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How many of you have ever been scared to death by a how crazy a Christian can be?
A couple of months ago I was working on doing emails for my internship. It was in the public computer lab area. And... well... let's say I NEVER would have suspected what was going to happen next.
Everything seemed to be going well until I heard a young woman shrieking nearby. I turned around and saw that she was red as a lobster in the face and her eyes were wild while she was shrieking at a young man sitting in front of one of the computers who was looking at her quietly bewildered, shocked, and upset. [It was a one-woman argument... or rather a one-woman screaming fest... O_O]. I had a hard time hearing what she was screaming at him about [she was so hysterical that her words were almost incoherent]... but I did catch a couple of words and the fact that everyone in the computer lab was staring at her. The words I caught were "God" "Jesus" and "How DARE you!" The young man was hard to make out for a different reason... he was so overwhelmed by her reaction that his responses to her shrieks were nearly inaudible mumbles.
Of course... as an atheist when I heard this combination of words... my thoughts were [Oh crap!] I was wishing I could escape... but in order to get to the door... I would have to pass the crazy woman. So... I tried to look as invisible as possible as I leaned my face as close as possible to the screen and became suddenly very interested in my emails. [lol].
Despite my attempt to be invisible she must of seen me.... because next thing I knew I jumped about a foot in the air [okay that's an exaggeration... but you get it right?] and my heart nearly stopped when I suddenly heard her start shrieking at me [right next to me... she made my ears ring for a while afterward].
Of course, now everyone was staring at us... and I was becoming very agitated, uncomfortable, and embarrassed. It only made it worse that I had no idea who she was... or why she was shrieking about him at me.
Finally I made the mistake of the week. She got me so uncomfortable that I quietly blurted out that "Umm.... maybe you need to work this out with him. I really don't care because I don't believe in God."
She looked like a bomb had gone off in her mind. And then... she started on me.
"WHAAAAAAT?!!! HOWWWW CAN YOU NOT BELIEVE IN GOD?!!! HE SAAAVEED YOU!! [shrieking even louder] YOU KNOW WHY YOU'RE HERE, RIGHT?!! YOU'RE HERE BECAUSE HE PUTTT YOU HERE!!! HE CREATED YOU!! HOW DARE YOU INSULT HIM LIKE THIS!!"
It goes without saying that this was a very strange and unpleasant experience.... and if you ask me... that fishie lady needs SERIOUS psychiatric help!! O_O
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They are insane, some more than others. I have tried to reason or argue with them in the past and paid a steep price for it. Now, in situations like this, I try not to talk to them at all. Actually, in every situation I try not to talk to them at all about religion.
I don't see any problem with your response. You could have also said: "Last I heard, this was a free country" or "I think you are behaving as if you are crazy".
I would have just walked over to the dude and high-fived him, looked at her, pointed, and laughed hysterically as she had a melt-down, let the cops baker act her, she is a danger to society, others, and herself.
I would have said, "well, he has a point, you have to be crazy to believe in god."
I had an uncomfortable experience like that once...sorta. I had this roommate, and I should have known on day one that we weren't going to see eye to eye on everything because on her bedside table was a study bible, and on mine was The God Delusion. Anyway, she would often roll around on the floor and speak in tongues and walk backwards down the hallway, and get up and perambulate about the dorm room like a zombie at 5:00 in the morning, muttering about Jesus and crying. Then she'd make tea and not drink it, and suddenly crawl back into bed with all of the lights on. When I'd confront her about these things (frankly it was hard to do homework with all of that going on), she had no idea what I was talking about. 0_o
There was another time a severe looking drunk man approached me on the street and asked me if I believed in god. I didn't answer and kept walking. And then he started following me, shouting about how I need to repent or go to hell or whatever it is those crazies shout about. I had to run to my car. He seemed kinda unstable and I was worried he might be packing, lol!
So anyway, I agree with the previous poster about you being gutsy. :)
Also, you're not alone in apparently attracting crazy people.
Thanks! ^_^
What IS it about atheists attracting the crazies? O_o
I mean this site attracts the crazies! Of course we get the usual fundamentalists here to save our souls... but we also have gotten conspiracy nuts [one guy believed we didn't land on the moon. O_o], a person who thought they were the reincarnation of a first century christian here to save humanity from the antichrist [who is apparently the pope], among others. I saw a holocaust denier in one of the old podcasts last year. [Everyone was throwing troll chow at him... lol].
But seriously! I am TOTALLY lost for words on why atheists seem to attract the wackjobs!
[I can just imagine them typing on their laptops in their little rubber rooms in the institutes for the insane. lmao]
This thread reminds me of this scene from "Trading Spouses". It's from a couple years ago so I'm sure it has already made the rounds at the atheist forums but it's just too good to pass up posting it on this particular thread.
Crazy American Christian Woman Goes into a Religious Rage aka "God Warrior"
That lady is psychotic. I felt so sorry for her children. Did you see the look on their faces when she tore up the check :( I don't think I ever saw the other one she was on though.


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How to Make The Kirkland Tap & Trotter's Storm Cloud Cocktail at Home
Get the Recipe
If you're a fan of grapefruit soda and you're looking for something with just a little more kick, The Storm Cloud is for you. Developed by Tyler Wang of Tony Maws' new restaurant The Kirkland Tap & Trotter in Somerville, Massachusetts, it's a delicious combination of bitter, herbal, sweet, and bubbly, topped off with a sprinkle of crunchy sea salt.
The drink's bitterness hits from three different angles. There are the fresh citrus flavors from just-squeezed pink grapefruit, and darker, heavier notes from Fernet Branca. Bridging the gap is a little Cocchi Americano, a white aperitif wine that's bitter and uniquely herbal, lightly sweet, and easy to drink over ice.
What's New On Serious Eats
The Fernet amps up those herbal flavors, hitting harder with mint and licorice. Unless you're a bartender accustomed to shots of Fernet as a bit of a handshake between members of the industry, you may shudder at the taste of the digestif straight up, but mixed into a cocktail, it may be your new favorite thing.
Club soda and simple syrup help cut down the bitterness, and that's also what the salt is there for; it doesn't make the drink taste like seawater. Instead, a little salt helps tame bitterness, as explained recently by Kevin Liu.
The Storm Cloud is flavorful but not at all boozy—the 90 proof Fernet is the stiffest component, and there's only half an ounce of it. Serve it as an appetite-whetting preamble to a meal, or mix it up to sip alongside burgers, where it will cut the richness of the meat. Or, consider it as a hair of the dog brunch solution after a night of over-imbibing. The Fernet will help calm an upset stomach, while the low alcohol content will help to ensure that you don't end right back up in a tipsy state.
Liquor samples for this series were provided for recipe testing.

subset: commoncrawl


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When they announced the Best of XM package I signed up for it immediately. It took about 2 days for it to show up via satellite on my Stiletto 100.
Several months later and it's still missing from the internet radio side. Not via a browser, not via the Stiletto's wi-fi, not by 3rd party players like StarPlayr.
I've called Sirius customer support about this three times and they are clueless, saying the system should update itself. The closest I can get is that the channel guide list has little "play" icons but all of the XM stuff just highlights the playback window and does nothing.
I saw some posts on siriusbackstage.com (what happened to them, anyway? Are they down?) asking the same thing. It looks like premium internet subscribers cannot get the XM channels and they're only available to the standard "free" users, WTF is that?
I'd just like to have the same channels available over the internet. Any ideas what is going on?


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I wasn't going to do a Grateful post this week because... well I'm feeling great.
How silly is that? Instead of celebrating feeling great, and writing about it, I was going to let it slip by, acknowledged only by me. It was only after reading other grateful posts that I decided that feeling great is a very very good reason to be grateful. The fact that I didn't have to dig deep to find wonder and gratitude is by itself something to be grateful for.
So I'm celebrating feeling good.
The new medication I have started has taken away that nasty angry feeling, my anxiety and agitation have leveled out. I can see the colour in the world again, feel the sun, and not feel overwhelmed by anything and everything.
I have re-enrolled in uni, and started my course. It feels so good to be engaging my brain again in a subject that I am passionate about.
I had the tattoo on my side added to and I LOVE IT! It feels like a piece of art now.
I getting through that bloody elephant a little bit every day. Its forward momentum, instead of stagnant standing still.
I am re-connecting with my daughter. Our relationship has changed, evolved, into something new. The distance between us doesn't feel any where near as far as it did. She is an amazing young woman.
I have also re-connected with my mother. The last two months have been an interesting time for both us, with a lot of healing happening on both fronts. I have a far greater ability now to stand back and see her as a woman - not just as my mother. And in being able to do that, I have greater understanding of her.
Maxabella Loves has helped me to see gratitude in the big, small and everything in between. What's going on in your world that you can be grateful for?


