text:
"We cannot sacrifice what is right for what is expedient." – RadioMattM
Sunday, January 15, 2017
Damned Demons
13 comments:
Thank you for the heartfelt post Matt. I've come to believe that people who take their own lives are in so much pain, either physically or mentally, that they can't see the utter devastation of their actions on their family and friends.ReplyDelete
I must believe that. It's the only way I can cope with the long list (that keeps getting longer).
"..the ability to slay those demons that drive people to desperation.."
What an incredible super power that would be! Bless you Matt. You're a wonderful man and I'm proud that you're my friend.
Thank you Lady Red.ReplyDelete
The sad part is that sometimes people feel that their continued presence is devastating to those around them. That is feeling we need to eliminate.Replies
Yes. It's just so hard to know sometimes....I think, why didn't this person call me? We talk about everything! I would have been there!Delete
But. I wasn't there, was I?
Gotta shake it off though and keep on going. It doesn't do any good if one of us falls into that black abyss. We can't help anyone then.
Probably too much sharing: I was buying groceries early one morning right before Christmas, and the cashier (an older lady, late 60s? Early 70s?) started crying when I wished her a Merry Christmas. I went behind the counter to her and just hugged her and hugged her. I cried, I told her it's okay to be sad. I was so shaken I even wrote a poem about it, which is so breath-stealing that I'll probably never share it. I may have kept someone's nose above water. I hope I did.
We all do the best we can. Sometimes it's the smallest things that make all the difference to someone.
Sometimes the pen, or keyboard, is the only tool we have to fight our own demons. I often would like to write something, but the more I want to write he less I know what to say.Delete
If you should decide to share your poem, I would love to read it.
Oh Lord! Okay, I'll email it to you, but don't go jumping off the roof after you read it!Delete
Damn, Lady. That was good. I thought you hit is, well not beautifully (if you understand what I mean), but poignantly.Delete
She touched me so deeply that I had to find an outlet for all the emotions. You know? It was too much to carry around.Delete
I understand. I think we have had some good writing here on the table for that very reason.Delete
Oh, I am sure the lady had a much better Christmas because of you.Delete
You are a blessing.
I would like to see your poem as well, Lady Red. I think it might do me some good to see how others feel, just nowReplyDeleteReplies
I nominate Lady Red as the Poet Lauriate of the Table.Delete
It is good, but I will leave it to Lady Red as to whether she wants to post it.
Oh my gosh you guys. Okay. Here it is, for what it's worth:Delete
Natale Melancholia
Once more it's Christmas
I won't put up a tree or cheery decorations,
Tinsel, red and green, wreaths bedecked with pinecones.
No one comes to visit anyway,
I won't hang up the single card I received
From the insurance office downtown.
It would look so lonely there on the mantle, by itself.
I won't cook a big dinner
Ham and sweet potatoes, pie
For just myself.
I won't listen to Christmas music,
Haunting and holy,
Jingles and snowmen.
The carols bring me sadness,
And flood me with memories.
I'll sit quietly in my little house
And pretend that Christmas is just another day
While my family celebrates with gifts and laughter
Without me. Far away.
I'll sit with my ghosts; the voices of those no longer here,
Whispering from Heaven.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
And I'll pray for Christmas to be over.


text:
Flowers of Grass
Originally published in Japanese as Kusa no Hana in 1954
English translation by Royall Tyler
Dalkey Archive Press, 2012
I remember reading a book review in the New York Times, by a man who was dismayed to discover that real-life
is not at all the way it seems in Haruki Murakami's novels. Yes, indeed!
If you are one of the lucky few who chooses to read Flowers of Grass, you may sometimes find it off-putting, the dialogue perhaps a little wooden, the action a little too far removed. But, if you later visit
Japan, you will
find evidence of the truth of this book everywhere. It is a beautiful book, and a vital one to
have available in English – but, please be prepared, if you are accustomed to
modern American or European novels, it may take some getting used to!
The author, Takehiko Fukunaga, was confined in a tuberculosis sanitarium for seven years. When he was at last released, he wrote this novel over a period of just a few months. The translator's useful afterword says Fukunaga saw this book "as a sort of graduation thesis." Indeed, the opening section, which takes place in a sanitarium, is one of the most vivid parts of the book.
The body of the book is a manuscript left behind by a character who has just died on the operating table. It tells of his passionate love for a brother and sister – and his rejection by them both. Both brother and sister feel that the narrator's love is so idealized and soaring that it has nothing to do with them – I promise the reader will agree!
To a non-Japanese speaker, it may seem odd that the characters profess utter devotion to their college archery club, speak in vague terms at the most crucial moments, rhapsodize repeatedly about Chopin, and say that they are so overwhelmed with regret they can hardly go on living – but actually there was nothing they could have done anyway. Irrashimase! Welcome to Japan! This isn't nearly as catchy as Murakami novel – but it's the real thing.
The actions of the book often seem like just a set-up for long pronouncements on the nature of love, Christianity in
Japan, and resistance
to war. I found the narrator's love for
the brother far more convincing than his love for the sister – who seems a
disembodied ideal even when she is in his arms.
At the same time, thoughtful readers will get a very useful picture of how
love is perceived in Japan.
The wonder of the book is that the long philosophical passages are truly beautiful and thought-provoking and exhibit a passion far more convincing than that which drives the love affairs. A long consideration of Christianity may or may not seem like promising material for a novel – but still I had to catch my breath when the narrator ultimately rejects conventional Christianity and says, "I chose my solitude over God. The outer darkness seemed a more human place to be."
For me, what makes this book most important is its wrenching portrayal of the helplessness Japanese people felt as they waited to be drafted, believed the war to be pointless and wrong, but felt too terrified, isolated and powerless to oppose it. This book does not seek to excuse that silence but it is nonetheless very moving to see what they were up against.
Although Takehiko Fukunaga was well-known in mid-20th century
this is currently his only novel in print.
I hope that somehow a way will be found to have his other books
translated and made available, particularly his last novel, about the bombing
of Hiroshima.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
"There should be more parks, playgrounds, outdoor gyms etc. to encourage people to socialise more and live a healthy life."
Female, 29-38, Casey Next.
"Creative. Activities supporting the arts, culture, galleries and theatres."
49-58, Male, Casey Next.
The City of Casey is already a destination, particularly for sports and leisure, with many high-quality facilities that are loved by residents and visitors to Casey. Council will continue to focus on enhancing and growing these facilities and opportunities, as well as facilitating and supporting events and programs that bring communities together.
Strategic Indicators
4.1 Promote and support participation in artistic, cultural, sporting, and leisure opportunities.
• Increase in visitation and customer satisfaction and key Council facilities.
• The number of art and cultural exhibitions held in Bunjil Place Cultural Precinct.
4.2 Encourage major sporting events and teams that attract visitors, to perform in Casey.
• The number of major events held in Casey.
• Increase the attendance at Casey events.
4.3 Establish Bunjil Place as a leading arts and cultural precinct.
• Utilisation of the arts and cultural spaces
• The number of bookings in Casey by national touring organisations.
Related Strategic Plans
• Casey Cardinia Activation Strategy
• Leisure Facilities Development Plan
• Events Policy
• Casey Cardinia Visitation Strategy
• Bunjil Place Cultural Statement
• Arts Development Plan
• Arts Facilities Plan


text:
Crews are still working Thursday to contain forest fires, burning in several counties.
In Harlan County, a 300 acre burning near the Coldiron community is now under control. It broke out earlier this week.
Two fires are also under control in Leslie County. They are burning near the Stinnett community. Forestry officials say one is 190 acres, the other 200 acres.
An uncontrolled fire is burning Thursday in Knox County. It is in the Chestnut Flats area near Barbourville. It is about 65 acres and forestry officials say it is still spreading.
A forest fire that forestry officials say appears to be intentionally set is also burning in the Mt. Xion area of Estill County. That fire is about 350 acres, but it is contained.
And a fire along the Breathitt/Owsley County line is still smoldering. It consumed about 1,000 acres, but is now contained.


