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SNOW HILL – A smoother, faster county process for handling nuisance abatement on unkempt properties could be on its way in response to increasing complaints over abandoned properties, according to informal discussions during the Worcester County Commissioners meeting on Tuesday.
"I've noticed particularly in my district where more and more properties are beginning to look like this mainly because of foreclosures, short sales, people abandoning their property," said Commissioner Bud Church.
Worcester County needs to change its nuisance abatement process to allow faster action on nuisance properties, Church urged Tuesday.
The current legal nuisance abatement process for properties with unsightly problems, like uncontrolled vegetation and often garbage or vehicles dumped in the yard, can take months if not longer.
If a property owner does not respond after repeated notifications to clean up the property, only then can the county step in and clean up the site. A bill is then sent to the property owner.
Ed Tudor, director of Development Review and Permitting, said that he would look at the matter after the draft subdivision code, draft rezoning code and new zoning maps are complete and approved by the County Commissioners.
"The problem we have with this, this year is crazy," Tudor acknowledged.
Church described a $1.6 million property, abandoned by the owner, which is now occupied, he said, by vagrants, with an overgrown yard where neighbors are parking vehicles and dumping items. He has spent a week trying to find the owners of that property, Church said, with no success.
The county has the same problem. Staff is attempting to find the owners of some of these abandoned, unkempt properties, but have not had much luck, Tudor said.
According to Tudor, often the only address that can be found for the owner is that of the property itself.
"We can't find the owners, we can't find who's holding the mortgage," said Tudor.
"It's almost impossible," said Church.
"Who's responsible? Where do we go?" Tudor said.
The problem has to be addressed, Church said, acknowledging the frustration involved when the paper trail comes up empty.
Commissioner Judy Boggs said the county owes it to the community residents to get to the bottom of it.
"I think we owe it to the neighbors," said Boggs.


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Discussion in 'Science Fiction & Fantasy' started by FalTorPan, Feb 28, 2009.
Well, I can't hate it. It has Bruce. Surely you understand.
I thought that too until I saw The Man with the Screaming Brain.
Well, there's that. But the upside is all of the jokes he makes about it now.
I don't even hate that one, really. I just don't feel the need to ever see it again.
I haven't witnessed this, but considering he only directed it 3 years ago I'd say he is on thin ice trying to pass it off as a youthful mistake or anything like that
I suppose given it was the first proper feature he directed we can cut him some slack, and My Name is Bruce demonstrates a pretty steep learning curve.
I've seen him do things like mentioning it as being among his better films and pausing for laughter.
During an interview on the special features for Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat, he mentions that around the time of the filming, he'd been making plans for Screaming Brain. He says something to the effect of "So that tells you how many years of my life I put into that damned thing."
Anyway, I didn't get a chance to watch it tonight, but maybe tomorrow.
My Name is Bruce was a HUGE disappointment, and I'm a Bruce Campbell enthusiast. I mean, it's okay that it was lowbudget and looked that way. But the villain was stupid (they should have done zombies or better, deadites), Ted Raimi was irritating and overused, the emo/punk kids were stupid, and most of the jokes were really lame. Even Campbell's dry delivery couldn't save those. And worst of all, they introduce a love interest with a huge pair of hooters and we don't even get to see them.
Bruce Campbell deserves better than this. Bruce Campbell deserves better than himself. Someone should write a good screenplay for him and hire a director with the same energy Sam Raimi had when he made Evil Dead.
My advice to Bruce Campbell fans is, skip this turd and watch Army of Darkness for the 666th time.
On a whim, I decided to rent this. I watched it earlier tonight. Very cheesy, very low-budget, very overacted... in short, everything you'd expect from a Bruce Campbell film about Bruce Campbell.
For a rental, it was decent. It actually did have some genuinely funny moments, and a few lines even made me laugh out loud -- which isn't always an easy feat. However, as others have said, I wouldn't recommend it to non-Bruce fans. Even for moderate Bruce fans like myself, it can get tiresome -- the shoestring budget was painfully obvious (even though the filmmakers probably made no effort to hide this fact), and many of the actors are of limited skills (you definitely won't find them in any A-list productions any time soon). It was a pleasant enough diversion for the evening, but I doubt I'll feel compelled to rewatch it any time in the future.
Some of the extras were amusing (although the main "making-of" featurette went on a bit too long). And man, does Bruce ever enjoy flipping people off!
I just watched it... And I liked it a lot! Excellent would be my grade. Very much in the "Army of Darkness" style at points, with some "Ash"-isms.
But you may have to be in the right mood to enjoy it - It certainly is not for everyone.
I'll tell you this: I enjoyed the making-of featurette better than the film itself!
I figure I might as well dump this here. From the Q&A in after one of the screenings in Baltimore:
I loved My Name Is Bruce. I thought the DVD/Blu-ray extras were tiring, except for the segment(s) about Cavealiens 2.
Can a movie be simultaneously the best and worst movies of all time? Before now, I wouldn't have thought that possible. Now, I'm not so sure.
OK, no, it's not the best movie of all time, but it definitely was fun. Spiff, I want to thank you for telling me about it back around Halloween. Considering I've only seen the Evil Dead trilogy, I'm not the biggest fan in the world, but seeing that, it was definitely easy to appreciate this movie. Give it a watch, you'll enjoy it (and if you don't, drink excessively and then it'll become a great movie).
Separate names with a comma.

subset: commoncrawl


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Lowry came to play tonight...like he's playing for his life.
Lowry came to play tonight...like he's playing for his life.
Lowry is having a monster game so far.
Amir got fouled...but I wouldn't have minded a kick to Ross who was open, or Lowry, who was also open
man Lowry is looking smooth so far. Imagine if he starts to play like this all the time...
The Baltic Beast is unstoppable!
So, is there anyone who still thinks Memphis won the trade? Found it hilarious the amount of bullshit spin put on it by ESPN et al. Reality is Memphis cheaped out.
20 points in the paint already...more, please.
Ross needs to use his athleticism on defence WAY more.
Diver squad.... Pathetic
2nd unit getting shredded, timeout raps
There's no way Casey should have allowed that many straight points without a timeout earlier. Poor game management as usual.
Wow, our bench really really sucks these days with Lucas out there....
I actually miss Bargs coming off the bench the way he has the last couple games.
ugghh Lucas... and Anderson...
The Baltic Beast is unstoppable!
WOW what. Short bathroom break and that 10 point lead just disappeared. Jesus christ.
the bench should not be running isolations
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I found this lizard in one of my offices at work in Bridport, Dorset. I was unable to identify or look after it so I passed it on to Kingston Maurward college as they delt in exotics. They also have been unable to identify it, although I have been informed it is doing well and shed it's skin. I would be really interested to know what species it actually is, and where it comes from if it is not native. Thank you in advance.
I'm not sure but I think its the black tree monitor lizard here's the wiki site so you can check:
Perhaps it's just a dark form of our native common lizard? See -
Is it the same with this one? http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/_C77gV3oT6HrowsWINQuAw - I saw that kind of lizard before and I don't know the specific name for that one.
Bob Morton
"I'm finding out my astrology birth charts, anyone can help me?"
We have asked our reptile curators here at the Museum for some clarification on this one!
Difficult to be absolutely certain but I think it is most likely to be a melanistic example of the Common lizard (Zootoca vivipara).Interestingly a photograph of a very similar specimen has recently been posted on a reptile forum site (http://www.captivebredreptileforums.co.uk/reptiles-amphibians-field/37120-melanistic-vivipara.html)Incidentally googling "Zootoca vivipara melanistic" will point to many other sites with photos of black Common lizards.Anyway I would suggest that you might also like to check with the Dorset reptile specialists (Amphibian and Reptile Conservation) www.arc-trust.org who may be able to add further to this intersting creature.
i was about to feel really clever and say that its a melanistic form of our common / viviparous lizard but I'm almost 100% certain thats correct as few invasive reptiles make it to the south west and none are established here (i live in devon) i see these lizards all the time and the body shape is spot on for the common lizard and melanistic individuals aren't particularly rare as melanism is one of the more common mutations in all animals, this is how panthers, black foxes, and the black corn snake morph occur... but you beat me to it haha... by three years, yep I'm a new member looking for posts on reptiles haha


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OCEAN CITY — After receiving some odd complaints about a man and his reptile on the Ocean City Boardwalk, the City Council will now be debating at a future work session the definition of domesticated versus undomesticated animals, and what types of animals are allowed to be walking the resort's streets.
Councilwoman Margaret Pillas brought up a complaint that she had received about a gentleman walking his large iguana on the Ocean City Boardwalk and as a result, scaring some pedestrians.
"I think we really need to have a discussion on what is considered a domesticated or an undomesticated animal," said Pillas. "I know you can't have one of those animals in your house in Ocean City without a permit, so I don't understand how they would be allowed to be on the streets, let alone the Boardwalk."
On Sept. 17, 2007, local resident Joseph Short, (or 'Iguana Man' as the council referred to him on Tuesday), was granted permission (via a 5-1 vote) to keep an iguana in his downtown home after a favorable recommendation on Short's behalf was given by Animal Control Officer Donald Spence.
However, there was some uncertainty amongst council as to what that permit would allow Short to do with his iguana, and that debate will apparently continue in future weeks, as the issue will return at a future work session.
"The ordinance says that he can have [the iguana] in his domicile, but logic dictates that it only means that he can have the iguana in his home, and not walking the streets," said Councilwoman Mary Knight. "I've been told that he's sitting up on the Boardwalk and asking if people want to pet his iguana and that bothers me on so many different levels."
City Solicitor Guy Ayres quipped that the ordinance would not allow Short and his iguana to have "free reign anywhere in Ocean City", and that if the town excludes other so-called undomesticated animals, such as pigs or donkeys, the council would need to clarify the language of the ordinance to say that an iguana was considered an undomesticated animal.
However, Councilman Joe Hall stated that the council was blowing the issue completely out of proportion.
"I don't find an iguana any more dangerous that some of the dogs that are up there on that Boardwalk," he said. "We are overreacting and to be honest, I think there's some scarier people on the Boardwalk than the iguana."


