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Our office has been under construction for the past few months, but we are now officially over construction. Hallelujah! This is what my area looked like in 2010 (and for many, many years prior).
Then, once construction started, it looked like this. I basically had to work in the heart of a massive construction zone for a long time. Luckily, I only sustained one minor injury when I tripped over some scaffolding and tore my jeans as I skinned my knee. Really, my pride took nearly as big of a bruising as my poor patella. Shame, shame.
After my old desk was removed, I spent a few weeks working from a temporary desk that was hanging out in the middle of nowhere. In the midst of a very limited work space and an excessive amount of exposed cords and wires, I was able to show off some flowers that my daddy sent me in order to make the chaotic office seem a little bit more homey! Thanks, Dad!
But now look at it! Instead of having to walk through two doors and a small closet to settle into my tiny area, I can now just walk right on back to my easily accessible, giant workspace! Talk about the luxury! (However, I'm noticing that other people also have found easy access behind my desk and are taking the liberty upon themselves to come on back as they desire. That's definitely gunna take some getting used to.)
Furthermore, check out
my living room the lobby! I'm totally digging the new furniture and artwork. But most of all, I love the super convenient refreshment station for our clients! Before, I'd have to walk all the way to the kitchen in the back to get them a cup of coffee, bottle of water, or soft drink. But with this handy dandy area, they can help themselves to a drink and can even make a single cup of coffee. Convenient, indeed!
We're definitely not completely finished. We still need to put our sign up on the wall behind my desk and cabinet doors on my shelves, get a coffee table, a couple lamps, some plants, and artwork on another (unfeatured in this post) wall. But I'm just glad to officially be over construction. The accessorizing stage is a very welcome, calmer portion of the remodeling process. Finally. It feels so nice to be settling in.
However, I'm not going to lie. I'm already terribly missing the freedom to wear jeans to work. Oh well. I guess it's a fair tradeoff that was bound to happen.
However, I'm not going to lie. I'm already terribly missing the freedom to wear jeans to work. Oh well. I guess it's a fair tradeoff that was bound to happen.


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Attendance was at record numbers over the winter holiday in Denmark. So much so, that the two biggest blockbusters were Danish and the domestic market share was 51%. According to FAFID, the Danish association of film distributors, a total of 1 245 123 tickets were sold over the winter holiday, the highest number in the last 8 years.
The two top blockbusters were Mikkel Serup and Nordisk Film's comedy The Reunion 2 – The Funeral, and Giacomo Campeotto and Asa Film Production's family film Father of Four – Uncle Sofus Returns. The Reunion 2 sold 413,000 tickets over the winter holiday for current total admissions of 443,000. The first film in Nordisk Film's "Reunion" series, premiering in 2011, sold 517,000 tickets.
Check out the DFI for more information and statistics!
The Reunion 2: DFI Factsheet | IMDB
Father of Four – Uncle Sofus Returns: DFI Factsheet

subset: commoncrawl


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16 days (18 with extension)
Group size: 15-38 travelers
Sample the continent's most culture-packed, historically rich regions.
On this sweeping tour, world-famous sights like Big Ben, the Eiffel Tower, and the Colosseum are just the beginning of what you'll experience. Get a taste of several languages and cultures as you journey from Great Britain to France to the Netherlands, travel across Germany, and continue through Switzerland and Italy.
Your tour package includes
Included highlights
Tour pace
On this guided tour, you'll walk for at least 2 hours daily across moderately uneven terrain, including cobblestone streets, with some hills and stairs.
Day-by-day itinerary including excursion and extension details
A look at the on-tour experience
Preview our frequently used
hotels for this tour
4.7 Average
Weather, cuisine, travel documents, and more


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According to Alliance Defending Freedom: "A student who fails use a preferred pronoun can be punished if a school official determines that such actions create an intimidating or hostile educational environment." Read the entire ADF legal memo here. Read: First...read more
Forcing California Values on Nevada's Schools
This Thursday, August 30th, the Legislative Commission will make the final decision on whether or not the new mandates are implemented on all Nevada schools.read more
CCSD Exposed
Clark County School District Exposed Can you Help with the Fight for Privacy? Can you Help with the Fight for Privacy? We knew that the poll we had conducted would help us stop this policy. It was effective last night and will continue to be effective as we move...read more
School Districts are Caving on Transgender Ideology
School Districts are Caving on Transgender Ideology Do you believe public schools should allow students to use bathrooms, locker rooms, and showers based on their gender identity? Some school districts in Nevada have caved to the...read more
Criminalizing Conversation
Read: What Happens When Legislation Prevents Therapy Equality Read the complaint filed on the false claims from activists attempting to ban talk therapy. Joint Complaint Against Gay Activists with the Federal Trade Commission Criminalizing Conversation SB 201 was...read more
NFA surveyed roughly 2,200 Las Vegas, NV residents regarding additional transgender policy
Should Clark County School District create an additional gender-diverse policy on top of the current anit-bullying laws?
Should students be allowed to use the bathrooms or locker rooms of the opposite sex if they identify as such?


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Scooter Board & Scooter Board UV Fabrication Tips
Categories: Tips
Use a triple chip carbide tipped blade. The board must be held firm against the saw table to prevent chipping. Panel saws withhold downs work well.
Use a double fluted straight carbide tipped bit. Upward or downward spiral is not needed.
Drilling Holes
Use a solid backer underneath SB to prevent a blowout from the drill bit.
Swinging Signs
Hanging with an S hook use grommets in the holes.
Hand Lettering
Use 1 Shot lettering enamel for scooter board (Clean Scooter Board with 70% ethyl alcohol first).
Mix 1 Shot with one of the following:
- Turpentine
- Penetrol & Turpentine
- 6001 reducer
- One Shot Hardener
*Scooter Board UV may react adversely to any harsh chemicals. Testing is necessary on the finish.
Loctite's MS 9360 (800-562-8483) offers excellent adhesion. Other Loctite products should be tested.
Spray Painting
Matthews Paints offers excellent adhesion direct on SB.
SBUV requires testing.
Edge coating for exterior applications
Recommended for 1/8", 3/16" and ¼" in conditions having extreme humidity, salt air or chemical pollution. The edges must be protected on 1/2" Scooter Board. Some customers are using a Zinsser Bullseye 123 Primer water or oil base with good success. This is a quick drying product that can be top coated for extreme moisture resistance with exterior enamel.
Scooter Board UV is recommended for all UV printers.
Recommended Nazdar screening inks : 1800, 4000, 9600, S2 and 9700. Emulsions include IMS902.
Scooter Board is not recommended for Digital Printing.
Recommended Nazdar Screening inks: 59000, 9600, and 9700 with a 10% NB-80 catalyst. Also 1700 with a 5% NB-80 catalyst.


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Niki D'Amore lives in Toronto, Ontario. She is an ABD PhD candidate in the department of Social and Political Thought at York University. Her written work has been published in the Radical Philosophy Review and in Filozofski Vestnik. Her creative work has shown at various events and academic conferences in Canada and the United States. She is presently exploring dissociation in eating disorder with the supervisory support of Paul Antze, Shannon Bell and Meg Luxton.
Julia Li lives and works in Toronto, Ontario. Her photographic work has been featured in the Art Exhibits of Toronto Public Library. Additionally, a collection created of her collaboration with Niki D'Amore, titled How to Depict Dissociation in Eating Disorder, was featured in the Politics of Play, Graduate Research Symposium Art Exhibit (2013). Julia's subject matter ranges widely from candid documentaries to artistic creations. She captures and explores the relationships among people, environments, and communities. Her work also connects and reflects individuals' experiences and emotions.
To view images from their project click below:


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Cycling Without Age Trishaw Cycle Launch and Ride at LHI Retirement Services
June 23, 2018 from 1:30pm to 3pm
Come one, come all, to LHI's - Cycling Without Age trishaw launch and ride, at: LHI Retirement Services Hope Valley Community Centre (next to Trinity Lutheran Church) 1215 - 1217 Grand Junction Road Hope Valley, Saturday 23 June. Speeches 1.30 to 2 pm. Roll out and ride with 4 trishaws at 2 to 2:30 pm from the Hope Valley Community Centre and along Australia Avenue, Hope Valley.Bring your bike and join the celebration ride - guaranteed to be lots of fun.Special guest will be Cycling Without…See More


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On November 3rd, Google's had a opening ceremony of their new Los Angeles office designed by the Frank Gehry-designed. Among those who were presented at the opening ceremony include: LA's mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Susan Wojcicki, senior vice president of advertising at Google.
The new LA office, a home to 500 googlers, consolidating operations that were previously spread-out among three different offices in Santa Monica into the new "Binoculars" building in Venice Beach.
Here is a photo tour of the event:
Exterior of Google LA.
You enter the offices through the Google Doodle Museum, a hallway filled with Google's doodles over the years.
Another hallway features a chalkboard where a Googler has already been creative. Note the head of the surfing robot is actually a light fixture.
Villaraigosa welcoming Wojcicki and Google to LA. Wojcicki reflected both on her time as a student in Southern California at UCLA and how Google's start in the area began with its acquisition of Applied Semantics. Both Google and Applied Semantics were working with contextual ads, at the time. Google later adopted the name Applied Semantics was using for its program, AdSense.
One of the outside spaces, with a beach theme. The real beach is about two blocks away. Employees can rent boards at Google, if they want to surf.
Note the "Hang 10 to the 100&Prime on the board. Not sure who all the signatures are from; pretty sure this board was a fixture in one of the old Google offices in Santa Monica."
Every use the AdWords Keyword Tool? Of course you do. A huge chunk of the team that makes that tool possible work out of the new office, just some of whom are pictured here.
Offices and workspaces have names after LA locations or movies. Above, Griffith Observatory.
The Hollywood Sign conference room.
Inside the Hollywood Sign room. Someone asked if that was a real Warhol of Jackie Kennedy.
The Randy's Donut room.
Each of the lenses of the "binocular" that was out front are small meeting rooms.
Another shot of inside the binocular, looking up.
Between the "lenses" of the binoculars, the space is given over to a recreation area complete with Xbox, Wii, Ms. Pacman and a pool table. Note the "Google" logo spelled out with pillows against the window.
Rack 'em up. The pool table features a new Google LA logo.
[ (Danny Sullivan)]


