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| Original Material Copyright (C) 1995 All Rights Reserved |
The Mary Tyler Moore Show ran on CBS from 1970 to 1977, always on
Saturday nights.
Mary Richards was the idealized single career woman, coming to
Minneapolis after the breakup of a four-year relationship with a man (we never
saw him). She was ambitious, and looking for new friends. She moved into an
older apartment building, and found a job as assistant producer of WJM-TV news.
The writers at first wanted Mary to be a divorcee -- but the network
balked, afraid the viewers would think she was divorced from Dick Van Dyke.
The show marked the return to television for Gavin MacLeod, who had been
on PT-73 as Happy Haines in McHale's Navy, and who would return to the sea
later as the skipper of the Love Boat.
Ted Knight appeared as the lovable narcissist Ted Baxter, the anchorman
who had the habit of inserting his foot into his mouth.
Georgia Engle played Georgette, Valerie Harper was Rhoda, and Cloris
Leachman (who had earlier been Lassie's first tv "mother") was Phyllis.
Rhoda and Phyllis were both spun off as their own series. Harper went on
to make TV movies of the week, and Leachman went on to several memorable
performances, notably as Frau Blucher in Young Frankenstein. ("YES! He vas mine
The series has never been off television since, a tribute to the talent
that abounded in the show.
The events in this story take place approximately 1974, before Rhoda and
Phyllis' series were spun off.
Who can turn the world on with her smile?
Who can take a nothing day
and suddenly make it all seem worthwhile?
Well, it's you, girl, and you sure know it,
With each glance and every little movement you show it.
Love is all around, no need to waste it,
Love is all around, no need to fake it,
You're gonna make it, after all.
(toss your hat, Mary!)
THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW: "Ted Needs a Definition"
Mary Richards stretched, yawned, and moaned. She sat up in her bed, her
bright red silk nightie clinging to her body. She looked over at the alarm
clock, just as it went off.
She reached over and turned it off, smiling to herself.
Sliding to the side of the bed, she put her feet into slippers and stood
up. She picked up her robe from the chair, and slipped into it. She folded her
blanket, picked up her pillows and put them in the closet, then folded the
sofa-bed up and replaced the cushions.
She walked across the room to her kitchenette and started a pot of
coffee, then around the corner to the bathroom.
She turned on the water in the shower, and while she was waiting for the
water to run hot, she sat on the toilet for her morning "business", humming
"Oh, What A Beautiful Morning."
Her business finished, she stripped off her robe and nightie, and stepped
into the hot shower. She soaped herself down, her hands rubbing down her full,
pert breasts, and lower, soaping her pubic hair, while fingering her clit...
just a little... mmmm... just a little more....
"Oh, my..." she thought, "I mustn't... I'll be late for work."
She rinsed off, and reached for a towel from the rack. She dried off and
stepped out of the shower, and redonned the robe.
She selected her wardrobe for the day, a sharp miniskirt, cute little
blouse, and ...yes, this circle pin with matching earrings. She dropped her
robe on the floor, and reached for her bra and panties, catching a glimpse of
her nude body in the full-length mirror. She straightened, admiring the image:
full breasts, with tan nipples, not a hint of sag in them. The dark pubic hair
below, unshaved because it was winter, and not a bikini in sight. She turned,
and looked at her firm backside; no sag there, either.
"What a shame to waste clothing on a body like this," she thought.
She decided not to wear the bra.
Mary drove into the parking garage in the building that housed the
studios of WJM-TV, parked it in the space marked "M. Richards:NEWS". She took
the elevator up to her office, which was still dark.
She turned on the lights, started a pot of coffee, and sat down at her
desk. She turned the pages of her newspaper, looking at the headlines before
turning to the comics page.
Murray Slaughter, the news writer, pushed the door open. Mary quickly
opened the newspaper to the editorial page.
"Good morning, Mary," Murray smiled.
"Good morning, Murr," she replied.
Murray went over to the wire-copy terminal and pulled off a sheet of
paper, scanning through it. "Oh," he said, "looks like they have a lead on that
lesbian murder case. Looks like it could be our top story tonight."
Mary looked up. "I don't think we can use that word on the news, Murr."
Murray smiled. "Lesbian? Why? You think our audience would be offended?"
"No," Mary shook her head. "I don't think Ted can pronounce it."
Lou Grant stormed though the door, and stomped toward his office.
"Morning, Lou," Murray said.
"Good Morning, Mr. Grant," Mary added.
"Mmmmnnnngggg" Lou grunted, and closed his office door behind him.
Mary and Murray looked at each other. Mary got up and tapped on Lou's
"Mr. Grant?"
She opened the door. Lou was behind his desk, his bourbon bottle in hand,
his coffee cup in the other.
"Isn't it a little early for that?"
"You'd think so, wouldn't you?" Lou growled, but softly. "Come in, Mary,
and close the door."
Lou leaned back in his chair. "Have a seat, Mary."
Mary sat in the chair, and crossed her legs.
Lou paused a moment, then sighed heavily. "You know that I've got
problems with Edie."
Mary nodded. She knew they were separated. Lou had made that announcement
some time ago.
Lou sighed again. "Do you have any idea how long it has been since..." He
paused. He leaned forward in his chair, and lowered his voice. "...since Edie
and I had marital relations?"
Mary blushed. "I have no idea."
"Two years, and let me tell you, it's been hard."
"I'll bet it is," Mary thought. "I'll bet it's really hard. And long,
Lou leaned back in his chair again.
"Is there anything I can do?" Mary asked.
"Seriously?" Lou scowled.
"Seriously. Can I help?"
Lou paused a moment again, then leaned forward.
"What would you say to a little blow job?"
"Hello, little blow job," Mary grinned, then she wiped the grin from her
face. "Sorry, old joke. Would that REALLY help? Would that improve your general
Lou nodded. "But I'm way out in left field asking this of you. This is
not in your job description, and ..."
Mary got up and walked around Lou's desk. She put her finger on his lips,
silencing him.
"It would be my pleasure, Mr. Grant."
She swiveled his chair around, and knelt down in front of it. She reached
up and unzipped Lou's trousers. He was wearing boxer shorts under his trousers.
She reached inside, and released his penis. She was right; it was hard -- and
It was of medium diameter, not very wide, but its head was large and
purple, the pisshole in its tip oozing a drop of precum.
She bent forward, and drew her tongue around the tip of his cock, licking
off the precum, before drawing it between her lips.
She sucked gently as she pushed her lips farther down his shaft, until
the tip of his cock bumped the back of her mouth. She held this position, her
tongue moving back and forth across the underside of his cock.
Lou moaned, softly, and Mary took him deeper, holding her breath as she
pushed her head forward, allowing his cockhead to enter her throat.
She held him there as long as she could, but she had to breathe. She
released his cock back into her mouth, and swirled her tongue around his
There was a tap at the door. "Lou?" Murray's voice from outside the door
said, "Are you in there?"
Mary slid around and under Lou's desk. Lou scooted his chair up, and Mary
resumed her attention to his tool.
"Yeah," Lou said, roughly.
Murray opened the door and looked inside. "I thought I saw Mary come in
Lou shook his head.
"But I could have sworn..." He glanced down, and saw one foot sticking
out from under the front of the desk.
He entered the office, and closed the door behind him, pressing the lock.
"Lou, you're smiling," he said.
"I am not," Lou moaned.
"Yes, you are, and I think I know why." He stepped around Lou's desk,
knelt down and peeked under the chair. "Hi, Mary!"
"Hi, Murr," came Mary's muffled voice from under the desk.
Lou moaned again, and he spurted, the thick globs of semen spashing
against the back of her throat. Lou fell back in the chair, his cock softening
in Mary's mouth, as she sucked the last drops of his semen from it. She
swallowed, enjoying the slippery feel of it going down her throat.
Lou pushed his chair back, and Mary crawled out. As she straightened her
clothing, she said, "Will there be anything else, Mr. Grant?"
Lou looked up at Murray. "Are you still here?"
"Yes, Lou."
"And what is it you want?"
Murray looked at Mary. "Well, I could tell Ted that you just got head
from Mary, or I could tell Sue Ann Nivens that you just got head from Mary,
"Or?" Lou frowned.
"Or, I could ask Mary to bend over the desk and let me plow her field."
Lou frowned.
Mary turned and looked at Murray, and nodded.
She unzipped her miniskirt and dropped it to the floor, and followed it
with her pantyhose and panties. She leaned over, putting her elbows on the
desk, presenting her ass to Murray.
Murray moved up behind her, unzipped his trousers, and let out his penis,
engorged and ready. He placed it at the entrance to her pussy, then placed his
hands on her hips.
He moved forward, and his cockhead parted her nether lips. Mary gasped,
as he entered her, "Ohmigosh, Murry, you're so BIG!"
"It's not just a tool, Mary," Murray said, grinning. "Its a luuuuuve
He had his cock fully inside her now, and he began to make small, quick
strokes, moving just his hips as he held hers. Mary began to hum, softly.
Lou sat back in his chair, enjoying the show.
Mary pushed herself up on her hands, pushing back against Murray's
increasingly strong strokes, until he grunted, and she felt him push deep
inside her, depositing his semen at the her cervix.
Murray withdrew, slowly, and Mary turned to give him a quick kiss on the
She was somewhat disappointed that she had not climaxed; but there was
time for that later...
Murray put his cock back in his pants, and slipped out the door.
Mary plucked a tissue from Lou's desk, and wiped herself off, and pulled
her clothing back on while Lou watched, interestedly.
"Will there be anything else, Mr. Grant?"
"Not just now, Mary," he said, smiling. "Perhaps later."
Ted Baxter strolled into the newsroom, smiling broadly, as usual.
"Hi, Guys!"
"Hi, Ted." Murray and Mary chimed together.
"Murray, I was reading this news copy you gave me."
"Amazing," Murray said, "he's reading it before he gets on the air."
It went right over Ted's head. "What's this word here?"
Murray looked at the script. "Lesbian," he said.
"Lesbian. Is that like ... actors? Shouldn't we use 'actors' instead?"
"No, Ted, you're thinking of 'thespian'," Mary said.
"Oh... then what's a lesbian?"
Mary and Murray exchanged glances. Murray said, "Ted, I'll have to
explain that to you later. Just read it like it's written."
Ted walked out. Mary and Murry broke up into laughter.
The "ON THE AIR" sign came on. Ted launched into his delivery voice.
"Today in Minneapolis, police announced they had definite leads into the
Lesbian murder case. Lesbians, by the way, are not actors..."
Back in the newsroom, Murray moaned, Mary laughed, and Lou headed quickly
for the studio.
Home again, Mary sat down in her chair and picked up a book. She read
quietly, her mind torn between the words on the page, and the events this
morning in the office.
She set the book down, as memories of Lou Grant's cock in her mouth
flooded her. Her hand went to her groin, cupping her genitals, her middle
finger pressing against her clit through her clothing.
She couldn't resist any more. She stood up, and dropped her skirt to the
floor. She sat down again, slipping a hand into her panties. Her fingertip
sought her clit, and she rolled it over with her finger, her eyes closed, lying
back in the chair.
The door opened quickly, and Rhoda said "Hi, Mary!"
Mary jumped up, startled.
Rhoda looked at her, standing in her panties. "Oh, I'm sorry, Mary...
I'll come back later..."
"No..." Mary said, hesitantly. "Don't go..."
Rhoda looked at her seriously for a moment, then closed the door behind
her. She stepped over to Mary.
"Rhoda..." Mary said, softly.