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This will possibly be a very short post as I don't know how long I have to write it! I am very pleased to announce that Baby BAM has arrived! I won't trouble you with all the gory details, but I wound up having an emergency c section – after twelve hours of labour – and I am now the proud mummy of a beautiful 8 lb 2 baby girl! I did very much enjoy the gas and air, shocking the poor midwifes with some very colourful language, and Mr BAM was by my side throughout, and is already proving to be a wonderful dad. He's a natural, and a complete hit with Baby BAM, who adores him.
(The previous paragraph was started a couple of weeks ago. Baby BAM is now a month old and I despair of ever writing another full blog post again! So here are some photos instead.)
Here is Baby BAM herself (who I will probably refer to here as BB for short) and me having a cuddle.
She's had a bit of a poorly eye, which is why she looks a bit blotchy in some of the pictures, but I have no time to edit the photos, so here we are, photoshop free!
I really need to do a proper post about my rainbow granny square blanket (pattern from Issue 30 of Simply Crochet magazine). Pretty much all BB's blankets are handmade, but this is our favourite.
The magic troll vest was what we dressed her in to bring her home from the hospital, and the hat I made in matching yarn was much admired!
We have also been given lots of lovely handmade stuff by my knitting friends, which really deserve a whole post of their own, but little one is waking up and if I don't post this now I never will…


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The Blaze more interested in poking fun than investigating what 120 global power brokers are up to
Paul Joseph Watson
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Instead of actually investigating what over a hundred of the world's most powerful people are up to behind closed doors at the Bilderberg Group conference, Glenn Beck's The Blaze decided to concentrate on attempting to discredit Alex Jones for simply pointing out the manifestly provable fact that the global elite engages in bizarre behavior.
An article entitled Alex Jones Believes Bilderberg Attendees Ship in Gold-Covered Roasted Babies to Eat written by Madeleine Morgenstern takes a 30 second clip out of the 30-plus hours of live streaming Infowars has done so far and spins it out of context to imply that Jones was literally saying babies were being delivered for Bilderberg members to eat.
In reality, Jones was engaging in a piece of dark satire based on the Johnathan Swift's satrical essay A Modest Proposal in which he suggests the Irish eat their own babies. The rant about gold-leaf covered babies was based on a factual news story about a British citizen arrested last month in Thailand for attempting to transport dead babies wrapped in gold leaf foil for black magic rituals.
Dismissing satire, the fact that members of the elite are routinely caught abusing and killing children is no laughing matter. As we have exhaustively documented, virtually every case of child sex slave rings around the globe has led back to members of the political class and government, from UN and Dyncorp to infamous cases in France, Belgium, Australia, Bosnia, Portugal, Chile and the United States.
Morgenstern's blog doesn't even attempt to inform her readers about Bilderberg's raison d'être. The story could not possibly end on a more glib note. Instead of actually bothering to tell its readers about the innumerable examples where Bilderberg has directly influenced world affairs, Morgenstern lazily quotes Bilderberg's official banal press release.
- A d v e r t i s e m e n t
- {openx:74}
As we saw with the Daily Caller, another news website that purports to cater for libertarians and conservatives yet sent its reporters to Chantilly to harass Alex Jones while ignoring the Bilderberg Group itself, fake populists like Beck would rather make sophomoric jokes about 'nutty conspiracy theorists' than actually ask real questions about what Bilderberg is up to.
In the Daily Caller's case, its reporters chose to make juvenile jokes about Chuck Norris being a Bilderberg member rather than asking serious questions about why U.S. Governors and Senators are scheming in secret with foreign financiers with total disregard for the Americans who voted them into office.
Instead of attempting to denigrate Alex Jones and his crew, who have travealed over 1500 miles at great expense to provide exhaustive and exhausting coverage of Bilderberg 2012, why doesn't Beck devote his multi-million dollar media empire to actually covering real issues like trying to find out what 120 of the world's most influental power brokers are talking about?
We challenege the Daily Caller and Glenn Beck to live up to their hype of being independent media outlets and instead of sniping at Alex Jones actually do some real investigative journalism.
While The Blaze is wasting its readers' time with jokes about Alex Jones' rants, Bilderberg members are busy plotting carbon taxes, new wars, new UN power grabs, and a myriad of other activities that directly impact the American people.
Surely this represents something more pertinent to Blaze readers than poking fun at Alex Jones?
Paul Joseph Watson is the editor and writer for Prison Planet.com. He is the author of Order Out Of Chaos. Watson is also a regular fill-in host for The Alex Jones Show and Infowars Nightly News.
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Some Like it Cold (Brewed): 5 Cool Coffee Methods
The playing field of cool brewed coffee has widened considerably since the days when espresso over ice was the only option. From industrial plastic tubs to mesmerizing chemistry-set corkscrew drippers, cold brew is in full summer effect. Whether you're toting a cup of melting ice cubes to the park, or bringing home a handsome bottle to nurse all week long, you want your coffee cold? Baby, you've got options.
Most cold brewing methods work on the same general principal: extracting a superconcentrated brew coffee from a long, slow drip of water through a very large quantity of coffee grounds. What's missing in the heat processes of normal brew is made up for in time—lots and lots of time. The resulting extraction of these strong, day-long steeps is typically a mellow, very low acid coffee, well suited to serving over ice, with milk or cream, and with enough stamina to keep on hand in the fridge for a number of weeks without any discernible dropoff in flavor. Though the slight flatlining of a coffee's taste spectrum may be the downside of cold brew methods, these brews become dessertlike in their natural sweetness and their affinity for being slutted up with cream. We tried five different kinds of cold-brew preparation, and now have brain freeze.
Kyoto Drip at Blue Bottle Coffee
What's New On Serious Eats
The breathtaking, mad-scientist-style brewers imported by Blue Bottle Coffee from Japan are a focal point of their cafes, and no wonder: the process of their spiraling one-drip-at-a-time cold brewing is a heck of a thing to watch. (Luckily Blue Bottle's cafes kick you out overnight.) The west-coast-based roaster specializes in not one, but two, cold brewed methods, and Kyoto's brew is an intense, flattish-tasting brew that has that guilty pleasure flavor of canned iced coffee. The cup we tried was a bit ice-cube flavored, but the sturdy, almost woody quality to the brew suggests it might get better and better as that melty ice goes on.
Available at Blue Bottle Coffee locations in San Francisco, Oakland and Brooklyn, and on similar equipment in other cafes worldwide.
New Orleans Style Coffee at Blue Bottle Coffee
Take a sip of this coffee straight and its liquory sweetness might shock you. Or is that the chicory? This slow-dripped syrup comes out tasting only vaguely reminiscent of coffee, its concentrate served over ice in equal proportions to milk, with a healthy dose of simple syrup in the mix. It's good for a creamy cool summer treat, though the syrup lends a somewhat distracting mouthfeel (and you'll want to stir—all that sweetner ends up on the bottom.) Overall it has a softer and more dimensional flavor than the Kyoto, but it might not be the most "sessionable" cold brew. (You can always make it yourself at home and find out.)
Preparation available at Blue Bottle Coffee locations in San Francisco, Oakland and Brooklyn.
Filtron Cold Brew at Cafe Grumpy
Unlike Blue Bottle's Japanese style drip, the Filtron (equivalent in concept to the Toddy brewer) claims, rather, to be Javanese. The astoundingly unsexily named brewer steeps its concentrate from a large quantity of coffee dripped over a receiving vessel during a period of 12-24 hours. At New York's Cafe Grumpy, seasonal coffees that have proven to taste great cold are selected throughout the warmer months, says co-owner Caroline Bell. Currently on slow drip is El Limonar, from Huehuetenango, Guatemala, a tangy, super-clean tasting brew of this citrusy, slightly cocoa coffee. And the Filtron's super-smooth and balanced brew goes perfectly well with a little milk without diminishing any of the coffee's flavor.
Available at all five Cafe Grumpy locations, and is a method widely used by many other coffee shops.
Stumptown Stubby
Brewed like beer, packaged like beer—no one should expect anything less from bicoastal Stumptown, whose newest sensation takes something everybody wants to drink anyway, and makes it adorable. Brewed onsite in steel tanks at Stumptown's roasteries, the concentrate is then diluted and bottled into "stubby" beer bottles (not a bad companion piece to the holiday blend coffee bean jars a lot of people stored, um, other things in). The short cold one—brewed using a blend of seasonal beans—is drinkable from the bottle and full of sweet chocolate flavors. It's not great in milk, but poured over ice (or just tipped back) it's a fine, non-flat take on the cold method that's a much more delicious on-the-go-alternative than a plastic cup of melty ice. Do these come in six-packs?
Available at Stumptown cafes in Portland, Seattle and New York City.
Kickstand Cold Brew Concentrate
Don't chug this one no matter how pretty it is—Brooklyn-based bike baristas Kickstand have offered up a more long-term solution to the cold coffee problem: a take-home concentrate you can keep in the fridge and decant with whatever proportions of cold water or dairy you like most. (Oh, and if you live in the right geographic vicinity, they'll just bike a fresh bottle to your house each week.) Using professional grade Filtron drippers and in-season beans roasted by their friends at Cafe Grumpy, each handsomely tagged Kickstand cold brew bottle lets you know not only how to drink it but what you're drinking—a level of transparency and pride in which kind of cold coffee you're actually drinking that's suspiciously absent in most preparations. Their version of the Guatemalan El Limonar is supremely fruity, with a little soft chocolate, and can be enjoyed for up to 14 days in the privacy of your own home. It's super floral and their brew retains the brightness inherent in this coffee without any of that stale taste cold brews are so prone to. We have a winner! Now if only they could bike nationwide.
Available at The Brooklyn Kitchen or have it personally delivered by bicycle in New York City.