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Having the right perspective, and plenty of patience, are necessary traits for investing in commercial real estate. Experts say that success in commercial real estate investments requires the willingness to spend a lot of time and effort upfront in researching, developing the right relationships and identifying the right type of investment. See the following article from REIClub for more on this.
Most real estate investors get started buying single-family houses, probably because it's what we're the most familiar with. But whether you're going straight to the big time or are ready to advance from houses to larger (and more profitable) deals, here are 10 time-tested guidelines to follow that will help you have more success.
Tip #1: Think Big
If buying a 5-unit apartment requires you to get commercial financing, which is more of a hassle, then why bother? I would recommend buying properties with at least 10 units. Remember that the more units you buy, the cheaper they are per unit. Also, Dave Lindahl has been quoted as saying, "It's no harder to manage 50 units than it is 10."
Tip #2: Take Your Time
Commercial deals take longer than single-family houses do. They take longer to purchase, renovate, and get sold. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but something to keep in mind so that you don't get impatient or rush into a bad decision. Think of commercial deals as big bonuses or your retirement vehicle, not a way to create quick cash to pay the bills.
Tip #3: Don't Choose Apartments By Default
There's nothing wrong with investing in residential apartments per se. I'm just pointing out that since most investors are already comfortable with residential property, they tend to look for apartments without considering the other types of commercial property, such as office buildings, industrial, mobile home parks, land, etc. Weigh all of these property types and choose your own niche based on whatever will help you reach your unique goals, regardless of your comfort zone.
Tip #4: Be Prepared to Spend a Lot of Time at First
Fight the temptation to get discouraged if you haven't done your first deal yet, or if you are spending more time per deal than your previous ones. Houses are so similar that it's easy to make a cookie-cutter system for buying and selling them. When I begin looking for commercial properties, I was surprised at how long it took me in the beginning to screen deals and make offers. Just remember that there is a learning curve, like with anything else, and that things will go faster over time.
Tip #5: Learn the new formulas
If you're buying houses, you may use certain formulas, like buying at 75% of After-Repaired Value, minus estimated repairs. Commercial property will have new and different formulas to get used to, such as Net Operating Income and Cap Rates. Learn what is considered good in your area and get familiar with them when making offers.
Tip #6: Relationships Are Even More Important
Relationships with other investors and private lenders are important when buying houses, but they are even more so when buying commercial properties. For one, properties costing a million dollars or more are probably within the financial wherewithal of most of us individually, so you probably have no choice but to get to know and work with partners. Also, many commercial properties are sold without being listing first, so the more people in your network who know what you're looking for, the more deals you'll find.


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Separate names with a comma.
Discussion in 'Video' started by tonybelding, Nov 5, 2007.
Nice 'rim shot' when Zak says "we are actually going to sell these to people" (comparing to EV1)
To Tesla company Roadster drivers
The first shot of the car racing to camera is grossly irresponsible.
To all employees of Tesla motors.
You are a new and young company trying hard to passionately sell a groundbreaking product that is environmentally responsible. The Tesla Roadster and all of it's successors, will surely be accountable for saving lives globally, but do not make the mistake of forgetting that a car is a deadly weapon.
As you meet with Photographers, News Crews, and Production Companies, there will always be tremendous pressure to "get the shot" and indeed your own zeal will drive you to put the car in an exciting light as well. But be aware that Shooting crews will ask you to do risky things like driving the Roadster at or near a cameraperson or crew in an unsafe way. This is not EVER necessary.
The shot in the Mahalo piece is speeded (sped) up for added excitement but driving a car towards a human being is inexcusable. The obvious chance for a mechanical failure or more likely, human error is simply not worth it. There is not any piece of film that is worth the life or limb of a person. Additionally, there is not any shot that cannot be done in a safe way. Unmanned cameras are an easy way to get exciting footage and the Mahalo shot could have been done on a crane arm.
An accident is unthinkable but consider the worst for a moment. Besides bringing harm to one or more individuals, the insurance liability, possible arrest for gross negligence http://www.lectlaw.com/def/g020.htm or manslaughter, http://www.lectlaw.com/def2/m013.htm , and the poor press, imagine the lifelong sick feeling everyone involved would have after a pointless incident where someone is harmed or killed.
There is great pressure for a Director, Camera crew and Producers to get a unique shot and they will often be willing to put themselves at risk. But you as a concerned Tesla employee can be equally passionate about the safety of individuals as you are about making a car that will save the planet.
It was a bit startling. It caused me a moment of unease. Probably it was intended to. But. . . Grossly irresponsible? I don't get it.
It was a camera. They drove the car toward a camera. There's nothing to show that the camera was manned. There's no reason why it should have been.
I assumed they used a simple tripod. That's how I would have got the shot.
"There's nothing to show that the camera was manned."
You kind of have to do some camera forensics looking at every frame. The first shot is continuous. It never cuts away.
It starts with a zoom out then goes to a tilt down and then the "camera" walks around to the Host. Clearly a handheld (Human at risk) camera shot.


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I'm Josh Plooster, currently a software engineer with Brady Corporation. I am a recent graduate of the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, with a degree in Computer Science and an emphasis in networks. I am passionate about working closely with consumers to solve difficult software design and implementation challenges. I love technology, and am always looking to learn and experience it in new ways.
I am a web designer, software developer, release engineer, and tech junkie. When not building software or tackling engineering challenges, I enjoy skiing (water or snow), tennis, basketball, and a juicy New York Strip. I am always up for an adventure, and no matter what I do, I ultimately want to better myself and all those around me.
Software Engineer - Polaris Industries
Software Engineer - Brady Corporation
PHP Development Consultant - Deluxe Corporation
Lead Developer - Delivered
Configuration Management Intern - Pearson Vue
Project Management Intern - Pearson Vue
Technology Support Representative - University of Minnesota
Sales Associate - Best Buy
Bachelor of Science, Computer Science
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN
C#, .NET, Mono
Xamarin / Xamarin.Forms
Visual Studio / VSO
JavaScript, jQuery
Intel XDK/Cordova/PhoneGap
Git, BitBucket, Visual Studio Online
Have a project in mind? Interested in working together? Hit me up on one of the following channels. I am always interested in new ideas and opportunities.


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DONCASTER, Other
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Now signed to Nub Country Records Sick Note Tez is an ex punk band guitarist, garage band lead vocalist and ska band guitarist/vocalist who had had enough of being in bands and decided to go solo with his electro-acoustic geetar . Sick Note Tez writes songs about politics, war, love, peace, supermarkets, drunken women, the environment, corrupt politicians, stealing drinks, animal cruelty, Bullying, jealousy, science fiction and everything else in-between, he gets angry, soppy, melancholic, wishful, doubtful, happy, silly and bashful in equal measures he primarily uses Folk Country and Punk, occasionally laced with a dash of Reggae, Ska, pop and rock n roll when the mood so takes him. He is a bit of a lefty and proud of it, he is also as they say 'no spring chicken.
'They tax the poor they feed the rich let's bomb the house let's burn the witch, go get your gun cos the revolution's begun'. Sick lyrics from Sick Note Tez.
Tez keeps the songs simple and catchy there are no fiddly intricate finger picking styles here neither are there any wine glass shattering F# descending x-factor vocal athletics on parade either, he hates that sort of thing plus he can't do them anyway.
Tez's songs are about life, simple as.


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One common female trait is to have full, plump lips. In contrast to men, women generally have a more full-bodied vermillion—the red, fleshy band of the lips, and a fuller vermillion border—the fine-lined edge between the edge of the lips and the skin.
Dr. Bensimon addresses this issue with Juvederm or Restylane, and could be conducted while awake. Alternatively, fat from the thighs or abdomen could be harvested and injected into the lips. This method must be performed under general anesthetic and is best combined with another procedure. In some cases a second injection may be required.
Other FFS Surgeries
Bichat Fat Pad Resection
With age, the fatty area located directly under the check bones will begin to decrease…
Chin Reduction or Augmentation
The chin is an excellent indication of gender—with women the chin is oval, soft and small…
Mandibular Angle Resection
For patients that have a more square jaw, a mandibular angle resection of is an extremely…
Nose Reshaping – Rhinoplasty
Also known as Nasal Feminisation Surgery, rhinoplasty originates from the Greek word 'rhino'…
Booking a consultation with Dr. Bensimon
Whether for one or other of the care we provide, do not hesitate. Contact us to schedule your consultation with Dr. Eric Bensimon.