text:
I haven't had much to comment on the current EJF scandal involving Rav Leib Tropper for two reasons. First, because others far more qualified to write on the subject than me have already done so. Adding my condemnation is like bringing straw to Ofrayim. Second, because I don't think getting enraged and shouting about it will end up doing any good. Today most people, especially bloggers, have the attention span of three year old children. The really successful bloggers like FailedMessiah have the ability to stick with a story for years if need be but the rest of us tend to get titillated by the latest scandal for a few weeks and then we move on... to the next scandal.
Meanwhile the villians in each piece have learned a valuable lesson. There's no point in fighting back against a wave of indignant bloggers. Lie low, refuse to admit wrongdoing or at most issue a meaningless and vague apology and keep on doing what you're doing. The attention will pass and then you'll be free to go back to whatever wrongs you were doing before. Rav Tropper has relinquished none of his power, remains a Rosh Yeshiva and guiding force at EJF and does anyone believe he has been chastened and humbled?
Watching all the scmutz coming out of the Torah world reminds me of a relevant passage in Shmuel I which I am surprised I haven't seen quote elsewhere until now:
"Even before they would burn the fat, the Kohen's attendant would come and say to the man who was bringing the offering: "Give some meat for roasting for the Kohen; he will not take cooked meat from you but only raw. The man would say 'Let him first burn the fat and then take for yourself whatever your soul desires. But the attendant would say 'No, give it now or else I will take it by force.' The sin of the attendants was very great before Hashem, for the men had disgraced Hashem's offering." (2:15-17)
"Eli became very old. He heard about all that his sons were doing to all of Israel and that they would lie with the women who congregated at the entrace of the Tent of Meeting." (2:22)
Most commentators don't understand the sins of the sons of Eli literally, especially the one mentioned in verse 22. To their ears, it was simply not possible that a holy priest of God would conduct himself in such a way. Thus Chazal have given alternative understandings as to what the Tanach meant.
But really, with all that's happened I sometimes think that the literal meaning of the verses is to be preferred. Certainly it is far more relevant to what's happening to day. Keep reading in Shmuel and you see what happened next because Eli couldn't stop his sons.
The ongoing ramblings of the Leader of the Living and his thoughts on Judaism, Israel and politics today. Contact me at email@example.com
Monday, 18 January 2010
Some Things Don't Change
Posted by Mighty Garnel Ironheart at 12:27
2 comments:
- SJ said...
The noncorrupt people in orthodox judaism does need to be more vocal.
- 18 January 2010 at 17:25
- David said...
No, they need to stop pretending that the corrupt people don't exist or that they are such a bizarre aberration that their actions don't reflect on Orthodox Judaism.
- 20 January 2010 at 11:12
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text:
Sesame Street A-B-C (Giant Bomb|Wikipedia) is an educational game released for the NES and contains two 'games', each with several modes that change the game play a bit. Designed for children, and to cash in on the success of the NES I'm sure, it is really basic and contains little replayability. I don't say this to knock the game – it delivers on what it aims to do without a doubt – but an educational NES game isn't where I would typically spend my time.
Gameplay consists of first selecting which game you'd like to play of the two included (Letter Go Round and Ernie's Big Splash). Letter Go Round has you select one of six modes, which are all minor variations of the same basic game. A merry go round rotates with six letters – hit A when the matching letter hits the bottom of the rotation. That's it – pretty basic. Ernie's Big Splash is a little more complex, but only a little. You have a starting point indicated by a faucet and rubber duck, and your goal is to place tiles to route the duck to Ernie. There are ten or so different tiles and you rotate through them using the d-pad and select by hitting A. Once you've successfully routed the duck to Ernie some music plays as the duck traverses the course you've laid out. There are only three modes in this one, and the other two only differ from the basic by placing a tile randomly on the board containing another sesame street character. Because these games are so basic, I played each one in about 20 minutes – I guess I could say at this point that I beat the game since there isn't anything else for me to do in it.
Visually, there isn't a ton going on here. While there are some impressively large sprites used in Letter Go Round when you finish a stage, there is no scrolling or parallax and both games exist on static backgrounds. This is not a great looking game – I'd put it near the bottom of the range of acceptable for an educational title.
Sound effects were acceptable, and music was shockingly good. That's not to say that it was good enough to hang with the greats on NES, but for an educational game of that era it was definitely above average.
Verdict: Back on the shelf. I can see breaking this out for my daughter when she's a little older, but I have no more interest in it.
Images courtesy of Giant Bomb


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On Amazon
Hey Guys!
Hey Guys!
Here is the cover reveal for my new YA Paranormal Romance: Bluewicked (A Watermagic Novella). It is book # 3!
Here's the synopsis:
Laurent and Sabine are matched to be together forever, but Laurent discards her like trash. It doesn't matter that she is one of the most beautiful, seductive creatures that ever walked on land or swam the depths of the sea. He won't have her. But Sabine can't accept that. She will kill any girl who falls in love with him.
That is until she meets Scratch Morrison. She just can't figure that gangster out. He seems to be a deadly killer like her and she is set on unraveling the mysteries to his gang, the Boys of Mutiny. She soon suspects that he is not what he seems. Certainly he's not just the bad boy player he appears to be. He has secrets and she will unravel them. And she just might fall crazy in love while it's happening. Or will she?
Here is the Preface of Bluewicked:
My three sisters, mother, and I lounged on the huge black rocks enjoying the full moon overhead and the gentle rain on our naked jeweled bodies while we gazed out at the dark Atlantic. Our long hair draped alluringly over our breasts. In my mind, I could hear my two brothers and father laughing and joking around with each other as they swam down below the rocks.
"There's the yacht," Emily said, pointing. Her tropical blue eyes twinkled in the night. I could tell she was excited.
Upon seeing the boat, I felt a surge of adrenaline from my entire family at once. What a rush! We were ready.
Even though I wasn't born into this American group nor was I even raised in the same country, our minds were interconnected. I experienced the pain in Savannah's mouth as she bit down hard on the inside of her cheek like it was my own. I felt Logan's long brown hair tangle in some sea grass at the bottom of the ocean as his head jerked up in response to the intensity of the moment. Together, our hearts beat fast—the pounding rhythms overlapped hard in my chest.
At once, our heads fell back involuntarily. Our backs arched as our bodies quivered. The girls and I lifted our faces and began to sing. Our song was like that of the angels, clear and perfect—penetrating. We sang of legends, celebrations, beauty…
Through the drizzle, the sounds carried out toward the teenagers on the yacht. They were a group of four, two guys and their girlfriends. In their drunken stupidity, they had stolen a yacht that was docked at one of the islands in Key West. They were just out partying and wanted to have some fun. But now, they listened to our song.
"You hear that?" one guy asked his girlfriend. With my attention on him, I read his mind. I could feel his thoughts reeling. He loved our melody. He was an easy catch.
As the enchantment took effect, his feelings became amorous. Now he turned the helm in our direction. I felt the texture of the wheel on his hands as the rain poured down on him.
I didn't know what he looked like yet, but his girlfriend was fixated on a pimple on his cheek. I felt how much it bothered her. She wanted to pop it. "I don't hear anything." I sensed that she mumbled the words, but I wasn't sure. The rain upset her too.
"Oh, I hear it," the girl said suddenly. Now she felt lightheaded. And then the sensations grew. Such pleasure. She longed for the promises we alluded to—a life of infinite delight, romance, and adventure. Her heart rate sped up. I could feel the blood rushing through her veins.
Her boyfriend brushed her hair out of her face with his fingers, caressed her cheek, and then took her into his arms. They began kissing heatedly.
First thunder sounded and then lightning struck in the air like a loud explosion. My attention switched to the other couple as I sang. From what I sensed, they were in the living room on the couch. I felt skin against skin. Sweat. It seemed as if this couple was making out too. We expected that. There was a lot of passion and heavy breathing. Oh, the breathing was fervent. The tastes. We had them.
Minutes passed. They were entirely under our power, immersed in the song. The yacht was approaching fast, moving in the direction of our music now. Our voices grew louder and more intense. The rhythms were hypnotic. We bellowed out in heavenly symphony.
I felt the anticipation growing inside me. The teenagers were so close that I could see the silhouettes of the four figures standing on the deck now. They were coming for us. I felt their eyes focused on our wet, jeweled bodies as we lounged on the rocks. They saw us under the moonlight. I was certain of that. The boys were desirous and the girls were fixated on our beauty.
Our heads rolled side to side now and our hands slid down our chests as we sang. "Dive into the black waters." Our voices were liquid and intoxicating, evoking rapturous thoughts. "Fantasies await."
Without hesitation, the four kids climbed up onto the side rail of the yacht. My eyes honed in on them—their cheeks were flushed, their eyes glassy. One after the other, they dove into the ocean.
Still on course, the boat progressed forward rapidly toward the rocks where we lounged. I was so eager that my singing became shaky. I wanted the kids now. We all did.
The yacht was coming right at us. I loved the danger, the thrill. My sisters, mother, and I stood at the edge of the rocks, wet wind blowing in our faces, our long hair dripping in the rain.
The engine of the boat hummed, mixing with our high pitch. And right as the boat crashed into the rocks, we dove to the side into the sea. We heard loud tearing of metal and shattering of glass from the now capsized yacht as we swam.
There was no stopping our strong, lithe physiques. My body felt so alive in the water. Tingling sensations rushed through me, through us. My brothers and father swam up to join in. Our faces stretched into form, teeth elongating with razor sharp edges. The sensations of the transformation felt like ecstasy. Our eyes paled in color to a milky blue.
First Logan tore off one of the girl's arms. Her eyes were so wide and horrified. We felt her pain and loved it.
Oh, how the blood spread out in the water. Prickly sensations of pleasure poked through our pours. We could smell the red liquid. Blood was an addiction, a need. It beckoned us to lose control.
At once, we went into a hedonistic frenzy like sharks tearing away flesh, devouring it entirely. Oh, so delicious. Heavenly. The taste of blood in the mouth is like a drug.
So that's the little teaser.
Best wishes,