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Previous Chapter | Table of Contents | Next Chapter
She Knows That I am Not Her Daughter
Xu Tian Cave was extremely large. Feng Yu Heng had already pushed Xuan Tian Ming around for at least two hours, yet she had not even gone through a third of Xu Tian Cave.
There were countless ramps along the walls of the mountain, and all of them led to a different cave. She was truly unable to continue walking and simply sat down on a set of stairs.
Xuan Tian Ming laughed at her: "I wonder who it was that pledged to stroll around the entirety of Xu Tian Cave. It's only been a little while, yet you're already unable to carry on."
She frankly admitted her alarm, "Who could have thought that this place would be so big!" While saying this, she wiped away some sweat, "It's a cold Winter day, and this is a dark and cold mountain, yet I am sweating. If this place could remain until the later generations, it could apply to be a World Heritage site."
"What?" He could not understand. He could never understand what this girl was saying.
Feng Yu Heng quickly explained: "It's just to say that this place is very spectacular and can attract attention from the entire world." Having no intention of lingering on this topic, Feng Yu Heng reached out and tugged at the hem of Xuan Tian Ming's robe, "There is a matter related to the production of steel that I would like your thoughts on."
"Speak." He spoke seriously.
"It's also related to the matter of protecting the secret. Although we can have an assembly line with me personally taking care of watching over every part, I am not a professional craftsman. There are many things that I do not understand. That's why I must have a craftsman at my side. That is to say, the method for producing steel still must be handed out to a craftsman. Only like this can the production of steel be successful. But where can we go to find this sort of person?"
Xuan Tian Ming was also thinking about what she had said, "Not only must this person be skilled, they also must be absolutely loyal to Da Shun… Do you think I could do it?"
"You?" Feng Yu Heng was surprised, "You know how to forge things?"
Xuan Tian Ming nodded, "When I was young, I was obsessed with it for a while. The blacksmith in the imperial palace taught me for a full year. After a year, I smelted my own iron and forged my own weapon. After I completed my first sword, the blacksmith who taught me actually went to my father Emperor to resign. His excuse was a prince was even better at blacksmithing than he, so he truly did not have the face to continue working there."
Feng Yu Heng facepalmed, "What he said was right. If the master is capable of doing everything, what is the point of having servants? Could you not have left him with some wiggle room?" But… "If you know how to smith, that is great! Xuan Tian Ming, with you here, I will not need to worry about anything!"
Xuan Tian Ming nodded and very happily waited for the girl to praise him a little more. In his mind, he had prepared the words that he would say next: Heng Heng, don't worry. With husband here, there is nothing to fear.
But his wife did not continue. Not only did she not continue, she did not even look at him. Instead, her head was lowered, as she held a strange pen that she was accustomed to using. She was also holding an odd-looking book and writing in it.
The corners of Xuan Tian Ming's lips twitched: "Where did you bring those things out of?"
She acted as though it was natural: "From my sleeve."
The corners of his lips twitched even more. Feng Yu Heng's sleeve! Hmph! Sooner or later, on the day that they got married, he would definitely get a good look at that sleeve.
Feng Yu Heng continued to write. After a while, she wrote a full page then pulled out another piece of paper from her sleeve. She then raised her voice and called: "Ban Zou!"
A dark shadow appeared in a flash, as Ban Zou arrived in front of the two.
She ripped out the page that had been filled then placed it with the other two pieces of paper and gave it to him: "Go take care of these things personally. Remember, everything purchased needs to be of high quality." After saying this, she did not forget to advise: "I'm not saying that anything expensive is good. You need to take a good look at the quality."
Ban Zou looked at the things written on the pieces of paper. They were all tools used by craftsmen, and it looked quite professional. He pondered a little then said to her: "It would be best if I could bring a blacksmith with me."
Feng Yu Heng nodded, "That's fine. Go to the forge and pick one. Either way, bring these things back as quickly as possible. We must acquire all of those things."
"Master, do not worry." Thinking a little more, he added: "I will assign another two hidden guards to your side."
"No need, no need." Feng Yu Heng repeatedly waved her hand, "These days, I will not be going anywhere. I will be remaining at the military camp. I will be with his Highness at all times. With over ten thousand soldiers here, what is there to worry about?"
Ban Zou also thought that this was the case, thus he did not say anything else and left in a flash.
Feng Yu Heng said to Xuan Tian Ming: "When Ban Zou has brought those things back, I was thinking, we should try it first from the beginning. One step at a time, we will do it personally. We will take a look at your skills, and we will be able to see just how difficult it will be to produce steel."
Xuan Tian Ming was also a little expectant. Eager, he was about to ask her what exactly was necessary to produce steel, so he could make some preparations ahead of time. But before he could speak, he saw a soldier hurriedly run over. Without any chance to salute, he urgently said: "General, county princess, quickly come and look. Lady Yao's illness has flared up!"
The two quickly returned. When they arrived in front of Yao shi's camp, they heard Yao shi shouting from inside: "I can't take it anymore! Pastries! Give me pastries!"
She stopped moving, her heart aching greatly.
Xuan Tian Ming patted the back of her hand, "Quickly go in and take a look. Don't think too much."
She also knew that this was not the time to overthink things. Pushing the wheelchair, she entered the tent.
At this time, Wang Chuan and Huang Quan were both holding Yao shi still. People who had practiced martial arts were strong, but even if they were strong, they were still tired from Yao shi's frantic movements. The other servants could not even get close. Qing Lan could only worry from the side while wiping away tears. There was absolutely nothing that she could do.
Upon seeing Feng Yu Heng return, everyone let out a long sigh of relief, as Wang Chuan said: "Young miss, quickly take a look at madam. There is truly nothing that us servants can do."
She lightly sighed. In truth, there was nothing that she could do either, but she could not say that.
Huang Quan asked: "Madam has been awake for a while and already ate a bit. How about having madam continue sleeping?" She knew that Feng Yu Heng would usually give Yao shi a type of injection. After the injection, Yao shi would drowsily fall asleep. In that state, she could remain asleep for at least a few hours.
Feng Yu Heng did not say anything. Walking forward, she pulled out a needle and its case from her sleeve. Like normal, she gave the injection then placed the needle and its case back in her sleeve.
Nobody thought about how she could stick such a large case into her sleeve. Everyone was waiting for Yao shi to fall asleep as usual. But this time, for some reason, Yao shi was still alert long after being given the injection. She continued to shout and cause a fuss, but her madness had died down from earlier.
Wang Chuan was puzzled and thought that Yao shi's illness had become even more severe, asking with concern: "Can madam not be made to fall asleep?"
Feng Yu Heng shook her head, "It's not that the injection did not work. It's that I did not give mother an injection to make her fall asleep."
"Huh?" Huang Quan was a little shocked, "But if she does not fall asleep, how can we allow madam to continue like this?" She said this while going forward to wipe away some sweat for Yao shi, but she ended up having her hand bit by Yao shi.
Feng Yu Heng quietly sighed and shook her head, "Even if it's not good, she must remain awake. Having her remain asleep is not good. Her body will not be able to handle it." She gritted her teeth and gave an order to the two: "Wrap her up in a blanket then tie her down to the bed!"
The two servants could not react and stared blankly at Feng Yu Heng. Helpless, she could only repeat herself; however, Huang Quan objected: "How can we do that!"
"It must be done like this." This time, Feng Yu Heng's attitude was very resolute. "I will tell you, in order to get over the effects of spirit-altering drug, this is the most direct method. Quickly get moving. That last injection will only relieve her symptoms for a while. After the effects of the medicine have worn off, you won't be able to tie her down."
"Let's listen to young miss." Wang Chuan took the initiative to say, "Huang Quan, go get the blanket."
Huang Quan brought over a blanket and forcibly wrapped Yao shi up. She then used a rope to tie her down on the bed. A look of horror flashed through Yao shi's eyes, but they quickly became muddy. She continued to struggle desperately; however, she could not escape the tightly bound rope.
Feng Yu Heng walked over to the bed and sat down. She continued to speak to her about life in the Northwest and going back to the Feng manor. She spoke of the weak familial ties of the Feng family and how Feng Jin Yuan really was not a person. She spoke of how the Emperor had already permitted the Yao family's grandchildren to participate in the imperial examinations, and she spoke of how Feng Zi Rui was at the top of his class in every subject at school. In the end, she said: "A-Heng thought about it. When mother gets better, I will send you to Xiao Zhou, so you can be with Zi Rui. That way he can take care of you and make you happy."
Upon hearing mention of Zi Rui, Yao shi's eyes visibly cleared up. Feng Yu Heng took advantage of this opportunity to urgently say: "Mother, this is the best way to deal with spirit-altering drug. You must endure. After this stretch, everything will be better. Mother, for Zi Rui's sake, you absolutely must get better!"
Yao shi's reactions became more and more intense, as she desperately tried to speak with her already hoarse voice: "Really, I can go to Xiao Zhou to accompany Zi Rui?"
She nodded, "Really, as long as mother is able to endure this time, A-Heng guarantees that once you get better, I will order someone to buy a residence in Xiao Zhou and send you over."
This belief was like a cardiotonic injection into Yao shi's heart. Her mind was not clear, but she was still able to clearly say "accompany Zi Rui." Her mind was filled with this thought, and her heart was filled with the desire to accompany Zi Rui in Xiao Zhou. Her earlier endless struggling came to an end. "Fine, for Zi Rui, for my own child, I will definitely endure."
Feng Yu Heng could see that she was enduring and holding herself back from having a fit. Her entire body was trembling, and her jaw was tightly shut. Blue veins even appeared on her forehead.
She continuously encouraged Yao shi: "Right, just like this. Mother is doing very well. The current hardship will come to an end sooner or later. When you are well, we will go to Xiao Zhou!"
Roughly one hour later, this round of drug withdrawal symptoms was finally repressed. Yao shi could no longer endure and fell asleep.
Feng Yu Heng let out a sigh of relief and advised the servants to take good care of her. She did not stay behind, as she pushed Xuan Tian Ming out of the tent. Only when she had a chance to breathe the cool mountain air did she feel her heart calm down a little.
Xuan Tian Ming could see that something was wrong: "Your heart seems to be unhappy."
"Un." She did not hide it and nodded, admitting it.
"Because madam is thinking about Zi Rui?" He was a little puzzled, "That is your own little brother. What are you feeling jealous for?"
Feng Yu Heng smiled bitterly and helplessly. Walking over to a small sack of sand in front of them, she sat down and said: "I am not jealous. I am also thinking of Zi Rui. If possible, I hope that he can stay at her side. That child is adorable. Aside from the Feng family, who doesn't like him? It's just that mother's words caused me to suddenly remember a truth." She raised her head and looked at Xuan Tian Ming seriously, suddenly saying: "So mother knew that I am not her daughter…"