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It's anti-Perl. Leave aside the logical arguments, like the inability of sysadmins everywhere to update their systems because of their crappy code. When default strictures happen, we'll know that Perl is, finally, in fact dead. It would really limit obfuscation and poetry, after all. Next thing you'll be wanting us to indent blocks by a fixed amount of whitespace. It's fascist!
Really. All those sysadmins' existing crappy scripts will magically grow a
use 5.012; line at the top of the script. Amazing.


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Separate names with a comma.
Discussion in 'Florida Lawn Care Forum' started by turfmd101, Aug 24, 2012.
FS. Thanks for leaving us arena $$$$$$.
Posted via Mobile Device
Couple of things, He let the guy use his ticket to be an apprentice but the guy was doing side jobs thus screwing Ric. Ric went in and made it right even though his company did not get the money.
We understand resistance and the pesticde treadmill, most of us do. The question was how a fungicide caused insect Resistance.
That didn't answer my question at all?
Posted via Mobile Device
The person in question is no dummy by any means or I wouldn't have gotten together with them. What they had was Gray Leaf spot and they didn't have the Equipment to spray a Fungicide.
This individual was far better educated on Pesticides than the average TG/CL Newbie and was already a Limited License holder. If I was adding to pesticide Resistances by giving them a Spray Card then every New Card Holder is also adding to Pesticide Resistances.
I was wrong for posting my personal gripes about networking gone bad. Every side has their story and I am sure this person has there complaints about me that might be well founded.
I guess I read into what Ric said too much. Its just typically when an apprentice screws up its because they burn something and not because they cause a cultural problem that requires fungicide. All pesticides have the ability to lose their effectiveness , and this apprentice will more likely be applying the three primary ones. Fungicide does not cause insect resistance. Someone who knows more about labels and applications than horticulture causes resistance IMO. I would not help someone by letting them operate under my license that did not share most of the same understandings I have for what I do. Anyone can try to practice horticulture, but not everyone carries the ability to practice it responsibly or understand it properly . IMO, anyone who would be working under a pest license and require another tech. to correct their screw up and not know themselves they need T-Storm. Or not know how to correct their situation, passed, to easily the requirements needed to hold the ticket he is working under. TEACH HIM HORTICULTURE. IMO. I'm probably to critical. I just think it should not be so easy to get a card pulled for pesticide use by someone who will be aiding and abetting the loss of functional pesticides. I feel if I would have interviewed this tech I would have seen the signs. My daughter wants to drive now she is 17. Her twin brother , no problem , he gets it. My daughter she does not get it. Even though she is of age and eligible, no license yet not till she is ready. That's the point, she won't know when she is ready I will. I mean what the hell could of gone on that you needed to treat with a systemic contact fungicide anyway. Is that fungicide needed because he had BP and put down AS? Just doesn't sound as if he is ready to ticket hold and those guys ruin things for the guys who are ready. EX;this guy will aid in building resistance to pesticides which kinda includes fungicides.
I'm sorry to continually sound like a know-it-all. I hear you. but that's my point about the situation. Gray Leaf spot is going to be the most common fungi problem a tech deals with, that is def 101 kind of fungi. If gray leaf spot is able to get to the point of T-Storm on someone, that's exactly the the kind of low experience i am worried about. If this person doesn't know indian hawthorne "will get red leaf spot" and when they are wet and shady it will never go away in that situation and there is no treatable fungicide for it that's credible and it is only minimized correctly through proper cultural practices. IMO this person is not ready yet. I don't think everyone needs this dialect but it directly effects product usage and abuseage. which leads to the resistance thingy.
I forgot the part about him not having the equipment. Let's look it over. He picked up an account 20,000 square. He doesn't have a backpack, because thats equipment . GLF starts slow. Is more often effecting lower, poorly mowed turfgrass especially when it's this wet. If you have 20,000 square loaded up. Better try to grow it out because as bad as it is even T-Storm will struggle. You need to treat!!! But T-Storm? I'm sorry but letting it get to "that" level of aid. Requires less than someone well enough experienced let alone someone with a card. IMO. Yea he may know alot about pesticides. Just not enough about horticulture. For if he did simple GLS could not be at the level you describe.
Posted via Mobile Device
This individual was far better educated on Pesticides than the average TG/CL Newbie and was already a Limited License holder. If I was adding to pesticide Resistances by giving them a Spray Card then every New Card Holder is also adding to Pesticide Resistances.
Yes very much. But not 100%.
possible alternative; root system
St. Aug typically handles GLS. Even if severe.
At the stage described. Its most likely has a dis functional root system.
Great as T-Storm is, may not help with systemic action.
2 - 3 apps K-Mag at .5 lb/1000sf.
give St. Aug back the tools it needs to fight.
possible alternative; foliage
cheap fungicide. all fungicides carry GLS, its too common.
at your described melt out. St. Aug is doing its job and forcing senescence to rid it self of the pest spores.
even rarely at this stage will the plant damage, but it will appear different, but that much foliage melt looks as though the plant is suffering."its ugly".
sounds like soon enough there will be no more foliage to attack. and populations will decline naturally.
sept, oct, & nov are St. Aug best time to recover as the fall flush of new foliage begins.
but keep up the potassium because IMO. that will defeat this pest superior to fungicides.
plus your cost could have been 20% to 30% cheaper.i know he is lacking equipment but a spreader for K-Mag he doesn't have that either.
out of control for an experienced person are two things that should not be in the same sentence.
This individual was far better educated on Pesticides than the average TG/CL Newbie and was already a Limited License holder. If I was adding to pesticide Resistances by giving them a Spray Card then every New Card Holder is also adding to Pesticide Resistances.
do not take offense to this but you are making a lot of assumptions about the property without having been there and knowing the facts. Ric is a experienced applicator and has proved himself to have a great wealth of knowledge on this board. I am assuming that his choice of fungicides was for a reason and that if he states the original applicator has good knowledge that it is so. No matter the applicators experience everyone makes a mistake here or there especially when they first get started I am assuming. Nobody knows it all and most likely experience failure of some sort along the way.
only 1 thing causes GLS no matter where St. Aug lives. It's environmental conditions.
same fungi same host. not dictated by the landscape. GLS develops due to environmental conditions any day any time that its existence is favored environmentally.
add excess N & H2O on top of stress and poof spores are born like magic.
no offense taken thanks for the advice.


