 39% oppose the health care bills being debated in Congress, down 8 points, while 42% favor them. But a significant number of Americans remain uncertain about the proposals – nearly one-in-five (19%) say they don't know how they feel about the legislation at this point.


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Yet another of the Exquisite Corpse projects has arrived home. This time it is Linda's, you can see the whole figure over at her blog TangoMusings. So this first picture shows my original fabric choices.
I first started in with some heavy satin stitching on the edges of each piece.But that purple triangle wanted to stay, but it just didn't look right after the stitching. So it was jettisoned in favor of....
Beads! Of course beads, always with the beads. A strange necklace of beads stitched along the neckline.A closeup shot so you can see the bone beads a little better, along with the supporting cast of round glass beads.
Oh, and don't forget to add the words: BELL SWEETLY, this time embroidered on. Made me think of Laverne and her script "L".
For even more Exquisite Corpse action, be sure and check out our group blog.


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Heart of Jesus, Our Peace and Reconciliation
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1. "Heart of Jesus, our peace and reconciliation, have mercy on us".
We bow in faith before the great mystery of the love of the Divine Heart and we give it honour and glory. Hail, O Jesus; hail, O Heart Divine of the Son of Man, which has so loved us men and women.
I give thanks to God for granting today that I should visit this young Diocese of Torun and that I should, together with you, praise the Most Sacred Heart of the Saviour. With joy I thank divine Providence for the gift of a new blessed, the priest and martyr Stefan Wincenty Frelichowski, heroic witness to the love of which a pastor is capable. I cordially greet all those present at this month of June celebration. In a special way I greet Bishop Andrzej, Pastor of the Church of Torun, his Auxiliary Jan, the clergy, consecrated men and women and all the People of God in this land. I greet Torun, a city dear to my heart, and beautiful Pomerania on the Vistula. I am pleased to be in your city made famous by Nicolaus Copernicus. Torun is also known because of the efforts for peace undertaken in the course of history. In fact, on two occasions peace treaties were concluded here, treaties which history has dubbed the Peace of Torun. It was also in this city that there took place the meeting of Catholic, Lutheran and Calvinist representatives which received the name Colloquium Charitativum, that is, the "Fraternal Colloquium". Here the words of the Psalmist take on a particular eloquence: "For my brethren and companions' sake I will say, "Peace be within you!'. For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your good"(Ps 122:8-9).
2. "Heart of Jesus, our peace and reconciliation".
This is the Heart of the Redeemer the tangible sign of his invincible love and the inexhaustible source of true peace. In him "the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily" (Col 2:9). The peace that Christ brought to earth comes precisely from this Fullness and from this Love. It is the gift of a God who loves, who has loved mankind in the Heart of the Only-Begotten Son. "He is our peace" (cf. Eph 2:14), exclaims St Paul. Yes, Jesus is peace, he is our reconciliation. He was the one who put an end to the enmity which arose after man had sinned, and who reconciled all people with the Father through his death on the Cross. On Golgotha Jesus' Heart was pierced by a lance as a sign of his total self-giving, of that sacrificial and saving love with which he "loved us to the end" (cf. Jn 13:1), laying the foundation of the friendship between God and man.
This is why the peace of Christ is different from the peace envisaged by the world. In the Upper Room before his death, speaking to the Apostles, Jesus stated clearly: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you" (Jn 14:27). While men understand peace primarily at the temporal and external level, Christ says that it springs from the supernatural order, it is the result of union with God in love.
