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1975 Levi's Edition Jeep CJ-5 Renegade - Stone WashedPosted in Features on August 3, 2013
Chris Dickerson was born in Midland, Texas, in 1974. That same year, his father, Chuck,bought this '75 CJ-5 Renegade. To say that it holds sentimental value for the Dickersons would be an understatement. Chuck inspired Chris to love Jeeps and what they stand for as an American icon. When his father passed away, instead of modifying the Jeep with a different suspension or swapped-in drivetrain components, Chris left it just as his father would have remembered it.
The last year for straight framerails under a CJ was 1975. For the '76 models, AMC widened the framerails in the rear and changed to wider leaf springs. Chris's Levi's Edition Jeep still rides on the narrow stock 1¾-inch-wide front and rear leaf springs, with factory shocks on the short factory shock mounts. Saginaw steering boxes replaced the Ross cam and lever steering on CJs in '72, and the factory power steering on Chris' Renegade has no problem turning the 31x10.50R15 BFGoodrich All-Terrain tires on the polished factory wheels. The wheel on the back of the tub even holds the 38-year-old original spare. Below the spare, the factory tow hitch is a reminder of Jeep's farming heritage; it is a big heavy implement that has been missing from Jeep's lineup for decades.
Back in 1975 you could still get a V-8 in a short-wheelbase Jeep, and Chris' CJ-5 came with an AMC 304. It is still sitting between the framerails with 122,000 miles on the ticker and only minor upgrades along the way. Emissions requirements were just beginning in the '70s, and the 304 was hampered with a smog pump and a catalytic converter bigger than some apartments we have lived in. Both are still in place, but the belt to the smog pump was removed long ago. The only other modification is a Performance Distributors DUI distributor that keeps the spark plugs much cleaner than the factory ignition module.
Behind the V-8 is a Borg-Warner T-15 three-speed manual that isn't really geared low enough for the trail or high enough for the freeway, but does an admirable job of living behind the torque of the V-8. The tranny is bolted to a Dana 20 transfer case, which has a centered rear output that is quieter than the Spicer 18s that were used up through '71. The Dana 20 still retains the same sturdy gear-driven design and cast iron case. Power is then routed to the centered rear Dana 44 that uses flanged, one-piece axleshafts with the factory 3.73 gears and a worn-out Track-Lok. Up front the Dana 30 uses the same gears and carrier and has the open knuckles that became standard in 1970, but still has 11-inch drum brakes since discs were not an option until 1976 and did not become standard until 1977.
Body and Interior
The Renegade has the long front fenders and hood that became standard in '72 in order to fit AMC engines under the hood. Chris' CJ still has an upright windshield frame though, and is the last year before the windshield was leaned back in an effort to improve mileage and lessen wind noise. Another change that occurred in 1976 was the switch to the large rectangular taillights that were used with some changes all the way through the TJ model. Chris' Jeep has round taillights and separate round backup lights in the rear of the tub, which does not have the optional tailgate.
Chris' sister rolled the Jeep in 1988, just weeks after the front cage half was added to the rollbar, which kept anyone from being seriously injured. Plenty of sheetmetal was damaged in the roll, though, and the Jeep sat in an aircraft hanger for the next fourteen years. In 2002 Chris decided to surprise his father and fix the body before South Side Auto Body laid down the stock paint and added the New Old Stock Renegade stickers to the hood. Other than the cage, the interior is largely stock. Like the front bumper, the grab bar and seat brackets were chromed by Chris' dad, but they no longer hold the trademark denim seats that came in the Levis Edition. Chris does still have the seats, but he has been searching for someone to reupholster them back to original. The gas tank is located under the rear of the tub instead of under the passenger seat, another factory change that started in 1972.
Good, Bad, and What It's For
Admittedly, there are a lot of things that this Jeep is not good at. It rides down the road like a wagon. It has tall gears and open diffs. It has little tires. The thing looks like it just rolled off of the showroom floor, though. Most of the time it lives in the garage. But on those warm days when Chris thinks of his father, instead of looking at old photo albums he hops in his Jeep and takes it for a drive down memory lane.
Why I Wrote This Feature
This magazine is full of heavily modified Jeeps, and I strongly encourage everyone to customize their Jeep to fit their intended purpose. I certainly don't have the self-control to leave anything alone. So when I found such a clean, unmolested Jeep that is older than most of our readers, I felt it deserved to be showcased.
—Harry Wagner
Hard Facts
Vehicle: 1975 Levi's Edition CJ-5
Engine: 304 AMC V-8
Transmission: Borg Warner T-15
Transfer Case: Dana 20
Suspension: Factory leaf springs
Axles: Dana 30 (front), Dana 44 (rear)
Wheels: 15x7 factory aluminum
Tires: 31x10.5R15 BFGoodrich All-Terrain
Built For: In memory of Chuck Dickerson
Estimated Cost: Priceless heirloom


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A region within synthetic peptide: RVKVPVGQEV EGMNILGLVV FAIVFGVALR KLGPEGELLI RFFNSFNEAT, corresponding to internal sequence amino acids 217-266 of Human SLC1A5
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The application notes include recommended starting dilutions; optimal dilutions/concentrations should be determined by the end user.
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|Use a concentration of 4 - 8 µg/ml.
Immunohistochemistry (Formalin/PFA-fixed paraffin-embedded sections) analysis of human kidney tissue labelling SLC1A5 with ab58690 at 4-8µg/ml. Arrows indicate positively labelled epithelial cells of the renal tubule. Magnification: 400X.
Please note: All products are "FOR RESEARCH USE ONLY AND ARE NOT INTENDED FOR DIAGNOSTIC OR THERAPEUTIC USE"

subset: commoncrawl


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NC man drowns in Idaho kayaking accident
NC man drowns in Idaho kayaking accident
CASCADE, Idaho —
A 22-year-old North Carolina man has died in a kayaking accident on the Payette River in Idaho, north of Boise.
Boise County officials say Eric Weigel of Asheville, N.C., was kayaking the North Fork of the Payette with two friends on Wednesday afternoon when he apparently flipped over and hit his head, losing consciousness.
The sheriff's department tells KBOI-TV that Weigel was upside down in his kayak for several minutes before friends could get him to shore. He died at the scene.
The sheriff's office says Weigel and his friends were on the final day of a 21-day whitewater rafting trip when the accident happened.
The North Fork of the Payette is known for its challenging Class V rapids.


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Aubergine a la crème
Ingredients: 1kg of aubergines 2 eggs 100g of butter 1/2l of milk nutmeg flour grated cheese salt pepper
Peel the aubergines and divide them into four parts. Sprinkle them with salt and pepper. Prepare the béchamel sauce in the usual way, adding a little nutmeg, salt, pepper, flour and milk to the butter. On removing it from the heat, add a little more butter and two egg yolks and stir everything well. Flour the pieces of aubergine and fry them. Afterwards cover with the béchamel sauce and put into the oven in a dish.
More information
Recipe information
- Category: Starter or first course
- Price: Low
Nutritional information
- Energy: Average
- Cholesterol: High
- Retinol: High


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Largest alumni turnout ever at Reunion 2013
Nearly 1,300 alumni and friends gathered on campus to celebrate
Members from the class years ending in 3's and 8's braved tropical storm Andrea on Friday night and kicked off a weekend full of fun activities, reconnecting with classmates and seeing old friends. This year marks the second largest reunion ever. This year, a record 885 alumni attended Reunion. The previous high was from 2008, when 860 alumni attended.
Melissa Scott '03, Nyssa Thomas '03 and Horace Baxter '03
"We have stayed connected through social media, but nothing beats being here in person," said Melissa Scott '03, who came from New York to celebrate her 10th reunion. Classmate Nyssa Thomas '03 from Northern California agreed: "After 10 years it was definitely time to come back," said Thomas. "I was really curious to see who people are now. I am so glad I came."
Scott, Thomas and Horace Baxter '03, who is from Seattle, Wash., arrived on campus early on Friday to attend Alumni College. "I loved the presentations. They were informative, fun and interesting," said Baxter, who also expressed his amazement at the changes to the physical campus. "It's beautiful, so expanded. I cannot believe how much has changed in just 10 years."
A record 300 alumni, friends and Brandeis National Committee and BOLLI members attended Alumni College, the day-long series of classes led by some of Brandeis' most beloved professors and administrators. Chris Bedford, the Henry and Lois Foster Director of The Rose Art Museum, started the day with a lecture titled "Art Inside Out." Other classes and presentations were made by faculty members Marya Lowry, Jon Levisohn, Dawn Skorczewski, Angela Gutchess, Maura Jane Farrelly and Don Katz.
Friday evening, the celebration ramped up at the Fire & 'Deis Welcome Back Party, held under a tent on the Great Lawn. Hundreds of alumni and their guests danced the night away after enjoying an international tapas-style buffet. A live band played hits from artists ranging from the Beatles to Michael Jackson and Bruno Mars, keeping the party jumping for hours. "I just love to dance," said David Friedler '68. "The band was great and that was so much fun."
Several new programs and reunion activities were introduced this year, including a Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast, a student panel titled "Brandeis Today," Kegs and Kickballs and Ollie's Family Fun. Saturday morning, alumni who volunteered for their Reunion committees were recognized for their efforts. Senior Vice President for Institutional Advancement Nancy Winship, P'10, P'13, welcomed the more than 200 participants. "We have more volunteers this year than ever before and it shows, with near-record attendance and new events and activities. We simply could not do this without you," she told them.
Kegs and Kickball and Ollie's Family Fun drew alumni from all class years to the Gosman Center for some good-natured athletic competition among graduates and family-friendly activities for the kids. Face-painting, games, Build-a-Bear and more kept the young ones busy and entertained.
Alumni Achievement Awards were presented during a conversation with President Frederick Lawrence on Saturday morning. Bonnie Berger '83, professor of applied mathematics and the first woman to earn tenure in the math department of MIT; Jon Landau '68, renowned music manager, record producer and manager of rock legend Bruce Springsteen; and Robert Zimmer '68, president of the University of Chicago, each received the highest recognition bestowed exclusively on alumni for their distinguished contributions to their chosen fields. Zimmer was unable to attend and participated via video conference from his office at the University of Chicago.
Individual class dinners were held across campus and at the Boston Marriott/Newton Hotel on Saturday night. Attendees enjoyed buffet dinners, live music, karaoke, dancing and sharing stories and memories of their time on campus. President Lawrence visited with each class during the weekend, thanking the reunion class chairs for their hard work and all of the alumni for coming back to Brandeis.
President Frederick Lawrence visited with each class during the weekend, thanking the reunion class chairs for their hard work and all alumni for coming back to Brandeis. "I look forward to seeing you back here again in five years, and many times before then," he said. "You are all ambassadors for Brandeis. Let your classmates who are not here know what a great time you had this weekend. We look forward to welcoming them back to campus next time."
A reunion gift check for $2.7 million was presented to President Lawrence by Vic Samuels '63 and Ron Kaiserman '63 at a Farewell Jazz & Champagne Brunch on Sunday.
To learn more, visit the Brandeis Alumni and Friends website or watch the Reunion 2013 slideshow on flickr.


