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Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Men's Toilet Time - and other things I learnt this week
Instead, I shall revert to that old faithful, and share with you all the things that I have learnt over the past week or so.
1. Men's Toilet Time is a long and involved subject. It involves considerations that I would never have ... considered. And I for one am glad that I choose to do my reading elsewhere.
2. Five year old boys are the most deliciously maddening creatures ever invented. Even more so than four year old boys, which is saying something. How can one small person be so utterly, utterly revolting one minute and so incredibly delightful the next? It must be exhausting.
3. Dolores Umbridge is possibly one of J.K. Rowling's best characters. My lip curls into a sneer every time I read her name. Mr8 is intoxicated with Harry Number Five and cannot believe how big he is for managing to be halfway through such an enormous tome. Really, it's all about size, isn't it?
4. Women are their own worst enemies when it comes to selling themselves. Of course you can do it. You are already doing it, it's just called something else. Men do not have these doubts (clearly they use all that Toilet Time for positive affirmations).
5. The Spice Girls are very hard to explain to anyone who has never seen them before.
6. It is possible to feel unbelievably happy for someone you've never met. I was beyond thrilled for Anna Meares when she won her gold medal. Hers touched me like no-one else's.
7. People are amazingly generous with the time, knowledge and expertise if you ask them the right way. Really.
8. I need to drink more water. It is possible that I need to sign up for a two-hourly reminder. I must remember to ask Maxabella for a recommendation.
9. I am finally at the point where I can see through the weeds to the trees with my new garden. I was out there watering it this evening, breathing deeply as the scent of the salvias rose on the mist from the hose, and I thought how blessed I am.
10. It occurs to me that with one husband and two boys in my home, I am in for many, many years of Men's Toilet Time ahead. Sob.
What did you learn this week?
[image: signfail/etsy.com]
17 comments:
Love the Spice Girl comment - because I had the same trouble too!ReplyDelete
Oh yes, Anna brought me to tears too. Actually a lot of the athletes did. Okay, the truth is I cry when I see anyone overjoyed! Emotional much?ReplyDelete
Anna Meares brought me undone too. Beating Victoria Pendleton in that Women's Sprint was a very big deal for soooo many reasons. I still can't believe she did it!!ReplyDelete
And #8. PMSL :)
I teared up at so many olympic medals I lost count.. will miss it so much. There are lots of things that needed explaining from the closing ceremony but above all I was very proud of the homeland.ReplyDelete
So far this week all I have learnt is that I don't like having to whip people into line.. x
Of course you do know what happens when you drink water every two hours don't you? More toilet time!! xReplyDelete
- AnonymousAugust 15, 2012 at 6:48 AM
I still get excited when I read a big book. Like I'm running a marathon or something. Wally Lamb's my biggest at around 900 pages, and it gave me an excellent arm workout. What's your biggest Al?ReplyDeleteReplies
Oh, I thought I'd replied to this but no... I think Lord of the Rings. But the Game of Thrones books are all huge and printed in 6pt type so in normal-book language they are MASSIVE.ReplyDelete
I really wanted to be the type of gal who could remind my beloved family and friends to drink a glass of water every hour... but it turns out that I'm not. I know, it's heartbreaking. xReplyDelete
I know some people who are extremely generous with their time, knowledge and expertise, and I just hope they realize how much it is appreciated. It all goes around.ReplyDelete
This comment has been removed by the author.ReplyDelete
Male toilet time is scandalous. Anna Meares has made us all proud.ReplyDelete
I have only two men in the house (one who doesn't even use the toilet yet) but Men's Toilet Time already scares me. My one strict rule is that the iPad (which we share) is NOT allowed to go with him.ReplyDelete
As for drinking water, I find getting up to get a glass is one of the most guilt-free ways to procrastinate when I have something more important to do (closely followed by commenting on blogs).
I've learned that you don't really want to talk about men's toilet time at all..much! I do though..that's why I tuned in here. Young men (at my house) hate toilet spray..the bought from the shop variety..and love to use copious amounts of male deodorant spray whenever they detect some nasty smell. It doesn't really cover the odour up..just mixes it and makes it more unbearable...right through the whole house. Sorry, just had to get that gripe off my chest...I do feel better now.ReplyDelete
I had difficulty with explaining The Spice Girls too. Boys.ReplyDelete
Thanks for popping by the Fibro. I love to hear from you!
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.


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Mary Kay
A Harmony of Happiness
We often hear the phrase, "We are responsible for our own happiness." If we are good with ourselves, happiness has a constant place. If we rely on others to fulfill our happiness, we are not necessarily going to feel the euphoria of that happy place. However, the way that we treat, respond, and interact with others often plays an impactful role in setting the mood.
Do you ever find yourself in a situation where you are looking forward to a fun night out with your friends, family members or colleagues, but there is that certain someone who had a bad day and is carrying their sullen state of mind with them? It's such a Debbie Downer, right? The fun night that you had imagined in your head just flew out like a deflated balloon. The happiness of those around us reflect on us immensely, but is there a way to not allow others to rob us of our own happy place?
Over the past five years or so, I have found a love for country music. I feel like there is such a moving message in the lyrics. The words always resonate with me with such deep and powerful meaning. Recently, I heard "Happy People" by Little Big Town and the lyrics of this song could not be more profound and spot on as we look to find our "happy place" in life. I absolutely LOVE the final lyrics: "Well, life is short, and love is rare, and we all deserve to be happy while we're here."
Isn't that the truth? So many of our Kindnessmatters blog posts have centered around the notion that life is but a fleeting moment and to try and remember to seize the God-given time that you were blessed with today. Here are the full lyrics to "Happy People" by Little Big Town:
Happy people don't cheat Happy people don't lie They don't judge, or hold a grudge, don't criticize Happy people don't hate Happy people don't steal 'Cause all the hurt sure ain't worth all the guilt they feel
If you want another secret Can't back out, or make it You ain't ever gonna be it By takin' someone else's away Never take it for granted You don't have to understand it Here's to whatever puts a smile on your face Whatever makes you happy people
Happy people don't fail Happy people just learn Don't think that we're above the push and shove They just wait their turn They always got a hand, or a dollar to spare Know the golden rule, what you're goin' through Even if they never been there
If you want another secret Can't back out, or make it You ain't ever gonna be it By takin' someone else's away Never take it for granted You don't have to understand it Here's to whatever puts a smile on your face Whatever makes you happy people
These days ain't always easy to find They're the ones that you want standing by your side No time for greed, if they need some, give them some slack And we'll all be happy people
Well life is short And love is rare And we all deserve to be happy while we're here
Embrace your happy place. And, stand tall to others not allowing them to take that happy feeling away from you. Remember, you are in control of your own happy destiny. If you find a pattern with these certain individuals that have a tendency to bring you down, perhaps you need to self-reflect and decide if you want to continue to spend time with them? Time that you can't get back. Or make a choice to surround yourself with your 'happy-people'. You have the power to live life happy. Breathe it in. Immerse yourself in it. Be one of those "happy people" that passes it on to others.

