text:
Flamingo Coin Purse
Flamingo Coin Purse
Say goodbye to the days of losing all your spare change to the bottom of your bag with this cute and stylish coin purse, embroidered with delightful flamingos in neon pink and orange! Made from cotton canvas with a soft cotton lining, the purse fastens with a neon orange zipper and bright tassels.
Lined canvas
Zip closure and tassel
Beaded & stitched thread detail
Size: 120mm x 95mm x 12mm


text:
If you're like me, in college you live with a lot of different roommates. Whether you live in the dorms, an apartment, fraternity/sorority house, or an actual house, you've probably had some sort of roommate experience. A while back I wrote about what it was like living with boys, now I'm going to reverse that and talk about what it's like to live with a lot of girls.
Your closet doubles. The first thing that comes to mind is sharing clothes. This was my absolute favorite thing about living with other girls. As long as everyone returned everything and didn't wear anything without asking, it was great. If you aren't the same size, you can still have access to jewelry, scarves, purses, and any other kind of accessories.
You have someone to watch TV with. If your boyfriend is anything like mine, he's not in to watching Real Housewives, Say Yes to the Dress, Grey's Anatomy or any other show worth watching. Girls, on the other hand love that ish. We can sit down with some chips and dip and watch trash TV like we're getting paid for it and we are glad to do it with company.
No one will judge you for drinking bottles of wine. In fact, they will probably have their own to drink with you and yours.
They will paint your left hand. I had one roommate that could never paint her left fingernails (and I'm the same way) so we always did each others. While watching trash TV and drinking wine.
You will always have a date for margs. Or weddings, shopping, Taco Bell run, dollar movie night, or fro-yo. Most girls are down for anything as long as they have someone to do it with.
I can really sum up the cons of living with girls in one phrase: GIRLS ARE CATTY. Period. End of story. I don't care who you are, what kind of girl you are, you do have a biatch side that will come out. I'll give you a good example:
Once, I was leaving to go out of town on a 4 day weekend, so I took the trash down. With the exception of ONE BOX (a beer case) which was filled with all kinds of trash, including paper products, beer cans, and old food. I was not about to touch it, because I was not the one who decided to use a beer box as a trash can. So I left a little note asking the trash-leaver to please take this one box to the dumpster, explaining that I didn't want to put it in my car (the dumpsters were far away). When I got back from the FOUR DAY weekend, the same box of trash was leaned up against the door of my room with a snarky note about my "precious" car. I won't get any further in to it because it still makes me mad to think about.
Should I have grudgingly taken down the nasty box? Hail to the NO. Should I have not left a note? Maybe. My point is,
Did you have any bad roommate experiences during college?

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Our Opinion: Nature likes diversity
Decades ago, Dutch elm disease had a devastating effect on the appearance of communities throughout the country. Streets that were lined on both sides by the stately trees became barren, only now recovering with the growth of full size trees of different species.
Now, the emerald ash borer is threatening to do the same thing to ash trees. Like elm, ash is a stately tree that has been chosen to line boulevards of many communities.
Although lining streets with a single species of tree may give an impressive look, the Dutch elm beetle and now the emerald ash borer have shown us that this is a bad idea.
As far as we know, nowhere in Cherokee County, has this practice of single species planting been carried out. Those who plan future developments and owners of sizable private areas of landscaped property should incorporate the idea of diversity in selecting plant species.
A host-specific insect pest will be less likely to find a vulnerable tree when it is isolated from others of its species and if it does, the effect will be less calamitous.
Nature prefers a diverse mixture of plant species.


text:
kgs of
That's 9,014 animals, or
5,899 lambs and 3,115 cows.
You can find out more about what Australia's cattle and sheep farmers are doing to achieve sustainable beef and lamb production by visiting www.target100.com.au
Target 100 is an initiative by Australian cattle and sheep farmers and the wider beef and lamb industry to proactively meeting the sustainability challenge.
Target 100 is made up of 100 research, development and extension projects that together build upon sustainable cattle and sheep farming in Australia, arming cattle and sheep farmers with a constant stream of scientific research to change and adapt current practices, ensuring the best measures are in place to feed a growing population sustainably.
The initiative is also about bridging the urban-rural divide and helping consumers to find out more about the sustainability of the industry. It gives Australians the chance to have an open discussion with farmers, opinion leaders, environmentalists, chefs and each other about sustainable cattle and sheep farming.


text:
Anger after historic facade demolished
A DEVELOPER faces legal action after a historic Collingwood facade was torn down despite a Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal order protecting it.
Builders demolished the period facade and parapet in Johnston Street, which is in a heritage overlay, earlier this month.
VCAT issued a planning permit in March 2011 for partial demolition of the existing building and the construction of three apartments, five townhouses and a ground-floor office. Member Philip Martin ordered the facade be retained after Yarra City Council successfully argued that it retained ''important architectural details'' and was one of several buildings in the area that was part of Collingwood's Victorian and Edwardian history.
A council spokesman said the matter would go back to VCAT next month and an enforcement order to have the facade and parapet rebuilt will be sought. He said the planning breach was serious enough to warrant further legal action in the Magistrates Court, which is being considered.
The building in question, a former shop, is in a business zone that Mr Martin said is likely to undergo a period of ''positive regeneration'' in the near future.
A separate planning application had been lodged before the demolition, seeking a variation to the permit to 'rebuild the facade', but that VCAT hearing is not scheduled until January 11. A council officer said it appeared the developer had ''jumped the gun''.
Socialist councillor Stephen Jolly urged the council to ''come down like a ton of bricks'' on the developer in a bid to stop other developers doing a similar thing.
''If you let one get away with it, then they all get away with it. The council must come down like a ton of bricks on any developer that thinks they can ignore planning laws,'' he said. ''We're not going to allow Yarra to be demolished.''
Collingwood and Abbotsford Residents' Association spokesman Fred Allen said he wasn't aware of a similar breach occurring in a ''long time'' and he hoped the council was successful in its case. ''[Planning] controls are weak enough as they are without people doing something like this,'' he said.


text:
Save 35% Discount GoDaddy New Products Promo Codes 2016
Click to copy & open site
success 100%
Coupon Details
GoDaddy sale Coupon Codes Get 35% off Domain Names, Web Hosting and SSL Certificates, Email &Tools, VPS.
paste coupon code at your checkout! Limited time Special Offer & Cheap Deals Price.


text:
OPINION: Todd Barclay has provided all the evidence police need to reopen the case against him.
In his short statement last night, Barclay said "I have read Mr English's statement and accept it".
That is an on-the-record admission by Barclay that he secretly recorded his staffer Glenys Dickson.
Barclay has accepted Bill English's statement to police that "he had recordings of her criticising him" and that "he just left the dictaphone on".
- Todd Barclay scandal: Police assess reopening investigation
- Todd Barclay tape scandal - More allegations of false statements emerge
In the statement, Bill English also verifies he sent a text, which we now know said: "He left a dictaphone running that picked up all conversations in the office… The settlement was larger than normal because of the privacy breach."
By accepting the statement, Barclay has effectively accepted that text too.
So in summary: Barclay has admitted leaving the dictaphone on, listening to the recordings, and that it was a privacy breach.
Under section 216B of the Crimes Act, which deals with the "prohibition on use of interception devices", anyone "who intentionally intercepts any private communication by means of an interception device" faces a prison sentence of up to two years.
Remember that Barclay refused to speak to the police during the investigation - and police found there was "insufficient evidence" to prosecute.
Police yesterday said: "If any new information is brought to the attention of police then that information will be assessed by the investigating officers as to its relevance to this case."
Barclay's admission is surely the "new information" they need.
Given Barclay's admission was made so publicly, police should just reopen the case themselves.
Otherwise Glenys Dickson or some of the disaffected National members in Clutha-Southland could write to the police about this.
Or a member of the public or an opposition party could bring it to police attention.
The Prime Minister's office will also be looking at this admission closely as a way of forcing Barclay to resign.
Barclay has admitted the secret recording - the police must act.
Patrick Gower is Newshub's political editor.


text:
PopCrush Mini-Mix 17: Featuring Miley Cyrus, Lorde + More [LISTEN]
This week's PopCrush Mini-Mix kicks off with a 'Boom!' -- literally!
The latest installment is helmed by Charli XCX's bombastic 'Boom Clap.' The song, off of 'The Fault in Our Stars' soundtrack, has an infectious beat and an even catchier chorus. It's the perfect track to launch your weekend (and this week's Mini-Mix!).
The upbeat track transitions into another song that celebrates the feeling of falling head-over-heels: Justin Timberlake's 'Not a Bad Thing.' The song showcases Justin's smooth vocals, but also provides a poppy beat that has us totally jamming.
Lorde's 'Tennis Court' slows things down a bit. The rhythmic track is every bit as catchy as her breakout hit, 'Royals,' and is the perfect way to switch up the mix before it transitions into a pop classic: Miley Cyrus' 'Party in the U.S.A.'
Miley's hit is from a pre-'Bangerz' era, but there's no denying that it's still one of her best songs. With July in full swing, there's no better track for celebrating the warm weather.
This week's Mini-Mix closes out with an uptempo version of Sam Smith's 'Stay With Me.' The singer's breakout hit pumps us up every time we hear it. What's not to love? His vocals are powerful, and the message is simple, but poignant.
Check out the track list below, and listen to the mix above!
Charlie XCX, 'Boom Clap'
Justin Timberlake, 'Not a Bad Thing'
Lorde, 'Tennis Court'
Miley Cyrus, 'Party in the U.S.A.'
Sam Smith, 'Stay With Me'


text:
John Mayer
Sponsored By
John Mayer Loves Colorado Company's Toffee So Much, He'll Dig In Trash For ItA silly little song Musician John Mayer wrong about toffee from a Colorado company has gone viral.
Dead & Company Return To Boulder's Folsom Field This WeekendExcitement is building as three of the original members of the Grateful Dead return to Folsom Field this weekend for two Dead & Company shows.
Folsom Field To Host First Rock Concert In 15 YearsThe psychedelic rock band Dead & Company will perform two shows at Folsom Field in Boulder this summer.
Artists Katy Perry Should Enlist For Super Bowl Halftime ShowFrom a Material Girl to an old flame to a Neon Icon, we came up with six artists that we'd like to see join Katy during halftime.
Katy Perry & John Mayer Wear Matching White To Clive Davis' Pre-GRAMMY Party
Hunter Hayes: GRAMMY® Winners Playlist
Last.fm Trends: Pop Stars Go Head To Head At GrammysWhile the Best Rap and Pop albums might cross paths on your playlists, they're kept pretty separate at The Grammy Awards. Last.fm Trends takes a look at your most popular among the nominees.
Report: John Mayer Will Host CBS Variety ShowAccording to a report from perezhilton.com, Grammy nominee John Mayer has reached an agreement with CBS to host a music and comedy show.


