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by Louis Navellier | May 10, 2012 11:45 am
Despite gains in consumer spending, U.S. mid-tier retailer Kohl's (NYSE:KSS[1]) just wasn't able to make a good showing last holiday shopping season. Now that the company has just released first quarter earnings, let's revisit this stock and see if its deep discounts have been able to attract better business.
Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Kohl's is the 20th largest retailer in the U.S. in terms of annual sales. With a 66 year history, Kohl's is known for stocking brand-name clothing, furniture, jewelry and housewares for modest prices. The company employs 30,000 across 1,134 stores in 49 states.
Kohl's announced lackluster first-quarter operating results before the opening bell today. According to management, the price cuts designed to entice shoppers actually hurt its gross margin. Compared with the same quarter last year, net income declined 23% to $154 million, or 63 cents per share.
Nonetheless, analysts forecast earnings of 61 cents per share, so Kohl's posted a 3% earnings surprise. Over the same period, net sales climbed 1.9% to $4.24 billion; this just missed the $4.25 billion consensus sales estimate. Although the first-quarter earnings announcement was pretty weak, company leadership is more optimistic about the next few quarters, in particular, back-to-school season.
There are currently 35 companies in the Department Stores industry. Of those, Kohl's is 12th largest in terms of market capitalization. The company also stands out in terms of its 2.5% annual dividend yield, which is fourth highest in the industry, and its long-term growth rate, which is fifth in the industry.
The company's Price/Earnings to Growth ratio, earnings growth and return on equity fall in the top half of Department stores. Meanwhile, its sales growth weighs in at no. 19.
Kohl's main competitors are Target (NYSE:TGT[2]) as well as THX Companies (NYSE:TJX[3]). Of these three chains, Kohl's has the highest gross and operating margin but has the lowest sales growth.
Before you buy any stock, you should always run it through my free Portfolio Grader ratings system. Over the past 10 months, this stock has remained at a hold. That's because all down the line, this is a fundamentally lackluster company. Kohl's is especially weak in terms of sales growth and its track record of beating analyst earnings surprises.
Additionally, there is plenty of room for improvement on the earnings growth and operating margin growth front. At the same time, Kohl's is solid in terms of cash flow and return on equity. As the final nail in the coffin, buying pressure for this stock is mediocre.
Bottom Line: KSS is currently a C-rated hold, but after this weak earnings report it is possible that I may downgrade this stock over the weekend. If you hold shares of KSS, I recommend that you revisit my Portfolio Grader page[4] this Monday to see if there have been any updates.
Sound Off: What do you think about KSS? Are you a buyer at current prices? Let me know what you think by posting on our wall on Facebook[5]
Source URL: http://investorplace.com/2012/05/kohls-holds-no-reason-to-buy-or-sell/
Short URL: http://invstplc.com/1fvFejf
Copyright ©2017 InvestorPlace Media, LLC. All rights reserved. 700 Indian Springs Drive, Lancaster, PA 17601.


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Up until a year ago, how an elephant made its guttural infrasonic calls was still a matter of debate, as Christian Herbst, from the University of Vienna, Austria, points out: 'Some people suggested it's just like in us humans, so a passive, flow-induced vibration of the tissue in the larynx, and others suggested it's like purring in cats [requiring neural control].' Unfortunately, unlike in humans, it's a little difficult to slide an endoscope down an elephant's vocal tract to see what's happening. However, in 2010 an opportunity to settle the mystery arose, when an African elephant sadly passed away at Berlin Tierpark zoo. A collaborator based in Berlin, Germany, quickly seized the opportunity and collected the larynx from the elephant on behalf of Herbst and Angela Stoeger, also from the University of Vienna. Back in Austria, Herbst and Stoeger were then able to reproduce elephant-like sounds by simply blowing air through the voice box, causing the two vocal folds on either side of the trachea to flap passively in the air, just as they would in humans. Their results were published in 2012 in Science; however, as elephant larynxes are few and far between, Herbst decided to dig a little deeper to find out just how similar they are to ours (p. 4054).
From the outset of his second study, Herbst could already clearly see that the elephant's vocal folds were very different to ours. Comparing CT-scans of both the elephant's larynx and a human's, Herbst noted that the elephant's vocal folds were orientated at a very acute angle in relation to the air stream, whereas in humans the vocal folds were almost perpendicular to the air stream. This meant that the anterior two-fifths of the vocal folds were sheltered from the airflow. What's more, even when normalised to tracheal diameter, the elephant's vocal cords were much longer than a human's and 180% thicker.
Herbst then went on to film how the two vocal folds moved and clapped together as warm humidified air was blown through them, correlating the vibrations with sound production. As before, he saw that, just as in humans, the vocal cords were vibrating passively in the airflow, and as expected, most of the time the vocal folds vibrated within the infrasonic range (anything below 20 Hz). However, the timing of sound generation was unusual: 'In humans, most of the sound is created when the vocal folds clap together, but we observed that in the elephant, interestingly, most of the sound was generated when the vocal folds separated', explains Herbst.
This wasn't the only difference; the patterns of vocal fold vibration also varied compared with human vocal folds. Herbst explains that as the air pressure builds up beneath the closed vocal folds, they will eventually pop open, and in humans this usually produces two transverse travelling waves that travel back and forth in opposite directions along the length of the vocal folds. In doing so, they become superimposed on each other to form a standing wave. In elephants, whilst this happened most of the time, when the vocal fold was taut only a single isolated travelling wave was observed, which moved back and forth along the vocal folds. 'Looking at transverse travelling waves offers us an alternative way to study and appreciate the physical phenomenon that is going on in voice production', says Herbst.
In short, Herbst's study has shown that although elephants are in some ways the same as us when it comes to sound production, they can also be subtly different, but these differences may in turn help us understand how our own vocal folds make our human repertoire of sound.
- © 2013. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd

subset: commoncrawl


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Movie SummaryThe Tomb of Love (Das indische Grabmal) (1959)
Description: This unrealistic, routine drama is the second half of a story that began with Der Tiger von Eschnapur. This sequel was later cut slightly, combined with the first story then released in English as Journey to the Lost City. Both halves were written by Thea von Harbou and the 1959 films are both directed by Fritz Lang, von Harbou's former husband. In this continuation, Seetha (Debra Paget) and the architect Harald (Paul Hubschmid) have fallen in love. The biggest stumbling block to their romance is Chandra, the Maharaja of Eshnapur (Walther Reyer). He wants Seetha for himself. Because of that, the lovers fled from Eshnapur and are now being hunted by the Maharaja's henchmen. That leads to inevitable killings, cruelties, and inhuman conduct until the Maharaja himself is the only one left who can right the situation.~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide Movie summaries and listings powered by Cinema-Source
Related Content on Movies from Infoplease:


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Jennifer Chirco, middle school instructor, was honored along with Lial Catholic School in Whitehouse for student accomplishments in science.
The school was one of 85 in Ohio to receive the Governor's Award for Excellence in Youth Science Opportunities during the 2005-2006 school year.
Students participate in the local and district science fairs and the state fair to compete for awards.
The award is given by the Ohio Academy of Science.


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(122 quotes found)
"That color of brick seems to be unique to this area."
Bryan K. Trubey
"This was the three little pigs. The only thing that stood was brick."
Darrell Nelson
"It's not the old wrecking ball approach. It's being taken down literally brick by brick, and you're going to be seeing that in days to come."
Bruce Bender
"Like changing one brick in a fireplace."
Dale Bredesen
"She's a kid that'll go through a brick wall for you."
Shannan Bergen
"They're a brick wall; a train if they run into you."
Curtis Jackson
"It hit me like a ton of bricks that I needed to be there. There are fascinating advancements occurring in the biotech and genomics fields. We'll have to learn what's going on or we'll be sitting on the sidelines and be left out of touch."
Scott Gibson
"It was done to save on brick cost."
Darren Harper
"Before he drove through the garage door today, he threw bricks at the security cameras."
Wayne Webster
"It was a total shock. It was like I was hit in the head with a brick. I went into complete shock."
David Isay


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Madelinetosh Ripple Effect Shawl Kits is a similar kit: various difficulty and gifts. You may also like Rowan Kidsilk Haze Color Block Wrap Kits, which is another similar kit: gifts.
If you like Koigu Yarn Bouquets, then you may be interested in the different ways we've used them. Visit our Anniversary collection to see some ideas.


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Babawilly's Dictionary of Pidgin English Words and Phrases.
Wad: Rich e.g Dat business man wad well-well.
Wadded: Rich e.g Di guy dey wadded no bi small.
Wado: Urhobo greeting e.g Internet surfers Wado.
Wahala: Trouble.
Waffi: Warri. Town in Delta State, Nigeria.
Wak: Eat.
Waka: 1. Walk.2. Frequent visits to a Juju practitioner e.g. Dat man sabi waka o!
Waka about: 1. One who is always on the road.
Waka-jugbe: One constantly loitering about.
Waka waka: See Waka about.
Waka pass : To act as extra in Nigerian movie. i.e. - to have a walk on role.
Walahi: I swear. Also Walai.
Wan: One.
Wan wan: One each.
Wash: Use a newly acquired item for the first time. If new car is bought washing includes prayer for safe travelling after which drinks are served.
Wash hand now: Come and join me in this meal.
Waszup guy: 1. Young up start. 2. One trying hard to be trendy.
Watch night : 1. Night vigil 2. Security guard. See Mayguard
Wata: Water.
Wata and garri make eba: Rude reply to a question beginning with 'What'.
Wata pass garri: Things have reached breaking point.
Waya: 1. Wonderful 2. Tough like steel wire. 3. Pangs of hunger e.g. See how hungry waya man.
Wayo: Trickery.
Wa-zo-bia: 1. Contraction of the Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo (Major tribes in Nigeria) word for come here. 2. Used for anything pertaining to every tribe in Nigeria. 2. Unity and Federal character. 3. Things pertaining to Nigeria. See Naija.
We no see yua brake light: 1. We haven't seen you for ages. 2. You sped right past us without stopping to say hello
We two: The two of us.
Weak for bodi: In a state of shock e.g Dat news make us weak for bodi.
Wear: 1. Board a bus e.g I go wear bus reach Tinubu.
Wear same trousa: 1. We would fight e.g If you chop dat money we go wear di same trousa today.
Wee wee: Marijuana.
Weather man: Poor man. See Suffer man.
Well well: Very well. This kind of repetition is common in pidgin English and is used for increased emphasis. e.g. True true, Tey tey, quick quick, tear tear and chop chop.
Wetin: 1. What is? E.g Wetin bi yua name?
Wetin call: Private parts.
Wetin concern government: What is my business?
Wetin concern Agbero with over load: 1. That's not my business. 2. I don't care.
Wetin dey do you?: What's wrong with you?
Wetin time talk: What is the time?
Wetin yua eye find go dia: 1. You should not be looking there. 2. Mind your own business.
Wetin yua time talk: What is the time?
Wey: Who e.g The Obioma wey sew mai trousa dey pass.
What's doing you?: What is wrong with you? Also Wetin dey do you?
What's your own?: What's your problem? also - Wetin be yua own now? And Na wetin?
Which day?: When? E.g Which day you begin go gym?
Which one: 1. Hello e.g Ol' boy which ones now. 2. What is e.g Which one be dis?
Which one you dey?: 1. What's wrong with you? 2. Whose side are you on anyway?
Which level?: Hello.
Whinch: Witch.
Whinchi: 1. Bedevil.
Who born?: Derisive. Used when someone claims to be able to do the unattainable. 1. You can not do it e.g. Who born monkey?
Who born monkey?: See Who born.
Who know man: 1. Nepotism. 2. Being well connected especially in government.
Who no know go know: Threat meaning - Whoever is claiming not to know will know without a shadow of doubt. Also Who no sabi go sabi.
Whosai!: 1. Never! 2. Impossible. Also For where!
Wipe: Slap across the face e.g If you talk am again I go wipe you now now. Also - Land you slap, Land you dorti slap, Sound you and Tear you slap.
Wit: With.
Without: Meal bought in Buka without meat due to financial hardships e.g Madam gi mi four Naira Eba plus Ogbono without. Also by force vegetarian.
Woman Lappa: Man easily controlled by his woman.
Won: One. see also - Wan.
Wor wor: Ugly.
Wuru-wuru: Underhanded methods. See Mago mago.