The Church lives ceaselessly by the Gospel of peace. She proclaims it to all peoples and nations. Tirelessly she indicates the paths of peace and reconciliation. She ushers in peace by breaking down the walls of prejudice and hostility between people. She does this first of all through the sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation: bringing the grace of divine mercy and of forgiveness, she arrives at the very roots of human suffering, she heals consciences wounded by sin so that the person experiences inner comfort and becomes a peacemaker. The Church also shares the peace that she herself experiences every day in the Eucharist. The Eucharist is the culmination of our peace. In it is accomplished the sacrifice of reconciliation with God and with our brothers and sisters, in it resounds the word of God announcing peace, in it is raised without end the prayer: "Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us". In the Eucharist we receive the gift of Christ himself, who offers himself and becomes our peace. So, with particular clarity we experience the fact that the world cannot give this peace, for it does not know this peace (cf. Jn 14:27).
We praise today the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ; the peace that he gave to all those who met him during his earthly life. The peace with which he joyously greeted the disciples after his Resurrection.
3. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God" (Mt 5:9).
This is what Christ tells us in the Sermon on the Mount. From the depths of his Heart filled with love he expresses his desire for our happiness. Christ knows that our greatest happiness is union with God, which makes us sons and daughters of God. Among the paths that lead to fullness of happiness, he indicates the one that involves working on behalf of peace and sharing peace with others. Men and women of peace are worthy of being called children of God. Jesus calls such people "blessed".
"Blessed are the peacemakers". The dignity of such a designation rightly belongs to Fr Stefan Wincenty Frelichowski, raised today to the glory of the altars. His whole life, in fact, is a kind of mirror reflecting the light of that teaching of Christ according to which true happiness is attained only by those who, in union with God, become men and women of peace, peacemakers who bring peace to others. This priest of Torun, whose pastoral service lasted less than eight years, offered a very clear witness of his giving himself to God and to others. Drawing his sustenance from God, from the very first years of his priesthood, with the wealth of his priestly charism he went wherever the grace of salvation needed to be brought. He learned the secrets of the human heart and adapted pastoral methods to the needs of every person he met. He had picked up this ability from the school of Scouting where he had acquired a particular sensitivity to the needs of others, a sensitivity which he constantly developed in the spirit of the parable of the Good Shepherd who searches out the lost sheep and is ready to give his own life to save them (cf. Jn 10:1-21). As a priest he was always aware of being a witness of the Great Cause, and at the same time he gave himself with deep humility to the service of others. Thanks to his goodness, meekness and patience he won many souls over to Christ, even in the tragic circumstances of the war and the occupation.
During the tragedy of the war his life was like a written record, one chapter following another, of service on behalf of peace. The so-called Fort Seven, then Stutthoff, Grenzdorf, Oranienburg-Sachsenhausen, and finally Dachau are the list of stations on a path of suffering, but a path on which he was always the same: courageous in fulfilling his priestly ministry. He would minister especially to those who were most in need of his services, to those who were part of the masses dying of typhus, to which he himself fell victim. He gave his priestly life to God and to others, bringing peace to the victims of war. He generously shared peace with others because his soul drew strength from the peace of Christ. And that strength was so great that not even death as a martyr was able to crush it.
4. Dear brothers and sisters, without inner renewal and without a commitment to overcome evil and sin in our hearts, and especially without love, man will never achieve inner peace. Such peace will be lasting only when it is rooted in the highest values, when it is based on moral norms and is open to God. Otherwise, when built on the shifting sands of religious indifference and arid pragmatism, it can only be short-lived. Inner peace comes to birth in the human heart and in the life of society as a result of moral order, ethical order, the observance of God's commandments.
Let us share this peace of God with others, as did the blessed priest and martyr Wincenty Frelichowski. Thus we will become a source of peace in the world, in society, in the environment in which we live and work. I make this appeal to everyone without exception, and particularly to you, dear priests. Be witnesses of God's merciful love! Proclaim joyfully the Gospel of Christ, dispensing God's forgiveness in the sacrament of Reconciliation. Through your service seek to bring everyone closer to Christ, the giver of peace.
I also address these words to you, dear parents, who are the first educators of your children. Be for them an image of love and divine forgiveness, striving with all your might to build a united and harmonious family. In fact, it is the family that has been entrusted with a mission of primary importance: to participate in the building of peace, of the well-being that is indispensable for development and for the respect of human life.
