text:
On raising a son on the autism spectrum, progressive politics, pop culture, and coffee addiction.
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Stealth grief
He didn't elaborate, and I didn't ask him to. I thanked him for the advice, and acknowledged its wisdom and timeliness. He told me it was the sort of wisdom that comes with age, and he smiled and walked away as my throat tightened and my eyes pooled with tears.
So there it was. I'd wondered where it was. I'd been fooling myself for the past few days into thinking that it must be packed away in a box marked "The Past," but apparently I'd been carrying it right out in the open the whole time.
I call it "stealth grief." It's the phase of grieving that gets the least amount of attention and airtime. It's what happens when the grief is no longer a gaping open wound that you couldn't hide if you wanted to, when you have gotten through the aching, screaming pain, and when the good days finally - and by far - outnumber the bad. It's stealthy because you don't always see it coming, and because it emerges in new and different ways that you don't always recognize.
At least that's how it happens for me. Sometimes I don't see it coming because it pops up out of the blue - like when I hear that Julia Roberts has given birth to healthy twins, or when a woman in her blissful first pregnancy asks me if an amniocentesis hurts, or when people talk about their children's bond as siblings. Other times, I know it might be coming because of a date on the calendar - Mother's Day, for example. Or January 27.
Eight years ago on January 27 I had a baby girl. She was born with severe spina bifida and hydrocephalus when I was about 18 weeks pregnant and she was too small to survive outside my body.
Seven years ago on January 27 I found out that I was pregnant again. I later found out that I was carrying twins, later that one of the twins had mild spina bifida and hydrocephalus, later that the affected twin had died at full-term in utero, and later that the surviving twin had autism.
As you might imagine, for the past eight years January has been a difficult month. At first, the grief was right there on the surface, easy to identify and impossible to conceal. I talked, I cried, I wrote, I read, and grieved and grieved and grieved until some time had passed and the open wound began to heal. But the subsequent Januaries have been trickier: I spend the better part of the month each year wondering how the anniversary will affect me this time. Will this be a wracking-sob year? Or a reflective-but-peaceful year? Or will this be a stealth year, when grief slips on a disguise and makes me think it's passed me by, only to jump out and grab me when I least expect it?
I never grieved Bud's autism in the way that I read about people grieving after getting a diagnosis. I understand what people experience - the "death" of the dream of the neurotypical child you thought you had, and the adjustment to the reality of the wonderfully complex child you actually have. Maybe it's because there was not a startling "moment of diagnosis" for Bud, but rather a slow-paced, evolutionary unfolding of it. I'm not sure. Whatever the reason, the autism itself has never been a source of grief for me.
Bud's diagnosis did affect me in a different way, though; it affected me in a three-strikes-and-you're-out-of-the-baby-making-business sort of way. When Bud's brother died, the fear of spina bifida was daunting. We suddenly went from having a 1 in 1000 risk of having a subsequent pregnancy affected by it to a 1 in 20 risk. The idea that the risk was too great to ever try again was overwhelming. For a while. But somewhere, on some level, there was a competing thought: 1 in 20 means that there is a 19 in 20 chance that a subsequent baby would not have spina bifida. That thought floated around through Bud's toddler years, and I imagined that a day would come when I would pull it down and have a good look at it.
Before that day arrived, we discovered that Bud had autism. Since then, the reality has set in: a subsequent baby has an increased risk of spina bifida and of autism. Bud needs all of the time and attention and care that we can muster already. We would struggle to have time and attention for another child, even if that child were healthy and neurotypical. And the chances are great that the child would not be.
Bud will be our only living child. I have known that for quite some time. Known it. But, it seems, that stealthy creature grief has been lurking in the shadows for a while, getting caught in my peripheral vision but ducking around corners right before I've turned around to get a better look, making me wonder if my imagination was getting the best of me and there was nothing out there after all, slowly getting closer until - WHAM.
Wham. Out of nowhere, someone in church calls to my attention the things I have chosen not to see, and I suddenly understand why the blogs that have resonated most with me recently have been the sad ones; I recognize that the tightness and ache in my neck and shoulders is probably not bursitis after all; I become aware of the sensation in my body I had not even acknowledged - the one that starts somewhere behind my eyes and travels down to about my navel and feels like a blend of being bone-weary tired and of getting stuck in mid-sigh, unable to take it back and unable to complete it.
It seems that in this stealth year - the one in which my 40th birthday looms large on the horizon - grief has slipped on a new identity. I am not specifically grieving the loss of my daughter or the loss of my son. Instead, I am grieving my long-imagined idea of family, the one in which I have a gaggle of children whom I adore, and who adore each other. I am grieving the relationship that Bud will never have with a sibling. I am grieving the presence of the one person who will always be there for him, even when his father and I can no longer be.
And yet, even as I grieve, I can find the pockets of comfort. I can see the ways that the babies I knew so briefly have shaped my life so completely. I recognize the role they play in making me a better mother to Bud, in helping me to appreciate things about him that I might otherwise forget to notice.
And I experience more frequently and more acutely, in those fuzzy moments between awake and asleep as I huddle together with my wolf pack, the comfort that comes from the absolute certainty that one-plus-one-plus-one equals five, that there is a warmth we have generated that extends far beyond us, that there are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
And so, I take the advice of my wise friend at church, and I breathe,
and out,
my inhales and exhales in harmony and counter-point with the rest of my wolf pack. My family. We breathe, together and apart, and we huddle closer as time passes and the calendar, once again, allows us to move forward into February.
28 comments:
i can't know your grief or experience but i have a version of my own after over a decade of infertility and finally the chance to become a mother in my 40s. i've tried but have been unable to get pregnant again and now have come to (almost) accept that fluffy will be our only child. bittersweet since we can give him so much this way but we can't give him a sibling. i also had an image of myself with my galloping climbing brood. i breath with you and thank you for this so so beautiful post.
- January 29, 2006 10:55 PM
- Judy McCrary Koeppen MS SLP Sage Therapy said...
I just ran across your blog. I need to introduce myself. There are some startling similarities between us. I became pregnant 7 years ago and was surprised and delited to find out I had twins. At 5 months gestation we found out the girl (the other was a boy) had bilateral cystic kidneys and would not survive. She would die in utero or shortly after birth. At 38 weeks I was induced after 2 months of bedrest. Baby Mary lived thru the birth, strong girl, and died in our arms. The "healthy" twin was whipped off to the NICU. When he was 2, and I was pregnant for a 2nd time, I noticed his delays (I'm a speech therapist). Short version he has developmental delays across the board and some "autistic tendencies". Being pregnant again was very hard. My dtr, now 5, also had delays-but appears to have "caught up" with a lot of early intervention. On occasion I still grieve not having my "twin" experience. I had also always dreamed of having 3 kids. No more for us, the gene pool seems to tainted-and I am now 42.
...my blog is called Breathe Deep. I wish you well.
- January 29, 2006 11:51 PM
- Judy McCrary Koeppen MS SLP Sage Therapy said...
amiga again-
I forgot. I am also a coffee addict and my blog is:
- January 30, 2006 12:29 AM
- not my blg said...
I know your grief. It visits me too, practically everyday. Last night, I was making some repairs on the gutters to our house and listening to my Ipod. The night was taking over the day and I sat down on the roof and looked up at the clouds. I was listening to the Dixie Chicks (a very good group despite the name) and the song Godspeed started to play and I just broke down right there on the roof. I grief was so powerful that my knees weakened and I couldn't stand. I use to listen to that song "Godspeed" before we got the diagnosis. The song summed up my feelings for my son and the love I have for him. After the diagnosis, it still sums up my love for him but now it has a very different meaning to me.
- January 30, 2006 6:37 AM
- gretchen said...
In the months reading your blog, I have often felt humbled by your wisdom and your perfect understanding of Bud. You always seem to know the right thing to say, the right way to look at something, and the most eloquent way of writing about it. And your love for Bud is palpable, even though you don't write a lot of "mushy" stuff.
Now I am beginning to understand that your wisdom has been gained at great cost. I can't pretend to understand that pain, as I have been blessed with 2 easy pregnancies and healthy births.
I will never take that for granted.
- January 30, 2006 9:33 AM
- kristina said...
Bittersweet. That's what Sappho calls love and, while she is not referring to a mother's love for her children, "bittersweet"--the Greek is glukupikron, literally "sweetbitter"--is how I think of life with autism. Sappho says, too, how life "creeps up" on a person (herpeton) and knocks us over like a whirlwind--stealthily, wonderfully, terrifyingly, sadly beautiful.
My mother-in-law--when she was more lucid--said to my husband, "Your heart is broken." I chug on, immersing myself in taking care of Charlie's practical needs, but many is the day my husband has been knocked down by grief. Who will be there for our boy when we are gone? Who will swim with him in the ocean?
I like to think I use the grief as an impetus to keep working, fighting for, struggling to do the best by Charlie every day. Bittersweet, but the sweetness is the best.
- January 30, 2006 10:01 AM
- Eileen said...
This post was so beautiful and honest written right from your heart. I so admire your strength and the unbelievable Mom that you are for Bud. You have suffered a great loss and I can not imagine how you feel. I am so sorry for the loss of your two babies. Let the grief come as it must. Your friend from church sure does carry some wisdom. Take that much needed breath!
- January 30, 2006 10:44 AM
- Wendy said...
Thank you for sharing this part of your life with so many readers. Since I found your blog I've checked it each and every day to see what kind of insight you can offer. Your words make me laugh and, like this entry, they also make me cry. Bud will be a better person because he has you for a mom. Your dedication and love will pull him through. Take a breath...you deserve it.
- January 30, 2006 2:45 PM
I can identify with you somewhat. I lost my baby last March at 24 weeks. He was my first baby and once we passed the first trimester , I was beginning to reallly put an image in my head of our lives together. Every appointment revealed a "normal", "perfect", and "healthy" baby.I found out at our 24 week ultrasound that he had died at some point in the past weeks.
I'd like to say that I'm somehow better for the loss---that I had gained some greater insight, more empathy, more patience, but really I feel like a part of the person I used to be is hopelessly lost. It all seems so pointless and random, and I'm left with alternatively wanting to talk about it and then not wanting to acknowledge it at all. I want to be honest, but I don't want to be a downer. I still don't like social functions, and still avoid those friends who delivered their babies succesfully a few weeks after I was supposed to. I feel cheated out of the future holidays. And I miss the person that I used to be---the one who was positive and saw good in everything. I feel hopelessly broken. I can't figure out who I mourn for more---my little boy or me.
I should say that I'm pregnant again and we're going to the 24 week ultrasound on Wednesday, and by all indications, things are moving along well this time. I'm starting to look forward again (and I do think that this is our baby at last), but I still have that hole in my heart.
Thanks for spilling it all here. I guess I needed my good cry too. May we all find peace again someday.
- January 30, 2006 7:05 PM
- The Jedi Family of Blogs said...
Thanks so much for sharing your grief as well as your joys, MOM-NOS. After B was diagnosed with autism I went through a period of grieving B's never-to-be-born sibling. I was 38 when I had B, & miscarried his younger sibling when he was 2 1/2 & I was over 40. I came to my senses at that point & we didn't try for any more kids. I am very grateful to be able to put all of my energy into B, since there's no way any of us would be sane if we had 2 children. I am now 5 years into perimenopause & feel very positive about my body's changing- although it's definitely strange & uncomfortable. I'm glad to have come to a sense of peace about the number of children I was able to have before beginning this process &, above all, so grateful to have been given the opportunity to have B. Again, many thanks!
- January 30, 2006 8:08 PM
- Mom to Mr. Handsome said...
I thought I knew what to say, but the backspace key seems to be getting the best (or worst) of my writing in this case. So, I will say this, thank God for putting people in our lives when we least expect it to guide us on our way.
Take care.
- January 30, 2006 9:00 PM
- supposedly susan said...
I know this song. It has such lyrics, but man it is hard to dance to.
Have you ever read anything about "Chronic Sorrowing?"
It sounds dreadful I know, but I find comfort in it, when the grief revisits me like an unwelcome house guest, or my MIL.
Anyway, keep fighting the good fight.
- January 31, 2006 12:36 AM
I'm sending hugs and kisses. Like you Jan-feb are difficult months after losing our little angel Mia. I often wonder how alike or different she would be from her twin. When meeting other parents I dread the question "Is she your only child?" Three years later I still can't bring myself to say "yes". Mia lived inside of me for 24 weeks. She is as every bit as much as my baby than her beautiful twin. It breaks my heart that L was robbed of her sister and maybe someday of her maid of honor.We were chosen to be moms to these angels for a reason. I hope you are feeling better soon I hope that you find comfort in pictures or like me an outfit that smells of her (I fear that someday that smell will be gone) XOX0
- January 31, 2006 2:07 PM
- mommyguilt said...
I will never know that kind of grief, and I can say that I didn't grieve the autism/reality dx as much as most, but the pain you feel each year is definitely one that we will be more than willing to help you bear. I know that we can't make the grief go away until it's time, we can't give you hints if we see the grief sneaking up on you, nor can we just shove it all in a corner and make it disappear for you. We can, though, be hear to help bear your load. Always here for you.
- January 31, 2006 4:37 PM
- Estee Klar-Wolfond said...
I always say my life was a blip on the screen before I had Adam...at 37. I never had a chance to have another child (I am nearly 41). I often grieve that just when he needs it the most (the support of a sibling close to him in age), he cannot have one. He can't even have a dog...my husband is so allergic. I try to take refuge in the thought that he at least has 4 step-siblings (ages 13-21).
When we suspected Autism, on November 28th, 2003 at 3 p.m. (I received a call from my husband whilst sitting in the hairdresser's chair), the world quickly closed in. I cried nearly all weekend and little Adam was distressed by my overwhelming emotion. By Monday, I got to work. I know the feeling of never really grieving. I think the grieving gets overlayed by acceptance and the reframing of our expectations and experiences.
It has been 2 1/2 years since then. I still worry. I still have moments. Aside from sheer tenacity, there is always some kind of ache.
- January 31, 2006 7:30 PM
- Hope said...
Your poignant grief touched me. I work with individuals with diabilities and know that parents are the unsung heroes in their children's life. Grieving the loss of hopes and dreams for our children along with the challanges that come each day can leave you weary to the soul. Perhaps this kind man was your guardian angel.I send you love.
- January 31, 2006 8:19 PM
- MothersVox said...
Oh MOM-NOS, there is a small puddle of tears collecting on my keyboard as I try to wrap my mind around all that you have shared in this haunting post. How this grief creeps up on us . . . I have been wrapped up in just such grief over the last days and fell silent, neglecting so many things and pulling various sorts of blankets around myself. Now I find that your candor and eloquence has cracked open some of the hardening that was probably going on in my heart.
Breathing with you too.
- January 31, 2006 8:37 PM
Thank you. I came here by way of mothersvox's blog.
My ASD child also has spina bifida. I know of one other boy who uses a wheelchair. My child uses a wheelchair now, but for a while could walk with various aids. After having my handicapped child I had a normal child. He had to give up a lot because I was a single mom and I couldn't give him what I wanted to give him. There were a million places I couldn't take him because his sibling was in a wheelchair and I couldn't always split them up, though I wasn't averse to leaving my handicapped child with someone else, it just wasn't available most of the time.
My son is wonderful, he's magnificent, he's a blessing, he's moral and kind. But I really can't see him taking care of his sibling if I died, at least not yet. He's 23. Maybe in a decade he might have what it takes, but not now.
There's no guarantee that the normal sibling will be able to take over after a parent's death, and I think it is immoral to create a child just to take care of the disabled one. Adopting specifically for providing an autistic child with a companion was actually suggested in an autism magazine. I told them I thought they were dead wrong and should be ashamed of themselves for even thinking of such a thing. Belonging to a loving congregation is a much better way to go unless one has a huge and very close-knit family to fall back on.
As for sorrow, I feel it. I have my little moments of angry jealousy when I see offspring younger than my handicapped child, the children of my friends. go to college, get married, walk... But then I love what having this child has done for me. She's a blessing to everyone who has the privilege of meeting her. I also think having a Bible based hope for the future helps, but the grief is there.
I just wish that parents of ASD kids whose kids can walk and who don't have any life threatening physical conditions were grateful for that. My child's lifespan is likely to be shorter than other ASD kids because of spina bifida related stuff, and that is the worst grief I have, fearing losing my precious daughter. I dare not let myself think of it, it's too awful to consider.
- February 02, 2006 2:16 AM
There is no storage space for locking up "The Past". Instead, there's a shelf, very near to your heart , very accesible, where the items of storage are content to stay. The tricky part is the filing of these items. Your wise friend knows the secret to the filing system. When something happens to us, and we stop breathing, because it hurts so, the item stays front and center on the shelf, waiting patiently for the day, or days, that we take it down, hold it in our hearts, feel it's weight, and retch its pain. Only then, will our hearts be able to create more space for that them to move further in...not away, but deeper into a more secure, safe place, that allows the rawness to heal. It takes thousands of deep breaths. It will always be there - waiting for a smell, or a song, a date or a sight that will conveyer that item right back to the front row. But after thousands of deep breaths you'll see that the item is okay, it's safe, it has a purpose in your heart. As for the imagined family...you have it, really you do. Keep breathing...I've been doing it for 30 years, and still, every once in a while - I have to remind myself to do it again. Blessings dear.
- February 04, 2006 1:33 PM
- joker the lurcher said...
i came across this post from a link in your later one. i lost a baby before my son, quite early in the pregnancy but it was devastating to me. i cannot imagine how hard it is when you lose more than one.
i did not grieve when the autism diagnosis came as we already thought that was going to be the case, and we would not change our son even if there was a "cure" - he is perfect as he is.
i send you kind and warm thoughts and hope your pain eases a bit.
- January 23, 2007 8:45 AM
Bud may be the luckiest boy in the world - Mom-NOS, you reached out to me yesterday, and I'm so glad that someone reached out to you, no matter how skilled you are at hiding the hurt. I, like all the other responders, am blown away by your eloquence, and am envious of your strength. Now, only if I could stop the blubbering, I could literally wring out my spongy ergonomic wrist protector.
The pain will never disappear completely, but it will ease as Bud's accomplishments grow. Remember what you said to me "No feeling bad about feeling bad". Pat yourself on the back, you are doing a great job with your son, and since discovering your blog yesterday, I can say it's done a hell of a lot for me. A lifetime of thanks.
- January 24, 2007 4:30 PM
wow, wow wow wow. I was looking for Chrstian song lyrics for a dear friend who was recently widowed and "stumbled" on to your blog. You have such an amazing gift of self expression and use of words. As I struggle with my own inability to handle my husbands recent illness on my own and the recent loss of a dear friend I take great comfort in your words. Thank you for making them public. They have blessed me beyond words. God Bless and keep you. Staci - email@example.com
- May 24, 2007 6:38 AM
i have no other words than these...
may God continue to work through you as you speak to the hearts of others.
i am just sitting here a bawling mess.
- October 21, 2007 7:34 PM
My 14 year old daughter was dx with pdd-nos in November. After 8 years of people telling us it was ADHD. I was sleepwalking through the holidays. I read your post and just completely broke down crying. Thank you for sharing and for helping me uncork the grief. You rock.
- January 04, 2009 11:23 PM
- Brett and Cindy said...
"stealth grief" - now I have words to describe what happens to me now and again. Had a bad day with the boy (19 with autism)yesterday, woke up sad and crying. It sneaks up on me, the pain that I think I have successfully put aside, but once in awhile, it comes back with a roar. When I am not expecting it, I don't handle it well.
I love your blog, it encourages me and makes me laugh. thanks for being so transparent.
- June 04, 2010 11:25 PM
What a beautifully written piece. I'm sorry for your tremendous losses. Your words resonate with grace and eloquence.
- October 09, 2010 9:59 AM
- Dixie Redmond said...
What a good writer you are. It's 5:46 and I'm crying into my coffee. This has been a stealth grief year for me, too.
- November 13, 2011 5:49 AM
- Scrapperdee said...
I'm really late in posting - I found your blog through facebook this morning.
I love the term stealth grief - I've been in it for at least a year. I lost our first child and our 2nd and only got his autism dx Feb 2011 and I'm still struggling.
He will be our only child too and that is a big part of my grief - he has no siblings, he has no cousins, if he can't make friends, who's going to look out for him?
Thanks for your post and your blog.
- April 01, 2012 11:44 AM