subset: commoncrawl


text: & <. ? Sent from my iPad (excuse the terseness) David A Lee firstname.lastname@example.com On Jun 1, 2012, at 5:50 PM, "Michael Kay" <firstname.lastname@example.com> wrote: > >> I couldn't even support such an idea in principle. For me, one of the cornerstones of XML's value is in completely determining the lexical space. I think leaving entity interpretation to applications would kick a huge hole in that. >> > Actually, it strikes me as quite an intelligent layering. If xinclude processing can be done in a different layer from XML parsing, why not entity expansion? In fact, it's strongly arguable that it SHOULD be a separate process; one of the use cases for entity expansion is to give a level of indirection so that the same entity reference can be replaced by different text at different places/times, and that works much better if it isn't embedded in the parser. > > But that raises the question of why a "MicroXML" standard should need entities at all. It can all be done with elements, and I thought the aim was to reduce the number of concepts? > > Michael Kay > Saxonica > > _______________________________________________________________________ > > XML-DEV is a publicly archived, unmoderated list hosted by OASIS > to support XML implementation and development. To minimize > spam in the archives, you must subscribe before posting. > > [Un]Subscribe/change address: http://www.oasis-open.org/mlmanage/ > Or unsubscribe: firstname.lastname@example.com > subscribe: firstname.lastname@example.com > List archive: http://lists.xml.org/archives/xml-dev/ > List Guidelines: http://www.oasis-open.org/maillists/guidelines.php > >


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How to get your ex husband to leave you alone? 8+ Important Tips
Read our article to find out how to get your ex husband to leave you alone and get free from all these negative shackles that are holding you back. Divorce can be a difficult phase of life for both you and your ex-husband. It's not easy to let go sometimes, and that can lead to … Read more


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How long is the bench for pro-life judges?↤ KRLA Forum
The KRLA PAC ALERT Voter Guide has only three recommendations on judges. A short bench! It can be hard to discover whether or not a judge is pro-life.
A judge must run as a non-partisan, so unless we hear from a person who knows them or knows someone who does, or the candidate makes it clear, we cannot know their views on the sanctity of life. Likewise, KRLA cannot endorse any judge due to the non-partisan nature of the race. We only recommend when we have trusted information. Let us know when you have a tip! We will verify your information.
All judges' positions in Ky are elected offices, but if a judge departs a seat before the end of the term, the new U.S. District or Appeals Court judges will be appointed by the U.S. president, and the Ky Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Circuit Court, Family Court or District Court vacancies will be filled by appointment of the governor. Their nominations or appointments are based on lists received from the judicial nominating commissions.
Ky has an Eastern and Western district plus a temporary judge who can serve if a sitting judge becomes disabled. There are seven Supreme Court and Court of Appeals districts, 57 circuit court districts and 60 Judicial districts. The graphic shows the seven districts of Ky's Supreme and Appeals Courts.
The candidates recommended in the PAC ALERT include:
|Judge Candidate
|Bench Seat
|Robert B. Conley
|Seeking to become an Eastern District Judge on Ky's Supreme Court
|Jenny Hines
|Running for a seat on the Ky Court of Appeals
|Teresa Whitaker
|Running for Circuit Judge
Robert Conley's opponent, Rep. Chris Harris (D-93), is stepping down from the Ky House to run for the Supreme Court position, recruited by Gov. Beshear. Jenny Hines' opponent, Chris McNeill, was appointed to the seat by Gov. Beshear earlier this year.
The Ballotpedia states that Whitaker's opponent, Walt Maguire, was a family court judge for the 28th Circuit who retired on June 30, 2013. The Somerset, Ky online newspaper reports: A local retired judge is seeking an opportunity to return to the bench… Maguire acknowledged… "I'm not signing on for eight years, but I just like being involved in trying to make a difference in our communities in a positive, constructive, traditional way." So, voting for Maguire is voting for the person who will succeed him by appointment.
Judges make so many important decisions; holding a high view of human life is essential to their role in society.
Ky has rarely had a helpful verdict in the Western District Court that hears the legal cases relating to the pro-life laws passed by our Legislature. An interesting article on the judicial role in deciding the "times, places and protocols" for congressional elections is here.
Your ballot will feature a question: Are you in favor of changing the term of Commonwealth's Attorneys from six-year terms to eight-year terms starting in 2030, changing the terms of judges of the district court from four-year terms to eight-year terms beginning in 2022, and requiring district judges to have been licensed attorneys for at least eight years beginning in 2022 by amending the Constitution of Ky?
How will you mark your ballot?
CommentsComments close after 3 weeks following the post date.
Comments are closed


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Thirty journalists—half of them foreign reporters, half of them Syrian—have been kidnapped or gone missing in Syria, the Associated Press reported this week. The number is unprecedented. Syria today is the scene of the single largest wave of kidnappings in modern journalism, more than in Iraq during the 2000s or Lebanon during the 1980s. A combination of criminality, jihadism and chaos is bringing on-the-ground coverage of the war to a halt.
In one of several alarming new trends that has emerged in Syria, jihadists are abducting reporters, holding them captive and making no demands for their release. Instead of requesting prisoner exchanges or ransoms, they hold journalists indefinitely as human bargaining chips for future use.
Matthew Schrier, a 35-year-old freelance American photographer abducted in Syria last December, said that his captors made no demands before he escaped after seven months in captivity. Instead, they asked for his online passwords and used his credit cards to buy Mercedes-Benz parts, Ray-Ban sunglasses, tablets and laptops.
They also sent false email messages to Schrier's family and friends that said he was safe and still working in Syria. His mother realized that the messages — filled with spelling and grammatical errors –were fake and agonized over what to do. Schrier urged the families of the missing to not give up.
"Until someone shows you proof that your loved one is dead, you have to assume they're alive," Schrier said in an email. "A lot of people who knew about me thought I was dead — and look what happened."
The wave of kidnappings is also exposing an unintended consequence of a tactic widely used in Iraq and Afghanistan: media blackouts in kidnapping cases. Security experts and law enforcement officials generally recommend that abductions be kept secret in the hope that victims can be rapidly found or terms quickly reached. Publicity can also inflate kidnappers' ransom expectations.
Of the 30 cases in Syria, the families of a dozen captives requested that the abductions be kept secret or could not be reached, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. In an effort to warn other journalists about how dire the situation has become in Syria, the group took the unusual step of disclosing the total numbers of kidnappings in Syria but withheld the captives' names and nationalities .
"Blackouts can have an unintended consequence of camouflaging the actual dangers of the situation," Rob Mahoney, the committee's deputy director, told me Friday. "It was in the interest of everyone that the scale of the problem be demonstrated."
Others argue that keeping kidnappings secret decreases pressure on governments. Without demands for action from the public, government officials have no need to act.
Four American journalists are being held captive or missing in Syria. Austin Tice, a freelancer for the Washington Post, went missing near Damascus in August, 2012. James Foley, a freelance reporter for GlobalPost, went missing in northern Syria last November. The families of two other Americans have reportedly requested that their cases be kept secret.
(In 2008, two Afghan colleagues and I were abducted by the Taliban and held captive in Afghanistan and Pakistan for seven months. My family and my employer, the New York Times, requested a media blackout. )
As reporting has grown more treacherous, technological change has made it easier for freelancers to shoots videos and photographs and instantly file them to news agencies. But freelancers, if they are abducted, lack the backing of large news organizations that can hire security consultants and take other steps to aid captives' families.
In an effort to discourage freelancers from entering Syria, the Sunday Times of Londonannounced in February that it would stop accepting photographs from freelancers who entered the country without a pre-arranged assignment with the newspaper. The paper had already suffered a tragic loss — its award-winning American correspondent, Marie Colvin, died covering the siege of Homs last year.
Some other news organizations are quietly implementing the same ban but it is not clear how many. Citing safety concerns, a Reuters spokesperson declined to publicly describe the methods the news organization uses to cover Syria.
In one positive sign, the journalist death toll so far in Syria this year stands at 18, a drop from the 31 who perished last year. Iraq, where at least 150 journalists died between 2003 and 2011, remains the deadliest conflict in modern journalism, claiming more reporters and photographers than Bosnia, Vietnam or World War II. In another disturbing new trend, two-thirds of those killed in Iraq did not die in combat, according to CPJ. They perished in targeted assassinations that were direct retaliation for their reporting.
In recent months, abductions have slowed inside Syria. But observers caution that many major news organizations have stopped sending reporters into Syria.
"It may only mean that fewer journalists are venturing in," Mahoney said. "What that means is that there are fewer eyes and ears on the ground to bring out the horrors of the civil war for the Syrian people."
Throughout history, journalists have been expected to take risks. Our job is to bear witness to injustice and suffering. In Syria, neither is happening. The agony of average Syrians trapped between the government and jihadis continues. And it is now easier for the world to ignore it.
This story was originally published by Reuters. More:
∙ Yellen vs. the Fed critics
∙ Your 'exclusive' interview isn't
∙ Hooray for inflation