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A newly published report has found that the institutions of the Farm Credit System continue to increase their support for young and beginning farmers and ranchers - the future of U.S. agriculture -- making $5.5 billion available to young farmers and $9.3 billion for beginning farmers in 2006.
"The Farm Credit System is America's expert for agricultural lending. As the next generation starts building their operations, they know the value of having a dedicated and experienced agricultural lender as a partner," said Bruce Nelson, a Washington state grower of wheat, barley, lentils, peas and nursery trees, who serves as chairman of the Farm Credit Council, the Farm Credit System's national trade association. "As cooperative institutions owned and directed by farmers, Farm Credit is especially sensitive to the needs of these young people because we know from experience the challenges of starting out. We've been there," Nelson said.
All Farm Credit institutions have programs specifically focused on and designed to meet the needs of young and beginning farmers. System institutions annually report their activity to the Farm Credit Administration (FCA), an independent federal regulatory agency that oversees the System.
The FCA newly released report details Farm Credit's lending to young and beginning farmers during 2006. System support for the next generation of farmers and ranchers continued to grow, according to the FCA report, despite the challenges and risks young people face getting established in agriculture. The FCA report shows that:
. Young farmers (age 35 or younger): In 2006, Farm Credit institutions made more than 46,000 new loans totaling almost $5.5 billion to young farmers. This represented 17 percent of all new loans made by the System during the year and 10.5 percent of the new loan dollar volume. Compared to 2005, Farm Credit institutions made over 4,000 more loans to young farmers and made available an additional $400 million in 2006.
. Beginning farmers (those with 10 or fewer years of farming experience): During 2006, more than 57,000 new loans totaling $9.3 billion were made to beginning farmers - 21.2 percent of all new loans and 17.8 percent of new loan dollar volume. This represents an increase of more than 1,000 loans over 2005 and an increase of more than $1 billion in loan volume to beginning farmers in the past year.
(Please note that these numbers are not additive. Data is gathered at the time loans are made. Any young farmer with less than 10 years of farming experience also is reported as a beginning farmer consistent with FCA reporting requirements to achieve accurate data in each separate category. Research has shown that many beginning farmers are over the age of 35.)
While Farm Credit's performance in serving young and beginning farmers remains strong, inflation and declining farm numbers are having an adverse impact on the market for loans to young and beginning farmers according to FCA. The report noted that Farm Credit institutions aggressively reach out to these market segments by offering special underwriting standards, concessionary interest rates, the use of Federal guarantees and other programs. In addition, Farm Credit institutions serve young and beginning farmers by spending millions of dollars and hundreds of hours in support of organizations such as FFA and 4-H, by conducting training programs, management seminars and educational retreats for young farmers, and by supporting scholarship programs for farm youth entering college.
"The data is clear that Farm Credit institutions are committed to young and beginning farmers. These figures speak for themselves - America's young and beginning farmers overwhelmingly rely on Farm Credit financing to pursue their profession and their dreams," said Ken Auer, president and CEO of the Farm Credit Council. "Unfortunately, Farm Credit institutions are frustrated by an outdated law in their ability to serve the input suppliers and marketing and processing businesses that these young people must rely on in order to be successful. Young farmers rely heavily on local networks of farm-related businesses for advice and expertise and these entities can't get access to capital from the Farm Credit System to help keep their costs down," Auer said. "Congress has a chance to fix this in this year's farm bill, and there are hundreds of organizations from across the country urging them to do just that," Auer said.
"Our young and beginning farmer and rancher customers frequently tell us that Farm Credit's presence as a lender in their area provides competition for the rates offered by other lenders," Nelson added. "They also let us know that they place a high value on building a relationship with a lending partner that understands the dynamic needs of rural communities and that is a specialist in rural and agricultural financing. They know that when they borrow from Farm Credit, they become owners of an institution that advocates for agriculture instead of just another customer of an institution focused only on generating profits for investors."
The Farm Credit System is rural America's customer-owned partner. Farm Credit helps maintain and improve the quality of life in rural America and on the farm, through its constant commitment to competitive lending, expert financial services and advice, and a feeling of partnership with its customers. The Farm Credit Council is the national trade association representing the interests of the institutions of the Farm Credit System. For more information visit http://www.fccouncil.com/.