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Hung Well
From Grand Theft Wiki
Hung Well | |
Appearances | GTA 1 |
Full Name | Hung Well |
Status |
Alive |
Gender | Gender::Male |
Nationality | Chinese |
Home | San Andreas |
Main Affiliations |
Uncle Fu Uncle Fu's Gang |
Occupation | Gang member |
Hung Well is a character in the 2D Universe who appears as a minor character in Grand Theft Auto 1.
Character history
Hung Well is a member of Uncle Fu's gang in San Andreas. During the course of GTA 1 he abandons a car in South Potato, which the protagonist collects for Uncle Fu. Hung Well's car is later rigged with a bomb by people working for No Chin while Well is at a noodle restaurant. The bomb is defused by the protagonist and Hang Yu before it explodes.
- Hung Well's name is likely an innuendo for a person with a large penis (it is said that they are hung well).


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Women and girls run the risk of being left behind in scientific and technological fields if countries do not put measures in place to address discrimination and change traditional attitudes, the United Nations said today, warning that this gap constitutes an obstacle to nations' progress.
"Women tend to be overrepresented in the humanities and social sciences, and underrepresented in science and technology," said an official from the world body's International Labour Organization's (ILO) Bureau for Workers' Activities, Claude Akpokavie. "Measures need to be put in place to redress this imbalance."
According to ILO, the gap between men and women in the scientific and technological fields is linked to pervasive gender roles and attitudes in different societies – visible in both developed and developing countries – which encourage girls to pursue 'softer' subjects.
Over the past few months, recent stories have emerged revealing stark gender discrepancies in a number of countries around the world, which are hindering women's participation in science and technology both at school and at work, the agency noted.
In the United States, for example, a Yale University study found that women science graduates are discriminated against when applying for research posts. In Iran, the Government recently announced that women will be excluded from a wide range of university studies, including nuclear physics and electrical engineering. In China, several universities require women to obtain higher entry grades than men for science courses.
"Girls are far less likely than boys to study engineering or computer or physical sciences," said the Director of ILO's Bureau for Gender Equality, Jane Hodges. "Stereotypes of girls represent them as less interested or capable in certain subjects – such as mathematics and science. This inevitably reduces their access to jobs with better pay or labour markets that may offer better opportunities."
However, when encouraged, girls do excel in scientific subjects, she added.
With an estimated 500 million people entering the global workforce over the next decade, Ms. Hodges stressed that it is crucial that women in science and technology jobs are not left working at the lowest levels.
"Even though women hold more than 60 per cent of information and communication technology-related jobs in OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries, only 10 to 20 per cent are computer programmers, engineers, systems analysts or designers," she said. "Education and skills training – and a change in attitudes – are vital to ensure women are not left behind."
The Brussels based United Nations Regional Information Centre for Western Europe - UNRIC provides information on UN activities to the countries of the region. It also provides liaison with institutions of the European Union in the field of information. Its outreach activities extend to all segments of society and joint campaigns, projects and events are organized with partners including the EU, governments, the media, NGOs, schools and local authorities.
United Nations Regional Information Centre for Western Europe (UNRIC Brussels)
Residence Palace, Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat 155, Block C2,7th and 8th floor, Brussels 1040, Belgium
Tel.: +32 2 788 8484 / Fax: 32 2 788 8485


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The massive Rim fire is on its way to becoming the state's third largest in history as it burns into Yosemite National Park.
At 235,841 acres, or roughly 368 square miles, the Rim fire was 75% contained Tuesday and fewer than 4,400 acres from moving from fourth to third place on the list of California's largest wildfires.
The No. 3 spot belongs to the Zaca fire, which in July 2007 burned 375 square miles -- or about 240,207 acres -- in Santa Barbara County. The fire was ignited by sparks from grinding equipment being used to repair a water pipe near Los Olivos, according to Times archives.
Six days after the Rim fire broke out in the middle of the Northern California forest, Twain Harte Fire and Rescue Chief Todd McNeal told a community meeting that it was "highly suspected" that an illegal marijuana growing operation had sparked the blaze.
McNeal made the comment during his Aug. 23 talk, a video of which has been posted on YouTube, adding that the fire started in a section of the Stanislaus National Forest inaccessible by foot or vehicle.
U.S. Forest Service and California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection officials will say only that the cause of the Rim fire is under investigation.
About 5,000 firefighters are now battling the blaze, which started Aug. 17 and has destroyed 111 structures, 11 of them residential.
Battling the blaze, the largest in California this year, has cost $60 million in state and federal funds, U.S. Forest Service spokesman Trevor Augustino said. Full containment is not expected until Sept. 20.
Six other fires are burning in California, down from about a dozen last week, with more than 8,000 firefighting personnel deployed across the state, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection spokesman Daniel Berlant said. There has been an increase in fire activity in recent weeks, he added, because of dry conditions, gusty winds and dry lightning that sparked several hundred fires.
Rick Caruso gets permit to moor mega-yacht in Newport Beach
Commuters capture first trip across newly reopened Bay Bridge
Rim fire: Pot-growing operation near Yosemite may have sparked blaze
Twitter: @Sam_Schaefer


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The National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) "recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines who are pursuing research-based master's and doctoral degrees at accredited United States institutions." This workshop will help you determine if this opportunity is for you. Tomorrow, Wednesday, September 10, 2014 – 2:30pm – 4:00pm. to be held at, Joseph C. Cornwall Center for Metropolitan Studies
Patricia Bender, Research Specialist
FREE; RSVP required to email@example.com
Irene Welch
The GRFP helps ensure the vitality of the human resource base of science and engineering in the United States and reinforces its diversity. The program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines who are pursuing research-based master's and doctoral degrees at accredited United States institutions.
As the oldest graduate fellowship of its kind, the GRFP has a long history of selecting recipients who achieve high levels of success in their future academic and professional careers. The reputation of the GRFP follows recipients and often helps them become life-long leaders that contribute significantly to both scientific innovation and teaching. Past fellows include numerous Nobel Prize winners, U.S. Secretary of Energy, Steven Chu, Google founder, Sergey Brin and Freakonomics co-author, Steven Levitt.
Fellows share in the prestige and opportunities that become available when they are selected. Fellows benefit from a three-year annual stipend of $32,000 along with a $12,000 cost of education allowance for tuition and fees (paid to the institution), opportunities for international research and professional development, and the freedom to conduct their own research at any accredited U.S. institution of graduate education they choose.
GRFP Fellows are anticipated to become knowledge experts who can contribute significantly to research, teaching, and innovations in science and engineering. These individuals are crucial to maintaining and advancing the nation's technological infrastructure and national security as well as contributing to the economic well-being of society at large.
So that the nation can build fully upon the strength and creativity of a diverse society, the Foundation welcomes applications from all qualified individuals. Women, under-represented minorities and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
The fellowship is competitive, and those planning to apply should devote a sincere effort to their application. See the How to Apply section for more information.
You must register for the workshop via an email message which includes your program of study at Rutgers University, Newark to firstname.lastname@example.com.
Intro to Entrepreneurship Q&A
Wednesday, September 10, 2014 – 4:00pm – 6:00pm
25 James Street, Newark NJ 07102
$10.00 Pre-registration is required
Nakima Caldwell
The Introduction to Entrepreneurship Q & A seminars is 2hr roundtable sessions that provide opportunities for those interested in starting a business to address start-up issues or questions. Pre-registration required. This workshop is offered twice a month on Wednesday, and will cover topics on doing business in New Jersey such as: Online Business Registration; Legal Structuring of the business; Getting a Federal ID; Registering for taxes with the NJ Department of Revenue; Financial sources and resources; Element of Business Planning; General discussion on other specific topics related to the participants' business questions and needs. Four times a year some of the Intro to Entrepreneurship Q & A session will be taught in SPANISH for more information and location, dates. Please Contact the Center at 973-353-5950.