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A Working Model
If you were asked to name one person who has enabled more people to gain wealth and security than any other person on the globe, who would you name?
In 1881, here in Berlin, Otto von Bismarck started the world's first modern pay‐as‐you‐go social security system which served as the model for the U.S. Social Security system and that of many other countries, including setting the retirement age at 65. No, Bismarck is not the answer to the opening question, the answer is Jose Pinera, and here is why.
Bismarck's social security system was basically a Ponzi scheme whereby young workers pay taxes to support the retirees. It only works over the long run where the population is growing and where most retirees do not live very long.
These conditions no longer exist in the high‐income countries. And even in low‐ and middle‐income countries, population growth has slowed, and lifespans increase rapidly. As a result, many of the world's social security systems have become retirement insecurity systems as they head toward bankruptcy.
Thirty years ago, a young Jose Pinera, who had earned a Ph.D. at Harvard, was Chile's labor minister. He saw the coming disaster in the government old‐age pension system.
Inspired by an idea from the late Nobel Prize winning economist, Milton Friedman, he developed a solution that empowers workers and gives them real financial security. Pinera‐type social security systems have now been adopted by more than 30 countries and cover several hundred million people — for a very simple reason — it works!
Under the Pinera‐type social security systems, workers are required to invest in highly diversified, qualified funds. Because they actually own their pension funds (like 401(k) funds in the United States), workers can choose their age of retirement, whether it is age 50 or 80. The longer they work, the more money they will have — but again each individual determines his or her own retirement age. (The very poor and those unable to work are still covered by a government system.)
Mr. Pinera is here in Berlin, selling his concept to German opinion leaders, as part of a multi‐country "Free Market Road Show" sponsored by the European Center for Economic Growth and the Hayek Institute of Vienna, Austria.
The Chilean privatized system began in 1981, exactly 100 years after Bismarck instituted his system in Germany. It has been 29 years since the system went into effect in Chile so Mr. Pinera now can answer his critics, not only with theoretical arguments, but with hard data.
The results are remarkable. Chile's citizens have on average experienced a 10 percent per year, above inflation, compounded growth rate in their pension funds for the last 29 years. The result is most Chileans are no longer poor, but are, in fact, "small capitalists."
The Chilean government, increasingly freed from paying pensions out of tax funds (almost all Chileans have moved into the private accounts, though they could have stayed in the old government system), is now running a budget surplus of 10 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), which could pave the way for the abolition of the income tax.
The new Chilean system has provided so much investment capital that Chile moved from being a poor country to being a solid middle‐income country with the highest per capita income in South America. Critics in the U.S. and elsewhere claim investing pension funds in stocks and bonds is risky, but the real risk to the elderly is being trapped in government social security schemes headed toward insolvency.
In 1981, the Dow Jones stock average stood at about 800. Despite all the ups and downs over the years, and the turmoil of this last year, the Dow Jones average stands about 12,800 or about 16 times where it was in 1981. Those Americans now retiring on Social Security will unfortunately receive only very modest payments in relation to what they could have received if their political leaders had not kept them locked into a fiscally unsustainable government system.
Some critics of privatized social security claim that even though the returns are better under a privatized system, the "transition costs" are too great. In fact, there are no economic costs to the country of the transition, as Chile and other countries which have adopted the privatized system have shown.
We now know that both in theory and practice privatized social security works far better than pay‐as‐you‐go government systems. Opponents can only keep their citizens from adopting Pinera‐type systems by keeping them ignorant of the benefits, and making false statements about the privatized social security system's successes. Fortunately, the world still has a very vigorous Jose Pinera, who for three decades has made it his life's work to empower workers and make them small capitalists, freed from the government foot upon their necks. Mr. Pinera has already made life more secure and prosperous for millions, and with luck it will soon be billions of people.
John McCain and Barack Obama, are you listening?