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Note: I couldn't find an adequate cover art sample, so BEHOLD THE BURNING PENTAGRAM!
Greetings dearest friends! It is I, the Duke of DVD, come 'round once again to bust a proverbial cap into the rancid ass of cinema criticism. As I have done many times before, I crept down the flagstone path within my estate, the stone worn smooth by centuries of use, to that musty vault where my servants fear to tread. Pawing through forgotten arcana, I pulled forth the moldering carcass that is the Troma treasure trove called "Toxie's Top 10". Blowing the rat droppings off the top of the can, I pulled forth yet another fetid lump.
Now, friends, when I think of bombshells, in particular the kind I would and do fertilize, I definitely lean towards the blasphemous. There are many types of bombshells, as I'm sure you are all aware. Adventurous. Sneaky. Wanton. The list goes on and on. None are quite so fun to fertilize than the blaspheming ones, though. For realz.
I'm getting ahead of myself, though. Let's explore the film, shall we?
First, during the opening credits, we learn that Fertilize the Blaspheming Bombshell was directed by Jeff Hathcock. Seriously. He's directed other shit-tastic movies such as Three Bad Men and Victims! I've never seen either, but I stand firm in my applying the "shit-tastic" moniker to both. The opening scene, which we can barely see as it's filmed at night using poor lighting and a crap camera, shows us a group of black-robe-wearing, torch-bearing cultists, walking through the desert to a remote ritual site. A sweaty, shirtless man is in the center of a ring and is surrounded by the cultists. One of them steps forward and appears to set the man on fire with a torch, though we don't really see the guy actually burning.
The fire also lights up the ring they are all standing around to review a burning pentagram, a symbol we will become highly familiar with during the course of the film. We then cut to a lone cop out on the beat. He's parked his SUV cop vehicle out on a deserted road and is surveying the landscape in a genuine Marlboro moment. His radio squawks, letting him know that a murder victim's been found out on a different deserted road (they have a lot of those in this area apparently) and has been "carved up like Texas BBQ."
Cue cheesy 70s lounge music as we then cut to a young couple driving down the desert highway. They are lost, with the guy assuring his girl that he knows a shortcut is around close-by. The chick (looking rather bombshell-ish, I must say) pulls out a map, but this doesn't help. Seeing a dirt side road coming up, the guy whips the car into it, assuming he's found his shortcut. They drive for a while in the dark, before arriving at a small town made up of about 5 buildings. The sign leading in says, no shit, "Ellivnatas - Population 13." Subtle!
Pulling up in front of the dilapidated bar, the couple get out and go in. The bar is staffed by a lone butch-looking chick with feathered hair, and a motley cast of patrons, all of whom are sitting at the bar. Everyone simply stares at the newcomers. The girl heads over to a payphone and calls up her sister, who it turns out is her identical twin. Informing her sister that they're on their way but are using a shortcut, the call is interrupted suddenly as the line has apparently been cut. The couple leave quickly, driving away from Ellivnatas as fast as they can.
However, they don't get too far as someone has punctured their gas tank! They also make the mistake of following the bartender lady's directions, which leads them right into a dead end canyon! Suddenly, distant chanting is heard. It's the cultists! They somehow had time to change into robes, light torches, then sprint the 3 or 4 miles that the couple drove, all in around 10 minutes. The couple runs, of course, and they try to climb the side of the canyon. The guy makes it up to the top, only to be attacked by two cultists, who light him on fire and push his burning corpse off the side!
The girl is dragged back to the ritual area. Her shirt is ripped open, and a pentagram is carved on her chest with a knife by the head priest, who then proceeds to... wait for it.... fertilize her! Now, I'm all pro-cult, but folks, if you are going to start a cult, please try to at least be a tad more intelligent about your rituals than these particular cultists. No sooner is the bombshell fertilized (note: I never once heard her blaspheme) than the priest stabs her fatally through the chest! What, pray tell, was the point of fertilization?! I'm guessing it was to bring about Satan's son on earth. Mere gratification could be had from any number of the half-dressed cult sluts around, so that can't be it. If you are wanting to raise the Antichrist, for the love of Pete keep the vessel of your sperm alive!
We swap back to Las Vegas, where the identical twin is, sleeping no less. She wakes suddenly, a pain in her chest! She can feel what happened to her twin, but thankfully the deadliness doesn't translate over long distances. Wasting no time, she packs and leaves for the desert. She only knows the general area of where her sister was, and unfortunately only the first part of the town name, due to the phone line being cut. Arriving in the area, she stops for gas and a friendly, hunky attendant fuels her up and washes her windows while engaging in conversation. He's trying to be helpful, offering his services as a guide, but she turns him down.
To the desert! Driving her VW Cabriolet, Blondie Bombshell begins exploring. Very quickly she finds her sister's abandoned car, and a lot of footprints. Looking around nearby she stumbles upon the burned-out pentagram, and even some fresh blood (somehow not coagulated)! Suddenly, the hunky gas station attendant shows up, thinking she needs some help despite her earlier protestations. He's just in time, too. A sudden rock slide has them jumping for safety, rolling around in an embrace on the ground. Before he can slip her a length, though, she starts babbling to him about pentagrams, cults, and fertilization, all of which he professes ignorance of.
Giving her a ride back to town since her car is now stuck, he takes her to his house. Being the gentleman, he gives her the bed and he takes the couch. First, though, we are treated to a gratuitously slow shower scene in which the bombshell washes every crevice carefully, using ludicrous amounts of soap, and scrubbing her skin to a sheen high enough that the Vicar himself would be happy to forgo young altar boys in lieu of eating pancakes off her ass.
We also find out that the bombshell is an anthropologist, and versed in the ways of cults worldwide. How handy. While asleep the bombshell has a nightmare in which the attendant is mounting her like a rutting ram, only to suddenly morph into the high priest, whom the bombshell hasn't even seen yet.
The next morning she heads out, suddenly in her Cabriolet again, despite it being left in the desert stuck in a hole. She stops by the local sheriff's office and talks to the sheriff, reporting her sister missing. The sheriff doesn't seem too interested, telling her it's a big desert, people get lost, blah blah blah. She brings up the cult and the pentagram and he agrees to keep an eye out. Getting nowhere with the local law, the bombshell takes off back out into the desert herself. Soon, the Ellivnatas'ians show up, driving Mad Max-esque VW Beetles! They chase her for a while, her Cabriolet keeping ahead of them, when suddenly she runs one of them off the road and..... we cut to later in the day, the bombshell is riding in the sheriff's truck out into the desert. WTF?! The Mystery of the Vanishing Volkswagen Cabriolet deepens!
She doesn't mention the car chase, and instead takes him to where the burned pentagram is. He finds the fresh blood, declaring it "still wet." Apparently her sister had anti-coagulating blood, a dream of vampires the world over. Declaring there's nothing more he can do, they head back to town, to the sheriff station, where HER CABRIOLET has now appeared! She hops in and, big surprise, heads back into the desert again! She drives around in the dark until she happens upon Satanville, I mean Ellivnatas, population 13. She snoops around and finally picks a building seemingly at random.
Turns out it's the "church," where the bald high priest has a ceremony in full swing! Upside down crosses, red velvet drapes. Nekkid cultist women holding snakes. This place reminds me of my own study. "Welcome to the House of Satan!" intones the high priest. He tells her that her sister and her boyfriend sacrificed themselves to the will of Satan. She gives him some lip and he retorts "You un-pious slut! Kneel before the Prince of Evil!" High priests of Satan get all the best lines, needless to say! He continues: "I'm going to fuck you again and again, until thy belly is swollen with child! A child born of Satan Himself! Take her to the sacrificial pit!" Off they go, dragging her away to the pentagram spot.
After some chanting, the high priest gets things going: "My lord and master Satan, sanctify this unholy fornication! Empower this chalice of pig's blood with thy potency, that I might fertilize this blaspheming slut!" Amen, brother! With that, the cult women get nekkid and start dancing with snakes, making me recall my last birthday bacchanal. The head priest keeps shouting slogans. The priest walks over and begins undressing the bombshell, but he slaps her first for good measure. "And now shalt thou know the hard-on of sin!" He begins to thrust into her, but she grabs the sacrificial dagger from him and stabs him in the belly! He's down but not out, ordering his acolytes to kill her. She's fleeing, wearing only a see-through shirt and panties. Running to the Ellivnatas bar, she tries to use the phone only to find it non-working.
The cultists show up. She pins one to the bar with a knife. Running outside, she finds another knife convienently on the ground. She stabs another cultist, and then sets another on fire with his own torch! These guys are inept. One hops in one of the VW Beetles and tries to run her over, but only succeeds in knocking down the Ellivnatas sign!
Suddenly it's morning, she's evaded them that long at least. Two cultists find her finally, and running through the desert in their heavy black robes, they give chase. She wrestles with one, who manages to fall on his own dagger! She then steals their Mad Max Beetle and takes off! One of the female cultists picks of a garden hoe, which just happens to be lying around (?!) and takes off after the car, not only catching up with it, but hooking the hoe onto the back window and getting dragged along. She pulls herself up onto the Beetle, but the bombshell drives under a cactus, knocking the cultist off!
Another cultist puts himself in the road in front of the speeding Beetle and starts shooting through the window, missing the bombshell completely. She runs him over, literally launching him 150' easily! The other Mad Max VW shows up and they start ramming each other. The bombshell leaps free of her VW just as the two collide in a fiery wreck. She walks away, through the desert, still clad only in panties and a skimpy shirt. No shoes at all.
She finds a stream, that leads to a waterfall and a pool of cool water. Perfect time for a skinny dip! The sheriff comes out looking for her, but doesn't have any luck. Meanwhile, the cultists find her at the waterfall pool. She flees, but not before running one of them through with a nearby stick! Fleeing further up some rocks, one of which dislodges and crushes another cultist! She picks up that cultist's knife and uses it to stab yet another cultist just arrived to the party!
She flees again, having taken care of everyone in the area. The hunky gas station attendant is shown driving around looking for her. She sees his truck and goes rushing out to meet him. They are driving away, she is distraught and tells him what is happening. He says "We could have had something special, if you had just stayed outta this town!" and reaches over, opens the glove box, pulls out a gun! She sees a knife in the glove box, grabs it and stabs the attendant through the neck! She jumps free of the truck as it runs into a small ravine at about 1 mph and explodes in a giant fireball.
Whew. The cop pulls up, and tries to help her. She rightly thinks the cop is in on it, but he convinces her that he isn't. He gives her the coat he's wearing, draping it around her shoulders, despite the fact that they are in the middle of the fucking DESERT and it's high NOON! His last words to her are "Let's go back to town, get somethin' ta eat." Cue credits.
Friends, I know I wrote a ton about this movie, but I just couldn't help it. Something comes over me when I watch shoestring-budget movies featuring cultists fornicating with blasphemers. As usual with Troma films, I have to give it 1 Thump Up for non-Troma fans, and a blazing 3+ Thumbs Up for anyone who loves Troma and/or anyone interesting in the fertilization methods of inept desert Satanic cults.
Finally, a word from our sponsor:
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Fertilize the Blaspheming Bombshell (1990): Or Satan Gets All the Chicks
Posted by The Duke of DVD at 7:00 AM
Labels: '90s, 1-2 Thumbs, 3+ Thumbs, Blaspheming Bombshell Fertilization, Devil Worship, Troma
5 comments:
- JamiSings said...
When a movie jumps around as much as this one seems to from your description, I find myself wondering how it would have turned out in the hands of Mel Brooks.
- December 2, 2009 at 10:08 AM
- Ezreal said...
I remember seeing this film on USA Up All Night under the title "Mark of the Beast". I could have sworn the thing was from the late '70s. I couldn't remember much about it except the town being called Ellivnatas.
I commend you for enduring this!
- December 3, 2009 at 7:29 PM
I am watching this as we speak; it's On Demand on my TV and I am researching insemination efforts and how to recognize them. Right now, the anthropologist is discovering soap and showers. It's very educational. I am looking forward to learning how Satanists survive the temperatures of the desert. Your review was hysterical, btw.
- August 8, 2012 at 3:41 PM
- bridget64 said...
Just watched this on demand...the poor lighting almost made me shut it off, but your description intrigued me so had to finish watching it. When she falls off the cliff, and the sheriff "catches" her I laughed my ass off!
- August 24, 2012 at 9:32 PM
- bridget64 said...
Just watched this on demand...the poor lighting almost made me shut it off, but your description intrigued me so had to finish watching it. When she falls off the cliff, and the sheriff "catches" her I laughed my ass off!
- August 24, 2012 at 9:33 PM


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Word on the street is that Farrah Abraham wants to get a tattoo. And you know what? I think she should! She's already made herself the black sheep of the Teen Mom group by going out and making a sex tape -- maybe this could be her way of fitting in again? Give them all something to talk about? Because let's face it, these Teen Moms clearly love their body art.
So let's offer Farrah some ink inspiration, shall we? Here are 7 of the BEST Teen Mom tattoos:


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USDA projected a 40 million-bushel increase in sorghum use in February based on indications of increased sorghum use by ethanol plants in the Southern and Central Plains. Sorghum prices are well below those for corn in these areas and supplies are plentiful with this year's slower export pace.
USDA's Feb. 10 World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates also reported that ethanol blender and producer margins have recently improved and weekly production of gasoline blends with ethanol has risen. Ending stocks of sorghum were projected 30 million bushels lower.
USDA lowered its estimate for world corn production for 2008-09 by 4.6 million tons due primarily to dryness in Argentina and Brazil.
Projected world corn imports were lowered 2 million tons from last month while global feeding was projected 5.8 million tons lower. Ending stocks for 2008-09 were projected 600,000 tons higher on lower expected global consumption.
Projected U.S. soybean ending stocks for 2008-09 were reduced to 210 million bushels, down 15 million from last month. Soybean exports were raised 50 million bushels to 1.15 billion as export shipments continue to exceed earlier projections, primarily for China.
Estimated global soybean production was reduced 9.1 million tons to 224.1 million tons due to drought in South America. Soybean production for Argentina is projected at 43.8 million tons, down 5.7 million from last month, while production for Brazil is projected at 57 million tons, down 2 million due to dry conditions especially in the southern producing areas.
USDA made no changes to its cotton production estimate, but reduced domestic mill use 7 percent to 3.9 million bales. U.S. exports were reduced 500,000 bales to 11.5 million, due to lower projected foreign imports, especially by China.
Globally, cotton consumption was cut more than 2 percent from last month's estimate as the world economy continues to perform below previous expectations, resulting in a buildup of textile inventories and idling of spinning capacity. Consumption was reduced in China, Turkey, the United States, Pakistan, Russia, India, Indonesia, and other countries, but is raised in Thailand.
If realized, the forecast year-to-year decline of 8.2 percent would be the largest since 1937-38. With lower consumption, world stocks were raised nearly 4 percent from last month to 61.7 million bales.
Cotton exports were reduced for most of the world's major suppliers, especially the Central Asian countries, India, and the United States.
USDA did not make changes in U.S. rice supply and use balance. However, rice exports for 2008-09 were lowered 3 million hundredweight to 98 million, all in the long-grain and combined milled-and-brown export categories. The decline in use resulted in an increase in ending stocks to 26.2 million hundredweight, up 13 percent from last month.
USDA increased its estimate of global rice production due to a number of small upward adjustments in the EU-27, Philippines, Russia, and Nicaragua. World exports were lowered because of reductions for India, Thailand, and the United States. Import projections for 2008-09 were lowered for EU-27 and the Philippines. World rice ending stocks for 2008-09 are projected at 84.6 million tons, up nearly 2 million tons from last month, and 5.6 million above 2007-08.
e-mail: [email protected]