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THURSDAY, April 11, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- The prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) among children aged 4 years increased from 2010 to 2014, according to research published in the April 12 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Deborah L. Christensen, Ph.D., from the CDC in Atlanta, and colleagues examined trends in prevalence and characteristics of ASD in 2010, 2012, and 2014 using data from the Early Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network. Data were collected in seven sites during surveillance years 2010, 2012, and 2014.
The researchers found that the overall prevalence of ASD was 13.4, 15.3, and 17.0 per 1,000 children aged 4 years in 2010, 2012, and 2014, respectively. ASD prevalence among children aged 4 years varied across surveillance sites within each surveillance year and was lowest each year for Missouri and highest for New Jersey. Sites that reviewed education and health care records had higher aggregated prevalence estimates compared with sites that reviewed only health care records. Among children aged 4, ASD prevalence was consistently higher among boys than girls. The frequency of co-occurring intellectual disabilities was higher among children aged 4 versus 8 years for each site in each surveillance year except Arizona in 2010.
"Continuing improvements in providing developmental evaluations to children as soon as developmental concerns are identified might result in earlier ASD diagnoses and earlier receipt of services, which might improve developmental outcomes," the authors write.


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The perfect word to describe my dreams is "crazy"; most of my dreams are-and theres no easier way to say this so i'll just be direct-certifiably insane and full on cuh-razy. I dream every single night,
for what feels like almost all night long. I dream the strangest, most random dreams that seem to have nothing to do with anything and I dream so, so many. Oftentimes when I wake up, I'm exhausted almost as if I havent slept and I always remember the subjects but they're almost never completely clear. The worst part is that I always wake up feeling some unexplicable emotion that I like to call "emotion X", and it's a very disturbing feeling thats difficult to explain and often lasts all morning and sometimes all day. I dont know why this happens or what it means, but it really bothers me and I have no idea how to stop it. The mystery of dreaming has always plagued me, and although I have grown to accept these and react to them a lot more rationally now, this topic continues to fascinate me to this very day.


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Who Is Mercy Aigbe Hitting With Her Tweet? [LOOK]
February 8, 2016 | Uncategorized | No Comments|
Is Mercy Aigbe Gentry's marriage shaking or what? It's obvious the Yoruba actress is talking about marriage break or talking about challenges faced in marriages.
In the recent times, there have been series of marriage breaks and stuff like that in the entertainment industry most especially Nollywood. This might have led the mother of two to have felt like advising her colleagues to face the reality about their marriages. Has she spoken well or is she directing her tweet to a particular person? Only Mercy can provide an answer to this riddle!
Kindly read the tweet
Read More(1) NEW SEX REQUEST We Have been Notified That There is (1) Female Near Your Location that is looking for quick sex only If you are available immediately PLEASE CLICK HERE TO REVEAL HER CONTACT INFORMATION AT NO COST TO YOU This is a free message provided courtesy of this site