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Monday, April 02, 2012
Second Guessing Decisions
I have been giving him food with medicine provided by the vet on the basis of a photograph of his wound because at first I couldn't get near the cat. It took me 2 weeks to get him to come within reach of me.
In the last week he was letting me come close to him and touch his uninjured side. He was getting better too. The wound was clean, healing and the kitty was putting on weight visibly.
Now suddenly he's taking a bad turn and ironically he is now sitting under a car *just* out of reach. I just tried to catch him with the help of a neighbour but we had no luck.
I have this terrible feeling that this cat is not going to make it. I hope this is a temporary setback but my second thoughts are already busy with second guessing myself:
If I had scooped him up last week when he looked as if he was on the mend, would a visit to the vet have helped? I didn't do it because I thought being boxed up, driven away and handled by people might undo all the good of the weeks before. I worried he might make the injury worse during the trip and refuse to come near me and his medicated food afterwards.
It's no good worrying because there's not much I can do except for hope and try again to reach him later. But it is depressing. I really thought this cat was going to make it. Please purr for him.
I wont show you a picture of the cat as the wound makes for upsetting viewing. Instead, to cheer you all up (and me!) here's a picture of Guido doing his best Cat On Guard Duty impression.
37 comments:
- Katnip Lounge said...
I'm sending healing waves to poor stray kitty...
- Cheysuli and gemini said...
We do love that photo of Guido and we hope that things turn around for the kitty.
- Jan's Funny Farm said...
Obviously you care what happens to this kitty. We hope he makes it, but whatever happens, you've been doing what you thought best, so please don't second guess yourself.
- Sparkle the Designer Cat said...
I am sending lots of purrs that kitty's way. I wish there was a way you could trap him and take him to the vet. If the wound got infected somehow, the only way to take care of it would be at the clinic.
- Gattina said...
How sad ! I would feel the same ! Hopefully he will make it and let you help him.
- catsynth said...
Poor kitty. We hope he does pull through - sending lots of good healing vibes.
That is a cute picture of Guido, though. - 2:26 PM
- Declan said...
We're sending our best Good Greyhound Vibes to the little fella. It's tough, but at least there are good people like you that have given him a chance. Deccy x
- Fuzzy Tales said...
We're sending this poor sweetie lots of purrs and purrayers. Whatever happens, please don't second guess yourself--we all can do that, and it's a waste of time and energy. You did what you felt was best at the time, and any other decision might not have made any difference at all.
At least he's getting love and care from you, perhaps more than he's ever had in his life.
(((Hugs))) - 4:45 PM
- Marg said...
Oh we know exactly what you are going through. I have a couple of cats here that are feral and I can't catch them and feel terrible because I probably can't get them to the vet. It is really a hard decision on what is best, go the vet and have the cat freak out or not. It is really really hard.So we are sending purrs and purrs so that maybe the kitty will get better. Take care.
- Mango said...
Heartbreaking. Sounds like he knows how vulnerable he is and that is why he is hiding. Is animal control any help? Possibly a humane trap? Keep doing what you are doing. All fingers crossed that he realizes he can trust you.
Mango Momma - 6:18 PM
- Old Kitty said...
Poor kitty. :-( I'm just glad you are there for him. He is not alone - even if this is his final hours, he is loved.
Hugs and purrs
Take care
x - 7:20 PM
- Hannah and Lucy said...
You have done your best for the injured cat - we will purr for him and hope he lets you reach him.
Luv Hannah and Lucy xx xx - 8:47 PM
- Brian said...
Never second guess, you were doing what your heart told you to do. We are sending purrs too.
- Sharon Wagner said...
Yikes, it is hard to see an animal suffer. They are so innocent and love us so unconditionally. I hope that somehow the poor guy pulls through.
- Tamago said...
We are sending purrs and prayers for the kitty to make it. You made the best decision of not taking him to the vet at that time. He is so lucky to have you caring for him.
- Dianne said...
don't second guess yourself, everything you do comes from a good place and you do more than most would
I will send good thoughts to the sweet cat
hang in there
Guido is hilarious, he looks so proud
Hugs to you - 12:14 AM
- ~*Connie*~ said...
second guessing is human nature, and hindsight is usually 20/20 and rose colored.. You did what you thought was best for the kitty at the time with the knowledge you had. Even if you had scooped him up and brought him to the vet, there is a darn good chance that the vet might not have seen anything either - especially since you said he was getting better..
I hope that he improves or allows you to help more (ok well both really, no or about that) - 12:24 AM
- Boo-Bah AKA Iris said...
I have been so irregular with my blogging I didn't know about the injured cat. I really do hope he makes it. I hope the human suffers abuse. What is wrong with people!!
We are sending get well wishes and purrs for him.
Iris - 2:19 AM
- Ginger Jasper said...
Poor sweetheart. I so am purring that he makes it through and I know you have done your best for him and still will. Lets hope it is a minor setback and that he will begin to feel better again.Hugs GJ xx
- ♥♥♥ The OP Pack ♥♥♥ said...
Poor kitty - we hope he will be OK. Please don't second guess yourself when you did so much to try to help.
Woos - Phantom, Thunder, Ciara, and Lightning - 4:59 AM
- Cindy F. Adkins said...
I'm so sorry to hear about the poor stray kitty. You've done everything you could and we pray he still makes it. Don't second guess yourself. You're right - being boxed up and taken to a vet would probably have upset him very much. Sending prayers and lots of purrs,
Cindy, Buster, Rudy and Sam - 7:10 AM
- The Island Cats said...
We are purring for the stray kitty and we know you are doing everything you can to help him. It's difficult when they are afraid of humans.
- The Cat From Hell said...
That is awful! Some peoples is just - nasty! Me would hates to deal with them, they probably treats everyone badly. Me will purray for your injured stray.
Thanks for the shot of Guido! That made me happy!
Nellie - 8:31 AM
- Cheri said...
Sending many purrs for your stray cat - I know how hard it is to try to help a cat like that. Which is worse - all the stress of being trapped and carted to a vet or trying to help the way you are. I have often just put meds in food and hoped for the best - sometimes that is all you can do.
Cats of wildcat woods - 10:47 AM
- =^..^= said...
We're purring our loudest for that kitty to make it through some how. Hang on in there, sweet kitty!!!
~Slash & Bronzy - 12:44 PM
- Mary said...
You are such a kind soul.I hope your stray makes it. I'll be thinking of you. Have a wonderful day. Blessings...Mary
- The Chair Speaks said...
We're sending lots of healing purrs to that kitty.
Thank you very much for the purrs and prayers. EJ's mom's surgery went well and is recovering. - 10:17 PM
- Katie and Glogirly said...
Oh, you are sweet to care for this kitty. We will purr for him to turn the corner and get better. Don't second guess yourself. You're just doing what you hope and feel it right in your heart.
xo Glogirly & Katie - 7:26 AM
- meowmeowmans said...
We're sending our very best purrs and prayers. Thank you for caring for that kitty.
- Cezar and Léia said...
I'm sending purrs, prayers and lots of love for that kitty!
Luna - We love LUNA - 7:19 PM
- Katie Isabella said...
Mom here:
You are are good woman. It shows in all that you do for both your cats and for others. Thank you. (((HUGS))) - 8:23 PM
- Remington said...
God bless you for helping....that kitty is in our thoughts and prayers....
- Purrfect Haven said...
thanks for telling us and for trying your utmost to help. We feel really sad and you mirror how we feel with all the second guessing and wondering how to help. WE ARE PURRING for you all and especially the cat. Let us know. Love Helen, Darcy and Bingley xxx
- Leslie said...
I'm so sorry for your heartache. Don't give up on him yet - we're all sending powerful thoughts of love and healing your way. Thank you for putting yourself out there to help this little one. I do hope this story has a happy ending.
Thinking of you... - 10:28 PM
- Cat-from-Sydney said...
Aunty E,
It is not an easy decision to make but sometimes we just have to accept things as they are. We are sending our purrrayers for the wounded kitty. Perhaps he will pull through. purrr....meow! - 10:59 PM
- Photo Cache said...
you are doing the best you can for the stray cat.
emma and buster - 8:35 AM
- Splendid Little Stars said...
Oh, so sorry! many purrs... Thanks for helping this sad kitty.