text:
If You Are a Born Leader With the Desire to Serve – We're Interested In You!
We're a Performance-Driven Inbound Marketing Agency driven to help our valued clients succeed by working in excellence to achieving the goals at hand.
If you are passionate about digital marketing, are hard working, want to help us succeed, and love a challenging career with tremendous advancement, look no further – as you may have just found your new home.
We moved openings to Indeed.com.
A-Players Only Need Apply


text:
That is a very good question. It was told to me that the ladder was there because the alarm system had been triggered many nights causing the facility overseer and the police to meet at the building. Still confused? … Read More
Archives by Month: July 2013
Local Weather Information – Weather Underground
Weather Underground Its name may sound sinister to some, particularly those who grew up in the 1960's, but it is a legitimate source for local weather information. Weather Underground Enjoy! Read More
When Did THIS Happen?
We are often asked to determine the age or the history of various structural damages. For example, we may be asked if we can determine the age or history of cracking in a wall, driveway, floor, etc.? The age and/or… Read More
"Links Category" Added
On July 7, 2013 we added the Links category to provide helpful links to those who visit our web page. We will be regularly adding links we have found helpful to gathering information or evaluating structural damage. If you have… Read More
"Blessed is the Nation…."
On this 237th commemoration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence let us remember this forgotten truth: ………… "Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance. From heaven the LORD looks… Read More


text:
A carefully structured control program has guided a Minnesota swine operation to clean up Mycoplasmal pneumonia problems on several sow farms.
Because the organism is so pervasive, producer Mark Schwartz and consulting swine veterinarian Ross Kiehne are very reluctant to say that mycoplasma has been eliminated from three of nine sow farms in the Schwartz Farms system at Sleepy Eye, MN.
But they do agree that by closely following a six-step control program they've developed, those three sow farms haven't seen a reccurrence of problems.
"I don't know if we want to call this a mycoplasma disease elimination program, because I am not sure we have eliminated the disease from the farm," stresses Kiehne, Swine Vet Center, St. Peter, MN. "But I think we have dropped mycoplasma to such a low level that we are not leaking it into piglets, reducing the respiratory challenge in wean-to-finish farms downstream."
Typical Problems
Schwartz Farms is comprised of 25,000 sows on nine sites, ranging in size from 600 to 5,000 sows. All are farrow-to-wean operations and pigs flow to wean-to-finish sites at 18-20 days of age.
Schwartz Farms has faced mycoplasma problems typical of the swine industry — slow growth and tail-enders in grow-finish. When pigs hit an "18-week wall" in finishing, problems can become noteworthy, interrupting growth, decreasing group uniformity and increasing mortality rates, says Schwartz.
Part of the porcine respiratory disease complex (PRDC), mycoplasma has made other diseases like porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), swine influenza virus and pasteurella multocida at Schwartz Farms worse.
Mastering Mycoplasma
Small European farms have a proven track record of reducing mycoplasma, says Kiehne.
Whether that could be adapted to larger farms was a key question for Kiehne and Schwartz.
At Schwartz Farms, cleanup started small and has advanced to larger herds. Cleanup was completed three years ago on a 600-sow site, followed by a 1,200-sow farm. Two years ago, a third, 2,500-sow farm was cleaned up. Cleanup of a fourth farm, a 5,000-sow operation, is to be underway soon, says Schwartz.
Goals for the three sow farm sites were to reduce the disease load, not disrupt production and eliminate pig vaccination. All goals were achieved and farms were cleaned up using six key steps:
Use a proven mycoplasma-negative source of gilts to begin the project.
Load up the sow farm with gilts to maintain production flow during this six-month control program.
Mass-vaccinate all animals on the sow farm with at least two doses of vaccine, a minimum of two weeks apart, for breeding females. "A lot of times we have actually done a third sow vaccination two weeks later, trying to build as much immunity as we can and burn out that bug, knocking the level down as far as possible," emphasizes Kiehne.
Negative gilts are purchased and vaccinated twice for mycoplasma during isolation/acclimation (I/A), once shortly after arrival and the second time prior to being bred at the I/A unit. Gilts remain at the I/A site until they are ready to farrow before being transferred to the sow farm.
The reason for extending gilt isolation from the standard 30-60 days to about four months is to keep the known negative gilts in I/A separated from the known mycoplasma-positive gilts on the positive sow farm, explains Kiehne.
Gilts in I/A aren't exposed to any mycoplasma organisms from the sow farm, because the goal is to maintain gilts' negative status. Kiehne points out that gilts 10 months old and younger are the chief source of infection for mycoplasma in the breeding herd.
About six weeks before the naïve gilts arrive from I/A to farrow, sows at the positive farm are placed on mycoplasma-approved feed medications for 14-21 days. A four-week pulse is started again one week prior to gilt entry.
Also one week prior to gilt entry, all newborn piglets on the farm are injected with an antibiotic effective against mycoplasma. This process is repeated once a week for four weeks, says Kiehne.
During the control program, it was decided to reduce pig movement to avoid possible spread. Pigs were never held back if they fell behind, and crossfostering was limited as much as possible, says Schwartz.
Another key element of the PRRS control program is to ensure elimination of all open gilts before the new, negative gilts become part of the breeding herd. It's common to keep those animals back in an attempt to get them bred. "Don't retain open gilts, because they pose one of the last avenues of disease transfer to the negative gilts," warns Kiehne.
Program Success
Kiehne says the six-step process has worked on the three Schwartz sow farms because management is committed to seeing the process through.
The approach has not been without its failures. Those cases have occurred when clients have skipped steps to save costs or labor, states Kiehne.
Schwartz Farms decided to stick to the program to see if the protocol was effective. The farm has not done a lot of testing during the cleanup phase, instead waiting to analyze results after completion.
The six months of the cleanup program ran around $20/sow for vaccine, medication, labor and site costs, estimates Kiehne.
Mark Schwartz is satisfied with the results, enjoying improved average daily gain, a reduction in ulcers from pigs going off feed and improved uniformity in downstream production groups. Pigs are no longer vaccinated for mycoplasma downstream.
And most importantly, no flare-ups of mycoplasma have occurred, he says.
Management Precautions
After cleanup, negative gilts are still vaccinated twice during I/A to provide some level of insurance against reinfection, adds Mark. All other mycoplasma vaccination and antibiotic programs have been discontinued.
About six months ago at the 2,500-sow farm, it was decided to start a monthly monitoring program. Ten mid-finishing and 10 late-finishing pigs were blood tested. So far, all have tested negative for mycoplasma.
Schwartz has also instituted a sentinel gilt testing program. Ten gilts out of a group are left unvaccinated. They are tested at regular intervals and identified with special tags indicating they are unvaccinated. This program has just started.
Concluding Observations
The mycoplasma control program has not helped eliminate PRRS from the sow farm nor the grow-finish farms downstream, but it has lessened the impact of PRDC on growth performance, says Schwartz.
A mycoplasma control effort is certainly not something that everyone should attempt, observes Schwartz. It is vital that the sow herd is stable, based on clinical observations before such a program is tried.
"I don't think that anyone should try this program when things are going really bad. It is only when the herd health program has been going good for a while that you can introduce this mycoplasma control program," emphasizes Kiehne.
Don't spend the time and the money on this program if you aren't confident your gilt source is really able to provide mycoplasma-free stock. Test all incoming gilts to be sure," Kiehne adds.
|Week Number
|All gilts are brought into the sow farm.
|Mass-vaccinate all animals on the sow farm.
|Repeat mass-vaccination of all animals on the sow farm.
|Don't breed gilts after this week (including gilt recycles).
|Start breeding gilts off-site.
|Remove all open gilts from the sow farm.
|Feed antibiotic effective against mycoplasma for 14-21 days on the sow farm.
|Farrow last "old" gilts on the sow farm.
|Wean and remove the last of the piglets from the positive sows to an off-site location.
|Start antibiotic effective against mycoplasma in feed for three weeks on the sow farm. Animals not consuming feed should be injected with antibiotic for three days.
|Start piglets on injectable antibiotic effective against mycoplasma; treat once a week for four weeks. Do not move any pigs "backwards" and limit crossfostering.
|Introduce gilts from the off-site farm to farrow on Day 113.