"Don't talk," Rhoda said, equally softly. She pushed Mary back into the
chair, and knelt down in front of it. She pushed the crotch of Mary's panties
to one side, and slipped a finger down Mary's distended cuntlips.
Mary moaned, pushing herself against Rhoda's hands.
Rhoda leaned forward, and extended her tongue, tracing where her
fingertips had just been. Her tongue slid up into Mary's pussy, eliciting
another moan of pleasure from her.
She moved up, her tongue tracing over the slippery skin to Mary's
distended clit, which was warm and throbbing. Rhoda fastened her lips around
it, sucking gently, flicking the tip of her tongue against Mary's clit.
Mary began to quiver, bucking her hips into Rhoda's mouth, as Rhoda
pressed her tongue against Mary's clit, slipping a finger deep into Mary's
Mary came, her body shaking furiously. She slid off the chair into
Rhoda's lap, her lips seeking Rhoda's, their tongues dancing with each other.
"Oh, Rhoda," she breathed, finally breaking the kiss, "thank you... I
really needed the release."
"My pleasure," Rhoda said, smiling. "And speaking of my pleasure, I
believe it's my turn."
Mary began to unbutton Rhoda's blouse. She slipped it back over her
shoulders, and Rhoda dropped her arms from around Mary's body long enough to
let it slide off. Mary reached behind Rhoda's back, and unhooked her bra. Rhoda
shrugged out of it as Mary reached for her breasts.
Mary kissed Rhoda's lips passionately, as her thumbs rolled over her
dark-brown nipples, aroused and hard.
Rhoda lay back on the floor, Mary was straddling her body, resting on her
knees, her pussy pressed against Rhoda's abdomen. Mary massaged Rhoda's
breasts, watching her aerola pucker, the nipples trying to extend further.
Mary pulled off her blouse, her own breasts unfettered by bra. Rhoda
reached up and stroked Mary's tan nipples, pinching them between her
fingertips. Mary rolled off of Rhoda's body, and Rhoda hooked her thumbs under
the waistband of her skirt, and pushed her skirt and panties down. She kicked
them off her feet.
Mary turned around, and put her head into the 'v' formed by Rhoda's
parted thighs and lifted knees. For one moment, she breathed the musky scent of
Rhoda's love-box, then put her lips against Rhoda's lower ones.
Rhoda sighed, and reached for Mary's hips. She slid Mary's panties down
her thighs. Mary lifted each knee in turn, allowing Rhoda to remove the
panties. She then allowed Rhoda to guide her hips over Rhoda's head, straddling
her face.
Mary's tongue caressed Rhoda's clit, causing spasms of pleasure to ripple
through Rhoda's groin, radiating out to the farthest reaches of her body.
Mary used her fingertips of one hand to open Rhoda's pussy, before using
the fingers of the other hand to probe, deeper and deeper until she had four
fingers buried deep into Rhoda's love-tunnel.
Rhoda gasped, then bent her head upward, grazing Mary's clit with her
tongue. Mary pressed harder, sucking Rhoda's clit between her lips, her fingers
working frantically in her cunt, until Rhoda gasped, her body quivering.
Rhoda's head fell back to the floor as she arched her back, squeezing
Mary's fingers with her vaginal muscles, the contractions of her cunt shaking
her violently.
They were so engrossed in their activity, they did not hear the door
"Mary? Rhoda? Are you here?"
It was Phyllis' voice. Since Rhoda and Mary were in the sunken part of
the living room, and a chair was between them and the door, Phyllis could not
see them.
Phyllis stepped further into the room, spotted the two women on the
floor, and gasped.
"Phyllis!" Mary said, raising her head from between Rhoda's thighs.
"Mary! Rhoda! I'm shocked!" Phyllis said, her hand over her mouth.
"I'm sorry you're shocked, Phyllis," Mary said, "but the door was
"You don't understand, Mary," Phyllis said, lowering her hand, revealing
a broad grin. "I'm shocked you didn't invite me."
Murray had tried to explain lesbianism to Ted, but much of it had gone
over the anchorman's precicely-trimmed head.
Ted was in Georgette's apartment, sitting on the sofa. Georgette was in
the kitchenette, putting the dirty dishes in her dishwasher.
"Georgette, do you know what a lesbian is?"
Georgette nearly dropped the dish she was holding. Composing herself
rapidly, she said, "Yes, Ted. Why?"
"Well, Murray tried to explain it to me, but I couldn't figure out what
he was talking about. Then I asked Mary, and she told me to ask Lou. Lou told
me to look it up in the dictionary."
"So?" Georgette asked, coming out of the kitchenette. "What did the
dictionary say?"
"That's too much trouble. I'm asking you."
"Well, let me think about how to explain it to you. Will you excuse me? I
need to make a telephone call."
Ted nodded, and turned on the television. "Hey, it's the Brady Bunch! I
just adore Marsha..."
Georgette smiled, and went to her bedroom to make her call.
Phyllis undressed quickly, and Mary and Rhoda got up to help. Revealing
her blonde pubic hair by pulling off Phyllis' stylish slacks, Rhoda explored
with her fingers until she had a finger inside Phyllis' vagina.
Mary kissed Phyllis' lips, while her fingers roamed over her pink-nippled
breasts, the nipples rapidly rising to their full stature.
The trio moved slowly to the floor, Rhoda burying her face in Phyllis'
cunt, and Mary's hungry mouth moving over her breasts, tickling her nipples
with the tip of her tongue.
Rhoda quickly had three fingers inside Phyllis, her fingers searching for
the tender spot on the inside of her pussy, while her tongue slid over her
diminutive clit.
As Mary moved from one breast to the other, the telephone rang.
Mary groaned, and crawled over to the telephone.
"Hello. Uh-huh. Uh-huh."
Phyllis reached over and caressed Mary's buttocks. Mary leaned forward
and pushed her ass back, putting her ass within Phyllis' easier reach, and also
opening the cleft between her asscheeks. Phyllis' finger found the pink pucker
of her anus and tickled it.
"Yes. By all means. Sure... Bye." She hung up the phone. "That was
Georgette," she said, pushing her ass back against Phyllis' hand. "She's coming
over, and she's bringing Ted."
Phyllis asked, "Why?... Couldn't you have put it off?"
"She said he needed a lesson on the word 'lesbian'," Mary grinned.
"But we're not lesbians," Phyllis moaned. "Are we?"
"Close enough for a demonstration," Mary gasped, "Now, what are you going
to do with that finger, Phyllis?"
Phyllis demonstrated, as Mary gave a moan of pleasure.
"But why do we have to go to Mary's for you to define a word?" Ted asked,
plaintively. "Can't we just stay at your house and cuddle?"
"No," Georgette said, "You wanted to learn, and now you will."
Georgette knocked at Mary's door, while Ted fidgeted. The door opened,
and Mary, in a bathrobe, appeared.
"Look," said Ted, "she's getting ready to go to bed... Let's go,
"Come in," said Mary.
Ted shuffled in, dejectedly. Mary directed him to a wooden chair with
arms. Ted looked around, and noticed that Rhoda and Phyllis were also in
bathrobes, sitting on Mary's sofa. Georgette had disappeared.
Mary stepped up behind Ted's chair, her hands behind her back.
"So Ted, you want to know about lesbians," she smiled.
"I just need a definition..." Ted said, uncomfortably.
"We have a better idea," Mary smiled at him. "How about a demonstration?"
"A what?"
"Just relax." Mary brought her hands forward. They held a roll of duct
"What's that for?" asked Ted, nervously.
"Just so that you get the view, with no interference." She taped Ted's
hands to the arms of his chair, and his feet to the legs of the chair.
"All ready," Mary called.
Phyllis and Rhoda stood, and dropped their robes, under which they were
naked. They began to embrace.
Georgette emerged from the bathroom, and she too was naked. She stepped
over to Mary, who dropped her robe.
"Oh....my....god....." gasped Ted.
Phyllis and Rhoda dropped to the floor, and moved into a sixty-nine
position. They dove into each other's pussies, slurping and sucking for sound
Mary led Georgette around to the sofa. Georgette sat on the edge of the
couch and leaned back. Mary crouched down between Georgette's legs, and raised
her knees.
Georgette's platinum-blonde pubic hair flashed just before Mary's head
moved forward to place her lips against her pink cuntlips.
Mary's ass was pointed toward Ted, and he had an excellent view of both
her pussy and asshole. He began to strain against the tape, but Mary had done
her job well; he could not break the tape.
Rhoda and Phyllis almost forgot they were putting on a show; they became
deeply engrossed in their sixty-nine, and the sound-effect slurping and sucking
noises gave way to heartfelt moans of pleasure.
Georgette was starting to croon, a squeaky, high-pitched "ooooooh" with
each stroke of Mary's tongue.
Ted was drooling, his mouth hanging open limply, his eyes seemingly out
on stalks.
Mary, conscious of his view of her rear, 'winked' her asshole at him; she
heard him moan, and the chair behind her started to shake.
Mary slipped a finger into Georgette's pussy; Georgette threw her head
back, her body quivering with the onset of her orgasm.
"Ooooooooeeeeeeeeeeeee!" she screamed, as the contractions overtook her.
"Eeee! Ah! Ah! Ah!" Her back arched, pushing Mary back on her haunches.
Mary sat back, watching Georgette writhe on the sofa.
As Georgette's contractions slowed, her eyes opened slowly. "Oh, gosh,
Mary... I didn't know it could be soooo..." She closed her eyes again and
Mary gently caressed Georgette's breasts, the nipples stiff and hard.
Georgette opened her eyes again. She sat up and leaned forward, kissing Mary's
As they kissed, Mary and Georgette exchanged places, Mary taking a seat
on the edge of the sofa. She lifted her knees, placing her feet under the edge
of the cushions. Georgette slid down and applied her lips to Mary's clit.
Once again, Ted was given a view of ass and pussy.
Phyllis and Rhoda had lost all reference to anyone around them; they were
lost in each other, rolling in orgasmic passion.
Mary watched Ted's face as Georgette sucked on her clit. She could see
the lust building in his face, as he stared into Georgette's open rear end.
Georgette slipped one finger, then two into Mary's pussy, sliding them in
and out as she continued to lick Mary's clit. Mary lay her head back, closed
her eyes, and let Georgette push her closer to orgasm.
Ted strained against the tape again, watching Georgette's dripping pussy
in front of him. Frustrated, be began to rock the wooden chair; and it began to
tip up on the two front legs.
Mary felt the familiar warmth begin to spread through her groin, the
vibrations beginning deep in her cunt, spreading like ripples through her
body... and ... YES! her orgasm swept through her, making her body quiver with
Ted's chair fell forward, just missing Georgette's feet.
Georgette turned around quickly; Mary slid back on the sofa, enjoying the
waves of her orgasm.
"Ted!" Georgette shouted, and pushed the chair over on its side.
Ted looked up at her, a glazed look in his eyes. Georgette unwrapped the
tape around Ted's hand. As soon as it was free, he reached for her breast.
Georgette dodged, and started untaping his feet. Ted untaped his other
hand, and lunged for Georgette.
Again she dodged, giggling.
Ted began tearing at his clothing, pulling off his shirt without
unbuttoning it, the buttons popped off, flying across the room. He kicked out
of his trousers, his smallish erection bouncing as he lunged again for
This time, she didn't move. Ted pushed her to the floor, nuzzling at her
neck with his hands at her breasts.
She wrapped her legs around his hips, and he entered her, frantically
pumping his hips.
He grunted, his back arching, his teeth grinding together, as he
climaxed. He rolled over, and started to sob.
Mary sat up, watching Georgette cuddling up to the sobbing Ted. Her
attention then was drawn to Phyllis and Rhoda, who were cuddling on the floor
on the other side of the room.
She sat back on the sofa, smiling, as she thought, "...and who says I
don't give good parties?"
Love is all around, no need to waste it,
Love is all around, no need to fake it,
You're gonna make it, after all.
public praise: alt.sex.stories.d email: [email protected]
Submit stories to:
[email protected](dot)com
with the title heading "TSSA Story Submission"
Copyright © 2002-2014 TSSA Click For Celebrity Pics