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The Science Of The Next 150 Years: 100 Years in the Future
The End of Nature: During the long economic boom ignited by the robotics revolution of the 2020s, the population became ever more concentrated in wealthy megacities, and vat-grown genetically modified foods became the norm. Most people lost any meaningful connection to nature: Who needs the real thing when you have a computer-generated sensory facsimile, complete with designer drugs to complete the experience? Interest in wild animals and outdoor activities were for purists—the kind of people who still opted for "flesh sex." Among the perfumed, synthetic orchids of urban parks, the environmental movement of the mid-20th century seemed like an atavistic longing for the primitive. Carbon emissions soared.
Will High Tech Cool a Hot Earth?
Solar engineering and other exceptionally ambitious new technologies to deal with the reality of rising global temperatures come riddled with uncertainties. To illustrate how complex the problem is and what kind of challenges lie ahead, here are three contrasting, and somewhat fantastical, scenarios
The Science Of The Next 150 Years: 100 Years in the Future


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Hotel Summary
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Welcome to Melrose Guest House
Address: Church Street, Ambleside, LA22 0BT
|Telephone: 01539 432500 01539 432500
Hotel Description
Melrose Guest House is an elegant Victorian house in the centre of Ambleside, at the heart of the Lake District National Park. The Melrose is perfect for a weekend retreat, a mid-week break or a family holiday. Come and escape the pressures of modern living and relax and enjoy the stunning scenery around Ambleside, sample some of it's fine restaurants and blow those cobwebs away with a brisk walk in the fells. The guest house is personally run by the owners, Jim and Monique Nelson, who will ensure your stay is a truly relaxing one. The guest house is furnished to an excellent standard, as identified by its four star, silver rating by Visit England. In addition, we have the Cyclists Welcome and the Walkers Welcome certifications. There is full central heating to provide constant hot water and warmth after a day out on the fells. If you are celebrating a special occasion, let us know if you would like us to arrange to have flowers, chocolates and wine or champagne waiting in your room on arrival. Guests are welcome to partake of the Ambleside Salutation Hotel and Spa facilities which are located 5 minutes walk away, and boasts a swimming pool, steam room, sauna, Jacuzzi and gym. Beauty treatments and massages can also be booked for a special relaxing treat. Passes are subject to availability (we have four passes that can be used at any one time). All guests have a front door key, to come and go as they please. There is safe storage for bikes, hard standing for motorbikes, also drying facilities for outdoor clothing. We provide free flask refills - just ask after breakfast. We can make up packed lunches-please order the day before. We have an excellent selection of maps and books and are always ready to suggest nearby walks or mountain biking tours you may wish to try directly from Ambleside. If you would like a daily newspaper to read in the morning, please let us know your requirements, the night before. All rooms have WiFi coverage which is free of charge.
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Attractions - Melrose Guest House
Windermere Steamboats Museum - Windermere - Museum
Distance 4.43 miles (7.09 km)
World of Beatrix Potter - Bowness-on-Windermere - Landmark
Distance 4.89 miles (7.82 km)


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Each year, heart disease is at the top of the list of the country's most serious health problems. In fact, statistics show that cardiovascular disease is America's leading health problem, and the leading cause of death. Consider the most recent statistics released by the American Heart Association.
Heart Health Statistics
- Approximately 84 million people in this country suffer from some form of cardiovascular disease, causing about 2,200 deaths a day, averaging one death every 40 seconds.
- Almost one out of every four deaths results from cardiovascular disease.
- The direct and indirect costs of cardiovascular disease and stroke are about $300 billion. This figure is increasing every year.
- An estimated 16 million US adults have coronary heart disease.
- Approximately 78 million US adults have high blood pressure, and an estimat- ed 20 million have diabetes.
- It is estimated that an additional eight million adults have undiagnosed diabetes and 87 million have pre-diabetes.
- Heart failure affects well over five million US adults.
- Cardiovascular disease is the cause of more deaths than cancer, chronic lower respiratory diseases, and accidents combined.
- It is a myth that heart disease is a man's disease. In fact, cardiovascular diseases are the number one killer of women (and men).
- About one-third of cardiovascular disease deaths occurred before age 75, and an estimated 68 percent of US adults are overweight or obese.
In spite of the overwhelming numbers, your risk for heart disease can be significantly lowered, or eliminated, through small, meaningful life changes. The heart experts at the University of Utah Health's Cardiovascular Center work together to ensure that you have the tools to fight heart disease in all its forms.


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Niko Pirosmani
Sow with Piglets.
. Oil on cardboard. The Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow, Russia.
Additional Links
Niko Pirosmani Main Page
Niko Pirosmani Complete Biography
Additional Works by Niko Pirosmani
Feast with Barrel Organist Datico.
Portrait of Alexander Garanov.
A Georgian Woman with Tambourine.
The Feast of Five Princes.
The Russian-Japanese War.
Hunting Scene with a View of the Black Sea.
Portrait of Ilya Zdanevich.
Roe with a Landscape in the Background.
Wedding in the Old-Time Georgia.
Mother Bear with Her Cubs.
A Boy Carrying Food.
Rooster and Hen with Chickens.
Threshing Yard. Evening.
Feast in a Gazebo.
Family Feast.
Shepherd in a Sheepskin Cloak on a Red Background.
A Bear in a Moon Night.
Black Lion.
Tatar - Camel Driver.
Fruit Stall.
Healer on a Donkey.
Roe Deer by a Creek.
Girl with a Baloon.
Woman with Easter Eggs.
Train in Kakhetia.
Donkey Bridge.
Fisherman among Rocks.
Prince with a Horn of Wine.
Musha with a Barrel.
Musha with a Wineskin.
Fisherman in a Red Shirt.
Still Life.
A Large Wine Jug in the Forest.
Signboard: Wine Pub.
Signboard: Wine Pub. Detail.
Woman with a Mug of Beer.
Signboard: Cold Beer.
Lamb and Easter Table with Flying Angels.
Easter Lamb.
White Cow on a Black Background.
Black Buffalo on a White Background.
Lion and Sun.
Ortachali Beauty with a Fan.
Actress Margarita.
Ortachali Beauty.
Ortachali Beauty.
Woman with Flowers and Parasol.
Little Kinto.
Barrel Organist.
Childless Millionaire and Poor Woman with Children.
Peasant Woman with Children Goes for Water.
Party by the River Zkheniszkali.
Feast at Gvimradze.
Kakhetia Sagas. Alazan Valley.
Kakhetia Sagas. Alazan Valley. Detail.
Kakhetia Sagas. Alazan Valley. Detail.
Kakhetia Sagas. Alazan Valley. Detail.
The Tiflis Funicular.
Mountain at Night.
Eagle with Hare.
Prayer in a Village.
Robber with a Stolen Horse.
Grape Harvest Feast.
Two Georgians at Marani.
Shamil with a Bodyguard.
Firewood Seller.
Robbers Getting Ready for a Raid.
Sarkis Pouring Wine.
Shepherd with Flock.
Signboard: Pub at Zakataly.


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Heirs Preserve Hawaiian Tract
Trustee for Hundreds of Descendants to Sell Inheritance to the State for Farm Use
WAHIAWA, Hawaii—The trustee for hundreds of heirs to a large land tract here on Oahu island has agreed to sell their inheritance to the state for preservation as farmland, reversing a decadeslong trend of most such open land being developed.
The 1,750-acre tract, one of the island's largest undeveloped plots, was the estate of George Galbraith, an Irish immigrant who acquired the land in the 19th century. Ownership of the one-time pineapple farm passed through generations to roughly 600 heirs today. Bank of Hawaii manages...