text:
Our third son is finally here! He's 3 months old now, but these are my favorites from his 2 month portrait session. He's as sweet as can be and I know it sounds cliché but I can't imagine my life without him in it!
Welcome, Luke Ho'oikaika
August 17, 2011
Labels: Babies, Utah Photography
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
Map of 18914 16 Mile Rd, Big Rapids, MI 49307, One Bedroom Unit
School data provided by GreatSchools
Conveniently located near Big Rapids - nice country setting! All units include a washer and dryer. Play area with basketball court, sand, volleyball court, soccer field!
Barrier Free Units Available.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Accepts Section 8.
No Pets Allowed
Provided by ShowMeTheRent


text:
Join author Glenn Dixon for a journey through the music of our planet on Thursday April 3, 2014 at 7pm.
How does music affect us? Every culture on Earth has it but we don't exactly know why. Music is not like food, shelter, or having opposable thumbs. We don't need it to live, and yet we can't seem to live without it.
Armed with the latest in music and brain research, author Glenn Dixon travels the globe to find out. And what he finds just might surprise you.


text:
We are finding this scam affecting even the most cautious individuals and businesses and through some very believable methods are gaining access to clients PCs and then holding them to ransom. This a very clever scam, which has caused hundreds of pounds worth of damage to our clients' computer systems and due to the number of people being affected we feel more needs to be done to make people aware of it. You will usually find that once they have access to your computer they can do the following:
- Trick you into installing malicious software that can capture sensitive data such as bank details, they then might charge you to uninstall the software
- They can take control of your PC and adjust settings which leave your computer vulnerable
- Ask for credit card details so they can charge you for phony services
- Redirect you to fraudulent website and ask you to enter personal details such as financial information or credit card details.
- Install additional password software locking you out of your own computer.
The main thing to remember is that neither Microsoft or Google (or any other trusted IT company) make unsolicited phone calls (cold calls) to charge for computer software fixes or security updates.
The criminal usually say their from the following:
- Windows Technical Department Support Group
- Windows Helpdesk
- Windows Service Center
- Microsoft Research and Development Team (Microsoft R & D Team)
- Microsoft Tech Support
- Google Tech Support
How can you protect yourself from telephone tech support scams? If someone contacts you claiming to be from Microsoft or Google:
- Never let them have control of your system
- Do not buy any services or software
- Ask if there is a cost associated with the service, if so then hang up
- Never provide any personal information or credit card details
Should you be affected by one of these scams then we advise you to do the following immediately:
- Change your passwords – for your emails accounts, financial accounts including bank accounts and credit cards, if possible from a separate computer.
- Scan you system for viruses and malware
Should you feel that you PC is still compromised then give Scott or Phil a call on 01280 81684 or email [email protected] one of the team would be happy to take a look. Sometimes we can remove the threats, but in some cases we need to do a full backup and reinstall.
Also for more tips on how to stop nuisance calls visit the website below it has some good tips on how to stop getting calls in the first place.http://www.which.co.uk/technology/phones/guides/ten-tips-to-stop-cold-calls/


text:
deadmau5 and Imogen Heap have set up a global competition for animators to produce a segment of the official video to 'Telemiscommunications'.
They are looking to find 20 animators to make this video with. Each animator will be able to take ownership over their own segment, working in their own styles and mediums and with their own character and background designs.
For each second they will pay the animators 50 USD
For more info:


text:
Open data is helping with projects as diverse as city parking, energy use and medical treatments. Can it help your business? This memorable quote by the great English physicist and mathematician … …
Does Open Data Really Empower Consumers?
This post was created automatically via an RSS feed and was originally published at http://www.7wdata.be/search-engine/does-open-data-really-empower-consumers/
Tagged with: 7Data, Entrepreneur, open data, PRATIK DHOLAKIYA