text:
Section 80.1153 describes the requirements for PTDs, which generally include the name and address of the transferor and transferee, the company registration number of each, the volume of renewable fuel being transferred, the date of the transfer, and information about any assigned RINs.
Question and Answer was originally posted at http://www.epa.gov/otaq/renewablefuels/420f07041a.pdf
What would the wholesaler put on his PTDs when he transfers title to another party?
Have more questions? Submit a request

subset: commoncrawl


text:
With the news in December that IMF Director Lagarde was found guilty of negligence but would not receive any actual punishment, the IMF Board quickly issued a statement of support for Ms. Lagarde. This was mostly viewed favorably around the world, however there are some dissenters.
Below are a couple of articles (one pro Lagarde and one con) that illustrate the debate over how effective she can now be at the IMF. This could be an important issue if another global financial crisis were to erupt and the IMF role in that crisis moved to center stage.
"As managing director for the past five years, Lagarde has been a ubiquitous presence on the world stage. Her aura of confidence and competence has provided a reassuring calm amidst global crises and economic uncertainty."
. . . .
"Lagarde has inspired the confidence and trust of countries around the world and for good reason. Her continuing leadership will benefit everyone."
"What exactly do you need to do to get fired as managing director of the International Monetary Fund?
Turn the Greek economy into a wasteland? Nope. Dangerously politicize the body by taking sides in a referendum? Nope, not that either. A conviction for financial negligence? That seems to be just fine.
Short of sexual assault, there seems to be just about nothing that will get you removed from office at the IMF.
This week, IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde was found guilty of negligence during her time as finance minister of France under then-President Nicolas Sarkozy. The result? Absolutely nothing. The court chose not to punish her, and the board of the IMF decided that she could remain in office.
And yet that is surely a decision the Fund will come to regret." . . . .


text:
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text:
With both Saturday and Sunday at my disposal (my weekends are invariably either overbooked or wide open), I hoped to finish-up my survey of Oakland taco trucks.
Unfortunately, I was thwarted within sight of the Holy Grail: I found a truck that has pambazos on the menu (El Gordo on the corner of 42nd), but both times I went by they didn't have any (she said she would have some in the early evening on Sunday, but despite my best intentions, by that time I was too lazy to venture out again and too stuffed to do one justice). I did get a huarache from them (again, the only place I've seen them on the menu). This may have suffered from the fact I didn't get around to eating it until later, but it was almost as tough as the sandal it's named for. Still, their horchata was the best I've had: creamy, cinnamony, and served from a refrigerated dispenser without ice. This truck also offers Jaimaca agua fresca so I hold out high hopes for the pambazos.
I did at least finish surveying International Avenue. The trucks peter out east of High Street, and the neighborhood quickly goes from bustling and cheerful to depressingly derelict. The only brightish spot was the Sun Hop Fat 2 Super market at 54th, which also features a taco truck (pretty standard, although they did have birria on the menu and churros, which he wouldn't sell me because they weren't fresh) in the parking lot. I enjoyed browsing in the market -- thanks to chowhound I'm recognizing and sometimes purchasing items I would have ignored before (this time: canned mangosteen -- which was okay but must lose a great deal in the process). Key limes for 49 cents a pound, full-service meat counter with good-looking meat, fish, live fish and crabs (but soft-hearted folks like me have to close our eyes to the live turtles). There are also guys washing cars in the parking lot and my car was so filthy I could barely see out the windshield, so took the hint and had it washed while I shopped -- it was a very productive stop!
The Tacos Zamorano truck was parked at the corner of 48th. Again, I would rate it as "standard" -- I don't know if it always has been, or if it's gone downhill, but it didn't live up to the reputation it used to have as the best.
You can also put Tio Tino at 40th on the "don't bother" list.
There were a couple of other trucks farther out International, but frankly, they would have had to make a really positive visual impression on me to get me to stop in that neighborhood.
Since I had only ordered a tamale there the first time around, I went back to the Guadalajara truck at 44th and checked out their menu further. It turns out "tacos dorados" mean hard-shelled tacos, and seem to be unique to this truck, as do the "sopes" and the "flautas".
I ordered the benchmark al pastor taco (excellent, with Ojo de Agua's the best I've had), a chicken flauta (the only mis-order I've gotten, they gave me a chicken taco, which was also very good: chunks (rather than shreds) of nicely but not overpoweringly seasoned chicken), and after some confusion, a carnitas sope. The confusion came because I had no idea what "sopes" were. I know "sopa" and "sopaipilla" so I was expecting something like one of those and couldn't figure out why he wanted to know my choice of meat! It turns out "sopes" are sort of a cross between a tostada and a tamale: masa formed into the shape of a tart shell and cooked on the grill, filled with carnitas and topped with a thick green sauce, chopped lettuce, etc. (I'm now waiting for everyone to chime it about what an idiot I am to never have heard of this common dish!). I have nothing to compare it to, but it was pretty tasty (the carnitas was excellent -- the flavorless tamale from the first report must have been an aberration).
Both days I couldn't resist stopping by El Ojo de Agua (see Pineapple Tamales report from Saturday). Sunday the proprietress recognized me and with a twinkle in her eyes beckoned over a young man to answer my questions. No hot chocolate today. The "atole calientitos" was guava, which as far as I could tell would be essentially hot guava soup -- a little too weird for me.
I found a Mexican food glossary on the Web today that confirmed that "atole" is a drink thickened with rice or corn and clarified that the separate sign I never did decipher Saturday reading "champurrado" was indicating the flavor of the atole of the day (for those as clueless as I am, champurrado is specifically chocolate atole; as a confirmed chocoholic I'm hanging my head in shame at not instinctively being able to understand a chocolate-related term in a romance language).
He also explained "licuados" -- milkshakes with various additives (bananas, granola, etc.). The "special" licuados are "mamey" (glossary says a type of coconut) and bombe (which I haven't figured out yet -- any clues?).
I got another pineapple tamale (addictive little devils!) and a pork one. The pork tamale was the only disappointing item I've had from them -- the opposite of the unseasoned one from Guadalajara, this one had unblended gobs of paste that seemed to be mostly powdered chiles -- very hot, but without much complexity of flavor.
Still, unless I'm blown away by the pambazos (if I ever get one) at El Gordo, I'm willing to provisionally declare El Ojo de Agua the best all-around taco truck in Oakland.
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CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X6.1
CorelDRAW is a vector graphics editor developed and marketed by Corel Corporation of Ottawa, Canada. It is also the name of Corel's Graphics Suite, which bundles CorelDraw with a bitmap image editor, Corel PhotoPaint, and other graphics-related programs.
Supported Languages: English (US), German, French, Italian, Spanish, Portugese (Brazil), Russian, Swedish, Polish
What's Included:
Key new features and enhancements:
(a) Advanced OpenType Support
(b) New Custom-built Colour Harmonies
(c) New Native 64-bit and Enhanced Multi-Core Support
(d) New Creative Vector Shaping tools
(e) New Styles Engine and Docker
(f) New Corel Website Creator X6 application
(g) New Smart Carver
(h) Improved Page Layout Capabilities
(i) Redesigned Object Properties Docker
System Requirements:
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What Is Your One Big Truth About Social Media?
The truth is like the sun. You can shut it out for a time but it ain't goin' away. ~ Elvis Presley
Just One Crowd Sourced Question
Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin,
Pinterest and other social networks changed how we think about "social media" from those long ago days of the blogosphere. However, I wondered if the "truths" of
social media also changed.
Is social media still about people-to-people conversations or is monetization the focus? Has social media become a ghost writer's paradise or is transparency still critical? What does authenticity mean in 2013?
Just Once Crowd Sourced Question is a Diva Marketing series where the community shares their insights on a specific social media issue. One truth that still remains consistent even in 2013 .. social media is about learning together.
What Is Your One Big Truth About Social Media in 2013?
Jack Yan. I think social media are changing forms.
I go to my Facebook feed and I see links. This could be the new Digg (something I've said for years). I didn't come here to see links, I came here to share and see what my friends are up to. Facebook is too busy monetizing and breaking its own features, too, which doesn't help. It's buggy as heck. It has zero user support.
So to get those people-to-people connections, I have to go to Instagram, where the "conversations" (via photos) are just that more authentic. I don't see that on Pinterest or Linkedin. But if I am sharing on Instagram, then something's got to give.
Twitter, once so open, has become a closed-minded place—it's not helped by Tweetdeck, which crashes like crazy now, and Metrotwit doesn't handle multiple accounts. I know there are other tools, but my point is that things aren't all running in Twitter's favour any more. So if I have good tools to use for Instagram, then why should I bother with Twitter?
Tumblr, which I always thought was a blogging platform, is still a neat insight into our preferences and how we think. In that way, it has a social connection for netizens. Plus it has reached 100,000,000 users—and staff can still send personal replies, responding to bug reports and other enquiries. Facebook, Yahoo, Google and others have a lot to learn from these guys.
Social media are still about people-to-people conversations. We had those conversations with Vox between 2006 and 2009, which predated Facebook with sharing to different audiences. Transparency is still important.
I don't think these definitions change—just that the sites that once hosted them are not what they used to be.
Nettie Reyonds. I would say that this year the big and necessary truth is for social media to stop taking itself so seriously.
It's not what it has been hyped up to be and people need to employ the social media economy of effort - meaning use the tools to connect with your customers on a real basis - make that effort and your company will benefit long- term much more than it would mired in hype, haste and hastily pushed out disingenuous content!!! ~ @netreynolds Nettie Ink
B.L. Ochman. My one big truth about social media: it continues to be my most important source of news and information, and it continues to baffle most companies. Wait! Is that two thruths?! What's Next Blog PawFun @whatsnext
Judy Mod. We believe social provides a lens into the world of our buyers and continues to transform the way buyers go-to-market to solve strategic business problems.
The problem we are focused on solving within the Social Executive Council is the shift from vendor-driven to peer influence is marginalizing vendors as buyers demand to be empowered with education on the problem definition before they engage for education on solution differences.
How do we arm buyers in the market to operationalize their problem diagnosis to reach them early enough to be a trusted advisor in their buying process and throughout their life cycle as a customer? This shift and our lack of market visibility because of the noise and barriers to buyer adoption are having a significant impact on every aspect of our business performance. ~ @JudyMod
Anonymous. You don't have to be on every form of social media just the ones that work best for you and your business.
Michael Rubin. It's ultimately still about people. Technology's the tool, social media's the rocket fuel, people are the soul. ~ @merubin MichaelE.Rubin.com
Tanya McGill Freeman. I think it's absolutely about people-to-people conversations...now more than ever!
People do business with people that may represent companies but not really just the companies themselves as a whole. Therefore the act of authentic, real engagement is so incredibly important. We tend to do business with those we know, like and trust, and social media provides a very effective way to establish those bonds and maintain them. @D_Sophisticate
Kelly Dovovan. social media is still about one-to-one or one-to-few conversations, but social media networks are making that harder to do as time goes on.
Facebook admits that they show a Page's posts to only about 16% of that Page's followers' news feeds. You have to pay if you want to send a direct message to your fans, too.
Both Facebook and Twitter have started cluttering users' news feeds with ads and sponsored posts/tweets, making it harder for users to notice your posts.
LinkedIn seems to be the least commercial platform, but surveys show that people online spend only about 2% of their social media time on LinkedIn, so your conversation better stand out for the moment when someone in your LinkedIn group actually logs into that network or you will miss them.
Our challenge in 2013 is to meet users where they are and position ourselves as someone worth actively following.
Anonymous. Simplicity. Simplify it.
Toss of the pink boa to all who generously shared their truths.
What is your one Big Truth about social media in 2013?
Read More Just One Crowd Sourced Questions
How Do You Build B2B Relationships Using Social Media?
How Do You Take The Fear Factor Out of Social Media?
How Do You Put Soul Into A Blog Post?
Why Don't People Get Social Media Is Not A Private Conversation?
What Is Your One Tip To An Agency/Freelancer Contracted To Be The Voice Of The Brand In Social Networks?