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Photo by Greg Kessler
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Lisa Vanderpump is one busy lady.
The "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star, who just wrapped the Bravo series' third season, is currently a contestant on "Dancing With the Stars," is about to start production on Season 2 of her spin-off "Vanderpump Rules," and stars in her own web series with I Can't Believe It's not Butter … but more about that later.
The "RHoBH" reunion special brought some surprises, but the biggest for the show's own stars was the revelation that housewife Adrienne Maloof, Vanderpump's nemesis, would not be returning for a fourth season. "The fact that Adrienne was kind of fired on the show … nobody really expected that," Vanderpump tells omg! in a new interview.
The newly single mother of three sons took herself out of much of the filming this season after Brandi Glanville squealed to the other housewives that Maloof had hired a surrogate to carry her twins. "If you've got secrets, don't do a reality show," continues Vanderpump. "It's a job … you blog, you talk to your viewers, and you show up to the reunion. And that's what we signed up for."
Regarding the accusation from Kyle and Kim Richards that Yolanda Foster was trash-talking Vanderpump behind her back – which the sisters brought up on the reunion – Vanderpump reveals that her longtime friend gave her a heads up about it before the Richards did. "She kind of told me that she said something before that," reveals Vanderpump. "That's maybe why I get along so well with Brandi … because she'll say it to my face. And last season, all I saw was Kyle trashing me behind my back, and that's not something I appreciate."
Another housewife who trashed Vanderpump to her face was Faye Resnick, a friend of Kyle's, who randomly sparred with both Vanderpump and Glanville in the season finale. After the episode (and her bad antics) aired, Resnick claimed she was receiving death threats from fans. But Vanderpump doesn't have much sympathy. "If you're going to say all those things and be aggressive, then you've got to live by the consequences, don't you?"
On Wednesday night at the Bravo Upfronts in New York City, it was announced that Vanderpump's spin-off, "Vanderpump Rules," about the wild times of her wait staff at West Hollywood restaurant, Sur, is getting a much-anticipated second season. And although they all behave very badly, she says the whole cast still works at Sur (even Jax, who quit on the finale). "They're all still there … a couple by the skin of their teeth."
And they may be more toned down than they were the first season. The show's breakout star (for all the wrong reasons), Stassi, came off terribly to fans, something that wasn't lost on her. Although she still has "attitude," says Vanderpump, "Maybe it should be a learning curve for her, maybe she should look at it and learn from it. I think that's what reality shows do. They give you this huge mirror and you have a chance to reflect."
With all the chaos from her busy life and reality shows, Vanderpump often finds serenity at her Beverly Hills Mansion, Villa Rosa. And the stunning property is the backdrop for her new project, "Breakfast For Dinner," a web series she produces with I Can't Believe It's Not Butter.
But don't plan on seeing the housewife in the kitchen. Instead, each webisode features a hunky culinary expert, like Chef Francis Dimitrius from her restaurant Villa Blanca, whipping up some of Vanderpump's favorite morning meals, including veggie frittata, breakfast pizza, and Italian skillet eggs.
"To me, it just seemed like a great collaboration," she tells omg! about the project. "And they're really fun little vignettes. It takes the stress out of cooking and makes it sexy and fun."
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Valbuena 'ready for anything' at third base
By Carrie Muskat / MLB.com
MESA, Ariz. -- Rick Renteria has not committed to who will be his regular third baseman yet, but Luis Valbuena hopes the new Cubs manager picks him.
Valbuena prepared this winter the same way he did last offseason, playing in Venezuela for Cardenales de Lara. In 34 games, he batted .311 with four home runs, seven doubles and 16 RBIs.
"I played my game," Valbuena said.
A left-handed hitter, Valbuena may find himself sharing third base with right-handed-hitting Donnie Murphy. Valbuena batted .350 against right-handed pitchers in Venezuela, .238 against lefties. At Triple-A Iowa, Murphy batted .297 against lefties and .251 against right-handers.
"I'm ready for anything," Valbuena said. "I want to do the best job. I can't make the decision. [Renteria] will make it. Every time I get an opportunity to play, I'll do my job."
Renteria hopes to change fortunes from Day 1
MESA, Ariz. -- The Cubs expect everyone, including newly acquired infielder Emilio Bonifacio, to be present on Wednesday for the first full-squad workout under manager Rick Renteria.
Renteria addressed the pitchers and catchers when they reported last week, and he will give the same message to the full squad prior to its workout. It won't be the last time players get this pep talk.
"Many of the things I'll say, I'll say over and over during the course of the spring, over the course of the season," Renteria said Tuesday. "It'll be redundant, but what we're trying to do is change the way we think and view things. We're trying to change the mentality and to understand you shouldn't fear having expectations, high expectations."
The Cubs have had four straight losing seasons, and not much success in the postseason, and Renteria is well aware of that.
"It'd be nice over the next however number of years for the Cubs to constantly be in the playoff hunt," Renteria said. "That's my mentality. That's my mentality today, it was my mentality when I took the job. I'm not afraid to say it.
"My only challenge is quite frankly just getting to know everybody so I can do the best I can with all the individuals here before me."
Which means developing a level of trust with the players.
"I just got here," Renteria said. "I can understand that I need to know and understand the past. I need to formulate my approach and foundation for which I'm going to lay my relationship with each player."
Bonifacio, a free agent who signed a Minor League contract on Saturday with the Cubs, and Starlin Castro appeared to be the only position players who have yet to check in at the new complex.
Rizzo knows the pitfalls of high expectations
MESA, Ariz. -- Anthony Rizzo knows all about the great expectations people place on young players. He went through that when he was first called up to the Padres in 2011.
Now, the Cubs' top prospects -- Javier Baez, Kris Bryant, Albert Almora and others -- are dealing with the hype. Rizzo will try to ease some of the pressure.
"[The media] is going to crown them the next Babe Ruth," Rizzo said Tuesday. "People did for me, and it's part of the game, and they're going to have to deal with that so-called pressure of coming up. They're going to have fun, and we'll make sure we have fun."
Did all the attention affect the Cubs' first baseman?
"I put my own expectations for what I do on myself," Rizzo said. "What other people say doesn't affect me."
The Cubs have been adamant that Baez, MLB.com's No. 7 prospect, will open the 2014 season at Triple-A Iowa. Fans are giddy at seeing the young potential impact players now.
"You say you don't want to rush them too fast and make sure they can get the right amount of at-bats, but they've shown they can handle every level," Rizzo said. "The biggest learning process is up here [in the Major Leagues] -- that's where you learn the most. Adding that third deck of the stadium is huge. You can't prepare for that."
Rizzo's transition wasn't smooth. He was promoted to the Padres in June 2011, and batted .143 in his first 35 games before getting sent back to Triple-A. Called up again in September that year, he hit .133 in 14 games.
Cubs manager Rick Renteria was on the Padres' coaching staff at that time and made a point of talking to Rizzo when he was sent down.
"I wanted to make sure he understood at that particular time it wasn't indicative of what he would ultimately be as a Major Leaguer," Renteria said. "That being said, you have to continue to work extremely hard at your craft ,and everybody obviously believes in the ability he had and this was just a little blip. Just keep your head up and keep grinding and keep playing."
That's the advice Renteria will give to the prospects as well.
Carrie Muskat is a reporter for MLB.com. She writes a blog, Muskat Ramblings, and you can follow her on Twitter @CarrieMuskat. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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Revelations: A proud Christmas Pagan
Dec. 24, 2010 at 6:24 a.m.
Are you excited about Christmas? You should be. It's today!
So, in the spirit of this majestic holiday, allow me to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas. The only thing that would make today more enjoyable is snow on the ground, and a bottle of Michael Kors perfume under my beautifully-adorned Christmas tree. That's my must-have gift this year. Well, every year. I'm obsessed with Michael. If you speak with Santa, put in a good word.
Even without snow on the ground, I plan on snuggling up on the sofa with a warm cup of coffee and the Christmas-edition newspaper, and watching 24-hours of "A Christmas Story."
And as I peruse the pages of the Advocate, noticing the seasonal articles and advertisements on each page, I'll be reminded once again, what a special day of the year this is. Forgive my sentimentality, but one has to acknowledge the beauty of a holiday observed in 160 of 192 countries worldwide.
There's a human element to that idea that makes me smile, and a oneness to our humanity that I never desire to disregard. We are one, really large, body, of people.
Yet as a Christian, who legitimately believes in the divine birth of Jesus, Christmas goes beyond the illuminated Christmas trees, fancy-wrapped presents and turkey dinners.
Observing the weeks of Advent - a four-week season around Christmas observed in the Christian faith to commemorate the coming of the divine Lord - and using this time of year to think of others' needs beyond my own, is indescribably rewarding for me. And I know it sounds very "Miracle on 31st Street-ish," but there's is a magic, an emotional gayness, a priority of giving, and a selflessness that occurs during Christmastime that somehow comes alive this time of year.
The magnitude of the Christmas season touches my heart in such a way, that each New Year, my personal, spiritual and relational objectives are renewed and refined for the better.
For that reason, I'm not especially bothered that Dec. 25 isn't the true birthday of Jesus. And I'm not especially bothered that "the reason for our season" isn't necessarily because of the Christ, but because a formerly Pagan Roman emperor (Constantine) decided to impose Christianity on his people about 300 AD, and fuse the existing traditions of Sun-worship with the monotheistic religion of Christianity.
If you didn't already know, this why we celebrate Christmas around the Winter Solstice. It was an ancient festival of feasting, and street celebrations. It was a time for decking the halls, gift exchanges, and extreme self-indulgence - all to worship the Roman God Saturn's birthday on Dec. 17. The festival ended with a feast for Sol Invictus, the Sun God, on Dec. 25.
So, apparently it was easier for Constantine to converge his new-founded worship of the Christ, with the cultural (and pagan) traditions of the day. From there, we've slowly evolved Christmas into what we know of it today. Only instead of Sol Invictus, and Saturn, we celebrate Jesus' birthday.
There are many Christians who get so bent out of shape when these details are brought up around the holiday because they think it somehow threatens the divinity of Jesus.
But, I disagree.
Historically, there is no evidence Jesus was born in December, and it's unreasonable to think there would have been a birth record for a poor Jewish kid born to a poor family in a cave-like dwelling in Bethlehem in the first century AD, or before. We do know he was born in the reign of Herod, and historians and theologians can estimate the time based on that detail and Biblical record. Some historians believe he was born sometime in September, and even earlier in the spring.
While it's true that Christmas may stem from Pagan origins, it doesn't mean that we shouldn't designate a time of year to celebrate the birth of Christ, even if it's on the wrong day. We should absolutely worship the Lord's birth. And we should absolutely have open conversations about the historical origins of any religion we claim as true. It is that truth, that security in knowing, that makes Jesus' birth and the celebration of it, that makes me want to have a relationship with him. It isn't because I attempt to denounce historical truths, as if I'm a participant in some religious government conspiracy.
But let's remember, that while there are joyful and culturally-relevant traditions of Christmas that we enjoy participating in each year, the true meaning of Christmas is that God sent his son to us. There is your Christmas. Wrap it up, and stick it under the tree.
Jennifer Preyss is the Advocate's faith reporter. Contact her at firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
Poll Recap: Blanketing Headaches
- Oct 8, 2013
- Basic
- Topics:
Of 810 voters, 29% said their biggest blanketing headache involved preventing horse-made tears, holes, and missing straps, while 26% said they had no blanketing issues or did not blanket their horse.
Photo: Photos.com
In last week's online poll, TheHorse.com asked about your horse blanketing headaches. More than 800 readers responded, and we've tallied the results.
This week's results were fairly evenly distributed. Of the 810 voters, 234 (29%) said their biggest headache involves preventing horse-made tears, holes, and missing straps. Another 209 voters (26%) indicated they have no blanket issues or that their horse doesn't wear a blanket. Almost one quarter of respondents, 195 voters, reported that their biggest headache is finding a blanket fit that doesn't cause rubs. Still another 172 voters (21%) said their problems involve choosing the right blanket weight for different temperatures.
Additionally, 86 respondents provided comments on their blanketing headaches.
Poll Results
Many readers described their horses' tendency to destroy and damage their blankets:
- "One of my horses seems to find anything in the pastures to catch and tear his coat."
- "My mare destroys ANY blanket on her—except one she picked not to destroy, so it's that one or none!"
- "I have a terrible blanket destroyer. If he can rip it, he will."
- "My gelding is a blanket destroyer!"
- "I own a Mini that rides the fencing until he rips off the straps."
- "My gelding is the destroyer of blankets, and not just the one he is wearing, either!"
- "Even the toughest blanket always seems to get torn. The straps are always the first to go."
- "1,200 pounds of rolling, thrashing, rubbing Thoroughbred. Yikes!"
- "Seems like as soon as I put a new one one, it gets torn or the straps get pulled off."
- "Warmbloods are hard on blankets."
- "Not much of an issue, but I have a lot of trouble with the interlocking strap ends."
- "Everyday there is a missing belly or leg strap or bite holes from friends playing with each other."
Others commented on their choice not to blanket their horse:
- "I don't blanket my pasture horses, except after a surgery (colic) or an illness."
- "Only in dire straights do ANY of my horses wear a blanket!"
- "15 horses outside year round. Good Nutrition is best blanket."
- "Blankets ARE a headache. I went blanketless years ago and my horse and I are happier for it."
- "Healthy horses grow healthy coats and do not require blankets. Don't mess with thermoregulation."
- "My horse doesn't wear one."
- "I don't put blankets on my horse...he has hair to keep him warm"
- "I only use blankets if a horse is sick, underweight, or shows signs of being cold."
- "I don't use them, but have them on hand in case of illness or shivering. No need yet."
- "I try not to blanket horses. The only reason is for sales and then it is just prior to sale dates."
- "Rocky Mountain Horses are very hardy and don't need blankets. They have shelter if they choose it."
- "I have blankets left over from previous horses that I keep 'just in case,' (but I) don't blanket as a rule"
- "He wears his God-given coat because man hasn't made one he can't destroy."
- "My horses don't wear one. Letting them get a coat is the best way to manage horses in cold weather."
- "All our horses are out 24/7, no blankets, in New Hampshire."
Some described their experiences with blanket fitting problems:
- "The fit. (Blankets) never seem to fit right."
- "(I wish for) a blanket that doesn't slide back and put pressure on the shoulders!"
- "There is not alot of selection for 'good' draft size blankets/sheets."
- "My blankets fit well except for my 34-year-old mare, whose shoulders are thin."
- "It's either too loose or too tight."
- "I wish the manufacturers could give more measurements than just the standard length!"
- "The real problem is finding blankets that fit properly."
- "A true fit would be nice, not a general size (84" is not 84"). (And they should be) waterproof, not water repellant"
- "(I wish for) blankets that don't shift over the hips"
- "My senior mare is swaybacked with high withers so I have to find high necked blankets."
- "Just like people, horses come in all sizes and shapes! There is no one blanket that fits all!"
- "Finding a blanket for a horse with a long shoulder."
- "Fit is a concern also—I have a narrow Thoroughbred."
- "Finding a blanket that's not so tight at the shoulders/neck so they can graze without choking."
- "My horse has very high withers. Every winter, the blanket wears off his hair on the crest."
Several readers commented that constant weather changes make choosing the right blanket difficult:
- "The climate changes are making the blanketing process a mess. I never know what to put on."
- "Trying to decide to blanket or not to blanket on a given evening is my biggest blanketing headache!"
- "Having different weight blankets on hand is my solution to keeping my horse comfortable."
- "The biggest problem is trying to figure out the weather because our stable has limited blanketing."
- "The inconsistent fall temperatures drive me crazy!"
- "Switching sheets for blankets at 8:00 p.m. when the weather isn't right for it."
- "Florida winters can range widely in temperatures: 30-40° in the early morning and 70° by 10 a.m."
- "Taking on and off constantly in a rainy yet relatively temperate climate."
- "My biggest (headache) is should I or shouldn't I?"
- "I live in Florida. My vet told me not to blanket him unless it got below freezing for 24 hours."
A few shared their frustrations with blanket repairs:
- "Finding somebody affordable to fix the tears."
- "Finding someone to repair those horse-made tears, holes, and missing straps"
- "Washing, re-waterproofing, mending, and all the manual labor that goes with blanketing."
And a couple shared their visions of an ideal blanket:
- "Wouldn't a material that reacts to outdoor temperature be grand!"
- "Do they make indestructible turnout blankets?"
For tips on blanketing horses, check out our Blanketing Q & A.
In this week's poll, we want to know: Which forelimb conformation defect worries you most? Vote Now!
The results of our weekly polls are published in The Horse Health E-Newsletter, which offers news on diseases, veterinary research, health events, and in-depth articles on common equine health conditions and what you can do to recognize, avoid, or treat them. Sign up for our e-newsletters on our homepage and look for a new poll on TheHorse.com every week!
About the Author
Jennifer Whittle, TheHorse.com Web Producer
Jennifer Whittle, TheHorse.com Web Producer, is a lifelong horse owner who competes with her Appaloosas in Western performance events. She is a University of Kentucky graduate and holds a bachelor's degree in Community Communications and Leadership Development, and master's degree in Career, Technical, and Leadership Education. She currently lives on a small farm in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky.
Related Content
Tips for Winter Horse Hauling
Winter Pasture Management
Feeding Broodmares in Fall and Winter
Winter Barn Preparation Starts Before the Freeze
Cold Weather Horse Care Review
Horse Owners Reminded to Plan for Winter Hazards
Horse Rescues Prepare for Long Winter Ahead
Managing Horses in Icy Conditions
Horse Health Tips for Extreme Cold Weather
Keeping Horses Warm
POLL: Checking for Gastric Ulcers