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2011 Women's Soccer Releases
March 20, 2012Women's Soccer Alumni Game Scheduled for May 12 Pacific Lutheran women's soccer head coach Seth Spidahl has announced that the PLU alumni game is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday, May 12, at the PLU soccer field.
February 02, 2012Spidahl Named Women's Soccer Coach at PLU Seth Spidahl, the current coaching director for the nationally renowned and locally based Washington Premier youth soccer club, has been named women's soccer head coach and director of soccer at Pacific Lutheran University.
November 18, 2011Buffington Resigns as PLU Women's Soccer Coach Pacific Lutheran University has announced that Lynnette Buffington has resigned her duties as head coach of the women's soccer team.
November 09, 2011Gamache Leads Short List Of Lute Honorees Frosh Sarah Gamache led Pacific Lutheran University women's soccer's list of All-Northwest Conference honorees as she made the Second-Team All-NWC.
November 08, 2011Learning From the Past to Make a Better Future Starting off in record heat during preseason, with two practices a day and many "team surprises," the Lutes finished their 2011 season last weekend in Oregon.
November 05, 2011Women's Soccer Ends Season With 6-1 Loss McMINNVILLE, Ore. - Pacific Lutheran saw its 2011 women's soccer season come to a rough ending on Saturday afternoon when the host Linfield Wildcats cruised to a 6-1 Northwest Conference victory.
November 04, 2011Lutes, Bruins Play to Double-Overtime Tie NEWBERG, Ore. – There were scoring chances aplenty with a combined 44 shots between the teams, but in the end Pacific Lutheran and George Fox ended their Friday afternoon Northwest Conference women's soccer match with a 1-1 double-overtime deadlock.
November 01, 2011The Fight to Finish Strong Before the Pacific Lutheran women's soccer team can call the 2011 season a wrap, it has two games this weekend in Oregon.
October 29, 2011Hard Luck and a Crossbar Thwart Women's Soccer Shekema McCarthy scored the only goal of the match with just under 14 minutes remaining as the visiting Pacific Boxers defeated Pacific Lutheran, 1-0, in a Northwest Conference women's soccer match played on a sunny Saturday afternoon at the PLU field.
October 26, 2011Puget Sound Continues Streak Against PLU TACOMA, Wash. – The Puget Sound women's soccer team dominated possession and every statistical category except for saves for 90 minutes Wednesday afternoon on the way to a 2-0 Northwest Conference women's soccer win over Pacific Lutheran at Baker Stadium.
October 25, 2011Lutes Look to End Season on a High Note The Lutes have just four matches left this season, with three on the road. This Wednesday they will face University of Puget Sound at the Loggers' home field. This weekend the Lutes will take on the Pacific University Boxers. The Wednesday match will kickoff at 3:30, Saturday at noon.
October 23, 2011Lutes Gets Another Overtime Win Over Pioneers PORTLAND, Ore. - Sarah Gamache scored on a breakaway in the second overtime Sunday to give Pacific Lutheran a 2-1 win over Lewis & Clark in Northwest Conference women's soccer action.
October 22, 2011Early Lead Vanishes in 5-1 Loss to Willamette SALEM, Ore. - Olivia Lee gave visiting Pacific Lutheran a 1-0 lead in the 16th minute, but Willamette scored the final five goals of the match to beat the Lutes, 5-1, in a Northwest Conference women's soccer match played Saturday afternoon.
October 19, 2011Women's Soccer Heads South Seeking Victory, Redemption As the Pacific Lutheran University women's soccer team tries to rebound from two hard defeats at home, a manageable weekend lays ahead as the team heads to Oregon to take on Willamette and Lewis & Clark.
October 16, 2011Whitman Breaks Out in Second Half, Beats PLU Whitman scored three goals in the second half on the way to a 3-0 Northwest Conference women's soccer win Sunday afternoon over the host Pacific Lutheran Lutes at the PLU field.
October 15, 2011More Chances, But Lutes Fall in Shutout to Pirates Pacific Lutheran took nine of their 12 shots in the second half to put pressure on visiting Whitworth, but it was the Pirates who came away with a pair of goals to break a scoreless halftime deadlock in taking a 2-0 Northwest Conference women's soccer win at the PLU field on Saturday afternoon.
October 12, 2011Lutes Hope to Be Offensive to Whitworth, Whitman After breaking two streaks last weekend while splitting home games against Linfield and George Fox, the Pacific Lutheran women's soccer team will look to continue its offensive improvement when it hosts Whitworth and Whitman this weekend.
October 09, 2011Gamache Scores In Overtime as Lutes Beat Bruins Sarah Gamache scored on a rebound of her own blocked shot 4:10 into overtime to give Pacific Lutheran a hard-earned 2-1 Northwest Conference women's soccer win over the visiting George Fox Bruins on Sunday afternoon.
October 08, 2011Lutes End Scoreless Streak But Linfield Prevails, 3-1 PARKLAND - Pacific Lutheran ended a long scoreless streak with a first half goal by Sarah Gamache, but visiting Linfield turned up the heat in the second half Saturday to beat the Lutes, 3-1, in Northwest Conference women's soccer action at the PLU field.
October 07, 2011Lutes Aim To Bulge The Ol' Onion Bag Following a 2-0 loss to the Pacific University Boxers, the Pacific Lutheran University women's soccer team returns home looking for two wins this weekend. At 1-5 in NWC play, the Lutes have struggled to find a winning formula in 2011.
October 02, 2011PLU's Struggles Continue as Pacific Wins 2-0 FOREST GROVE, Ore. - Pacific Lutheran continued to struggle on the offensive side of the field as the host Pacific Boxers defeated the Lutes, 2-0, in a Northwest Conference women's soccer game played Sunday afternoon.
September 30, 2011Back to the Road for PLU Women's Soccer The Lutes will be go into this weekend hoping for a new beginning as they travel to Forest Grove, Ore., to face the Pacific University Boxers in a Northwest Conference match scheduled for a noon kickoff on Sunday.
September 28, 2011Three Second Half Goals Doom Lutes Puget Sound broke away from a scoreless halftime tie with a trio of second half goals to beat host Pacific Lutheran, 3-0, in a Wednesday afternoon Northwest Conference women's soccer game played at the PLU field.
September 25, 2011Offense Hard to Come By in 2-0 Loss to Whitworth SPOKANE - Whitworth scored two goals within a two-minute span of the first half and also didn't allow Pacific Lutheran a shot during the match in taking a 2-0 Northwest Conference women's soccer win on Sunday afternoon.
September 24, 2011Women's Soccer Blanked by Missionaries WALLA WALLA - A pair of first half goals stood up for the Whitman Missionaries on Saturday as they blanked the Pacific Lutheran Lutes, 2-0, in a Northwest Conference women's soccer match played at the Whitman Athletic Fields.
September 20, 2011Women's Soccer Making Trek to Face the Whits After a competitive weekend that resulted in one win and one loss, the Lutes are pushing to improve their conference standing. This weekend the Lutes will travel to the eastern side of the state to face the Whitman Missionaries in Walla Walla on Saturday and the Whitworth Pirates in Spokane on Sunday.
September 18, 2011Women's Soccer Falls to Willamette, 3-1 Kellie Standish scored her first two goals of the season as the visiting Willamette Bearcats knocked off the Pacific Lutheran Lutes, 3-1, in a Northwest Conference women's soccer match played Sunday afternoon at the PLU field.
September 17, 2011Murray Uses Her Head to Lead Women's Soccer to Win Alex Murray headed home a cross from Blake Warner with 4:56 remaining in the second overtime as Pacific Lutheran defeated Lewis & Clark, 2-1, in a Northwest Conference women's soccer match played Saturday afternoon at the PLU field.
September 14, 2011Conference Play Brings High Hopes For Women's Soccer With the short preseason now completed for the Lutes, the Pacific Lutheran University women's soccer team focuses it's attention on the heart of the schedule as Northwest Conference play begins this weekend.
September 10, 2011Laurie is Reddy, Boyle Finds Net in Lutes Win Sophomore goalkeeper Laurie Reddy recorded 10 saves in her first collegiate start and Erica Boyle scored the game's only goal in the 56th minute as Pacific Lutheran beat Montclair State, 1-0, in a non-conference women's soccer match played Saturday at the PLU field.
September 08, 2011Lutes Look To Find Form In Tough Non-Conference Matchup The Pacific Lutheran University women's soccer team faces a tough test ahead when it hosts east coast power Monclair State in an important non-conference match this weekend.
September 04, 2011PLU Women's Soccer Falls in Season Opener Pacific Lutheran stayed with Cal Lutheran for a half on Sunday, but the visiting Regals netted a trio of second-half goals in defeating the Lutes, 3-0, in the women's soccer season opener for both teams at the PLU soccer field.
August 31, 2011Women's Soccer Looks For Move Up NWC Standings As the 2011 season quickly approaches, the Pacific Lutheran University women's soccer players are set to propel themselves up the conference standings and make a push for the top half.


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Thread: Question about replacement iPhone I just got from apple store
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Question about replacement iPhone I just got from apple storeOk well my iPhone I have had for the last 2 months went to crap battery would die in 2 hours. Well I revirginized my upgraded to 1.1.1 phone and took it to apple store today they couldnt even get the thing to restore after finally getting it to turn on after 30 minutes. Well they replaced the phone its a week 44 judging from the serial and my and its 1.1.1 firmware and I turned it on and it goes right to the home screen and I can access everything. Anyone have clue as to how its not going to the activate with itunes screen ?? Not that I mind
8GB iPhone 1.0.2 Unlocked - Revirginized - Then 1.1.1 Jailbroken and Unlocked (Gone Bad - Traded In)
8GB iPhone 1.1.1 OTB JB - Unlocked - Restored to 1.1.3 JB and Unlocked (SOLD)
16GB iPhone 1.1.4 OTB JB / Activated / Unlocked - With iPlus2.0b (Current)
5000 iPhone wallpapers click here]
11-24-2007, 02:17 AM #2Apple just slipped you a refurb..
Many of the refurbished units come that way due to the tests they undergo or i am told. One way of checking if you have a refurb is by checking the 1st three digits of your serial number. If it begins with something other than 7R7, 7U7, or 7S7, than you are the unknowing recipient of a refurbished iphone. But hey, it looks new, acts new, feels new so have fun.


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We've set your shipping destination to:
Prices vary based on delivery destination (it's a tax thing), so please change it if you're not shipping within United States as it might affect the price! (Why?)
As experts in making eau-de-vie and capturing the spirit of the fresh fruit in their drinks, St. George Spirits have expanded their horizons on what they can extract cracking flavours from, to the point where it doesn't even need to be fruit any more!
Their California Agricole Rum, for example, takes the earthy, grassy flavours from the locally-grown, small-diameter sugarcane. Freshly harvested in Southern California, the sugarcane juice is extracted by running the stalks by hand through their sugarcane mill. The uncooked juice is then distilled in small batches using their 500-litre copper pot still.
It's also got more fabulous funk running through it than Sly & The Family Stone's discography, and you know we just can't get enough of that funky rum. It's not what you would expect from a rum, as many are actually made with molasses, but the unique, fresh, earthy notes will stick in your mind for a very long time afterwards.
Nose: Woah! This is funky, with notes of freshly opened tins of sweetcorn (or as they say over the pond, 'cans' of sweetcorn), creamy horseradish, mown grass and a sugarcane sweetness that's almost jammy.
Palate: Creamier on the palate, again reminiscent of horseradish but without the heat. Good earthy minerality.
Finish: Sweet funk, celery salt.
Overall: Oh my God, that's the funky s***!
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I absolutely adore their gins, so decided to try out this one as well. It turned out to be undrinkable neat. Tried in Cuba Libre, both regular coke and fancy version, but sadly both went down the sink in the end. This is going to be a love it or hate it kind of thing, and it didn't work at all for me.
23rd July 2015
Neat - Tastes like water chestnut. Has an earthy aftertaste but still quite clean. Distinctive vegetal and sugarcane like aromas.
10th May 2014


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Apple manufacturer Foxconn could be planning to open factories in the US, according to new reports.
DigiTimes reports that Foxconn is "currently conducting evaluations in cities such as Detroit and Los Angeles, according to market watchers."
These market watchers believe that Foxconn's plants in the US could be for LCD TV production, because, in China, Apple's current products are largely put together by workers, whereas TV sets are easier to assemble using robots. This would prove much cheaper for Foxconn, because American workers will be unlikely to work for wages as small as those given to factory workers in China.
It has been rumoured that Apple is planning to introduce a smart television set of its own.
(See also: Foxconn interest in Sharp hints at Apple television)
Foxconn's CEO Terry Gou recently said that the company is planning a training program for US-based engineers, which would involve flying them over to Taiwan or China for hands-on experience of what the production design and manufacturing processes are like in the Asian factories. This training would be helpful for the engineers when they return to the US, Gou said.
Foxconn has been under fire this year after being accused of mistreating employees, which resulted in a Fair Labor Association investigation and Gou promising to double workers' wages by the end of 2013. It is thought that Apple may have helped Foxconn pay for wage increases for its workers in September.
See also:
Foxconn: iPhone 5 shortage due to complicated design that's difficult to master Apple to sign up another Foxconn factory to manufacture iPhone Sub £900 Apple television sparks high interest from consumers - analyst