I ask you, educators, who are called to impart authentic life values to the younger generations: teach children and young people tolerance, understanding and respect for every human being; educate the younger generations in a climate of true peace. It is their right. It is your duty.
You, young people, who cherish great hopes in your hearts, learn to live in harmony and mutual respect, lending assistance by your solidarity with others. Sustain in your hearts the aspiration to good works and the desire for peace (cf. Message for the 1997 World Day of Peace, n. 8).
Societies and nations need men and women of peace, authentic sowers of harmony and mutual respect; men and women who fill their own hearts with Christ's peace and bring this peace to others, to their homes, offices, institutions, workplaces, to the entire world. Both history and the events of our own day show that the world cannot give peace. The world is often powerless. That is why it is necessary to point to Jesus Christ, who by his death on the Cross has left his peace to mankind, assuring us of his presence for all times (cf. Jn 14:7-31). How much innocent blood has been shed in the 20th century in Europe and throughout the world, because certain political and social systems forsook the principles of Christ that guarantee a just peace. How much innocent blood is being shed under our very eyes. The tragic events in Kosovo have demonstrated this and are demonstrating it in a very painful way. We are witnesses to how strongly people cry out for and yearn for peace.
I speak these words in a land that in its history experienced the tragic effects of the lack of peace, having been victim of a cruel and ruinous war. Our memory of the Second World War is still vivid; the wounds inflicted by that cataclysm of history will need much time to be completely healed. May the cry for peace spread out from this place to the entire world! I wish to repeat the words I spoke this year in the Easter Urbi et Orbi Message: "Peace is possible, peace is a duty, peace is a prime responsibility of everyone! May the dawn of the third millennium see the coming of a new era in which respect for every man and woman and fraternal solidarity among peoples will, with God's help, overcome the culture of hatred, of violence, of death".
With deep gratitude we welcome the witness of the life of Bl. Wincenty Frelichowski a modern-day hero, priest and man of peace as a call to our generation. I wish to entrust the gift of this beatification in a particular way to the Church in Torun, so that she may preserve and make known on an ever wider scale the memory of the great works which God accomplished in the short life of this priest. I entrust this gift above all to the priests of this Diocese and of all Poland. Fr Frelichowski, at the beginning of his priestly journey, wrote: "I must be a priest after the Heart of Christ". If this beatification is a great act of thanksgiving to God for his priesthood, it is also an act of praise to God for the marvels of grace which are accomplished through the hands of all priests, through your hands too. I wish to address a few words also to the family of Polish scouts, with whom the blessed shared a profound bond. May he become your patron, teaching you nobility of spirit and interceding for peace and reconciliation.
In just a few days it will be the 100th anniversary of the consecration of humanity to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. This took place in all Dioceses through the work of Pope Leo XIII, who, to that end, published the Encyclical Annum sacrum. In that Encyclical he wrote: "The Divine Heart is the symbol and living image of Jesus Christ's infinite love, which invites us to respond in turn with love" (n. 2). A little while ago we renewed together the act of consecration to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. We thus expressed our utmost homage and our faith in Christ, the Redeemer of mankind. He is "the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end" (Rv 21:6), to him belong this world and its destiny.
Today, in adoring the Sacred Heart, let us pray fervently for peace. First of all for peace in our hearts, but also for peace in our families, in our nation and in all the world.
Heart of Jesus, our peace and reconciliation, have mercy on us!
© L'Osservatore Romano, Editorial and Management Offices, Via del Pellegrino, 00120, Vatican City, Europe, Telephone 39/6/698.99.390.
This item 1104 digitally provided courtesy of CatholicCulture.org


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Mini Hearth XL Type III (MXL 1M Brown)
Tar Heel Ants
$ 51.49
is back-ordered. We will ship it separately in 10 to 15 days.