text:
Read the full story here Web Link posted Friday, April 6, 2012, 8:27 AM
Town Square
Local PTA gathers signatures for tax initiative
Original post made on Apr 6, 2012
Read the full story here Web Link posted Friday, April 6, 2012, 8:27 AM
Comments (27)
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Apr 6, 2012 at 9:01 am
I don't believe the PTA should be doing this. Fundraising is one thing, but this is a political issue and the PTA has no right to be involved in political issues. They obviously know this as they are doing it outside schools and the PTA is a school organization and should be working on school issues inside schools.
This smacks of their involvement in the library bond, their tactics are to make people feel guilt ridden into signing or voting yes. I strongly disapprove and will tell them if they approach me.
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Apr 6, 2012 at 9:06 am
The PTA's mission is to be a child-advocacy group, I can't think of anything more appropriate than advocating for a consistent form of funding for our schools. Especially one that keeps the funds local.
a resident of Adobe-Meadow
on Apr 6, 2012 at 9:15 am
It is true the PTA has an explicit political advocacy mission, which includes a lobbying infrastructure at the state and federal level, supported by local dues. So they are doing what they tell people they will do, which seems fair.
I actually don't like it much either, and would prefer to simply dis-affiliate and become a PTO. But that would make us fairly unusual around here, and good luck convincing people to assess and vote on an issue like this when you can't even get a quorum at most PTA meetings.
a resident of Gunn High School
on Apr 6, 2012 at 9:20 am
Advocacy is a core mission of the PTA. Edcode requires the signature gathering be done outside of school campuses
Mission Statement of the California State PTA
The mission of the California State PTA is to positively impact the lives of all children and families by representing our members, and empowering and supporting them with skills in advocacy, leadership and communication.
Adopted by the California State PTA Board of Managers, Oct 2009
a resident of Midtown
on Apr 6, 2012 at 10:00 am
Good intentions, but all this does is help enable Governor Brown to spend money on pet projects like the High Speed Rail. In the last year alone, over $140 million was spent on the High Speed Rail for planning, studies, consultants, etc. This $140 million is enough money to restore the proposed 2 week cut in the school year for 200,000 kids. There's other state spending as well that could be found in various other pet projects that Governor Brown is protecting that could restore many of his othere proposed cuts to education
a resident of Green Acres
on Apr 6, 2012 at 10:15 am
This is why I left the PTA. They consistently side on the wrong side. Stealing is not the way to fund our dreams.
I feel the same about simply taking more from someone to fund schools that I do about everyone in a restaurant voting that the richest one in the room should pay for all the meals..it is wrong, it is theft, and I defend the right to keep what you have earned to spend as you wish.
a resident of Crescent Park
on Apr 6, 2012 at 10:25 am
Why is it assumed by these and other groups that more money always equals better education?
Shouldn't they be required to show a quantitative beneficial effect of better student scores directly relating from the requested additional tax dollars before we have our personal earnings squeezed yet again for the billionth time?
a resident of College Terrace
on Apr 6, 2012 at 11:08 am
This initiative would penalize the poor and lower income of the state to contribute to a big government money pit. Even the most cursory study of educational history will show that more money has done nothing to improve education and if there is a correlation to derive based on graduation rates it's that more money has done harm. The problem is the power of teachers' unions to prevent reform, innovation, improvement -- or to protect teachers (power of the union) at the expense of students/children. Wake up!
a resident of Ventura
on Apr 6, 2012 at 11:28 am
FrankF is a registered user.
> Why is it assumed by these and other groups that more money always equals better education?
Because if you look at any qualitative ranking of schools you can clearly see that the best schools are the ones that spend the most per student. There are occasional anomalies but these are rare. The evidence shows more money will get you better educated students.
a resident of Triple El
on Apr 6, 2012 at 11:34 am
There are many problems with our state government and it's ability to provide funds to educate our children, but this initiative is one of the better I've seen. The money does not go to the state. It will be put into a "lock box" and distributed to local School Districts who will then distribute the money to individual schools, putting the money where it is needed and letting the districts and school determine how best to use the money. This money can not be reallocated for pet projects by anyone. In the first 4 yrs part of the collected money will go to pay off the debt we already owe on educational "loans", thus reducing interest we are already paying. This initiative includes a sliding scale tax increase, from 1/4% to 2.2% depending on one's income level, so it does not penalize the poor.
Until someone has the guts to tackle prop 13, this seems like a good alternative to educational funding.
a resident of Barron Park
on Apr 6, 2012 at 11:46 am
PTAs should not be doing this..teachers unions in California have too much power as it is without turning parents into willing sheep. Why are billionaires like Mollie Munger so eager to raise my already high taxes?
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Apr 6, 2012 at 12:00 pm
How can residents/parents who work in a globally competitive economy subject to regular layoffs support teachers and bureaucrats who are completely shielded from any such vagaries through out their working and retired lives and keep getting mandated ever escalating compensation when for most people its violently up and down? Unsustainable I think..you can only squeeze so much from a turnip.
a resident of Midtown
on Apr 6, 2012 at 12:09 pm
There is no such thing as a government funded "lock box". Those funds must be invested. They are typically invested in government bonds. Jerry Brown would love to have that money to invest in High Speed Rail bonds.
a resident of Crescent Park
on Apr 6, 2012 at 12:42 pm
The problem with education lock boxes or other initiatives that designate single use funds is that the state always works around it. For example, let say the lock box fund gives $10...well in a crunch, the state will just reduce it's contribution to the general education fund.
So, yes, there is designated money. But the variable budget money from the state can still be tampered with.
a resident of Adobe-Meadow
on Apr 6, 2012 at 2:22 pm
I agree with the goals and need, but as others have pointed out, all that is accomplished by having these allocated sources of funds is to allow the budget writers to reduce the other sources of funds. Remember the lottery was supposed to be the savior of education, but now it is just a source of uncertainty in the budget.
If you think the legislature needs discipline in setting priorities, then the initiative should mandate the minimum spending on education.
a resident of Barron Park School
on Apr 6, 2012 at 2:37 pm
[Post removed by Palo Alto Online staff.]
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Apr 6, 2012 at 3:23 pm
One thing is clear is that the state of California has not been a good steward of our tax money. Sorry to be skeptical. I will not sign this proposed initiative.
It seems better ideas are turned away and the CA state legislature continues to spend, spend, spend. It is scary.
I am reluctant to raise taxes without extremely well-documented (in a continuous fashion) reforms and reductions.
I don't believe the "lock box" concept, either. Can someone comment on the state lottery (I don't gamble) - I thought all this money was promised to "go to the schools" - and hasn't something else happened..
At the most basic level as an active citizen, sometime back I contacted relevant CA politicians/representatives concerning a great idea to reform the massive deep hole of CA public education spending. This idea, which has popped up occasionally, is to initiate consolidation of (some) CA school districts (perhaps offering incentives) as this would result in efficiencies and perhaps operational improvements with reduction of bureaucracies, and then I have read a prominent nonprofit community leader (I think - president of Community Foundation Silicon Valley) undertook a strong, visible effort to propose this - all to a dead end. Sacramento politicians are unwilling to consider ANY reforms to the outrageous, high-cost union controlled public education in the state of California.
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Apr 6, 2012 at 3:27 pm
Follow up - I think Whisman Elem. School District and Mt. View Elem. School District merged a few years ago and it has worked well, according to what I have seen in the Mt. View newspaper on occasion. I think there was plenty of kicking and screaming in advance of this reasonable government consolidation (I expect some administrative people were laid off - one superintendant, perhaps) yet there was indeed consolidation of facilities, expenses in a geographic area where it made sense for many reasons. I expect there are many other situations like this in California, which could result in major savings for us taxpayers.
a resident of another community
on Apr 6, 2012 at 3:32 pm
PTA has been advocating for children for 115 years. Having a separate juvenile justice system -- that was PTA. Having kindergarten as part of the regular school day -- that was PTA. Having hot lunch at school -- that was PTA. Last year's bullying prevention bill -- that was PTA.
CA has the highest student to teacher, student to counselor and student to administrator ratios in the nation. Our per pupil spending is among the lowest (47th) in the country. After carefully reading all of the initiatives (3 at the time) CA PTA determined that "Our Children, Our Future" was the best one for our kids. They also inserted the language about community input and parent involvement. It's PTA doing what PTA does -- advocating for our kids.
a resident of Old Palo Alto
on Apr 6, 2012 at 4:45 pm
I don't believe in this initiative either- especially in this economic crisis. The problem in our public school system cannot be fixed with money. The following WSJ article may bring some insights:
Web Link
a resident of Professorville
on Apr 7, 2012 at 1:58 am
Well going from that Murdoch rag...
Why not look to Finland, which outshines us.
Teachers are unionized. No STAR testing, etc.
Now for the racist comments to weigh in....
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Apr 8, 2012 at 10:41 am
> Because if you look at any qualitative ranking of schools you
> can clearly see that the best schools are the ones that spend
> the most per student. There are occasional anomalies but these
> are rare
Please cite your sources. Per student spending in large school systems, like New York City is astronomical--with incredibly poor results. Washington, DC, while not as large--is another example of good money chasing bad results. And we could also look at the Court-ordered Kansas City spending, and come to the same conclusions.
Sadly, for all of the money that is spent on "education" in the US, the results of the 50 individual education systems are not always comparable. The NAEP and the SAT are about the only credible tests that provide comparable results at the national level. Certainly there is no evidence that there is a direct correlation between expenditures/student and testing results.
With 85% of every dollar going to staff salaries/benefits--increased educational spending is just code for increased teacher salaries and pensions. There is never any guarantee of increased quality, or quantify, of "education" resulting from increased educational spending.
a resident of Menlo Park
on Apr 8, 2012 at 3:19 pm
>Because if you look at any qualitative ranking of schools
>you can clearly see that the best schools are the ones
>that spend the most per student. There are occasional
>anomalies but these are rare. The evidence shows more
>money will get you better educated students.
Correlation does not necessarily imply causation. Has there been a randomized controlled trial of the effect of spending on educational outcomes?
a resident of Stanford
on Apr 8, 2012 at 11:56 pm
Posted by Mike, a resident of the Crescent Park neighborhood, on Apr 6, 2012 at 10:25 am
Why is it assumed by these and other groups that more money always equals better education?
Shouldn't they be required to show a quantitative beneficial effect of better student scores directly relating from the requested additional tax dollars before we have our personal earnings squeezed yet again for the billionth time?
Exactly my feelings, Mike! Well said.
a resident of Hoover School
on Apr 9, 2012 at 11:41 am
Agree with "One thing is clear is that the state of California has not been a good steward of our tax money."
Web Link
"In 2011, California spent $9.6 billion on prisons, versus $5.7 billion on higher education.
Since 1980, California has built one college campus; it's built 21 prisons.
The state spends $8,667 per student per year. It spends about $50,000 per inmate per year."
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Nov 2, 2012 at 2:15 pm
California State PTA is a supporter of Proposition 38. I was one of the PTA volunteers who asked people to sign the petition to get Proposition 38 on the ballot. From what I recall, others were getting signatures to put Proposition 30 on the ballot. We were clearly instructed to tell people it did not mean they had to vote for it, it just meant that they would have the opportunity to do so. This was back in March/April. Much has been learned about both propositions since then. Most of the people I know who are voting, are voting for both to insure that one wins.
a resident of Midtown
on Nov 4, 2012 at 7:11 am
Perspective is a registered user.
This is the MAJOR reason I quit the PTA. It is about politics far beyond those affecting kids and teachers. Not only that, in my years in the PTA, I heard only sheep-like followers spouting the predictable line about "more taxes" and "pro-union". Regardless the issue, it is always "more money" and "strengthen union".
No thanks.
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text:
Rounded corners wasn't the big reason.
The "feature" that keeps logging me out on (what appears to be) random page refreshes, the fact that logging me out caused comments to collapse into a unreadable mess, and finally the text area being a tiny little hole to try to type a long-form blog post or comment into sent me running back to the Movable Type install I had on my own website. That way at least I know that the person behind the installation is motivated to fix the issues I encounter, or at the least I k
I've been mostly blogging on my tech blog [shlomifish.org], which is technically a LiveJournal community. I tag all Perl-related entries with the "perl" tag. On the link I have some aggregated blogs - one of them for all Perl-related stuff. The LiveJournal solution works for me, but is not ideal. For example Technorati refuses to index this blog because it's an LJ community.