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Catherine Zeta-Jones joked that 'saucy' Prince Charles had got a little too familiar with her boobs while pinning a medal on her chest when she appeared on the David Letterman show last night.
Shown a picture of her being presented with the award, Catherine said: 'Look at his hands! Check out his hands, I dunno. I love the royal family but he is being a little saucy."
Letterman asked: "Is that to do with the award?"She replied: "No. I just think that's my breast actually."
Letterman asked her what the award meant, "You don't have to pay taxes?"Miss Zeta-Jones, 43, replied: "I am a Commander of the British Empire, and basically that entitles me to David Letterman getting on his knees every time I stand."
Zeta-Jones was promoting her latest film, Broken City, in which she is cast the wife of a "corrupt beyond belief" New York Mayor, played by Russell Crowe."We had Thanksgiving dinner with Mayor Bloomberg. We went to Bermuda and he asked me about the part," she said. "I said I am married to the Mayor of New York. This was over turkey and cranberry sauce. I told him Russell's character was corrupt beyond belief, and he wants to kill me and the Mayor turns to me and says "That would work".


text:
To invent something new, I'm using remaining pure fresh raspberries, blend into puree to make the swiss roll cake part, whipped some fresh cream and wrap with some fresh strawberries. Here you go, the complete fresh mix berries swiss roll with heart-shaped! Totally, all are natural colours.
The close out of one of the heart-shaped mixed berries swiss roll


text:
The Best Policy
on June 28, 2011 at 12:01 am
Chapter: Comics
There are times when one would pass up the opportunity to acquire gold from a magical lake fairy for a more mundane gift. Like, perhaps, getting rid of your friend when he will not shut up about his chicken. What[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…


text:
You have spoken, dear readers, and it's perhaps little surprise that you'd be most afraid to run into Marcus "New Mexico" Vick at your local McDonald's. You know what's cool, though? He has a THUG LIFE tattoo across his McRib.
Impressively, our man gangsta Grimace came in a close second, followed by Fred Smoot and Maurice Clarett. Nobody is all that frightened of Jim Mora, Jr., which is a point in everyone's favor, we think.
Full results below. As always, thanks for making your voice heard.
G/O Media may get a commission


text:
Double Bass Kaleidoscope
and organisational direction, based on the long and successful double bass tradition at Kloster Michaelstein. My objective was to bring together diverse approaches to playing technique and interpretation, each represented by famous double bass soloists. The first event was an immediate success with over 50 participants
from all over the world and this secures its fu-
ture as an international event of a high standard.
In future Kloster Michaelstein will continue to
offer a wide variety of stylistics, methods and pedagogic concepts every spring. The many facets of double bass playing and the instrument itself with its 500 years of constantly changing history will be aired not only in practice (solo double bass playing, practical orches-
tral playing and chamber music), but also in lectures, discussions and seminars. This should raise the general standard of playing and create an awareness of historical and modern performance practices. Welcome as (active or passive) participants are students and professional musicians and also ambitious amateurs.
Double Bass Kaleidoscope website