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Schools all over the country are weeding out the terrorists
Steve Watson
Jan 31, 2013
The deadly rise of extremism in America continues as yet another child has been expelled from school for wielding a toy gun.
WLTX news reports that six-year-old Naomi McKinney brought a small transparent plastic toy gun to school for a show and tell, causing her teachers to freak out.
The kindergartner's father told reporters that he was called to Alice Drive Elementary in Sumter, South Carolina, because his daughter "was fixing to be expelled."
"I got in the car and rushed down there and when I got in there the principal told me that she had a gun at school and she pulls it out and it is a little clear plastic gun." Hank McKinney said.
"You have to show some kind of judgment," the father continued. "I know there is a lot going on with guns and schools and that is tragic but a six year old bringing a toy to school doesn't know better."
The school has expelled Naomi indefinitely, saying in a statement that weapons or replica weapons are prohibited. School officials refused to release any pictures or details of the offending item, saying they are "part of the child's discipline record."
"I'm sorry anything can be a weapon," the father said. "A pencil is more of a weapon than the toy gun she brought to school."
When the parents tried to appeal, the school sent them a letter saying that the girl would be subject to criminal trespassing charges if she is seen on the campus or at any school sponsored event.
Naomi will instead be assigned a home-based instructor from the school district, according to officials.
When asked what her intentions were regarding the dangerous weapon, the girl said "I chose to bring it to school because I thought I could show my friends it because they might like seeing it."
When asked to react to her expulsion, Naomi said "I felt bad because i didn't want to miss all my friends". Clearly she is very much a dangerous terror threat and has been dealt with accordingly.
This case is far from isolated, as we have seen over the past days and weeks, in the wake of the Sandy Hook shooting. It is now a daily occurrence.
Yesterday we reported on the five-year-old in Massachusetts who faces suspension for building a small toy gun out of lego bricks and play-shooting his classmates.
Earlier this week, we reported on an incident that erupted when a discussion between two children about a toy nerf gun caused a lockdown and a massive armed police response at two elementary schools in the Bronx.
Earlier this month, a Long Island high school was also placed on lock down for 6 hours in response to a student carrying a toy nerf gun.
Another incident this month saw a five-year-old girl suspended after a three hour grilling, and described as a "terroristic threat", when she brought a pink bubble gun to school.
Last week, a South Philadelphia elementary student was searched in front of classmates and threatened with arrest after she mistakenly brought a "paper gun" to school.
A 6-year-old boy was suspended from his elementary school in Maryland for making a gun gesture with his hand and saying "pow".
Days later another two 6-year-olds in Maryland were suspended for pointing their fingers into gun shapes while playing "cops and robbers" with each other.
In Oklahoma, a five-year-old boy was also recently suspended for making a gun gesture with his hand.
A 13-year-old Middle School seventh grade student in Pennsylvania was also suspended for the same hand gesture.
When will this reign of terror end?
Steve Watson is the London based writer and editor for Alex Jones' Infowars.com, and Prisonplanet.com. He has a Masters Degree in International Relations from the School of Politics at The University of Nottingham, and a Bachelor Of Arts Degree in Literature and Creative Writing from Nottingham Trent University.
The Reopen America Back to School Special is now live! Save up to 60% on our most popular items!


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JazzWrap review by Vern
What's the word for "wow!" in every language? Well that's what I have to say about Harris Eisenstadt's latest release, September Trio (Clean Feed). The Canadian born Brooklyn transplant has delivered his second record for 2011 and its even more striking than Canada Day II. This time, as a trio under the aforementioned title.
Opening with the repetitive, melodic blues of "September 1," Eisenstadt sets the tone that this is a much different outing than Canada Day. "September 1" has you focused on the trio's interactions and the complex and free flowing nature of Eisenstadt's compositions. It's improvised but held within a tight dynamic. This may not have been achievable in any other setting than a trio.
Eskelin has a muscular tone in his phrasing which reminds me of of Ornette Coleman, while Sanchez continues to show why she deserves much wider recognition. Her agile, rhythmic yet contemplative performance has really started me to put her on the same level as Kris Davis, John Escreet, Jason Moran, Sylvie Courvoisier and Irene Schweizer. A real creative at the piano. But the real focus is Eisenstadt's compositional work.
On September Trio he has allowed his fellow musicians the freedom to move in various directions and in addition, his own timing and melodic touches are exquisite and thoughtful. There is a moment about 2/3's of the way into "September 1" where Eskelin and Eisenstadt share some raw improvised exchanges but it will be the soft tones of Eisenstadt's brushes that you may focus in on as they are placed just under the melody. Beautiful.
"September 3," Eisenstadt allows Sanchez and Eskelin to paint a wonderful picture in cascading hues and a well placed use of space. The piece is superbly written and has moments "harmolodics" throughout. Eisenstadt remains settled into the background with steady timing until midway through when the trio begin to interweave and almost become one note of improvisation.
"September 6" starts of with a rich and bellowing solo period from Eskelin and then slowly turns into a haunting blues filled with counterpoints and lots stellar exchanges between the musicians. "September 6" while moving in various directions still displays as sense of order and investigation. The final three minute passage is spectacular as it rises in tone and then quietly descends into black.
Harris Eisenstadt has already established himself as one of most sought after drummers in the jazz community but its his writing that's really becoming more significant. The ability to write material with such breath while allowing your fellow musicians a majority of the spotlight yet still producing some excellent moments of your own, is well, nothing short of phenomenal. September Trio should be the album that finally sets Harris Eisenstadt apart from many of his peers, as a performer and a writer. Album of the year material for sure. Highly Recommended and Unexpectedly Beautiful.


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2010 Materials Research Society Fall Meeting
November 29, 2010
December 03, 2010
Boston, MA
Event type
Boston, MA
Each year, MRS holds two international meetings, one in Boston in the fall and the other in San Francisco in the spring. The NISE Net participates in these meetings in a variety of ways, holding workshops, professional development sessions, outreach activities, and bringing new scientists into the network.
This year the MRS 2010 Fall Meeting in Boston, November 29th – December 3th, is having an Educational Symposium – Symposium XX - Materials Education Development and Outreach – From K-Grad. The Call for Papers has been issued with a deadline of June 22nd. The following link is the Call for Papers as posted on the MRS Web site - MRS Symposium XX - Materials Education Development and Outreach – From K-Grad. Click here for more information For general information regarding the MRS 2010 Fall Meeting, Click here


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Names to know
It seems that a lot of people on this blog are interested in hearing more about our minor league guys, so I'm going to try and give a brief update each morning on one of our prospects and how he did the night before.
For today, it's Justin Orenduff, who came to camp with us this spring. Last night he pitched 7.0 innings for Double-A Jacksonville and allowed just two hits and one earned run with six strikeouts to earn the win. He's now 3-2 with a 3.25 ERA. Also, Brad Cresse, the son of former Dodger bullpen coach Mark Cresse, went deep twice in the game and drove in seven runs.
Meanwhile, you've also said you guys enjoy the behind the scenes look at things. Here's an interesting article by Bob Nightengale in the USA Today about how locker assignments are decided upon throughout MLB.
4 Comments
The stat that's most impressive with Orenduff is that he's got 50 strikeouts in 44.1 innings pitched, and in fact, he has by far the most strikeouts per nine innings, and also the second-best WHIP number for starters on the Suns at 1.17.
The only question I have is how he only has 44.1 innings in 9 starts. He's given up 4 homers, did he surrender them all at once and get yanked in the second? Or is it just that his approach as a strkeout pitcher causes him to throw a whole lot of pitches?
Thanks for the info on Orenduff and Cresse. I don't want to trivialize this blog but have a trivial question. My Dad, a wonderful baseball fan, died two years ago. My Mom, 85, still watches baseball every night. Usually Blue Jays but at times the Braves because of her cable package. I watch with her a couple of times a week. She has wondered aloud many times about how they get the dirt and grass stains out of those white uniforms. When I told her about the travel post you had that was in response to a question, she quietly said, "Ask him how they get those stains out." If you get a moment, perhaps on the plane, maybe you could solve a mystery for my Mom. She is the one that made me a Dodger fan in the fifties by allowing me to listen to every game on radio out of Brooklyn, even a double header at night. She bought me every sport magazine with a Duke Snider story in it and I often found it on my pillow in the morning.
thanks again for this way to express ourselves. every day I go to the roster section, then minor league affilates. our minor teams come up, then I go to schedule for each team
and look at the box score. great way to see how we are doing.
also have noticed mark alexander at AA he is 25 years old 3 wins 1 loss with 7
saves.in 16 innings he has 32 ks and only 7 walks
at columbus we have brent leach a lefty, age 23 3 wins 2 losses 3.23 era. in 47 innings he has 61 k's and 27 b.b
also 21 year old lefty named marlon arias is 4 wins, 3 losses a higher era of 4.14 but he has 59 k's in 45 innings with only 18 b.bs
they seem to be up and comers not yet listed on the top 30 prospect report.
Good tip Frank. I always go to Google and put in Dodger minor league teams. Your way is much more convenient and faster. Thanks


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Snicker, snort
Way back in the early days of playing WoW, a common complaint was the AV leeches (or AV campers). Alterac Valley was a fairly large battleground. Lots of effort, lots of dying. At some point (I don't recall when and it doesn't matter) Blizzard decided to give points just for being there. And thence came the leeches, the campers, who would enter the game, run to some out-of-the-way corner, and go afk for a while. AFK farming has always annoyed me — at least as much as bots, frankly. If you're going to play, play. Anyway, Blizzard eventually, over several patches and upgrades, eliminated it. They did so with plenty of warning from the various patch notes.
Enter EVE. The AFK farming here is Faction Warfare (FW) farming. Pop into an area, your presence contributes to success, and you get lots of points that you can use to purchase niftiness. As with most economies, the flood of wealth moved the price of other popular things – like PLEXES (my particular issue) – upward. After all if everyone is buying the things, why not? (Inevitable digression – I'm not sure this is the only or even the main contributor to the rising PLEX prices. But it is a contributor.)
Anyway, CCP had a bit of fun. They announced today that they were killing the AFK farming. Basically you can't just jump in and sit around while others do the killing. If you don't at least damage the NPCs, you don't get LPs. And the nature of the game, of course, is that once you shoot you will be hunted — afk is bad for survival. There are also a number of changes to how much you can buy with your accumulated LP points. Prices (for Points) are going up a lot.
Actually they've warned for a while they were going to do it. What they announced today was that they were implementing this change two months early. To be specific, at the next server roll-over. Less than 24 hours (less than 8 as I write this). The farmers are going nuts. They thought they'd have plenty of time to load up on stuff then sell it when the prices changed. Now, they're feeling short-changed.
Well, the ones who read the developer blogs. Or who pay attention to the change notices at start-up. Which, let's face it, isn't typical of most players much less those into AFK playing.
I'm giggling. I caught a couple of conversations, and I'm full of glee.
Good for you, CCP.