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This past summer in Colorado, doctors had found a rare superbug had infiltrated their hospital after the bacteria was detected in eight patients.
Nearly 2,000 miles away, this superbug quickly spread through the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, killing seven people.
The bug, known as carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, or CRE, adapts quickly, is resistant to the most potent antibiotics, and preys on the most vulnerable populations in health-care facilities.
Because CRE are resistant to most available antibiotics, they are difficult to treat, and can lead to death for up to 50 percent of patients who become infected.
The Vital Signs report released recently by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals CRE are increasingly finding their way into intensive-care units and long-term health facilities in the United States.
Although the numbers of infections are likely still small, this looming public health threat is one that must be decisively addressed.
Over the last decade, CDC has tracked the spread of these bugs from a single health-care facility in North Carolina in 2001 to health-care facilities in at least 42 states.
A new study published in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology reports a significant increase in CRE bacteria found in health-care settings like long-term care facilities and nursing homes. This trend suggests that patients are unknowingly transferring the bug between hospitals and long-term-care facilities.
We have a small window of opportunity to control this serious threat, when it is potentially manageable.
Data from CDC suggest that in the first half of 2012, only about 200 hospitals and long-term acute-care hospitals have cared for patients with CRE infections, but the recent upward trend in infection rates is cause for concern.
To effectively combat superbugs like CRE, we need to confront the problem at hand that has allowed them to thrive: the overuse of antibiotics in health care.
Studies have shown that one-third of antibiotics prescribed to patients in hospitals are unnecessary.
The overuse of antibiotics breeds drug-resistant infections, which negatively affects patients, hospitals and our entire health-care system.
One study showed that simply giving a patient carbapenem (a strong antibiotic that can sometimes kill off healthy gut bacteria) increases the risk of contracting CRE by a factor of 15.
Improving the use of antibiotics in a hospital can actually save the hospital $400,000 or more per year. The entire health-care system benefits when we improve antibiotic use and decrease drug-resistance.
Health-care facilities must take a proactive approach to implement programs that improve antibiotic use.
Health-care professionals should take every precaution to prevent the spread of deadly infections, including simple tasks like hand washing.
Patients should feel empowered to question their doctors and nurses about whether an antibiotic prescription is necessary.
There has been much attention on the rising costs of health care. Here, we have an opportunity to invest in a proven approach that will provide rapid health benefits and cost savings to the American people.
Through a coordinated effort, we can ensure the health and safety of patients by staving off the spread of antibiotic-resistant superbugs like CRE, save health-care dollars, and most important, save lives.
Dr. Sara Cosgrove is an associate professor of medicine and epidemiology at Johns Hopkins University and serves on the board of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America. Dr. Ramanan Laxminarayan is director and senior fellow at the Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics & Policy and lead investigator on the Extending the Cure Project.
Local & State
Three Maine victims of sexual assault reflect on their initial silence
Portland's first price-restricted housing unit a tough sell
Local & State
Historic Casco Bay island once owned by Arctic explorer up for sale
Community News
Community News


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With dog theft on the rise, we try do everything as responsible owners to try to cut the risk to our best friends.
Our dogs are micro chipped by law in the UK which is fantastic.
We have dog tags, which are brilliant until they fall off.
Why not have your details embroidered on one of our dog collars. No more lost dog tags !
Home > Shop By Dog Breed > Afghan Hound > Afghan Hound Personalised Dog Training Treat Bags
Afghan Hound Personalised Dog Training Treat Bags - Pocket Version£5.25
Afghan Hound Personalised Training Treat Bags - Clips To Dog Lead£8.95
Afghan Hound Personalised Training Treat Bags - Clips To Waistband£8.95
Embroidered Dog Collars Lightweight Range | All Colours£9.40
Personalised Paw Print Dog Towel / Ideal Slobber Cloth£5.00
Personalised Pawprint Dog Blankets | Solid Colours£16.25
Personalised Waterproof Dog Coats (Sale)£11.00 - £25.25
Paw Print Printed Personalised Mini Reporter Bag£9.50


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Oscars shock as best song nominee disqualified
Bruce Broughton's Oscar nomination for Best Original Song has been rescinded after Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences officials discovered their former governor had e-mailed members to make them aware of his submission during the nominations voting period.
As a result, Alone Yet Not Alone, which Broughton wrote with Dennis Spiegel for the 2013 period movie of the same name, has been disqualified just two weeks after it became a surprise nominee.
Announcing the Academy's decision, president Cheryl Boone Isaacs says, "No matter how well-intentioned the communication, using one's position as a former governor and current executive committee member to personally promote one's own Oscar submission creates the appearance of an unfair advantage."
Stunned Broughton, tells The Hollywood Reporter, "I'm devastated. I indulged in the simplest grassroots campaign and it went against me when the song started getting attention."
The Board determined that Broughton's actions were inconsistent with the Academy's promotional regulations.
The nomination will not be replaced, so only four songs will now compete for the Oscar on March 2 – Pharrell Williams' Happy from Despicable Me 2, 'Frozen's Let It Go, Karen O's The Moon Song from Her, and U2's Ordinary Love from Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.
Broughton, who was nominated for a Best Original Score Oscar for Silverado 28 years ago, served on the Academy's board from 2003 to 2012.
Only a few Oscar nominees have been disqualified before the Academy Awards – these include a screenplay nod for Hondo in 1953 when it was deemed an unoriginal work; and a Best Original Score nomination for The Godfather in 1972 when Academy bosses determined that it featured portions of a composition for 1958 film Fortunella (1958); it was replaced on the ballot by the score for Sleuth.


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JERUSALEM (AP) — In a landmark speech to young Israelis this week, the visiting U.S. President Barack Obama delivered an unorthodox appeal couched behind warm words of affinity for their country: Urge your leaders to change their ways and take bold new steps to reach peace with the Palestinians.
The message, potentially risking the ire of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, marked a gamble by the U.S. leader as he searches for ways to restart long-stalled Mideast peace efforts. With no breakthroughs coming out of the visit on the Palestinian front, Obama must now hope that the power of the presidency, combined with the goodwill he accumulated during the 48-hour visit, can persuade a still-skeptical Israeli leadership to abandon some deeply entrenched views and get negotiations moving again.
After a first term plagued by repeated run-ins with Netanyahu and perceptions among Israelis that he was cool to their cause and perhaps even hostile to their prime minister, Obama certainly succeeded in his goal of resetting the relationship. He was treated like a rock star in meetings with Israeli leaders and everyday people, and his every moment was followed by a fawning Israeli media.
"Israel is in Love," Yediot Ahronot, Israel's largest daily, wrote in a headline Friday.
Obama and Netanyahu, who have appeared uncomfortable together in the past, smiled, joked and exchanged pleasant small talk throughout the visit, with much of the conversation caught on live microphones permitted to join them. Netanyahu seemed almost giddy at times.
But hidden behind the public displays of affection, Obama delivered a powerful message. In the keynote address to Israeli young adults, he implored the gathering to press their leaders to take risks for peace.
He also had some tough words for his audience, criticizing Israeli settlements as "counterproductive" and speaking movingly of Palestinians suffering under Israeli military occupation.
"Let me say this as a politician. I can promise you this. Political leaders will never take risks if the people do not push them to take some risks," he said. "Ordinary people can accomplish extraordinary things."
While addressed at the Israeli public, the nationally broadcast speech was also aimed at Netanyahu. On the most public of stages, Obama embraced the key argument of Israel's left wing: that the status quo, in which Israel controls millions of disenfranchised Palestinians, is unsustainable and that making concessions for peace is good not only for the Palestinians, but vitally needed for Israel itself to be able to survive.
Obama's speech, even the lines most critical of Israel, was repeatedly interrupted by applause from the preselected audience largely comprised of university students. Perhaps the loudest ovation came when he called for the establishment of a Palestinian state.
"The speech gave young people a new spirit to push for a two-state solution," said Isaac Shickman, a 24-year-old Jerusalem university student who was in the audience. "It made me think of what I can do to promote peace and change in the country and the region."
Handled improperly, Obama's gambit might have backfired. Early on in his presidency, Obama's public criticism of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem raised tensions with Israel and contributed to more than four years of deadlock in peace efforts.
The Palestinians claim both areas, captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war, for their future state and have refused to negotiate while Israel continues to expand its settlements there.
Julian Zelizer, a historian at Princeton University, said Thursday's speech came straight out of Obama's playbook back home.
"This was President Obama using some of the tactics that he uses here, meaning trying to speak directly to the people to pressure the leaders to do something, rather than focusing on the leaders themselves," he said.
He said the tactic risked antagonizing Netanyahu, but that Obama deftly handled the visit. Obama's warm words for Israel, his repeated pledges to Israeli security, a visit to the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial and the many joint interests of the two countries all helped blunt potential criticism.
"It's a successful speech, but it's a far cry from solving the problem," he said.
In a statement, Netanyahu's office said he "shares President Obama's view regarding the need to advance a peace that ensures the security of Israel's citizens." It would not comment on Obama's appeals to the public.
Israelis themselves were divided over the significance of the speech.
"It was a seminal speech, even an historic one," wrote Shalom Yerushalmi, a commentator in the Maariv daily. "Will it work? Who knows?"
Tzipi Livni, the leader of a small dovish political party who is Netanyahu's new chief negotiator, said she hoped Obama's message would rally more Israelis to the country's peace camp.
"I would be very happy if Israeli citizens who heard him were convinced that this is what needs to be done," she said.
But Naftali Bennett, a Cabinet minister who leads a pro-settler party, rejected the speech. "A Palestinian state is not the right way," he wrote on his Facebook page.
Such divisions in the Cabinet are a key reason why it seems unlikely that Netanyahu will make any bold new concessions to restart talks. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is expected back in Israel on Saturday night to discuss the matter.
During the trip, Obama also had some tough words for the Palestinians. While criticizing Jewish settlements, Obama told the Palestinians to stop using the issue as an "excuse" to do nothing and stressed that disagreements can be resolved only through negotiations.
Hanan Ashrawi, a senior Palestinian official, said she found Obama's visit disappointing, but not surprising.
"I think the purpose of the visit, clearly, was to show support and identification with Israel," she said.
"The question has to be answered by the Americans, and the international community. How are they going to proceed from here?" she said. "It's not enough to say Kerry will be here frequently."
American presidents have a long history of using their position to cajole foreign audiences.
"I think presidents rightly see it as part of their duty," said political historian Evan Cornog, dean of the School of Communication at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York. "The U.S. is a nation of ideas."
In 1963, John F. Kennedy paid a historic visit to a divided Berlin to show solidarity with the people of West Germany. A quarter of a century later, Ronald Reagan famously urged Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to "tear down" the Berlin Wall.
More recently, George W. Bush spoke of spreading democracy in the Middle East and turning Iraq into a model democracy. Early in his term, Obama traveled to Cairo in hopes of ushering in a new era of relations with the Muslim world.
Historians have debated whether these speeches led to changes, such as the collapse of communism or the rise of the Arab Spring, or whether they were simply signs of the times.
Cornog said assessing the impact of a president's words is hard to quantify but that Obama's appeal could play a role in swaying Israeli public opinion, particularly by bolstering the Israeli left.
"I certainly think the bully pulpit, that ability of the president to have an audience and to put forth arguments, it does mean something," he said.