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DOVER -- St. Thomas Aquinas Alumna and Guidance Director Alisa Karwowski is on a journey that has taken her and her husband Tim (also a St. Thomas Aquinas graduate) into the world of Russian adoption.
In the early 2000s, Alisa and her husband welcome two beautiful baby boys into their family, adopting them from a Russian orphanage.
During that time, she made a promise – to be an advocate for Russian children in orphanages, a voice, and she is keeping that promise. She developed a new initiative called the Keeping the Promise Fund. The fund was created to generate support for the many orphanages in Russia allowing donors to make charitable contributions that go directly to the care of the children currently living in orphanages. The first Keeping the Promise event raised enough money to significantly defray the cost of a erecting a wrought iron fence at one of the orphanages in St. Petersburg. The presence of the fence makes it so that the children can go outside safely each day.
Recently, things took a turn for the worst. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a bill banning Americans from adopting Russian children.
A conversation between Alisa and St. Thomas Aquinas High School Art Teacher Paula Maskwa about the situation inspired Paula to create a plan. Springing the plan into action, Paula invited Alisa into her Honors Art class to share some of her knowledge about the empty rooms and bleak nature of the orphanages in St. Petersburg.
"I sat with the students for near twenty minutes telling them the truth about what is happening between the US and Russia. I did not hold back when I told them about the families who are impacted most gravely, the families that have already met and bonded with their child and are now not allowed to go back to Russia to bring them home." said Alisa.
She went on to say, "I shared with them what it is like inside Russian orphanages. The students listened intently the entire time and then asked mature questions. I was so impressed with how concerned they were for children that are living across the world. They learned about their plight and they immediately came up with a way to make life just a bit more enjoyable for them." she continued.
The students began creating paintings for the children…paintings that could be hung on the walls of Russian orphanages. For the younger children, they painted butterflies, teddy bears and bumblebees. For the older children, they created a snow scene and a serene painting of a man fly fishing.
Senior art student Kate Jones reflected on the presentation by Alisa and the experience of painting for the children. "I felt bad for the orphans in Russia because it must be hard to live in such a sad and bland environment with nothing beautiful to look at. Hopefully, our artwork cheers them up."
The end result was beautiful, and not only did the students learn something about Russian adoptions, they made a difference in the lives of children they do not even know.
"I knew that conditions for children in orphanages were poor, but to hear the individual stories and to see the pictures – it broke my heart." said senior art student Molly Lenahan. "Every day I take for granted the fact that I have a home that is decorated and full of life."
Today, the Art students anxiously await pictures from the St. Petersburg orphanage of their artwork hanging in the rooms where the children play and sleep, hoping that it has brought great cheer to the children who live there.
Located in Dover, NH, St. Thomas Aquinas High School is a coeducational, Catholic high school community where young people are called to be challenged academically, to stretch their hearts spiritually and to embark on a journey to make a difference. For more information, visit us at www.stalux.org or call (603) 742-3206.


text:
Some people swear by adding a rug to the dining room and others say it's a huge no-no, but today, we are going to tell you why we, as well as a large majority of interior designers, are firmly pro-rugs!
We understand why people might be a little hesitant to add a floor covering to a dining room, after all, it's a space that is frequently messy and food spills are not something you want to leave to soak into any depth of carpet pile, but the aesthetic is hard to beat! Not only that; a gorgeous and well anchored rug will really add a sense of grandeur and ceremony to a dining too, but don't just take out word for it. We've come up with a host of fantastic reasons why you need a rug underneath your dining table, so let's take a look and see if you're inspired to get onboard!
If you haven't opted for an open-plan kitchen and dining room but do have a less constricted ground floor, you still need to allude to where all of the different zones are. After all, you don't want the functionality of your dining area to spill, literally, over into your living room, do you?
By selecting a rug that showcases a contrasting color to the rest of the space, you can achieve the look of a soft perimeter that encapsulates the dining table very neatly. We have a real affinity for these vintage-looking Persian style rugs, as they work with almost any decorating scheme.
If you're fortunate enough to enjoy an open-plan dining room and kitchen area, it can be hard to know where one ends and the next begins. Naturally, there is an intrinsic connection between the two different zones, but it never hurts to properly mark out the alternate areas and that's where a fantastic dining table rug comes into play!
By placing your dining table on top of a well proportioned, eye-catching and color-coordinated rug, you are effectively marking out the boundary lines of where you eat. It's a simple technique and requires no permanent dividing structures, but it has a huge impact on the way an open-plan room will look and feel.
Who doesn't love the feel of deep-pile carpet underneath their feet? The problem is, carpet has gone, not out of fashion exactly, but wooden flooring is definitely more popular these days, so why not look for a way to have the best of both worlds?
If you've opted for hardy and easy to clean flooring throughout your home, add a really soft and luxurious rug underneath your dining table and enjoy the contrast of textures. as you sit and enjoy your food, you can gently rake your toes through the pile and not miss out on any of the elegance and opulence that an expensive carpet offers. Plus, a high-end rug will really elevate your dining furniture too! Talk about making everything look very expensive!
A big concern, if you'll excuse the pun, when it comes to rugs, is what size you should be choosing. If you take away just one piece of advice from us, please let it be to opt for a larger rug than you think you need! It will look great and creates a sense of more floor space too.
A good rule of thumb is to measure how big your table and chairs are and try to add at least 30cm all the way around. Don't worry that this will effectively shrink the room, as it will merely increase the perceived dining area. You will also be able to protect your flooring from scratches and damage.
Wow! Just look at the way this rustic dining room really pops! It's thanks to the use of plenty of different patterns and the main amplifier is the terrific rug that has been anchored down by the table. This brings us onto the next issue that you need to think about in terms of rugs.
If you are worried about choosing a rug that is perfectly coordinated to your room, stop! Given that dining tables are usually such large and forthright pieces of furniture, you can definitely stand to add some pattern or color contrast underneath and it will still work well with a different design scheme. Take this room as a perfect example of what we mean! The room is rustic, but the rug is traditional and the finished aesthetic is perfectly charming!
If you're not exactly onboard with the idea of adding a rug as a contrast in your home, how about choosing one that will finish a theme and tie it all together perfectly? The simplest way to do this is to select a one-color rug that aligns with the boldest hue in the rest of the room. This tends to be the darkest color. The only thing you need to try and do is make sure that the legs of your chairs and dining table are not the same color as the rug itself or there will be little to distinguish between them!
Why not enjoy a little more textile inspiration by taking a look at this Ideabook: 11 lovely carpet placement ideas for different home spaces!