text:
Monday was P-day, obviously. Not too much to say about it.
Tuesday, Christmas Eve, we were invited to have Christmas dinner with the Alarcón family in our ward. So we went with the other two hermanas and had a good old time. I taught the little girls the dance for Cotton Eye Joe and they totally loved it. Here they eat late at night and then wait until midnight and open all the gifts then. We had to be in the house at 11:00, so no Viejito Pascuelo (Santa Clause) sightings for us. But it was still fun.
Wednesday we opened up our gifts in the morning (the girls in my house are thrilled about all the American chocolate I got) and then in the afternoon we went into Conce for the mission Christmas activity they were having. There was so much good food and most of it was American - chips and guacamole (okay, so that is not really "American" but they don't eat it here) and pasta and frog-eye salads and ranch and ceaser salad dressings, and chocolate chip cookies! - and I got to see Hermana Call and Hermana Snyder and a lot of my other mission friends who are in the "in" zones right now. I loved it. And then after that, of course, we Skyped our families, which is always fun. My family is crazy. But I love them. I got to meet my nephew Charlie. He was asleep, but he seems pretty cool. I think we'll get along if he likes sleeping too.
Thursday morning I found myself with a few minutes of extra time and so I took down the little Christmas tree that we had. The other hermanas kept asking me if that was some kind of an American tradition - to take down the tree immediately after Christmas. I told them no, that normally we leave it up until after the New Year but I knew if I didn't do it right then I would be too lazy to do it later. Then that afternoon my companion was sick with the flu so I put her to bed despite her complaints and she felt better that night.
Friday was the first "regular" day we had last week, so the week felt pretty short. But we did as much as we could Friday and Saturday and Sunday to move the work along. Saturday we went to visit some of our investigators and the husband, José was getting ready to go play in some kind of a performance with his church "band." He plays the violin, so when he heard that I could play he went and got it out and insisted that I play. Well, I really can't remember all that much and that violin was SO out of tune and I couldn't really tune it because the pegs were like super-glued and I was pretty sure the strings would break if I tried too hard. So I had to just place my fingers in different places on all the strings in order to get the music to sound right. It was strange, but it kind of worked. Hermano José has basically no training and his technique is quite different, but he played a nice little ditty. And then he asked if I would teach him a couple of lessons. I am quite skeptical about that, since I can't exactly speak music-Spanish. Also because I don't think a violin lesson would count for one of our key indicators.... But it was fun to get to play again for a minute. I guess there are a lot of violins in Tomé.
Once again I failed to get a picture of the beautiful views of the ocean that we have every time we climb up one of the enormous hills here in Tomé. I remembered finally to bring my camera yesterday but then I didn't remember to use it. Boo. Someday, I promise, you can know what it is like here. Hermana Gamboa and I went running on the beach on Saturday for our exercise. It was awesome. I had never done that before. We had a great time!
So when I got to Tomé I was super excited because there is a real stove and an oven here. That is not the case in every mission apartment, so I was pleased. But everything is gas and you have to light the stove with a match. Anyway, one night when we got home we were really hungry but we had basically no food in the house since nobody had shopped during cambios. Well, we did have some corn flour and so I asked my Colombian companion to make some arepas, which are like little corn pancake things. Super delicious! Well, she said, "no tenemos fosforos," (fosforos are matches) and I didn't fully understand her or wasn't listening very well and I thought she was referring to the corn flour. But I had some of that, so I told her not to worry, that I had some, so I went and got it out and she made some arepas. Then when it came time to cook them, she asked me for matches and I was like, "I don't have any." And she was like, "I told you we didn't have any and you said you had some - that's why I made these!" Then I felt really silly and really sad because now we had arepas that we couldn't eat because we couldn't cook them. So we fretted about it for a minute and I started looking everywhere for matches when Hermana Gamboa comes in and says, "Do you want fire?" We were both like, "YES!" and I assumed that maybe SHE had matches, but then she points to the hot water heater thing and says, "Supposedly when someone takes a shower this lights a flame." WHAT A GENIUS! So we turned on the hot water and rolled up a piece of paper and stuck it up inside the calefont (that's the hot water heater) and lit it on fire and then we were able to light the stove and eat our arepas! It was awesome. And we lit the stove that way for over a week (since we forgot to buy matches last P-day) until I found the matches that Hermana Vieda had said she thought Hermana Rane had taken with her. They were in Hermana Martinez's closet with her jewelry and whiteboard markers. So now we have matches. But if we ever run out, no worries, right?
Anyway, that's the report for this week. Also, mission time warp side note - this week as the year 2013 closes, it will be a complete year that I have spent in Chile. So after I get home if you ever refer to anything that happened in 2013, I probably won't know what you are talking about. Isn't that strange? But I hope you all have a very Happy New Year! I think it's gonna be a good one.
New Year's Resolution for all of you - READ THE BOOK OF MORMON EVERY DAY! We all have the opportunity to start out this new year right and we can have a perfect year where we don't miss a single day of reading - even if we only have a chance to read one verse, I know that we can do it! It will be a challenge for all of us, but I also know that we will be greatly blessed for our efforts and our sacrifices.
Wellp, love you all. Hope you have a great week and a lot of fun with your New Year's activities! We'll probably be sleeping when the New Year comes in, so make sure y'all celebrate it nice a good in my honor.


text:
We live in an apartment – and a smaller one at that. With only a touch over 900 sq. ft. we prize open space and not feeling cramped or claustrophobic. This typically isn't an issue – except we couldn't find a good spot to have our photos framed.
So, I hopped on Pinterest and was welcomed with a flood of images and tutorials on how to creating a wall gallery. As someone who likes to change up photos and loves the look of different frames – the idea of a never changing layout really didn't excite me.
But then I saw picture ledges. The examples I saw were all on top of wainscoting but I was undeterred and asked the hubster to make one for our dining area.
Here is the dining area before the picture ledge:
And here is it with the few frames that we originally had on hand:
A little bland huh?
… and here it is now – with way more frames and happy memories
This small addition only cost about $15, and the hubster threw it together in about 30 minutes. I may stain it yet but I am undecided so I have left the wood raw for the moment. Either way, this project is not only easy peasy but flexible.
It is amazing how much something so simple and quick can have such an impact on your home. What are some simple but impactful things that you have done in your home?


text:
The girls love their little bantam chickens.
Here are a few fun pictures they took of them.
All these eggs (except the blue robins egg) are from our chickens.
The chicken next to the rooster has legs!
Now you know from the last post why my camera battery was dead. The girls like taking silly pictures, like falling out of a tree.
taking a chicken for a walk?
Chicken basket.
SArah and I went for a walk early one morning and saw this bat laying on it's back in a driveway.
It had a torn wing we took it home to show everyone then put it in a tree. He stayed there all day and flew away that night. It was really cool.


text:
Aletheia DACs Power Switch
Why is the Aletheia DACs Power Switch on the back panel?
Last week, a customer who had just purchased an Aletheia dac1 asked why it only had a mains power switch on the back, and nothing on the front to switch on the mains power? (Thanks to Ruud in The Netherlands for a good question).
Well it's like this for design reasons that we think are important for the DAC (and probably any hifi unit).
In the Aletheia DACs we bring the power in through the IEC inlet on the back panel then the internal wiring goes immediately to the switch and […]


text:
tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541500.post5916362021649360226..comments2018-06-21T11:14:50.576+09:00Comments on BigHominid's Hairy Chasms: "Guardians of the Galaxy": reviewKevin Kimhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541500.post-49192890486040510512014-08-03T17:12:37.924+09:002014-08-03T17:12:37.924+09:00John, A fuller response to your "predated&qu...John,

A fuller response to your "predated" remark:

I agree: the influences and the comic stories predate "Star Wars" and "The Matrix." According to Wikipedia, the early "Guardians" team showed up in 1969, the year I was born. The new team was formed in 2008.

But that's not what I was talking about in my review. I was talking about the movies' cinematic influence on pop consciousness. By that standard, "Star Wars" was first, and it showed audiences that movies could be fun again, since that was George Lucas's avowed aim—to bring back the feeling of those old Saturday matinees. In 1999, for me at least, "The Matrix" was a welcome return to that sort of fun with its wild SF premise, its mixed bag of theological and philosophical tropes, and its over-the-top action that, however cartoonish, made dramatic sense in the context of the story. These movies were fun, and "Star Wars" came first of the three I mentioned (SW, "Matrix," GOTG).

So I don't disagree with you re: who influenced whom. You're completely right as far as artistic/creative influences go. But the movies came out when they came out, and they influenced audiences—quite apart from the comics—in their respective decades. Many current critics are making "Star Wars" references, too, when they write about "Galaxy." Which only makes sense: the new movie reminds them of an older movie. Simple as that.Kevin Kimhttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541500.post-54499839481654945812014-08-03T13:22:28.368+09:002014-08-03T13:22:28.368+09:00"As a big fan of the comic series over the ye..."As a big fan of the comic series over the years, 'Guardians' predates all of your film references..."

Spot the grammar error!

"Also, the mysticism was there in small quantities."

Maybe in the comics, but not in the film, which is my only point of reference... unless the mysticism of "Guardians" revolves, Harry Potter-style, around the power of love and friendship.

"You were very right about Michael Rooker in this film."

Glad we agree on something. Your relentless contrarianism in my comment threads can be tiring.

"The most surprising thing about the film to me was the acting job done by Chris Pratt."

Two agreements in a row! Will wonders never cease? Yeah, I thought Pratt handled the role nicely.

"Now, if I could only not have seen the last 20 minutes of Luc Besson's 'Lucy.' "

Haven't seen it yet, but I'd read several reviews expressing everything from amusement to disappointment at how the third reel goes off the rails.Kevin Kimhttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541500.post-73819690178433578552014-08-03T13:09:52.968+09:002014-08-03T13:09:52.968+09:00As a big fan of the comic series over the years, &...As a big fan of the comic series over the years, "Guardians" predates all of your film references except for maybe to part of the "Star Trek" episode, "The Tholian Web," that this film seemed to borrow one hell of a visual from. It is most definitely an amalgamation of all the "Guardians of the Galaxy" comics since 1969 with what looks like a good dose of Joss Whedon's "Firefly/Serenity" thrown into the mix for good measure, but I'd have to argue hard that Joss Whedon borrowed heavily from the "Guardian" comics mythos and atmosphere back when he was creating his superb "Firefly" television series.