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Goldman Sachs CFO Sees Bank ROEs Beating 12% in Long Term
Christine HarperGoldman Sachs Group Inc. Chief Financial Officer Harvey M. Schwartz said the banking industry's average return on equity will rise above 12 percent as some firms shrink or exit businesses.
"I think the industry will migrate to higher returns because it will have to," Schwartz, 48, said today at the Credit Suisse Financial Services Forum in Miami. It might be a "question of excess capacity coming out over a long period of time," he said.
Goldman Sachs, the fifth-biggest U.S. bank by assets, made a 10.7 percent return on average common shareholders' equity last year, up from 3.7 percent in 2011. Schwartz, who last month called the 2012 figure "not particularly aspirational," said today that the New York-based company doesn't yet have sufficient information to provide investors with a ROE target.
More than half of the audience members at the conference said in a poll that they expected average return on equity for the industry to settle at around 12 percent, according to Howard Chen, a Credit Suisse Group AG analyst at the event. Schwartz, who replaced David A. Viniar, 57, as CFO at the end of January, said he'd be surprised if that consensus view proved accurate over the long run.
More banks will exit capital-intensive businesses like fixed-income trading because they're under pressure from shareholders to boost returns, Schwartz said.
"If you're not in a leading position in one of those businesses, it's difficult to stay committed," he said. "It's just a question of who executes better and who gets that share."
Mortgage Size
In his presentation, Schwartz detailed Goldman Sachs's decision to stick with its mortgage business even after an initial regulatory proposal in December 2011 threatened to increase the capital requirement by 260 percent. Instead, the firm waited, which he said paid off when regulators released a new set of rules that raised the capital requirement by 170 percent instead.
The decision was driven in part by the importance of the mortgage business, which has been a part of the company for almost 30 years, Schwartz said.
"To scrap that and then potentially have to rebuild it?" Schwartz said. "Mortgages remain a critical asset class for our clients and obviously an important business for the firm."
The firm has in the past de-emphasized the size and importance of its mortgage-underwriting business, an area that came under legal and regulatory scrutiny after the financial crisis. Viniar said on an Oct. 19, 2010, conference call that mortgages have "always been the smallest" of the firm's fixed-income, currency, and commodity businesses.
'Really Tiny'
"We are really tiny in the market," Viniar told analysts at the time. "We were an underwriter, we did it. We are a player in the market. But we're just not one of the leading players."
The unit employed 40 percent fewer employees in 2012 than in 2008 and made 14 percent less revenue and 22 percent less in pretax earnings, according to a slide that accompanied Schwartz's presentation.
Goldman Sachs rose 1 percent to $153.76 in New York Stock Exchange composite trading at 11:03 a.m., the highest since April 2011, amid optimism that bank profits will rise. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index climbed 6.4 percent this year through yesterday, and the KBW Bank Index advanced 7.5 percent.


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Monte Rosa in iced lake | [ Sizes: Orig | Med | Small | Thumb ] | |||
Monte Rosa image riflected in a partially iced lake. Valsesia. Italy. | Valsesia (Area/Range) Diveria's Image Gallery Monte Rosa group (Area/Range) Gnifetti, punta (Signalkuppe ) (Mountain/Rock) Parrotspitze (Mountain/Rock) Reflections (Album) Views of Monte Rosa (Album) Mountains of Valsesia (Album) Giants of the Pennine Alps (Album) Monte Rosa. The Skyline. (Album) Image Data
Image ID: 353761 Hits: 8403 Lat/Lon: 45.86898°N / 7.90741°E Object Title: Monte Rosa in iced lake |


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It is OK to believe it but do you really? Why will you watch next fall if the outcome of the season is already decided?
Do you ever brag to fans of other teams about the Steelers having six SBs? Why? According to you, they did not deserve those championships any more than Hulk Hogan deserved the WWF championship for 20 years.
This is what kills me. The "manipulation" and "fixing" ALWAYS goes in the direction of screwing the Steelers (just look at the examples given in this thread) when it is only common sense that the team with the MOST SUPER BOWL VICTORIES must have had it "fixed/manipulated" in their favor more than any other team. Is your favorite team having six fixed/manipulated championships something to be proud of?
It's not decided per say but certain teams get an extra few calls. 2001 pats team winning the SB and getting there with some help... Just saying its fishy!! Hell even Bens first SB win was fishy but us homers will never admit it!
I think the NFL has influence on who they want in the Superbowl. Sure as heck looked like they was pulling for Manning in 05 to get to the Supebowl but we ended up winning even with the bad calls. As for this year they pretty much wanted the Harbaugh bowl and specially Balt to be in it since Ray announced his retirement. No way do you let Flaco throw a hailmary with 30 seconds left on his own 30 with no timeouts needing a td to win and not just a field goal. Not to mention think it was second or third down and there only hope.
As for fixed by the bookies/spread I'll give you a example. Remember the Steelers vs Giants game a few years back ? Remember Troy grabbing that fumble and running it in for a td the last couple seconds left in the game. It was a td for sure and couldn't be argued. it was eventually took of the board from a call down from someone up stairs. Steelers still win game by 2 points so the fans didn't get upset and Giants turned out to still be a good bet with the spread.
Last edited by BubbyBlister; 01-30-2013 at 08:40 PM.
You mean like when Tim Donaghy came out and said that individuals from the NBA front office would call the officiating crew of a game and tell them which team they wanted to win? I suppose you said exactly what the sports media said, and what blind fans regurgitated: "oh he's just lying because he got caught." Hence, your assertion that "one pissed off former referee/employee" being capable of blowing it up sky high is worthless.
That's because you're a Steelers fan on a Steelers forum. Other fans of other teams see the same manipulation every season during certain games. You're just not in contact with them.
Like I clearly said, I have friends who are Giants fans who were laughing about the absurdity of the calls in that game following Hurricane Sandy.
Do you really believe your own garbage? Are you that desperate to believe that professional sports aren't manipulated that you're willing to spew nonsense? That's really sad. To say that the "tuck rule" was a poor call is like saying Lincoln's assassination was an accident. It's simply absurd. The "tuck rule" was completely misinterpreted on the spot, in the middle of a game, in order to justify giving the ball back to New England after their quarterback clearly and completely fumbled.
Perhaps you should better understand the term "sports fixing" before recommending someone look up the definition of semantics. A game can be fixed without the result being completely ensured. This includes point shaving or running up the score in order to manipulate spreads. I don't care what the OP was alluding to. My point is that professional sports are indeed fixed/manipulated, whether it be to a complete or partially predetermined outcome.
Once again, you're arguing semantics because you're not even arguing that professional sports are not fixed, however, they may be partially fixed. You're arguing that professional sports are in no way, shape, or form fixed.
And that's exactly why the fixing of sports is done and will always be done. A majority of fans will always choose to put on blinders in order to maintain in their minds the purity of their favorite form of entertainment, rather than face reality and possibly lose interest in that which brings them hours of entertainment. They count on people like you.
Last edited by NYCsteelersfan; 01-30-2013 at 09:06 PM.
Excellent example. I completely forgot about that one. It was so blatant that Mike Francesca, a diehard Giants fan, talked about how it was done for point spread purposes. And it's rare for the sports media to admit something like that, but there was simply no other explanation for it.
No problem. And it does hurt many, especially in this case. Telling avid sports fans that sports are manipulated is like telling a 4 year old that there is no Santa.
I'll admit, after the "tuck rule game," I became less of an NFL fan. And after the 2005 playoffs, I became even less of a fan. I still watch. It still entertains me. But I just don't see the pureness in the sport that I did when I was younger. And I understand that certain plays in certain games are in fact manipulated in an attempt to bring about a specific outcome, or sometimes to simply make the game closer and "more entertaining." It is what it is. I'm not going to lie to myself and ignore the obvious simply to enjoy the sport more than I do.
Ray Lewis not suspended. Halftime spread had the Ravens giving 7. Lights go out and 49ers score 25 points. People who think the NFL is manipulated also wear tin foil hats. Sure.
No call on Ed Reed's offsides.
No call on the 4th down hold.
Roger Goodell offers Ray Lewis a job before he's even done playing.
All coincidence I'm sure.
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May Day activities Monday
May pole dancing can mean only one thing — May Day celebrations in historic Fort Langley, the birthplace of B.C.
The day's festivities begin when the first pancake is flipped at 8 a.m. on Monday at the Fort Langley Lions Hall, at the corner of 88 Avenue and Glover Road.
Beginning at 11 a.m. the parade will make its way through the village's main street, Glover Road, followed by the may pole dancing, chicken barbecue, entertainment, rides and a market place in Fort Langley Community Park.
At the Fort Langley Community Hall, there will be face painting, a pie eating contest, children's crafts, exhibits, a scavenger hunt, and treats from Tim Hortons.
The old-fashioned pie eating contest runs in two heats, each with a maximum of five contestants. The challenge is to see who can eat the most pie in three minutes. Heats will go at 12:30 and 1:15 p.m., with the final challenge being held at 2 p.m. Entry fee for pie eaters is $2. Additional pies will be for sale on site.
The B.C. Farm Museum, 9131 King St., will also be open for the public to take a glimpse into B.C.'s agricultural past.
Admission to Fort Langley National Historic Site will be free, and Parks Canada will have a Centennial birthday cake, grand opening of Šxwimela Gift, new exhibits, farmers' market and plant sale, and a bike decorating contest at 10 a.m.
There will be a Bells and Whistles mini golf at the historic CN Station.
This is the 89th year that Victoria Day has been celebrated in Fort Langley.