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User talk:JFletcher/Archive/3
| This is the talk page for User:JFletcher/Archive. Please leave a message.
Always sign off your messages using four tildes (~~~~ ) to automatically add your signature.
This is an archive of my talk page. This page is protected. To continue discussions please use my current talk page. There is no need to have the previous discussion directly above.
All posts that have a signature without a time, like this: Eganio (Talk), have been copied from my user board, a feature that was available before Grand Theft Wiki moved away from Wikia. Replies may have been made on the other user's talk page, or board, though if replies were made on their board, unfortunately they have been lost.
I will usually reply to any posts on your own talk page so that you get an email. You may reply back here, or over there, I will get emails either way. However to start a new discussion, you MUST come back to me. (I will however reply here to messages by Gboyers).
Also please note that another user may answer your question before I do, and they may answer on this page. So if you don't get a reply, it might be a good idea to check back here, because after another user replies, I won't unless I have additional information or opinion (and if the other user replies here, so will I).
- 1 Cleanup Project
- 2 Michael Jackson R.I.P
- 3 hey
- 4 Admin
- 5 need nat 2
- 6 psn network
- 7 Header
- 8 hey here's an actual question
- 9 hi
- 10 RE: Renaming Categories
- 11 Tram Glitch
- 12 Name
- 13 Manager Position Open
- 14 GTW Forum
- 15 Userboxes
- 16 Thanks
- 17 Where are you?
- 18 Yes
- 19 Selling GTA IV
- 20 Hi!
- 21 Quiz
- 22 GTA IV Episodes for PS3
- 23 GTA Story
- 24 Hi!
- 25 Poll
- 26 GTA 5 Wishlist
- 27 PS2 Stop Working
- 28 Administrator
- 29 Hi!
- 30 Hi!
- 31 Images Needed?
- 32 Downloading
- 33 GTA 5 Wishlist
- 34 GTA IV Episodes for PS3
- 35 Helpful Details
Cleanup Project
Hey Biggest gta fan ever, the second phas of the Cleanup Project is underway. Instead of assigning out tasks to people, I'll let you go there and pick your own. Just sign your name next to the tasks you'd personally like to help out with, and get underway. Gboyers talk 23:04, 14 June 2009 (UTC)
Michael Jackson R.I.P
Hey there. I've just heard that the king of pop has passed away. I'm not really a fan of him but I'm just wondering on what you think. Fast Lane 13:03, 26 June 2009 (UTC)
friend just wondering you know the ghosts we have on the myths shound't we am say what type of haunting like is it residuel, intelluect, poltergeist or demonic.
hey friend i know that you are one of the staff as a i have spotted chimpso romoving stuff from the myths like las brujas strange calls shady creek creature. can you tell him to stop it cause im trying to look for some of them. user--Stephendwan 12:35, 11 July 2009 (UTC)
I removed them because they had swearing, next to no grammer, loads of swearing mistakes and they were obviously incorect. Oh and they were written by Stephendwan by the way, thats why he is complaining. --Chimpso 12:40, 11 July 2009 (UTC)
I just joined very recently, but I think I have what it takes to be an admin. On this site, however, what would it take to become an admin? --TheLost~JohnnyKlebitz 03:24, 21 July 2009 (UTC)
need nat 2
hey i need help in getting NAT TYPE 2 as i hate the type 3 it does not allow me to play gta 4 online with people that have headsets and kicks me offline it sucks to have it. PS I have the ps3 version. user--Stephendwan 11:58, 3 August 2009 (UTC)
psn network
wana add me as your friend my names irelandcool on the ps3 network. user--Stephendwan 18:25, 9 August 2009 (UTC)
- Didn't you just get suspended because of this? Don't go to peoples talk pages to ask if they want to join your network, or If you have a stupid glitch you want to tell them, or ask them what they think of a false myth that you made up. Please man, people don't like that. --Chimpso 06:51, 11 August 2009 (UTC)
No i this has nothing to do with giltchs im talking about the playstation network you know were you can play the ps3 online im asking if he wants to add me as a friend. user--Stephendwan 17:48, 11 August 2009 (UTC)
- You think the warning only includes glitches? I'm talking about spam and harassment in general - unsolicited or random messages or those which are not specific to that person. Asking random people to add you as a friend is spam. BGTAFE - I apologise, this is not the place for such a discussion. Gboyers talk 18:50, 11 August 2009 (UTC)
No im know who he is his my friend here and i know that he has a ps3 and i know that it has a connection online im just asking if he wants to add me (sorry if this counts as a spam but it does not on another wikia). user--Stephendwan 18:53, 11 August 2009 (UTC)
Well random messages on talk pages, espessially Admin's talk pages IS counted as spam. Oh and agreed Gboyers, this is not the place for such discussion. --Chimpso 07:27, 12 August 2009 (UTC)
Oh then were is the right place for a asking to friend invite then in the forums. user--Stephendwan 11:43, 12 August 2009 (UTC)
Stephen - if he was genuinely a friend, then it would normally be fine (for 1 or 2 people). Although usually you would simply list it on your user page, and if anyone actively wanted to add you, they could. However, because you have a very long track record of unsolicited messages, all these little things add up to a LOT of spam. Gboyers talk 14:09, 12 August 2009 (UTC)
well there's this thing on my userpage called view all friends and you will see that he is my friend and in fact his right infront of it. user--Stephendwan 14:40, 12 August 2009 (UTC)
Hey, the header of Grand Theft Wiki is kinda getting old. I mean, there's Niko, but in the background there's Tommy and Claude. Is there a page where I can suggest a new header? I made my own with Luis, Niko and Johnny but I don't know how to put it or if I'm even authorized to put it in the first place. FIKUS96 22:44, January 22, 2010 (UTC)
hey here's an actual question
i just started a forum topic on this but i was wondering if doing this would get me a faster (correct) response. i recently read an article about games coming out in 2004 for the then-unreleased "xbox 2" (360) and one caught my eye -
Grand Theft Auto: World.
the developers announced its production, gave a general overview of what to expect, set a quasi release date, even announced that samuel l. jackson was to return as a voice on the game. i was wondering - what happened to this game? was it just scrapped? if so, why was it scrapped? or have i simply not been able to find it because it still hasn't been released? i haven't been able to find any more news or articles about this game - which i find really weird considering the huge following the GTA franchise has. thanks so much for the help. the article's link is below Purplecoin 07:49, February 15, 2010 (UTC)
hello im new to this wiki i usually go on other wikis {{SUBST:nosubst|User:Streetracer213/sig}} 10:46, February 27, 2010 (UTC)
have you got anything about grand theft auto san andreas please let me know if yes! :)
RE: Renaming Categories
Alright, I'll keep that in mind. Thanks. Masterpogihaha 06:59, March 1, 2010 (UTC)
Tram Glitch
I guess im starting to appear vain, but i beleive i was the first to discover the tram glitch (in december 2007) i was wondering if you knew anyone else who spoke to you about it before that time.
Skeezo 101 12:00, April 14, 2010 (UTC)
Hi there, I am new to the wiki and I thought that my user name would all be lower case. It isn't, so i ask you could you capitalise some of it for me if it is possible? I want it to be KCMcWeeney. Thanks Kcmcweeney 20:06, April 12, 2010 (UTC)
Manager Position Open
Hey. I think its time that GTW promoted a new Manager (bureaucrat). This user would mostly be a "lead admin", coordinating the efforts of the other admins, making sure all the little jobs get done, and making sure the site's organisation works properly. I thought I'd give you the opportunity to put your name forward. If you would like to be considered, please nominate yourself. Thanks! Gboyers talk 00:38, April 24, 2010 (UTC)
- I accepted your nomination, and you can answer the questions here. Please also take the time to comment on the other two nominations (here and here). Gboyers talk 00:41, April 27, 2010 (UTC)
GTW Forum
Hey. I have created a GTW Staff Discussion Forum here. You will need to Register on TGTAP, and leave me a message on my talk page with your TGTAP username to gain access to the GTW forum. Gboyers talk 13:06, May 31, 2010 (UTC)
how`da ya get userboxes on the user page? Alfie9000 (Talk)
i cant find the ems page
Thanks man. I didn't know what to put it under. Why don't you answer the quiz? Peter13 (Talk)
Where are you?
Where are you?? Busy or what? Debatramazumdar (Talk)
- So were you offline these days? Debatramazumdar (Talk)
Selling GTA IV
That's odd.Sorry I haven't replied lately but I've been either swimming or on the Fallout Wiki for the past twent or so days.I decided to pop in and talk,answer some messages, and there was also something I wanted to tell you.I'm highly considering selling GTA IV and buying something else.I've had it since aroung October and I must say,I've played it too much. I don't enjoy the game even in the slightest anymore.BTW,if I don't respond to a message here for a prolonged period of time and it becomes annoying,just leave a message on the vault. HuangLee (Talk)
- Huh.Permanant vacation for A-Dust.LOL.But actually I tried to see if I could trade it at Gamestop. They wouldnt give me ANY game in exchange.They offered me EIGHT dollars for GTA IV. So I kept it.It was kinda shameful.BTW,good job with getting 100% in GTA IV.The game that I was trying to get was $60.00 even though it's been out since october and the initial price was also 60 dollars I think.Meaning,It didn't go down one dollar since october. However pre used the game was thirty dollars.WTF?Unplayed and it's twice the price of pre played?It's friggin' retarded I think! HuangLee (Talk)
- I'm not leaving the wiki.But the place I tried to trade it in at was Game Haven I think.I was very dissapointed by the eight dollar offer but if you say I could get near the intro value at EB I am totally going there.If I can find a local one.If not I guess I'm stuck with it. It's a good game but,it's like a bad drug.The high is good at first but then you OD and your arm is covered in injection marks!Needleless to say,it's a good game while it lasts. But I think 90% of the world is pretty tired of GTA IV.Now it seems everyone is obsessed with Sims 3 and Red Faction or some shit. HuangLee (Talk)
Sorry.Lost internet.Again.Then I re-got it and just sort of stuck to the Fallout Wiki for awhile.I saw a commercial for "The ballad of Gay Tony" or something along those lines and thought it would be an appropriate time to come back to the GTW.And regarding what you said about using E-Mail, I don't think I've checked it in atleast 7 monthes...probably 8-9 actually.So that is probably not a good idea,but I don't mind keeping conversation on the wikis at all.And it seems oddball conversation is pretty tolerated on The Fallout Wiki and I'm usually always there but I guess I'll try to contact you from here still.Just saying,if I'm not here you can always talk to me on the Fallout Wiki. HuangLee (Talk)
- I think I have good internet connection but I think I only have it for MAYBE another month at the most. HuangLee (Talk)
Hey there! I'm a really big gta fan too! My name is Kevin Aliaz and I also live in liverpool NSW..I go to liverpool boys high school, you know where that is right? Irregularhero (Talk)
- hey dont worry about privacy. Cuze im in year 7 and I know where ashcroft high is, I used to live in Miller a long time ago. Like not in miller but in cartwright (next to miller). And if you know michael haywood then he is my freind Irregularhero (Talk)
- oh yea.....well what's up Irregularhero (Talk)
Hi man. Haven't seen you in a while. Just wondering if you like to try the quiz. I want it to be the official quiz Grand Theft Wiki. Peter13 (Talk)
GTA IV Episodes for PS3
Hey James. I was wondering if you guys had any knowledge to when any GTA4 episodes will be released to PS3 James "Playboy Rex" Black (Talk)
- So I should just turn to the darkside and buy a 360? James "Playboy Rex" Black (Talk)
GTA Story
i just wanted to say im working on a gta story,and i just wanted to ask if i could put it on grand theft wiki. Lozzy94 (Talk)
Hi,I have GTA IV and completed the story with the Revenge ending.It's so sad to see Kate Mcreary being killed by Jimmy Pegorino(the last mission is quite hard but in reality,It's pretty easy.(Lost and Damned looks nice). Firethelove (Talk)
Hi, seen as though you are the creator of GTW where it says on the front page, this weeks poll, do you reckon that a new one should be posted every week? I dont really mind if you say no. THanks! Gsf4l (Talk)
GTA 5 Wishlist
Is this GTA 5 wishlist is really official and developers of GTA 5 will review it? Paulmafija (Talk)
- Then maybe you can give me Rockstar Games email. I have some ideas about storylane Paulmafija (Talk)
PS2 Stop Working
how did your ps2 stop working User:Hurricane rick (Talk)
- most of my gmaes dont work anymore including gta sa,gtalcs,and gta 3 User:Hurricane rick (Talk)
what do i have to do to become a Administrator? Lozzy94 (Talk)
Im new here can you tell me anything about this site and how to........ Myths (Talk)
i know the name of mr trenchcoat.his real name is james earl cash like the protagonist of manhunt Hurricane rick (Talk)
Images Needed?
Hi there, as you i think are ... the most friendly staff member on GTW (not saying that the others are horrid) but, i have lots of time on my hands this week, well i recently bought San andreas for the PC, and it lets you take pictures on there and stores it in your documents on your computer, but to the point if you need any articles that need images ONLY ON SAN ANDREAS could you please inform me. Also i have sent this privatley because users like chimpso ETC. don't really respect GTW as i have found on his talk pages. So if you are short on images for san andreas please inform me. If you have time to reply, please send it privatley, i don't really want other GTW users that i told you about it, however you can discuss it with the GTW staff. THANKS! :) Gsf4l (Talk)
- Oh i forgot to put in on the last message, if you have a look at some of the pics i uploaded EG. Steak-out Steakhouse, they are all taken by me, no copyright, thanks again Gsf4l (Talk)
About the downloading stuff. show me the cars that replace from gtagaming. Declansimons Talk)
GTA 5 Wishlist
im new here...but im an addict gamer of GTA Series...can you teach me how will i post on GTA V wish list???thanks for ur kind help...keep rockin!!! Quilluaz (Talk)
GTA IV Episodes for PS3
if you didnt already know tlad and bogt are now coming to ps3 uk release date 30th march Candymanyyyy (Talk)
Helpful Details
I will continue editing with helpful details. I'll keep making useful articles, and if you don't want them that's fine. I'll ask you something if I need it. OK? Thanks. NYYankees333 (Talk)
- Could I have permission to make two hospitals articles? NYYankees333 (Talk)
- OK, Thanks NYYankees333 (Talk)