text:
America is in Danger
By WILLIAM C. BULLITT, Ambassador to France
Delivered at the Invitation of the American Philosophical Society in Independence Square, Philadelphia,August 18, 1940
Vital Speeches of the Day, Vol. VI, pp. 683-686.
FELLOW Citizens of my Country; Men and Women; Americans: There are times, rare and infrequent, when a man feels he has a right to ask his fellow citizens to hear him. Here tonight, in my own city, in this Square where our Republic was created, I feel I have that right. For nearly four years I have served as ambassador of our republic to the French republic. That republic, like our own, followed the gleam of liberty, equality and fraternity for all men and all races. That republic, like our own, strove for peace. I have seen the French republic destroyed. As your emissary, as the representative of American democracy, I have witnessed the acts which destroyed the French democracy. I know of my own knowledge what blows were struck, what devices of intrigue and treachery and force were employed. I know who are the enemies of freedom because I have seen them at their work. I know how dangerous they are and by what means they are dangerous.
Because I have seen these things and know them of my own knowledge, I know that dangers beset free institutions everywhere, and I know what those dangers are. The strategy of destruction by which the free nation of France was overthrown is the strategy of destruction by which the enemies of freedom hope to overthrow liberty in this, the greatest of the nations that freedom has created. Because I have seen these things with my own eyes, heard them with myown ears, and felt them in my own body, I ask you, my fellow free Americans, to hear what I feel it my duty to say. America is in danger.
It is my conviction, drawn from my own experience and from the information in the hands of our Government in Washington, that the United States is in as great peril today as was France a year ago. And I believe that unless we act now, decisively, to meet the threat we shall be too late.
The dictators are convinced that all democracies will always be too late. You remember Hitler's statement: "Each country will imagine that it alone will escape. I shall not even need to destroy them one by one. Selfishness and lack of foresight will prevent each one fighting until it is too late."
Control of Government by public opinion is the essence of democracy. And it has always been our belief that free speech and a free press and free education would enable us to form and express our opinions sufficiently swiftly not only to permit but to compel our Government to act quickly and effectively. But the problems of world affairs have become so complex, in this day of volcanic change, that the average citizen has the greatest difficulty in understanding them and judging what is best for his country before it is too late.
The dictators have developed a strategy of attack that is based on this difficulty. To prepare the way for military attack on a democracy they employ every possible variety of agent and propaganda to befuddle the public so that thedemocracy will not prepare in time. They succeeded in befuddling public opinion in France and England to such an extent that they were able to conquer France in a few days and are now striving to conquer an England which awakened late.
They are not yet in a position to attack America by military means; but their campaign of befuddlement, their preparatory assault, is following the same lines in America that it followed in France. Do not imagine that the French citizens was less intelligent or cared less about his country than the American citizen. The honest French patriot did his best, but he just could not see through the smoke screens of bribery, propaganda, lies and threats which the dictators spread in his country. For every Frenchman who acted as the conscious agent of a foreign dictator, there were a thousand who, with good intentions and high patriotism, unwittingly played the dictators' game.
How many Americans today are playing the dictators' game without knowing it?
In France, as in the United States today, there were many honest pacifists. There were many because after 1918 every Frenchman became in one sense a pacifist. The French wanted no more war. And when the German propagandists told the French that they could buy peace with Germany by making one concession after another, the French believed them.
The French, who were much stronger at the time than were the Germans, let the Germans reconstruct an army, a navy and an air force, let them reoccupy the Rhineland and the Saar, then Austria, then the Sudeten areas of Czechoslovakia, then the whole of Czecho-Slovakia. After that the Germans said that the price of peace was Danzig and Poland's outlet to the sea. By that time the French had learned that the lie, the solemn pledge given and broken, had become Germany's normal weapon in international affairs. Yet today there are Americans who argue that we should believe the dictators when they say that they have no intention of extending their conquests to the western hemisphere and certainly not to the United States. France believed. Where now is France?
There are also Americans who argue that if Hitler should conquer Great Britain he would be content to stop there, and that the United States would be able to cooperate happily with the Hitler Empire of Europe. To believe this is to misunderstand the entire nature of the Nazi system. It is not organized to develop an empire in peace. It is organized as a dynamic military machine. The ruthless hold of the Nazi leaders on the German people is based on the gearing of all energies for the sacrifices necessary to wage war. The continued sacrifices by the great mass of the people which the Nazi system demands cannot be obtained except by maintaining a supercharged war temperature. The German nation has been made a predatory army of assault. Its organization is military. Its military operations have enormous momentum. It cannot stop in its tracks. It can only be stopped.
Were Germany to try to resume the ways of peace, the military discipline which is the very foundation of the Nazi hierarchy would crumble. In order to continue in power that hierarchy must continue to lead Germany on new predatory adventures. The Third Reich cannot change its objectives and methods without changing its entire organization and leadership.
The Americans who believe that the Nazis will not have to be stopped but will stop of their own accord are indulging in the fatal vice of wishful thinking. They want to believe this. Therefore they believe it. There is no otherbasis than their wish for their conclusion that the Nazis suddenly will become peace-loving men.
The men and women who tell you that the dictators will not attack the western hemisphere may be honest, wishful thinkers or they may be agents of the dictators; but in either case, by lulling you into a false feeling of security and retarding your preparations for defense, they are keeping the way clear for an assault on America by the dictators. They are enemies, consciously or unconsciously, of our country and our liberties.
In France there were high-placed and influential German agents who circulated in what we called society, and argued, because Hitler had said he loved France; that Germany would never so much wish to invade France as to attack the Maginot Line which was estimated to be such a tremendous obstacle. Today, we hear Americans of the same stripe arguing that the dictators will never so wish to invade the Americas as to cross the Atlantic which is regarded as such a tremendous obstacle. They ask us to ignore the fact that the Atlantic is an obstacle only so long as the European exits to the Atlantic are controlled by a nation which is genuinely friendly to us. We can remember, however, that in the past when those exits have been in the hands of a power unfriendly to us, the Atlantic has become a broad highway for the invasion of the Americas. By way of the Atlantic our own land was invaded twice: during our Revolution and the War of 1812—and that with sailing ships. By way of the Atlantic, Mexico was invaded during our Civil War.
The truth is that the destruction of the British Navy would be the turning of our Atlantic Maginot Line. Without the British Navy, the Atlantic would give us no more protection than the Maginot Line gave France after the German troops had marched through Belgium. The soothing words: "Maginot Line," were the refrain of a lullaby of death for France. The soothing words: "Atlantic Ocean" are being used now by the propagandists of the dictators in the hope that they may become a lullaby of death for the United States.
The French knew that they were outnumbered two to one by the Germans, and that all Germans,—men, women and children,—had been mobilized for war. They knew that Great Britain was unprepared for war and that little help could come to France from England. When they thought hard, therefore, they knew that every French man, woman and child ought to be working for the national defense. The French had, of course, universal military training for the army. Even the French priests were trained to fight, and they fought at the front like other good soldiers and would not have been respected if they had not. But when the question arose of mobilizing the whole nation for national defense by compulsory national service, even as a temporary measure to save the liberties of France, the French found it more comfortable to listen to the voices, some sincere, some bought by the dictators, which told them that their individual liberties were sacred and must not be sacrificed for a moment even to save the liberties of the nation; that it was more important for the individual to work only forty hours a week than for his country to have enough airplanes; that the voluntary acceptance of national service as a temporary measure would be an imitation of the dictatorships. Thus, in the name of the preservation of individual liberty, the national liberty of France was condemned in advance to destruction.
Recently, in this country, we have heard men and women arguing that we ourselves would be imitating the dictatorships if we should create through conscription an army adequate to defend our country. They too are playing the dictators' game.
Then there are many in France, some honest, some agents of the dictators, who argued that since airplane design was changing rapidly, France should have good models but should not manufacture planes in great quantity until after the outbreak of war. They were prominent and powerful. As a result, at one time French plane production was allowed to sink to thirty-seven a month while Germany was producing a thousand a month!
Have we been wiser during the past years? Have we built the planes or trained the aviators to man them? Have we prepared the tanks or the men to drive them? Have we trained and equipped even infantry for our national defense? Are there not among us many who think and talk as did the Frenchmen who opposed adequate preparations? Recently I heard a Senator who is as good an American as any of us state that while he would favor conscription the moment we should be attacked, he would oppose conscription until after we should have been attacked. The ruined homes of France, the women and children starving on the roads, cry out to him, and to everyone of us, that wars are won or lost by the preparations made or not made before they begin; that untrained soldiers are not opponents but merely victims for trained men with tanks and planes. The dictators, who are confident that all democracies will always be too late, count not only on their agents to befuddle American opinion but also on honorable men like that Senator.
What stands today between the Americas and the unleashed dictatorships? The British Fleet and the courage of the British people. How long will the British Fleet be able to hold the exits from Europe to the Atlantic? I cannot answer that question nor can any man.
You have heard the appeal of General Pershing for aid to the British Fleet. You have heard the appeal of Admiral Standley. You have heard the appeal of William Allen White and his associates'. If you let those appeals go unanswered and the British Fleet goes under, do you realize what that would mean to you, to all of the people of this country? Great Britain and Ireland, along with the whole continent of Europe, would be organized into one economic unit directed from Berlin; a unit which would be far stronger in productive capacity than the United States, which would have five times our capacity to produce warships; a unit whose trade would be controlled by one trading trust directed from Berlin. No country of North or South America would be able to trade with Europe except on such terms as might be pleasing to the dictators. Those conditions for many of the countries of South America would be the acceptance of a greater or less measure of Nazi control.
For us, since we would not accept Nazi control, they would mean the cutting off of our markets for cotton, tobacco and other export products. That would be so fatal to the economy of certain sections of our country that we should face the gravest economic crisis in our history; a crisis which it would be the task of Nazi and communist agents to exploit.
In the Pacific would be the Japanese Navy, cooperating with the dictators, which would be able to cut us off from our supplies of rubber and tin and would compel us to leave a large part of our fleet in the Pacific to defend Hawaii and the west coast. In the Atlantic would be combined fleets of the dictators which would be so close to our own fleet in strength that they would be able to cut us off from all commerce not only with Europe but also with Africa, and would endanger even our communications with the southern portion of this hemisphere.
Are you sure that under those circumstances the powerful Nazi and communist movements which already exist in various countries of South America would not be able to seizepower and would not invite the European dictators to organize air forces on their territories, and that those air forces would not move northward with dive bombers to the Panama Canal and then move against this country? Are you sure that our existing fleet and air force would be able to defend even the northern route to the United States by way of Greenland, Newfoundland and Canada?
It is as clear as anything on this earth that the United States will not go to war, but it is equally clear that war is coming toward the Americas.
The agents of the dictators are already here preparing the way for their armies. They are preparing the way in the same manner in which they prepared the way in France.
In France much of the most terrible and traitorous work was done by the fascists and communists working together. Many honest French democrats and liberals had been snared by communist propaganda and argued that, because the communists called themselves a political party and pretended at the time to be in favor of democracy, it would be undemocratic to deny to the communists the rights of any other political party. The honest French patriots and democrats who protected the communists did not discover until too late that the communists were acting as spies and agents of the dictators, that the communist party was merely camouflaged as a political party and was in reality a conspiracy to commit patricide at the direction of a foreign dictator. They discovered too late that the communists were traitors who were claiming the protection of the state which they intended to destroy only in order the better to prepare for its destruction.
When the German invasion began to sweep into Belgium and France, there were communist and Nazi agents of Germany in each town and village who produced panic among the civilian populations by spreading fantastic tales of murdering by the German troops of men, women and children. By this means ten million civilians were harried in fear from their homes and clogged all the roads, so that the French, British and Belgian Armies could not maneuver, so that transport of supplies became almost impossible, and a magnificent fighting force became a clotted mass of men and material, a perfect target for bombing and machine-gunning from the air.
At the most critical moment of the fighting in Belgium, other German agents, this time communist railway men, stopped all traffic on the Belgian railways so that there was no transport by train for the French, British and Belgian Armies.
Throughout France, especially in Paris, there were hundreds of communist and Nazi agents of the dictators with extremely short-wave portable radio transmitting sets in their hiding places. They kept the Germans fully informed of the movements of the French Army and of the intentions of the French Government. Since they could change their hiding places daily, the French were never able to track down more than one-tenth of these spies.
The French had been more hospitable than are even we Americans to refugees from Germany. More than one-half the spies captured doing actual military spy work against the French Army were refugees from Germany.
Do you believe that there are no Nazi and communist agents of this sort in America?
On the tenth day of last May, the people of France were as confident as are the people of the United States today that their country could not be conquered. Three days later, on the thirteenth day of May, the Germans had smashed through the center of the French Army and France was doomed.
The way had been prepared by spies, agents and propagandists but it was the strength of the German Army and the skill of its leaders that enabled Germany to strike the
fatal blow. The blow was struck just where the French did not expect it. The attack was made by a new method that the French had never imagined. Waves of bombing planes preceded waves of tanks with perfect coordination maintained by radio. The tanks cut through the French lines, then wheeled and lopped off piece after piece of the French Army.
The French soldier fought as courageously and magnificently as any soldier has ever fought. Division after division, cut off from supplies of all sorts, fought on until there were no more shells for the cannons or cartridges for the guns, then charged with the bayonet. The courage of the French was magnificent but of no avail against the tanks and planes of the Germans. And, make no mistake, the German infantrymen were as brave as the French.
The entire western world has been lulled by stories of the inferiority of German equipment. I have seen, myself, hundreds of thousands of German soldiers with all their motorized and mechanized equipment. I have never seen one piece of that equipment broken down.
The German military machine today is without question the most powerful that has ever been created. It has been used with consummate skill. And you may be sure that, if the Nazis have an opportunity to turn it against us, it will be as strong or stronger than it is today and will be used in the most unexpected manner.
I cannot tell you where and when the attack will come, any more than the French General Staff could have told you that the German attack would be made at Sedan on the thirteenth of May; but I am certain that if Great Britain is defeated, the attack will come, and that all the strength of this nation will be needed—mobilized, organized, equipped and ready—if we are to parry it and save the independence of our country.
Why are we sleeping, Americans? When are we going to wake up? When are we going to tell our government that we want to defend our homes and our children and our liberties, whatever the cost in money or blood? When are we going to give the lie to those who say that the people of the United States no longer care about their liberties, that they look on the United States just as a trough into which to get their snouts and not as the greatest adventure in human freedom that this earth has known?
When are we going to let the world know that in spite of all the efforts of all the propagandists who call their propaganda "debunking" and try to teach us to fear even truth, we still know that when anyone tries to debunk the Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount, he prepares for himself hell in this world and in the next?
When are we going to let legislators in Washington know that we don't want any more politicians who are afraid of the next election and scared to ask us to make the sacrifices that we know are necessary to preserve our liberties and our Declaration of Independence and our Constitution? When are we going to tell them that we want to know what are our duties, not what are our privileges? When are we going to say to them that we don't want to hear any longer about what we can get from our country but we do want to hear what we can give to our country. When are we going to stand before God and say that we know a human being is worthy of freedom only when he serves the ideal in which he believes?
Do we want to see Hitler in Independence Hall making fun of the Liberty Bell? NO!
Then here, in this Square, where Washington walked with Jefferson, where our independence was declared, where our Constitution was framed, I ask you and all other Americans who hear my voice tonight to join in the fight to keep our country free.
Write and telegraph to your Senators and Representatives. Write to your newspapers. Demand the privilege of being called into the service of the nation. Tell them that we want conscription. Tell them that we back up General Pershing.
If you belong to great patriotic organizations, make them act. If you want to make your will felt but do not know how to make it felt, write to me and I shall try personally to put you in touch with the men and women who know how you can help most effectively in your own home towns and villages.
Our defense against the enemies who are already within our country has still to be organized. Nearly all our defense against the enemies that are still outside our country has still to be organized. If we won't act, our Government can't. It is up to us.
The fighting line of the war for the enslavement of the human spirit is nearing our shores. For every American "there is no discharge in that war." An American is a free man or he is nothing. Our fate and the fate of our children depends on what each one of us does—now.