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Lakemore firefighters flipped flapjacks and served breakfast to the community as part of its annual fall pancake breakfast event.
Fire trucks and ambulances were moved out of the fire department and the grills were moved in for the fifth annual fall pancake breakfast.
Held each year the same day as the community Halloween party, members of the Lakemore Firefighters Association flip flapjacks for members of the community.
Flapjacks were flying off the grill Oct. 26, as Lakemore firefighters served pancakes, sausage and beverages to the more than 200 attendants. The breakfast is free to the public, but many make donations.
"We are thankful for the many donations we received," Fire Chief Barry Saley said.
Donations from the event are used to purchase needed equipment and other items for the fire department.
Left-over pancake batter and sausage was provided to the Haven of Rest.
After the griddles cooled and the aroma of pancakes still lurked in the room, the chairs and tables were taken down, boxes of donuts came in, beverages were setup and children – dressed in costumes – began to arrive for the costume parade and Halloween party.
The party began at 1 p.m. with everything from ghosts and monsters to princesses and pumpkins in attendance. The costume-clad kids paraded around to show off their frightful wear.
It was a difficult decision for the three judges – councilman Tom Wolfe and firefighters Brett Reinbold and Joe Dies – to choose the best costumes. Seven age groups were judged in four categories scariest, prettiest, funniest and most original.
Winners earned a total of 28 prizes that included toys, certificates for fast food, movie rentals and bowling to name a few. Treat bags, made by council members, were also given to children.
Photo opportunities were available with a background of seasonal decorations and straw, mums and pumpkins.
This year, however, the party was not just for the children of the village. Pets were invited to don their best costumes for a new costume category. The winning pet received a prize basket of pet toys.
Springfield Township Trustee Dean Young was on hand to support the village efforts. He said the relationship between the township and village has never been better. He believes there will be more cooperative efforts in the future.
A rain barrel, designed and painted by Springfield High School artists Brittney Borell, Erica Swope, Kevin Myers, Kennedy Hahn and James Morrison was auctioned off. The colorful barrel went to Rich Cook with a bid of $200.
More than 30 contributors pulled together the happy Halloween party for the children. Councilwoman Anne Snyder said she was overwhelmed by the outpouring of community support for the children's Halloween party.
"It's wonderful that the community came together to put on this event," Snyder said.


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Five years after Michael Jackson's death, his estate continues to earn tens of millions of dollars a year and has resolved most claims filed against it by creditors. But some are still seeking a share of the pop superstar's wealth.
Here's a look at the biggest remaining threats to Jackson's estate:
The IRS is seeking more than $700 million from Jackson's estate, which includes taxes it contends are owed, plus penalties.
The dispute arises over a difference in valuations of Jackson's assets when he died. The singer had borrowed heavily against his half share of the Sony-ATV music catalog, and hadn't toured or had an endorsement deal in years.
The IRS says Jackson's image was still worth millions, as were other assets, while the singer's estate points to his debts and an image tarnished by child molestation allegations as reasons supporting lower tax valuations.
Choreographer Wade Robson testified in Jackson's defense at the singer's 2005 child molestation trial, vehemently denying the singer ever touched him inappropriately.
Last year, Robson sued Jackson's estate for what his attorneys described as molestation that spanned a seven-year period. Robson met Jackson when he was 5 and spent the night at Neverland Ranch more than 20 times, sleeping in the singer's bedroom on most visits, he told jurors during the trial, which ended with Jackson's acquittal.
The merits of Robson's claim against the estate haven't yet been argued and his attorneys haven't said how much they are seeking.
Jackson estate attorney Howard Weitzman has cited Robson's previous statements supporting Jackson and called the new accusations "outrageous and pathetic."
Tohme Tohme served as Jackson's personal manager in 2008 and early 2009 but was fired during preparations for the ill-fated "This Is It" concerts.
He worked with Jackson's estate in its first months in 2009 and returned $5.5 million to the estate that he said he was holding to purchase a "dream home" for the singer.
Tohme sued in February 2012, seeking a 15 percent share of the estate for his role in reviving Jackson's career. Jackson's estate is seeking to block any payments to Tohme, and the two sides have been battling over records and potential evidence.


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Entering their '09 training camp, the Boston Bruins had very few questions about their roster. On defense, the only slight question was whether Johnny Boychuk, signed to a one-year, one-way deal during the summer, would be ready to at least assume the No. 7 defenseman job in Boston
So far, Boychuk has accounted for himself well. And with 10 days until opening night, the only question on the Bruins' back end is whether Andrew Ference will be healthy enough to be a part of it when the Washington Capitals visit the TD Garden.
Today Ference went through another full-tilt, full-contact practice at Ristuccia Arena in Wilmington, Mass. For more on Ference, you can read my blog at ESPNBoston.com.
If Ference can't suit up against the Caps, both Matt Hunwick and Boychuk would get a chance to suit up. Rookie Adam McQuaid and journeyman Andy Wozniewski could also make the opening night roster as an insurance eighth defenseman.
Regardless, it's a credit to the Bruins that they've gotten to the point where the only question marks on defense are in the sixth and seventh slots. It was just a mere couple years ago that Jason York and Nathan Dempsey were competing for spots in the top four.
Now there's a chance a top second-year standout like Hunwick or a veteran like Boychuk will be in the press box on opening night. Both players have played solid but not spectacular through the first week-plus of camp. By no means is the battle for the sixth spot (if you include Ference in the top five) a done deal yet. And that's one of a number of things to keep an eye on as camp continues to unfold.


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WELCOME to Saturday's live blog on the new-look Angler's Mail website.
Saturdays see the good people at The Angling Trust, the single organisation to represent all game, coarse and sea anglers and angling in England, take over our blog.
Angling Trust Chief Executive, Mark Lloyd, is taking a well-earned break this week. So while Mark is chasing trout in Scotland, this week's blog comes from Stuart Sharp, Head of Finance and Business at the Angling Trust.
The Angling Trust protect the rights of all anglers to do what they love most. Lobbying Government, campaigning on environmental and angling issues plus running national and international competitions, you'll find all of the Angling Trust's main latest activity on their weekly blog, here on the Angler's Mail website.
We hope you enjoy the blog, and share it with your friends on Facebook and Twitter by clicking the icons above, or by the "old skool" method of telling fellow anglers! Feel free also to comment by using the special space at the bottom on this page.
Going for gold… in our own angling style
FISHING may not be in the Olympics, but that has not stopped us getting in the action and taking our own piece of GOLD!
The Angling Trust England Youth Flyfishing team bagged gold in the annual Home International Youth Championship on Lough Owel, Ireland on 1st August.
In true Olympian style, this was the teams' third win in four matches. The team of 14 teenagers from across England, led by Kieran Bonas of Bedford, all caught fish and this was crucial to a very substantial win.
With 38 fish they were a full 10 fish ahead of the home Irish team. Scotland had 24 and Wales 12. Congratulations to the team.
With the Youth Fly-fishing Home International, Division 2 National, Veterans National and many of the Stillwater championship qualifiers behind us, we currently have the Team England veterans out in Portugal, the Division 1 National looming large next week and Team England Ladies due to head to the Netherlands shortly.
Our Marine Campaigns Manager, David Mitchell, has also been involved in the forthcoming Bexhill Sea Angling Festival, which is being organised by Rother District Council in partnership with the Angling Trust.
There's no doubt that it's going to be a fantastic celebration of all things sea angling with coaching, stalls, fish preparation and cooking demonstrations as well as five matches – boat specimen, kayak, bass specimen, beach specimen and open shore – taking place between September 15th and 23rd. For more information on the festival and how to enter the matches go to www.bexhillseaanglingfestival.com
Battling for anglers in battle against sewage – and the EA
Moving from those chasing gold to the strange green waters of Llanberis lake, or Llyn Padarn. This week the Environment Agency has turned on the anglers who have, over the past two decades, reported that sewage was destroying the pristine Snowdonian lake.
This latest twist in the long-running battle between the Agency and anglers, saw the Agency write to Fish Legal asking for its member club to supply catch returns so that the Agency could assess the impact of angling as an "economic activity" under the Environmental Damage (Prevention and Remediation) (Wales) Regulations 2009. This is despite the Agency's own reports which admit that treated and untreated sewage is the main cause of decline of the lake.
Justin Neal, Head Solicitor at Fish Legal said: "This is possibly the most cynical response I've had from the Agency in this case so far.
"The club has fought tirelessly for years to try and stop Welsh Water polluting the lake – even taking them to court in 1993 which, despite losing the case, resulted in phosphate stripping being introduced at the Llanberis treatment works.
"For the Agency to even consider that the club is in some way responsible for the decline in char numbers is absolutely absurd. The evidence that the sewage is damaging the lake and the char habitat is, on the other hand, clear and confirmed by Agency's own reports.
"When the Agency is reluctant to act on patently obvious evidence and turns on the campaigners, one has to question the motives of the Agency. The Agency is also just plain wrong in suggesting that angling is causing damage to the environment. If that were so, what has the Agency as the fisheries regulator been doing for the last 20 years?
"The Agency needs to reconsider its whole approach to protecting the environment and do what is right – not what suits it politically or makes a bad situation look better for it and the water company".
YOU can still get involved with our cormorant campaign!
And moving from green waters to the black plague, after launching the "Action on Cormorants" campaign last week, we are now distributing 80,000 postcards to 3,000 clubs, fisheries and tackle shops.
If you have not sent a card or written to your MP, I would urge you to do so. Unless we make our voices heard and numbers known, we cannot expect government to listen to us. If your local shop or club has not received or has run out of their postcards, ask them to contact us and will put some more in the post to them.
Tackling up for more funding to do even more for angling
My own week has seen the usual eclectic mix of working behind the scenes on the Trust's corporate and commercial functions.
In addition to making sure the Trust is financially stable and members' funds are spent appropriately and efficiently, this week I have been working on a number of new membership benefits (more detail in the coming weeks), meeting with the JobCentre to arrange a voluntary work experience placement for one of the many young unemployed and preparing for our annual business assurance review with Sport England.
Fishing may not be an Olympic sport, but that doesn't stop us bidding for some of the funding. More funds mean more participation events, leading to more anglers and more business for the trade, clubs and fisheries. It also means more development programmes and a lasting legacy of golds for Team England!
Next week Mark Lloyd returns to the hot seat here on the new-look Angler's Mail website, no doubt with tales of highland Trout. While I shall be trying to fit in a few barbel sessions on the Warwickshire Avon.
Related posts
Last week's Angling Trust blog
Angling Trust's Korda Carp Team England team revealed
Angling Trust blasts floodwater madness
- JOIN the Trust at www.anglingtrust.net You'll also find them on Facebook www.facebook.com/AnglingTrust And on Twitter www.twitter.com/AnglingTrust
Here's the list of all our new blogs and when they go live:
MONDAY: Carp crews on rotation – Korda, Fox, Nash and ACE.
TUESDAY: Steve Collett, Mail contributor and ultimate all-rounder.
WEDNESDAY: Angler's Mail HQ – yes, us!
THURSDAY: Specialists from Pike Anglers Club, Korum and Pallatrax, on rotation.
FRIDAY: Carl & Alex, Angler's Mail juniors and video diary makers.
SATURDAY: The Angling Trust – guys at the governing body.
SUNDAY: Colin Mitchell, veteran coarse angler and top journalist
Click HERE to catch up on all bloggers' introductions