text:
See the whole thing from Congressman Chris Murphy of Connecticut:
"As we wait for the white smoke to emerge from the 'grand bargain' negotiations at the White House, most Americans are already aware of the Republicans' plan to dismantle and privatize Medicare and Social Security. But what many people may not realize is just how dangerous it would be to slash funding for a program that 60 million Americans rely on for their basic health care needs: Medicaid.
"While it seems that just about every major industry or interest group has teams of lobbyists in Washington looking out for them, some of our most vulnerable citizens simply don't have a voice in a town where unfortunately, money still talks the loudest.
"Why? Medicaid covers only the impoverished and disabled, so it lacks a traditional advocacy base. This may be news to Republicans — but most poor people I know are spending all their time trying to find a job and put food on the table."


text:
While many of us have had the experience of learning mathematics informally by osmosis or more formally in classes, there are times when we have to sit down and systematically learn, without the benefit of a class, large amounts of mathematics. For instance, there might be a technique that we need from a field we are not familiar with.
When you find yourself in such a situation, what are your best tricks for teaching yourself new mathematics?


text:
IT HAS been almost two months since AGCO Senior Vice President and General Manager Bob Crain issued a letter to dealers that the AGCO brand name will be discontinued. The industry is still reeling about what it means for customers and dealers.
Under the new plan, the AGCO brand of orange tractors will eventually be transitioned out but will be produced through 2010, with retail sales continuing through 2011. As outlined in the letter, an aggressive customer retention campaign will be launched, targeting current owners to address their concerns (such as resale, dealer support and product support), reward past loyalty, and motivate consideration and purchase of Massey Ferguson equipment. Parts will continue to be supplied through AGCO Corporation dealers for a minimum of 10 years beyond the final production date of 2010. (Many parts from the 1950s continue to be supplied.)
In December Crain and his team met with AGCO dealers to further discuss the new branding strategy. A week before his first scheduled meeting, Crain talked with us about the implications of the switch.
FIN: Bring us up to date on what has transpired since sending the November 12 letter to dealers.
Bob Crain: In a nutshell, the letter announced the transition of the AGCO tractor brand, our orange tractors, over the next one-year-plus period of time. Since that time we've worked with five of our leading AGCO brand dealers to receive their input on our transition plans. We've made quite a few revisions to how things should best proceed. We are now in the process of contacting our customers to provide them more information on what the transition will look like. We plan to meet many of our dealers at five regional dealer meetings.
What has been the response from dealers so far?
As you would imagine, it has been an emotional response. In this industry, brands are a very emotional subject, not just with our dealers but also with our customers and our own employees. Colors are much associated with different companies in this industry. So it has been an emotional subject. What we've tried to do is communicate the reason and rationale for the change, which will have positive implications for the medium- and long-term success of our customers, dealers and our company. The letter spelled it out very simply. We are trying to narrow down and provide a much better focus for our resources, and rather than doing many things okay we will be focusing on fewer things but doing them very, very well. We want to make sure our dealers, our customers and our own employees understand that at the end of the day this decision is driven by being able to provide our dealers and customers with better, more productive products.
What was it that prompted the decision?
Every year we have strategic discussions that include the input of many people including outside recommendations regarding how we make ourselves a better company for our customers, dealers and shareholders. Our company is 20 years old. We've made tremendous strides in that small amount of time. And we continually need to ask ourselves how do we change for the better and improve as a company.
Why didn't the market support having a third brand? Is the market saturated?
I don't know if I'd use the word saturated. But without a doubt, the industry in North America, both dealers and our customers, continue to consolidate. Our competitors are dealing with one brand or two brands at the most. AGCO is an amalgamation of approximately 24 mergers and acquisitions over the past 20 years, and we have a finite amount of resources. It comes down to, where can we best spend those resources to provide our customers and dealers with the best, most productive product? From a medium- and long-term perspective, we felt that for us to ensure success, we needed to better focus our resources.
Why cut the AGCO brand in particular? Was it because it was the youngest?
The AGCO brand name on tractors is less than 20 years old, but most people trace the orange paint back to the Allis Chalmers brand. The AGCO tractor brand is sold predominately in the Midwest of the U.S. and small quantities in Canada. The resources required to support tractor brands are immense. So again, it came down to, how do we better utilize the finite resources we have to give the market the best product we can?
How will you position the remaining two brands?
Historically, the Massey Ferguson and AGCO tractor brands have been positioned toward more of the rural lifestyle and traditional farmer segment, whereas the Challenger brand has been more focused on the larger professional farming segment. There has been some overlap between the two important customer segments, but the customer bases they target are fairly distinctive.
So you will continue along those two tracks?
Yes, very much so. In the coming years, we will be transitioning our AGCO tractor dealers to predominately Massey Ferguson dealers but in some cases Challenger dealers.
It is also important for everyone to understand that this transition is only impacting the orange AGCO tractor brand. There is zero impact on Gleaner combines, Sunflower drills, White planters, or Hesston haying equipment.
Any new information that would be important for farmers to know?
We will start to communicate more details to our dealers with the transition plan, receiving input from our AGCO brand advisory panel.
In summary, change is never easy, but AGCO is a young, forward thinking company that has grown dramatically to become one of the largest agricultural companies in the world in a very short time. This change will allow us to provide our dealers and customers with the best, most productive product in the world.
Q&A with Bob Crain, AGCO senior vice president and general manager


text:
Journal of Veterinary Medical Education (JVME) is the AAVMC's peer-reviewed scholarly journal. As an internationally distributed journal, JVME provides a forum for the exchange of ideas, research, and discoveries about veterinary medical education. This exchange benefits veterinary faculty, students, and the veterinary profession as a whole by preparing veterinarians to better perform their professional activities and to meet society's needs.
The journal's areas of focus include:
Best practices and educational methods in veterinary education
Recruitment, training, and mentoring of students at all levels of education, including undergraduate, graduate, veterinary technology, and continuing education
Clinical instruction and assessment
Institutional policy
Other challenges and issues faced by veterinary educators domestically and internationally
Veterinary faculty from all countries are encouraged to participate as contributors, reviewers, and institutional representatives. JVME is available to faculty of AAVMC member institutions as a benefit of membership and is also available via individual subscription.
The journal is guided by an independent editorial board. A complete list of the editorial board's membership, institutional affiliation, and term of office can be found here.
Editorial Contacts
Dr. Daryl Buss
Editorial Assistant:
Ms. Sandra Gautreau
JVME editorial office:
Journal of Veterinary Medical Education
Telephone: (416) 667-7777, extension 7787
Fax: (416) 667-7881


text:
Symantec™ Platinum Partner & Website Security Specialist
First specialist ever and an upper-echelon partner
RapidSSLonline.com is part of the world famous Rapid Web Services, LLC family. Rapid Web Services is one of Symantec's largest Platinum Partners globally; in fact, we are also the first company in the world to join the new Website Security Specialist Partner program within Symantec™. RapidSSLonline.com is proud to align ourselves with the world's largest web security company and the most trusted name in SSL; Symantec™.
As a Specialized Partner, RapidSSLonline.com has entered into a new level of cooperation with the largest Certificate Authority in the SSL industry. Of the many benefits associated with being a Specialist Partner, access to Symantec's platinum support line is a big plus, it's designed to help streamline high volume sales and access to key support contacts. Our 24/7 direct access to Symantec™ gives us the quickest ability to resolve any certificate issues that may arise.