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UN Women, a branch of the United Nations, launched a powerful campaign that is both visually potent and thematically discomforting: Using the results of popular Google search terms – which we all utilise everyday on the Internet – the campaign highlights what entries are often being used.
The idea of cyberspace and sexism, of course, is something I've focused on before and it is of concern. It is good, then, that we can also use the same platforms to highlight the kind of treatment women still receive and that people still believe about women.
Its visceral nature and that we, as ordinary people use that search bar, makes this campaign powerful.
(If the data isn't true, please let me know since that would be most unhelpful and only ammo to those who deny sexism and misogyny is a serious problem.)
[HT: Chris Miles from PolicyMic]


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Wild Flower 2
Yellow Iris
Yellow Iris
"Music is the language of the spirit. It opens the secret of life bringing peace, abolishing strife."
|| Break the barriers and Make a difference ||
Unkempt Mind dribbling in the seethe
exploração e fotografia
Thoughts, when they come to me.
Venez parler de tout ce dont vous avez envie avec moi. Donnez vos opinions en toute liberté. Laissez vos commentaires. Je vous attends nombreuses et nombreux !!! / Translation in English for people who don't speak French : come to speak about all you want with me. Give your opinions with complete freedom. Leave your comments. I await you many and many !!!
Here and now, with all of it.
Me and my Granny
Dedicated To Writers
Domenic Garisto / LIFE IS NOT A REHERSAL,SO LIVE IT..if you can't be the poet, be the poem..havau22.com
Golden Shellbacks Poetry in Life's Platue
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enter (one's) name(redirected from enter someone's name)
enter (one's) name
To submit one's own or someone else's name for consideration in a selection, such as a competition, application pool, election, etc. I'm thinking about entering my name for class president! Just so you know, I entered your name for a chance to win an all-expenses-paid trip to Florida! As has been widely predicted, the governor announced today that he was entering his name for the presidential election next year.


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Fact Sheet on NEA's views regarding multiple measures for educators
Ensure That Single Statewide Standardized Assessments in Reading and Math Are Not the Primary Measures of School Quality and Student Learning in the ESEA Reauthorization
The Facts
- Current law holds all schools accountable based solely on how many students reach a specific point on the achievement scale on one standardized test in each of two subjects -- reading and math.
- While the draft ESEA reauthorization bill under discussion in the House does allow for the use of multiple measures in Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), it weights too heavily the two current state reading and math test results.
- Under the House draft, standardized test scores will count for at least 85 percent of the AYP weight for elementary and middle schools, and 75 percent for high schools.
- The House draft offers only two possible measures for elementary schools: results of other statewide tests and progress on reading and math tests for moving students from below basic to basic and from proficient to advanced. High schools have three additional measures, but the list is still too limited.
Talking Points
- Current law uses overly narrow measures for school improvement, improperly labeling many schools as low-performing and imposing punishments on them.
- While the House draft takes some steps in the right direction, provisions on multiple measures are still too restrictive and overly reliant on standardized test scores.
- Testing experts time and time again caution against over-reliance on single assessment instruments. In an April 2007 letter to Senator Kennedy and Representative Miller, an independent group of testing experts stated "a single measure does not have the reliability and validity necessary to be the sole source of information used to make high stakes decisions." The experts also cautioned that "with regard to educational outcomes…other relevant information must be taken into account to assure fairness and validity of data driven decisions."
- Standardized tests are imperfect measures that assess student's memorization skills, rather than the ability to think critically and demonstrate 21st century skills.
- The Education Sector report Margins of Error , released in 2006, found deep, structural problems stemming from the tremendous expansion of standardized testing.
- NEA recommends adding attendance rates and in-grade retention rates to the list of allowable measures and allowing states to propose additional measures, subject to approval as part of their state plan.


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The 2010 nominees are:
Kristin Boese (GER) - Nine Time Kitesurf World Champion
Siripon Kaewduang-Ngam (THA) - Youth Olympic Games gold medallist
Blanca Manchón (ESP) - RS:X World Champion & Double World Cup Winner
Lisa Westerhof & Lobke Berkhout (NED) - 470 World Champions
Antoine Albeau (FRA) - Professional Windsurfing Association & Formula World Champion
Mat Belcher and Malcolm Page (AUS) - 470 World Champions and World Cup winners
Lorenzo Bressani (ITA) - Melges 24 and 32 Champion
Franck Cammas (FRA) - Record breaking offshore racer
Tom Slingsby (AUS) - Laser & Etchells World Champion
Ed Wright (GBR) - Finn World Champion and double World Cup Winner
Click here to read the achievements of the shortlisted sailors.
The Voting
The winners will be selected by the ISAF Member National Authorities, the national governing bodies for sailing around the world, who are now invited to vote for the one male and one female sailor who they believe most deserves the Award.
The winners will be announced at the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards presentation and dinner, which will take place on Tuesday 9 November 2010. The venue for the event is the Zappeion in Athens, Greece.
Each winner will be presented with the prestigious ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Award Trophy and a distinctive Rolex timepiece.
Visit the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards microsite at www.sailing.org/worldsailor


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Latest Update
Since register_globals are now off by default - convert variables to superglobals.
Form blocks sending of a 'clickable' link i.e. form blocks spam that contains an URL / 'hot' link!
The advantage of sending contact email with a php form is that your email address is hidden from spam robots ... that look for 'mailto' in the code.
Required: A PHP host that does NOT block mail() and has safe_mode OFF.
Improvement: Since register globals are often OFF by default - the script now converts all form variables to superglobals - inside the output (sendeail.php) script
VIP: If you have problems, BE SURE to make a test.php and run it - to determine your php settings (see notes)
Alert: To prevent spammers using your form - make sure that your web host blocks the BCC function (best protection). If this is not possible, use php code in the sendeail.php to filter out the 'return' and the "line breaks" (use google search to find code)
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PHP Script hides your email address i.e. no email address in the form.
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Must be a text file with .php extension - NOT test.php.txt
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Run test.php from the browser
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Easy method to convert form variables to superglobals in ANY form:
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$visitor = $_POST['visitor'];
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$notes = $_POST['notes'];
$attn = $_POST['attn'];


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--February 17, 2017.
The National Trust for Canada is now accepting nominations for the 2017 Canada's Top 10 Endangered Places List.
Each year, the list shines a national spotlight on historic places at risk due to neglect, lack of funding, inappropriate development or weak legislation. If you know of an endangered historic place that could benefit from inclusion on the List, tell us about it today! Nominations must be received by Friday, March 31, 2017 for the 2017 list, which will be announced in May.
Watch our call for nominations video.
- Array


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BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Commission called on Wednesday for a dilution of U.S. influence over the organization of the Internet, a sign of tension following snooping exposed by former U.S. spy agency contractor Edward Snowden.
The European Union's executive arm stopped short of demanding greater government control as some countries like China and Russia have pushed for.
Instead, it demanded transparency and less influence of the United States over the institutions controlling the mechanics of the Internet, such as assigning web page addresses that allow computers to locate one another on the network.
Currently, ICANN, a California-based organization operating under a contract with the U.S. government, oversees the introduction of new internet addresses.
In the coming years, hundreds of new so-called top-level domain addresses such as .london or .sex will be added, offering newcomers more choice of location online as web usage grows.
"Europe must contribute to a credible way forward for global internet governance," said Neelie Kroes, the commissioner in charge of telecoms policy. "Europe must play a strong role in defining what the net of the future looks like."
She backed the 'multi-stakeholder' approach to governance, supported by the United States and industry, under which non-governmental organizations, countries, academics and the private sector collaborate on the network's functioning.
The success of Kroes in pushing for a greater say will depend on the degree to which the alliance of 28 countries in the European Union supports such a push.
"The U.S. government welcomes the strong and continued commitment of the European Commission to the multistakeholder model of Internet governance," Lawrence Strickling, U.S. assistant secretary of commerce for communications and information, said in a statement.
"We will work with the Commission and other Internet stakeholders to make multistakeholder governance more inclusive, especially to support the engagement of countries in the developing world."
Allegations of vast U.S. spying programs have complicated EU-U.S. ties at a delicate moment in transatlantic relations, as Brussels and Washington are negotiating a free-trade pact that would encompass almost half the world's economy.
Lawmakers in the European Parliament threatened on Wednesday to withhold their consent for this trade pact over data privacy concerns.
A committee said data protection rules should be excluded from the trade talks and negotiated separately with the U.S., adding that "the fight against terrorism can never be a justification for untargeted, secret or even illegal mass surveillance programs."
Europe's resolve on Internet governance will be tested at a series of major conferences this year, including one in April in Brazil, which has emerged as a major critic of international surveillance carried out by the U.S. National Security Agency.
Late last year, the European Union backed down from threats to suspend agreements granting the United States access to European data, rejecting calls for a tougher stance over alleged U.S. spying.
"Governments already have a significant role within ICANN and it will be enhanced in the future," said Nigel Hickson, ICANN vice president for Europe. "This internationalization was in train before Snowden."
Additional reporting by Leila Abboud in Paris and Alina Selyukh in Washington; Editing by Tom Heneghan and Marguerita Choy