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These days, it can be tricky to decide which electronic products to buy especially if you don't know much about them, except you want something great without spending a fortune. Check the Top-Rated … [Read more...]
Home Theater Receiver Reviews for 2014-5
People want to have the best home entertainment system, and the only way to get this is by carefully choosing each component of the entertainment system. Buying the same brand of TV and speakers do … [Read more...]
Bose Sound Bar: Reviews 2014-15
If you want a great soundbar for your home and have decided on a solid Bose, check out the following top notch options. As you know sandbars are a great opportunity for have powerful sound with … [Read more...]
What is the Best Sound Bar for the Money? 2014
In a world where advanced technology is often equated with how compact a product is while still packing in awesome features, the best sound bar for the money needs to be a mean all-in-one device that … [Read more...]
What are the Best Soundbars for the Money in 2014?
Need a Great Soundbar? Adding a soundbar speaker to your high definition TV or home theater system will give you the pleasure of listening to unadulterated sound. However, you will be confronted … [Read more...]
Top 10 Sound Bars 2014
If you are looking for a great list of sound systems to buy, check out out Top 10 Sound Bars on the market right now. Check out the best sound bars to buy on the market today These are chosen … [Read more...]
What's the Best Soundbar for Music 2014?
The best soundbar for music is just out there for you audiophiles to find. Soundbar systems combine all the major elements of a full home theater package minus the bulk, the clutter and the wires. … [Read more...]
What is the Best Value Sound Bar in 2014?
A best value sound bar gives you two things in one: a complete home theater package and greater affordability. If it is value for money you seek, you'd best get a sound bar system that packs in all … [Read more...]


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How can one use PhysDep? You can either SURF by 'mouse-and-klick' to the continent in mind and its countries and their physics institutions and then in their WWW-Server until you find the information you are looking for.
Or you can SEARCH by typing your query into the search field. This can be done either by simple search (just type in the words you are looking for, or specify your query by usage of Boolean operators (AND, OR).
The system returns a list of 'hits' onto your screen. Although the information for each hit may look to you 'ugly', it does give a link to a page on the server of a physics institute which seems to contain the words of your query. It also gives the link to the host of that page and some additional information to assist you in obtaining an answere of your query.
The depth of information reached by PhysDep differs at present in different countries and sites: Worldwide we scan just the home page and the linked pages (depth 1), in Europe we achieved depth 2, in Germany depth 3, and in some places (thanks to their active cooperation) full depth (27 Departments and Institutes in Germany, all in Ireland).
How to improve the visibility of your own Institution? By installing a local 'gatherer' (a HARVEST based local search engine which produces an index file to be exported automatically to the distributed network of PhysDep). The installation is simple and does not take much computing time or disk space. (A detailed help text for the operator is available).
The great advantage for the department or institution of installing a local gatherer is that the institution itself can decide which information on their local server should be accessed by external search engines (such as information on research fields, etc.) and which not (such as meeting dates). In addition, all information stored deeper inside (more clicks to reach from the homepage) will be uncovered and found.
In the unlikely event, your institution is missing from this services, there is an Upload Form to inform us about links to your homepage, your publication archive and to keep these links up to date.
PhysNet is a fully 'democratic service': No central database is kept. No central server is necessary. Instead any institution or nation or institute can set up a Harvest broker (a programme, answering queries), and let it be registered by the EPS services. These brokers then share the workload of answering queries from anywhere and have contact to all the local gatherers. This network of brokers and gatherers is thus less vulnerable (any broker can take over the load of any other broker).
The responsibility (quality check) and integrity of the material retrieved rests with the local Physics Institutions servers. Thus it is important that the list contains only Institutes registered by the societies.
We thus call for local institutions in physics to set up a gatherer and for national societies or regional institutions to set up a broker and thus share the workload.
PhysNet PhysDep PhysDoc Journals Conferences PhysJobs Education Upload Form Services Links


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I watch a lot of "makeup collections", "makeup organization" videos on youtube. I like seeing how girls organize their makeups and I got to admit, those type of videos made me get into these whole "makeup trying" thing. I have a small "collection" (err..I don't know if mine qualify as "collection" since I don't really "collect") and organizing them AND seeing them organized has been one of my favorite stress reliever. If you are a guy or just someone NOT vain DON'T even try to understand…just leave me be, key???
One thing I see a lot in these videos are the MUJI drawers such as this:
Those girls who have this would always talk how they have SAVED so much because it's a dupe of another acrylic drawers that was popularized by the infamous Kardashian sisters (which I'm NOT and will never be a fan of in anyways..no offense meant if you are).
But here in the Phils this MUJI drawers cost around Php1200 and that is still too much for makeup storage…at least for cheap people like me HAHA!.
But this weekend I found THIS!
This my friend cost me………..NOTHING as in 0.What is it??
wait for it….
2 empty Ferrero container stacked together hehe ^_^ OK so you may not really spend "0" since a box of this would cost around Php1000 but HEY, you like get, what..48pcs of yummy chocolates plus both of these were gifted to me so I really did spend 0 on this.
Since this container is not meant to be stacked on each other they kinda get detached easily so arranging the items in the bottom container can be a challenge. For me, I just put stuff that I don't reach for all the time like samples, backups and travel stuff.
Not as pretty as the MUJI one, pero puede di ba??? ~.^
Hope you liked it,


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I can truly say that YSL Touche Eclat Radiant Touch is like having a magic wand at your fingertips.
I have one these in my professional makeup case and have discovered countless ways to use it.
This instant highlighter banishes shadows, erases signs of fatigue and leaves your skin looking rested, rejuvinated, and radiant.
With just a few clicks of this pen-brush; applied around the eye area, the hollow of the chin, the contour of the lips and the sides of the nose, ensures a fresh glow to the entire face.
Touch Eclat can be used alone, or under or over foundation.
It comes is three shades: luminous radiance, luminous ivory, light peach, and luminous toffee.
Suitable for all skin types.
Price: $40.00
Loved by models, makeup artists, celebrities, and women everywhere, this award-winning Yves Saint Laurent product is believed to be the one item no woman can be without.
Touche Eclat can be purchased at Neiman Marcus and Amazon.


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Recommended Links
Marc is a tarot reader and teacher of esoteric occult arts. He began his popular Dark Moons at the former Starcrafts and has brought them and many other classes to Tree of Life.
A wonderful crystal magic site run by wonderful
(and knowledgeable) people!
The home page of author Raven Grimassi
The official website of author Jamie Martinez Wood offers insightful information on seasonal living, ritual, earth spirituality, and Wicca as well as features a monthly musing article, booksigning and classes appearance page, and information about her books: The Wicca Cookbook, The Wicca Herbal, The Teen Spell Book, and The Enchanted Diary, which embellish on her love of nature, magic, healing, and ritual, and The Hispanic Baby Name Book and The Latino Writers & Journalists that draw from her Latina roots and 200-years of Orange County residency. Coming soon: Rogelia's House of Magic, a young adult coming of age novel in which three Latina girls learn the magic of their ancestors from a Curandera who is also a Mamá.
Shamanism - Soul Retrieval - Reiki and Energy Healing
Distance and in person classes - Shamanic Journeying Class - Reiki Attunements and Training
Fostering pride in Pagan identity through education, activism, charity and community.
Promoting Religous Understanding, Tolerance, and Freedom


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"Professional, efficient, and very gracious, I have no reservations about recommending your work. And you should use them as often as you can, as I'm one VERY pleased travel dude! All of you deserve, at the very least, a huge, hearty thank you for everything you did to make this happen. I'm very happy and am already getting comments on Facebook as well as in person. I've only had the car back for an hour and a half!"
"I'm e-mailing you because I just want to say Thank you! You did an excellent job on the trailer graphics and people love it. Because of my trailer being wrapped, I have had over 800 responses on Facebook – all super positive. I also have people taking pictures of it when it's parked in a parking lot. I have had radio talk show invites and also parade invites and so many estimates for jobs for my goaties (My summer schedule is almost full!). It's all so overwhelming but I can't thank you enough for putting my thoughts and pictures on my trailer. It's perfect! Thank you for all your hard work!"
"We are extremely pleased! The wrap has exceeded our expectations! Good Job!"
"I am very impressed. Your staff and installation crew are professional beyond belief. Scott is an exceptional designer… your printers are superb…experience and attention to detail are above and beyond all expectations. I commend you for your efforts and am confident that you will find great success in the future of your business."
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As coach buses are used by many to travel throughout the country via interstate roads, it's important to note that these buses are commonly used by record companies, bands, politicians and other celebrities. In these specific cases, a promotional bus wrap can score you valuable impressions, as the destination venues of those listed above will be drawing immense crowds of their own. With bus graphics, you can simply take advantage of those valuable impressions. Our full coverage bus wraps have the highest unprompted recall of any out-of-home advertising media. Bus wraps are a key advertising promotional tool for many of our corporate customers.
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Berwick Kaler is lying flat on his stomach in a multi-storey car park in York, dressed as a Valkyrie – breastplate, horned helmet and all. Local BBC newsreader Harry Gration stands astride him, jiggling his hips and pretending to ride a horse. A naggingly familiar Korean pop track comes through the speakers. It finally becomes clear what is going on: Gangnam Style, panto-style, for a video sequence that will be inserted into the Theatre Royal's Christmas show.
"Even in the most traditional show you've got to keep an eye on whatever's current," Kaler explains afterwards. "As soon as the Gangnam craze happened I thought: that's a gift. But I'm not really part of the YouTube generation." A sturdy 67-year-old with a raucous Wearside accent, he pauses for effect. "Like I say in the script: I'm not on Facelift or anything."
Robin Hood and His Merry Mam will be Kaler's 34th pantomime for York Theatre Royal, making him by some distance Britain's longest-running panto creator (Kaler not only stars as the dame: he writes and co-directs the show). Each year, it plays to 55,000-odd people, receiving bookings from as far away as Sydney and Ohio. Partly its success is down to the fact that York likes things the traditional way, packed with local gags (ritual hurling of Wagon Wheels into the audience; Gration's presence year after year). It's also informed by slapstick and music-hall routines that go back to the great Victorian dame Dan Leno. But for many audiences it's Kaler who's key. "I have the most loyal audience any artist could wish for," he says, modestly. "But I'm famous for having worked very hard for a very long time without becoming famous at all."
Watching the first day of rehearsals is like seeing old friends at the start of a new term: Martin Barrass has been playing the dame's son for 27 years; Suzy Cooper has been principal girl for 18. Only one figure looks slightly lost: new boy Jonathan Race, making his debut as the baddie, deputising for principal villain David Leonard (26 pantomimes), who this year has had to bow out. Race admits that stepping into such an illustrious production is a challenge. "I can't believe how many lines there are to learn. I've been in pantomimes before where everything is worked out from a few sheets of paper. But Berwick's script is an incredibly detailed piece of writing."
For Kaler, the pantomime year traditionally begins at the end of January, when he announces at the final performance what next year's show will be – a promise that holds until the design deadline approaches in April, when he invariably changes his mind. "I told everyone beforehand it was going to be Aladdin this year," he says. "But I've done Aladdin at least five times now. That's the challenge – keeping it the same while always making it different." So Aladdin went; in its place is an Olympic-themed version of Robin Hood, with an archery contest at its centre.
The York panto is clearly a labour of love. Unlike the generic, hired-in sets used by commercial producers, every one of the dozen backcloths and 86 costumes are made specifically for this production. Painter Matthew Grace has been locked away since August in an industrial unit covering tennis-court sized canvases on his hands and knees. "Painting a panto backdrop is basically Michelangelo in reverse," he says. "It's worth it when you see all the children looking wide-eyed at the result, but it plays havoc with your back."
Kaler himself doesn't have things much easier, wearing a sequence of hot, heavy outfits designed to make him look – this year – variously like a carrot, a giant toddler and the Olympic torch. Some of the changes have to be accomplished so fast the frocks are winched over his head in the wings; all are designed with a concealed pocket for the stash of handkerchiefs he requires to mop himself down.
And unlike other dames of his seniority, Kaler still insists on doing his own stunts. "You wouldn't believe that man has a bus pass, would you?" says co-director Damian Cruden at the technical rehearsal, as Kaler, in full fairy regalia, swings into view 20ft above the stage. Phil R Daniels, the designer, looks anxious. "Berwick promised he wasn't going to do any somersaults this year," he says. "I'm worried he's going to get his wings caught up in the wires."
Kaler, though, looks indestructible – a defiant survivor from an age before homogenised pantomimes, full of flown-in celebrities and soap stars who don't like getting wet, still less attempting anything risky on stage.
Has he ever considered retirement? "I'll stop when I can't do this sort of thing any more," he smiles. "I won't let the audience see me coming on with a Zimmer frame – unless it's part of the gag."
• Berwick Kaler appears in Michael Grade's History of the Pantomime Dame on BBC4 on 20 December.
• Guardian Extra: Win a family ticket to Robin Hood and his Merry Mam! at York Theatre Royal plus an overnight stay at The Grange hotel