text:
Health Discovery is dedicated to a lifelong exploration into the depths and power of acupuncture and other healing techniques from ancient medicine and modern science. The cross-section of knowledge and intuition is where we have found the best results with Chinese medicine.
During our graduate studies, we learned about Traditional Chinese Medicine, or TCM, at Bastyr University. Afterwards, we have taken countless continuing education classes. We have explored 5 Element Acupuncture with Lonny Jarrett, The Balance Method, with Dr. Richard Tan, fertility courses from the Jade Institute, and Facial Acupuncture with both Mary Elizabeth Wakefield and Dr. Martha Lucas. Auricular acupuncture, post-stroke treatments, migraine specific therapies, craniosacral therapy, meditation and recently, yoga theory and practice.
The uniqueness of our clinic lies in our intuitive and effective blend of these various styles. The body is so amazing once you learn to tap into the energetic patterns it holds!
Chinese medicine addresses the body in a holistic way. All systems in your body are playing a role in how you feel in your body. We work with you on a mind-body-spirit level to address your health and goals from all these levels.
When we say holistic or mind-body-spirit connection, what does that mean?
Your physical body is not separate from your emotional state and any other part of your being. Your thoughts, stresses, lifestyle, feelings and emotions affect your physical body and vice versa. This is very apparent at times of heightened stress, heartache, grief, or anxiety. For example, you may experience a pain in the pit of your stomach or throat. You may feel a headache or neck tension. Everyone holds and processes their stresses in different ways based on their uniqueness. Have you ever said that someone/something is a pain in your neck because you actually feel more tension when in a given situation? That is the physical body responding to your emotional state.
Chinese medicine even takes it further by addressing the connection of the emotions to the organs. Your emotions are not only a result of chemicals floating around in the brain and blood. This is physically happening, of course, but it is not the full story.
Chinese medicine identifies that there are 12 energetic channels of "qi" or vital energy, flowing through your body. Each channel effects 3 things: 1. an anatomical region, like your limbs, 2. an organ function, like your spleen/stomach, 3. an emotion, like anger or worry.
There is a saying in Chinese medicine: "Wherever there is pain, there is stagnation." Physical pain is commonly more obvious and acupuncture can be a very effective treatment for body pain. The extra benefit is that while we are treating the physical pain, we are also supporting your organ systems and emotional processing!
We honor the full spectrum of healthcare options because each has an important role. The trick is to know when and where to go with each ailment or concern. One of our professors at Bastyr University said it best. "You need to fit the treatment to the disease". Acupuncture is truly amazing.
Traditional Chinese Medicine offers solutions to many problems faced by men and women with hormone imbalance. From bloating and fertility (for both sexes), to skin breakouts, mood changes, pain, depression, and sleep issues – Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine can help. Let our experienced acupuncturists lead you to a balanced and healthy body naturally, with a uniquely tailored series of treatments.
Observation of the tongue is very useful in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Your tongue is another microsystem that represents the state of your whole body, so we look at the size, shape, color and coating to diagnose possible imbalances throughout your body.
The state of your tongue can change frequently. When you get a cold, the coating on your tongue may thicken. Eating a large, rich meal with several glasses of alcohol may also contribute to an increased coating on your tongue or even change the color. Menopausal women experiencing night sweats and hot flashes may display tongues that are dark red with a dry coating or cracks in the surface, whereas during their menstruating life, their tongue may have been pale colored. Observing these differences is vital to your overall diagnosis.
The qi flow throughout the body is connected. One way to assess the strength or vitality of each qi channel and its corresponding organ system is pulse palpation. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), there are 12 different pulse positions on the ulnar side of the wrists. Six of the channels can be assessed on the right hand, while the other six reside on the left. On each side, there are three positions and at least two depths. This is a prime example of how we use the holographic nature of the qi flow to understand the body.
By placing three fingers along the ulnar edge of your wrist and feeling the movement of the pulse at different depths, we can assess various health qualities. Acupuncturists will feel for relative speed, depth, strength and texture qualities that contribute to the diagnosis of your overall state of health. This information is incorporated into the TCM diagnosis and used to assess improvement with treatment.


text:
Manchester City 2 - Chelsea 0: Manuel Pellegrini gets his first victory over Jose Mourinho
IF Jose Mourinho this he has only a little horse running in the Premier League title race then he was watching FA Cup donkeys last night.
The Chelsea boss saw his side make an unusually feeble exit from the competition as City deservedly triumphed through goals from Stevan Jovetic and substitute Samir Nasri.
For City, whose quadruple hopes are still very much alive, it was revenge for their defeat here against a totally different Chelsea 12 days earlier.
And the result gave City boss Manuel Pellegrini only his second win against Mourinho in ten meetings. Both managers went for strong line-ups, despite their other commitments.
And Chelsea's team was especially powerful, with only injured skipper John Terry missing, while Oscar started on the bench.
But it was City who surged into the lead as Jovetic hit the woodwork twice in the 16th minute – the second time bringing that early goal.
On the first occasion, the attacking midfielder's effort hit the top of the bar and flew behind after Chelsea keeper Petr Cech had failed to hold Yaya Toure's drive.
"Chelsea's slow start made it a comfortable opening to the tie for City"
But City were straight back at the visitors, with a sweeping move involving Gael Clichy, David Silva and Edin Dzeko.
The attack ended with Jovetic striking a right-foot shot across Cech and in off the far post.
It was previously free-scoring City's first goal in three matches.
Cech then had to beat away a curling effort by Dzeko after the busy Jovetic had supplied the cross.
Chelsea's slow start made it a comfortable opening to the tie for City.
But there was a moment of alarm when keeper Costel Pantilimon, deputising as usual in the cup for Joe Hart, only gathered Branislav Ivanovic's cross at the second attempt.
Ivanovic, the match winner at the Etihad 12 days earlier, had driven the ball in hard and low from the right and Pantilimon initially fumbled, before claiming the ball with Samuel Eto'o waiting to pounce.
Mourinho responded to a surprisingly-subdued performance from his side by withdrawing Eto'o at half time and replacing him with Mohamed Salah.
Eden Hazard was also pushed further forward as the Chelsea boss sought a greater threat from his side.
Eto'o had been starved of service and almost a spectator as Toure, Silva and Jovetic – later booked for a blatant dive – controlled the match.
And City could have made it 2-0 when a James Milner cross flew across the face of the goal with Dzeko unable to get a touch.
But they did finally grab a vital second goal in the 67th minute through Nasri, who had come on for Jovetic just six minutes earlier.
The Frenchman worked a delightful one-two with Silva before side-footing into an empty net.
Joleon Lescott also forced the ball into the Chelsea net 14 minutes from time but that was ruled offside.
It was always City's night, though, with Spanish playmaker Silva giving an outstanding performance.
And it puts Pellegrini's side in good heart for Tuesday night's mouth-watering Champions League clash here against Barcelona.
Skipper Vincent Kompany said: "We wanted revenge and that's a big win for us against a strong team. We love this competition and we love the FA Cup.
"We are really happy with the result. We had a really bad game twelve days ago against Chelsea and gave them a lot of chances.
"We just adapted today. We were comfortable, hard in the opening challenges and didn't give any chances away."
Mourinho said: "City played much better than us. The situation is simple to analyse. They were the best team and they won.
"The second goal was an offside but we would still have lost one-nil as we were never close to scaring City."