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DURBAN: The Climate Group and nrg4SD hosted a UNFCCC side event at COP17 with leading sub-national governments and businesses to showcase how domestic climate initiatives are being financed at sub-national level, and what is needed from international financing mechanisms at this level in the future.
The first session featured presentations on financing climate action and specific low carbon initiatives from developed and developing sub-national governments, which was followed by interventions directly from the finance sector.
The second session debated the scope and conditions for using carbon funds at sub-national level, such as how to set up innovative financial models with the support of private investors.
Speakers included: Dominique Ramard, Vice-President for the Environment and Energy, Brittany, Stewart Stevenson, Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Scotland, Terry Lake, Minister for Environment, British Columbia, Dominique Perrin advisor to the Minister for Environment, Spatial Planning and Mobility, Wallonia, Marta Marín, Government Delegate to the EU, Basque Country, Nelson Bulgalho, Vice President of CETESB (Environment Agency), São Paulo, Steven Gray, Vice President, Climate Change Capital and Nicolas Chung, Senior Investment Manager, CdC Climat.
The event was moderated by Josep Enric Llebot Rabagliati, Secretary for Environment and Sustainability, Catalonia who spoke of the financial models used in his region.
The examples highlighted by the regional government ranged from setting up regional carbon funds in Brittany, additional fast start financing for Wallonia's climate projects in developing countries, setting up of new financial institutions for financing energy efficiency and renewable energy in Sao Paulo, and extensive carbon tax revenues in British Columbia.
Scotland focused particularly on its policies and private investment, which has now created a low carbon market worth 8.8 billion euros and growing to 12 billion by 2015, representing 10% of GDP and 5 % of the workforce.
The State of North Rhine Westphalia spotlighted its 700 million euros of public spending on support measures for energy efficiency, which has created investments up to 3.8 billion, and the Basque Country drew attention to its public private partnerships in the area of electro mobility and smart grids.
CdC Climat recognized the big opportunities that exist to better identify projects at sub-national level with a more practical regional policy. Currently investors alone cannot identify enough feasible projects.
Finally Climate Change Capital summarized existing mechanisms and funds, and identified some institutional barriers for tapping into the international finance mechanisms and often limited fiscal powers that can impact investment flows.
It was conferred that harmonization among local financing models, funds and markets is necessary, and comparing the potential objectives of different regions is key to improving this.
Luc Bas, Director for International States and Regions, The Climate Group says: "The discussion and exchange of financing solutions among sub-national governments is only just starting, but this event and the contributions of the members of The Climate Group's States and Regions Alliance and others, mark another important step forward in the complex debate on the most efficient way to finance the Clean Revolution."
Damian Ryan, Senior Policy Manager, The Climate Group, is writing news and analysis throughout COP17, and providing a more in-depth post-COP Briefing after the events. Keep up to date on our website and by following him on Twitter during COP17.
Our international policy teams are have also commented on key regional positions in the lead-up to Durban; read about Australia, China,Europe, India and the US.


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By the way, Niger is not a racial insult. It is a country in Africa.
WARNING!! DO NOT ATTEND THIS LAW SCHOOL!! YOU WILL SORRY IF YOU DO!!. California Midland school of law called me a racist name and threatened me. I was a prospective student. I called up enquiring about the law school and the man said he was the owner and threatened me. He gave me his permission to record him and said for me to send it to the state bar of California. Listen to California Midland school of law threaten me here. Do NOT go to this law school. You will be sorry if you do. The owner threatened the sue me and called me a racist name. He is an attorney and the threatens his students and tries to put the fear into them while throwing his legal teminology at them. Listen to the recording message here, http://onlinelawschoolcomplaint.blogspot.comCalifornia Midland School of Law contact telephone number to the admissions office, 760-929-5900 or email at [email protected]http://www.californiamidland.comListen to the recorded message here. http://onlinelawschoolcomplaint.blogspot.comLaura


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Saturday, July 11, 2009
Waiting, Impatiently
27 comments:
- Donalyn said...
Aw - Dora is a cutie pie!
- July 11, 2009 at 7:26 AM
- Chesapeake Bay Woman said...
Can Dora walk for me? I've been contemplating walking but can't muster up the energy.
(Unrelated, a packing list for the trip is short: flip flops, very casual/cool clothing suitable for hot humid buggy weather...bug spray, sunscreen and anything else you want. If you want to go swimming and have sensitive feet, you might bring an old pair of tennis shoes or those beach shoes since the bottom has a few shells here and there. Beach towel. But I go barefoot and make out just fine. Looking forward to it!)
- July 11, 2009 at 7:54 AM
- Tracey9AD said...
So cute! I often go on walks with Buddy and he knows, by what clothes I put on, if I am going out to walk or not. He runs right for the closet where I keep his leash and sits patiently!
- July 11, 2009 at 8:18 AM
If she's waiting for you, who took the picture?
- July 11, 2009 at 8:25 AM
- Deb said...
Who took the picture? Didn't she know that momma was beind her?? ;)
- July 11, 2009 at 8:25 AM
- Gin said...
Oh she is just ADORABLE!
- July 11, 2009 at 8:35 AM
- tj said...
...Dora wants to go explorin' wit' her Momma - too cute!
...Blessin's... :o)
- July 11, 2009 at 8:40 AM
Dora and Zoei should get together!
Does Dora have to wait long?
- July 11, 2009 at 9:42 AM
- Unknown said...
Dora is A-DORA-BLE. There's nothing on God's green earth more loyal than a dog. She would wait there forever if she knew you'd eventually round the bend....no complaining either. Is Dora coming to Blogfest?
OMG I have to start packing!
- July 11, 2009 at 10:47 AM
- abb said...
I miss my Dora-dog!
- July 11, 2009 at 3:58 PM
- Daryl said...
Aw that is so sweet .. she is a pretty girl you should post her photo more often
I had the best day .. thank you for coming in and playing with me and CCKate .. xox
- July 11, 2009 at 4:13 PM
- Nancy said...
Dora is very patient. What a good girl.
- July 11, 2009 at 7:23 PM
- Karen Deborah said...
love love love a dog so how about her little face? got any more pitchas?
- July 11, 2009 at 9:34 PM
- noble pig said...
She's so sweet! Did she get her walk?
- July 12, 2009 at 12:00 AM
- ♥ Braja said...
Now, I don't know how I found you but I'm glad I did :))) Oh...thru Pouty Lips? Yeah...
Love that Dora :))
- July 12, 2009 at 2:59 AM
- Hilary said...
Aww what a cutie. :)
- July 12, 2009 at 6:14 AM
- Hilary said...
My brain said "sweetie" and my hands typed "cutie" which I'm sure she is.. if only I could see her face. Maybe next shot. ;)
- July 12, 2009 at 6:15 AM
- Snooty Primadona said...
Awww... Dora is a good girl!
Hope you all have a blast at the Virginia Blogfest. Can I send my camera with you so I'll have pictures like I was there?
- July 12, 2009 at 6:17 AM
- Country Girl said...
More Dora photos!!!
- July 12, 2009 at 7:06 AM
- Noe Noe Girl...A Queen of all Trades. said...
What a precious sight!
- July 12, 2009 at 8:45 AM
- Susan English Mason said...
I wish Daryl would make this into a weekly meme. I love the impatiently waiting concept. Dora wants to go explorin'. I have to go review your past posts and see if you have posted a face shot.
- July 12, 2009 at 9:45 AM
- Susan English Mason said...
Sorry MP, I scrolled down and see that you are going to the Virginia blog fest. I guess I should read backwards starting from where I left off last time. Bye!
- July 12, 2009 at 9:55 AM
- tj said...
...After visitin' CGKate's place I'm beginnin' to think that Dora and George and Riley could each have their own blogs, no? Just an idea, don't say a word and they'll be none the wiser... ;o)
...Again, blessin's...
- July 12, 2009 at 1:38 PM
- Mary said...
Awww, what a cutie!
- July 12, 2009 at 7:51 PM
- Lynne's Somewhat Invented Life said...
There is no love like the love of a dog. How lucky is the person who is owned by such a dog.
- July 13, 2009 at 12:14 AM
- Suz Broughton said...
I love coming home to my dogs waiting for me. There's nothing like it.
- July 14, 2009 at 1:35 AM
- imom said...
Dora is adorable in her impatientness!
- July 14, 2009 at 12:03 PM