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Updated Date: Number Transfer Progress HistoryAll this time I was paying service charges for a service that didn't work. The gave me a months credit when I asked for it. Finally I was annoyed and asked them to cancel the service. But I couldn't find the original box to send the equipment back, so they charged me for that. $386 later I have nothing but a useless Vonage box.
August 15, 2004: Awaiting Letter of Authorization
November 24, 2004: Letter of Authorization (LOA) Received
November 24, 2004: Transfer Sent to Carrier
November 24, 2004: Transfer Sent to Carrier
April 18, 2005: LNP Transfer Cancelled
I guess that is one way to make money...


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MET Studio reveals latest collaboration with Swire Properties for Taikoo Place Brand Experience Centre
MET is excited to announce our latest collaboration in Hong Kong with Swire Properties for the Taikoo Place Brand Experience Centre, a space designed by MET in collaboration with digital content creators Squint Opera. The experience centre has been created to provide businesses looking to relocate their HQ's to a more high-spec space the opportunity to experience what their new offices could be in the 6.5 million sq. ft. commercial hub.
A fully digital experience, the space is an innovative and unmatched experience for the property market.
Please click below to find out more about the project:


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Aviation History
JANUARY 22, 1925 Pilots often disregarded their rights under the customs of war, and made rules for themselves, which might have come straight from the pages of Froissart. In some cases pilots spared enemies who were at a disadvantage, and whom it was their duty to shoot down. Richthofen was once spared by a British pilot when the former's gun had jammed. Richthofen himself gave quarter to a British machine which he thought was in flames. The chivalrous spirit of the air personnel will, thinks the writer, be a powerful obstacle to the ruthless employment of air power against civilians. The later chapters of the book deal chiefly with purely legal questions, such as the position of a pilot who is captured in enemy territory when carrying a, civilian spy in his machine. Has he the rights of a combatant ? or is he " tainted " by his dealings with the spy and therefore liable to be shot out of hand ? The point is a novel one not previously contemplated by international law, and the practice of belligerents, says the writer, must determine the custom of war. On the other hand, he does not hold it essential for a pilot or observer to be dressed in correct uniform when conducting warlike opera- tions, provided that their aircraft is correctly marked. The anecdotes which serve as illustrations of different points are numerous and most interesting. The correct version of the story of the R.E.8, which landed with both pilot and observer dead in their seats, is given. So, too, is the story of the leaflets dropped over the Indian corps, which appealed to the Mussulmans in a script which only the Hindus could read. Mr. Spaight has read widely and deeply before he wrote this book. It is in the main a legal disquisition, but, despite that fact, many long passages provide as entertaining reading as one could desire. It is a book which ought to be possessed by every mess in the Royal Air Force. Air Actions in Iraq LAST week we referred to R.A.F. action against Wahabi raiders in Iraq, and we now give some further information on the matter. The Times correspondent states that the aerial counter-attacks against the Wahabi raiders continued for four days, and it is worth noting that, whereas after the first attack by aeroplanes the Wahabis scattered and fled, leaving the stolen sheep and camels wandering aimlessly about the desert, on the subsequent occasions they were most tenacious, endeavouring to retain possession of the loot, which was left in the care of the rearguards. There were several separate raiding parties of Wahabis, whose attacks on two sectors of the frontier synchronised, whether by a definite plan or merely accidentally it is hard to say. In the course of the operations, as the Wahabis swiftly retreated towards their desert fastnesses, the aeroplanes were compelled to make longer and longer journeys from their base in the pursuit, but there were no British casualties. By Air to the Pole YET another aerial expedition to the North Pole is being planned. This one is being organised by a young British Columbian explorer, Grettir Algareson. who will have as second in command Comdr. F. A. Worsley, D.S.O., of Shackleton fame. It is proposed to proceed this summer by way of Reykjavik to Spitzbergen, thence as far as the ice permits. A base will then be formed and the air journey to the pole undertaken from this point. A special machine, developed from the light 'piano, fitted with skii and floats is being designed for the attempt. Public Inquiry into Croydon Air Disaster THE Air Ministry announces :—The Secretary of State for Air has directed a formal investigation of the accident at Croydon on December 24, 1924, to the aircraft G—EBBX, belonging to Imperial Airways, Ltd., to be held under the Air Navigation (Investigation of Accidents) Regulations, 1922. He has appointed Sir Arthur Colefax, K.B.E., K.C., to hold the investigation, and Prof. B. M. Jones, A.F.C., Mond Professor of Aeronautical Engineering at Cambridge Univer- sity, and Mr. James Swinburne, F.R.S., M.Inst.C.E., as assessors for the purposes of the investigation. The Court will hold its first sitting at the Law Courts in Quadrangle Court A at 11 a.m. on Friday, January 23. The investigation will be heard in open Court. Persons desirous of being heard by Council or otherwise should attend at the first sitting of the Court. Sir Charles Wakefield and King's College COL. AND ALDERMAN SIR CHARLES WAKEFIELD, Bt., has been appointed on the King's College Delegacy by the University of London. , ' " Joy Flips " for Wembley ? IT is hoped that one of the features of this summer's exhibition at Wembley will consist of a display of British, progress in aviation. The Society of British Aircraft Con- structors are endeavouring to secure a section of the Palace of Engineering for the purpose of exhibiting a comprehensive selection of the productr of the British aircraft industry. Also, it is hoped to arrange flights for visitors in large passenger machines from an aerodrome near by. Two R.A.F. Flying Accidents THE Air Ministry regrets to announce two flying accidents, both occurring on January 17, resulting in the death of two R.A.F. pilots. In one case, as a result of an accident at Ramleh to a Bristol fighter of No. 14 (Army Co-operation) Squadron, Amman, Flying Officer Ronald Reid Hardcastle Bruce, the pilot of the'aircraft, and No. 326113 L.A.C. Alex Sutton, were seriously injured. Flying Officer Bruce died^at Palestine General Hospital on the same day. The second accident occurred at Ismailia to a Bristol fifihfrer of No. 208 (Army Co-operation) Squadron, MoasiiaV1, lsmaiha, and Flying Officer James Alexander McLaren, M.C., the pilot of the aircraft, was killed. H H m m m 13 0 a is si ffl 13 H B B m w H H H 0 H H 13 An American Commercial Limousine : The Kinner 5-pas- senger biplane employed by Dr. T. C. Young, of G lend ale, Cal. It is fitted with a 198 h.p. Renault engine. IBB B H H 47 •%•
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Jackie Nemeth
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Shreyas Sen, a Ph.D. student in ECE advised by Abhijit Chatterjee, received a 2008 IEEE Microwave Theory and Techniques Society (MTT-S) Graduate Fellowship Award at the International Microwave Symposium (IMS 2008), held in Atlanta, Georgia June 15-20.
The objective of the IEEE MTT-S Graduate Fellowship program is to recognize and provide financial assistance to graduate students who show promise and interest in pursuing a graduate degree in microwave engineering. Mr. Sen's research is on adaptive RF circuits and systems for low power, multi-standard and future software radio applications.
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From Santiago de Compostela
June 15 - Santiago de Compostela - Day 39
Stops since last update: Santa Irene - Monte de Gozo - Santiago de Compostela
Distance walked so far: 832 kilometers - 516 miles
Finally an update, my faithful readers. For some reason I have failed to update these pages since I first posted them. Enjoy.
The next morning I walk into Santiago de Compostela beliving that I am about to met my goal of walking when I get to the cathedral. I smell ever flower and greet every dog and cat. Tears flow down my cheeks ever few minutes as I recall so many things that happened during the last 40 days.
I have a wonderful movie of this giant sensor swinging from floor to ceiling and back again across the church during Pilgrims' Mass at the cathedral. But be Warned! This file is huge (more than 12 megabytes). It will take a chunk of time to download even with DSL. If you have a 56K modem, you'll be waiting all night.
I stay an extra day in Santiago to rest. But that visit to Santiago does't set right with me. I don't appreciate the tourist and carnival atmosphere. And I cannot rectify that feeling completely. It just doesn't fit the mood of the 800-plus kilometer (500-plus mile) walk to get here, I realize that Finisterra--the end of the world--was really the end of the walk. So on the Finisterra.
Copyright © 2003-2012 Mike Metras PilgrimageCreations.com