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Detroit did not have to go bankrupt. And there is little reason to believe the bankruptcy process will result in the rebirth of the city in a form necessary for Michigan to prosper.
The Detroit bankruptcy could have been prevented with more urban friendly policies from the state. However, the last governor to really understand the importance of Detroit to the state, and to be fully committed to helping our cities, was Governor William G. Milliken. His successors, democrat and republican, simply ignored Detroit and, in fact, often pushed policies that encouraged its failure, from limiting mass transit opportunities to pushing through an end to residency requirements for city workers.
It is easy to blame Detroit's problems on corruption, unions and overly generous pension benefits. None of these factors were the primary cause of bankruptcy.
The main factor was the steady erosion of the tax base and the city's need to borrow money to maintain even a minimal level of public services. The last time Detroit had a balanced budget was 2005. Michigan was in the fifth year of what turned out to be a 10 year recession, that no one foresaw. Detroit borrowed money to stay afloat which, in hindsight, may have been unwise. But with declining state support (due in large part to major tax cuts accepted by state policymakers, in a futile effort to resurrect the factory economy) , borrowing appeared to be the only option to maintain even a minimal level of public safety and basic services. Better financial management would have helped but would have only delayed the inevitable.
Detroit had several options to bankruptcy; none are practical, given the current political environment that continues the past hostility to the city that has characterized the state's relationship to its largest city since 1982.
Detroit may have mismanaged finances, but the state's cuts to revenue sharing doomed the city. One option would have been for the state to restore revenue sharing to previous levels, which would have been worth nearly $200 million to Detroit. The state could have afforded to do this if it had not cut business and income taxes in 2000, and then given business another $1.7 billion tax break in 2011.
Detroit's income tax rate used to be 3.5 percent but was reduced to 2.45 percent over a several year period in exchange for a promise from the state that revenue sharing would not be cut -- an agreement the state did not keep. The income tax rate could be returned to 3.5 percent, and to offset the negative effect of a higher rate on the city the state could provide a special credit.(Increasing the income tax rate back to 3.5 percent would raise about $75 million annually.)
Also the state could take over income tax collections for Detroit. According to one estimate, Detroit could potentially collect at least $50 million more annually with an improved collection process.
For a state sitting on a $500 million rainy day fund, these policies are eminently affordable. In fact, candidate Rick Snyder proposed special tax credits to attract, young talent to urban areas, but Gov. Rick Snyder has been noticeably silent about such positive incentives (in fact, revenue sharing today is well under the level when he took office, despite the state's "comeback.")
Another option would have been federal aid, maybe specifically designed to clear abandoned properties and to maintain police and fire services.
A third option would have been for the state to pass legislation setting up regional police and fire districts, supported by property taxes as is done in some states. Public safety makes up more than half of Detroit's budget so his would make a huge difference to the city.
A fourth option would be tax base sharing or regional government. This is done in many other states, and Governor Milliken proposed a tax base sharing program back in the 1970s, that if enacted would probably have prevented bankruptcy. Michigan's archaic annexation laws encourage rent-seeking from those who use the city's services for business or pleasure, but choose to live outside the city and pay lower or no taxes.
The final option would have been for the EFM to be given more time, but given Detroit's nonexistent tax base (property tax base of $12,000 per capita compared with over $30,000 in remainder of Wayne County) this would have probably only delayed the inevitable.
Unfortunately the state's response to Detroit's problems has been to pass legislation such as renaissance zones and other tax abatements which cut taxes for business locating in the city. This has further eroded Detroit's tax base, and has obviously not worked.
I do not believe bankruptcy will solve the problem given Detroit's inadequate tax base. Detroit cannot be a viable city without outside help, which no one is prepared to offer.
Detroit's underlying problems are the result of the downsizing of the auto industry, racial tensions, meaningless jurisdictional boundaries, state neglect and inattention and the Great Recession. Balancing the books in a technical sense will not address any of these fundamental issues.
Candidate Snyder issued a "Revitalizing Michigan's Central Cities" white paper. It says: "In order for Michigan to truly reinvent itself, its cities and communities must become more vibrant. Rick will work to improve the state's city centers and create attractive living and working environments for its citizens."
So far, we've seen no policies emerge from the governor's office or legislature to do just this. Until we do, Detroit's future will be in question -- as will be the future of all our large cities, and the state itself.


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Those of us using Socionomics as a model to see what the future holds perked up a bit at this news story:Vt. Man Accused of Crushing 7 Cop Cars With Tractor Due in Court
A Vermont man, who authorities say was angry over an arrest and used his tractor to drive over seven police vehicles, is expected in court.
State Police say 34-year-old Roger Pion (PEE'-on) was taken into custody in Newport on Thursday, shortly after he allegedly crushed the Orleans County sheriff's vehicles. Estimated damage was at least $250,000.
He was apparently mad over his recent arrest on resisting arrest and marijuana possession charges...
Anecdote or data point? I can't say for certain, but this is not just anger, but direct violence against the law enforcement organs of State control.
Until the markets "confirm" these types of outbursts with a significant drop, I won't buy in that the Bear is back, but if this is any indication of what is in store for the coming downtrend, well, it could get real ugly out there friends.
Have a good weekend.


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Chicken Brassica
Makes 4 servings
The name refers to the fact that the dish contains leafy green vegetables–we all know they're good for us, and this is an interesting, new way to enjoy them.
1 3 pound chicken, all skin and visible fat removed (don't worry about the wings), cut into 8 pieces
2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons Chef Paul Prudhomme's Poultry Magic® OR
4 cups chopped onions, in all
2 cups chopped green bell peppers, in all
2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms, in all
3 cups fresh collard greens, in all
3 bay leaves
2½ cups defatted chicken stock, in all
¼ cup all-purpose flour
2 14½ ounce cans diced tomatoes
3 cups cooked long grain white rice
how to prepare
Preheat a heavy 5-quart pot, preferably nonstick, over high heat to 350°, about 4 minutes.
Sprinkle all surfaces of the chicken evenly with 1 tablespoon of the Poultry Magic® (or Meat Magic®) and rub it in well. Place the chicken in the pot, in batches if necessary, and cook, turning twice, until browned on all sides, about 10 minutes in all. When the chicken is brown, remove it from the pot and set it aside.
To the same pot add 2 cups of the onions, 1 cup of the bell peppers, 1 cup of the mushrooms, 1 cup of the greens, the bay leaves, and the Poultry Magic® (or Meat Magic®). Cook, scraping the bottom of the pot frequently, until the vegetables begin to stick, turn brown, and seem in danger of burning, about 5 minutes. Add ½ cup of the stock, scrape the bottom of the pot clear, and cook, scraping occasionally, until the stock is almost absorbed, about 6 minutes. Blend in the flour and cook until it starts to brown, about 3 minutes. Add the tomatoes with their liquid and the remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Add the chicken and any juices that have accumulated. Reduce the heat to a fast simmer and cook, covered, until done, approximately 20 minutes. Serve over the rice.
Copyright © 1995 by Paul Prudhomme


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Image rights: © Evgenia Arbugaeva
About Evgenia Arbugaeva
Evgenia Arbugaeva's photography captures images of the people and landscapes of the Arctic Circle, with both the sensitivity of a native and the objectivity of a photojournalist. Born in Tiksi, Russia, Arbugaeva is intimately familiar with the landscapes and people of the North. Her photographs infuse a sense of liveliness, wonder, and energy into the otherwise barren tundra. "It's like a sheet of white paper, and when you're in the emptiness, your mind begins to think in a different way," Arbuegaeva has said. Her work relies on the region's natural light and color, and phenomena such as the Northern Lights exist in her photographs not only as awe-inspiring spectacles, but also as part of the local imagination and mythology.
Russian, b. 1985, Tiksi, Russia