text:
Siegfried is a Norse hero, and one of the most demanding roles in all of opera. He slays dragons and has to sing about it — in Gotterdammerung, The Twilight of the Gods, the last opera in Wagner's Ring Cycle.
New York's Metropolitan Opera is currently presenting Gotterdammerung, and now starring in the famously demanding role of Siegfried is the singer who was the understudy for the part until just a few months back: Jay Hunter Morris, who not long ago was selling rollerblades in Central Park and handing out towels at gyms.
Morris was born and raised in Paris, Texas, where he sang in the choir of his Baptist church — his father was a minister there, his mother an organist. He also sang in garage bands in high school.
"But I didn't really have a fire or much of a passion for any of those things. Then my friend took me to see La Traviata in Dallas, and I was so mesmerized by the process," Morris says. "I kept asking my friend the whole night, 'Wait, are you sure they don't have microphones?' "
Morris hung around after the show that night, hoping to meet the cast members as they emerged from backstage. He managed to chat with one of them, the legendary tenor Alfredo Kraus.
"I asked him how I could find out if I actually have the voice for something like this," Morris says. "He pointed me to his friend, a vocal instructor. I had a lesson with him, and he said, 'Son, you might have a voice in there. It's going to take a little work, but if you want to come in and work with me, we'll see what we can do.'"
Siegfried is a Norse hero, one of the most demanding roles in all opera. He slays dragons and has to sing about it in "Gotterdammerung, The Twilight of the Gods," the last opera in Wagner's "Ring Cycle."
JAY HUNTER MORRIS: (Singing) (Sung in foreign language)
SIMON: New York's Metropolitan Opera is currently presenting "Gotterdammerung." Now starring in the famously demanding role of Siegfried is the singer who was understudy for the part until just a few months ago. Jay Hunter Morris joins us from the Metropolitan Opera.
Thanks so much for being with us.
MORRIS: Scott, I'm so pleased to be with you. Thank you for having me.
SIMON: First of all, you were born in Paris.
MORRIS: Yes, sir. Paris, Texas. It's not exactly a breeding ground for opera singers or classical musicians, but I feel like the luckiest kid in the world to grow up down South and have the upbringing. There were not a whole lot of indications that it would lead me here to the stage of the Metropolitan Opera.
SIMON: But how did you get to know opera?
MORRIS: Well, you know, I sang my whole life. My father was a Southern Baptist music minister, and my mom was the church organist, and I did all the things that every other kid in America does. I sang in the church choir and I sang in high school in the rock 'n' roll garage bands. And I wasn't really good at anything. I was OK at a lot of things.
I moved to Nashville after college and I was pursuing, you know, some gospel and some country music. I was very involved in ministry back in my youth but I didn't really have a fire or much of a passion for any of those things. And a friend took me to see "Traviata" in Dallas and I was so mesmerized by the whole process and that I kept asking my friend the whole night, now wait a minute, are you sure they don't have microphones? I mean we're in a 3,000-seat house and this lady is laying on her back singing. I don't understand. How can she use her voice like that? I was so fascinated by the whole process.
And, you know, I hung around afterwards and I talked to the cast as they were coming out. And if you can believe it, the tenor was Alfredo Kraus, who is, you know, a legendary singer, and a kind gentlemen, and he pointed me to a fellow that I went and had a voice lesson with. And Mr. Hayward said you know what? Son, you might have a voice in there. You know, it's going to take a little work, but if you want to come here and work with me we'll see what we can do. And it really has been my love for this art form that has propelled me forward, and it's thrilling.
SIMON: Let's listen to a little bit of you, if we could.
MORRIS: (Singing) (Sung in foreign language)
SIMON: What shape was your career in say, a couple of years ago?
MORRIS: My phone over the last five or six, seven years was learning not to ring. And I got, you know, a few things here and there. You know, I got some small roles but, you know, I felt like I was in the twilight and that things were quite possibly grinding to a halt.
SIMON: Mm-hmm.
MORRIS: And I got an offer from Speight Jenkins a few years ago. He said, look, son, I know you probably don't know Sigfried but I think there's a chance that you could sing this well someday and I'm going to give you an offer. I'd like you to be the understudy here in Seattle when we do it. And I said, yes, sir, thank you very much. I would love to, because it was really the only card on the table and you just take it a day at a time and that's what I've been doing really for 23 years. I've been just taking little baby steps, getting a little better, getting a little stronger, getting my throat to obey me a little bit more everyday. So, here I am.
MORRIS: (Singing) (Sung in foreign language)
Mr. Simon, let me tell you something, learning this thing is a nightmare. It is so long. It's so hard. And, you know, you might have picked up that German is not my first language so, you know, it was a massive undertaking and I just thought I would never learn it.
MORRIS: (Singing) (Sung in foreign language)
SIMON: You still follow country music?
MORRIS: Yes. Guilty as charged. Yes sir, I do. I listen to country and I listen to jazz and gospel too.
SIMON: I wonder, any chance for some for mixing genres in your career?
MORRIS: Let it be. In the words of John and Paul: let it be. Absolutely. You know, if I'm honest with you, I dream of having the opportunity to get to sing some country music again someday.
SIMON: Jay Hunter Morris, from the Metropolitan Opera, in New York City. He's currently playing Siegfried in Wagner's "Ring Cycle."
Thanks so much. Good luck to you Mr. Morris.
MORRIS: So nice to meet you, Scott. Thank you.
MORRIS: (Singing) (Sung in foreign language)
SIMON: The Met, broadcasting "Gotterdammerung" in HD - at select theaters around the world today. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.


text:
I think that what is needed here is a series of confession posts. So, here goes (be gentle, please).
Sometimes I prefer to just drop Q off for swim team practice instead of going in so that *I* don't see the stares or looks he gets from some other kids, siblings, etc. He still is only conscious of that very occasionally. I, however, am hyper aware. And it makes me SO angry. And, at the same time, I feel SO helpless to do anything about it. I've considered asking five year olds if they have a particular question about my kiddo. Perhaps I should. I fear how it would go over…
So, I'm feeling cowardly.
Confession #1. Done. (Now, I will proceed to hide, having just shared this hard truth.)


text:
Cheap Nike Air Max 2017 Gym Red/Black Mesh Upper Running Shoes
1. How much is shipping fee? We only charge $10 per pair for worldwide shipping. 2. Which payment way we accept? We accept visa master credit card payment online. 3. Will our shoes come with box? Yes, all our shoes will come with original box. 4. Which shipping company we use? We use Global Express Shipping and DHL company for shipper. 5. How long the shipping need? Shipping needs 5-15 days commonly. with DHL only needs 3-5 days. 6. Will you get tracking number? Yes, we will send you tracking number after shipment. 7. Do you need pay tax for my shoes? No, package will pass your customs no problem and no need pay tax.


text:
Item Description
Letter, C. K. Holliday to My Dear Wife [Mary Holliday]
Author: Holliday, Cyrus Kurtz, 1826-1900
Date: June 16, 1856
Cyrus K. Holliday of Topeka, Kansas Territory advised his wife, Mary Holliday, in Meadville, Pennsylvania, to read northern papers for new of Kansas. He repeated that she wait to come. Troops from Fort Riley and Fort Leavenworth led by Colonel Edwin V. Sumner gathered to battle proslavery forces led by General John W. Whitfield. Cyrus also mentioned a house and crops, receiving Mary's money and, despite difficulties, he praised Kansas as a home for settlers.
Location of Original: KSHS Call Number: Cyrus Kurtz Holliday Collection, #386, Box 1, Folder 3
Item Number: 101572 Number of images: 2
Keywords: Border ruffians; Crops; Fort Leavenworth, Kansas Territory; Fort Riley, Kansas Territory; Holliday, Cyrus Kurtz, 1826-1900; Holliday, Mary; Newspapers; Shawnee County, Kansas Territory; Sumner, Edwin Vose, 1835-1912; Topeka, Kansas Territory; Whitfield, John W. (John Wilkins), ca. 1826-1879
pg. 1
pg. 2


text:
Oven-baked red pepper risotto
Nutrition and extra info
- Freezable
- Vegetarian
- Egg-free
Nutrition: per serving
- kcal334
- fat4g
- saturates1g
- carbs70g
- sugars9g
- fibre0g
- protein9g
- salt1.36g
- 1 tbsp oil
- 1 onion, chopped
Onions are endlessly versatile and an essential ingredient in countless recipes. Native to Asia…
- 300g risotto rice
Risotto rice
To create an authentic creamy Italian risotto, the use of specialist rice is imperative. It…
- 100ml white wine (optional, or use more stock)
- 400g can chopped tomato
- 200g frozen roasted pepper
- 500ml vegetable stock
- handful flat-leaf parsley, chopped
- parmesan, to serve (optional)
Parmesan is a straw-coloured hard cheese with a natural yellow rind and rich, fruity flavour. It…
Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Heat the oil in an ovenproof pan, then fry the onion for a few mins until softened. Turn up the heat, tip in the rice, stir, then fry for 1 min more. Pour in the wine, if using, stirring until absorbed, then pour in the tomatoes, peppers and 400ml of the stock. Cover and bake in the oven for 25 mins until the rice is tender and creamy.
Stir in the remaining stock and parsley, season and scatter with Parmesan, if you like.
Recipe Tip
Use up leftovers - Red risotto cakes with baconChill risotto overnight, then shape handfuls into burger shapes. Dip into seasoned flour, then beaten egg, and finally breadcrumbs to coat. Fry in a little oil in a non-stick frying pan for 4 mins each side, then serve with crispy bacon and salad.


text:
Studying mutations that give rise to a rare genetic disease, genetics researchers have identified a novel biological pathway that may have a broader role during human development, potentially in cases of mental retardation and autism.
An international team of researchers identified two genes that contribute to Cornelia deLange syndrome (CdLS), a multisystem genetic disease that affects an estimated one in 10,000 children. The disease varies from milder to more severe forms, but classically includes mental retardation, impaired growth, heart defects, feeding problems, deformed upper limbs and distinctive facial features.
In the current study, mutations in two genes of interest cause mental retardation, but with less pronounced facial features and none of the limb defects, such as missing hands or fingers, that are hallmarks of classical cases of CdLS. The genes play important roles in early development, and when mutated, cause brain abnormalities.
"Our work suggests that a subset of patients with mental retardation may have mutations in these genes, without showing the broader range of symptoms identified in diseases such as Cornelia deLange syndrome," said study leader Ian D. Krantz, M.D., a specialist in pediatric genetics at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Dr. Krantz and his co-author, Laird S. Jackson, M.D., of Drexel University College of Medicine, led the study team that announced the discovery of NIPBL, the first gene known to cause CdLS, in 2004.
The current study appeared online Jan. 17 in the American Journal of Human Genetics, in advance of print publication in March 2007.
In contrast to the NIPBL gene, in which mutations cause roughly half of known CdLS cases, the researchers found that mutations in the new genes, SMC3 and SMC1A, cause only about 5 percent of CdLS cases. All three genes produce proteins called cohesin proteins. Cohesin proteins have long been known to play an important role in many species in controlling the integrity of chromosome pairs during cell division.
Recent research has unexpectedly showed that mutated genes along the cohesin pathway also cause specific abnormalities during human development. "In these cohesin complex proteins, the strongest effect seems to be in brain development," said Dr. Krantz.
Drs. Krantz and Jackson together maintain the world's largest database of patients with CdLS. The current study screened 115 patients who did not have mutations in the NIPBL gene, but who were judged to have CdLS or a milder variant of the disease, based on evaluations by clinical geneticists.
Of the 115 patients, 11 had mutations in the SMC1A or SMC3 gene. All had some degree of mental retardation, but none had limb abnormalities. Five of the 11 patients had normal height, whereas only 5 percent of patients with classic CdLS achieve normal height. The patients with the SMCIA and SMC3 mutations had milder versions of the distinctive facial features found in classical CdLS, such as thin eyebrows that join together, long eyelashes, thin lips and excessive body hair.
"In many of these patients, an experienced clinician might recognize their more subtle facial features as suggestive of CdLS, but for the most part, they would only come to clinical attention for having mild to moderate mental retardation," said Matthew A. Deardorff, M.D., the first author of the study and a fellow in genetics at Children's Hospital. "This study suggests there may be other, undiscovered mutations along the cohesin pathway among patients thought to have isolated mental retardation."
"This discovery will improve the diagnosis of Cornelia deLange syndrome," added Dr. Krantz, "and also opens an avenue for investigating genetic mechanisms in broader populations of patients with abnormal brain development, in mental retardation and possibly autism as well."