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Contact: Outer Banks Group, 252-475-9034
The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse recently received a fresh coat of exterior paint making this iconic beacon stand out even more boldly against the surrounding green backdrop of oak, pine and wax myrtle vegetation.
The exterior paint project began in late April and was completed in early June.The recent work included painting all exterior lighthouse masonry and ground level foundation, painting exterior metal window and door frames, and washing all granite stones.
The contract included several phases of prep work using a work platform suspended by a system of ropes, cables and pulleys.First, the entire lighthouse was pressure washed and areas exhibiting deterioration were treated with a special sealant to limit moisture intrusion.In the final step the masonry received four coats of black and white paint for the tower and red for the foundation brickwork.
The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is the tallest brick lighthouse in North America.Constructed in 1870, it stands 198.5 feet tall and was built to help ships navigate around the dangerous Diamond Shoals offshore from Cape Hatteras giving it the reputation of "Graveyard of the Atlantic."
For more information on climbing Cape Hatteras Lighthouse see the park webpage at:
Last updated: April 14, 2015


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Be the first MLive.com user to add photos or videos of Great Oak Kitchens
Great Oak Kitchens was founded in 1979, and is located at 1048 Hayfield Rd in Rochester Hills.
Great Oak Kitchens can be found at Hayfield Rd 1048. The following is offered: Kitchen Cabinets & Counters. The entry is present with us since Sep 9, 2010 and was last updated on Nov 14, 2013. In Rochester Hills there are 6 other Kitchen Cabinets & Counters. An overview can be found here.


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A hunting we will go, high ho the dairy oh a hunting we will go. House hunting that is. As the months start dwindling down to our expected due date of being able to buy a house, the more frequently we check the market. I keep checking and checking and checking some more, and it is inevitable I fall in love with one house or another and then not even 2 days later it's status becomes that dreaded "sale pending."
It is usually me that does most of the searching and then sending along the postings that I really like to the hubsters. But there are the rare occasions when we search for houses together, which is sometimes not the best of solutions. Maybe it is time for another look at just how different our home preferences are, remember how fun the last one was?
So here are the breakdown of how we
look for hunt down houses. As always ladies first.
First things first, I punch in all my criteria: budget, how many bedrooms and bathrooms, eliminate all the town homes and condos (I want a REAL house please), and enter in the key neighborhoods we are interested in.
Sorted out by most recently added I scroll down the list looking at ones that I like visually, most of the time I am drawn to houses like these:
But sadly, most of the houses in our area and within our price range look like these:
Don't get me wrong, I can work with a ranch and I have plenty of inspiration in the last two ranches that Young House Love has rocked to fuel one ranch of my very own, but my heart will always belong to those old Craftsmen.
Then as any good mama does, she checks the schools first before scrolling through the rest of the pictures and falling in love with the house only to be soul suckingly crushed when the schools suck. We tried homeschooling and it didn't fit so a good school is majorly important.
Good school: check, now feel free to look through photos and either
a) recoil in horror
b) fall in love, only to see it is at the limit of our budget
c) fall in love, only to hear hubster reply "I don't know about it, I want a bigger yard."
d) pull out hair in frustration that I looked at picture before school data and fell in love too quickly
e) save as favorite and pray reverently that it either drops dramatically in price at the right moment or stays on the market long enough to see it in person
That is my process. And it usually ends with going to Pinterest and getting more inspiration on how to update a fixer-upper on a budget and an "Oh my chicken nuggets we are looking at buying a house, I feel like passing out" phase.
The hubster's process varies greatly from mine.
Let's start with the broadest search area possible with no limiting search data. Just imagine that good ol' needle in a haystack analogy. From there phrases like this are heard "Oh look at this one it's great, wow that's too much," "Where the heck is that located," "This one looks good, no wait it only has one bathroom."
He of course looks through ALL the pictures first and asks me if I want to save it to my list of favorites. Then comes the parade of pictures of houses ("how could you not have seen these in your search?") that I am shown were phrases like these jump off the pages (are there pages on the internet??)
"Fixer-upper" "Needs new carpets due to animal urine smell" "Unfinished basement" "In need of elbow grease"
and images like these attack my overwhelmed brain
My response: "What about the schools?" "What about the neighborhood demographics?"
Hubster: "How do you look up that information?" "Maybe you should be the one that does this and I will just follow your lead."
Ya, maybe it is better to leave the house hunting to me since I know what I will be happy with and what I will detest. Anyone else find those weird little jut-outs and cut aways in the walls annoying? Why can't walls just be straight and flush anymore? If you are trying to add character do built-ins like those dear-to-my-heart Craftsman not just make awkward spaces which limits furniture arrangement or those little spaces that are nothing more than dust collectors. Please tell me I am not the only one that feels this way. I'm not am I? Oh, well maybe it is just me and my poor little overly stimulated brain from all the horrible wallpaper and tile choices that the world of homeownership has to offer.


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Visit Fresno's Wine Country
By MEGAN EILEEN McDONOUGH
Got wine on your mind? Then Fresno is THE place to quench your thirst. Wineries are open year-round for regular tastings and tours upon request, making it easy to squeeze in a few cellar visits during your trip.
For even more wine-themed revelry, attend one of Fresno's local events. From the Madera Wine Trails' Wine and Chocolate Weekend to Yoga, Wine and Vines, there's never a dull moment in Fresno.
Engelmann Cellars
Priding themselves on being a boutique winery located in the spacious Fresno countryside, Engelmann Cellars produces quality wines from local grapes grown in the region. There's always something exciting happening here, especially when summer comes around. In fact, their special Friday-night wine tastings kick off on May 6. Bring a chair or blanket to sit on and toast to the season with fellow attendees. Make sure to try the Uber Zinfandel or Platinum Cabernet Sauvignon- both were Double Gold Medal winners at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.
Wine tastings take place every Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. or throughout the week by appointment. No reservations are needed for the weekend tastings, so enjoy your day at leisure. The climate-controlled barrel room is 65 degrees, ensuring the optimal condition for tasting the cellars' award-winning wines. If you pack a picnic ahead of time, you can camp out on the Cellar Door Patio. Pair it with a bottle of wine from their shop.
A. Nonini Winery
A. Nonini Winery's history is as flavorful as the wines they harvest. Originally from northern Italy, Antonio and Angiolina Nonini moved to California in 1910 to start a family and began planting their first vineyards eight years later. It was their son, Reno, who ultimately convinced them to start this venture in 1936. A. Nonini specializes in a variety of grapes including zinfandel, barbera, an alicante bouchet and a palomino.
After four generations, it's no wonder that A. Nonini wines are made the Old World way, with minimal preservatives and lots of fruity flavor to excite your palate. For an interactive look at the winery, schedule a tour. You'll start with a look at the 1941 Garolla grape crusher from Italy and conclude with a taste of the finished product. Otherwise, swing by for one of their wine tastings, held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
Fresno State Winery
Fresno State Winery has a lot to celebrate. They became the first university in the country to have a winery completely licensed to produce and sell wine. To mark their achievement, their first bottled wine was named after one of their professors, Dr. Vincent Petrucci. Fast forward to 2016 and they process between 18 and 22 varietals every harvest. The finished products are wine varietals placed in three classifications: TailGate, Winemaker and Reserve. The student produced wines recently won medals at the prestigious Long Beach Grand Cru Wine Competition and the Consumer Wine Awards including a gold medal and Best of Class for their Touriga wine.
If you're visiting this spring, you couldn't have planned your Fresno trip better. Join Fresno State Winery and 13 other local wineries and breweries as they kick off the season at the Roll Out the Barrels event. For a measly $5 ($10 at the door), guests have their fill of local wines and brews from the region's best tastemakers. The fun takes place Saturday, April 23, and Sunday, April 24, from noon to 5 p.m.
Moravia Wines
For great-tasting wine produced from San Joaquin Valley grapes, Moravia Wines is a must-see. Having farmed in the area for 35-plus years, it wasn't until 2012 that the winery opened to the public. In just a few years, it's already on the vino map, so to speak. Three of their vintages received medals in two different California competitions. With such a great start, the winery is well on its way to even more accolades in the coming years.
A visit to the Moravia tasting room is quite an adventure. It's located in a World War II-era farm and barn. Tastings are held every Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m., and families are welcome. Events are held throughout the year, including one for the Kentucky Derby on May 7, followed by a Mother's Day evening celebration on May 8. There's no better excuse to treat mom!
Visit Fresno County, California's year-round playground!