Ready for Immediate Shipping, this Mini Hearth comes as shown in the photo accompanying this product.
***This is the Mini Hearth XL VERSION. This new size of the Mini Hearth is modular, includes two nestmates, and is 30% larger than the original Mini Hearth.
***New Modular Design (for more information click this (link)***
- Nestmate x 2 - this Mini Hearth comes with a discounted nestmate option ($5 value). For more information on this feature, watch this video
- Foraging Area Décor (as seen in photo)
- Museum Glass optional
Included with this purchase is a syringe for hydration, Mini Hearth PDF guide, nestmate and stoppers, lid, and magnetic glass panel.
NOTE : (View the original Mini Hearth product here.) Please note, the Mini Hearth has recently changed and now had modular features on each side that allows for the user to add additional Mini Hearths as expansion nests via magnetic ports. This is a standard feature and no options are required to add this feature.


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Yes, Mr. 9-year bus driver, they are. As reported in The State Register-Journal:
A Springfield Mass Transit District bus driver received a one-day unpaid suspension recently for wearing a pink tie to help raise awareness for breast cancer.
The driver had to serve the suspension, but his action also led to the SMTD agreeing that employees could wear pink on Fridays in recognition of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.
William "Bill" Jones, 46, said he didn't think wearing a pink tie on the first Friday of the month would be a problem, since National Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a nationally recognized event.
Incredible, no?


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Title: Perfect Match
Author: Alexis Alvarez
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: November 6, 2017
Cover Artist: Jessica Hildreth
Cover Photographer: Wander Aguiar
Cover Model: Jacob Cooley
She's the matchmaker…he's her sexy client. What could go wrong?
Fia Martin has a tough job: Find the perfect woman for arrogant, handsome Dylan Chambers, before her rival can do it––on national television. If Dylan declares her the winner, Fia's match-making business will skyrocket.
Dylan is picky. He's smug. He reminds Fia that he doesn't believe in true love. The dates she sets up for him end in complete disaster. And every time she tells him to behave, he flirts with her shamelessly.
A stolen kiss turns to a night of unbelievable passion and the best sex of her life...but Fia knows that Dylan's not interested in more than a fling, because he's still going on dates for the challenge like nothing happened.
When Dylan chooses her competitor's company for his final dream date in Hawaii, to a woman who looks perfect on paper, Fia figures she can kiss the trophy goodbye. The problem is that she's about to lose her heart, too…to the one man who's completely unavailable.
"I'd love to live here," she murmured, reaching out to touch the closest sculpture, a gorgeous creation with swirling green and blue, like an ocean in glass, then drew back a finger, to check his face. "This is the prettiest thing I've seen in long time. Can I touch?"
"You can touch anything you want." His eyes met hers evenly, and she thought she'd seen something open in his expression when she'd complimented his art, something warm and bright.
She didn't look away, even as she put her hand down to blindly find the smooth glass, running her hand over it. "It feels good."
He smiled. "I would hope so."
They stood looking at each other, then he spoke. "Fia?"
"Yes?" She could barely breathe.
"One night. Just to get it out of our system. What do you say?"
"No holds barred, one night of passion. You and me. Look, I get what you feel about your clients. And you know I'm not looking for anything long term. But we both want each other pretty fucking badly."
She sucked in a breath.
"So, let's just go for it. Seize the day. Take advantage of the chemistry. I promise you I will make it so fucking good, Fia."
For a second she thought about saying no, but the desire could no longer be denied. She didn't bother replying, but walked right up to him, wound her arms around his neck and lifted her lips to let him claim her with his mouth.
"Fuck," he murmured, and his hands were on her back, on her ass, pulling her into him as he plundered her mouth with his tongue.
She pressed herself into him, delighting to feel his hard chest against her breasts, and lower, another hardness entirely that indicated how much he wanted her.