Also, the mysticism was there in small quantities. More information regarding Star-Lord's alien father, his unique suit's background, and that of the psychic link that he shares with his ship should all be forthcoming in future film prequels/sequels which also includes a team-up in a future "Avengers" film.

You were very right about Michael Rooker in this film. I still lament his passing on "The Walking Dead" as he brought much humor, along with some insane violence, to that role.

The most surprising thing about the film to me was the acting job done by Chris Pratt. He's come a long way since "Everwood," but the most amazing thing he's done in my book has been to marry the extremely multi-talented Anna Faris.

Now, if I could only not have seen the last 20 minutes of Luc Besson's "Lucy." The far-fetched last few minutes of the on-going South Korean connection deep in French Territory really ruined the entire movie for me. Hell, even the uber-violent South Korean criminal connection in Taiwan was hard to believe, but that's today's film marketing for you. John from Daejeonhttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541500.post-47409928161856096432014-07-31T23:40:19.939+09:002014-07-31T23:40:19.939+09:00I watched the brief, 12-episode run of "24: L...I watched the brief, 12-episode run of "24: Live Another Day." That wasn't bad, but it also wasn't enough to satisfy my "24" jones.

I'm sorry, but which Scott is this, again? I know several. I really should keep better track.Kevin Kimhttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541500.post-72740448766085737082014-07-31T21:47:23.765+09:002014-07-31T21:47:23.765+09:00Kevin, Off topic, just shooting the breeze. Have ...Kevin,

Off topic, just shooting the breeze. Have you seen any good TV series lately? I hear Fargo's pretty good.

Hope all's well.

Scottscotthttps://firstname.lastname@example.com


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In other news, I am so excited for our daughter who has been inducted into the National Honor School of High School Scholars. She has worked so hard to keep her grades up and the hard work has paid off. Right now we are praying that she gets accepted to Washington State University. She talked to the admissions office last week to make sure they had all of her info which they did. They just have not sent out admission letters yet.
Brian is on winter break which means he is laying around all week and doing absolutely NOTHING! Must be nice. Normally I would have given Bryce a break as well, but he has assignments to complete for co-op so he will take his break when co-op takes a break.
All in all, we are hanging in there. Getting through one day at a time. Praying for guidance.


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A long-trusted friend for the wilder days of the British winter, our GORE-TEX® jackets have been at the heart of our range since we released the Snipe in 1982. Based on the success of AW16, we have developed one new style for this year; the Eris, offers supreme waterproofing in even the worst conditions, and is the perfect pairing for one of our thermal mid-layers. With the premium comfort levels of GORE-TEX® technology, our Era jacket is perfect for more active days on the trail. For more casual lifewear, our Skala is a stylish solution to even the Manchester rain.
6 Items
- Leonora 3in1£210.00
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6 Items


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10. The Land Before Time II: The Great Valley Adventure, 1994
After his tribe of herbivorous dinosaurs moves to the carnivore-free Peaceful Valley in the animated "The Land Before Time," young brontosaurus Littlefoot (Scott McAfee) and his friends chase after a pair of dangerous dinosaurs stealing an egg from the village. While running, they accidentally cause a landslide that opens up their home to outsiders. When the egg they bring back and hatch reveals not one of their own, but a carnivorous tyrannosaurus, the youngsters decide to secretly raise it.
9. Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaur, 2009
After Sid (John Leguizamo) pilfers some dinosaur eggs, Manny (Ray Romano), Diego (Denis Leary) and the rest of their prehistoric pals enter a mysterious, underground world to rescue the hapless sloth. During the course of their mission, the gang encounters many creatures great and small, including hungry carnivores and a relentless, dinosaur-hunting weasel named Buck.
8. We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story, 1993
Four fun-loving dinosaurs take a trip to New York City, courtesy of Capt. Neweyes (Walter Cronkite). The time-traveling alien is intent on bringing some joy to the lives of the children of the Big Apple. After eating a potion to boost their smarts and cuddliness, Tyrannosaurus Rex (John Goodman), Triceratops Woog (Rene Le Vant), Pterodactyl Elsa (Felicity Kendal) and Hadrosaur Dweeb (Charles Fleischer) hit the town! But trouble soon arrives when Neweyes' evil brother hatches a devious plot.
7. The Lost World, 2001
A professor and a team of British adventurers discover dinosaurs on an expedition in 1911.
6. Land of the Lost, 2009
A space-time vortex sucks scientist Rick Marshall (Will Ferrell), his assistant Holly (Anna Friel) and a survivalist Will (Danny R. McBride) into a world populated by dinosaurs and painfully slow creatures called Sleestaks. With few resources at their disposal, Rick, Holly and Will must rely on their only ally, a primate named Chaka (Jorma Taccone), to try to survive long enough to figure out a way back home.
5. King Kong, 2005
Peter Jackson's expansive remake of the 1933 classic follows director Carl Denham (Jack Black) and his crew on a journey from New York City to the ominous Skull Island to film a new movie. Accompanying him are playwright Jack Driscoll (Adrien Brody) and actress Ann Darrow (Naomi Watts), who is whisked away by the monstrous ape, Kong, after they reach the island. The crew encounters dinosaurs and other creatures as they race to rescue Ann, while the actress forms a bond with her simian captor.
4. Dinosaur, 2000
This is the story of Aladar (D.B. Sweeney), an iguanodon dinosaur raised by a family of lemurs. Their world is turned upside-down however, when meteors strike, turning their green world into a desert wasteland. Teaming up with a herd of other herbivores, the trek is on to find the "Nesting Ground" where water and vegetation is bountiful... but with carnivores behind them and nothing but desert around for miles, it doesn't look promising!
Littlefoot (Gabriel Damon), a young plant-eating dinosaur, is orphaned after his mother (Helen Shaver) perishes while protecting him from a vicious carnivore. With her last breath, she tells him how to get to the legendary Great Valley, where he will be reunited with others of his kind. With his friend Cera (Candace Hutson), Littlefoot sets out for the fabled land, meeting a variety of new friends along the way -- while also being tracked by the killer dinosaur that mortally wounded his mother.
2. Jurassic World, 2015
Located off the coast of Costa Rica, the Jurassic World luxury resort provides a habitat for an array of genetically engineered dinosaurs, including the vicious and intelligent Indominus rex. When the massive creature escapes, it sets off a chain reaction that causes the other dinos to run amok. Now, it's up to a former military man and animal expert (Chris Pratt) to use his special skills to save two young brothers and the rest of the tourists from an all-out, prehistoric assault.
1. Jurassic Park, 1993
In Steven Spielberg's massive blockbuster, paleontologists Alan Grant (Sam Neill) and Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern) and mathematician Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) are among a select group chosen to tour an island theme park populated by dinosaurs created from prehistoric DNA. While the park's mastermind, billionaire John Hammond (Richard Attenborough), assures everyone that the facility is safe, they find out otherwise when various ferocious predators break free and go on the hunt.


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Assistant Branch Manager
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Confidential Company
Reno, NV
JOB DESCRIPTIONWe are a full-service recruiting firm specializing in financial services. One of our premier clients is seeking an experienced, achievement-driven financial advisor to work in a leadership role as the Assistant Branch Manager. The role is intended to be a 1-2 year developmental role that will lead to a Branch Manager opportunity. You'll be part of a storied, top-tier company that offers:
* A great base salary with annual bonus and a great benefits package.
* Continual advancement and leadership opportunities.
* Mentoring current sales and service representatives.
* Work with upper management on deciding current initiatives to maintain and increase wallet-share.
* Assist in putting together seminars and providing feedback to branch members.
* Ability to participate in the community including service opportunities with several different schools and non-profits.
Job Description:
Assisting the Branch Manager in directing and leading the branch to acquire and drive business opportunities in the local market.
* Assisting the Branch Manager in directing and leading the branch to acquire and drive business opportunities in the local market.
* Assists the Branch Manager to build a strong sales and service team that can drive revenue opportunities while insuring high levels of customer satisfaction.
* Develop local efforts and implement national initiatives to grow business through in-branch customer contact, seminars, lead utilization, and local marketing.
* Assist with the management of operational activities, including full supervision of local risk and compliance issues, if a Branch Service Manager is not in place.
* Over time, will be responsible for managing a group of representatives and provide assistance with regard to training, developing, counseling, and motivating branch staff.
* Lead or assist with regional and/or corporate initiatives.
* Act as the interface with difficult clients who need to be guided to the management level.
* Assist with the measurement of service levels to determine staffing needs.
* MUST hold Series 7 and 63 licenses
* Insurances licenses and Series 9/10 required within 60 days of hire
* Strong brokerage/mutual fund knowledge
* Proven time-management skills
* Strong integrity and judgment skills
* Proven management and coaching skills
* Excellent communication and presentation skills


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and I have to say a huge 'Thank you!!' to everyone who voted for me! I never thought for a second that I'd get very many votes, let alone tie for second! It was a lot of fun and I can't wait for the next challenge! everyone did such lovely work! Here are the links to some of my favorites!
Viola's Shadow Box (I voted for this one!!)
Bonnie's Vintage Style Apron &
Pam Carriker's Art Piece
Thank you Gail!