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text: "Signs He's About To Propose" Also Signs He's An Adult (Or Gay)Dodai Stewart12/11/08 4:30pmFiled to: ListiclesTying the knotCutting the knotIs he about to proposebad adviceGay24EditPromoteShare to KinjaToggle Conversation toolsGo to permalinkThis story from the folks at The Knot story is so incredibly dumb.Advertisement They should call it The Not. Okay, that was stoopid, but your brain would break too, if you saw this list:1. He's growing out of his bachelor ways. "If he's constantly using terms like 'we' and 'our,' and plans for a weekend with the guys in Vegas are suddenly on the back burner while weekend picnics with you are becoming more common… [he's] squarely on the path to proposing." Or! He is an Adult; i.e., no longer in college or acting like a fratty fratty frat boy. Congrats!Advertisement2. He's Redecorating Gay.3. He's Curbing Big Purchases Adult.4. He's Not Complaining About Weddings Gay. 5. He's Taken an Interest in Your Jewelry Gay. 6. He Wants to Meet the Parents Plenty of perfectly good boyfriends have met parents and not proposed. Since when has any guy "become the first to RSVP for your nephew's birthday party"? As if that's the one thing keeping him from saying, "I think we should get hitched." This one is neither for the Adults or the Gays, this one is toro caca. 7. He's Acting out of Character Gay.Sponsored [MSN via The Knot]


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how long does it take for no bake cookies to set?
When Baking recommended that it is only sensible to collect together all of the things listed in the recipe of what you think you will be making
It is also wise to assemble all the tools that you think you will need.
Question by Kat: how long does it take for no bake cookies to set?
I made a batch of no bake chocolate oatmeal cookies and I had to add more oatmeal than the recipe called for and it has now been an hour, the cookies are firm but very sticky. Is this normal? Next time should I make some with chocolate chips instead of cocoa powder?
darn it!
Thanks Clair, I'll try again
Best answer:
Answer by Clair C
prolly didnt boil the stuff long enough
What do you think? Answer below!
Tagged: bake, cookies, long, take
Got something to say? Click here to reply


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A new dictionary co-edited by Gitl Schaechter-Viswanath was created by the might of familial love and the need to keep Yiddish up-to-date
Historian Lisa Leff tracks the perplexing journey of a 20th century collector, scholar, survivor, and thief
More of the Jewish tradition is vanishing in present conditions of security and prosperity than ever vanished in past conditions of oppression and poverty
'The Vilna Vegetarian Cookbook' offers insight into the city's prewar culinary scene—and pioneering restaurateur Fania Lewando
'Letters to Afar' is the latest of an emergent and haunting new form, Jewish material-memory film
YIVO director of education says the language is still very much alive
Auction house offering Auschwitz survivor's elusive pre-war book for $7,000; copies also available at several libraries
How an academic field—marked by petty fighting, misguided ideological debates, and personal proximity to tragedy—doomed itself
An explosive debate erupts from footnotes suggesting that Ashkenazi Jews are Europeans
Soviet dissident and Freedom Prize winner Josef Zissels becomes a Ukrainian Jew
The reVILNA digital mapping project seeks to restore the lives that were lived before they became anonymous victims
Plus what the 'knaidel' debate says about us, poverty in Israel, and more
Did Zosa Szajkowski save precious documents from the Nazis, or did he steal the cultural patrimony of French Jews?
Plus Christine Quinn weighs the pros and cons of a Koch endorsement
Sarah Bunin Benor's new Jewish English Lexicon crowd-sources distinctive contributions to the language
Political theorist Michael Walzer and others argue about the death of the century-long Jewish-Leftist alliance
Until the widow of Yiddish writer Chaim Grade died last year, his archive was kept locked away in their stuffed apartment. Now it's up for grabs.
Fresh off Booker win, novelist honored with discussion of his latest
Valley on Valley, Hitch on faith, and more
It's up to the Bronx now
Packing for camp, Ashkenazim online, and more
An online encyclopedia brings the world of Eastern European Jewry to life
Molly Picon's scrapbooks bring back memories
What a 1942 essay contest revealed about immigrants' lives, in the Old World and the New
Paul Shapiro's music is a buffet of treats
A playwright locates her grandfather, a Reds announcer with a voice rootless as the airwaves, with help from Death of a Salesman.