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Charmain Baker is in over her head. Looking after Great Uncle William's tiny cottage should have been easy, but he is the Royal Wizard Norland whose house bends space and time. It's single door leads to any number of places; the bedrooms, the kitchen, the caves under the mountains - even the past!
In no time at all, Charmain becomes involved with a magical stray dog, a muddled apprentice wizard and a box of the King's most treasured documents, as well as irritating a clan of small blue creatures. Caught up in an intense royal search, she meets a sorceress named Sophie. Can Wizard Howl and Calcifer be far behind?
Main Characters: [Charmain Baker]?
Others: Sophie Jenkins, Howl, Morgan Jenkins, Jamal and his dog, Waif?


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View from center stage under the spotlight.
On the aisle
On the aisle and 1st row in the section. Also has food anb drinks up here
There's a bar a food available up here.
The mezzanine is a great space for groups.
Last row, center.
Accessible seating
On aisle and last row in section
On aisle
accessible seat
Wheelchair accessible
Accessible seat


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Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong Writing Music for Yale's Shakespearian Theater Production
Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong has definitely been bitten by the theater bug. The musician first saw success with the adaptation of Green Day's 'American Idiot' for the stage and now he's turned his attention to writing songs for another theatrical production.
The New York Times reports that Armstrong has been working on music for the Yale Repertory Theater production of 'These Paper Bullets,' a rock and roll update of Shakespeare's 'Much Ado About Nothing.' The production is set to make its world premiere in March 2014.
The play has been adapted by Rolin Jones and will be directed by Jackson Gay. It centers on a band from Liverpool dealing with romance and the music industry in London.
Armstrong not only wrote the music that 'American Idiot' was based on, but he also took an active role in the production, appearing as the 'St. Jimmy' character on multiple occasions during the Broadway run.
The frontman completed a stint in rehab earlier this year and he recently rejoined Green Day on tour in support of their 2012 album trilogy. The band is in Austin today (March 15) for South by Southwest, where their 'Cuatro' and 'Broadway Idiot' documentaries are screening and the band is also playing a set.


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Oct 8†-†Nov 26, 2016
Kevin has possessed English teaching skills from California, USA. Kevin became acquainted with the TOEFL, IELTS, and Business English training. Kevin has kept up with changes and developments of the test over the years and is able to explain the key test tips and strategies to help students reach their full potential.


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Last night just after dinner I was listening to someone talk when suddenly I was overcome with nausea. I ignored it thinking "it mustn't be nausea, there's no reason I should be sick" but it continued to come on overwhelmingly strong. This is all in the space of about 30 seconds. As the nausea came on stronger, my vision started to blur and I felt a hot flush pass down my body and arms to the tips of my fingers. At that point, I felt like I was going to fall over so I stopped the conversation and sat down.
I was given some water and a spoonful of sugar and within 1 minute I felt OK again. I went to lie down and although I felt a bit weak, I was otherwise OK for the rest of the night. After I fell asleep, I woke up once or twice through the night feeling too hot, but it passed quickly, possibly another flush.
I've never feinted before in my life, so I don't know if I was "almost" going to feint. I would assume not, since I had just eaten a good full meal and had eaten well the entire day. The weather inside was very comfortable (about 24deg C and 65-70% humidity). I had consumed about 1 pint of 5% alcohol beer over the previous 2 hours which is not very much for me.
I had my blood pressure and pulse taken about 1 minute after this happened, as there was a machine sitting right there. My blood pressure was 60 over 99 which I'm told is too low and my pulse was 70bpm.
I have never had any symptoms like this ever before in my life. I was especially surprised to feel fine, then extremely nauseous and feverish, then fine again in such a short period of time (1-2 minutes).
I'm a pretty healthy, 29-year-old man about 70kg and 6 feet tall. I don't eat junk and my diet and exercise routine has not changed. The only thing I've done differently is started back at work 2 days ago so I have seen a little less sunlight and been under a bit more stress. While I do work a stressful job, I really wasn't thinking about work in the slightest when this happened.
I've done some searching but have had no luck figuring out what this may have been. I'm going to get a blood test and a check-up next week, but I'd be interested to hear from anyone who thinks they might know what this is.


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According to Revonsuo and Newman (1999) the binding problem is "…the problem of how the unity of conscious perception is brought about by the distributed activities of the central nervous system."
For instance, say that Jon sees a red balloon floating across a room. The quality of "redness" is said to be processed in one part of Jon's brain, the shape of the balloon in another, the size in another, and the movement in yet another. Where then, and how, are these qualities or qualia combined to form the unified experience ("red-balloon-floating") in Jon's consciousness?
A more complex example of the Problem involves the combination of data-sets created via multiple types (modalities) of sensory input, eg olfactory, visual and auditory (eg as in looking at a person, hearing them speak, smelling their body odour and chunking it all up into one discreet piece or lump of conscious awareness of that person).
An even more complex example relates to memory. How do we access an integrated tightly bound-up element of consciousness relating to the past, ie not happening now? How do we access a discreet element of consciousness consisting of multiple data sets derived in the past from multiple inputs from multiple and different sense perceptions? And what about imagination (the combination of data sets relating to things/events that may not yet have occurred in the "real world" and/or may never occur)?
In my view the Binding Problem is not a Problem but rather an opportunity. What does the process of binding up bits and pieces into one holistic lump remind you of? Creating reality, that's what it reminds me of: the new age idea that a person creates their own reality. Isn't that exactly what the "binding" part of the Binding Problem is: a person taking bits and pieces of primary and secondary data and binding them all up together to form a unified consciousness of reality?
It also reminds me of what quantum physicists believe about the role of the observer in determining the nature of reality, that is that observers create reality. For example, light comes in the form of particles, photons, or in the form of waves, depending on the experiment you conduct to determine the nature of light.
Quantum physicists believe reality can never be fully known.Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle dictates that some data is gained only at the cost of making other data unattainable. Physicists believe that at the quantum level, things have the potential to be different things at once---a wave and a particle, here and there, now and then, up and down, and all around, etc. They believe a cat can be alive and dead at the same time.
They believe the act of conducting an experiment (ie observing) actuates or crystallizes the cloudy confusion of quantum potential into the superficially sure, steady, solid reality we all know and love, where a cat is alive or dead but not both at the same time. (In fact, Einstein's theories of relativity demonstrate there is no such thing as the "same time"). Physicists interpret the act of observation as "collapsing the wave-function". From stochasticity to specificity, you might say, if you were being a dickhead. Or from stochasticity to casuistry. Or as the ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus said, "From out of all the many particulars comes oneness, and out of oneness come all the many particulars."
So the Binding Problem is a problem because we don't know how the unity of conscious perception happens. So it's a problem for us because we don't understand it. In fact, not only do we not know how "it" happens, we don't even know what "it" is, why "it" is, or even whether "it" happens at all.
There is still no good theory of consciousness: what it is, where it lives, whether it is in fact unified, etc. And there is still no good theory of personal selfhood: what it is, where it lives, whether it is one or many, where the boundary of the self is, etc.
There is no homunculus in the control room inside your skull behind your eyes. There is no control room, there is no ONE in control. Consciousness emerges when a certain level of complexity is reached -- it is susceptible to reductionist analysis only up to a point, and no further. And beyond that point, there is still a fair way to go.
Revonsuo, A and Newman, J. (1999). Binding and Consciousness. Consciousness and Cognition 8, 123-127.