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Gov. Beshear Celebrates Grand Opening for Tempur-Pedic's Global Headquarters in Lexington
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 13, 2013) – Governor Steve Beshear today joined local and company officials at Tempur-Pedic (NYSE: TPX), marking the company's 20th anniversary in Lexington and celebrating the grand opening for the company's new global headquarters at the University of Kentucky's Coldstream Research Campus. The project will create 65 new jobs, retain more than 230 jobs, and represent a $17 million investment.
"Tempur-Pedic has been helping the world sleep better now for two decades, and we're extremely proud to have such a world-class company headquartered here in Lexington," said Gov. Beshear. "This new global headquarters means top-quality jobs, a $17 million investment and an innovatively designed building that represents the forward thinking approach that has made Tempur-Pedic a leader in its field."
Tempur-Pedic began in Lexington in 1993 and has grown to include 1,950 employees worldwide, selling products in more than 80 countries with more than $1 billion in sales.
The company's new 128,000-square-foot facility is located on Tempur Way in the Coldstream Research Campus. Nearly all of the building materials can be recycled, with water-saving and energy conservation features, as well as electric plugs available in the parking lot for electric cars. The facility also includes health and wellness benefits such as a café that serves fresh food from local farms, fitness rooms, yoga classes, bikes and bike racks to be installed this spring to encourage use of the nearby Legacy Trail.
"Our new global headquarters was designed to provide an invigorating place to work, filled with natural light and open spaces, and with a layout that encourages collaboration and team interaction," said Mark Sarvary, president and chief executive officer of Tempur-Pedic International Inc. "Now that we've lived in it for a few months I am delighted to say that it has delivered on all of this and more. As we moved from our old headquarters, we reflected on our history and the path that led Lexington-based Tempur-Pedic to become one of the largest global bedding companies. Tempur-Pedic has undeniably changed the industry, but the journey is far from complete and our new building symbolizes the next phase of our journey,"
To encourage the investment and job growth in Lexington, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) preliminarily approved the company for tax incentives up to $8 million through the Kentucky Business Investment program. The performance-based incentive allows a company to keep a portion of its investment over the term of the agreement through corporate income tax credits and wage assessments by meeting job and investment targets.
"This is an exciting announcement for central Kentucky," said Sen. Kathy Stein, of Lexington. "Tempur-Pedic's investment in our community will offer 65 new jobs that will provide a boost to our local economy and new opportunities for our workforce. Tempur-Pedic is exactly the kind of creative business that we want here in Lexington, and we are also pleased to have its global headquarters. Gov. Beshear shows his continued leadership in job creation to seek out and support this excellent industry expansion. Thank you, Governor."
"This is a great day both for Tempur-Pedic and for our community, and I'm certainly happy that our state and local officials could work with the company to help make this expansion possible," said Rep. Jesse Crenshaw, of Lexington. "What makes this investment even better is that Tempur-Pedic is a homegrown company that has become a world leader in its field. It's a true Kentucky success story."
"We have been working hard to bring and keep corporate headquarters in Lexington," said Lexington Mayor Jim Gray. "Tempur-Pedic, we're glad you're staying here. Headquarters bring strong leaders and problem solvers who can help us build a Great American City. Headquarters support and strengthen our efforts to grow good-paying jobs."
"Commerce Lexington Inc. is proud to have Tempur-Pedic's global headquarters in Lexington," said Bob Quick, CCE, president and CEO of Commerce Lexington Inc. "We're excited to be a part of the grand opening celebration of this iconic brand's new headquarters building in Lexington."
For more information on Tempur-Pedic, visit www.tempurpedic.com.
Information on Kentucky's economic development efforts and programs is available at www.ThinkKentucky.com. Fans of the Cabinet for Economic Development can also join the discussion on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ThinkKentucky or follow on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/ThinkKentucky.
A detailed community profile for Lexington (Fayette County) can be viewed at http://www.thinkkentucky.com/EDIS/cmnty/index.aspx?cw=053.
Kerri Richardson
Terry Sebastian
Mandy Lambert


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Portable toilet rental or porta potty rental is a practical solution of providing toilet needs in public areas during several external events. A porta potty is frequently seen as box-like that at times can be carried by one person from place to place. It was first used in slum areas of many developing countries to provide a sanitized and clean environment. Nowadays, porta potty rental in New Brunswick has become popular in festivals and camping sites, as well as other outside activities that have limited or no access to toilets but require the attendance of numerous people. These portable toilets provided by porta potty rental companies are not attached to any ground holes. They do not have any septic tank as well and are not connected to any plumbed system that leads to sewage treatment plants. It is portable, meaning it is being picked up and moved to be cleaned or emptied.
Fair price breakdown
A porta potty rental in New Brunswick comes in different sizes and purposes to accommodate the needs of the people who will use them. These factors contribute to the cost of rent in addition to the duration of the rental. A straightforward porta potty rental in New Brunswick could cost around $170 to $230 per day for a short-term usage. A single standard porta potty rental in New Brunswick over the weekend is estimated to be in between $170 and $280. A standard handicap porta potty rental can cost you $230 up to $300 over the weekend. The porta potty rental in New Brunswick for a deluxe toilet is as low as $86 and can go as high as $399 over the weekend.
Find the Best Costs on Porta Potty Rental - New Brunswick, 08901
Some companies offer discounted prices for long-term porta potty rentals and the number of units to be rented. It is estimated that some providers lower their rate to $170 up to $500 per month for construction site usage. Changes to the said amount may depend on the delivery, features, and location of the site.
Middlesex County Porta Potty Rental FAQ
Last Updated: Aug 8, 2020
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Portable Toilets available in your area
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"Interest rates have nowhere to go but up!" That's the tune Wall Street's prognosticators have been singing over the past five years, and they've been dead wrong. Until now.
After hitting a yearly bottom of 1.63% on May 1, the yield on 10-year U.S. Treasuries (IEF) recently zoomed ahead to near 2.6%. Investors who own individual bonds or a bond fund will likely have seen something unfamiliar in their mid-year statements: bond value losses.
What's your game plan for hedging investment clients against higher interest rates?
Steeper Yield Curve
This year's rout in bond prices has done more than just raise interest rates; it's also increased the yield curve.
As the yield curve steepens, the difference or spread between long-term and short-term interest rates increases. This causes long-term bonds to decrease in value relative to bonds with shorter maturities.
Many pundits and economists theorize a steepening yield curve is good for the economy, as it's a sign of future growth and inflation. One justification they provide is that the steeper curve is great for banks (XLF) because they make their money on the net income margin.
Another popular argument is that a rising yield curve suggests an improving economic climate. Business Insider recently wrote, "When yields are rising from a low level, they reflect improving prospects for economic growth." Maybe in theory, but a glance at reality suggests otherwise.
Higher interest rates have already taken a toll on mortgage activity. The weekly refinance index has fallen by more than 50% since early May, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. Likewise, other rate sensitive sectors like REITs (VNQ) and Utilities (XLU) have pulled back.
For perspective, the chart nearby shows the historical yield spread between 10-year Treasury yields and the federal funds rate (FFR). The yield spread between both benchmarks has never been more than 400 basis points or 4%. And today, with 10-year yields now around 2.6% and the FFR between zero and 0.25%, the 10-year yield would need to shoot up to 4.35% to break historical records. That leaves a potential 1.85% upside in 10-year yields, should the FFR hold steady and should rate relationships stay within their historical limits.
Rebalancing Needed
As bond yields rise, bond prices fall. Because of their sensitivity to rate spikes, long-term bonds and Treasuries have fallen the hardest. The iShares Barclays 20+Yr Treasury ETF (TLT) has declined 10% since early May.
Conversely, ETFs that own Treasuries with shorter maturities like the Vanguard Short-Term Government Bond Index Fund (VGSH) and the PIMCO 1-5 Year U.S. TIPS (STPZ) have declined less than 2%. The value of bonds with shorter maturities is less impacted by rising rates.
"Fixed-income investors should be particularly cognizant of liquidity levels, keeping maturities short and spread duration low. High-yield spreads may widen by another 100 basis points because of the recent Treasury crash," said Scott Minerd, Guggenheim Partners' global chief investment officer.
Because long-term U.S.Treasuries have been star performers ever since the 2008-09 financial crisis, many bond investors piled into them chasing higher returns and higher yields. Treasury prices have been further inflated by the Federal Reserve's Treasury purchases via "QE" or "quantitative easing."
Regardless of the Fed's deliberate attempt to keep rates artificially low, the interest rate dynamic has quickly changed from down to up. And for the first time in a while, unsuspecting bond investors are experiencing something they haven't grown accustomed to: losses from bonds. Rotating away from longer into shorter bond maturities is one way to help clients ease the pain of higher rates.
Taking the Offensive
Besides moving to safer shorter-dated Treasury bond ETFs, another tactic to capitalize on a steepening curve is to buy the iPath Treasury Steepener ETN (STPP). The note has already rallied over 15% since May and would benefit if the yield curve keeps steepening. Past episodes of steepening have sent the yield curve over 250 basis points higher from its lows. If that again is the case, then the yield curve still would have over 150 basis points upside, providing a windfall for STPP owners.
Another strategy for dealing with higher rates is to take the offensive by investing in ETFs that are designed to increase in value when bond prices fall because of rising interest rates.
ETFs that gain from falling bond prices like the Direxion Daily 20+ Yr. Treasury Bear 3x Shares (TMV) and the ProShares UltraShort 2x 20+ Yr. Treasury ETF (TBT) are ahead between 10.5% to 14% over the past three months. Both funds use daily leverage of 300% and 200% and are designed to increase in value when long-term Treasury bond prices fall.
More gains for TMV and TBT could be ahead if the yield on 10-year U.S. Treasuries dances with 3%.
Direct Hedging
For clients that still want to keep exposure to the bond market, but with hedged protection, there are a few solutions.
The ProShares High Yield Interest Rate Hedged ETF (HYHG) owns high-yield bonds while simultaneously holding short positions in U.S. Treasury futures. The fund charges 0.50% annually and attempts to capture the credit spread between its long and short positions while minimizing interest rate risk.
Another strategy is to purchase temporary insurance via protective put options on Treasury ETF positions. Buying out-of-the-money put contracts a few months into the future is one way to limit costs. And while the outlay to buy insurance may eat into yield, clients may appreciate the peace of mind in knowing their bond positions are protected.
The silver lining of rising interest rates, if there's any, has been a lack of inflation. This allows investors to keep more of their yield income. Unfortunately, the threat of inflation never goes away.
For now, educate your clients by helping them understand the inverse relationship of bond prices and bond yields. Show them how increasing rates are especially destructive to owners of long-term bonds. And once they're educated, they'll be more convinced to take action.