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In last week's Open Thread, a back-and-forth developed between two commenters that caught my eye, because it dealt with a point that had been at the back of my mind for a while. Ever since I first saw the smash 2006 romantic comedy 200 Pound Beauty [미녀는 괴로워], in fact.
The comments dealt with 200 Pound Beauty's plastic-surgery themes, and echoed some of my own reservations with the movie. Don't get me wrong; I totally enjoyed watching it — it was light, funny, nicely acted — but something just didn't sit right with me at the end. And the conversation that emerged last week captured that debate very well, I thought.
So, I asked both Sere and Samsooki if they would be okay with furthering the discussion in a sort of point-counterpoint conversation (similar to how Dahee and I discussed a particular drama character previously). They've both graciously agreed to go with it, and here's the result.
Hope you enjoy!
200 Pound Beauty OST – "Beautiful Girl" by Kim Ah-joong. [ Download ]
For those who are unfamiliar with the film, the gist is:
A good-hearted, overweight backup/ghost singer, Hanna (Kim Ah-joong), has a beautiful singing voice that goes underappreciated given her looks. She's a sweet optimist despite the demeaning treatment she is subject to and dreams of being a singer (on her own) and has a crush on the producer for whom she works (Joo Jin-mo). When the cruelty goes overboard, however, Hanna decides to get full-body plastic surgery, and for the next year she goes "missing" — cutting off all ties to her former life — as she receives multiple surgeries. When she's finally "ready" to be revealed in her new body, she's a beautiful, slim, completely different-looking woman. With her new looks, she gets signed by her former producer and promoted as a "natural beauty," and takes on the new identity as pop singer "Jenny." Jenny becomes a smash success, but Hanna (as sweet-hearted as ever) finds it difficult to keep up the lie about her identity.
SAMSOOKI: I watched 200 Pound Beauty with my wife, and I have to say that I really enjoyed the movie… Kim Ah Joong… I didn't really think the fat suit worked (didn't look real at all), but who cares. Kim Ah Joong just blisters the screen. Just…. awesome. The songs, the movie, the scenes, the characters… really good.
SERE: I need to know: what's so great about it?
SAMSOOKI: Well, I thought it was charming: it's a fairy tale that every person wants to believe in — that we can all turn from ugly ducklings to beautiful swans. And in this case, the transformation was from an obese woman to an unbelievably beautiful girl. But in this case, rather than a magic wand, it was the hand of a plastic surgeon. And in addition to the fairy tale, the acting, the comedy factor and catchy songs sung by the main character, Kim Ah Joong….. hard to ask for more from a movie.
SERE: Personally, I *hated* it. I can't even begin to list the reasons I feel that way because the sheer number of them frightens me. This is coming from a girl who's (1) never been slim in her life and therefore can relate to what the main character felt and (2) been through plastic surgery several times (true, I hadn't them done for the heck of it or to appear more beautiful, but cos it was necessary. I'm talking about reconstructive plastic surgery in my case… but whatever, SO not the point). I do not *get* it.
The premise of the movie feels wrong and the end message of the movie is nothing if not poisonous to girls and young women, imho. Plus, major plastic surgery not only sucks, but it hurts like you wouldn't believe so anyone willing to put herself through a year of that kind of torture, again and again, is nuts. Of all the patients I met at the plastic surgery ward — and I met many — not one of them underwent an operation with a light heart and no one of them did it *just* to get someone's heart. I know it's only fiction, and that there's some nice music and all, but I truly cannot see the appeal of this movie. So if you can let me know what you see in this, I'd be forever and ever grateful. I'm genuinely curious.
SAMSOOKI: Well, if the audience were to take the movie literally, then we might have problems because the promotion of radical surgery to make your dreams come true is… at the height of irresponsibility. Yet, even without this movie, those ideas are there anyway. And, I don't think 200 Pound Beauty is trying to say that plastic surgery is the way to go to make your dreams come true. It is merely on a side item. Like, take the movie Terminator 2 with its violence and gun shot victims every minute, etc. Does this movie promote gun violence to achieve one's goals, because the main characters utilize extreme violence to achieve theirs? The gun violence is not really the point and we accept it to advance the plot.
SERE: But see, that's exactly the point. Even if you — and it's a general you, not you Samsooki — don't take the movie seriously or literally, there'll always be a number of girls who might shake their head about the message and yet, on some level they'll be exposed to it. The cat would be out of the bag, so to speak, and I do think that cat, even if it was intended to be mindless entertainment, may be more dangerous than the average one. You know?
You brought up movies such as Terminator…well, of course nobody thinks that it promotes violence, but it's a sci-fi movie…people do realize it's not to be taken seriously. With movies like 200 Pound Beauty, the lines are much, *much* more blurred cos it does tackle issues that are contemporary and… real. You said it yourself, beauty is important…we are exposed to it and to its clichés everyday: people get even discriminated because of their looks. That's why I can only see a potentially dangerous message to this movie.
SAMSOOKI: Or for another example, take almost any romantic movie… Usually, it goes like this: boy meets girl, then take your pick — (fish out of water, mistaken / unknown identity, contract / fake relationship, forbidden love, competing love interests etc.), then boy and girl get together at the end. Does this accurately depict what happens in a relationship? Does anyone know ANY couple whose lives actually resemble Breakfast At Tiffany's?
SERE: Of course not. But romantic movies usually do not have ulterior motives, so to speak, they just try to fulfill one of the most common fantasies of young women: find their Prince Charming and live happily after. Which is an element that is in 200 Pound Beauty as well: throw Prince Charming in the mix, and you've got an explosive plot that kids will find irresistible. Add a stellar cast, nice music and a little humor in and there's no contest. I'm not saying I never cracked a smile during the whole movie or that I didn't enjoy the songs — I did! — but the message it gives totally ruins it for me.
SAMSOOKI: And yet: we live in a world where beauty does matter. People discriminate based on looks almost as often as they breathe. And beauty as an "end" in and of itself is also a goal of almost every culture as well. And I'd be lying if I said it didn't matter to me either. 200 Pound Beauty is about how a woman, trapped in a world where she could not express herself because of her obese condition, ultimately finds happiness. The "moral" of the story is that her ability to obtain that happiness was predicated on her being able to live with herself, and so she had to be honest in the end. That's the message. That, and Kim Ah Joong is pretty hot.
SERE: See, if Hanna (Kim Ah Joong) had done surgery, extreme and unrealistic may it have been, for herself or because she felt discriminated against and humiliated or cos she wanted to sing, then I may have frowned, but I would have understood. But no, mostly she did it for someone else, to appeal to her crush. Remember when she said — in the same sequence you mention — that when she was being sliced open on the operating table, she could go on because she only thought of him? So no, she didn't do it to feel better and comfortable with her body or to "fight" for her rights against an unfair society. And besides, even if she went through a great deal of pain, physical and not, and even if she did realize that being true to yourself is important, the message that comes through, in the end, is, "Look, boys and girls, you may suffer, but in end, it might be worthy. You'll be beautiful, rich and successful in love, too." How's that for a fair message? It is hopeful? Maybe I'm too cynical, but I've seen too many 16-year-olds *begging* their parents to get breast implants and I've heard *horror* stories about teenagers from my plastic surgeon…and honestly, I'm not making this up. It's a reality… that's why the premise bothers me so much.
SAMSOOKI: I appreciate your thoughtfulness, but I think you point at 200 Pound Beauty because the movie deals literally with the issue of cosmetic surgery as a viable means to achieve one's goals, but you might be pointing your finger at too narrow a target.
JAVABEANS: I'm popping up there to say that I don't think that's exactly the problem that people have with the film. Or I'll speak merely for myself and say that that my problem with the film is not merely that the movie deals with cosmetic surgery as a lifestyle choice. I have no problem with plastic surgery. It's the flippancy with which the movie delivers its message that "You're valuable even if you're ugly or pretty! Hanna's pretty on the inside, and that's what counts!… so at the end of the day, you might as well be pretty!"
SERE: Exactly!
Do you remember what's the last scene? It's about the surgeon who's bragging about his skills and a young woman who wants to get a complete makeover. It's like even TPTB are saying, "It's going to happen again anyway so why are you even trying to resist? A little surgery, what can it do? Do it, do it, and you'll be just like Hanna and get everything." It's like the whole point of the movie was moot, IF it was really trying to say: stay true to yourself and accept yourself as you are. It failed in that, imho. Had it ended with, say, Hanna tearfully realizing what's important in her life, I would've still frowned, but it would've been a lot better. So in conclusion, I have problems with the premise of 200 Pound Beauty *and* also the ending.
You know, there's a movie — Shallow Hal — with Jack Black and Gwyneth Paltrow that tackles the same issues, minus the surgery: beauty, love, how society discriminates, etc., and compared to 200 Pound Beauty, it is 100% better imho (still not my kind of movie, but that's beside the point). Even if both movies wanted to give the same message, one managed to do it nicely even though it was slapstick for the most part and the other, the way I see it, did not and it may be potentially dangerous, that's all I'm saying.
JAVABEANS: I have to say that the last scene was the part that ruined the movie for me. I was enjoying it, although I did feel a little uneasy at the message, until that last scene just undid all the goodwill the rest of the movie had built up. What's worse is that the woman who asks for surgery at the end is Hanna's friend — the backup singer friend who had been the "prettier" of the two, back when Hanna was "ugly," and who was then relegated to being the uglier friend after Hanna's transformation. She'd always seemed to be the example of a woman who was secure in herself and who would look down on cosmetic surgery as a way of conforming to societal pressure to be beautiful. In having her opt for surgery — full-body, head to toe, just like Hanna! — it sends the message (perhaps unintentional, but distasteful all the same) that after seeing the way Hanna's life has transformed, she wants the same, and this surgery will achieve that for her. This brings out my STABBY HANDS.
SAMSOOKI: Let me see if I can't distill the argument against the movie. 200 Pound Beauty promotes the message that "girls, if you want to be successful and happy, you must be 99 lbs and look like a supermodel — so do WHATEVER it takes to look like that." And this message is wrong and extremely dangerous. Here's my response to that.
Take a look at any Korean actress under 30 y/o that you find on dramabeans, and here's what I found when I looked at six who had been recently featured – Kim So Eun (97 lbs, 5′4), Jung Ryeo Won (99 lbs, 5′6), Lee Yo Won (106 lbs, 5′7) Gu Hye Sun (92 lbs, 5′4), Im Yoon Ah (97 lbs, 5′5), and Kim Ha Neul (99 lbs, 5′6). What's the hidden message that the k-dramas are sending out, when every actress hovers around 100 lbs and is between 5′4 and 5'6? But its all fantasy, isn't it? These movies and dramas deal with impossibly beautiful people, with impossibly easy jobs, with impossibly unrealistic speed-check-ins at Incheon Airport, and have impossibly loyal friends who have no life other than to hang out with you. I think the audience understands they are dealing with fantasy. If they do not, then they have bigger issues to deal with.
And if you want to argue that 200 Pound Beauty sends the wrong message, it is not the movie that created the message — its the culture.. Every commercial, every music video, every movie, every TV show, the women are all the same — rail thin, elf round eyes, and paler than a surprised ghost that never goes outdoors. 200 Pound Beauty brings this issue up to the surface, but the message has always been there. Can we point our fingers at 200 Pound Beauty, and not also hit every single k-drama and every movie?
JAVABEANS: I don't think a movie has to be entirely fantasy or entirely literal. That's a little too black and white for me. There are motifs and themes in fantasy (Lord of the Rings? Harry Potter?) that apply in the real world, just as there are fantasy elements in much more "realistic" films and dramas.
The fact is, messages are important and people take away certain ideas from uber-popular movies like 200 Pound Beauty whether intentionally or not. It's a bit like the Britney Spears argument, "But I never asked to be a role model!" Whether or not a poptart with tweenage fans wants to be a role model, whether or not a movie intends to convey a pernicious message, it has to deal with the responsibility of being a bearer of that message. And it's up to the movie to treat it with thoughtfulness, or not.
I agree that 200 Pound Beauty is certainly not the only offender — as you point out, there are dramas and pop culture at large to point fingers at, too — but the debate isn't whether those are also culpable, just whether this one is. And to me, it is.
SERE: I think you're missing the point, Samsooki. True, most of the actresses out there — Korean and non-Korean — are skinny, more often than not even skeletal, but it's not like the point of the drama/movie, the key storyline, is to say, "Look, they're skinny and beautiful and therefore they're good and successful and even got a boyfriend or a husband." Is there a storyline like that? The only one I could think of when the weight of the main character is mentioned *at all* was My Name is Kim Sam Soon, but it was done in such a way that it wasn't recklessly dealt with: it was very realistically and sensibly done.
Anyway, yes, many actresses are skinny, and they're most likely chosen because of their looks (after all that's how the system works, and we all know that), but whatever the reason, the message of the movie itself isn't strictly linked to the weight of the actress. What I mean is, you're one step ahead of me. There are 2 ultimate messages to movies/dramas, imho: (1) the one of the movie/drama itself which (a) revolves around the plot and the characters, (b) is the most direct and (c) is supposed to grab the attention of the viewer, not only entertain him/her; and (2) the one which you speak of, which is about the casting and society in general. But in my opinion, this message is quite obscure and most likely it wasn't even meant to go through. Hm, I don't know if I expressed myself clearly here.
Anyway, 200 Pound Beauty takes what are extremely serious issues — plastic surgery, weight problems, discriminations, perception of Self — and treats them *extremely* lightly. And *that* makes me uneasy. If you want to argue that it's just fantasy, that a simple movie cannot be blamed for the cultural mishaps of an entire society, well, of course I can't blame it for that… nobody can. But, even though I firmly believe that movies should be entertaining and fun, there's also the tiny little problem that treating sensitive topics in such ways is always quite dangerous.
SAMSOOKI: Yes, the movie did treat plastic surgery lightly. But, it is merely a movie device used to move the plot along. Some stories use magic wands, others use a time machine, or a genie in a bottle, whatever. Now, again, I agree that the movie's use of this device ("magic" plastic surgery) was problematic, but if so, then I really think that we are just treading on the edge of a much larger issue, which is the way that Korean culture overwhelming supports a singular notion of physical beauty.
SERE: But it's not the plot device itself I have a problem with. It's how and why that plot device is used. It's used in an otherwise realistic — or as much as a rom com can be — "chick flick" aimed at, I assume, young women. And that might be confusing. BTW, that notion of physical beauty? So not only Korean!
SAMSOOKI: You have issues with how the plot device is used? So if the main character hadn't used magic plastic surgery, but had gone through 8 months of severe diet and physical training (still not realistic, but again, we are dealing with fantasy), then would your problems with the movie disappear because plastic surgery was not used? To me, the issue would STILL be there, because the larger issue is how Korea (and other countries) champion the ideal of physical beauty.
SERE: My problems with the movie wouldn't disappear entirely, but most of them? Yeah. Look, I could have even accepted the plastic surgery plot device, but IF and only if the character had gone through such a change for herself and herself alone (for her health, whether mental or physical, etc.) rather than to be pretty in order to be noticed by the guy she loved. You could argue that if that *ultimately* finding love is for her own benefit and yeah, I suppose, but do you have to completely forget who you are in the process? All I'm saying is that all the topics mentioned in this movie are rather complex, and using or abusing them in such a movie — and do we agree it was meant to be a "light and fun" rom com? Cos if we don't, then this whole discussion is sort of pointless — can trigger all sorts of tricky problems and reactions. My main issue with 200 Pounds is that The Powers That Be treated serious problems in a light way, totally disregarding what the message they were sending was. Serious issues + light rom com = not a great combo, imho.
I do agree that there's a much larger issue at hand (the ideal of physical beauty), but you can't change society in a day, right? You can, however, start making small steps in that direction with, say, movies. But this is an entirely different problem, I think.
SAMSOOKI: By contrast, we can look at an American movie which also deals with issues of obesity, fat suits, beauty inside vs beauty outside, etc. — Shallow Hal. The message of Shallow Hal seems to be a good one: "Hey, everyone, beauty is more than skin deep." If you haven't seen the movie, the main character has a spell put on him where he sees women only through their "inner" beauty. So, if he sees a supermodel who is a bad person, then he'll see that person as ugly, whereas this obese woman who has a heart of gold (played by fat-suited Paltrow), he sees her as the beautiful Gwenyth Paltrow without the fat suit.
I know that people will argue that it is only when you ARE good that you look beautiful, but the reality is that nobody can tell if you are good or bad from just your appearance. So the perverse result is that Shallow Hal's the subliminal message is to associate beauty with "good" and ugly means "bad." And that message is actually worse than the one in 200 Pound Beauty.
SERE: Premise: I'm not saying Shallow Hal is a work of art (on the contrary, I actually think it has lots and lots of flaws), but I also believe it dealt with the same issues 200 Pound Beauty tackled, but in a less horrifying way. What you said it is true: the clichés and stereotypes you mentioned are there, no doubt, but if you think about it, Hal's prejudices, however shameful and wrong they are, are exactly the same of Society. So in the end, the movie actually mirrors what is, canonically, considered beautiful and what is not (FYI, I'm in no way saying that I agree with THAT message). I mean, Hal always thought beautiful people were only hot supermodels, he never even **considered** inner beauty, but then he changes his mind (I'll never forget the scene with the girl whose face was burnt). And yeah, the clichés are awful, but the ultimate message of the movie is: everyone is beautiful no matter how they look. Period.
The ultimate message of 200 Pound Beauty is, on the other hand, slightly different: it's more like, yeah, yeah, everyone is beautiful, but it doesn't really matter because if you aren't, you can fix that and yes, you might suffer, but you'll get your happy ending in the end. Honestly, that last scene in 200 Pounds left me really, really bitter and quite speechless.
SAMSOOKI: Bottom line: I really enjoyed watching 200 Pound Beauty because it brought together everything I enjoy in a movie — compelling character brought out by great acting, comedy, romance, songs, etc. The story line may have problems from a "message" standpoint, if you take what is otherwise a minor plot device (really, no different than a magic wand, but nobody criticizes the use of magic to make limousines out of pumpkins) as the message, but if we point at this movie for pushing beauty as an end-all-be-all goal for women, then we can blame all of Korean pop culture for the same thing. And I don't see anyone doing that.
SERE: I liked the songs and her singing, but I cannot help but thinking that maybe TPTB could have achieved the same success, still have filmed a nice rom com, but without the potentially nasty message thrown into the mix. I would've enjoyed it a lot more!
JAVABEANS: I have to thank you both for taking such time and effort into this discussion! This whole plastic surgery issue is so relevant in pop culture in particular and society at large, and you both have been wonderfully eloquent about expressing your thoughts on both sides. Already I'm eager to see what kind of comments and discussion this sparks below.