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£11,490 | Audi A1 1.4 TFSI Sport Sportback 5dr Petrol Manual (s/s) (118 g/km, 123 bhp)1 Private Owner/Full Audi Hist
Key factsPrint summary
Blue, £11,490
This car comes with
Automatic Start - Stop Function, DAB Digital Radio Reception, Manual Air Conditioning, Voice Control of Key Telephone and Radio Functions, 16in x 7J 5-Spoke Sport Design Alloy Wheels with 215/45 R16 Tyres and Locking Wheel Bolts, Concert Radio - Single CD Player, Two SD Card Readers, MP3 Compatibility, AUX-IN Socket, Driver Information System-3.5in Monoch. Display, Electric Windows, Front and Rear, Heat - Insulating Glass Windscreen and Side Windows, Mobile Telephone Prep. Bluetooth Interface, Thatcham Category 1 Alarm, Tyre Pressure Monitor
- 201902154976741
- 2015
- 15
- £11,490
- 1149
- 28,000
- Cars
- 8ZvpM2eAxWI=
Technical specifications
Vehicle summary
|Body style
|Engine size
|1395 cc
|Fuel type
|Number of doors
|Number of seats
|Gearbox type
|CO2 emissions
|118 g/km
|Insurance group
|Standard manufacturer's warranty (miles)
|No details available
|Standard manufacturer's warranty (years)
|2 years
|Standard paintwork guarantee
|3 years
Performance & economy
|Fuel consumption (urban)
|42.8 mpg
|Fuel consumption (extra urban)
|67.3 mpg
|Fuel consumption (combined)
|55.4 mpg
|0 - 60 mph
|No details available
|Top speed
|No details available
|Engine power
|123 bhp
|Engine torque
|No details available
|1422 mm
|Height inclusive of roof rails
|No details available
|3973 mm
|2469 mm
|1906 mm
|Width including mirrors
|No details available
|Fuel tank capacity
|No details available
|Minimum kerb weight
|No details available
|Interior features
|Exterior features
|Driver Information System-3.5in Monoch. Display
|16in x 7J 5-Spoke Sport Design Alloy Wheels with 215/45 R16 Tyres and Locking Wheel Bolts
|12V Socket in the Centre Console
|Automatic Start - Stop Function
|Air Vent Sleeves High Gloss Black
|Exterior Mirrors - Electrically Adjustable and Heated
|Front Floor Mats
|6 Speakers in Front and Rear and 2 Tweeters
|Heated Rear Windscreen
|Cloth Headlining - Titanium Grey
|Manually Adjustable Lumbar Support for Front Seats
|6.5in Display Screen in High-Gloss Black - Manually Retractable
|Electric Windows, Front and Rear
|Mobile Telephone Prep. Bluetooth Interface
|DAB Digital Radio Reception
|Voice Control of Key Telephone and Radio Functions
|Driver and Front Passenger Seats with Manual Height, Forwards and Backwards Adjustment
|Manual Air Conditioning
|Concert Radio - Single CD Player, Two SD Card Readers, MP3 Compatibility, AUX-IN Socket
|Audi Drive Select
|Upholstery - Tornado Cloth
|2 Cup Holders in Centre Console
|Split - Folding Rear Seat
|Front Sports Seats
|Steering Wheel Adjustable for Height and Reach
|Audi Music Interface - USB Connection
|Heat - Insulating Glass Windscreen and Side Windows
|3-Spoke Leather Sports Multi-Fun. Steering Wheel
|Drivers Airbag
|Traction Control (ASR)
|Third Brake Light
|Front Passengers Airbag
|Electromechanical Power Steering
|Tyre Repair Kit
|Electronic Brake-Force Distribution (EBD)
|Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
|Tyre Pressure Monitor
|Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
|Front Side and Head Airbag System
|Centre Rear Seat Belt
|ISOFIX Child-Seat Mouldings for Outer Rear Seats
|Head Restraints - Front and Rear
|Front Fog Lights
|Remote Central Locking with Two Foldaway Keys
|Thatcham Category 1 Alarm
Please note
This includes MPG figures which are calculated under European Standards, in test conditions, and will vary under normal driving conditions. The information displayed above describes the typical specification of the most recent model of this vehicle. It is not the exact specification for the actual vehicle being offered for sale which may vary. Specifications for older models may also vary. Please contact us prior to purchase to confirm the exact specification of this vehicle.
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Thursday, December 9, 2010
Simple versus Complicated
53 comments:
- AnonymousDecember 9, 2010 at 11:50 AM
Love this post, Fickle. You are right. Often, the simplest-seeming people have the most complicated of pasts. Thanks for sharing some of your ancestry with us!ReplyDelete
This is such a wonderful post. You are right, there is nothing simple about a person. We are all complex creatures.ReplyDelete
That was a great story about your grandfather. A longer life was given to him as a gift, and he used it well.
Maybe someone is simple in the most complicated way... Hmmm this is such a deep post, really makes you think,, great one Fickle!ReplyDelete
check out my blog @ amberlashell.com and tell me about your sex drive :)
Wow, what an amazing story. The experiences that our grandparents and even our parents went through are so beyond anything our generation has dealt with.ReplyDelete
I've always thought of simplicity as not letting the superfluous things (like money and cars and other material things) get in the way of what really matters. My father is fond of saying that 'simple living, high thinking' is the way to live life. I try to follow that path.
Excellent point and excellent story. As for having character and using that word - I do it all the time!ReplyDelete
You can never really tell what another person has been through but these things often give that person *character*. The bad things can mould that person into a stronger individual.ReplyDelete
That was quite a story!
Thank you for visiting me.
Nuts in May
What a lovely story! I always enjoyed when my Grandpa was telling me stories about the war, it's amazing what they went through.ReplyDelete
And yes, I think that people are way too much complex that we would call someone "a simple person".
I completely agree with what you are saying, we are and always will be complex characters, forever searching for the next best thing, the next injection of happiness/ money/ success/ fun etc. But isn't it a great thing to strive for more simplicity of mind and of life? I try to do it everyday.ReplyDelete
Great post, Emilie (www.emiliedoves.blogspot.com)
This post is the most touching thing I've read these days. Really wonderful and so true. Respect.ReplyDelete
I totally agree and I love the way you put it :)ReplyDelete
I would have liked to have met your Grandfather, a very interesting character :)ReplyDelete
That's a great story! Some of my favorite conversations are with people from his generation. They never give everything away though. Just tasty tidbits. It gives that era an alluring air of mystery.ReplyDelete
Maybe simplicity is one of the coping mechanisms people use when things are too complex? So a person by nature is complex - but their reaction to that is to live/project/think simply? Or maybe I'm just having a bet each way ...ReplyDelete
Thank you for visiting my blog. This is a great story. I have much to say about the human condition - but it's complicated.ReplyDelete
What an amazing story! I only found out recently from my Grandma that she was almost killed in the Blitz twice so I was very lucky to be here at all.ReplyDelete
Thanks for visiting... how'd you find me?ReplyDelete
Complexity, thy name is human.
no one is truly simple... too true.ReplyDelete
we all have so many complexities... so many intricate details that make up who we are... so many memories and stories about where we have been, what we have seen and survived; some that need to be told, and others that we need only share with ourselves, eh?
I love this post.ReplyDelete
I try to teach this concept to my kids. Things are not always as simple as they seem. You have to look deeper at them - at the layers and complexities of it. For instance, yesterday in the car my son was complaining that his sister was a brat. I talked to him about how much his sister loved him and wanted his attention and affection and pointed out how when he is nice to her, she is nice. When he is ignoring her she acts out to get his attention. When he talks to her she tells him how handsome he is, how smart he is etc. When he ignores her she hates him. Pretty deep huh? LOL When he thought about it he was blown away. Sorry that had nothing to do with your story but for a child it was pretty profound.
Good points, I've always lived by the maxim that I can learn something from everyone.ReplyDelete
Thanks for visiting my blog. I love your stories! Being a literature major I can truly appareciate your verse!ReplyDelete
How beautiful and wise.ReplyDelete
Thank you.
Turns out we can't always tell the book by it's cover.ReplyDelete
What an amazing story! I cannot imagine having my perspective set up for me in such a way....ReplyDelete
You're right. People are never simple.ReplyDelete
Wow - that's some story about your grandfather! Sure puts a whole new perspective on life.ReplyDelete
Thanks so much for stopping by my blog!
Amazing story and very thought provoking xReplyDelete
Wonderful post. Really drives your point home about something or someone that appears simple can really have layers of complexity.ReplyDelete
I love your posts...ReplyDelete
it opens my heart. :) ♥
You are a very eloquent writer and I look forward to more posts in the future.ReplyDelete
You know what, not only your post, but YOU!! I like you, inspires me to write better and significant post!! It's not a trouble reading even your longest post...!ReplyDelete
I'm always looking forward to read your blog... because I do not only enjoy but I learn something significant.... and I love it!
Great post about your Grandad. Both mine were killed in the war. My Dad never met his Father and my Mum was an infant and can't remember hers. I guess, had the war started a few months earlier, I might not even be here typing this. Spooky.
How did you find my blog by the way?
All the best.
Very well said.ReplyDelete
Great post, like your blog. Thanks for commenting on mine.ReplyDelete
Wow, I wish someone would share that kind of story with me too. I unfortunately, or fortunately, don't know anyone who has been in a war. It's really nice of you to pass on your Grandfather's story. I've never met my Grandfather, any of them actually. And I have three. Grin.ReplyDelete
that was a beautiful story. its as if it just come out of a war and peace sort of novel..and it makes it more beautiful knowing its a true life story. a person who has seen death at so close quarters has lived to tell you this. thank the moment, the short second where the japanese soldier had tripped.ReplyDelete
Great story - yours and your grandfathers! Very true. We too often don't take the time to think about the drives and motivations of others - too busy with our own, I guess. Thanks for visiting my blog (and yeah, meditating makes me itchy too but I will keep working on it!)ReplyDelete
You have hit the nail on the head about character. Also about looking at our ancestors and seeing real people and not just names from the past.ReplyDelete
Thanks for sharing.
I love your site, I'll be back often.
Thanks for visiting my blog and commenting. It's so nice to have visitors. I hope you will return often. I certainly will return to yours after that wonderful story. What an amazing adventure! You are a good writer. Can't wait to read more.ReplyDelete
beautiful post.ReplyDelete
thanks for visiting my blog :o)ReplyDelete
Whoa, that was action-packed yet in an emotionally compact way. Great post, I'm sure your grandfather has enough stories for plenty more blogging haha. Also, thank you for visiting and commenting on my blog. Much appreciated :PReplyDelete
I think you are absolutely right - we are complex people in complex lifestyles looking to simpliy our lives. Is that possible? sandieReplyDelete
Wow, what a great story! What an awesome grandpa. To me, simple people are people we haven't gotten to know yet. That kind of goes the same way for characters in books or stories. They may be classified as "flat" or "static" but really, the readers just' don't know them well enough.ReplyDelete
Thank the Heavens your grandfather was so lucky because then we wouldn't have this wonderful blog to read!
Take care
Nice post, I find i'm more drawn to things/people with an interesting character too.ReplyDelete
Inspirational, thanks for posting it up.ReplyDelete
Nice one, I think some people are simple out of necessity, because otherwise the complexities of their life would overwhelm them. Sometimes you just gotta shut stuff out and do your own thing.ReplyDelete
This is the first time I have visited your blog. I'm glad it was during the story of your grandfrather's life. Stories from our families help us to understand better who we are. Thank you for sharing your story.ReplyDelete
That's an astounding story about your grandfather. I can only imagine how an experience like that would change your perspective on life. I had a patient once who was a POW in the Korean War and had essentially the same thing happen to him. But it changed him for the worse, unfortunately.ReplyDelete
wow...the post inspires to look at people in my life more closely and cherish them...ReplyDelete
That was a really awesome post. I had a few moments like that with my grandma when she tells her stories... and it totally chnages how you look at them! They lived really amazing lives. Thanks for sharing your story!ReplyDelete
I love the idea that something or someone that has "character" has a story to tell. It resonates so well, but I have never thought about it in those terms!ReplyDelete
Your story about your grandfather was also lovely. What an inspiring post!
I really love your writing, it's so personal and expressive. This is what I'm trying to do in my blog, express who I am and find commonalities between people. Keep writing!ReplyDelete