"Take off your shirt," she muttered, pulling at the buttons. "So sexy. But off." She managed to undo two of the middle ones, and slid her palm into the pocket she'd created to touch his muscular chest. "You feel so fucking good."
"Your dress comes off first," he whispered into her ear. "My rules."
"Why should we play by your rules?" she asked, letting her eyes shut as he kissed and bit down her neck, moaning when he licked her clavicle.
"Because you'll like it," he promised. "Want to see?"
"Are you some kind of kinky dom or something?"
He laughed. "Or something."
Her eyes flew open, but she felt more excitement than concern. "Really?"
He ran a finger down her cheek. "Really."
"Like, tie-me-up-and-spank-me stuff? Tell me what to do stuff?" Her heart started to race.
"If you like that, then, yeah, I can do that for you." He ran a hand down her arm, slowly, and they both watched his long fingers stroke her skin. She sucked in a breath at how erotic it felt. "I like almost anything, Fia, so you just tell me"—and he leaned in and put his mouth right at her ear—"What. You. Fucking. Love."
She whimpered and grabbed at him. She'd always dreamed of being with a man who was unapologetically sexy, so in tune with his body that he could master hers and bring her exquisite pleasure. She didn't want hard-core BDSM, but she definitely wanted, no craved—for him to take control.
"I might like what you said," she whispered into his neck. "The tying up and spanking. As long as nobody knows we did this."
He let his fingers stray to her breasts, which he stroked through the dress. "You like a little pain, with your pleasure, Fia?"
"A little. Not too much. Yes."
He squeezed a nipple, and she cried out, but it was from passion, not dismay. She started breathing harder.
"You think you'd like doing what I ask?" He bit her neck, and she almost combusted. But she needed to clarify before they went further, just so she could relax and enjoy the moment completely.
"What are your other rules, besides the shirt thing?" she asked, pulling away. They were both breathing hard. She slowly slid the straps of her dress down her shoulders. "If I like what I hear, I just might obey."
A muscle clenched in his jaw, and he smiled a dark, dangerous smile. "For starters, you don't come until I say you can. But don't worry…it will be often."
She sucked in a breath and lowered the dress an inch, and his eyes shot to her breasts, where the creamy skin was slowly being revealed. "And?"
"And you'll do what I say, when I say it. For instance, if I tell you to come lay down over my lap so I can spank you, you'll do that."
"Interesting." She licked her lip and felt a surge of moisture between her thighs. "You'd honor a safeword, of course."
"Of course." He gave her the dark grin again. "You could just tell me to stop. But what word do you want?"
She pulled the fabric still lower so her areolas were visible but not her nipples. "Red. Keep it simple."
"Good choice." His voice rolled over her. "Keep going. Show me your tits."
"What if I don't do it?" She met his eyes.
He unbuttoned one sleeve and began to deliberately roll up the fabric, little by little. "You want to find out?"
Alexis Alvarez is an author, photographer, and digital designer who loves writing steamy romances. Her female heroines are always strong, intelligent women who fall for the sexiest guy around...and get the happy-ever-after ending of their dreams.
Alexis is a wife and mom, a former chemical engineer, a dachshund-whisperer—wait, that's a lie. The dachshund usually does the exact opposite of what he's told.
Do you like contemporary romance with steam and humor? Darker BDSM/erotica novels with fascinating psychological insights? Alexis has you covered. She writes in both genres.
You can usually find Alexis hanging out with her sisters, who are also romance writers, in their Facebook Group, Graffiti Fiction. The three of them love to drink wine together and laugh like hyenas while making dirty jokes and really inappropriate comments. They have a website which is not always updated here: www.graffitifiction.com
Read More by Alexis Alvarez:
Steamy, Contemporary Romance:
Kinky/BDSM Romance:
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Alexis always includes funny, interesting articles in her newsletters in addition to book samples, exclusive freebies and contest/giveaways. She's been told that it's the best newsletter around!