text:
That was in third grade, before the cousins from California came to visit.
Mother talked to us one night at the supper table. "Girls," she said, "we're having company next week."
We sat up straight in our chairs, and with wide eyes, asked, "Who?"
"Your California cousins."
The idea of visitors all the way from California seemed about the most exciting event we could imagine. Someone might as well have told us that Roy Rogers and Dale Evans were visiting, we were that thrilled. My little sister and I anticipated the arrival of Carrie and Donny with great enthusiasm. We talked and planned the games we would play and the sights we would show them.
A week later, a big, blue Cadillac pulled onto the packed earth driveway and parked behind our ancient black Ford. All four doors opened. We squealed, hollered, and ran out the door. Mother hurried, too, taking care to remove her apron, and smooth her curly black hair away from her face.
Our aunt stepped out, untied her headscarf, fluffed her tight curls, and looked around. Then—I swear—she lit a cigarette. Right there by the side porch. Mother hurried to her. "Sharon! It's you! I'm so happy to see you."
Right then, we knew the cousins would be different.
Donny stepped out of one back door, then Carrie came out the other. They stood and looked around as if they'd landed on Mars.
I walked up to them, and said, "Hidey, y'all. I'm Cissy and this is Jeannie. We're your cousins."
Donny squinted his eyes, sneered, and said, "Hidey? Y'all? You some kind of hillbilly?"
Well, this visit just got off to a rocky start.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Y'all isn't a word. Don't you know that?"
"Well, what should I say when I mean you all?"
This conversation went back and forth, until my slow brain understood that 'you' meant one…or more. Donny explained, "Or you could say 'you guys.'"
"You're wearing boy's pants," Carrie said. She looked at my blue jeans with the hems rolled into thick cuffs, my plaid shirt tucked in, and a belt cinched around my ten-year-old non-existent waist.
Carrie wore a pink dress with hardly any top. Shoulder straps held it up, and the short skirt had a ruffle around the hem. I wondered if I should run in and change clothes, except all of my dresses had complete tops and puffed sleeves.
Since it was late in the day, all we accomplished was to stare at each other as the adults carried in suitcases, pillows, and paper bags. Then all of us squeezed around the small table to have our supper.
The California cousins looked at the big bowl of black-eyed peas cooked with ham-hock, the cornbread, and the sliced onions. Donny exclaimed, "I will not eat cow food. What else do you have?"
My sister and I looked at each other. Neither of us knew black-eyed peas were food for cows, and here, we'd eaten them our entire lives.
"Eat your dinner, Donny," his father said sternly.
Dinner? This was supper. I guessed our uncle didn't know what time it was, since he'd been riding in a car for three days with nothing to do but drive.
My sister and I had to give up our narrow bed we shared and sleep on a pallet of quilts in the front room, crammed between the end of the divan and the wall. There were people all over the house. I heard a lot of griping and bellyaching before everyone finally fell asleep.
The next morning, Saturday, Daddy took our uncle out in the old black Ford to show him the town, the cotton crops, and the oil fields. I heard Daddy tell Mother they'd be gone the entire day, and not wait supper on them.
At the breakfast table, we ate Cheerios. Donny poured cereal level with the top of his bowl, and his mother didn't say a word. When he added milk, he had to lean over and cup his hand and wrist around the edge of the bowl to keep the oats from spilling over. When he finished half his cereal, he began to talk. And talk, and talk. After many minutes, his mother calmly and sweetly said, "Donny, sweetie? More eating and less talking, please."
Donny cracked up. He told her in a loud voice, "More talking and less eating, Mom!"
Mom. We'd never heard the word. The odd part was that Donny wasn't scolded or anything. His "mom" just smiled and said to Mother, "He has a genius I.Q."
My head was spinning with all the new information.
After breakfast, my sister and I put on dresses so we'd look as good as Carrie. Our hair was not the same, though. She asked, "Why is your hair so short?"
"Mother cuts it this way," I informed her, "and gives us permanents."
Carrie sniffed and turned up her nose. "My hair is fashioned like Shirley Temple's. Mom takes me to the beauty parlor to have it done up."
My sister and I looked at each other and shrugged. I made a mental note to talk Mother into never cutting my hair again, and taking me to a beauty parlor to have my hair "done up."
Our mothers shooed us out the side door onto the dirt driveway between the houses. "Go play," they said, as they poured more coffee, opened a big box of photographs, and set out the fingernail polish.
We took our cousins to the back yard that had no grass, just powdery, South Plains dirt. In the back corner, we had a low metal shed meant to be a garage, but it was too small for a car. It had become a storage shed and a playhouse.
"What do y'all…uh, you guys…want to play?" I asked hopefully.
While the cousins pondered, my friend Jack who lived next to us slammed out his back door and ran over. "Hey! Cissy! Wanna play cowboys and Indians?"
Well, I was in a dilemma. I'd put on a dress this morning, but now, Jack wanted to play our favorite game. While I thought on the matter, he suggested another game.
"We could play Superman. I'll go get my towel!"
Off he ran to his house. When he emerged, he had a towel tied around his neck like a cape, and he carried his Red Ryder BB gun, too.
"Jack," I said, "my daddy told you not to bring your BB gun into our yard. You know you could shoot somebody's eye out, and you might even kill a person if a BB went into the heart."
"It don't have no BB's in it, Cissy. I'll just pretend it's loaded."
"Well, okay. I guess that'll be all right," I conceded.
The morning wore on. My sister and I tried to entertain our cousins, but they showed little to no interest. After a while, the five of us wandered about the dusty yard, trying to work up some enthusiasm for a game. My sister went to the porch and sat down with her elbows propped on her knees and her chin on her fists. Carrie sat on the swing and pushed herself back and forth, listlessly. I was mortified our cousins were bored and unhappy. I was afraid they'd never want to come to Texas again.
While I was cogitating, Jack leaned a ladder on the side of the shed. He announced he was Superman, and he was going to fly off the roof of the low shed. I ran to the ladder. "No! No, Jack, you'll break a leg!"
"Well, okay," he said and climbed back down.
He picked up his gun and hoisted it to his shoulder. "Pow! Pow, pow, pow!" he yelled, pulling the trigger each time, thinking there were no BB's in there.
All of a sudden, I felt something hit my shin, and it began to sting. I looked down, and blood ran down my leg. The California cousins ran over and dropped to their knees to stare at my wound. I felt paralyzed with the pain, but I didn't scream or cry. So, I sat down in the dirt and studied the purple lump in my shin. Jeannie ran over and squatted down to look. Jack stood over me and said, "Golly, bum! I shot ya, Cissy!"
He looked like he was about to cry, so I said, "It's not that bad, Jack."
Donny stood there, looking at my leg and the Red Ryder. "Let me see that gun," he told Jack.
"Uh-uh," Jack said, holding the gun close to his side. "Nobody can touch my Red Ryder."
"Give it to me," Donny insisted, and when Jack shook his head, Donny grabbed the gun and ran, laughing and laughing, like a lunatic, my mother might say.
After a few minutes of running around and chasing the other, Jack and Donny stopped. Both were huffing and puffing, out of breath.
I sat on the back stoop, with my little sister standing there, not knowing what to do, about to cry.
Donny walked up to Jack and said, "You want this BB gun? Then, take it, you yellow-bellied coward."
In the blink of an eye, Jack grabbed the gun, ran to the shed, and climbed the ladder to the low roof. My sister, Carrie, and Donny ran over and stood in a little huddle, looking up, wondering what Jack would do. I limped to the group and stared at Jack.
Jack walked to the edge of the roof, looked down, and announced, "I'm gonna fly!"
And he jumped off. Instead of flying like he intended, he fell with a "whump" onto the hard-packed earth.
He lay there on his back with his eyes closed.
Donny dropped to his knees. "Jack! Jack! Wake up, buddy! Are you hurt? Are you dead? Get up, now!"
Jack sat up, moved his head from side to side, looked at Donny, and said with a grin, "Gosh darn. That hurt."
Donny began to laugh and slapped Jack on the back. "You're a real hero, a real, live Superman! Damnation, if you aren't something."
If I recalled correctly, 'damnation" was a curse word.
At the end of the week, the California cousins packed up, ready to go home. Jeannie and I hovered near the car, almost in tears. Carrie hung out the window, saying, "Bye, now! Come to see us in California! We'll all go to the beach!"
Donny asked his dad, "Can we come back next year?"
My sister and I stood in the driveway as the blue Cadillac pulled out onto the street, and sped away.
Jeannie asked, "Cissy, what's a beach?"
I shrugged. "I dunno, but I can't imagine what they do in California for fun."
Celia Yeary
SHOWDOWN IN SOUTHFORK—eBook
ALL MY HOPES AND DREAMS-a Texas Historical
eBook: The Wild Rose Press
Print: The Wild Rose Press print-store, or