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The 2013 Annual Delegates' Meeting of Badminton Europe will be held in Bratislava, Slovakia at Sheraton Hotel on 20 April 2013. The BEC ADM starts at 10.00 CET. The registration begins at 09.30. Delegates should book their travel either to Bratislava, Slovakia or to Vienna, Austria. The local organizer will also arrange a transport from Vienna airport Schwechat to Bratislava. More information on the transport issues will follow soon.
Location of the 2013 BEC ADM:
Sheraton Bratislava Hotel
Pribinova 12 • Bratislava 811 09 • Slovakia
It's the first time that the BEC ADM will be held as a stand-alone activity. On Saturday, 20 April 2013, the first BEC Awards Gala will be held at Sheraton Hotel in Bratislava. Information on the Awards Gala will follow soon. Delegates should plan their travel from Friday to Sunday.
Badminton Europe Council also intends to have individual talks with Member Associations as a follow up to the strategic talks we had in 2011. Member Associations will be invited for such a meeting either in connection with the Annual Delegates Meeting or in connection with the BWF Annual General Meeting in May. Information is to follow by the end of January.
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Week 22 of 52 { 2012 }
all caught up until next week-end, finally!
Day 148 :: I had this overwhelming feeling that we'll be ok. After all, at their age I didn't speak English.
Day 149 :: I never tire of watching him looking at books. I so wish I could be inside his head to catch a glimpse of how he deals with the details of each page. He can flip through books with intent for hours. It's remarquable. imagine when he learns to read?
Day 150 :: I saw my work on walls and it made me want to come home and pick up my camera. But I didn't. I must commit to capturing them more on film. She had a silly sort of afternoon.
Day 151 :: ran for the first time in way too many weeks. It felt good. I'm going to miss their morning conversations on the way to school shortly. I wonder if they'll be the same come September. Things change so fast at this age.
Day 152 :: Dinner that gets gobbled up by all family members is a good thing. If only it happened more often…
Day 153 :: I love that they speak of the Robert house, because it was in fact a cottage that was 'robbed'. Stuff stories are made of — I find it reminds me of an A. A. Milne story.
Day 154 :: The freezing cold weather didn't keep them out of the pool. All the way home they talked about how they should live closer. So they could swim in their pool. All the time. Then the talk evolved into how many half marathons are we from their house. Finally, she exclaimed that she can run from home to Mexico, in six days while pushing her baby in the stroller. He said it takes him sixty two days.


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We've lived in Canada for over a year and we're starting to experience things for the second time around -- Remembrance Day being one of them. This year we find it particularly more patriotic here. Canadians are tired of the war in Afghanistan (they took a pass at Iraq). Each and every soldier is recognized. Below is a cool video by a Canadian musician named Terry Kelly. Be sure to take a moment to read the description at the right side of the You Tube screen -- it's important. Below the Terry Kelly video is a clip from today's ceremony in Montreal which took place at McGill University.
We're heading to Europe tomorrow and a day-trip to Normandy is on our list of things to do. We're planning on visiting both the American and Canadian sites.
Thanks to all the men and women who have served our countries, and those still serving today.
November 11, 2009
November 10, 2009
"Free" swine flu shots for all....
We've written about this before...socialized medicine is not as bad as certain US talk show jerks pundits might rant about on a daily basis. It's certainly not perfect. But overall, we have no complaints. It's good to know it's there. Everyone has access to healthcare here. And access to the swine flu vaccine. For free.
Today the kids got their H1N1 shots. The process was simple for the most part. The government (yes, the government controlled healthcare system) announced the different populations available for the vaccine last week. They were ahead of schedule this week so our kids were eligible since they both have asthma. I picked up a "ticket" this morning with the time I requested, 5:30 pm, and returned at that time. We were assigned numbers after the kids were qualified and waited about an hour until our name was called. We then went to another room for registration where we supplied our medicare card, filled out a simple form in another room and then went to yet another room for the actual shots. We were then directed to the last room where the kids had to wait 15 minutes to make sure there were no reactions. All said, it was an hour and half and painless, sort of. And no bill since the entire program is part of our medicare (and taxes).
Because the medicare cards were presented and entered into the computer, the government knows exactly who received the vaccine. The thought did occur to me that wouldn't the government be annoyed if someone declined receiving the vaccine and later ended up in hospital due to complications? Especially when the vaccine was free and available to all residents in Canada? Most people I know are going to get the vaccine when it's their turn, myself included. I don't know of any Canadians listening to that crazy, irrational, crybaby, insane Beck on Fox news and his theories.
The video below was from The Rick Mercer report last week...of course the vaccine program had a few glitches, as could be expected, the first week.
We did get a laugh out of this sign on the door when we left...clearly it was a French speaking person making the translation.
Links to this post Posted by Kish Pisani at 8:58 p.m. 0 comments
November 4, 2009
Swine Flu panic
We've had a few people ask how the H1N1 vaccination program is going in Canada. Well, it's going. Slowly. The first wave of vaccines are being given to healthcare workers and there's a priority list from there. The good news is that they are FREE. Sort of. It's called socialized medicine. We're okay with it.
This clip is from a fantastic show on the CBC called The Rick Mercer Report. We've posted from Rick Mercer before. During each show he does a brief rant about something on his mind. His show is like a cross between SNL and The Daily Show. Comedy and satire. And at the same time we're learning about Canadian politics. Stay tuned, there's another Swine Flu clip later this week.
This clip is from a fantastic show on the CBC called The Rick Mercer Report. We've posted from Rick Mercer before. During each show he does a brief rant about something on his mind. His show is like a cross between SNL and The Daily Show. Comedy and satire. And at the same time we're learning about Canadian politics. Stay tuned, there's another Swine Flu clip later this week.
Links to this post Posted by Kish Pisani at 9:15 p.m. 0 comments
November 2, 2009
There's an App for that
This past weekend Danielle had her first Canada Swimming meet. After taking a year off from competitive swimming to dive into water polo, she decided to get back into the sport she has done year round since she was nine.
The meet took place in a "French part of town." No problem, we've learned to negotiate street signs and we have our French lessons to help us. I brought my French homework with me to work on for the five hours I had to sit in the hot, chlorinated pool arena.
Danielle starts her warm up and I buy the psych sheet, which is like the program and listing of events for the day. This is a swim parent ritual, you get the sheet, highlight your kid's events and figure out how much time you have in between the events to step outside for some fresh air or run and get a decent cup of coffee. I open the psych sheet and yes, every thing is in French. How the heck do you say 200 individual medley in French? I easily figured out that Serie means heat (there's an accent over the first e but I have not figured that out on this computer). A good swim parent would suggest looking at the times listed and then figure out the event that way. Not in my case though. First, the events in Canada are all metres. We used to swim in 50 metre pool events in the summer in the states, but winter swimming in Canada is in 25 metres. Danielle tells me the extra "yardage" makes a difference.
So instead, I did what anyone would do, right? I pulled out my iPhone and posted an S.O.S. on my Facebook profile. Within minutes I got a message from Paul's brother Dan who told me that indeed, there was an App for that. As it turns out my current iPhone French translator only included phrases like "where is the washroom?" and "I would like a glass of red wine please" and nothing for "what event number is the 100 metre butterfly?"
With the help of this handy App I was able to figure out the psych sheet. In case you want to know fly is "papillon" and individual medley is "quatre nages." Danielle was the one in need of translation before she was DQ'd for swimming all papillon during the quatre nages. She figured it out and did a great job at the meet, even after taking a year off of swimming. Swimming is not the sport to take a year off without consequences. Just ask Michael Phelps.
The translation issues aside, this city of Montreal pool was outstanding. Yes, we pay high taxes up north, but the facilities are unbelievable and I must mention extremely clean -- like I had no problem sitting on the floor clean. And unlike what we have been used to, we didn't have to pay an admission to watch our own kid swim. I wish more communities in the US could replicate this type of positive building. The pool rivaled anything we have seen in the States. Also in the same complex were large gyms for indoor soccer, track, tennis and gymnastics and several ice rinks. The building was beautiful and filled with athletes of every age going to their sporting events. And another great benefit we have in Canada – we can submit receipts and receive up to a $500 tax credit/deduction for enrolling our kids in sports. The US has a lot to learn from Canada.
This photo of the pool area was taken with the iPhone. There's an App for that too.
Links to this post Posted by Kish Pisani at 7:32 a.m. 0 comments
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5' x 6' 7 Antique Finish Oriental Rug
Made in China, this Authentic Oriental Antique Finish rug is Hand Knotted of 100% Natural Wool and has 200 knots per square inch. This rug is brand new.
Colours found in this rug include:Peach, Rust Red. The primary colour is Peach.
This rug is 3/4" thick. This rug is in excellent condition. It is brand new.
The measurements for this rug are: 5 feet 0 inches wide by 6 feet 7 inches long.
All of our hand-knotted rugs are professionally washed and treated. All rugs are individually inspected before leaving our warehouse.
This rug's SKU # is 22194208
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The re-birth of the GOP - attempted 4 times prior by Eric Cantor - with no takers for righting the mother ship. Yesterday, Cantor attempted a fifth time to shake the fecal matter from his parties core. Under-construction signs were posted everywhere, -re-engineering strategies where conducted behind closed doors to re-brand, manufacture a more appealing women hating, racist, pasty old white man regime. The infrastructure of the GOP is laden with Paul Broun type tea baggers, so how to rid thyself of the Paul Brouns?
The GOP is seen as outside the mainstream, for the wealthy, out-of-touch with reality, uncompromising, uncaring, and unfazed by facts.
Rachel Maddow points out that eradicating the filth that is the tea bagger - not so easy. The conservative is so far right - carpet bombing radicals - that the point of no return is upon them.
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
No matter many layers of the onion you peel away, GOP crap is still GOP crap. It's more than a facelift that this group needs, its more like a Frankenstein-esk brain transplant.
Cantor's 2013 version of the GOP, is the same ingredients as before, just labeled differently to befuddle the buyer. So, buyer beware.
In breaking news, Daily kos is reporting that Cantor's plan has been crushed before it could take flight, just 24 hours into the makeover.....it is no more.
Roger West


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Our sweet bitty girl turned 2 years old on March 18! Time flies so much faster with the third child, makes me sad :( We had a small family "Minnie Mouse" party at my parents house on her actual birthday. She had so much fun! (pictures to come later:)
Here is what you are up to at 2 Miss Chloe...
loves: blanket and paci (they go together:), Caillou, Barney, love to play with your babies especially when Gracie is home to play with you. You will say "Sis sis!!! Babies!!" That is your way of telling G you want her to play with you. You love canteloupe, pancakes, grapes, bread, yogurt, cucumbers, and pretzels. You love to sit on the kitchen counter when I am cooking, you ask me what everything is and when I answer, you say "oh". You love to play outside and you love cats, which you call "meow". You have tee tee'd on the potty a few times, but you are not ready for big girl panties just yet. You still only sleep through the night a few times a month, but you take good naps:) You weigh 21lbs, wear 18-24mo clothes, size 4 1/2 shoe, and size 2 diapers.
Here are a few pictures of you as a big 2yr old girl!!