text:
When Do You Plan To Retire? That was the question our financial advisor asked the very first time we met together. Since my wife and I were both in our early 20's, we said 50. We figured 50 is really old and if we waited much longer we would probably need to do all of our traveling in wheel chairs. Now that I'm in my 30's, 50 doesn't seem quite so old.
Retirement planning for young people is difficult because there are so many variables. Who really knows when they want to retire and how much is enough for retirement? If you want to retire early you will need to determine your retirement needs.
Photo by the the_tahoe_guy via Flickr.
Still…within a week or two, we had a few investments set up including a Roth IRA. Interestingly, if you withdraw funds from your IRA before you are 59 1/2, you'll pay a 10% penalty. I didn't realize it at the time, but how can I say I want to retire at 50 and be set up for a retirement savings plan that penalizes me if I get the money before 59 1/2?
Obviously, our financial advisor either didn't think that was possible, or just didn't pay attention.
Then I should not be investing exclusively in a Roth IRA — and neither should you.
Honestly, I've never even considered using something other than a retirement vehicle (like a Roth) to save for retirement. But, what I've done unintentionally is I've let the government dictate when I should retire.
Do I want them to penalize me for my money if I get it before I'm 59 1/2?
Since the Roth and Traditional IRA have different tax consequences, the answer depends on the investment vehicle you are using and the combination of retirement plans you use.
If you are using a Traditional IRA, then you should remember you are going to pay your taxes to the government when you withdraw your money. Personally, I prefer Roth IRA, because you pay the taxes now and all of your savings and investments will be accessible to you when reach the eligible retire age — without any rules are restrictions.
The only exception would be if the deduction from your IRA decreased your income tax bracket.
The Roth IRA is a difficult choice. The reason is that your gains grow tax free so it does provide a significant advantage for you to have funds in the Roth. Well, if you are considering the possibility of retiring early, then you should keep at least a portion of your income outside of a government retirement vehicle — enough to get you from your early retirement until you are 59 1/2.
A 401(k) is similar to a Traditional IRA in term of tax characteristics. However, if you are getting a match on a 401(k) or similar, then go ahead and max out these funds. It might take longer to save up for an early retirement, but you'll only need enough savings to get you to retirement age when you know there will be a 401(k) nest egg waiting for you.
I'm not advocating that anyone stop saving for retirement in a retirement vehicle unless those plans conflict with your personal financial goals.
In my case, I don't really think I'm going to retire in 5 years. In fact, I'm not sure I'm retirement material. Some folks think early retirement is a bad idea. Either way, the sooner I plan to retire, the more money I need to save outside a retirement vehicle.
What investing tips do you have for those who might wish to retire early? Would you stop using a traditional retirement savings vehicle if you were considering early retirement?
Craig, your earnings can also be taken out penalty free from a Roth IRA as well as long as you are doing a equal distribution schedule and it has been five years or more since you put the money in the Roth IRA.
Keith, the Thrift Savings Plan functions the same as a 401k plan, which also has similar features to a traditional IRA. For example, you make tax deductible contributions which grow tax free until you withdraw them at retirement age, at which time they are taxed.
Leaving your money in the TSP will have the same affect as rolling it into a Traditional IRA. However, there are a couple advantages to leaving the money in a TSP, and a couple to rolling it into an IRA. It's too much to go into in this comment, but you can read about it here: Should You Rollover Your TSP Account Into an IRA?.
If I'm transferring money from, say, a Thrift Savings Account, moving it into a traditional IRA would allow me to collect interest on the money that would otherwise have to use to pay taxes, right?
@KT and Danielle
Thanks for helping clarify things. Yes, your contributions can be taken out tax and penalty free from a Roth IRA before 59 1/2. However, earnings are subject to a 10% distribution fee (unless it is a qualified distribution). I should have been more clear about this in the article.
I've read FS's article. At the start of the article I mentioned that we were asked to give and age and I did say 50 for no reason other than the fact that our advisor asked us to give a number.
However, by the end of the article I did say, "In my case, I don't really think I'm going to retire in 5 years. In fact, I'm not sure I'm retirement material."
You can take withdrawal from your retirement accounts penalty free if you do an equal distribution over a period of time. You have to adhere to IRS standards and once you commit to the payments (it's like creating an annuity stream), you have to continue withdrawing each year until the amount is gone. You need to manage the amount by managing the accounts.
There are also exemptions for penalty free withdrawal such as excessive medical expenses, disability, etc…
Your advisor should have known this and given you the information. He/she should have also set up multiple vehicles at that time for you after you stated that you plan to retire at 50 to handle income distribution prior to 59 1/2. There should have been a plan to handle issues about qualification for Social Security as well.
Craig – You may want to read Financial Samurai's article last Friday called "The Dark Side Of Early Retirement." It goes into much more depth, and discusses much more transcendental type questions. It's easier to understand how to get there (max out your 401, save X, etc).
But it's probably more important to deeply question yourself why you want to retire at 50.
I think one really important thing to note is that with a Roth IRA you can take out YOUR contributions, but not the interest until your 59.5 years old. So if you were good and could live on your own contribution portions for 10 years, you'd have the interest to live on beyond that. Its all about how much you'll need and how much your putting in, but its LESS locked and more flexible than a traditional IRA, IMO.
One BIG hole missing in your article: It's important to note that you can withdraw contributions from your Roth IRA penalty free at any time. You only incur the early withdrawal penalty on the gains from those contributions.
Since my 20's, I've put money in both retirement accounts and regular investment account. Yes, I know I won't be taking the money out of ret accts until 59 1/2 but I also have what I've put away in other accts as a bridge between whenever we decide to "retire" and when we reach "retirement age".