text:
|About us | Contact us |Site Map
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CPC Ver.2 code 16120Structure Notes
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HS 2007 code(s) 2502.00
ISIC Rev.4 code(s) 0891
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Would you like to leave some feedback?
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Then drop us a line at firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
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text: The U.S. EPA AgSTAR Program is pleased to provide its Partners and other interested parties information on New York State Energy Research and Development Authority's (NYSERDA's) program opportunity notice for their Renewable Portfolio Standard Customer Sited Tier Anaerobic Digester Gas-To-Electricity Program. Approximately $57 million is being made available to support the installation and operation of anaerobic digester gas-to-electricity systems in New York. Funding is on a first-come, first-served basis. Up to $1 million is available per host site, depending on project size. In order to participate in this program, applicants must comply with all program rules, procedures, and eligibility requirements; submit all required forms and supplemental documentation; and enter into a Standard Performance Contract Agreement with NYSERDA. Eligibility requirements include: New equipment must be located at host sites owned or operated by customers who currently pay the New York State renewable portfolio standard surcharge. Anaerobic digester biogas-fueled electricity must be generated and used by the host site where a utility meter that is interconnected with the grid is located. The anaerobic digester systems must consist of commercially available technologies. Application packages must be received by NYSERDA on or before December 31, 2015 at 5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time, or until all funding has been fully committed, whichever comes first. 11.02.2011