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A team of 40 researchers and students at the University of Maryland's Department of Aerospace Engineering set a new world record for a flight time set by a human-powered helicopter. Actually, they destroyed it — an earlier Maryland team, Gamera I, had set the record of 11.4 seconds, but this Gamera II crew designed a newer and lighter helicopter that scored amazing results. Last week the Gamera II was aloft for 50 seconds. The record, for now, is unofficial until the National Aeronautic Association (NAA) verifies it in the coming weeks.
The students' inspiration is the Sikorsky Prize, a $250,000 reward that the American Helicopter Society International (AHS) established in 1980. Still unclaimed, the prize will go to the first controlled flight of a human powered helicopter that stays airborne for 60 seconds, reaches an altitude of three meters (10 feet) and stays within a 10 square meters (33 square feet) space. For decades the elusive prize not not only been attainable, but near impossible. University of Maryland's success in just one year, however, could lead to that prize finally claimed in the near future.
The biggest difference between Gamera II and its earlier version is weight. The Gamera II's frame incorporates micro-truss structures that lead to a 39 percent weight reduction from the Gamera I. Each composite crossbar of the Gamera II's frame is 60 feet long and the rotors are 42.6 feet in diameter. Additional materials such as balsa wood, foam, mylar and carbon fibers make their way into the Gamera II for a total weight of 71 pounds.
But no matter how lightweight the helicopter is, an additional hurdle is the human being tasked with navigation. Humans have little power output for their weight, so the pilot must be very strong and fit, yet like a horse jockey, cannot be too heavy. Add the fact that helicopters need much more power than airplanes and the task becomes even more difficult. Nevertheless, the team out of College Park, MD came pretty close. All eyes will be on this campus just a few miles from Washington DC in the coming years as that quarter of a million dollars may finally be coughed up after all. An age of us moving around like the Jetsons, only more sustainably, could someday be the future.
Via Gizmag
Photos courtesy University of Maryland Department of Aerospace Engineering


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14k White Gold Rope Chain Necklace, 0.6mm, 20 Inch
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- This 14k white gold rope chain offers a modern necklace look. At a 0.6 mm thickness this chain is available in an 16" 18" and 20" length. Perfect for pendants and can also be worn alone. Includes a spring ring clasp to uphold strength and comfort.
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Return Policy: 14 days
Style # 450051501


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You know how these popular political shows like "Scandal" and "House of Cards" are always trying to keep the hokey out of their political characters? For instance, my roommate is obsessed with re-watching "The West Wing" on Netflix right now, and it got me thinking, if any of these shows introduced a character as flamboyantly cruel, simple-minded, and ideologically right wing as Paul Ryan, the producers would have to say, "C'mon, let's not be a bunch of Hollywood liberals making a cartoon character Republican who wants to steal from the poor to give to the rich."
Yet Ryan does the work for them every time he releases a budget. This year's is more classic Ryan, suggesting that we facing such a massive crisis with our debt-to-GDP ratio that we should immediately enact a massive tax cut for the wealthy by dropping the top marginal rate from 39.6% to 25%. In terms of balancing the budget, sure—and why not drive from Chicago to Phoenix in order to get to Boston!
Unspecified "tax reforms" supposedly make up the difference, but the budget names none of these. What it does single out for decimation is Medicaid as well as the Obamacare subsidies to families above the poverty line but still struggling to afford healthcare. It would allow states to rescind eligibility and cut benefits for food stamp recipients, student loans, Pell Grants, and other forms of domestic discretionary spending in the areas of infrastructure, housing, and education.
"Seriously, guys," this effete Hollywood producer would tell his writers, "we can't just have this fake Republican character writing in neo-Ayn Randian language suggesting that Pell Grants and health care for poor people is the equivalent of bland Soviet-style repression. We're gonna look stupid."
But this is typical of Ryan's prose style when he writes:
So the duty of government is not to displace… communities, but to support them. It isn't to blunt their differences or to flatten their character—to mash them all together into a dull conformity. It's to secure our individual rights and to protect that diversity.
Which is a really roundabout way of saying you want to restructure government's relationship with welfare programs in order to direct those programs directly to the extremely wealthy and away from the middle class and working poor.
"But no!" our pinko Hollywood progressive would protest, "That's too comically evil. The Republican Party is not some collection of nutty rich people only concerned with cutting their own taxes and carrying water for millionaires. Income inequality, as demonstrated by this fantastic video, is clearly the first and foremost economic problem we face because it's such a drag on growth. It's obvious that some simple investment in infrastructure, research, and education would likely erase most of our economic difficulties by spurring growth. Even conservative economists keep saying that austerity is a stupid idea."
The secret being that Ryan and the right don't actually care about deficits or debt. If they did, at some point they would have taken President Obama up on some of his more ridiculous offers to cut entitlements in return for insanely small tax hikes on the wealthy. Republicans, however, can't even fathom exchanging tax loopholes for private jets in return for reform that makes Democrats tear their hair out. Furthermore, you can just go ahead and dismiss any argument about deficits that doesn't begin by talking about the major future driver of those deficits: medical costs.
For some reason, the journalist Steven Brill got a lot of attention and huzzahs for his TIME Magazine piece on health care costs (and good for him, don't get me wrong). But basically every serious policy analyst has been saying this for a decade: the Medical-industrial complex is making a savage profit from hospitals, drugs, and medical equipment because the government has no power to control costs with rate-setting unlike every other industrialized country on the face of the planet. You want to solve the "spending" problem? Pass more health care reform.
Or let's get "The West Wing 2" on the air. It can feature a sniveling, hand-wringing antagonist named Saul Pryan, who has a plan to cut taxes for the rich while kicking 35 million people off their health care.


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The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America elected the denomination's first female presiding bishop today. In a vote of 600 to 287, the Rev. Elizabeth Eaton, bishop of the ELCA Northeastern Ohio Synod, will take over from current Presiding Bishop Rev. Mark Hanson. Religion News Service reports:
"When I stood before you 12 years, I told you this is not an election won, this is a call received. And now this call has been extended to Bishop Eaton," Hanson said at the assembly. "This is a humble and a holy privilege to serve the gospel as the pastor of this whole church."
Read more here.
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Featured News - Current News - Archived News - News Categories
Updegrove says in light of budget surplus, move is 'responsible'
Niagara County taxpayers will see their taxes cut if Rick Updegrove, the County Legislature's majority leader, has his way.
In a letter to County Manager Jeffrey M. Glatz and all 14 of his fellow lawmakers in both the majority and minority caucuses, Updegrove made the case for cutting tax rates based on several successful projects shepherded by the Niagara County Industrial Development Agency, encouraging 2013 sales tax receipts, and projections showing a 2014 budget surplus.
"It is imperative that we as a responsible body continue to provide relief to county taxpayers whenever we are able," Updegrove wrote Glatz. "I would like to ask you ... to offer a budget that uses the projected surplus to reduce the county tax rate."
The Updegrove tax cut proposal would continue a long-term tax reduction trend in Niagara County, which has reduced property tax rates by 12 percent over the past decade.


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12700 Central SE
Albuquerque, NM 87123
New 2018 Keystone RV Passport 3350BH Grand Touring
Before entering this unit, check out the rear side exterior kitchen featuring countertop space, a refrigerator, plus a pull-out two burner cooktop and sink. The perfect camping accessory for those who enjoy cooking and dining outside!
Step inside the main entry door to the kitchen and living combined area. A convenience center is on your right as well as an entertainment center. To your left you will find an L-shaped counter with a double kitchen sink, and a three burner range with overhead storage, plus a refrigerator can be found along the curb side wall.
Dine comfortably on the slide out u-shaped dinette across the room with a fold down sofa that can easily be made into more sleeping space if needed at night.
Head towards the front of the trailer where you will find a side aisle bath on your right. The full bath includes an angled shower, toilet, and sink, plus a sliding door into the bedroom.
The front bedroom has a comfortable queen bed with wardrobes on both sides for storage, and there is additional overhead cabinets above the head of the bed.
The rear of the unit features a bunkhouse for kids or extra guests. There are flip over futons that slide out with a 28" x 74" top bunk above. Across from those you will find a set of bunks that are 32" x 74". Next to the bunkhouse is a half bath with a toilet and sink, plus entry from the living area or from outside. A pantry/wardrobe is just across from the bath door to be utilized as you wish.
Enjoy the exterior pass-through storage compartment for all of your outdoor camping gear, plus so much more!
Stock# T17962
Interior Color: BRENTWOOD
|37 ft 7 in
|Ext Width
|8 ft
|Ext Height
|10 ft 11 in
|Interior Color
|Hitch Weight
|680 lbs
|Dry Weight
|6550 lbs
|Cargo Weight
|2930 lbs
|Fresh Water Capacity
|43 gals
|Grey Water Capacity
|76 gals
|Black Water Capacity
|76 gals
|Tire Size
|Furnace BTU
|30000 btu
|Number Of Bunks
|Available Beds
|Refrigerator Type
|Double Door RV
|Refrigerator Size
|6 cu ft
|Cooktop Burners
|Number of Awnings
|LP Tank Capacity
|20 lbs.
|Water Heater Capacity
|6 gal.
|Water Heater Type
|DSI Gas/Electric
|13500 btu
|TV Info
|Awning Info
|Axle Count
|Number of LP Tanks
When Cole Davis founded Keystone RV in 1996 his vision was clear: Build a quality RV loaded with features priced thousands less than other RVs on the market. To accomplish his goal, Cole would recruit and build a strong team, focus on keeping overhead low, and empower the people closest to the customer to make decisions.
Within a few short months after opening the doors, Keystone produced its very first camper. Delivering big on quality, features and value, the public fell in love with it. A star was born! As the appetite for the camper increased, new Keystone models were added to satisfy growing customer demand. Along with this tremendous growth came the need for expanded production. To meet this need more manufacturing plants were built and staffed.
From new floor plan designs to patented inventions, Keystone leads the way in product innovation. One reason is our mission to stay close to the customer. When talking with campers or visiting dealerships, our sales, product development, and service teams, are always looking for ways to improve the camping experience. And we don't stop there.
Every member of the Keystone family is encouraged to contribute to making our campers absolutely the best possible. Through something we call Kamp Keystone, our employees camp free of charge at local campgrounds in the Keystone trailers we supply. Each year hundreds of our production workers, administrative staff and service team enjoy a day (or a week) at Kamp Keystone. Their evaluation of the experience and the feedback they provide results in continued product improvements. Ask us if we use our RVs...the answer is YES!