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Leopard found dead in Buffliaz forest
Poonch, Dec 14: A leopard was found dead in forest area, near the Peer Panjal Region in Buffliaz area of Surankote tehsil in Poonch district on Friday.
Sources told the media that some villagers noticed the dead body of full grown leopard lying in the bushes in Buffliaz forest area of Surankote and informed concerned officials.
Soon the wildlife officials reached the spot and shifted the carcass to Surankote.
Later postmortem was conducted by the veterinary doctors at Surankote in presence of Tehsildar and later buried its body.
Incharge Wild Life Chief Warden, Rajouri-Poonch Range, Mushtaq Ahmad said that he has taken cognizance of the matter.
No one can stop AIP now: Rasheed
Srinagar, May 23: Awami Itihaad Party (AIP) President and Party's candidate for Baramulla Parliamentary constituency Er Rasheed has said that results are much encouraging for AIP and no one on earth can stop the party from becoming alternative to NC, PDP and other regional parties.
In a statement issued today, Rasheed said that the spirit of democracy needs to be respected and all those who have won the elections deserve congratulations. However, AIP has proved all political analysis wrong and has shown excellent performance by improving its performance beyond imagination. Those who used to accuse AIP of dividing votes should realize that party was not there to divide votes but to give a befitting fight despite all compulsions and the results have proved all those forces wrong who claimed to be lone warriors of Kashmiris.
Rasheed while thanking AIP cadres said that party is thankful to every single voter and party colleagues who voted and worked for an ideology and have laid a strong foundation stone for the future. AIP promises to follow its pro-people agenda with consistency and sincerity. One should not forget that AIP decided at the eleventh hour to contest the elections and without a proper cadre the party volunteers succeeded in sending a deep message to the masses that AIP has the potential to replace those who have given Kashmiris nothing except disappointments and false promises.
Rasheed reiterated his appeal to sincere political workers to join AIP and become part of a change which will not only ensure leadership that represents sentiments, sacrifices and aspiration of masses but will also give them best and corruption-free governance.
Moulvi Yousuf Shah (RA) put in all-out efforts to highlight Kashmir issue globally: Mirwaiz
Srinagar, May 23: The 52nd death anniversary of Mahajar-e-Millat Mirwaiz Moulvi Yousuf Shah (RA) was observed on both sides of the divide in Kashmir with full respect and honor.
Paying rich tributes to the martyrs of battle of Badr and to highlight the role and great contribution of Muhajir-e-Milat (RA) on social, moral, educational and religious and political front, Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Umar Farooq while addressing the gathering at the historic Aali Masjid at Eidgah here, shed light on the life and religious political contribution of late Mirwaiz.
While paying rich tributes to him for his commitment to the people's political movement as a pioneer in creating awareness among them regarding their political rights for which he was exiled, Mirwaiz paid homage to the great leader for his great contribution in the spread of religious teachings and social justice among the people of the state. He said that Mujahir-e-Milat put in all-out efforts during his lifetime to highlight the Kashmir issue globally and to pitch for Kashmiri's.
Mirwaiz said that the translation and commentary of holy Quran in Kashmiri language by the late Mirwaiz helped put Kashmir on the global Islamic map and earned him great respect in Islamic world.
Mirwaiz also paid rich tributes to the martyrs of the battle of Badr stating that the great companions of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) despite being less in number fought against the enemy to keep the Islamic flag high and that their priceless sacrifices will always be remembered till the day of judgment.
Those who spoke on the occasion include Professor Abdul Gani Bhat, Moulana Masroor Abbas Ansari, Moulana Showkat Hussain Keng, Moulana Khursheed Ahmed Qanoongo, and Moulana Syedur Rehman Shams. The speakers paid rich tributes to Mujahir-e-Milat and vowed to take his mission to its logical conclusion.
Ganai interacts with KCCI delegation, others
Srinagar, May 23: As part of the weekly outreach programme, Advisor to Governor Khurshid Ahmed Ganai Thursday interacted with a number of delegations and individuals at J&K Governor's Grievance Cell at Church Lane, Sonawar in Srinagar.
More than 22 delegations and scores of individuals from various parts of the Valley projected a number of issues on the occasion and sought their immediate redressal.
The delegations which met the Advisor during the day-long interaction include Amarnath Yatra Baltal Traders, delegation of Kashmir Chamber of Commerce & Industry, College Contractual Teachers, General line Teachers Forum and Academic Arrangement Teachers besides delegations from Umar Colony Lal Bazar, Nowgam Anantnag and Pahoo Pulwama among others.
The Advisor gave a patient hearing to the deputations and individuals and said that all the genuine issues put forth during the public hearing will be looked into.