text:
One wonderful things about young kids is that they're so honest.
One terrible, horrible thing about young kids is that they're so honest. They're also picky.
I made our favorite bolognese sauce the other night, with alphabet-shaped pasta from Trader Joe's. I was excited to serve it to the kids because I knew they'd love it.
I couldn't have been more wrong.
Both decided without even trying it that they didn't like it. I could reason with/threaten almost-four-year-old Alex to at least take a bite, although of course that didn't change his mind (it so rarely does – but occasionally, it works). Tyler wouldn't even take a bite.
I was crushed. I always am when I prepare a meal that I think is going to be well-received, only to have it rejected.
This is why the kids' meals end up being a rotation of chicken nuggets, macaroni and cheese, hot dogs, pizza, and grilled cheese, and why Marc and I don't eat much better than that.
Because I can't take the rejection.
After a couple of weeks of nothing but the previously mentioned food groups, I start to feel guilty so I make more of an effort to vary everyone's meals.
But then everything gets rejected, so I get hurt and revert back to the trusty kid fare.
The problem is, it's not healthy. And I'm a foodie, so it's important for me to raise kids who know good food and want to eat it, even if it's something they've never had before.
Every expert says that picky eaters need to be constantly offered new foods, and that rejected foods need to be offered over and over again. But it's hard to handle that rejection. I obviously need a thicker skin. Am I the only one who feels this way?


text:
-"You cant run from me. I mean, my heart dont bleed Kool-Aid."
-"I aint no diva! I dont have no blond hair, red hair. Im Reggie Evans.
*I mean I'm sure Parker is a good player, but as it stands now, I can't see any way I could consider taking anyone over Wiggins. There'd have to be some serious chaos as guys hit college.
Last edited by white men can't jump; Wed Jul 17th, 2013 at 07:20 PM.
Parker is not near the athlete of Wiggins.
Athleticism is not everything but it is a certainly a big SOMETHING especially at NBA level.
if he actually wants to play here he will come home one day guys when hes a free agent for sure MU will make it happen
- Be 26 or older
- Declare for the draft and don't get drafted
- Declare for the draft, get drafted, team that drafted you renounces their rights to you
- Declare for the draft, refuse to sign a contract with the team that drafted you. You then may enter the following year's draft, as long as you do not play professional or college basketball in any capacity anywhere in the world for an entire year. (If you do play basketball professionally, even an exhibition game in the Phillipines or something, the team that drafted you retains your rights.) The following year, you can again refuse to sign a contract with the (new) team that drafts you, spend another year not playing any pro or college ball, and then for the following season you'll be a Rookie Free Agent. Needless to say, nobody does this.
but i am a big parker fan too. if even half of these guys come out next year it's still going to be a loaded draft.
that said, trading for 2015 picks wouldn't be dumb. there ARE going to be players who stay another year and there are more blue chip HS players joining the college ranks.
basically nothing bad every comes from getting more draft picks
Twitter - @thekid_it
I love that Wiggins would want to represent Toronto and Canada. But I just think he's saying it because its the politically correct thing to say. Imagine if he said that he would prefer to play for NY or LA? Canadian fans have been talking about Wiggins for a few years now. It would be stupid to alienate a fan base by saying something else.
Wiggins isn't being asked which team he'd like to play for. He's being asked which team has the best odds of getting him (the shittiest team). Instead of answering that, he says which team he wants to play for, which is us . No political correctness here.
this quote has made my day.
Wiggins carried the 2012 team to a W with 20 points and 7 boards... And 17 and 9 in last year's tourney.. Not to shabby.
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text:
A man with an unusual name faces felony drug charges in Iowa, less than two years after he was busted for possession of pot.
Beezow Doo-doo Zopittybop-bop-bop, who grew up outside Chicago and later moved to Madison, Wis., was charged with felony drug possession with intent to deliver after a recent traffic stop.
The man was arrested July 20 in Cedar Rapids, Ia., when police noticed his van swerving on the road. When they pulled him over, police found half an ounce of marijuana.
He was arrested in January 2012 for possession in a Madison park.
Beezow Doo-doo Zopittybop-bop-bop remains in jail awaiting trial in September.
If convicted he could face up to five years in prison and a $7,500 fine.
In case you're curious, he has said his first name represents "the explosion of awareness of the interconnectedness of the infinite love in the universe." His real name is Jeffrey Wilschke, but he legally changed it in 2011.


text: "McGrath also has a wonderful feel for landscape and so the Arctic itself assumes the life of a character.The language is lovely. Modulated, lyrical and beautiful as the stark nature it describes, it makes McGrath's book more than a fascinating and instructive read. It makes it a joyful one."Evening Standard (London)


text:
Topic: Amavisd signing incoming spam
Back to my "spam with own addresses problem". Not only that I'm starting receiving lots of spams with "From: email@example.com" (but with different return-path), but I also see Amavis signing them.
How should I configure amavis so it won't sign incoming mails, ever?
I see that in amavisd.conf I have (untouched since the install):
$inet_socket_port = 10024; # listen on this local TCP port(s)
# $inet_socket_port = [10024,10026]; # listen on multiple TCP ports
$originating = 1;
$policy_bank{'MYNETS'} = { # mail originating from @mynetworks
originating => 1, # is true in MYNETS by default, but let's make it explicit
os_fingerprint_method => undef, # don't query p0f for internal clients
allow_disclaimers => 0, # enables disclaimer insertion if available
$interface_policy{'10026'} = 'ORIGINATING';
$policy_bank{'ORIGINATING'} = { # mail supposedly originating from our users
originating => 1, # declare that mail was submitted by our smtp client
allow_disclaimers => 0, # enables disclaimer insertion if available
# notify administrator of locally originating malware
virus_admin_maps => ["root\@$mydomain"],
spam_admin_maps => ["root\@$mydomain"],
warnbadhsender => 1,
# forward to a smtpd service providing DKIM signing service
forward_method => 'smtp:[127.0.0.1]:10027',
# force MTA conversion to 7-bit (e.g. before DKIM signing)
smtpd_discard_ehlo_keywords => ['8BITMIME'],
bypass_banned_checks_maps => [1], # allow sending any file names and types
terminate_dsn_on_notify_success => 0, # don't remove NOTIFY=SUCCESS option
So, in other words, amavisd is not listening to port 10026 . Also, this is disabled in master.cf:
submission inet n - n - - smtpd
-o smtpd_enforce_tls=yes
-o smtpd_sasl_auth_enable=yes
-o smtpd_client_restrictions=permit_mynetworks,permit_sasl_authenticated,reject
# -o content_filter=smtp-amavis:[127.0.0.1]:10026
smtps inet n - n - - smtpd
-o smtpd_tls_wrappermode=yes
-o smtpd_sasl_auth_enable=yes
-o smtpd_client_restrictions=permit_sasl_authenticated,reject
# -o content_filter=smtp-amavis:[127.0.0.1]:10026
So, the only policy bank that is activated is MYNETS. Doesn't this mean that amavis has no way of differencing authenticated users' messages from remote incoming ones? So it automatically signs everything which contains a local domain? (Because mynets => originating, and I think it should be 0 here). Or is there any other way of making amavisd not signing incoming messages?