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As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact the country, Congress and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) continue to advance funding opportunities, temporary policy changes and waivers to support states, providers, and the public in their efforts to address the pandemic and its broad impact. This article aggregates the latest updates on the federal response to COVID-19, focusing on funding that has been made available for providers, flexibility given to both states and providers, and requirements for health coverage.
The context for the federal response to the pandemic changes nearly daily. Additionally, while this article does not outline the clinical guidance specific to safely treating COVID-19 and addressing other health care needs, that information is available at https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/coronavirus/index.html.
Federal Funding
Congress passed its fourth legislative package, the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act (PPPHCEA), last week. In addition to providing more funding for the small business community, the legislation includes an additional $100 billion to support healthcare needs. It provides an additional $75 billion to the Provider Relief Fund launched under the CARES Act to reimburse hospitals and other healthcare providers for healthcare-related expenses and lost revenues attributable to COVID-19. For more information about the Provider Relief Fund, visit the CMS Provider Relief Fund webpage.
Finally, the PPPHCEA allocates an additional $25 billion to support a nationwide testing program. Specifically, this funding supports research and development of COVID-19 testing, manufacturing and purchasing of tests, administration of testing, and expanded capacity for testing. Eligible entities include:
- States and localities;
- Federal agencies – including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institutes for Health (NIH), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA); and
- Private health care providers – including Federally-Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Rural Health Centers (RHCs)
Guidance related to Providers and Public Programs
CMS continues to introduce temporary regulatory changes aimed at expanding provider capacity for COVID-19 response. Over the last month, CMS released two comprehensive guidance documents outlining additional regulatory changes aimed at addressing the COVID-19-related patient surge. In this section, we provide an overview of the major provisions of this guidance and other targeted guidance. In addition to our overview below, we urge you to review the following links to access comprehensive information about the many recent changes:
- CMS Fact Sheet – "Additional Background: Sweeping Regulatory Changes to Help U.S. Healthcare System Address COVID-19 Patient Surge"
- COVID-19 Emergency Declaration Blanket Waivers for Health Care Providers
- COVID-19 Flexibilities – Overview Graphic
In last month's edition, we outlined new flexibilities released by CMS to enable greater use of telehealth. CMS continues to refine that guidance, and addressed telehealth again in more recent guidance. The newer guidance expands the services eligible for telehealth, such as emergency department visits, nursing facility initial and discharge visits, home health care, inpatient rehabilitation, and hospice. These services may be provided via telehealth even for patients who only have access to audio phones. In separate guidance, CMS also outlines telehealth flexibility for:
- RHCs and FQHCs;
- substance use disorder services; and
- long-term care nursing homes (via a toolkit).
Additionally, CMS released a video FAQ on Medicare telehealth services, as well as a toolkit relative to telehealth in state programs.
CMS also continues to address workforce needs. New developments in this area over the last month include:
- Allowing doctors to provide remote care in rural hospitals, including across state lines;
- Increasing the role of nurse practitioners in skilled nursing facilities; and
- Providing flexibility around home health assessments.
New CMS guidance also allows additional flexibility around physician privileges, staffing, and self-referral restrictions. For states seeking to address workforce challenges, CMS released a workforce toolkit with information about workforce waivers, funding flexibilities, liability protections, and workforce trainings.
Understanding the intense burden on individual health care providers, CMS now allows hospitals to provide benefits for their medical staff such as meals, laundry service, and child care while the staff provide patient care. In the same guidance, CMS:
- makes it easier for providers to enroll as Medicare providers, including private practice physicians;
- expands the role of medical residents; and
- allows providers to use verbal orders to a greater extent, and generally reduces paperwork requirements.
Other Provider Flexibility
In blanket waivers aimed at ensuring providers can manage the expected surge in patients while providing care in a manner that prevents the spread of COVID-19, CMS gives hospitals flexibility to provide care off-site, operate more efficiently, and limit certain patient rights as needed—as well as flexibility relative to other requirements and rules. Likewise, these waivers also provide flexibility to:
- RHCs and FQHCs relative to staffing requirements and sites of care;
- long-term care facilities and skilled nursing facilities relative to admission requirements, reporting, physical environment rules, and provider rules;
- home health agencies relative to payment rules, reporting, assessments, and on-site visits;
- allow dialysis facilities to establish facilities specifically for COVID-19 patients in order to avoid putting other patients at risk;
- allow hospitals and laboratories to collect specimens, test, and screen for COVID-19 in alternative settings; and
- hospice care providers; end-stage renal disease facilities; intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities; and durable medical equipment, prosthetic and orthotic providers and suppliers.
In other comprehensive guidance outlining recent regulatory changes, CMS stipulates that, during the pandemic, hospitals can provide services in alternative locations—such as ambulatory surgery centers, inpatient rehabilitation hospitals, hotels, and dormitories—as needed and still receive Medicare reimbursement. This can include transferring less acute patients to alternative sites to free up inpatient capacity.
Separately, CMS also released guidance allowing licensed, independent freestanding emergency rooms and ambulatory surgical centers to temporarily provide care to Medicare and Medicaid patients. These providers cannot typically be certified as Medicare or Medicaid providers, but under the new guidance, can be temporarily certified as hospitals in order to increase capacity. The guidance also allows non-emergency transport of patients to a wider range of locations—such as FQHCs, physical offices, urgent care facilities, ambulatory surgery centers, and alternative locations for dialysis services.
Other Medicare Coverage
Recent CMS guidance makes several allowances related specifically to Medicare payments. The agency announced increased payments for testing and COVID-related hospital care and rehabilitation, in addition to expanding access to respiratory devices and equipment under Medicare.
One month after announcing the expansion of its Accelerated and Advance Payment Program for healthcare providers and suppliers that participate in Medicare, CMS stated its intention to reevaluate the amounts it will pay under the Accelerated Payment Program and suspended the Advance Payment Program payments to Part B suppliers. Prior to this update, $100 billion had been paid out of the program since the expansion was announced at the end of March. CMS now directs providers to seek funding from the Provider Relief Fund, which gives grants instead of loans.
CMS also updated its guidance for Medicare Advantage plans, Part D plans, and dual-eligible coverage. Among the topics addressed in the update are:
- coverage of testing and future vaccines, and prohibitions on cost sharing, by Medicare Advantage Organizations;
- opportunities for Medicare Advantage Organizations to expand benefits mid-year;
- flexibilities related to Medicare Advantage Organization Models of Care and involuntary disenrollments;
- flexibilities related to Part D delivery documentation, prior authorization requirements; and pharmacy audits;
- limitations on Part D utilization management requirements; and
- changes related to opioid safety policies.
Medicaid FAQ
This month, CMS released a FAQ document outlining in more detail Medicaid provisions in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA)—including those relative to coverage of testing; coverage expansion opportunities; and the increased federal funding available for Medicaid programs. The FAQ also addresses the related maintenance of effort (MOE) requirements that apply to eligibility standards, methodologies and procedures; premiums; and continuation of coverage. It specifically, outlines how to address beneficiary eligibility changes and recently-instituted premium changes. In addition, the document clarifies that in order to qualify for the FFCRA's increased federal funding, states must cover and waive co-payments for testing, treatment, and eventual vaccines, and may not terminate coverage for failure to pay premiums.
Late-Breaking Update
As evidence of how often and quickly the regulatory environment is shifting at the federal level, new guidance came out just this afternoon to address recent legislative changes and provider requests. The broad guidance addresses many of the topics detailed above and is aimed at expanding the healthcare workforce, supporting expanded capacity, increasing access to telehealth, expanding access to testing outside of the hospital, and reducing paperwork. Given its comprehensiveness, this guidance warrants a close review by states—particularly notable are its updates on the following:
- access to COVID-19 testing and antibody testing;
- increasing hospital inpatient, long-term care, partial hospitalization and outpatient capacity;
- allowing health care providers to focus on the highest level of services they are licensed for and delegate other tasks; and
- expanding the types of clinical providers that can provide telehealth services and the services that can be provided via telehealth.
CMS is also making changes to the Medicare Shared Savings Program, adjusting the financial methodology for payment to ACOs to account for COVID-19 costs. Additionally, the agency is allowing states with Basic Health Programs to make temporary COVID-19-related adjustments.
Medicaid Waivers and other Resources for States
Over the last month, CMS approved a number of new Medicaid Waivers related to the pandemic. In last month's edition, we outlined the Section 1135 Waiver flexibility now available to states by virtue of emergency declarations at the federal level. Since that time, Section 1135 waivers were granted to an additional 16 states and the District of Columbia,[1] for a total of 43 waivers granted since the start of the pandemic. In light of the urgent and evolving needs, CMS developed a toolkit for states seeking Section 1135 Waivers aimed at expediting the application and review process of these very time-sensitive requests.
States also continue to pursue amendments to Section 1915(c) Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Waivers via Appendix K to modify, for example, eligibility or benefits. CMS's website includes an updated list of states granted these amendments, as well as resources for states considering them. Additionally, over the last month and at present, states continue to pursue temporary Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program state plan amendments.
Washington state is the first state to have been granted a Section 1115 Medicaid Waiver related to the pandemic, enabling the creation of a state-based COVID-19 disaster relief fund aimed at stabilizing and providing financial support to the state's providers. This support includes ensuring providers have the health care and safe transportation necessary to continue doing their jobs. The waiver also allows Washington to develop a statewide testing and reporting system, as well as to support vulnerable populations.
Guidance related to Private Insurance and Balance Billing
CMS's response to COVID-19 coverage issues related to private insurance also continues to evolve.
Among the most anticipated private insurance-related news this month was the decision that Federally-facilitated Marketplaces will not offer an additional open enrollment period as State-based Marketplaces are. Instead, the administration announced that it will reimburse hospitals directly for care of the uninsured based on Medicare rates.
In follow-up to guidance last month related to co-payments for COVID-19 testing, telehealth, and the FFCRA (which prohibits insurers from applying prior authorization or medical management requirements to COVID-19 testing), CMS released guidance this month encouraging individual and small group issuers to be flexible in applying utilization management and prior authorization. Importantly, that guidance is not explicit to COVID-19-related diagnostics or services, but aimed at reducing overall paperwork requirements on providers. CMS noted that any changes must be clinically-based and applied in a non-discriminatory manner.
The guidance also encourages issuers to modify practices related to network requirements, as workforce shortages resulting from COVID-19 and the response to it may make it difficult for enrollees to access in-network services. Specifically, CMS encourages issuers to work with out-of-network providers to ensure enrollees who cannot access in-network care are not balanced billed. The administration also noted that it will require hospitals receiving stimulus funding to certify that they will not charge patients more than they would have owed if services had been provided in-network. Additionally, the CARES Act prohibits balance billing by laboratories and other testing providers.
Finally, CMS released a FFCRA- and CARES Act-related FAQ this month specific to private insurance requirements, including cost-sharing limitations. Particularly of note, the FAQ:
- Confirms that these requirements apply to self-insured and student health insurance plans, but not short-term limited duration insurance, excepted benefit plans, or retiree-only coverage; and
- Addresses how to deal with out-of-network providers.
CMS is also delaying the risk adjustment data validation process.
Considerations for States
As states review this information, it is important to be mindful that the COVID-19 pandemic is a quickly evolving situation, and this article outlines the status of regulatory information as of the time of publication (April 30, 2020). We encourage state regulators and other readers to stay updated on federal-level guidance by regularly checking CMS's updates.
Further, as states consider how they will implement the new support and flexibilities available to them during this challenging time, they should also keep in mind how they will:
- address MOE requirements; and
- revert the changes they make when the emergency declarations end and guidance flexibilities expire.
As state Medicaid rolls grow, states deal with COVID-19 care needs, and states face a tremendous economic downturn, the federal funding increase outlined in the FFCRA will be critical to supporting Medicaid programs. States must ensure that they do not make any programmatic changes that would impact eligibility for this increased funding. In particular, states should carefully review the detailed guidance from CMS about prior premium increases that are now prohibited and how to address beneficiaries losing eligibility under continuous coverage requirements.
Similarly, as states pursue flexibilities that are critical to their ability to address the needs of their residents, they must create a plan of action that includes the changes they will need to make when the emergency declarations – and temporary flexibilities – end. This will ensure states are prepared to make the changes necessary to stay in compliance with federal rules and requirements despite the end to flexibilities they may rely on now.
[1] Since our last edition, Section 1135 Waivers were granted to Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin as well as the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands


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If you've been jonesing for a new Valkyria Chronicles game, you'll be able to get your fix pretty soon: Valkyria Revolution is coming to North America and Europe this spring. It'll be on PS4, Xbox One, and—believe it or not—Vita.
Valkyria Revolution, which comes out January in Japan, is more of a spinoff than a true Valkyria Chronicles 4. Sega says they ditched the "Chronicles" part of the name to signal that this game feels a little different than its predecessors: "Valkyria Revolution is also in a sense a revolution from the traditional Valkyria Chronicles universe, as it's set in an alternate timeline based on the European industrialization era and eschews the traditional turn-based strategy gameplay for a new hybrid of real-time combat and tactical strategy across battlefields."
There's some more info over on the PlayStation Blog. Hopefully we're all finished with Persona 5 by the time this one comes out.


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Price drop!
Good deal ahead! KLM flights from Amsterdam to natal plus 7 night stay at a well-rated 4* hotel for only €513 per person (based on 2 people booking)
If you go to Fortaleza, you will certainly find everything that makes Brazil one of the most visited countries on earth. Sun, sea, lot's of nature, vibrant colors and an amazing people, always ready to help! If you are a waterspouts lover you're in luck because the region has not only great beaches, but also the ideal conditions to do some sailing, windsurf or kite-surf!
You will be staying at 4* Sun Bay Pipa Hotéis. Sun Bay Pipa Hotéis is a 10-minute walk to Pipa Beach and 5-minutes from central Pipa. All rooms have balconies and air conditioning. Guests have access to free internet in public areas. Some rooms include a private bathroom with a spa bath, while others have free toiletries and a hairdryer. Certain units have a seating area to relax in after a busy day. The hotel's property features a swimming pool, hot tub, playground and free private parking is available when reserved. Sun Bay Pipa Hotéis has both a poolside bar and a restaurant for guests who choose to dine in. For those who don't there are many more options just a short walk away in Pipa.
Travel dates:
June, 2019
Amsterdam – Natal – Amsterdam
How to book:
Go to Tui.nl.
Baggage during the trip:
One cabin bag per passenger.
Sample reservation for 2:
Natal package holiday >>>
Car Rentals:
Book cheap car rentals HERE and don't forget about Car hire excess insurance offered by Icarehireinsurance.com >>


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A simple DTMF dialer
Free Android App
PiPoPa Dialer - A simple DTMF dialer v
Push tone reproduction machines
Push tone reproduction machines
About DTMF
Read the address book
Also telephone number read from the contact, of course correspondence.
History and pinning
Read quickly from the playback history.
Frequently used numbers are useful to stop pin.


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Sichuan Earthquake (part 2)
Friday, May 16, 2008
But as rescue teams continue to pull survivors out of rubble nearly a hundred-twenty hours after the first quake (and while aftershocks continue to rain down more rubble), and while teams rush to inspect the hundreds of at-risk dams in the quake area, I have an image in my mind of the photograph I didn't manage to take. Our train from Kunming was racing toward Zhaotong amidst dramatically eroded limestone on our left, when suddenly on the right, a two-second break in the embankment revealed a straight drop of thousands of feet into a great valley, cut by a slender little river. The far side of the valley was nearly as steep, and dotted with giant boulders.
I think of the houses at the bottom of that valley, and a 7.9 earthquake.
China's limestone provides some of our planet's most dramatic scenery, cut away by water, shoved at precarious angles by earthquakes, and turned green by ample rains.
In China, deaths by flooding and mudslides happen almost every year. Earthquakes that kill in the thousands happen several times each century. But the Chinese have responded to those conditions with a remarkable resilience. One of the things I noticed most during my time in China was the degree to which individual people had thrown themselves behind the national goals set forth by the leadership. Where in the United States we are often a nation of individuals, each pulling in our own direction, my impression of the Chinese was a billion and some people working as a team.
That's a pretty impressive quality, when their stated goal is to develop the world's strongest economy. Amidst the tragedy of all the fallen schools, in some of those very remote mountains, one of the things I will guess is that a high percentage of those children were studying English each day, because fluency in English (and several other of the world's languages) is a national goal, as a stepping stone to building their economy. Every English-speaking traveler to China comes back to tell of being surrounded by young children who want to (or their parents want them to) practice their English. For example, that is how I met this cutie, at a butterfly park near Dali:
Eunice, my former student, reported that at the time of the quake, her class at the Sichuan International Studies University (SISU), in Chongqing, was lining up for their senior picture. It is a language-study university. The quake disrupted them for about an hour, but then they took the picture.
(I would like to credit the photographer for the SISU class picture, if someone can send me the name.)
Posted by Brian at 4:05 PM
Labels: China, Earthquakes, Travel
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Notify Your Android?
Following my recent move into the World of Android I've been looking into notification apps that I can hook into and send message to using Perl.
Luckily for me there was already a perl module, WebService::NotifyMyAndroid, that had already done the hard work of communicating with the API at Notify My Android.
As with all thing, it hadn't seen a release in about a year, and the sneaky NMA guys had changed all their URLs - breaking the module's calls.
As an interested hacker I took a copy of the code and made the appropriate changes to get it up and running again.
Last night, after emailing the module's author and having a short conversation I became co-maintainer of the module.
This morning I uploaded v0.0.3 to the CPAN.
Merry Festive Time!


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I apologise for some of the poor-quality, but I was shooting indoors and was not permitted to use a flash.
|This is the prop and logo that I photographed at Isle Sur Le Sorgue in Southern France. It was going for about $750, even though it's only half-there!
These are model aircraft made by the troops out of bullets. Though not totally accurate, they show how related modelling is to the trenches!
Two German helmets from WWI
|These are infantry weapons.
I took this photo through window bars into one of the courtyards. Granted, all of the ammo there is not WWI, but quite a bit was.
|This is the tomb of Marechal Foch. He is buried in the same building as Napoleon. Of interest is the uniforms of his bearers. A striking feature of note is how blue his alcove is.


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To continue equine education for girls, the Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore has a horse club. The horse club is open to girls of all ages and experience levels. The club meets monthly and covers a different equine topic each month, including trips, guest speakers and hands-on demonstrations.
Read all about it here!