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Después de 5 demos estrenan su CD debut. Power Metal/Melodic Heavy Metal!!!
AGONIZER will make history by performing a CD-release show for their debut album, "Birth / The End", in a world-record depth of 1,400 meters underground. The concert will be available only for a limited audience as a safety measure.
By going through with this performance, AGONIZER will make the Guinness Book of World Records in the "Deepest Concert Underground" category. Breaking the record in the future will be quite difficult because the Pyhäsalmi mine, where the concert will take place, is the deepest in Europe.
Uploader: Gild
Current line-up:
Pasi Kärkkäinen - Vocals
Jari-Pekka Perälä - Guitar, Backing Vocals
Joni Laine - Guitar, Backing Vocals
Jussi Tikka - Bass, Backing Vocals
Atte Palokangas - Drums (ex-Sinity)
Patrik Laine - Keyboard
Former/past member(s):
Olli Solitanner - Vocals
Lasse Löytynoja - Guitar
Toni Qvick - Drums (UltiMatium)
Mika Heinonen - Keyboard, Backing Vocals
1. Prisoner 04:21
2. Harmless Hero 04:13
3. Everyone of Us 05:00
4. Hazardous 05:10
5. Prophecy 04:43
6. Sleepless 04:16
7. Black Sun 04:09
8. The Birth And The End 06:37
Total playing time 39:10
Download Megaupload
Pasword: www.crom-diosesdelmetal.blogspot.com
Agradecer a Blind su cuenta Premium de Rapidshare para subir este archivo ^^


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About Krueger Realty
Krueger Realty, Inc. was founded in 1970 and quickly became a leading real estate firm in the local marketing area. Actively involved in the growth of Fairmont, Minnesota, Krueger Realty, Inc. developed seven new subdivisions, six apartment complexes and two condominium complexes.
The construction division has built hundreds of new homes in the area. Our sales associates, who serve both home buyers and sellers, have been instrumental in thousands of transactions to the satisfaction of both buyers and sellers.
Our success springs from a strong commitment and dedication to our customers as well as our ability to offer the full range of services necessary to make buying, owning and selling a house, townhome or condo as easy as possible. We handle all of the realty services from beginning to end: title, mortgage, relocation, rentals and home marketing programs. Krueger Realty, Inc. does it all.
It\'s no wonder area residents have turned to us for their real estate needs for over 38 years.
Krueger Realty, Inc. serves real estate needs throughout South Central Minnesota and North Central Iowa. We focus on the counties of Martin, Faribault and Jackson as well as the bordering counties in Northern Iowa
Krueger Realty, Inc. provides a range of real estate services, including:
Land and commercial development
Our Staff
Larry Thoe - Sales Associate
Cell 507-236-4319 - firstname.lastname@example.com
Ken Krueger - Owner/Broker- email@example.com
Lee Ann Meyer - Administrative Assistant, Property Manager
Marcy Cochran-Property Manager Assistant