text:
PART 2: Taxes
23 Book 1 has shown that private revenue comes from rent, profit, and wages.
- Every tax must ultimately be paid from any or all of those three kinds of revenue.
- Part 2 is about the taxes imposed on rent, profit, wages, and on all those three revenues.
- These three taxes have subdivisions.
- Many of those taxes are not ultimately paid by the source of revenue it is charged to.
24 Below are the four general maxims on taxes.
- 25 People should contribute towards supporting their government in proportion to their respective abilities.
- Taxes should be in proportion to the revenue which they enjoy under the state's protection.
- Government expence to a great nation is like the management expence to the joint tenants of a great estate.
- Those tenants are all obliged to contribute in proportion to their respective interests in the estate.
- The equality or inequality of taxation depends on the adherence or neglect of this maxim.
- I shall not discuss whether rent, wages, or profits should be taxed more than the other.
- I shall confine my observations to taxes on a source of revenue, such as profits, falling on another source of revenue, such as wages.
- 26 The tax which each person pays must be certain and not arbitrary.
- The following should all be clear and plain to the contributor and to every other person:
- the time and manner of payment
- the quantity to be paid
- If it is otherwise, every taxed person will be put under the tax-gatherer's power who can:
- aggravate the tax on any obnoxious contributor
- extort some gift to himself by the terror of such aggravation
- The uncertainty of taxation encourages corruption among people who are naturally unpopular, even where they are neither insolent nor corrupt.
- The certainty of what a person should pay as taxes is so important.
- A very small degree of uncertainty in tax payment is a greater evil than a very big degree of tax inequality.
- 27 Every tax should be levied at the time and manner most convenient for the taxpayer.
- A tax on land and house rent should be:
- payable at the same usual term
- payable at a time most convenient for the taxpayer or when he most likely has the means to pay
- Taxes on luxury goods are all finally paid by the consumer.
- It should be paid in a manner very convenient for him.
- He pays them by little and little as he buys those goods.
- He is free to buy or not to buy as he pleases.
- It must be his own fault if he is ever inconvenienced by such taxes.
- 28 Taxes should take out as little as possible from the people over and above what it brings into the public treasury.
- Taxes might take out more from the people than it brings into the public treasury in four ways:
- Its collection might require many officers.
- Their salaries might eat up most of the tax revenue.
- Their perks might impose an additional tax on the people.
- It might obstruct the people's industry.
- It might discourage them from entering businesses which might employ many people.
- It might reduce or destroy the funds which enable industry.
- The penalties of tax evasion might ruin tax evaders.
- It can end the benefit which the community derives from the business of such tax evaders.
- An injudicious tax offers a great temptation to smuggling.
- But the penalties of smuggling must rise in proportion to the temptation.
- The law first creates the temptation and then punishes those who get tempted.
- The law increases the punishment in proportion to temptation.
- But the penalties of smuggling must rise in proportion to the temptation.
- It might expose people to much unnecessary trouble and oppression from the tax collectors' frequent visits and odious examination.
- This trouble is equivalent to an expence which everyone wishes to be free from.
- Its collection might require many officers.
These four ways make taxes more burdensome to the people than they are beneficial to the sovereign.
29 The justice and utility of the above maxims have recommended them to the attention of all nations.
- All nations have endeavoured, to the best of their judgment, to render their taxes:
- as equal, certain, convenient as possible to the tax payer in the time and mode of payment
- as little burdensome to the people as possible
- The following review of the principal historical taxes will show that these endeavours were not equally successful.
ARTICLE I: Taxes on Rent
30 A tax on land rent may be based on a valuation which:
- does not change or
- vary with changes in the real land rent
- It can fluctuate with its cultivation's improvement or decline.
31 A land-tax assessed on each district according to an invariable rule becomes unequal after some time according to the lands' unequal degrees of improvement or cultivation.
- The tax becomes unequal even if it were equal at the start.
- An example is Great Britain's land tax.
- In England, the valuation of each district to the land-tax in 1692 was very unequal at the start.
- This tax offends my first taxation maxim.
- It is perfectly agreeable to the other three maxims.
- It is perfectly certain.
- The time of tax payment is the same as the time for rent payment.
- It is convenient to the contributor.
- Though the landlord is the real contributor, the tax is commonly advanced by the tenant.
- The landlord allows the tenant to pay the rent tax.
- This tax is levied by fewer officers than any other revenue.
- It is perfectly certain.
- Since the tax on each district does not rise with the rent, the sovereign does not share in the profits of the landlord's improvements.
- Those improvements sometimes contribute to the discharge of the other landlords of the district.
- The possible aggravation of the tax is always so small.
- It can never:
- discourage those improvements.
- keep down the land's produce below natural.
- raise the price of the land's produce because it cannot reduce the produce amount.
- It does not obstruct the people's industry.
- Its only inconvenience to the landlord is the paying of the tax.
- It can never:
32 The landlord derived an advantage from the constancy of the valuation of all British lands rated to the land-tax.
- These advantages were due to circumstances extraneous to the tax's nature.
33 The rents of British estates have continually risen since this valuation was first established.
- It was partly because of Britain's great prosperity.
- Almost none of those rents have fallen.
- The landlords gained the difference between:
- the tax based on the present rent value of their estates
- the tax they actually pay based on the ancient valuation
- They would have lost this difference if the present rent values declined.
- This could be caused by the lack of cultivation.
- They would have lost this difference if the present rent values declined.
- Since the revolution, the constancy of the valuation has been advantageous to the landlord and hurtful to the sovereign.
- It could have been advantageous to the sovereign and hurtful to the landlord if the situation were different.
34 Since the tax is paid in money, land valuation is also in money.
- Since the establishment of this valuation, the value of silver has been pretty uniform.
- There was no change in the coin's standard weight or fineness.
- Had silver risen much in its value, the constancy of the valuation might have been very oppressive to the landlord.
- The landlord would be hurt if an ounce of silver was coined into 31 pence instead of 62 pence.
- Had silver fallen much in its value, the constancy of valuation would have reduced this revenue for the sovereign.
- The sovereign would have been hurt if an ounce of silver was coined into 124 pence instead of 62 pence.
35 This constancy of valuation would have been a very great inconvenience either to the taxpayers or to the government because circumstances always change.
- Empires are man-made and are mortal but every empire aims at immortality.
- Every constitution should be as permanent as the empire itself.
- It should be convenient in all circumstances.
- It should be suited to necessary and constant circumstances, not to transitory, occasional, or accidental ones.
36 A tax on land rent which varies with the value of the rent is recommended by the French Economists as the most equitable of all taxes.
- They pretend that all taxes fall ultimately on land rent.
- Taxes should therefore be imposed equally on rent.
- It is true that all taxes should fall as equally as possible on the fund which must finally pay them.
- The French Economists supported their theory with disagreeable metaphysical arguments.
- Such arguments are not needed to find out which of the taxes finally fall on land rent and which taxes finally fall finally on some other revenue.
37 In Venice, all the arable lands leased to farmers are taxed at 10% of the rent.
- The leases are recorded in a public register which is kept by each district's revenue officers.
- When the proprietor cultivates his own lands, they are valued according to an equitable estimation.
- He is allowed a deduction of 1/5 of the tax, so that he pays only 8% of the supposed rent instead of 10%. [10% – (10%/5)]
38 This land-tax is certainly more equal than England's land-tax.
- It might not be so certain.
- The tax assessment might bring more trouble to the landlord.
- The tax levying might be more expensive.
39 This system of tax administration might be adjusted to:
- prevent this uncertainty and
- moderate this expence.
40 For example, the landlord and tenant might jointly be obliged to record their lease in a public register.
- Penalties might be enacted against concealing or misrepresenting any of the conditions.
- If part of those penalties were paid to either of the two parties who informed against and convicted the other of such concealment or misrepresentation, it would deter them from combining to defraud the public revenue.
- All the conditions of the lease might be sufficiently known from such a record.
41 Some landlords charge a fee for renewing the lease instead of raising the rent.
- This practice is done by a spendthrift.
- He sells a future revenue of much greater value for a sum of ready money.
- Therefore, it is hurtful to the landlords, tenant, and the community.
- The fee takes a great part of the tenant's capital.
- It very much reduces his ability to cultivate the land.
- Whatever reduces his ability to cultivate unnaturally keeps down the most important part of the community's revenue.
- This hurtful practice can be discouraged by rendering the tax on such fees much heavier than the tax on ordinary rent.
42 Some leases prescribe to the tenant:
- a certain mode of cultivation
- a certain crop succession during the lease.
These prescriptions are generally caused by the landlord's ill-founded conceit of his own superior knowledge.
- It should always be considered as an additional rent in service instead of a rent in money.
- To discourage this practice, this rent might be:
- valued high and
- taxed higher than common money rents.
43 Some landlords, instead of a rent in money, require a rent in kind, in corn, cattle, poultry, wine, oil, etc.
- Others require a rent in service.
- Such rents are always more hurtful to the tenant than beneficial to the landlord.
- They take more or keep more money out of the tenant than they put into the landlord.
- In countries where such rents take place, the tenants are poor according to the degree such rents are enforced.
- This hurtful practice can be discouraged by:
- valuing such rents higher and
- taxing such rents higher than common money rents.
- This hurtful practice can be discouraged by:
44 When the landlord chose to occupy his own lands, the rent might be valued according to an equitable arbitration of the farmers and landlords in the neighbourhood
- A moderate abatement of the tax might be granted to him, in the same way as in Venice, provided the rent of the lands he occupied did not exceed a certain sum.
- The landlord should be encouraged to cultivate a part of his own land.
- He has more capital than the tenant.
- With less skill, he can raise more produce.
- He can afford to try experiments.
- His unsuccessful experiments create only a moderate loss to himself.
- His successful experiments contribute to land improvement.
- Abating the tax might encourage him to cultivate to a certain extent only.
- If most landlords were tempted to farm all their own lands, the countryside would be filled with idle and wasteful bailiffs instead of sober and industrious tenants.
- Those tenants are bound by their own interest to cultivate as best as they can.
- The landlords' abusive management would soon degrade the cultivation and reduce the land's produce.
- If most landlords were tempted to farm all their own lands, the countryside would be filled with idle and wasteful bailiffs instead of sober and industrious tenants.
45 Such a system of administration might free this kind of tax from any uncertainty which could oppress or inconvenience the taxpayer.
- It might introduce into the common management of land such a policy which could greatly improve and cultivate the countryside.
46 The cost of levying a variable land-tax would be greater than levying a fixed land-tax.
- Some additional costs would be incurred by:
- the register offices which would be established in the different districts of the countryside
- the different valuations of the lands which the proprietor chose to occupy himself
- All this cost might be below the cost incurred by many other taxes which bring a smaller revenue.
47 The most important objection to a variable land-tax is the discouragement of land improvement.
- The landlord would certainly be less disposed to improve when the sovereign, who contributed nothing to the expence, was to share in the improvement's profits.
- This objection might be removed by allowing the landlord to ascertain the actual value of his lands with the revenue officers before he began his improvement.
- This valuation would be based on the equitable arbitration of landlords and farmers in the neighbourhood, equally chosen by both parties.
- The landlord would be rated according to this valuation for a number of years sufficient for his indemnification.
- This variable land-tax aims to draw the sovereign's attention towards land improvement because it will increase his own revenue.
- The term allowed for the landlord's indemnification should not be much longer than necessary for improvement.
- The remoteness of the interest would discourage this attention too much.
- It is better to be too long than too short.
- No incitement to the sovereign's attention can ever counterbalance the smallest discouragement to the landlord's attention.
- At best, the sovereign's attention has a very general and vague consideration of what is likely to contribute to the better cultivation of his dominions.
- The landlord's attention is a small consideration of what will likely be the most advantageous use of his estate.
- The sovereign's principal attention should be to encourage the landlord's and the farmer's attention.
- He should:
- allow both to pursue their own interest in their own way and according to their own judgement
- give both the most perfect security that they shall enjoy the full recompense of their own industry
- procure to both the most extensive market for their produce
- establish the easiest and safest communications by land and water
- establish the most unbounded freedom of exportation
- He should:
48 If this kind of tax successfully encourages land improvement through this system, it will unlikely create other inconveniences for the landlord.
49 This variable rent tax would readily suit itself to actual situations, by its own accord and without any government attention.
- It would be equally just and equitable in:
- the society's advancing, stagnating, and declining state
- the improvement and decline of agriculture
- all the variations in the value of silver and the silver in the coin
- It should be established as a fundamental law of the commonwealth.
- It should be a perpetual and unalterable regulation.
- It should be more fundamental than any fixed-value tax.
Historical Land Surveys
50 Some states do an actual survey and valuation of all the lands in the country, instead of simply registering leases.
- Such method is laborious and expensive.
- They suspected that the lessor and lessee might combine to conceal the real terms of the lease to defraud the public revenue.
- Domesday-Book was a very accurate survey of this kind.
51 In ancient Prussia, the land-tax was assessed according to an actual survey and valuation.
- It was reviewed and altered from time to time.
- According to that valuation, the lay proprietors paid 20-25% of their revenue.
- Ecclesiastics paid from 40 to 45%.
- The very accurate survey and valuation of Silesia was ordered by Frederick the Great.
- According to that valuation, the lands of the Bishop of Breslaw are taxed at 25% of their rent.
- The other revenues of the ecclesiastics of both religions, at 50%.
- The commanderies of the Teutonic order and Malta, at 40%.
- Lands held by a noble tenure, at 38.3%.
- Lands held by a base tenure, at 35.3%.
52 The survey and valuation of Bohemia took more than 100 years.
- It was perfected after the peace of 1748, by the orders of Empress Maria Theresa.
- The survey of the duchy of Milan was begun in Charles VI's time.
- It was not perfected until after 1760.
- It is one of the most accurate surveys ever made.
- The survey of Savoy and Piedmont was ordered by Victor Amadeus II.
53 In Prussia, the church's revenue is taxed much higher than those of lay proprietors.
- Most of the church's revenue is a burden on land rent.
- It is seldom used to improve the land or increase the people's revenue.
- The King of Prussia probably thought it reasonable that the church should contribute more to government.
- In some countries, church lands are exempt from all taxes.
- In others, they are taxed more lightly than other lands.
- In Milan, the church lands before 1575 were rated to the tax at only 1/3 of their value.
54 In Silesia, lands held by a noble tenure are taxed 3% higher than those held by a base tenure.
- Frederick the Great probably imagined that the privileges of noble tenure would compensate this higher tax.
- The humiliating inferiority of those of base tenure would be alleviated by a lighter tax.
- In other countries, the tax system aggravates this inequality.
- In Sardinia and French provinces subject to the real or predial taille, the tax falls on the lands held by a base tenure.
- Those held by a noble tenure are exempted.
55 A land-tax assessed according to a general survey and valuation, however equal it may be at first, must become unequal after some time.
- Government's continual and painful attention would be required to prevent it from becoming unequal.
- It must watch all the variations in the state and produce of every farm.
- The governments of Prussia, Bohemia, Sardinia, and Milan actually exert this attention.
- This attention is so unsuitable to short-lived governments.
- If those governments lasted long, this attention would probably create more trouble and vexation than relief to the taxpayers in the long run.
- This attention is so unsuitable to short-lived governments.
56 In 1666, the Montauban was assessed to the real or predial taille according to a very exact survey and valuation.
- By 1727, all this assessment became unequal.
- To remedy this, their government imposed an additional tax of 120,000 livres on Montauban.
- This tax was rated according to the old assessment.
- But it is levied only on those which are undertaxed by that assessment.
- It is applied to the relief of those which are overtaxed by the same assessment.
- For example, if District A should be actually taxed at 900 livres and District B taxed at 1,100 livres, they are taxed by the old assessment at 1,000 livres.
- The additional tax rates both districts at 1,100 livres each.
- But this tax is levied only on the undercharged district [District B].
- It relieves the overcharged district [District A] which consequently pays only 900 livres.
- The government neither gains nor loses by the additional tax which is supposed to remedy the inequalities from the old assessment.
- [Old scheme: 1,000 + 1,000 = 2,000]
- [New scheme: 900 + 1,100 = 2,000]
- The tax is regulated by the discretion of the intendant of Montauban.
- It is arbitrary.
Words: 3,240


text:
I am very excited about the blank canvas I have to work with at the moment!
We are finally starting to work on our office space which is going to be a lot of work! Here are some of the things that are inspiring me. I am also very excited about my new blog makeover coming this month which is going to be absolutely amazing! It's crazy the connections you can make with people via social networking, and instagram has been a huge outlet for me lately. So excited about what's to come! Here is my inspiration for the office space makeover!