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Imagine getting food poisoning – the puking, the other stuff. And imagine fighting Mark Hunt. And imagine them together. At the UFC 209 post-fight press conference, UFC president Dana White revealed that heavyweight Alistair Overeem had suffered from food poisoning the day prior to his successful fight vs. Mark Hunt.
"He's been in the hospital for 24 hours with food poisoning. Throwing up and all the other pleasantries of food poisoning for 24 hours," said White delicately, as transcribed by Mike Bohn and Ken Hathaway for MMAjunkie. "He was in the hospital, we brought him home, and then we had to bring him back to the hospital. They had to fill him with bags of fluids and IVs, and at one point he was afraid to leave his room because he couldn't stop throwing up and everything else.
"He did not want to turn down the fight, still came out and fought tonight and knocked out Mark Hunt. More to his credit, didn't say one word about it in his interview and obviously hadn't said it here, yet. I just came in to thank him and tell him how much I respect him."
Because of the role they can play in masking PED use, IVs are prohibited for UFC fighters, unless the athlete goes through proper channels.
"We went through all the steps necessary," Overeem said. "I got really sick and yesterday at the weigh-ins I was out. I was low-energy. I put on my acting face, but I had like zero energy. If I felt today as I felt yesterday I would not have been able to perform. I went to the hospital, got an IV, took something to help me sleep. I could get some food in yesterday before sleeping and recovered kind of OK."
Nevada State Athletic Commission Executive Director Bob Bennett further confirmed that 'Reem did nothing wrong, and that he was safe to fight.
"There were no violations in according to what's conducted on the [World Anti-Doping Agency] prohibited list," said Bennett. "I did have one of my outstanding, and pardon my modesty, but he's an outstanding doctor and ringside physician. He did go ahead and consult with the fighter, and he was fit and ready to go, which was evident by his performance tonight."


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The Walking Dog advantage is that it's just me and your dog. I devote every hour you pay to just your pup and her individual needs. Does your dog enjoy a a romp at the dog park? A hike in the mountains? Playing fetch? A casual walk & sniff? With all of the above and more, I've got you and your furry friend covered.
Midday potty break . $15
30 minute walk . $25
60 minute walk . $35
* each additional dog (same household) . $12
* depending on your dog's needs, we can tailor a plan that works best for both of you - just contact me with questions/requests.
NOTE: Do you have a "difficult" dog? Leash reactive? Not dog-friendly? I am well-equipped in dealing with all kinds of dogs - especially the tough cases, because I have one of my own!


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Author: DavidBryde
Getting your home loan facts right
Our Product Manager, David Bryde, talks about the Home Loan Fact Sheet, the Government's latest banking reform aimed at improving competition and helping consumers get a better deal.
With so many different loan choices available to consumers it can be difficult to line them up and know which provides the best value for you.
From January 1 2012 all lending institutions must provide a Home Loan Fact Sheet to prospective borrowers on request. The sheet will contain valuable information to help you compare loans from different providers.
All lenders will clearly list:
- the interest rate and the comparison interest rate
- the total amount you'll pay back over the full loan term, including all fees
- the effect future interest rate changes may have on your repayments
- the effect making extra payments may have on your loan term.
The Greater welcomes this reform. Empowering consumers with information like this will help them identify the best deals available and show that you're likely to find them outside the major banks.
The total interest paid over the full term of a loan may look a little daunting when you see it but by comparing that figure from one lender to another, consumers will be better equipped than ever before to make the loan choice that saves the most money in the long run.
Some little known issues, such as the revert rate rort I've previously blogged about, and the effect they have on the interest you pay will be out in the open for all to clearly see.
The Australian Government's Banking Reforms website has more information here.


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Chett Casual Shoe by Polo Ralph Lauren - Little Kid
Style #: 1867890
All the style of a sleek chukka boot with the comfort of a sneaker, it's the new Chett Casual Shoe by Polo Ralph Lauren! The Chett Casual Shoe features burnished faux leather uppers with soft textile lining, padded footbed for comfort, and durable rubber outsole for flexible traction. Available at select stores and online at JourneysKidz.com!
- Burnished synthetic leather upper with soft textile lining
- Lace closure offers a secure fit
- Padded footbed for all-day comfort
- Rubber toe bumper for added impact resistance
- Durable rubber outsole delivers flexible traction