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ST. LOUIS, Mo. (KMOX) — The Cardinals announced Tuesday that they have added right-handed pitchers Michael Blazek, Keith Butler, Eric Fornataro and lefthander Kevin Siegrist to the club's 40-man Major League roster. All four players were purchased from Springfield (AA).
Blazek, 23, the Cardinals' 35th round selection in the June 2007 First-Year Player Draft (1,068th overall), fanned 83 batters in 80.0 innings pitched for Texas League Champion Springfield (AA) this season. In 40 games (7 starts), Blazek was 5-8 with a 4.16 ERA for the Cardinals in 2012 and he ranked among TL leaders with 8 Holds.
Butler, 23, was the Cardinals' 24th round selection in the June 2009 First-Year Player Draft (729th overall) out of Wabash Valley (Ill.) College. Butler led the Springfield Cardinals with 25 saves, finishing 2nd in the Texas League, and he was 5-1 with a 2.76 ERA in 53 appearances – all in relief.
Fornataro, 24, was a 6th round (185th overall) selection by the Cardinals in 2008 out of Miami-Dade Community College. He led the Texas League (AA) with 16 Holds this past season while posting a 3-3 mark with a 2.39 ERA and 5 saves in his 57 appearances for Springfield.
Siegrist, 23, split time between Palm Beach (A) and Springfield (AA) in 2012 after having received a non-roster invite to the Cardinals Major League Spring Training camp in February. The 6-5, 190-pound lefty was the Cardinals' 41st (1,235th overall) selection in the 2007 draft out of Palm Beach Community College. Siegrist was a perfect 6-0 with a 2.28 ERA in 10 starts for Palm Beach. He went 1-2, 3.62 ERA in 8 games (5 starts) for Double-A Springfield.
The Cardinals Major League roster is currently at 39 players:
Pitchers (23): Michael Blazek, Mitchell Boggs, Barret Browning, Keith Butler, Chris Carpenter, Maikel Cleto, Eric Fornataro, Sam Freeman, Jaime Garcia, Joe Kelly, Lance Lynn, Victor Marte, Shelby Miller, Jason Motte, Edward Mujica, Jorge Rondon, Trevor Rosenthal, Marc Rzepczynski, Fernando Salas, Eduardo Sanchez, Kevin Siegrist, Adam Wainwright, Jake Westbrook.
Catchers (2): Tony Cruz, Yadier Molina.
Infielders (8): Matt Adams, Matt Carpenter, Allen Craig, Daniel Descalso, David Freese, Rafael Furcal, Ryan Jackson, Pete Kozma,
Outfielders (6): Carlos Beltran, Adron Chambers, Matt Holliday, Jon Jay, Shane Robinson, Skip Schumaker.
Copyright KMOX Radio


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The third meeting of the G20 Infrastructure Working Group (IWG) was held in Sydney, Australia from the 4th to the 6th of June, with the GI Hub playing an active role.
In light of the potential for PPPs to contribute to a reduction of the $15 trillion infrastructure investment gap, the Global Infrastructure Hub (GI Hub) revamped its PPP Risk Allocation Tool with its updated PPP Risk Allocation Tool 2019 Edition.
InfraCompass is an interactive tool that looks at the infrastructure capabilities of 49 countries.
As outlined earlier in this blog series, private investors are looking for reliable returns to justify the risks that they are taking. Financing and procurement of cross-border projects will often be more complex than national projects due to the scale of the project and compounded risks, and the financial returns may be more uncertain than for national projects.
Risks can be hard to define, manage and mitigate. In infrastructure projects that cross regional or national borders and involve multiple parties from both the public and private sector, these risks may be amplified.


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Last Friday night, I had the pleasure of listening to George Kimball read from his new book at Gelf Magazine's Varsity Letters reading series. (Here are two video links: One and Two.) The book,Four Kings: Leonard, Hagler, Hearns, Duran and the Last Great Era of Boxing is a must for anyone interested in the fight game.
Kimball was there for it all and conveys the excitement these four champions brought to the game in this expertly reported book that is written in pleasing, straight-forward prose.
For a sampling of Kimball's work, check out his archive at The Sweet Science. For example, here is his story on the Hagler-Hearns brawl:
Nearly a quarter century later it remains a high point of boxing in the latter half of the twentieth century. Some knowledgeable experts have described it as the greatest fight in boxing history – which it probably wasn't, if only due to its brevity. But its ferocious first round, which to this day remains the standard against which all others are measured, was undoubtedly the most exciting in middleweight annals, and one of the two or three best opening stanzas of all time.
What did Bob Arum know that the rest of us did not? Already in the midst of an age in which it had already become obligatory to sell every big fight – and many smaller ones – with a catchy slogan, the promoter who had already staged (with Don King) the Thrilla in Manila, as well as served as the impresario for Evel Knievel's ill-fated attempt to jump the Snake River Canyon, christened the 1985 matchup between Marvelous Marvin Hagler and Thomas Hearns simply "The Fight."
This Friday, Kimball will be interviewed by none other than Pete Hamill (who wrote the foreword for the book) at the Barnes and Noble in Tribeca (97 Warren street). 7 pm, ya heard?
Again, anyone with a remote interest in boxing should brave the cold and check out what promises to be a riveting chat.


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Trifold Brochure | Volume 4Clean and modern trifold brochure that comes with 2 different interior design options. Stylish layouts were carefully constructed in photoshop with well organized layer sets. Smart objects used for photos so masks are automatically applied and everything is very easy to edit and customize. These templates are perfectly suited for any business wanting a clean and modern look.
Features- TriFold Brochure with 2 different interior design options
- Fully Layered Adobe Photoshop .PSD files
- Standard Letter size, 8.5" x 11" with bleeds
- Print Ready, CMYK, 300 DPI
- Guides for Bleed, Trim & Safe zone
- Smart objects used for photos
- Very easy to edit and customize
- Free Fonts used, download links are in the "read me" file.
- Photos in the preview image are used for display purposes and are not included.
About The AuthorHi there, my name is Luke and I am very passionate about design. I take pride in my work and the support I provide to my customers. Any item you buy comes with free support, simply send me an email with the details and I will get back to you quickly. I strive to make all my items user-friendly, and I will put in the extra time needed to assist you with any questions or issues that may arise.
Below you will find all of my items organized into collections. Click on an image to view the entire set. You can also see all of my items in my portfolio. I hope you enjoy my work, feel free to get in touch if you need support, have questions or need a custom quote.


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Veganbaking.net Vegan Baking Recipes Other Vegan Cooking Recipes Raw Sprouted Hummus
Raw Sprouted Hummus
5.0 (1)
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This Raw Sprouted Hummus Recipe is a zesty, high protein, versatile spread that's just teeming with nutrients. Since the chickpeas are sprouted you don't have to babysit a saucepan for an hour, making sure it doesn't boil over or run out of water. All that's needed is to visit to the chickpeas to give them a shower whenever you have a few spare seconds during the day such as before work, after you get home from work and right before bed. This hummus has a fresh, subtle grassy flavor that is great on salads, sandwiches, with pita bread or paired with almost any savory food.
Raw Sprouted Hummus Recipe1 ½ cups sprouted chickpeas
½ cup + 1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
½ cup lemon juice
¼ cup unroasted tahini (if you want to make this 100% raw)
¼ cup water, (this may vary depending on your desired consistency)
2 cloves of garlic
1 ¾ tsp salt
½ tsp paprika
½ tsp cumin
¼ tsp cayenne pepper
1) Sprout your chickpeasSprout chickpeas by completely covering in filtered water and soaking overnight. Transfer to a colander and rinse 3 times a day until most chickpeas have sprouts that are about 2 millimeters long. This will take abou 2 days.
2) Process all of your hummus ingredientsPlace the chickpeas in a food processor with the olive oil, lemon juice, tahini, water, garlic, salt, paprika, cumin and cayenne. Blend until smooth, about 5 minutes. The chickpeas will soak up more water over the next 24 hours so I recommend making the hummus on the runny side. This recipe makes about 1 quart of Raw Sprouted Hummus.
Get a price on the Food Processor I Recommend at Amazon.
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Dan Edelman
OMG!! That is what I have to say about that.
I made the original recipe which for most would be incredible. Nice grassiness to it compared to most hummus' out there. Lemon juice gives a nice tartness and to round it all out the cayenne and paprika give a beautiful heat/smokiness.
Then I made another batch with the rest of my sprouted chickpeas and did the recipe but added more cayenne, cumin and 1/2 cup of my saurkraut(veganbaking.net recipe with bok choy, onion, soy sauce, and sarachi pepper sauce added) to the mixture and put in the food processor. All I have to say is OMG< OMG> OMG. You must try!! Another superb recipe on your website Mattie!!
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