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Contact Us
Request An Appointment
HSS Long Island
333 Earle Ovington Boulevard
Suite 101
Uniondale, NY 11553
(516) 482-1037
Mon. - Thurs. 8am - 4pm
Fri. 9am - 3pm
By Appointment Only.
HSS Manhattan - Main Site (Dr. David Dines)
525 East 71st Street
Belaire Building - First Floor
New York, NY 10021
Front Desk: (516) 482-1037
By Appointment Only.
HSS Manhattan - West Side (Dr. Joshua Dines)
HSS Sports Medicine Institute
610 West 58th Street
3rd Floor
New York, NY 10019
(212) 744-2474
By Appointment Only.
To Dines Orthopedics Patients: By choosing to use email to communicate with us, you understand and agree to the following:
The use of email poses risks to the confidentiality of your health information. The Internet is an open network and provides no inherent protection for confidential information. You accept these risks. E-mail must not be the primary means of communication with us. In particular, you must contact us by telephone or in-person about critical or time-sensitive issues. There will be times when we will not have access to email. Be sure to contact the office by telephone when necessary.
*If you are not contacted by our office after 24 hours please call for an appointment*


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One excellent way to bring a dinner party to a close, if it's late and you'd like your guests to leave, is to raise the philosophical question of "free will". Do we have any? It certainly seems that way. Suppose I'm at the supermarket, about to reach for a jar of blackcurrant jam: surely it's within my power to change my mind and switch to apricot? Yet some philosophers say it isn't. After all, every molecule in the universe – including those in my limbs and brain – is subject to the laws of physics: A causes B, B causes C, in predictable ways (with some randomness thrown in, courtesy of quantum mechanics). Seen this way, my jam-choosing sits at the very end of a vast chain of causes and effects, reaching back through millennia. From the moment of the Big Bang, you could have predicted I'd go for blackcurrant.
This is an outrageous thought, so the usual response is to reject it – or, in the dinner party scenario, suddenly to remember you've an early start tomorrow. But while philosophers debate if everything is predetermined, psychologists have basically established something only slightly less disturbing: a large proportion of your decisions aren't independently made by you. In his new book, Invisible Influence, Jonah Berger puts the figure at 99.9%: that's how many of your choices are significantly influenced by forces of which you're unaware. We choose music and novels, clothes and careers, because others did. Or we choose the opposite, to show we're not like them – a phenomenon marketers call "snob effects". You probably named your child in order to sound similar, but not identical, to names that were in the air at the time: after Hurricane Katrina, fewer American kids got named Katrina, but girls' names starting with a hard K shot up, Berger writes. We choose our politics partly to mimic or rebel against our parents; and we'll support or reject the exact same policy, research suggests, depending on whether it's described as right- or leftwing.
Taken individually, these effects aren't surprising. What is striking is the volume. Pop psychology tends to present these "hidden persuaders" as anomalies, as if we usually make up our own minds, and only occasionally get blown off course. But, reading Berger, you get the feeling it's the other way round: we're mainly robots, acting out the influences of our environments, lucky if we manage a tiny sliver of independent thought. Even the decision to kill yourself is heavily influenced by the immediate availability of the means to do so. When you remove people's access to those means, they often don't just "find another way"; rather, a suicide is prevented.
Is this lack of autonomy a cause for alarm or relief? When it comes to ordinary daily decisions, probably the latter. If my choices are my own, I'll be constantly anxious about choosing well. But if every "choice" I make is inevitably shaped by countless unseen pressures, I can relax a bit. If I ever write my autobiography, I have the first line: "Due to circumstances beyond my control…"


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The City Law School is an international centre for the study of European Union law.
The Jean Monnet Chair in EU Law was awarded by the European Commission (Erasmus + programme) to Professor Panos Koutrakos (Professor of EU Law) for the period 2019-2022.
In fact, this has been the second time that such a Chair has been awarded to Professor Koutrakos at City, University of London (the first was for the period 2014-2018) and the third time overall (while he was Professor of EU law at University of Bristol).
The objectives of the Jean Monnet Chair in EU Law include the following:
- Promote debate on topical issues of EU law by organising conferences, workshops and seminars with eminent scholars, practitioners and policy-makers across Europe
- Participate actively in shaping cutting-edge research in EU law
- Promote intra- and inter-disciplinarity in EU law scholarship by bringing together law scholars with practitioners and decision-makers
- Innovate in the delivery of the postgraduate curriculum by enabling students to place the study of law in its practical and policy context and exposing them to non-traditional ways of teaching
- Promote doctoral research.
Jean Monnet Chair in European Law website
Visit the Centre's research microsite for more information about the Centre, including areas of research, projects and related activities.
- Dr Marios Costa
- Professor Sir Alan Dashwood
- Professor Panos Koutrakos
- Dr Daniel Wilsher.
Featured profile
City Law School facilities
The City Law School building on Sebastian Street has now opened its doors and will provide a new home for The City Law School.
The £63 million City Law School building features a dedicated library, 160-seat lecture theatre, modern study space, staff offices, restaurant and central atrium with a glazed roof.
This impressive facility features dynamic social spaces which complements The City Law School's forward-thinking approach to teaching, learning and research.
With a modern seminar and meeting rooms, a mock court room, a legal clinic and state of the art law library to encourage a more informal and interactive style of learning.