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Images stir me. Throughout my life, I have been a highly visual person, and my photography reflects the travels I've taken, and the vision I take with me.
Here you'll find an ever-updating sampling of my photography, presented free-form. For a more complete and structured look at my photo work, visit my Flickr page. Thank you!


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Last week I had the pleasure of attending a little holiday blogger get together at a local Francesca's boutique. I love these types of events – mingling with some of my favorite girls in town and meeting new bloggers, doing a little shopping, sipping on some yummy drinks… perfection, and so fun! Plus I love Francesca's. They always have an extensive collection of pretty jewelry, super fun gifts, and they happened to have a lovely new array of sweaters in stock that we were all drooling over. Francesca's was extremely generous and sent us all home with an awesome swag bag full of goodies, and I also left the shop with some new fun earrings and a tweed blazer that I am super excited to style (I was hoping to have that done for this post, but alas, weekend plans and holiday preparations got in the way of my new blazer). Here are a few shots from the evening:
So much metallic goodness that is perfect for the holidays!
A great little bridal gift section – can't wait to come back and scoop up some goodies for the soon-to-be brides in my life 🙂
Photobomb courtesy of Roxy from Grr Feisty… I just love you.
Two of the best people everrrr, Megan of Greetings From Texas and Roxy.
Some fun wall art in the shop… for those of you that didn't know, you can purchase any of the wall art at the boutiques!
Happy shopper 🙂
Thank you so much to Francesca's for hosting us! I love you guys – so nice meeting all of you!
I hope everyone has the most wonderful Turkey Day and extended holiday weekend. I'm sure you will all agree… SO much to be thankful for.


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10102 - MBS Colt 90X Mountainboard - Constellation - SOLD OUT - ETA 8/8/18
10102 - MBS Colt 90X Mountainboard - Constellation - SOLD OUT - ETA 8/8/18
MBS' Colt 90X is an awesome entry-level mountainboard that comes fully assembled and equipped with a brake system that every year gives thousands of new mountainboarders the confidence to tackle this exciting new sport.
This year's Colt 90X has undergone more improvements than ever before. By upgrading its tires to genuine MBS T1 tires with specially formulated high-rebound rubber material MBS has made this year's Colt 90 more than twice as fast as last year's, and by upgrading the Colt 90's tube material to high-grade butyl rubber we've reduced air loss and flats to little more than a memory. Other wheel improvements include genuine MBS rubber-shielded 12x28mm bearings and MBS' brand new FiveStar hubs. Finally, to prove we are serious about allowing this board to be pushed harder than ever before we also upgraded its ATS axles from 9.5 to 12mm to match the diameter of the Matrix axles. In addition to the obvious performance enhancements these upgrades offer they have made the Colt 90X more compatible with the rest of the MBS line so the choice to one day upgrade your hubs or trucks is as simple as that. We've replaced compatibility charts with compatibility.
Sturdy maple-lam deck.
ATS.12 trucks with 12mm axles are strong, light, and easily adjustable.
F1 Velcro bindings easily adjust to fit your foot.
MBS FiveStar hubs with genuine MBS 8" T1 tires make this board as fast as its older siblings.
Fully assembled with MBS V brake system. Great for beginners!
See Detailed Product Specs to the left.


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- Written by THE BELLEFONTAINE EXAMINER STAFF
Husband and wife both serve in education administration
An embattled Indian Lake superintendent has been indicted for 14 sex offenses including rape, while his wife, herself the superintendent of the Midwest Regional Educational Service Center, has been charged with two counts of child endangering.
Patrick O'Donnell, 52, has been indicted on four counts of first-degree felony rape, four counts of second-degree felony sexual battery, five counts of third-degree felony gross sexual imposition and one count of fourth-degree felony gross sexual imposition.
Heather M. O'Donnell, 46, faces two counts of third-degree felony child endangering in the indictments handed up Tuesday by a Logan County grand jury.
The 13-year-old victim, who is not an Indian Lake student, allegedly told Heather O'Donnell twice of the alleged sexual abuse involving her husband.
Authorities believe Heather O'Donnell was in a position to protect the victim from further abuse and did not report the allegations of abuse that occurred between 2013 and 2016.
Patrick O'Donnell has been placed on unpaid leave by the Indian Lake Board of Education pending his termination.
He was arrested June 19 by Washington Township Police Chief Rick Core after investigating an abuse referral from the Logan County Children's Services.
In Chief Core's arrest affidavit filed with the Bellefontaine Municipal Court, the chief reports that when confronted by Heather O'Donnell about the allegations, Patrick O'Donnell downplayed the nature of the contact, referring to the incidents as "accidents that may have happened while wrestling."
He denied the allegations, but reportedly told Chief Core he would rather plead guilty to a charge than go to trial.
"I spoke with Patrick O'Donnell," the affidavit reads. "I confronted him with the allegations. Mr. O'Donnell would not admit the allegations, but would not call the minor child a liar. Eventually, he said if he touched her he never intended to. When told these allegations would eventually have to be tried in court, he stated that he would just admit the charge to avoid a trial."
Both Patrick and Heather O'Donnell were taken into custody and lodged in the Logan County Jail.
The MRESC board meets at 10 a.m. Friday at the agency's 121 S. Opera St. office to discuss Heather O'Donnell's status. There will be no comment from the board until after the meeting.
In the interim, board President Randy Sailor said in a release that she is assigned to her home during work hours and cannot be on or at MRESC property or events.


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I saw a very sad Oprah today and wanted to share some information. It had a story about accidentally backing over children when backing out cars. It was so heartbreaking. The statistics of accidental back overs are alarming!!! There is a website you can visit to educate yourself more about this issue.
I hope you will check it out!
Friday, May 23, 2008
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1. Look. I've made it, I think, plain and clear that I love me some coffee. Coffee has its own tag on this blog. If I don't have any right away, it's like the day never really started. I'm not picky; I make drip-pot coffee at work, French press at home, and buy way too many lattes if I happen to pass a Starbucks. I got my gold card one star at a time just like all the other addicts.
While I'm not picky, I do like different and interesting coffee blends. I can definitely taste the difference. You'll find I'm always keeping my eye out for something I haven't tried before.
Well, I'm also a giant not-even-a-little-dignified-about-it fan of the Fabulous Beekman Boys. I watched their show on Netflix and read the Bucolic Plague, at times teary-eyed and at time laughing out loud enough to startle visitors at work last year. I follow their website and enjoy the posts they and their team put up on gardening, food, local craftspeople and artisans, and even... coffee.
Beekman 1802, the mercantile of sorts they started primarily selling goat-milk soap, has sourced a new coffee blend and I want it.
The idea behind the new Mokha Java was to sell the kind of coffee the original owner of the Beekman would have sold. I'd love to test it out.
For now, I will only drool. And dream.
2. This painting, done with graphite, casein paint, ink, and charcoal. A portrait that is just enough undone.
I love to see artists who paint with graphite and ink. Graphite is such an incredible thing to work with, but it's hard to 'paint' with, since it's primarily a chalkier textured drawing medium. Like the lead inside your pencils, for instance.
On the other hand, once you can get it to work with you, you get some beautiful things like the brush marks and the 'halo' of graphite around the portrait subject's head, the sort of haunted looking-through-a-veil quality, but with those stark, clear eyes.
The painting is by Lauren Gray, who runs the Haunted Hollow Tree on etsy. She works in graphite a lot, and her works primarily have that slightly ghostly quality. Go check her out.
3. I want every single piece in this picture, from tights to sweater to coat to skater skirt.
Here's the problem; I am not obscenely wealthy.
Also I don't live in a climate where this kind of outfit is even remotely appropriate for more than three weeks in a year.
I mean, come on. That skirt is wool.
But it's so pretty.
But I would sweat to death.
But so pretty...
4. I want this book.
I've hit that exciting part of your late twenties where your friends, for the first time, seem to all begin to have babies at once. In fact, it even begins to seem like there's some sort of a sinister plan behind it, to infect you with the urge to also procreate, what i like to call the "baby rabies". Which I think I heard on TV once, so trust me, I don't think I'm clever enough to come up with that on my own.
Have we mentioned I have the baby rabies? I think we have.
Just click over and read the description alone of this book. If this was even remotely appropriate for my life, I'd already have it in the shopping cart. Between that and Jim Gaffigan's hilarious, loving Dad is Fat, I'm pretty sure we've got our future baby books already picked out.
What to Expect When You're Expecting?
Pffft, I don't need that. I'll just call my friend Sarah and say, "Horror stories. Go."
Then I won't sleep for weeks.
So, you know. It'll be just like a normal pregnancy!
5. It's Jason's birthday!
He's 29, which my brain is currently simply refusing to accept, so I'll just say he's 28 twice because then I don't have to realize I am about to be 28 in March. Because that is not okay. Ask Jason. I've started putting on some kind of face cream at night.
But that's not my point here.
I would like you all to take a moment and sing him happy birthday. Please try to do so as badly off-key as possible, that really makes it special.
Oh, I know that if you just sing to your monitor he can't actually hear you. Trust me, it still counts.
Twenty-nine years ago today the coolest person I know came into the world, something like a month-and-a-half early. He spent the first weeks of his life in a box in the hospital. There are pictures of him wearing teeny tiny baby socks as mittens so he'd stop instinctively trying to pull out the little IV's they had in him.
But he lived.
And he's awesome. And I've never been luckier in my life than the day I met him, even if I didn't know it at the time. Well, maybe I was luckier one day; I did marry him, after all.
Happy birthday, sweetie!
Now pick out your birthday restaurant already. I'm getting impatient over here.