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Is Freedom Built into the Cosmos?
"Being is the Slack in existence; Life is the Slack in matter; Psyche is the Slack in the biosphere; and Pneuma, or Spirit, is the Slack in Psyche."
In response to such a fascinnoying gnostrum, the napoleonic reader may find himself thinking: like anyone could know that!
This word "slack" -- often capitalized -- seems to come up frequently in Bob's daily dose of diaryhea entries, but to my knowledge, he's never actually exspelled out what he's talking about. Rather, he seems to assume that we all grasp it already, or that perhaps the context renders it less murky. Or maybe he's just deepaking the chopra.
I am here to explain it all out for you, for while no one has ever seen the "face of slack," I did once steal a glimpse of its backside, so I think I know a thing or two about a thing or two.
In fact, this is where we must begin our discussion, with "things" and with "twoness."
It is not immediately evident why either should exist. Why should the cosmos be anything other than One? Well, as it so happens, it is one. This is proved by our unconscious use of the word "cosmos," which assumes a prior or transcendent oneness behind or above all phenomena. Clearly, to say "cosmos" is to say "one." We always know that any this and any that are related on some level.
But why should "things" -- this and that -- exist? While animal perception can apprehend boundaries of various kinds, are these boundaries really real? Or are they just superimposed upon phenomena?
For example, is there really a difference between an animal and its environment? For all we know, the flower could be an external organ of the bee. In our minds we separate them, but the one couldn't survive without the other.
In the book Laws of Form, G. Spencer-Brown (SB) explicates an indicative calculus with which to think about such fundamentals. We will not pretend to understand the calculus, so we'll just assume the letters add up. We are more interested in his conclusions, which are true regardless.
In the book, SB attempts to bring together "the investigations of the inner structure of our knowledge of the universe" with "investigations of its outer structure." As we all know, these two weren't divided until Kant, and the tenured haven't been able to put them back together ever since. In truth they were never separate -- for again, nature knows no such rigid boundaries -- but it's nice to be able to prove it.
SB affirms that a universe comes into being when a space is severed or taken apart. For example "the skin of a living organism cuts off an outside from an inside." Thus, inside and outside coarise with the drawing of a boundary.
This leads to the somewhat eery conclusion that prior to the appearance of life, the physical cosmos not only had no inside, but no outside either.
Frankly, this is not something we can imagine; or, we can only imagine it, as if consciousness were there prior to 4 billion years ago, when life emerged.
(At this point we are speaking only of consciousness associated with biological life, not in terms of a transcendent or meta-cosmic intelligence; for surely, prior to the emergence of life the cosmic lights were on, even if nobody was home.)
SB goes on to say that this primordial severance is always present in our own experience; indeed, "experience" would not be possible in its absence, for there would be no distinction between experience and the thing experienced -- like a person in a coma, who (we are told) is having no experience.
Now, a line is also a form of closure. In drawing a distinction, it creates boundaries around two things, thus "enclosing" them, so to speak. And "Once a distinction is drawn, the spaces, states, or contents on each side of the boundary, being distinct, can be indicated."
This is obvious in the case of lower planes of existence, say, the perception of a "rock." In order to see the rock, we must separate it from its surroundings. (Note also that a professional geologist will look at a rock in an entirely different way than we do, seeing all sorts of interesting things.)
But this is also true of higher and more subtle planes and modes, for example, the distinction between conscious and unconscious minds, or between God and man. To even think about God, one must first draw a line between man and God, the one and the many, time and eternity, essence and existence. But this line is not as unambiguous as the distinct line between, say, journalism and MSNBC.
So to think about God, we must draw a line. But as it so happens, God himself is responsible for "lines as such," with the result that we can draw the line anywhere we choose, but the mere fact that we have drawn one reveals another kind of line, i.e., the clearobscure boundary between Spirt and matter, or intelligence and intelligibility, or form and substance, or knower and known, etc. This mysterious line is everything, at least in potential.
As Bob wrote in the book, Life as such -- which marks the distinction between the great outdoors and the grand inside -- is "a luminous fissure" that suddenly appears "in this heretofore dark, impenetrable circle." It is "the unimaginable opening of a window on the world."
This is what is meant by the statement "Life is the Slack in matter." Perhaps slack is better grasped by thinking of its antonyms, which would include such things as necessity, predetermination, compulsion, inevitability, etc. On the human plane we recognize it as "fate," or perhaps just the "human condition," i.e., those conditions that give us little or no wiggle room. No wiggle room = no slack.
Animals surely have more slack than inanimate objects, but they still float very close to the surface of matter. Not until the emergence of mind -- i.e., the mental space occupied and colonized by humans -- is there this new dimension that seems to exist at a right angle to matter and life.
Here is where the true freedom exists (at least in potential) and could only exist. At the other end, one must wonder about a man who uses his God-given slack to try to prove it doesn't exist -- e.g., people who do not "believe" in free will. Which of course they are free to believe.
Let's consider two extremes, beginning with a wealthy man who is so driven by a compulsion to acquire more stuff, that he actually has no slack. Conversely, think of a man in prison who has an experience of the divine freedom. Though behind bars, he has infinitely more slack than the rich man. Examples of each are too numerous to mention.
I believe this is what Jesus was driving at with his wise cracks about the challenge of the wealthy person to enter the kingdom of slack on earth. It can be done, of course, but it is often the case that the attributes responsible for the acquisition of great wealth are precisely those that exile him from the slack he supposedly craves.
Only when such a person slows down and attempts to enjoy the slack, do they realize too late that they have lived a mirthless life of grim slacklessness. They were not truly free to do what they did, but were compelled to do so. It is a tragedy to realize this too late.
Unless you are like C. Montgomery Burns, who, believing his life was at an end, whispered, "I only wish I'd spent more time at the office."
I will conclude this episode with a passage by SB: the physicist is "made of a conglomeration of the very particulars he describes, no more, no less, bound together by and obeying such general laws as he himself has managed to find and to record.
"Thus he cannot escape the fact that the world as we know is constructed in order (and thus in such a way as to be able) to see itself.
"This is indeed amazing.
"Not so much in view of what it sees, although this can appear fantastic enough, but in respect of the fact that it can see at all.
"But in order to do so, evidently it must first cut itself up into at least one state which sees, and at least one other state that is seen....
"In this sense..., the universe must expand to escape the telescopes through which we, who are it, are trying to capture it, which is us."
This interior expansion, or bigger bang, is where the slack is. Please also note that if we could prove all of this with the inevitability of ironyclad logic, it would only prove that our slack is an illusion. Likewise, if we could logically prove the existence of God, he couldn't exist (nor could we).


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A 73-year-old Riga man said he used cocaine to numb the pain of ingrown toenails when he pleaded guilty Wednesday in Lenawee County Circuit Court to a reduced cocaine possession charge.
"I used it on my toes," Julio Remize Valdez told Judge Margaret M.S. Noe. She asked what he was doing with cocaine police reported finding at his home in August. He said rubbing cocaine on his toes relieved pain. Defense attorney James Daly of Adrian made no comment during his client's explanation.
Valdez was originally charged with three counts of possession of cocaine with intent to deliver and with maintaining a drug house. Valdez remains free on bond pending a Jan. 10 sentencing.
Cocaine for toes, man tells judge
Dec 12, 2013 at 6:00 PM
Dec 12, 2013 at 6:11 PM


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94 N. Main Street, Jasper, GA - (706) 253-2457
A proposed SPLOST with projected collections of $30 million will appear on the May 20 ballot, with a strong focus on infrastructure and services.
Pickens County Commission Chair Rob Jones and Jasper Mayor John Weaver are scheduled to speak at the March 11 County Chamber of Commerce Breakfast about this SPLOST. The breakfast will be held at Chattahoochee Technical College at 7 a.m.
According to information released by the county commissioners office, the overwhelming majority of collections are earmarked for the construction, repair and resurfacing of roads. There is also a significant portion tagged for strengthening fire services in areas of the county that are currently under served and suffer high ISO ratings.
County and city leaders have said major budget cuts from the state have left roads in disrepair. The city now receives approximately $40,000 a year for road projects, while the county receives approximately $400,000.
Under terms of agreement, portions of the SPLOST collections will go to the cities of Jasper and Nelson and the town of Talking Rock.
Jasper will receive 20 percent of collections; Nelson will receive 2.43 percent; Talking Rock is allocated .22 percent, with the remainder going to Pickens County projects.
According to Commission Chair Rob Jones, distribution of the funds will be very different from distribution of the 2008 SPLOST, which funded courthouse renovations and paid off debt on the administration building and jail.
Jones said under this SPLOST there are no Tier 1 projects, which by state law must be funded before other SPLOST projects.
"What is going to happen is that each month that sales tax money comes in, each entity will get their percent of that money," Jones said. "So each month Jasper will get 20 percent, and so on."
Under the 2008 SPLOST, the cities of Nelson, Talking Rock and Jasper did not receive any funding until the very end of the collection period, and the library renovation project received no funding due to significant shortfall in expected collections.
Jones pointed out that this one-cent tax, if passed by voters, will be a continuance of the 2008 SPLOST that is expiring this year.
"This is not going to be an additional cent on top of that one," Jones said. "Taxpayers will be paying the same amount at the register."