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Springtime has finally rolled out of bed, splashed some cold water on its face, and decided to show up – which means the time is right to start looking for a new-to-you high-performance car from the used marketplace.
If your New Year's Resolution for 2015 was to improve your awesomeness by travelling via high-powered, factory-tuned rocket-coupe (or sedan), we've got three picks for you to consider. The models listed below are all specially set up by each automaker's in-house performance division, and look to be solid used car buys that'll deliver memorable performance and thrills whenever you take the wheel.
Below, we'll take a closer look at the appeal to each one, and some tips to bear in mind when heading out for some test drives.
2007 to 2013 BMW M3
The Draw: This one's a riot. Look for a high-strung, hand-built screamer V8 engine which displaces four litres, outputs 414 horsepower, and spins eagerly to an 8,300 rpm redline. If you've never revved a BMW V8 to eight grand or more, it's a bit like chugging a case of Red Bull and jumping naked into a bucket of ice, only the screaming sounds a bit more mechanical.
This generation M3's beasty little engine is only part of the appeal though: you'll find the M3 in coupe, sedan or convertible, available with a lightning fast dual-clutch or good-old-fashioned manual transmission, and feature content fitting of a world-class performance car. Don't miss the potent xenon lights, slick navigation system, or the little arm that passes your seatbelt to you in two-door models.
Finally, the M3 does well as a daily driver, too. Though it'll happily gobble up apexes on your favorite lapping track all weekend long, it's also comfortable, laid back and easygoing enough to take to Home Depot.
The Test Drive: Shoppers are advised to make several important checks of a used M3 for maximum confidence. Using the iDrive system, click MENU, then VEHICLE INFORMATION, then CHECK CONTROL to see if the vehicle has any issues you should be aware of. This on-board interface can alert you of some potential issues, and a highly-advised scan of the M3's drivetrain computer systems should be considered mandatory, too. Further, shoppers are advised to seek out a model with all service records, and especially, proof of regular oil changes, for maximum peace of mind.
Vertical scratches on the windows of a two-door model are typically the result of a problem with the window seals, and a wonky brake-light fault system could cause a brake-light failure warning to display, possibly even if the brake lights are working. Have all exterior illumination double-checked to be sure.
Prod the throttle hard, several times, in first gear where appropriate. You're listening for a clunking or popping sound through the rear floor, which could indicate a differential mount that needs replacing.
A model purchased through a certified pre-owned program with full service records is your safest bet. Ultimately, this looks like a mechanically solid used performance car buy.
2008 to 2014 Dodge Challenger SRT8
The Draw: For a decent price, the Challenger SRT8 gave owners access to one-of-a-kind looks, tremendous power output, a lengthy list of features, and a lusty powertrain, consisting of an up-tuned SRT V8 engine available with a six-speed Tremec manual transmission, complete with pistol-grip shifter. The experience of browsing the Challenger SRT8's forward gears with your boot to the floor is a testosterone-gushing experience.
The Tremec gearbox is an ideal partner in crime for this punched-up engine, but watch your speed, as it's very, very easy to get carried away while firing off tire-chirping gearshifts like it's the seventies. Bad to the Bone plays from nearby stereos whenever Challenger approaches, and if there was an apocalypse tomorrow, those in charge would almost definitely be driving these out of the flaming skies.
Used copies will have no less than 425 horsepower from a 6.1L V8 engine, and more recent copies got a 6.4L unit that made it 470. Look for available dual-mode dampers, Brembo brakes, and a variety of track-tuned chassis upgrades to complete the package in Dodge's top-dog, SRT-tuned Challenger model.
For all the performance, Challenger is somewhat sensible. Not on fuel (it loves gasoline), but it offers a big, deep trunk, adult-usable rear seats and a full array of driver assist systems.
The Test Drive: This one looks solid, beefy and over-built, and most owners report minimal issues, if any at all. Note that big, heavy, high-powered cars like this one can chew through tires, brakes and clutches like a pitbull through a soup-bone, so approach a used Challenger SRT8 assuming the seller is trying to pass off the replacement bill until you prove otherwise.
Confirm that all window seals are present, intact and un-damaged, or water leaks may result. Check that the headliner isn't coming loose or sagging, and inspect the rocker panel covers for signs of cracking. Scrutinize the driver's seat for signs of ripping, damaged seams or excessive wear, too.
The engine and driveline in the Challenger SRT8 seem able to take a beating, though be sure the transmission shifts smoothly and with no biting back, or rejected shifts, which could indicate trouble. Listen for a whining or groaning sound from the rear differential while turning tightly at a low speed as a sign of trouble, too.
Finally, confirm everything inside the Challenger SRT8 that runs on electricity is in proper working order including the seats, climate control, driver computer, steering-wheel controls, and lights.
2008 to 2015 Mercedes C63 AMG
The Draw: This little Mercedes-Benz hot-rod sedan amounts to a souped-up version of the brand's popular C-Class, after a complete do-over by the Mercedes-Benz AMG performance team. Unique chassis upgrades, steering systems, brakes, wheels, tires, body panels and driveline components culminate to give drivers a high-tech, go-fast weapon.
With no less than 451 horsepower from its massive 6.2L V8 engine, expect 0-100 km/h in about 4 seconds, en route to a quarter-mile pass in the 12-second range. This one's a rocket!
Owners say it's also peaceful enough to drive on the daily, thanks to its automatic transmission with numerous shift modes, and the engine's remarkable low-end torque, which provides effortless acceleration at very low revs when driving gently. Feature content is fitting of a compact luxury car, and shoppers will find navigation, premium audio, xenon lights, push-button start and plenty more.
The Test Drive: Some owners have reported issues surrounding head studs, which hold the V8 engine together internally. If these studs fail, catastrophic engine failure can result. Low coolant, or signs of a coolant leak into the combustion chambers (e.g., white, sweet-smelling smoke from the tailpipes) could be signs of this pricey problem. Ditto poor performance or difficulty in getting the engine to start, or stay running. If any of these signs are present on your test-drive, walk away.
Sporadic performance and poor throttle response could be the result of a bad throttle position sensor, which may illuminate a check-engine light. Be sure to have a dealer technician double check if any issues are noted.
Scrutinize the feel and sound of the steering system by feeling the steering while driving and listening for unwanted sounds while turning the wheel at idle. Any unwelcome noises or sensations may be the result of a power steering pump that's about to fail. This issue seems to stem from aggressive driving, for instance, doing burnouts or skids at high revs with the wheel fully cranked.
Because of at least one well-documented and serious issue by the C63 AMG owner's community, shoppers are advised to seek out a newer, lower-mileage unit from a Certified Pre-Owned program, opting for any extra warranty coverage that may be available.


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University To Create Online Exhibit On Branch Davidian Siege
The Wittliff Collections at Texas State University in San Marcos has received a $20,000 grant to create an online exhibit about the 1993 shootout and standoff at the Branch Davidian compound outside of Waco.
The grant was awarded by the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Texas State Library and Archives Commission's TexTreasures grant program, the university said.
The exhibit will be created based on the primary source materials journalist Dick J. Reavis, collected while writing "The Ashes of Waco," which was published in 1995.
Reavis donated his papers to the Wittliff's Southwestern Writers Collection and his archive opened for research in 2006, the university said.
Among the items that will be made available are recordings of negotiations between the Branch Davidians and FBI agents, videos recorded by the federal government during the siege, Branch Davidian Bible studies dating back to the 1970s and correspondence between Reavis and surviving Branch Davidians.
The standoff at Mount Carmel started on Feb. 28, 1993 after Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms agents launched a massive raid on the compound that left four agents and six Davidians dead.Read More About:
The Ashes of Waco
Buy From:
(Amazon.com USA)
(Amazon.co.uk UK)
The shootout stunned the ATF and the FBI moved quickly to take over operations.
It was in charge during the 51-day standoff that captured the attention of the world.
At one point, there were as many as 1,000 media representatives assembled along a rural McLennan County Farm to Market Road in an area that became known as Satellite City.
Analysts later said the intense media scrutiny of the government's handling of the standoff may have contributed to the FBI's decision to use tear gas in an attempt to break the impasse.
FBI agents in armored vehicles pumped tear gas into the compound in an assault that began early in the morning on April 19, 1993.
Just after noon, fingers of flame began to shoot from one end of the compound.
A strong wind fanned the flames, which quickly engulfed the poorly constructed wood frame building.
As many as 80 died in the fire, including women and children.
The Ashes of Waco
The scene outside Waco, Texas, on February 28, 1993 – when dozens of federal law enforcement agents in full combat gear stormed the Branch Davidian compound – could have been cast in England before the Quakers and Pilgrims fled to America, or in the colonies at Salem, or in the new Republic during the nineteenth century, when descendants of the Quakers and Pilgrims turned their suspicions on the early Mormons. The elements that these very American crusades had in common were, on one hand, a group of people with beliefs incomprehensible to the majority of the population, and on the other, police agencies whose operatives could not distinguish custom from law, idiosyncrasy from threat. The line between churches, which Americans believe should be protected from government interference, and cults, which most Americans hold in disdain, has nothing to do with the Constitution-the First Amendment in theory shields both-and everything to do with the prejudices of a nation that has grown fearful of the diversity that made it unique. The residents of Mt. Carmel were instantly convicted of sin and lawbreaking by the kind of gossip that unites remote hamlets and electronic villages alike.
This is the story the daily press didn't give us, the definitive book about what happened at Mt. Carmel, near Waco, Texas, examined from both sides-the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) and the FBI on one hand, and David Koresh and his followers on the other. Dick J. Reavis points out that the government had little reason to investigate Koresh and even less to raid the compound at Mt. Carmel. The government lied to the public about most of what happened – about who fired the first shots, about drug allegations, about child abuse. The FBI was duplicitous and negligent in gassing Mt. Cannel – and that alone could have started the fire that killed seventy-six people.
The press only made things worse. The feds said that Koresh and his cult held dangerous beliefs as well as dangerous guns, and the press passed on the charge without criticism or independent judgment. Its stories set up a sort of self-fulfilling prophecy in which the accusation – heresy – both predicted and justified the sect's demise, as if every Jeremiah were a Jim Jones, every Mt. Carmel inevitably a Jonestown.
Drawing on interviews with survivors of Koresh's movement (which dates back to 1935, long before Koresh was born), on published accounts, on trial transcripts, on esoteric religious tracts and audiotapes that tell us who Koresh was and why people followed him, and most of all on secret documents that the government has not released to the public yet, Reavis has uncovered the real story from beginning to end, including the trial that followed. It is a story about the very American, nineteenth-century roots of Koresh's theology, and it includes previously unpublished biographical details. Reavis quotes from Koresh himself at great length to create an extraordinary portrait of a movement, an assault, and an avoidable tragedy. –This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.