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You are currently browsing the tag archive for the 'money' tag.
A few weeks ago, I was biking when I passed by a field where a lot of old guys* were playing soccer. I stopped my bike and asked a teenage girl who was watching the game what was going on.
"They just play here," she said. I told her my husband loves soccer, because he grew up in Argentina and he's always talking about wanting to play, etc. It was all true: he loves soccer.
"If he wants to play," she said, "he just needs to show up around this time on a Sunday morning. Bring $5."
I rode off. A little later I took four little girls to a toy store (because I am INSANE). Rio spent her carefully saved allowance money on a little wooden plaque for her dad, for a Father's Day Gift. It's shaped like a princess crown, and she decorated it with pink glitter and plastic gems and little pink sparkly stickers that spell "Dada". She insisted he put it on his desk at work.
Me, I kept my pennies and practiced the gift of silence. When I got home, I didn't tell Martin about the pick-up game at the park. On Father's Day, I told him I wanted to go for a ride with the kids, maybe take a picnic to this park. I secretly packed a tote bag with a water bottle, his soccer shoes, and a crisp $5 bill. We went to the park. As we approached he broke into a grin and said, "Hey, is that a pick-up soccer game?"
I handed him the tote bag. "Happy Father's Day."
He smiled. He might have thanked me, but he was moving pretty fast toward the field. It was raining, and the game was underway, and he didn't care. He put his cleats on and stood by the goal until one of the players invited him to join in. Invited might be an overstatement. The conversation went like this:
"Who the hell is that?"
"Some guy! Says he wants to play."
"I guess you can have a red shirt. But if you suck, you're out."
Thirty seconds later he scored a goal. They let him stay. He's planning to make a habit of this.
Best Father's Day Gift Ever. It's healthy and fun. Granting a wish he's had for years but been unable to grant for himself. Possibly lifechanging, if he keeps it up.
And it wound up costing me nothing but time. Turns out the first one is free, just like crack.
This post at the Simple Dollar got me thinking about kid's allowance money. It got me thinking too much for a blog comment over there, so you get to read all about it.
Kid's allowances are one of my most regular cash expenses, along with groceries and gas for my car. All the frugal living tactics I know of would tell me to cut them out, just like I've canceled all my magazine subscriptions and club memberships. They're a recurring weekly expense that is not strictly necessary, and they're not helping me pay down my debts. That's not a line item I want to see in my budget.
But I keep giving the kids an allowance. Why?
I want my children to share in the wealth of the household. Everyone who lives here gets a bed, clothes to wear, food to eat, time and space to do work they love and to pursue a social life, and the loving support of their family members. Everyone also gets a little pocket money, that comes from the income brought in by the adults in the house. I don't consider this stuff everyone has a right to, it's just the contract we've made within our family about how we run our household.
There aren't any restrictions on getting the allowance. It is theirs whether or not they do chores, behave themselves, or spend it wisely. Just like the expectation that they will help clean up after meals and treat everyone in the house with kindness is there whether they've had a bad day or the other sibling really started it or they just don't want to. It's part of being in this family.
I understand that many people also use allowance money to teach kids about how money works, and if mine learn something from getting theirs, so much the better.
Here is how we do it: everyone over the age of 4 gets a weekly allowance equal to one dollar per year of their age. If you are a child, that allowance is divided into four categories: Savings, Spending, When I'm A Grown Up (this is known as Investing to adults) and Giving. Trent from Simple Dollar calls this approach The Money Savvy Pig Philosophy. I first read about it in a magazine where I think it was simply called "a good idea".
We started giving an allowance to my older daughter when she started asking me to buy things for her that I did not want to buy – in particular a replacement for a pair of sparkly sequined shoes that had been given to her as a gift, and which she wore till the sequins rubbed off and the soles gave out.
When Rio began getting her allowance, she saved carefully for those sequined shoes, and after about two months was able to buy them. She was thrilled to buy them with her own money, but hasn't saved up for a big purchase since. She has nearly worn out the new pair by now, and has plenty of money saved up to replace them if she wants to.
I got four glass milk jars from a local dairy and labeled them Spending, Saving, When I'm a Grown Up and Giving. Rio helped by decorating the labels with watercolors. Then I began giving her four dollars a week with the caveat that she needed to put one dollar in each jar. Now that she gets $5 a week she can choose where to put the extra dollar. Mostly she uses it to buy bubblegum.
Like Trent plans to do with his son, I started out giving Rio her allowance in Sacajawea dollars, but stopped when she got upset by that and said she wanted to get paid in "real dollars". I may start again because someone gave her a Sacajawea dollar for her birthday and now she's fascinated by them.
My teenage stepson also gets $15 a week, one dollar per year of age. This feels like a lot to me, but is also about what he spends on bus fare and a few trips to the cafe around the corner to get some quiet time away from his sisters. Unlike with the little ones, I don't restrict how he spends or saves his allowance. I do model what I hope is good behavior with money, and talk openly with him about frugality. The other day we built a bicycle together out of spare parts so he'd have a summer ride, rather than buying him a new bike. I think he learns a lot that way.
Is he too old to just be handed money? I don't think so. Right now he has perfect grades, a weekly volunteer gig and a heavy load of summer reading for his fall classes. I don't want him to sacrifice any of those things to a summer job because he feels a want of pocket money, so I give it to him. I worked a lot in high school, and I don't think it taught me anything useful about managing my own money or helped me build any career skills for my future. My time would have been better spent doing more volunteer work and creative skill-building, so that's what I want my kids to focus on.
Serena, the toddler, got in on the allowance action when she saw me giving money to the other kids. She wanted to be part of that ritual so badly she actually learned to say the word "Money", or something like it with fewer consonants and more insistent hand gestures.
For Serena, I created a single allowance jar, also using an old milk bottle. I give her a few coins from my wallet each week. We put the coins in her jar together, and a few times a week when she wants to play with it, we take her jar out and she gets to dump all the coins on the floor and carefully pick them up again and put them back in the jar. She gets real value out of the money I give her – as a toy! And she doesn't feel left out of the allowance system.
I'm sure our system isn't perfect, but we haven't run headlong into any big problems with it so far. Except the recurring expense issue, and I can happily afford $20 a week for my kids' allowances. Because I've learned to live frugally myself in so many other areas.
What do you do with kids and money? Do your kids get an allowance? How much? Under what conditions? Let me know in the comments.
I started doing The Compact about a month ago. The Compact is simple: for one year, buy nothing new.
There are exceptions of course. These things were written into the Compact as exceptions:
- perishable goods (food, cleaning products, personal care, medicine)
- underwear and socks
I'm a generous sort, and I think five is a nice number, so I'm giving myself a few others:
- art and school supplies (another consumable good that we use a lot of and depend on)
- garden supplies as needed
- something else I have not thought of yet that will doubtless prove to be Very Important
While part of the goal of the Compact is clearly to live simply, it doesn't require one to give up all shopping. You can buy things used, you can freecycle to your heart's content, etc. It's more about sustainable living and saving the planet than it is about saving your pennies.
I've been enjoying it so far. I wasn't a big shopper anyway, but I've several times caught myself thinking, "I need to buy this thing…but wait! I can't! I'm Compacting!" Only a few times have I been tempted to get someone else from my household to buy it for me as a cheat. 🙂
Benefits of the Compact:
- It's kind of a huge relief to me, because every time I think, "Should I buy that book/t-shirt/gadget/toy?" the answer is, "No." and I don't have to expend a lot of emotional energy on coming to a decision about each item it occurs to me I might want to buy.
- It's inspired me to be more creative. The Compact was in the back of my thoughts when I made Rio's birthday gift instead of buying something for her.
- It's a good check on shopping impulses. It's not that I can't buy anything – most of the things I would buy I can get used – but it adds another layer to the process, another checkpoint I have to go through before getting out my wallet. That seems to be a good thing, because I have mysteriously been stockpiling cash for the past two weeks as my spending money goes largely unspent.
I've joined the Yahoo group, but it's high traffic and a lot of the posts are off-topic; I admit to not reading it much. What I do read are a few simple/frugal living blogs that I do get a lot of value from. My favorites are Get Rich Slowly, the Simple Dollar and the Non-Consumer Advocate.
Have you been cutting back on your spending, or shifting towards more second-hand shopping? How's that going for you? I'd love to hear about it, or answer any questions y'all have, in the comments.
I have continued reading the Tightwad Gazette, mostly while supervising Serena in the bathroom. It's great for this, because it's full of short articles that I can read in about 30 seconds, and each page has one or two little cartoon line drawings on it that thrill her no end and make her sit still on the potty. No, I don't know why that works, but it does. Try it sometime.
The Tightwad Gazette continues to be a very mixed bag, which is not that strange for a collection of self-published newsletters and reader letters. Two very Bad Advice highlights:
1. When you buy a new car, immediately buy yourself a second set of tires and begin a carefully scheduled rotation (which you do yourself) to extend the lives of all 8 tires. Done properly, this will, as the author says, allow you to be "driving on 1990 priced tires in the year 2000."
DO NOT DO THIS. I do not know enough about cars to know if rotating your own tires every X miles is a good idea or best left in the hands of a capable mechanic. I am a slacker car owner and count myself lucky if I remember to get my oil changed every three months, let alone all the other routine maintenance one is supposed to do.
But I know enough about money to know that investing in tires is a bad investment. If you took the money you would have spent on the second set of tires and put it in a relatively safe investment (bonds? a high interest savings account?) you'd earn a slightly-higher-than-inflation interest rate. Then, when your tires gave out, you could buy new tires at the current price and have money left over. Duh.
Besides this, you lose the opportunity to invest your money in anything else, take the investment risk that something will happen to your shiny new car before you need those tires and they'll never get used, and sacrifice storage space to keep them in. This is a terrible idea.
2. Strategy #15 for keeping grocery bills low: waste nothing (this includes forcing children to finish all meals).
Do I even need to talk about why this is a bad idea? Not only is it terrible parenting, likely to produce a range of problems ranging from picky eating to eating disorders, but it won't save you money. Once you've prepared and served a meal, you have used those groceries. If at the end, there's a palatable serving or two left, by all means pack up the leftovers for lunch. But forcing a kid to eat the beets, or eating them yourself, won't stop the food from being "wasted". I lost weight when I realized that my kids' leftovers were as wasted on my waistline as they are in the compost bin. More so, since there they can become next year's garden soil.
I had a conversation with a friend today about frugal family living. This woman is one of my inspirations when it comes to being responsible with one's resources, and she had some interesting things to say about children and material desire.
Her daughter is five, about 9 months older than Rio. Their family lives simply, and the daughter is learning to value simple things as well. For the holidays, the only gift she requested was a Jack in the Box. Now here's the trick: that was the only gift her parents bought her.
I know that as hard as I work at living simply myself, I am constantly wanting things for my kids, or suggesting desires to them. A few examples from this week:
– Rio and I were making the girls beds. They have a gorgeous bedroom set that my mother bought for Rio's second birthday. Both kids love it to pieces. But it's a trundle bed, and takes up the whole room. They love this, but it annoys *me*, aesthetically. So I said, "Maybe we should put bunk beds in here when you're a little older." Rio looked at me like I was nuts.
– I asked her where she wanted to have her birthday party, suggesting various parks, museums and play places we like to visit. "There are so many places that are the best place, Mom. But the place I really want to have my birthday is at our house." Duh.
– A new dance school for kids opened up two blocks from our house. "Let's go check it out and see if you want to take dance classes!" "I don't." "They might have ballet!" "I don't want to. I like playing in the yard." Duh.
– Serena is playing with a big plastic school bus at church. "Hey! I didn't know you liked that bus. Maybe we should get one for you at home." Or maybe she could play with it at church every week and it could be her special thing to do there?
– I'm making a grocery list, and encouraging the kids to add anything they want to it, which of course means all manner of crackers and cereals and treats I would not normally buy, and that we live quite well without.
I've been quietly tuning into these patterns for awhile, but after talking with my friend today I realized that I need to do the core of my frugal living work as a parent, not separate from my parenting.
For me, the core of living more simply is not in cutting back on spending, it's on releasing my desire for Stuff. I've started turning down a lot of stuff that's offered to me as freebies, because I realize that my space and time are resources too, and I don't want them cluttered with junk we don't use.
I need to share that with my kids by simply being in abundance with them, instead of constantly encouraging them to look outside our home and family for fullfillment, pleasure and learning.
I grew up fairly poor, and have a personal horror of denying my kids anything or ever making them feel impoverished. But what my friend reminded me of today was that children raised with an abundance of love, who have their basic needs met, tend to feel rich whether they are showered with Stuff or not.
My next big challenge in this area will be Rio's birthday. We'll have her party at home, and I'm buying her a cake from the inexpensive, local bakery, which she's been asking for since last year. She says the only present she wants from me is a pack of bubble gum. Can I resist buying her anything else? I have a LOT of craft supplies on hand at home, and I can make her some cool presents. Can I let that be enough?
I'm reading the Tightwad Gazette, famed classic of thrift. Yes, I thriftily got my copy out of the public library. I had been resoundingly unimpressed for the first 30 pages, which were essentially all suggestions on how to "save" on things I don't spend on: cigarettes, soda, new clothes, dryer sheets.
But then on page 30, things turned around. First, she offers a rule of thumb I like, that builds on my beloved 30-day list for non-essential spending:
Put something on your "to acquire" list, and then shop around for a freebie, a cheaper version, a bargain, etc…until it costs you not to have that thing.
A real life example: I need a wagon for my homeschool group to go to the park near my house. I have needed this wagon for months, but haven't bought one yet because I've been unsuccessfully trying to acquire through Freecycle or another local barter. Now it is spring, and we are going to the park regularly, and it is a PITA. I will buy a wagon this week, probably from CraigsList.
The next great thing she offers is the concept of a Price Book. This is one of those money things so obvious and elegant I cannot believe I did not think of it. She keeps a book with the prices of all the things she normally buys written in it, for every store she shops at. So she knows, when she sees something on sale, if it's a good deal or if she'd be better off going to Costco.
Now, that plan is brilliant, but a crazy lot of work. Who has time to run around comparison shopping for staple goods at a dozen different stores? Not me. But what I do have is an internet connection and friends. So, without further ado, I present: the Community Price Book. I've created a GoogleDoc spreadsheet for grocery and household items. If you live in my shopping area and want to play, just leave me a comment or e-mail me with the e-mail you want to use and I'll share it with you. Then we can all add our items as we shop, and anyone with a portable internet or PDA can have the whole index with them at any store.
If you don't live in my shopping area, please steal this idea and start your own community price book. This is the first thrift tip I've run across in awhile that I think can really save me some money, and I'm excited to share it.
That's the headline of this article in today's NYT.
But I had an inkling of it this morning when I got the first credit card offer I've received in almost a year, and was abruptly reminded that I used to have to throw these things out every day.
Any signs of things looking up in your neighborhood?
I just ganked this idea from Get Rich Slowly, who in turn grabbed it from someone else who grabbed it from Sandor Katz.
The idea: hold a swap night where people exchange hand-made items, ranging from handknits to homebaked bread. Like a Soup Swap you present your goodies to a rapt audience, there's some method to the madness (described in GRS's post on the topic). You should expect to leave with roughly similar amounts of stuff as what you arrived with, I think.
I'm intrigued by the concept here, though concerned about the chaos that could well ensue with so many people swapping so much different stuff. It reminds me of trying to coordinate the Valentine's Day swap, which got totally out of control with specialty requests and offers that I had to coordinate. I guess the control here is that it all happens on one night, in one place.
I think I'll try to set one up. Anyone want to play?
Credo Mobile has a great offer which ends at midnight March 31. They will a) buy out your current contract and b) give you 10% off your cell phone service for the next two years.
What makes Credo Mobile unique is that they exist to use corporate power to promote social justice. According to their site, they have donated over $60 million dollars to groups like Doctors Without Borders and Greenpeace. They also send action alerts with every phone bill, offering customers an opportunity to get involved with the causes they support through letter-writing, phone calls and additional donations.
Their plans and prices are competitive with all the major players. They piggyback on Sprint's network, so their service will be as good (or bad) as Sprint's in your area.
I've had their service before, and found it wonderful. I'd recommend this deal to anyone not tied to their current carrier for reasons other than a contract (like, say, you have an iPhone, which won't work on their network).
Even if you don't want to switch providers, knowing about this deal can help you. When I learned about it this afternoon, I called Verizon and told them about it. They were willing to drop my phone bill 20% to keep me as a customer.
While I read a fair amount of personal finance advice, I limit my sources. This is deliberate. In general, I'm an eclectic reader. I love to read a wide variety of opinions and perspectives on any topic I'm interested in.
But money, especially *my* money (or total lack thereof), makes me very, very nervous. So I limit myself to a few sources that I'm comfortable with; books, websites, magazines and friends I trust. Resources that make me feel like a wise friend is holding my hand through hard times.
My tastes in financial advice are not unusual. I like Get Rich Slowly and Your Money Or Your Life. I listen to my friend at the Fool.
I think today I've added a new one to my list of personal favorites: The Simple Dollar. I love that the author is both straightforward and unassuming. And I love that he ranges off-topic from fiscal advice to offer straight talk about time management and other related things. Being bad at organizational skills is expensive; I know from long experience. This blog has more to say than the Ten Tired Tips, and I'm happy to listen.