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- Home
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- Precision Measuring Widget NEW OPTIONS!
Product Description
Our newest Widgets!
By your request, we've added additional Widget Styles!
These widsgets are marked on all sides for perfect measurment no matter what the distance.
Available in the following Measurements:
- 1x2x4x6
- 1x2x3x4
- 1x2x4x5
- 1x2x5x6
- 1x2x6x7
Sold individually.
Available in all of our Acrylic Colors.


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Apply to Quartz+Co's mentoring programme, and let us guide you on your career path. Anyone enrolled in a master's programme can apply to the programme.
The mentoring programme is designed to help you make a qualified decision about which career dreams to pursue and how to achieve them - whether in management consulting or not. Your mentor will be one of our consultants who will support, challenge and guide your decisions.
Submit your application at www.quartzco.com/career no later than February 21, 2014. The application should have strong emphasis on why you would like to get a mentor. Please also attach your CV and grade transcripts from your bachelor and master's programme.
Anyone enrolled in a master's programme can apply to the programme.
Read more at www.quartzco.com/career.
Tags: #Karriere #mentor #quartz+co #career


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The Veteran is a podcast of this Neal Asher story. It's reasonably well put-together. Neal Asher gets better as I read more of him, someday I think he might write something striking. This isn't quite it.
Favorite Stories: Understand, by Ted Chiang
Most stories about very advanced human intelligence sound stupid. It's hard not to sound stupid describing something smarter than you. This story does not sound stupid. Chiang captures the essence of how it feels to be way, way ahead. The 'zine where this is published is no longer active--get it now while it's still live. Chiang is an amazing author, every story makes you think hard.
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Web directory is one of the facility to promote and increase the rate of visitors in a website. The use of web directory can increase based on the necessary of someone who need some visitors that can increase their link popularity. It divide the directory with some kinds of categories based on the theme of the website. How to get the service of web directory? There are a lot of kinds of web directories over the world. We can search the web directory easily and practically. Especially for free web directory. You can surf in Search Engine or forum. We can use their service by submit the website to the popular and famous search engine to get traffic and especially the new visitor for the website.
Web Directories submit the website quickly, so it doesn't take much time for that process. They promote the website effectively with the simple procedure, but don't trifling it. I think it is impossible for us to submit and promote a website quickly and effectively. The web directory also have some significant effect to the website. It also pacticipate to increase the page rank and back link from another site that have other information to be shared with another website.
We can also use the web directory as our facility for our professional business. By use the web directory, it is possible for us to get the biggest income and profit for our business with Just stay at home and wait for the success without doing something? No! Web directory is one of the modern and instant facility but, it mostly need the user's effort and spirit to get the maximum income and profit. So it also need the participation and the hard work Beside use it,we must appreciate the existence of web directory as our web partner and our business partner too. They have given the significant effect on the traffic and popularity for a lot of websites entire the world.
The other biggest Web Directories that we can join beside jasminedirectory and maxdirectory are DMOZ and Yahoo directory. It will significantly increase your rank towards google and yahoo. So, just submit your link to the following directories, and feel the effect.


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New requirements for Abu Dhabi health insurance
29 July 2010
New requirements for Abu Dhabi health insurance came into force on 27 July 2010, and affect all foreign nationals living and working in the Emirate. Failure to comply could result in hefty fines for employers, Abu Dhabi health insurance providers and individuals.
The Health Authority – Abu Dhabi (HAAD) requirements state that for any businesses operating and employing staff in Abu Dhabi – health insurance is compulsory. These new regulations now place the responsibility for enforcement of the law on the insurer in relation to their Abu Dhabi clients.
Insurers are required to:
- Collect certain documents from customers and/or members to verify that they hold valid health insurance cover for individuals residing in Abu Dhabi (this will apply from the period starting as of 1 March 2009)
- Determine any period of violation (i.e. any employee not correctly insured) and collect a fine on behalf of HAAD if the member does not have valid cover as of 1 March 2009; and
- Send the collected fine and supporting documents to HAAD.
- For each full month with a break in cover, the insurer must assess and collect an AED 300 (approximately 83 USD) per member fine.
- For individuals obtaining their first working visa, the insurer must assess and collect an AED 100 (approximately 27 USD) per week fine. This excludes the first seven days from the date of arrival in Abu Dhabi.
- The applicable fine shall be calculated as of 1 March 2009 and any fine prior to this date will not apply.
- The applicable fine must be collected by insurer before issuing or renewing a policy.
- The collected fine is then sent to HAAD on a monthly basis with the above referenced documents.
If you have employees in Abu Dhabi, health insurance should now be a priority. If you are unsure about your compliance with these regulations, please contact Stuart Dix at Bellwood Prestbury on +44 (0) 1242 584 558 who will be happy to carry out a free audit of your arrangements.


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Theoretical Physics Seminar
University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK
Monday, 14th May 2012, 16:00 in Leighton 003
"What if we find gravitational waves and what if we don't ?"
Dr Sergei Kuzmin
Department of Applied Mathematics, University of Western Ontario and King's University College, London, Canada
Posted on May 4, 2012, in Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink. Leave a comment.


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Guess who 2!
More portraits this week, with Angus leading a string of varied drawing exercises for the class.
Using resources and each other as models (including Angus himself), members sketched their way through: drawing upside down; drawing while not looking at the papers; drawing using only straight lines; and using graphite pencils.
The class fell near silent as everyone concentrated on capturing the details of faces – though there was plenty of laughter when people went round the class to check out the results.
Coming up on Wednesday May 17 – more portraits and a painting challenge.
Guess who!
The main event last Wednesday night (May 3) was portraits, though the wonderful weather tempted a few members onto the roof for a wee sketching session.
Angus ran through the basics at the start of the lesson:
- draw an upturned egg shape for the head;
- eyes to go halfway down, with each eye taking up a fifth of the width and being spaced one eye-width apart;
- end of the nose halfway between eyes and chin;
- mouth halfway between nose and chin.
The brave grabbed a mirror and attempted self-portraits, while others used photographs of faces to have go. You can see the some of results below.
This week (Wednesday May 10) there'll be more portrait work, with some drawing exercises designed to improve our sketching.
Dec 14: Flowers
We'd love to bring you pictures of last week's class but we don't want to spoil anyone's Christmas surprise. Just take our word for it that everything looked great and Santa has been very kind to you.
This week it's a flashback to more colourful times with mixed media flower painting. Angus will demonstrate a range of techniques to allow the class to create beautiful and expressive pictures of flowers.
There will be materials available and, thankfully given the season, some source imagery, but feel free to bring your own.
A sunny start to the year
Great to see so many members at the first Wednesday night of the new term – particularly with the lure of a perfect summer evening and the Olympics competing for your attention.
As well as the familiar faces, we welcomed two new members. And they were treated to a pretty perfect Spey Art Group experience.As well as getting a glimpse of the new banner, there were new Spey Art Group aprons for everyone present.
And with the atmosphere in the art room being so stuffy, a few of us went up on the school roof (for the second time this year) where the cool breeze was very welcome. The views were glorious and members enjoyed the challenge of sketching the Cairngorms.
And then there was cake, thanks to birthday girl Kerstin. Could all our Wednesday nights be this good this year?
Still life (transparent stuff)
This week we learned how to draw transparent objects for still life. It was good fun and the results were impressive.
That's life (drawing)
The Cairngorms Learning Partnership is offering the chance to learn or improve your life drawing skills.
Dan Cottam will be teaching a life class at the Iona Gallery on June 18, from 10am-4pm.
Activities will include:
- quick sketches and warm ups
- compositional and proportional sketches
- measuring in space and using relative comparisons
- How to use light and shade to create form
- Using negative space
- How to create perspective and deal with foreshortening
The six hour class cost just £65. To book, click here to get to the CLP's website.
Sunshine on Grantown
With the glorious sunshine shining down on the town, we were to have the chance to get onto the roof of Grantown Grammar (after the appropriate risk assessment and trip hazard warnings!) on Wednesday night.
A small group braved the stiff breeze and enjoyed lovely views of the Cairngorms and the Cromdales – as well as an exercise class, tennis players and football training. The atmosphere was even topped off by the skirl of pipes!