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Monday, July 14, 2014
Lookbook: Recycled Glass
18 comments
oh ya , this top remind of those glassesReplyDelete
i like it , its elegant and perfect for summer
keep in touch
It's a really lovely top :) Zara usually has some great finds. You look super doll. Happy Monday xxReplyDelete
The design of your top looks great. Your photos look refreshing because that top looks cool. It reminds me of snow flakes.ReplyDelete
Awesome top, Cheryl:) A very appropriate title.ReplyDelete
I love that top!!!! Geez, I need to get me to a Zara.ReplyDelete
Courtney ~ Sartorial Sidelines
Very nice! Cool top indeed!ReplyDelete
This is such a cute chic look! Love it! :-)ReplyDelete
The effect of this top is very cool! Hope you're enjoying your vacation Cheryl!ReplyDelete
Rowena @ rolala loves
That top is beautiful! Reminds me of stained glass.ReplyDelete
Gorgeous photo on your Instagram of SA. I like the mosaic-inspired top as well. :)ReplyDelete
You look totally cool!ReplyDelete
I'm loving the top, the clutch, the shoes and the bracelet... everything :))
Lu | www.balgarka.co.uk
It's such a stylish outfit to kick up the vacation; have fun on your trip.ReplyDelete
Oh--- I really love this outfit---- head to toe! I want to be wearing it right now--- seriously!!!!ReplyDelete
~Alexis Grace of North On Harper
I love your top and accessories Cheryl! Hope you're having an awesome vacation!ReplyDelete
Love, LOVE this look. Really cute top and I love how well you wear hats. Head to toe, you look great!ReplyDelete
I love that top and those shorts are great. You look so pretty!ReplyDelete
Nicole to the Nines
I loove the blend, your photo quality is ahhh- mazing -!! What lens do you use, and your smile is beyond wordsReplyDelete
Love this look!! TOtally featuring you on the blog today! Thanks for linking up!ReplyDelete


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[Note: 1) Jimmy Rollins' 2014 milestones were covered separately here; 2) Phillies' all-time top 10 lists are included below]
Chase Utley
With his hot start (MLB's highest fWAR and 2nd highest wRC+ in the first week of the season), Chase Utley has already reached several milestones in the early going, and assuming he stays healthy it figures to be a busy year for him in that regard:
- He will get his 1,500th hit around July, and move up to 9th on the Phils' all time list by the end of the year.
- #7 in doubles and 6th in homers are well within reach (and he hit his 300th double last week).
- He should make it up to 6th in team history in RBIs.
In addition, he has already moved up to 18th on MLB's all-time list for times Hit By Pitch, and may make it to 17th by the end of the year. After averaging 18 per year in 2005-12, Utley only got in the way of 5 pitches in 2013. It would be understandable if that were a conscious effort to avoid injury, but the way he stuck his knee at that pitch on Sunday may indicate that he's still willing to tolerate some pain in order to get on base.
Below are the milestones he will likely reach in 2014, assuming he remains healthy and plays at roughly last year's level.
How to read
- # needed in 2014, e.g. Utley's 3rd RBI of the year tied him with Luzinski for 11th on the Phils' all-time list, at 811.
- Rankings refer to the Phillies' career lists, unless specified as All-time ("AT"); non-Phillies milestones are in blue.
(click table for a sharper image)
Ryan Howard
Howard should pass Chuck Klein some time in May for 4th most RBIs in Phillies history (with only Mike Schmidt, Ed Delahanty, and Del Ennis still ahead of him). Not long after that he will likely also get the 1,000th RBI of his career.
By the end of the year he could be 8th on the Phillies list in walks, 8th in total bases, and 7th in extra base hits.
Ben Revere: his stolen base in the 5th inning on Sunday was his fourth of the young season, and the 100th of his career. Of course at this rate, #150 or even 200 may also be within reach, since Revere is on 108-steal pace after 6 games.
Marlon Byrd: the only round number he is likely to reach this year is strikeout number 1,000, and he began the season 134 K's away. After never striking out more than 98 times in any one season, he had 144 K's in 2013, so 134 is certainly doable.
Cole Hamels
Hamels' first win of the year will be the 100th of his career, and will tie him for 7th on the Phillies list. His second win will tie Curt Schilling for 6th.
He will likely also pass both Schilling and Chris Short in strikeouts, leaving only Steve Carlton (3,031) and Robin Roberts (1,871) ahead of him.
Despite his late start, assuming no further health issues, by the end of the year he will also be 5th in games started, and 6th in innings pitched.
A.J. Burnett
Burnett is close to becoming only the second active pitcher with 1,000 walks issued, behind only Ryan Dempster. And while Dempster isn't officially retired, he is sitting out the 2014 season (citing health issues) so Burnett can reasonably be called the active leader in that category.
Cliff Lee
Lee is moving up some Phillies lists, and may crack the top 10 in strikeouts this year (needing an ambitious 229 to tie Randy Wolf). Larry Christenson at number 11 is only a few starts away.
Jonathan Papelbon
Who knows how effective Papelbon will be this year and whether any of the items shown for him below are attainable. But if he continues to close for the Phillies, he will likely get some saves in addition to the ones he blows, and may reach some milestones on the MLB all-time saves list, as well as the Phillies career list:
- Save number 14 will be the 300th of his career, and will tie him with Jason Isringhausen and Bruce Sutter for 24th most all-time.
- He is already 8th on the Phillies' list, and 11 more will tie him for 7th with Ricky Bottalico.
- Again, depending on a) how many opportunities he gets, and b) how many he can convert, he could reach Tug McGraw (#6 at 94), or even Brad Lidge (#5 at 100) on the Phillies' all-time list.
Phillies All-Time Career Leaders
Phillies All-time lists: Batting
Phillies All-time lists: Pitching
Source: baseball-reference.com for managing stats, mlb.com for everything else.


text:
OTTAWA – James Reimer posted his second straight shutout, and Phil Kessel and Tyler Bozak each had three points to lead the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 5-0 rout of the Ottawa Senators on Saturday night.
Kessel and Bozak each had a goal and two assists, while Dion Phaneuf, Luke Schenn and Cody Franson also scored for Toronto. Reimer stopped 49 shots for his third shutout of the season and has now made 74 saves in his last two games.
Craig Anderson, making his 17th straight start and 50th appearance, had little help from his teammates as he faced 40 shots.
Ottawa fell to 3-2-0 against Toronto this year.
With their sixth straight loss, the Senators are on their longest losing streak since an 0-9-2 stretch last season.
Despite the loss, the Senators remain in seventh place in the Eastern Conference, but the Leafs are just one point back in eighth and Washington three points back in ninth. Both teams have games in hand on Ottawa.
The Senators have made a habit of rallying to win this season, but the hole was too deep as they entered the third period trailing 3-0.
Any hope quickly faded as Schenn made it 4-0 early in the period before Franson's power-play goal completely deflated Ottawa.
Playing their second game in as many nights, the Senators got into trouble early as the Leafs jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period.
Midway through the period, Kessel managed to pick up his own rebound and beat Anderson through the legs to open the scoring.
Toronto made it 2-0 late in the period with the man advantage as Kessel found an open Phaneuf, who beat Anderson with a quick wrister.
Ottawa could not find a way to beat Reimer and even outshot the Leafs 21-9 in the second.
Bozak gave the Leafs a commanding 3-0 lead with his ninth of the season as he broke in around the defense and lifted a backhander over a sprawled Anderson.
Notes: The Senators were without C Peter Regin (shoulder, out for season), C Jesse Winchester (concussion, indefinitely). D Brian Lee (lower-body injury, day-to-day). ... D Mike Komisarek, LW Darryl Boyce and LW Jay Rosehill were healthy scratches for Toronto.