text:
Event media available
Upgrade your SmallsLIVE membership for unlimited access to our Audio/Video Archive.Sign up
Malinverni's life in music began at age seven in his hometown of Niagara Falls, NY, where he studied classical piano with local legend Laura Copia. He continued in ...Artist profile
Two-time Grammy award-winning bassist Todd Coolman is among the more in-demand musicians on the New York music scene today. Since moving to New York in 1978, he has ...Artist profile
Veteran jazz drummer Eliot Zigmund has enjoyed a wide and varied careeer in jazz spanning forty years of playing. Past and present associations with artists include Bill Evans, ...Artist profile


text:
This week marked the second week of school. This year I have in essence three new classes. I have never taught leadership before. After being the class officers' adviser last year, I wanted to take this class on. The other class is Spanish Culture Studies, and elective that I designed to help give a taste of Spanish through the culture more than the language. The third class is my seventh grade Spanish class. I taught seventh grade last year, but it was that group's first exposure to Spanish. This group had a half semester last year as sixth graders and struggled. So, I wanted to change things up. All three classes are more student run. The leadership class will have projects to do and create ideas then put them into practice. The Spanish Culture Studies will explore topics of interest of the students. It will be a hands on type of class. The seventh grade class was able to choose their own topics of interest as a class and we will explore Spanish through those topics. All of those ideas sounds fun and good, but I have to create lesson plans that match them and include standards of what we are aiming for. All of this is suppose to happen before I begin teaching the unit. Needless to say, my first couple of weeks of school were quite busy.
However, I can't stop being mom. Seven o'clock each morning, I have left and gone south past the high school to drop my eighteen-year-old off at work in a field where he is changing irrigation pipe. My thirteen-year-old earned a part in the local adult theater group's Christmas play which means extra trips north throughout the week.
I have been so busy with school and family that several book events have fell to the side. Wednesday while at school, I had a moment to check email and saw a Twitter notice of a blog post. It was my post on Vox Dei's webpage! I had forgotten it was to air that day. As my eighteen-year-old says, "Face palm!" The next day, I had another similar experience. I checked email just before lunch during my prep period and found a Twitter announcement of my cover reveal for The One Who Sees Me. How could I have forgotten that! I knew I needed to get a better grip on my calendar.
Saturday loomed big in my vision. I had to be ready for the book signing and release party of Dragon's Future. My husband and eighteen-year-old would be off at a men's retreat which left my nineteen-year-old and thirteen-year-old at home.
My thirteen-year-old and I enjoyed the Cranberry Parade at the local festival, and then we headed to the art gallery and used book store which was hosting the signing. After frantically trying to find parking, I was able to elicit help from some friends to carry books and supplies to the gallery. My three hours were fun and profitable. Many came through to purchase books, and I even met a journalist for the local paper who wants to do an author interview. We'll see what happens.
In the meantime, I am ready for another week of school. I will try my hardest to be better at budgeting my time between family, school, and author work. It is a challenge this year, but it can be done.


text:
Psychological profile of Iranian patients with low-back pain
View StatisticsShow Statistical Information
AbstractA hospital case - control study in Isfahan, Islamic Republic of Iran, compared the features of 200 patients with low - back pain with 350 matched controls. The control group psychological scored lower than patients in all dimensions of the Symptom Checklist - 90 checklist. Female patients were more psychologically affected by low - back pain than males. In both groups, grudge, general complaints, anxiety, depression, obsessive - compulsive behaviours, somatization and phobia varied with level of education. Patients' levels of depression and anxiety were related to occupational background. Longer duration of illness was accompanied by higher levels of anxiety, depression, obsessive - compulsive behaviours and somatization
Fanian, H., Ghassemi, Gh.R., Jourkar, M., Mallik, S. & Mousavi, M.R. (2007). Psychological profile of Iranian patients with low-back pain. EMHJ - Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal, 13 (2), 335-346, 2007 http://www.who.int/iris/handle/10665/117256


text:
Dragonsong by Anne McCarthy
"She had to hear music sometime. She couldn't avoid it forever. And at least she could sing along with the others. But she soon found she couldn't even have that pleasure. Mavi gestured to her when the Harper began to tune his gitar. And when the Harper beckoned for everyone to join in the choruses, Mavi pinched Menolly so hard that she gasped.
"Don't roar. You may sing softly as befits a girl your age," Mavi said. "Or don't sing at all."
Across the Hall, Sella was singing, not at all accurately and loud enough to be heard in Benden Hold....."


text:
waiting, stirring, & my word
Have you ever ordered something from Etsy or Amazon and not read the fine print that it was coming from Malaysia? It turns out very awesome things that are super affordable sometimes originate half a world away, and when they do, they take their own sweet time arriving. Hypothetically, one could wait as long as 6 weeks for something like this, or so I've heard.
And did you know that if you put your own address down with one digit off, a package could take three trips before it gets to your door? Idaho-Manchester. Manchester-Idaho. Idaho-Manchester. This is also possible, they say.
Oh, and I've also heard that in New Hampshire, "The state's moose population has made a dramatic recovery since the early 1900's, when unregulated hunting and loss of forest habitat to agriculture decimated the road." Strangely enough one can actually live in NH for 25 years and travel through each county in the state in a 3 month period and still never have the good fortune of seeing one. I swear.
Of course I can testify to all of the above. Can't fool you.
The moral of the story might be:
a. I do my share (and yours) of online shopping.
b. Snail mail is pretty messed up (but in his defense, my neighborhood postal carrier is new).
c. Moose are elusive and shy (and I repel them).
d. When you're waiting for things to come and you are looking forward to their arrival, it often feels like cold molasses running uphill.
e. All of the above.
My life right now seems to have a theme song:
Case in point, last weekend I decided to make maple cream, because I got a yummy new cookbook and one of the recipes calls for it but I can't find it in stores. Maple cream or maple butter requires boiling pure maple syrup to 235 degrees, pouring it into a saucepan that sits in an ice bath, and then stirring 'til your arm falls off or until it transforms into thick silky mapley heaven. I was in the mood for scones (again) and what's a little stirring? I'm strong, right? (Right!) In short, I was properly motivated.
Things were going well until the thickening part just never happened. Because I could never waste 3 cups of pure maple syrup, I decided to whip the syrup into buttercream for the scones – yum. In the process, I made a colossal mess of my kitchen which my perfect husband had to manage because I slipped and sprained my ankle that day, as well. Now I'm, you guessed it, waiting for it to heal so I can wear normal shoes once more.
While I'm looking forward to other things, life happens. There is still work, loving people in my world, serving, learning, and planning but all the while there's a sense of suspension-mixed-with-tension these days and I know it has to do with my word. My #oneword365 for 2016 is steadfast. It came to me after Christmas and just stuck around.
Having a word for the year is something I've done for the past three years (glory/2013, bold/2014, portion/2015), and this is how I like to use my word – I pray for God to grow it in me & reveal it richly. Let it bloom without force. I put it in a prominent place, I scratch it in margins – and once I tattooed it to my wrist, but I can't do that every year. I could, but I won't 😉 And God is so, so good. Gradually I start to notice the breadcrumbs he leaves for me to follow on the way to understanding. It feels like asking for a gift I know he wants me to have, and learning to slowly welcome it.
And that takes time. And it can feel awkward.
This new year began without much of a fuss, and I starting hunting for hints about my word in my life and in the Bible. I was seeing steadfast in lots of verses about getting some, like this one:
James 1:12
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
Good stuff. But God is also showing me already (and it's only January!) that focussing on the meaning of steadfast is not about me becoming steadfast, at least it isn't just about that…
STEADFAST: resolutely or dutifully firm and unwavering.
…it's about how he already is.
Psalm 33:16 The king is not saved by his great army;
a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.
17 The war horse is a false hope for salvation,
and by its great might it cannot rescue.
18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him,
on those who hope in his steadfast love,
If left to my own devices, I'd be tempted to toughen up, wrangle my tools, and become steadfast by putting it on my List – the one that invisibly presses my soul into new shapes with each passing ambition. The great List that gives me worth (I once thought). But thank God, I am not. Through these insignificant but attention stealing adventures in waiting, God has already saved me many wasted hours of striving because the one who is steadfast is HE.
OH, how steadfast he is. His unflinching care, his kind and powerful constant stream of patient love is the true definition of steadfast. I can't match it. I can't manufacture it, and I can't even express it. I want to let the bloom begin, though, so I'll wait. It is already unfurling and taking form right before my short-sighted eyes.
His incarnation of steadfast will be worth it. Unlike long awaited packages, moose promises, and even maple cream.
I intend to write about steadfast a lot this year – so saddle up and join me
by subscribing to the blog in the margin if you'd like to be a part of the journey—>
One Comment
Lisa Belanger
Steadfast is a good word for 2016.