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I've tossed and turned to figure out what to do with my website. I thought about hiring a professional to do a full revamp, but that can get costly. I took a couple hours to clean it up. I'm pretty happy with the results, for now at least. Technology is ever changing. I'm sure I'll find something bigger and better down the line.
Check it out when you have a minute. I'm always up for suggestions that will improve how I communicate with my clients and ultimately increase my business.
On my First Time Home Buyers page, I added a property price calculator and some helpful article links. This section of my website will be of use to any buyer. The big improvement, in my opinion, is my New to the area? page on my website. As a Realtor, I adhere to a strict Code of Ethics which is put in place by the National Association of Realtors. There's certain questions that I get quite often, but unfortunately can not answer because I would be in violation of the code. I now have links on website that offer statistics on the demographic area of your choice, Megan's Law offenders, and a Crime Spotter. I think this will be a huge help for anyone that is moving into a new area that they are unfamiliar with.
If you get a chance to check out the changes, please let me know your thoughts! Comments on this blog or emails are greatly appreciated. (email@example.com)
Have a great weekend everyone!


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There are many Masters and many controllers, this contact acts as a mandate, to deliver happiness to mankind by eliminating the controllers.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Lady Master Portia says . . .
Men and women need confidence in their hearts to be good communicators. Consider this: a dominating delivery cancels your ability to connect with another person. Once dominance enters a relating dynamic there is a major collapse in caring on both sides. Caring can come in many forms, and amiable communication is one of them.
Posted by Angels and Masters at 10:43 AM
Labels: amiable communication, caring, Lady Master Portia
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Small business opportunities are now realizing the astounding importance of what the great customer relations could offer to them. Times are gone when only larger endeavors used expensive measures to enhance their relations with the customers of business. Today, even the smaller business opportunities have upped the ante and are joining the race to deploy extra tools that would suffice their should satisfy the requirements of the consumers. Among various other measures, is the renowned cloud based CRM.
The need for a CRM system has actually also been rather sophisticated due to various other reasons as well. The contacts and the various other details of the business are structured with the help of CRM. It does imply that you could have all your contacts on one platform, and without the have to import them manually into different schemes and applications. Many shadow based CRM today is based upon the most posh web technology of 2.0. This alone can make the entire application more modern, easier and vibrant. The interface is also rather easier to utilize, making the world simpler for the staff members. The brand-new, advanced features implies that the workers might be the quite lured to make use of the exhilarating devices of the program.
If we look upon the most enchanting benefits of the CRM options, the most ones focus on the streamlining of the business information and the relations with the clients. Lets have a look on them in a comprehensive manner.
Today most business opportunities particularly that are small are made to utilize a number of software applications like Word, Spreadsheets, outlook and the likes. This is rather tough to handle and can wind up making workers removed from business tasks. There is a lot of waste involved too and might hamper businesss progress in several means. The cloud based CRM might provide them up with a consistent platform from where all the details might be extracted in a high quality manner. Small companies frequently opt for the CRM Software in advance, but discover it to be extremely extensive and quite prolonged, which makes it quite difficult to utilize. Since these businesses do not have totally fledged business ventures, a multitude of attributes not only go worthless, however likewise impact the working of the other functions. One great method to tackle this up is to go for hosted CRM which has an edge over the other options due to the fact that of being quite simpler to use by.
A main system is also something that the majority of small businesses crave for on account of numerous reasons. It is rather much easier to set up, without any downloads or the likes. In addition, it permits the several gain access to. Authorities in various divisions might access it efficiently. Mobile access is also given and one can make use of even the easiest of the cell phones or tablets to get the required information from the cloud based CRM databases. It also has an excellent service in later stages.
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Monday, August 3, 2009
I love my job!
Yesterday, the ladies of my real-life crit group and I ventured to the local shooting range to learn all about guns. Currently, I don't have a book where guns are in play but the sequel to KATANA does, so I couldn't miss the opportunity. And while I was at the range I came up with a fabulous idea for a gun-slinging erotica book. It involves guns...big ones. LOL. Don't you dare steal my idea, Shawntelle! Hee.
Here's Jesse, our fabulous instructor. He taught us the basics and kept us safe.
We got to play with an array of guns from a rifle to a 45. Here's Shawtelle and Sarah with the shot gun. (Look at the guy behind Sarah - I don't know what he's holding but it looks scary as hell!)
I didn't get any pictures of me because I'm taking the photos, but here's Shawntelle and Sarah with the gun Jesse lovingly refers to as "Verna". Both Shawntelle and Sarah had red welts on their shoulders from dancing with her.
Next, we moved on to handguns. Let me just say that I'm amazed that anyone can kill anybody with those things. I was WAY off target. The 45 had a lot of umph - more than the rifle - which I wasn't expecting. I felt the recoil firsthand *shiver* and it was guuuuuuuuuud.
And lastly, here I am in the middle. What a fun informative day!
6 comments:
Oh, that was fun and there will be photos of you with firearms on my blog as soon as they are loaded onto the computer (tonight).ReplyDelete
Gun-slinging erotica, huh? Can't wait to critique that piece!
Research is awesome -- and tax-deductible!ReplyDelete
LOL okay, you have way too much fun researching. That is the way to do it!!! Awesome pics :DReplyDelete
- AnonymousAugust 3, 2009 at 9:50 PM
LOL...nothing like that kind of power, right...ReplyDelete
Man, that looks so...fun! Great time to be had with friends, at the least.ReplyDelete
An erotica piece with big guns?ReplyDelete
Am I the only person snickering about that?
I'm with you on the kickback of the 45. My father-in-law is a gunsmith and has an entire arsenal. I'd never touched a gun in my life until my husband took me to the shooting range during our first year of marriage. The 45 was the first gun I shot. Needless to say, I couldn't (and didn't) hit the broadside of a barn with that sucker.
That's definitely my kind of research.


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If people could only keep what they thought and what they felt to themselves, this would be a boring world right? I mean there are times that we all run into those "loud mouth" people and think the world would be better if they just shut up, but then wouldn't it be a bit more boring too. I know that there are certain reporters, directors, documentations, and other public figures that I honestly don't like and disagree with but sometimes they do create a stir or say things that need to be said and might not be said by anyone else.
I often find that I have a problem with those people that speak just to hear their own voices. I guess sometimes blogging can be like that too and people just write to see how much or what they can write with little or no thought to their audience. Art and writing is all subjective, I understand that, but if you are just writing and damn everyone else, why not just write in your own personal diary? "Dear diary… the world today made me so angry! I hate everyone, blah, blah, blah…." Personally, I say that if you don't have anything constructive or worthwhile to say, why speak just to incite anger or rage? This world is filled with things that are hard and difficult or just plain messed up. Most people know or at least understand what all the issues are that we face on a daily basis, so why would it be helpful or beneficial for someone to come out just to say "hey this is still messed up" without offering anything else?
We are give freedoms living here and we have the freedom of speech, but speaking without knowledge or purpose isn't what those freedoms should be used for. Maybe I am just speaking out of turn myself and there are those who will not agree with here, because we are free to do and say what we please, this again is just my opinion. I know there are things that need to be fixed in our country and our world, but saying we have terrible poverty, our health care is unaffordable and we are fighting just to live, is just facts of life. We all know that these things are issues, but if you aren't going to offer a different look at these issues or try to provide a resolution, then why remind people of things that are still broken?
We all have our causes and we need to be able to speak out for those things that we want changed, but when we do speak out, speak out about the change that you want. Don't say this is a problem, someone else come up with a way to solve it. I think that we are given a very unique ability here to speak our minds and we are free to seek what we want, but there are those who settle for being lazy. The people who say this is a problem and I don't know how nor will I help come up with a solution for it, but hey it is still a problem and needs to be fixed.
I think that there is a time and place for things and that if you just want to be a loud mouth, the world doesn't need another one. I think that we should strive to make the world better and to say I see this problem and here is what I think will help to solve it. Honestly, there are many who may come up with different ideas and they are ignored, but that is also the beauty of things such as this, you can't get people to listen well then use whatever means you can to speak up. People won't stop to hear you unless you speak and if you have something worth saying, don't hide from saying it. We need more people that can make the world better standing up and talking, rather than more people standing up just to say this world is a mess. "Be the change you want to see in the world," it has been said and I think that is how we all should strive to live.


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Lindenhurst police are investigating a home invasion in which a masked man armed with a handgun entered a home in the 700 block of Beck Road about 1 a.m. Tuesday and stole several items.
According to police, the man entered through an unlocked door and took jewelry, cellphones, an Xbox video game system and a television before leaving in an older model, silver/gray Chevy four-door, with a two-tone white/black interior.
No one was injured, police said.
According to police the home invasion was a targeted, isolated event and there is no threat to the community. Anyone with information should call police at (847) 356-5400.


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Free stuff is great. Free stuff that helps your business is awesome.
Here are 8 free online services that a small business can use to make life a little less complicated.
"Forever Free." Love it. That's MailChimp's promise to its subscribers. The "Forever Free" plan allows up to 2,000 email subscribers and 12,000 emails to be sent per month. MailChimp offers well-designed email templates, campaigns, list segmentation, signup forms, auto responders, and reporting. Best of all, it integrates well with website, app, and social media platforms. As a subscriber, you'll also get to enjoy random acts of humor through strategically placed and totally random videos. Watch out for Freddie!
Tip: Test, test, and then test again before sending an email campaign to your entire list. Check out MailChimp's "Email Campaign Tips."
Staying within the primate family, if you need to develop a survey to find…
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