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There's often a jar of it on the counter at taverns and mom-and-pop convenience stores. Kind of like pickled pigs feet in the South.
There's often a jar of it on the counter at taverns and mom-and-pop convenience stores. Kind of like pickled pigs feet in the South.
I love ring bologna but it has to be Berks brand. Never saw it pickled tho.
~~ Tracy ~~
Here is something we can all be proud of.There was a vendor at Johnson City with a b-b-q trailer at the top of the hill coming up from the beer tent area.On the last day he told me that he was so impressed with us as a group,he was going to buy a BMW so he could join in. says a lot i think..Ed
Its east of the West Branch also ! Most of it gets served during High School Football games, Flea Markets and church festivals depending on which Saint. The majority of the listings are featured in the Shamokin to Jim Thorpe region, a short ride from Bloomsburg. My favorite is potatoe candy or how about city chicken.
City Chicken
1/2 lb. pork
1/2 lb. veal
1 egg, beaten
Bread crumbs (seasoned if you want)
1 c. milk
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Cut pork and veal into 1" cubes. Thread on bamboo or wooden skewers, alternating chunks of pork and veal. Dip the skewers in the egg, then the bread crumbs, to coat. Saute until browned.
Put skewers in a baking pan, and add milk. Cover in foil, and bake about 1 hour.
During the depression, chicken was more expensive than pork. So pork and veal were substituted for and "passed off" as chicken. The pork and veal are alternated on a wooden skewer such that it resembles a chicken leg.
If one cannot command attention by one's admirable qualities one can at least be a nuisance
I haven't had city chicken since I left for college in 1959. I always thought it was made from mystery meat.
"The guys were soon passing this gadget around and measuring the temperature of everything. I was bending over my bike at that moment and heard them log my butt in at 108 degrees.
ÔÇ£I donÔÇÖt care how hot that gets, IÔÇÖm not cooking my lunch there,ÔÇØ said Rich Cavaliere."
Ah, city chicken, halushka, hrudka, I grew up on that stuff. Pierogies too. How about some good stuffed cabbage, chicken paprikas, or potato soup. Even green been soup. Good peasant food!
F.O.G.Rider, Rounder #6,
BMWRA Wisconsin Region Rep
MOA Biergarten co-chair
Cave contents: 16 R12RS, 13 Toyota Tacoma, 03 Simplicity Legacy, 97 Stihl FS75, Dewalt DW625 & SawStop PCS175
1) My expectations are never low enough & 2) Incompetence is infinite ........David Brooks


text:
Belmondo Home Charcoal Queen Bed Flannelette Sheet Set - Grey
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- Belmondo Home manchester
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- Style: Charcoal
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- 2 x pillowcases (each, 48 x 73cm)
- Materials: 100% cotton
- Machine washable
- Country of origin: Pakistan
A Bit About The Brand / More Info
Bring extra life into your boudoir this season with a stunningly vibrant bed linen from Belmondo. Create your own world; fill it with bold prints and an intense colour palette. With Belmondo, your room will never look the same!
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text: There's quite a few instances where events and encounters are hinted at in conversation that sound intriguing but which we never actually see. Personally I'm curious as to what the hell Dukat had to dream up to say to Mika (was that her name?) to talk her round into sleeping with him... There must also have been some words at some point between Damar and Garak concerning Ziyal - that would've been worth a good scene.


text:
This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 1st, 2013 at 12:13 am and is filed under . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
2013 Ford Mustang Boss 302
Wednesday May 1st, 2013 at 12:55 AM
Posted by: Francois


text:
Discussion in 'Trek Literature' started by dispatcher812, Apr 22, 2012.
Maybe his full name is Captain B-4 Data? Like, he adopted "Data" as a family name? (shrug)
B-4 was merely his designation. (The Voyager's EMH ended up calling himself "Joe".)
Tuvix took his name from a combination of the two crewmen who were blended into one.
I wanted to make that joke!
Say, wasn't Lore being stored in a box in Data's room on the E-D? Surprised no one has done anything with that.
Covered by "Immortal Coil", IIRC.
Was it? I read that nearly a year ago, so perhaps I've forgotten.
Me too actually. I remember them referring to Lore, Lal, and Data's "mother", but I can't remember exactly what was said about them. Damn, I just checked Memory Beta and it doesn't have anything about IC in the Lore entry.
Yeah, I was looking a few hours ago. What a mess. It's like that one SNW story has overshadowed all other Soong android appearances.
It's been ages since I read it, but IC mentions that at some point after "Descent", Data had headed back to Soong's colony world of Omicron Theta and retrieved the first three prototypes first mentioned by the Juliana android in "Inheritance". The novel reveals that those prototypes, plus Lal, the recently "deceased" Juliana, and the disassembled Lore, were all stored in Data's lab.
Somewhere, but I can't recall exactly where, there was mention that Lore was destroyed beyond repair in the crash of the Enterprise-D.
After the revelations of "Nemesis", I told Jeff Lang that if he ever did a sequel to "Immortal Coil", perhaps the prototypes would be B-1, B-2 and B-3.
IIRC, that comes up in KRAD's Articles of the Federation.
Aha! Yep! And there were three prototypes, known to Juliana, created either before or after the B-4.
After the revelations of "Nemesis", I told Jeff Lang that if he ever did a sequel to "Immortal Coil", perhaps the prototypes would be B-1, B-2 and B-3.
Yet there were some hints dropped in "Paths of Disharmony" and "Rough Beasts of Empire" that a vaguely Countdownish future may come to pass.
Spoiler: Typhon Pact novels
In "Paths", Picard considers beconing an Ambassador, and with a young son on board realizes his days commanding the Enterprise are drawing to a close. And, in "Rough Beasts", Spock becomes a legal resident of Romulus exactly when he said he did in "Countdown"
A chapter in "The Needs of the Many" explained Data's resurrection in B4, in a direct set-up for "Countdown". Although, the circumstaces in the post-Destiny novels would require a somewhat different approach.
I'm guessing we'll get something that doesn't result in B4 being killed.
I guess I know now
As I've said before, that doesn't work for me because B-4 was simply too crude to be the fourth prototype out of six. Also because Julianna evidently didn't know about him, so he may have been built before she came along, before the other three. As I've suggested, B-1 through B-3 might've been nonhumanoid prototypes of just the positronic brain, or maybe, as the script itself suggested, "B-4" was simply a pun on "Before."
AFAIK, Countdown is part of the Star Trek Online continuity, which is incompatible with extended treklit.
Rather, STO chose to incorporate the events of Countdown into its backstory and the artists of Countdown borrowed the uniform designs from STO. But STO also borrowed some things from the novel continuity while contradicting others. And the final book in Shatner's Totality trilogy borrowed some Titan crew from the other novels while completely contradicting Titan's continuity. There are no hard and fast dividing lines where tie-in continuity is concerned. Different works can borrow bits and pieces from each other however they choose.
So if the editorial decision were made to make the novels consistent with Countdown, there's no reason they couldn't be. After all, that comic sold very well, so there could be good marketing/economic reasons to tie into it. It would just be something that both the novels and STO chose to be consistent with, just as they're both consistent with canon. It would just fit into their respective tapestries in different ways.
Do we know for sure that B-4 was crude? At the beginning of "The Offspring", Lal exhibits many of the same behaviours as B-4. That episode took place over weeks; Nemesis over days.
^The movie made it pretty clear that B-4 was very simple and incapable of the kind of growth and learning that Lal showed. I mean, that was the whole thematic point behind the character.
Lal is completely different because she learned and grew readily. B-4 asked a lot of childlike questions but showed little sign of understanding the answers or being able to assimilate new knowledge or insight.
I think Mack should throw a curveball and upload Tasha Yar's brain into B-4.
and then drop her on vagra 2
Separate names with a comma.


text:
I have been working on "farkling" my BMW in order to better support stuff like my GPS, iPod, etc. In doing so I have looked quite a bit into setting up my various power needs around the SAE-2 12v plug, like the popular Battery Tender uses.
I have found a small shop that has some very useful stuff related to SAE-2 stuff. He sells his stuff mostly on ebay.com. You can find stuff by going to ebay.com and searching for "motorcycle sae 2". The link to his ebay storefront is
FYI, I have never met this guy before or have any business contact with him. I've just found him quite responsive to my emails asking questions and like the configurations of SAE-2 gear he has for sale.


text:
We're taking a short trip to Big Bend for the CASI Chilli cook-off and then to the VLA thingy in NM.
Any "must sees" on I-10 then I-25?
We're taking a short trip to Big Bend for the CASI Chilli cook-off and then to the VLA thingy in NM.
Any "must sees" on I-10 then I-25?
Drop down to 90 - stop off at Langtry.
When you get 53 miles south of Alpine on 118 - look on the west side of the road for the old windmill and Adobe house.
Stop by and say Hi!
Paul Glaves - "Big Bend", Texas U.S.A
"The greatest challenge to any thinker is stating the problem in a way that will allow a solution." - Bertrand Russell
Don't know if this is too late, but head east from Las Cruces to White Sands, then over the mountains via Cloudcroft. You won't be dissappointed. Could hit Carlsbad and see a big hole in the ground.
Not too late!
We're not going till the first weekend in November.
Thanks for the suggestions!
we're headed out to NM at the end of next week to camp in the gila national wilderness.
on your way to the VLA, check out these roads:
NM152 west from I25 to Silver City, US180 north to NM78 west to US191 north (the Coronado Trail)
Turn east on US60, stop in Pie Town (I recommend the Pie-o-Neer cafe) and the VLA is on your right just a bit further down the road.
You hook around to the VLA, as opposed to the direct route, but you will very much enjoy these roads.
Go soothingly through the grease mud, as there lurks the skid demon.
__________________________________________________ ________________________________
'67 Trail 90 || '86 R80 G/SPD+ || '97 F650ST || '00 1150 GS || '06 HP2e || '07 Xchallenge || '14 Grom
Steve Henson
SABMWRA MOA Club#62's Flat Fixer/ current forum moderator
It's not the breaths you take, but the moments that take your breath away-D.Dillon/G. Strait
Thanks for the suggested roads near the VLA; we'll take pics!
Henzilla, we will be shoveling coal to get there as we leave Thursday night and have to register by 12PM on Friday if we want to be judges.
We can take your route on the return trip, looks nice. From the map we can take 29 from Menard to Mason.
We're taking the BMW's behind the RV and I'm sure one of us will be on a bike at all times... )
--Darryl Richman, forum liaison
If you need an overnight stay near Big Bend, try the Gage Hotel in Marathon (about 90 miles north of Big Bend). It is a historic old west hotel. If you don't stay there, try their dinner. It has been years since I stayed there, but the memories persist vividly.
Hi, Twins4life,
+1 to Visian's post. US 191 will wear you out with all the twists and turns. Watch for hooved rats and bigger - elk, bear, etc. I've seen them plus javelina, porcupines, etc. on the road. Fill up in Cliften or Morenci, as there is no further fuel until (I believe) Hannigan Meadow. The altitude climbs to over 8000ft. You should be ok (weather) in early October. For Visian's trip in November, I wouldn't want to bet the road would be passable on a motorcycle.
Ride Safe,
Phil Marvin - El Paso, TX