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When I was working in the corporate world, I had two very distinct selections of clothing: "work" clothes, and "weekend" clothes.
If you opened my closet, you would have been easily able to identify which items belonged in which category. Work clothes consisted of lots of dry-clean-only type of stuff from Gap, Banana Republic, and Nordstrom in shades of black/brown/gray/cream– things like slacks, pencil skirts, suits, button down blouses, blazers, nice dresses, nylons, and lots and lots of high heeled boots and pumps. Weekend clothes were comfy and colorful things like jeans, t-shirts, sweaters, hoodies, socks, flats, and sneakers. Having two totally different styles of clothing for the work and non-work parts of my life were part of the reason why my closets and dressers were so jammed full of stuff–the other part being due to my unfortunate shopaholic tendencies.
I recently got an email from a clothing store advertising a sale on "weekend wear", and it occurred to me that I no longer have a wardrobe that distinguishes between the two styles – pretty much most of my daily wardrobe is weekend wear, with a few slightly more dressed up options. As a full time actor, there are some mornings when I have to get up, dress presentably, put on makeup, fix my hair, and either go to auditions, a recording studio, meetings, rehearsals, or other events that put me out in public. But there are more mornings where I get up, put on workout clothes, walk Stella, eat breakfast, work out, answer email, and then start working from home on recording/auditioning/reading scripts/memorizing lines and before I know it Ron is almost due home from the office and I've yet to shower or officially get dressed or even stop to eat lunch. I may talk to a lot of people via phone or email during the day, but no one actually SEES me, so I don't spend much time worrying about what I look like or how I'm dressed, especially if I'm on a deadline.
This means that things like my slippers get a ton of wear. I used to have (unsurprisingly) about four pairs of slippers, but in one of my early decluttering sessions after I started this blog, I got rid of all but my one favorite pair. They aren't particularly expensive or fancy, but I really like the style and how comfortable they are. I've had them for easily 10 years, and have worn them a LOT (I am one of those people whose hands and feet are often cold – just ask Ron, who has to endure me getting into bed at night and putting my icy fingers and toes against his perpetually heat-radiating body to warm up). Last year, while we were still in debt-pay down mode, I was sitting on the couch with my feet propped up facing Ron, and I saw him stare at the soles of my slippers and then gently say, "Uhhh…honey, I know money is tight, but I'm sure we could figure out a way to get you a new pair of slippers."
I knew why he was saying it. From the top, my slippers looked totally normal:
But from the bottom, they were definitely looking a bit worse for wear:
And you have to see the side view too, to really appreciate how
gross loved they were:
The thing was, I knew I could have afforded a new pair – Fred Meyer, Kmart, or even a Walgreens sell slippers very inexpensively, and often offer coupons as well. But since my mission has been to buy fewer, better things, and because slippers are something I knew I would wear really often, I wanted them to be a high quality pair that I LOVED.
Which made the process of finding a new pair become way too important and painstaking. It took me MONTHS. Well, to be fair, some of those months were in the summer, when it's way too hot for slippers, but I cannot tell you how many online and in person searches I did to find a good replacement. I scoured countless websites, read hundreds of reviews, stalked various shoe departments, and still couldn't find anything I felt was right – or more accurately, "perfect". I was even wiling to shell out a lot of money for them – I saw some really similar but ridiculously expensive ones by Ugg, for nearly $90, and was seriously considering them, until I noticed that most of the reviews said the sizing was consistently either too big or too small if you're a half size, like me.
And then, I finally had to remind myself that no matter how much I loved my new pair, or how much money I spent on them, much like my old pair, the new pair would wear out someday, and I'd have to buy new ones. And while I was wasting all this stupid time fretting over finding something "perfect", I was spending every day of my present life walking around with holes in my soles.
A day after I had this thought, I happened to be walking past J. Crew, and they were in the midst a huge sale. In multiple baskets on the display tables were pretty pastel piles of cozy slippers. Next to the baskets were signs that said, "Additional 40% off." And in the lavender color that I liked the most, they had exactly one pair left in my size. So I bought them – for a very reasonable $27.
I LOVE my new slippers. They are cozy, pretty, and sooooo comfortable:
And even better, they have non-slip rubber soles, with no holes in them:
And even better than THAT, I have them right NOW, and I am wearing them every day. (And yes, in case you're wondering, I did throw the old ones away).
In the end, of course, we're just talking about a silly pair of slippers. But the experience was a good reminder for me that if seeking perfection becomes your entire focus, you're a) probably never going to achieve it, and b) you will spend way too much time during that process living with circumstances or things you really need to release.
What about you? Is there an area in your life where you are seeking the perfect something, to the point where you're living without something you could really use right now? Share in the comments if you feel so inclined!
For those of you who have been following my posts on the Tiny Homes site, just letting you know I've got a new one up now – check it out here:
I've been asked a lot lately how it feels to finally be out of debt. And my first response is always the truth – that it feels amazing, great, a total relief!
But what I usually say next, because it is also the truth, is that life doesn't feel that much different yet. In fact, we're guessing it will be a few months before we really start to feel like we can relax financially. To get out of debt, we put every spare cent we had towards our credit cards, which means we were frequently down to our last couple dollars at the end of the month. As a result, there is no extra "fun" money cushion available to us at the moment, and we actually had some significant expenses this month that were planned and expected, but need to be paid all the same. For instance, we had to do some repairs to the duct work in our house after we discovered one had come loose and we were paying to heat the crawl space instead of the house, which cost about $500. We put off Stella's annual shots and vet exam for a couple months due to our finances, which we felt really anxious and guilty about, so we said we'd make it happen this month no matter what and we did – to the tune of about $250 bucks. So we may not have to come up with our usual credit card payment anymore, but we still do have to come up with close to $1,000 this month. I'm just grateful we don't have to come up with the credit card payment ON TOP of that.
So yeah…life is not all that different for the most part.
But there is one effect of being debt-free that HAS surprised me – knowing we will soon have some discretionary income again has made me want to get rid of more stuff! I had felt pretty plateaued out on the whole purging process, and felt like maybe I had finally reached my lagom in certain categories. But right after we got out of debt, I suddenly felt this surge of of wanting to get rid of things, especially where my clothing was concerned. Weird, right?
Well, maybe not. Because when I think about it, much of the reason I was holding on to some items was because I wasn't sure how long it would be until we were out of debt and I was no longer on such a strict shopping lockdown. I was hesitant to throw out too many of my clothing options when I knew I couldn't buy something new if I got bored. And that fear made me clingy.
But knowing that it's now an option (within reason) to replace something that is worn out, or to add a new item to my closet that I really love and think I will use, made me start to reevaluate things I've hung onto that I don't love as much. Also, the weather in Portland has been absolutely glorious, so a couple weeks ago I took my spring/summer stuff out of storage and retired my heavier winter clothes. As I was about to hang each stored piece back into the closet, I really took a minute to decide if I still loved each garment, and in several cases the answer was either "no" or "eh…I dunno."
This time, instead of doing what I've always done – which is to just shove everything back in the closet anyway – I decided if the item wasn't a definite "I love it" piece, I would test drive it. I would wear the item as soon as possible, and if it was uncomfortable, or didn't really suit my lifestyle anymore, or made me feel frumpy, or dove me crazy in any way, it had to go.
It proved to be a great exercise. Some items I only wore half a day before I couldn't stand it anymore and changed into something else. Some things didn't even make it past getting dressed in the morning and checking my reflection before they landed in the giveaway pile. In truth, I was probably being super duper extra critical of everything, but I don't think that's a bad thing in my case. As someone who has been prone to emotional and impulse buying, it's good for me to practice being really, REALLY critical of purchases, whether that's before I buy them (preferably), or admitting that they were mistakes after the fact and letting that acknowledgement make me more cautious moving forward. I found myself learning a TON about what I really love and want, and what I need to carefully consider and avoid the next time I'm about to buy.
For instance, I've been a such a sucker for a sale in the past, that I've been known to buy things that aren't my actual size, thinking I may take them to a tailor, or that the fit isn't as bad as I think it is. The items I test drove reminded me that I will pretty much NEVER take something to the tailor (because I'm lazy), and the fit is absolutely as bad as I think it is. As a result I barely wear the item. Like this very cute blouse from Anthropolgie:
It was on sale, and I loved it. But it was one size above my usual size. I bought it anyway, and then every time I wore it, I spent a lot of time checking to make sure the neckline was still in place (it often wasn't). It looked great if I stood perfectly still, but as soon as I did something crazy, like, you know, move around, I was showing the world my cute blouse AND my cute bra. Classy.
Also, both these skirts have been hanging in my closet for years:
I don't wear them that often. Why? Because despite the way I WISH my body was shaped, my actual shape does not look good in a skirt that's cut like this. Again, if I stand perfectly still, it looks great. As soon as I start walking though, skirts like this start inching up around my hips and I spend all day tugging them back down. They're meant to hit just above the knee, but frequently on me, they scrunch up to miniskirt length. I did make it through a whole day in the brown skirt, but it made me miserable and when I got home, I immediately took it off and threw it in the giveaway pile.
This shirt is a perfect example of how shopaholic crazed I can get sometimes:
I saw it online, and it was on sale. I dawdled about buying it for a couple days, but then decided I was going to get it, because it was the style I was looking for, I loved the color, and it was on sale. But when I went back to the website to purchase it, they no longer had it in my size. Suddenly I went from wanting the shirt in a nonchalant way, to an obsessive, white hot panic to track down another one just like it at any cost. I trolled the web for a couple days and found another one for double the price of the one that had been on sale, and was just about to buy it, when I happened to check back with the initial website, and they suddenly had it available in my size again. I triumphantly bought it, and was so excited to get it…until it arrived. It was much cuter online than in person – in person it was much boxier, and the neckline was a lot lower than I'd realized. Much like the blouse mentioned above, every time I wore it I found myself checking to see if my bra was showing. I kept it for longer than I should have, trying to convince myself I liked it, because when I thought about the fervor with which I'd pursued it, I felt stupid. But that's the trouble with keeping things that make you feel that way – every time you look in your closet, they mock you and remind you of your mistake. I decided it was better to admit my error and get rid of it, rather than have to look at it every day and feel guilty.
In the end, the size of the pile I amassed really surprised me:
But I didn't feel hesitant about getting rid of any of it. I took it to resale and walked out with $84, which I've used to replace some of my worn out basic summer staples like shorts and t-shirts. Everything I bought I found on incredible sales ($8.99 for some summer t-shirts at J. Crew, are you kidding me???), and I love the colors I chose, the quality of the items, and how they fit.
I have less stuff in my closet now than I've ever had, and while there still may be a few "on the fence" items lurking in there, I am pretty thrilled with everything I've kept, and still feel like I have a lot of stuff – maybe even too much. It may not be be lagom yet, but it sure has been a pleasure to get dressed in the morning.
I've got a new guest post up at the tiny homes site:
It actually went live yesterday and I forgot to post about it. You know what else I forgot yesterday? That is was Ron's birthday, until I looked at Facebook and saw people wishing him a happy birthday there. The best part is, my birthday was two weeks ago and Ron did the EXACT same thing – we were up and about for a couple hours before he went on Facebook and then realized it was my birthday.
We weren't trying to be callous. It was an honest mistake on both our parts, because we decided to delay celebrating our birthdays this year until June, when we'll have more money to celebrate with. So we agreed that we wouldn't do anything for each other this month on our actual birthdays – no card, no cake, no nice dinner, no gifts. We'll do a joint celebration in June instead. As a result, when both days hit, they felt like any other day. I'm totally looking forward to our celebration in June, but I have to say, getting out of debt this month was the best present ever!
I cannot tell you how excited I am to share this story from my friend Danielle Fournier. I got a message from Danielle one day after she read one of my posts, sharing some details of her own story and I begged her to write a guest post for me. I'll go ahead and let you discover it for yourself, but I have to say, I am so inspired and humbled by Danielle's journey and her honesty about the details of how she got herself into debt and then found her way out of it. All I can say to Danielle is, "Bravo!", and to my readers, "Enjoy!":
Confessions Of A Former Shopaholic
I was once a shopaholic.
When I turned 18, I received a $3,000 credit card from my bank. I hit the ground running and didn't look back.
My first purchase was indicative of a pattern that would lead to near financial ruin fifteen years later. At the time, I lived just up the hill from Frederick & Nelson's in Seattle. I used my shiny new credit card to purchase the most useful of items- a full length silver fox fur coat. I celebrated that purchase with perfume from another department, then dinner, then a trip to the cd store. All of it was bought with money I didn't have.
Credit was cheap in the 90's. My minimum payments, which was all I ever made, were $35-$75 a month. Easily affordable for a young woman with a roommate, a decent income and no responsibilities or financial planning aspirations.
My credit was so good, I bought a house at 25. By the time I was 30, I had 12 credit cards totaling nearly $80,000 in available credit, two cars on payment, a mortgage and second mortgage. I was a model of credit worthiness, all payments made on time, month after month. My house was lovely, the rooms filled with designer sheets, seasonal decor, and collectibles. I had three sets of dishes, including a service of fine china, and closets full of fashionable clothes, most with the tags still intact. Life was good.
However, it wasn't really. I lived on credit. I had gas cards, department store cards, regular Visas and Mastercards, plus an American Express. Debit cards weren't in high use yet, but I had an active check book and ATM card. I spent money as fast as I could make it. I never, ever had more than $40 on me, because I was breaking $100s the minute I got them. But hey, the money kept coming in every month, so who cared?
Two events happened a year apart that would bring me to my financial knees and change my life forever.
On May 27, 2007, my younger brother was involved in a diving accident that would devastate our family in ways both financial and emotional. Spinal cord injuries require vast amounts of care involving medications, caregivers, and surgeries. My parents saw their retirements wiped away in a matter of months caring for their son when the insurance wouldn't cover expenses.
I found myself leaving a three generation family business to go into sales in my brother's business while we figured out what his prognosis was. Three months turned into six, then a year. I spent six days a week traveling. My bills started falling behind.
I sold my car. I used the money for something other than my bills. I stopped buying a new wardrobe every season. I kept working, but the bills kept stacking up in my new position with lower pay. As a family, we all pitched in and just made it work that first year. We all lived in a haze of sadness over the injury, but remained hopeful for both physical and financial recovery.
I received a phone call from my father in October of 2008. I had turned over my finances to him during the past year when I was working out of town. The truth is, I knew I was in trouble and I couldn't face the facts, so I just let him handle it. I completely stuck my head in the sand.
I knew what was coming. I had to sell my house.
I cried and cried and cried. I had turned a humble chalet with yellow Formica and glued down carpeting on five acres into a charming abode with high ceilings and custom wood floors. I was so proud I had done this in my twenties. I had all these things that signaled me as a success. And now I was going to part with each and every one of them.
I felt like a horrible failure. But it was the beginning of the happiest time of my life.
My beautiful little house sold in less than three weeks. I had no time to sort or even clean. Box after box went into the moving van. I had rented a tiny apartment next to my parents in Seattle that had room for a bed, a love seat, a desk and a bookcase. The kitchen was three burners, a small sink and a mini fridge. Everything else went into three 10×20 storage units.
Since the house had doubled in value, I paid all my debts off. I then closed each card, dying as I cut each one to bits over a trash can. They weren't any good anyway. I had stopped paying them three months before when I could no longer afford the payments. My cheap and easy credit had ballooned to a whopping $7,000 a month, the mortgage being the smallest of the bills. I decided wrecking my credit was favorable over not paying off the cards. With my income cut in half, my only choice was to sell everything I owned to pay the debts.
There was one beautiful, beautiful blessing in my house sale. I got to see Paris.
With all my debts paid, I had some left over. I was heartbroken over the past two years and I decided I would let my money serve me for once. I was going to make a dream come true. Stuff, no matter how fine or beautiful, has never filled me up. It has never loved me, never held me or wiped a tear, or left me in wonder after a conversation.
Thanks to a travel agent with a a huge heart and lots of experience, I was able to travel for nine weeks on a budget I had previously reserved for a weeklong soiree at a hotel. Armed with three sets of clothes and a pencil, I roved over 16 countries by myself. I came home a changed person.
It turns out, the worst thing that ever happened to me was really the best thing to ever happen. Strangely enough, letting go gave me so much more than I ever dreamed of. I only pay cash now for anything, preferably with real paper money. Now, when I want to buy a pair of shoes, I do so without remorse or guilt. But I have a rule, for each one that comes in, one item must leave my closet. I have learned to create and respect boundaries with my stuff, which has poured over into all areas of my life.
Cutting the ties with things has opened me up to experience. My identity no longer revolves around labels, and I have found peace in simplicity. From the joy of making my own dinners to being able to afford four weeks of travel a year on a very average income (because I no longer shop frivolously), I live a life no longer tied to my financial security dictating every move I make.
And that is the greatest luxury.
D.E. Fournier's stories explore the places where the mundane and the mystical coincide in everyday life. A third generation newspaper publisher, ink is in her blood. She studied Ethnic Studies at Oregon State, before earning an MFA in Creative Writing from Full Sail University. She lives in Seattle. Read her travel blog at http://farandawaytravelblog.blogspot.com/
I was just realizing that it's been a long time since I've written anything – in fact it's been over a month! This is mostly due to the fact that all I've done lately is work and pay down debt, which means my life has been boring and uneventful. I've done some minor league paring down here and there, but nothing interesting enough to generate a blog post.
A couple days ago though, I was on my way home when I remembered that the previous week's meal plan had run out and it was my responsibility to figure out what we were having for dinner that night. I was going to drive past the grocery store on the way home, so I figured I might as well stop and do the shopping while I was already out and about. As I started to get out of the car though, I found myself automatically reaching for my shopping list and coupons, and then I realized that I didn't have either of those things, because I hadn't done an official meal plan for the week. I also hadn't checked recipes for ingredients, taken stock of what was in the fridge or cupboards, or gone through my coupon stash. I hesitated, feeling unsure if I should even go in, but I had snagged a great parking spot, so I decided to brave it.
Keep in mind, it's only been for the past year that I have been doing meal plans/shopping lists/coupons. Prior to this year I would stop at the store much like I was about to do – with absolutely no plan of what I was going to buy, counting on the contents of the store shelves to inspire me. I figured it would be fine – I'd managed to feed myself all those years before, and back then I was often going shopping after a long day of work and rehearsal, when I was already exhausted and brain dead. If I could pull together a week's worth of groceries in that frame of mind, how hard could it be now?
Forty five minutes later, I was still wandering the aisles of the store like a zombie, staring blankly at all the food, with no solid plan for dinner that night. In my cart I had two boxes of Kleenex (I had a cold last week), a roll of paper towels, a package of marked down Reeses' Peanut Butter Eggs, and a bottle of shampoo for Ron. With the exception of the candy, there was no actual food in my cart. I had been up and down pretty much every aisle at least twice, but couldn't make a single decision about what to buy, for a few reasons:
- I knew had coupons at home for things like pasta, chicken, bread and frozen vegetables, so I didn't want to buy any of those items on this trip when I knew I could save money on them
- I couldn't remember what produce we already had in the fridge, and didn't want to buy more than we could eat in a week and have the excess rot
- I couldn't remember my and Ron's schedules for the week, so I didn't know how many meals I actually had to plan vs. meals where leftovers or something from the freezer would suffice
- For every dinner idea I could think of, I knew there were items I wasn't going to be able to remember, which would mean having to run back to store again before dinner if I'd forgotten anything
Add to all this the fact that it is the end of the month, and I knew we only had about $60 in our checking account, so wasting money on anything we didn't absolutely need was not an option.
So I made the decision that I would only buy enough stuff to get us through dinner that night, and I would come back the next day after I'd taken the time to do a proper meal plan and shopping list. And I reminded myself that we already had a partial bag of Easter Peanut M&M's and Easter Whopper Eggs in the cupboard, so I put the Reeses's Peanut Butter Eggs back on the markdown table. I saw some ground beef that was on sale so I decided to make burritos for dinner, since I was pretty sure we had most of the other ingredients already. I checked out with a bill of about $16, which wasn't too bad, but later that night Ron had to run back to the store right before dinner and spend more money when we discovered that we had only one tortilla left in the package, and though I remembered seeing half a bag of tortilla chips in the cupboard, he'd somehow polished those off when I wasn't looking.
It was a revelation to me that my new habits around grocery shopping were suddenly so much stronger than my old ones. The amount of money we've saved on groceries in the past year, along with the fact we no longer waste food has been a very positive change in our household. We have also found it a relief to know what is for dinner every night, so when we're hungry and grumpy at the end of the day we don't have to ransack the cupboards or navigate the store with all the other hungry grumpy people. I'm all for spontaneity and satisfying in the moment cravings, but when it comes to staying on budget, and not being wasteful, I definitely feel my new habits are the way to go.
The next day I went to the store, meal plan made and shopping list in hand. I was in and out of the store in a painless and focused ten minutes, and this time, everything in my cart was food:
Believe it or not, combined with some of the food we already have and need to use up, it's enough food to get us through to the end of month before payday. We will use every bit of it. The total bill was $25.31 (about half of what was left in our bank account). I actually didn't have any coupons for what I was buying this trip, but I felt better knowing I had at least checked to be sure.
I am still work in progress around this whole lagom quest, and I still make a lot of mistakes. But this week taught me that at least in ONE area of my life, I am now sincerely living by lagom values.