text:
Sorry for my what brooked english, i'm can better write/reading in dutch!
I'm have the following info of your suite:
ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus + Firewall version: 10.2.057.000
Vsmon version: 10.2.057.000
Driver version: 10.2.057.000
Antivirus engine version: 126.96.36.199
Antivirus signature DAT file version: 1095468192
Web Identity Protections version: 1.5.388.0
This have recently automatic scanning & upgrading and see on this processing for the following remarks:
1) The suite is going first scanning and than after that is going upgrade!
I'm found that this must first upgrading and than after that going scan, so that's scanning with de newest defenitions in place this of the day older.
2) What's already scanned by memory-scan, necessary scanned is no longer by other scan as quick-scan, i'm donn't know how the suite is doing this, but on that manner the scanning is go faster.
I'm can better write this in dutch, hopely you can understand this message and is found this a good idea for the better working!


text:
Day 13: Share food
Today's video tells the story of Salissou, an 11-year-old boy from Niger whose family is hard-hit by malnutrition. See what Salissou's hopes are for his family, and how World Vision is helping.
Today's video tells the story of Salissou, an 11-year-old boy from Niger whose family is hard-hit by malnutrition. See what Salissou's hopes are for his family, and how World Vision is helping.
World Vision's Mariana Chokaa reports from Niger, a country left reeling from the drought and hunger crisis that has devastated Africa's Sahel region. At a local clinic, where one might expect to encounter the desperation of malnourished children, she instead observes a downright cheerful atmosphere.
What explains this? World Vision's early interventions amid increasingly dire conditions have helped save lives.
Drought, food crisis, and famine: When the technicality of these terms is stripped away, we simply associate them with people not getting the food and water they need to survive. While this is easy enough to understand as a general concept, the "how," "why," and "what can I do" are a bit more complex.
In order to make these concepts easier to understand, we've broken in them down into an easy-on-the-eyes infographic. Click the image below to get the full scoop!
Rich Stearns, president of World Vision U.S., recently warned that we must take decisive action now to prevent the hunger crisis in West Africa's Sahel region from devolving into outright famine, similar to what was seen in parts of the Horn of Africa last year.
Today, World Vision's Adel Sarkozi writes from Mauritania, confirming this message: West Africa may not be making headlines in the media, but the humanitarian situation there is dire, and we must act immediately.
It's popular in the press to judge a charity by its efficiency. Donors want to know whether their money is being used effectively, and journalists play a valuable part in keeping organizations accountable.
Without downplaying the important role the media play in this respect, I believe the public's concerns about effective aid would be better served if the press also paid attention to slow-building disasters early on -- before they begin claiming lives. Inefficient responses to disasters can cost as much as 80 times more than a well-planned early response.
Today is National Day of Prayer, a chance for Christians across the United States to come together around the belief that we serve a God who hears us when we pray.
Join us today in lifting up families affected by the food crisis in West Africa. Failed rains have led to poor harvests across the region, affecting as many as 15 million people in six countries -- Mali, Niger, Mauritania, Senegal, Chad, and Burkina Faso. Many families have exhausted their traditional means of coping and are cutting back on the number of meals they eat every day.
Without access to basic nutrition, growing children may suffer developmental issues that can last a lifetime. Your prayers for these families already affected by poverty are urgently needed.
Late last week -- after months of hard work, design, and planning -- students from three different schools gathered at John Brown University to present their solutions to the growing need for shelter of displaced people worldwide.
World Vision has been on the front lines, responding to the challenge of providing contextually appropriate shelter that offers privacy, security, and refuge from the elements -- all while being resistant to future disasters, like flooding and earthquakes.
As a part of the World Vision team that responds to emergency situations, I have firsthand knowledge of the importance of temporary shelters and was called upon to judge the student's designs.
Today is Earth Day, an opportunity to step back and appreciate the care and detail God put into creating our universe. God is an amazing artist, and He has set creation before us to show us His glory and remind us of His love. Psalm 95:3-5 tells us: "For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land." In Seattle, where I live, this verse comes to life all the time -- natural beauty is evident all around me. Lush green trees, beautiful mountain ranges, numerous lakes, and the Puget Sound remind me of God's creativity and craftsmanship daily. Spring has brought cherry blossoms and daffodils in abundance. Everywhere I look, I see His awe-inspiring creation.
As is the case throughout much of West Africa's Sahel region, children and families in the village of Tabouche, Niger, are taking extreme measures just to survive. An ongoing drought continues to fuel a hunger crisis that shows no signs of letting up.
The images below provide a glimpse into a part of the world that desperately needs our attention and assistance. (Photos by Chris Sisarich for World Vision.)
We believe prayer is foundational to our work. It sensitizes us to the needs around us and acknowledges God's provision and help in all we do. Join us in prayer for the needs of children and families in West Africa impacted by the deepening drought and food crisis.
As the drought and food crisis escalate across West Africa, how is World Vision responding both to urgent, immediate needs, as well as long-term recovery challenges? Here's a closer look at what's going on in villages across Niger.
Traveling across West Africa, World Vision communications manager Jonathan Bundu is collecting stories of women and children impacted by the current drought and food crisis. Below are reflections from his time in Mauritania, in a region called the Triangle of Poverty.
* * *
The West Africa food crisis continues to intensify as drought tightens its grip on places like Mali. Could entire communities really be left without any food if action isn't taken? The story of Zama and his family suggests that, indeed, they could.
Imagine yourself in a dry, hot, dusty landscape, where water sources are scarce, and where parents don't know whether they have enough food for their children for the day -- or where tomorrow's food will even come from. This is a glimpse into the West African country of Mali, where the regional drought and food crisis is intensifying quickly.
In Africa, there is often a period of time between when a family's stores from their last harvest runs out and when their new crop is ready to eat. These are known as the "hungry months."
Expensive, store-bought food is purchased and carefully rationed. Those who can't buy food depend on neighbors, relatives, churches, and food distributions. And if there's a drought, crops fail, or rains are late, those hungry months can turn into a hungry year.
This is the case for communities in the Horn of Africa (Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Somalia), which is recovering from a historic drought and food crisis, and communities in West Africa (Niger, Mauritania, Mali, Chad, and Senegal), where drought is just settling in.
What does clean water mean to you? How often do you think about it? In her fourth blog entry, World Vision's Lauren Fisher compares two communities in Niger -- one that has a safe source of water, and one that does not. Follow Lauren's trip here on our blog or @WorldVisionNews (#wvlauren) for live, on-the-ground reports from the field.
* * *
Lately, you could say water has become a major obsession of mine. In the past, I've taken it for granted. It's the back-up beverage when I can't find iced tea or soda; it's the bath I can count on at the end of a long day.
But as one colleague told me, in Zinder, water is precious. For me, that means there is no water at all, without warning, at any given time. At any given time, the shower stops working mid-shampoo, along with any other bathroom fixture. It's made for some comical mornings, as you can well imagine.
How would you respond if you heard a 13-year-old girl say that on some days, she simply doesn't eat? World Vision's Lauren Fisher, covering the drought and food crisis in Niger and across West Africa, writes her third blog post recounting stories of visits with people and communities affected by this emergency. Follow Lauren here on our blog or @WorldVisionNews (#wvlauren) for live, on-the-ground reports from the field.
* * *
"Someday, I want to be an NGO [non-governmental organization] worker."
Shy 13-year-old Koubra Mamane's answer surprises me. A bit hesitant in her speech, and a bit skeptical of the whole interview, she reminds me of your typical teenage girl. She tells us she loves mathematics and has to help her mom around the house. She shows us her school books carefully stowed in a bright yellow and red purse.
"I like calculations in school, but I also like the other subjects because I want to become intelligent and gain knowledge," she adds.
But her dreams of the future wouldn't be the only answer that gives me pause. In fact, the next one has been stuck in my head ever since it came out of her mouth. We ask Koubra about the food shortages in her village. She says that when there is no money, her family cannot buy food.
Those days, she and her family do not eat.


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1. maybe we can deal malik rose and sweetney for magloire. he would help our in our need of a center but i dont think he will help the team cap wise.
2. another idea is giving jamal crawford to washington for brenden haywood and jared jeffries. they need a sg desperatly since they lost hughes and we would also be getting a center while they get a shooter
3. finally, maybe we can waive hardaway or houston and sign hunter or james to the mle
3 ways in which we might acquire a servicable center