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About IBC
Newly Diagnosed?
Treatment Info
IBC Foundation
Bonnie's Story
I was diagnosed with breast cancer on Dec. 8, 1993. I had turned 50 just two months before. I had regular checkups and periodic mammograms--the previous one, in the spring of 1993, came back fine. Towards the fall, I began to notice that my left breast felt a bit swollen and painful, but I'd had this before and thought it would go away by itself eventually as it had in the past.
I had just switched to a new ob/gyn and my next appointment was set for December and I figured if I still had the problem, she would address it then. But I couldn't wait that long. By Columbus Day weekend I was so uncomfortable I had to sleep with a pillow under my left arm and could not lie on my stomach.
When I woke up one morning with what looked like a black and blue mark the size of a half-dollar on my breast, I arranged to have a mammogram nine months after the last one. I never even called the doctor. About a week later, I was asked to come in for some additional views of that breast. Two weeks a doctor called and said the radiologist saw something "that might not be cancer" but should be checked by a surgeon.
I've read in more than a few places that inflammatory breast cancer is often mistaken for benign breast disease or for a less aggressive form of bc. My surgeon's comment after he looked at the slide and examined me was, "We're going to do a biopsy, but I've seen enough of these. You have breast cancer." I still shiver at the memory.
The following week, after the biopsy confirmed the ibc, I spent a day meeting with my team: radiation oncologist, medical oncologist, psychologist, and nurses. I had six cycles of CAF at three- to four-week intervals from late December through April (with a noticeable reduction in the swelling by the time I came back for the second cycle), and an mrm in June 1994; none of my lymph nodes was positive. I expected to then begin CMF and to complete the treatment with radiation. But the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester, where everything was being done, had just opened its new bone marrow unit to bc patients and I was recommended for the procedure. After a series of tests and consultations I was accepted and underwent an autologous bone marrow transplant in September 1994. I had my stem cells removed by pheresis in August and had my bone marrow harvested under general anesthetic on Sept. 8, 1994. I received cytoxan, thiotepa and carboplatin for four days and the stem cell/marrow mix was reinfused on Sept. 16. I came home on Oct. 2--25 days after I was admitted.
I was one of the fortunate people who had almost no side effects from any of the treatment. The little nausea I had during the six cycles of chemo was controlled with Zofran--so well that my husband and I went for dinner after my Friday afternoon treatment--and I drove myself in for the last four cycles. I worked until noon on Friday, drove the short distance to the hospital, and often did errands on the way home. I was back at my desk on Monday.
I had no hair for 14 months but my friends and colleagues were kind and convinced me they couldn't tell I was wearing a wig. I had no side effects in the BMT unit either -- except for continuous nausea and vomiting once the HDC got hold of me. The nurses said I would not have suffered so much if I had been willing to accept IV medication for it but it made me groggy so I refused any anti-nausea meds that weren't in pill form.
I returned to work full time exactly four months after my transplant and have not had any significant problems since. I ended my protocol with approximately seven weeks of radiation. I am now taking Tamoxifen and Fosamax. I feel wonderful!
I credit my success to a surprising tolerance for the chemo side effects that enabled me to continue my life with only minor disruptions; to my husband and children and family and friends who continue to be my cheering section; and, most important during this challenging treatment, to a medical team I believed in and who believed in me.
In December 1999 it was six years since I learned I had inflammatory breast cancer. I am very much alive and very much the daughter/sister/wife/mother/friend and colleague I was before I was diagnosed--experiencing the joys and meeting the challenges of day-to-day living--just like everyone else.
The words I live by are from writer/reporter Linda Ellerbee: "Breast cancer is part of my past and may be part of my future, but it's certainly not who I am. And while I don't expect to live forever, one can always hope."


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Crispy Pan-Fried Pork Chops
From Shake and Bake Reinvented
Why This Recipe Works
Using boneless center-cut loin chops kept our crispy pan-fried pork chops recipe fast and easy. Cornstarch formed an ultra-crisp sheath and gave the pork chops a light and crisp casing. Buttermilk brought a lighter texture and tangy flavor to the breading, and minced garlic and mustard perked up the breading's flavor. Crushed cornflakes added a craggy texture to the pork chops, especially once we added cornstarch to them before dredging the meat. Finally, we found two ways to ensure our breading stayed strongly adhered to the pan-fried pork chops: We gave the meat a short rest and lightly scored the pork chops before adding them to the pan.
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Today, you assume the role of either a Spartan or an Athenian hoplite during the Persian Wars. You will write a series of journals outlining your experiences in the crucial battles of this monumental conflict. As a nice bonus, you will learn the meaning of the name Kratos (God of War, anyone?).
Each entry should be roughly 4-5 sentences long. Remember that your goal is to understand this content; thus, it is your responsibility to include relevant facts and details.
Write one journal for each topic below. I've given you the page references next to each entry.
- What exactly is a hoplite? (oops…I can't remember the page number..). Feel free to include what you are about to learn about Spartan life.
- A section explaining Greek unity (119-121)
- The Battle of Marathon (121)
- Thermopylae (122)
- Salamis
- Plataea (123)


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So two janitors work on a Death Star like space vessel. Their friends include a couple of clones, a hot female android, and a human female worker. Find out what happens when their crew interfaces with a rebel prisoner in Episode 7 of Space Janitors, one of our two favorite scripted web series. The other being "The Guild" written by Felicia Day.
The Space Janitors production team just wrapped shooting Season 2 and will debut the episodes on the Geek & Sundry web site presumably in the spring.