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A stunning Arabian sky greeted the F1 fraternity after the cloudy weather of Friday, and it was Ferraru's Sebastian Vettel who clocked the fastest time on Saturday afternoon.
It was a session including a lot of medium-tyre running for most teams, including McLaren and Force India, who appeared well down the order.
Mercedes set the early pace with Nico Rosberg, but later on in the session Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen topped the sheets, at the track where he got his best result the previous year.
He was then pipped in the last few minutes by team mate Sebastian Vettel, who posted a time just four hundredths quicker.
It was a trying session for McLaren debutant Stoffel Vandoorne (who deputises for the injured Fernando Alonso this weekend) when a suspected oil leak left him in the garage with the floor off for most of the session. He was, for the first 45 minutes, the only driver not to have set a time, but when the oil leak was revealed just to be a spillage, he headed out and set a time just behind that of McLaren team mate Jenson Button.
Jolyon Palmer's baptism by fire in F1 continued as the chequered flag came out, when a right-rear puncture manifested itself on his final lap, presumably due to running over a kerb in the middle sector.
Ferrari look strong, but it remains to be seen whether Mercedes were sandbagging, or the Scuderia are a genuine threat.
Times from FP3
1) Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari 1:31.683 (22 Laps)
2) Kimi Räikkönen, Ferrari 1:31.723 (13 Laps)
3) Nico Rosberg, Mercedes 1:32.104 (18 Laps)
4) Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes 1:32.160 (14 Laps)
5) Valtteri Bottas, Williams-Mercedes 1:32.675 (18 Laps)
6) Romain Grosjean, Haas-Ferrari 1:33.082 (14 Laps)
7) Daniil Kvyat, Red Bull-TAG Heuer 1:33.113 (10 Laps)
8) Esteban Gutiérrez, Haas-Ferrari 1:33.337 (14 Laps)
9) Felipe Massa, Williams-Mercedes 1:33.363 (18 Laps)
10) Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull-TAG Heuer 1:33.519 (20 Laps)
11) Marcus Ericsson, Sauber-Ferrari 1:33.569 (16 Laps)
12) Kevin Magnussen, Renault 1:33.617 (9 Laps)
13) Jenson Button, McLaren-Honda 1:33.704 (12 Laps)
14) Stoffel Vandoorne, McLaren-Honda 1:33.744 (11 Laps)
15) Max Verstappen, Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:33.778 (20 Laps)
16) Carlos Sainz, Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:34.003 (20 Laps)
17) Felipe Nasr, Sauber-Ferrari 1:34.013 (15 Laps)
18) Nico Hülkenberg, Force India-Mercedes 1:34.128 (16 Laps)
19) Sergio Pérez, Force India-Mercedes 1:34.281 (15 Laps)
20) Jolyon Palmer, Renault 1:34.424 (9 Laps)
21) Rio Haryanto, Manor-Mercedes 1:35.546 (15 Laps)
22) Pascal Wehrlein, Manor-Mercedes 1:35.724 (16 Laps)


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Taser unveils new 'semi-automatic' model
July 29, 2009
Josh Wingrove, Globe and Mail
Days after British Columbia's Braidwood commission recommended tighter rules around the use of tasers, the American manufacturer of the devices rolled a new product off the line that it says will "fit in" to the province's new guidelines.
Taser International debuted its X3 model Monday, the first new conducted energy weapon the company has released since 2003. The X3's main selling feature is its ability to fire three pairs of electrified probes in quick succession without reloading – giving an officer with a taser the chance to simultaneously zap up to three suspects. Older models, which have only one pair of probes, must be reloaded after each shot.
The Braidwood recommendations, released last Thursday and adopted almost immediately by the province, said that a taser should be discharged once, and not for more than five seconds. A second discharge, it recommended, should only happen if it will be "effective in eliminating the risk of bodily harm."
Taser International says its new X3 – four years in the making – has a more consistent pulse than its predecessor, the X26.
The new weapon also tracks, second by second, the amount of energy being discharged into a target's body, the company argues. Its earlier model only tracked the time and total duration of a discharge.
"The log just on its own would be phenomenal for courts and [in light of] some of the controversy in Canada," Taser International spokesman Steve Tuttle told The Globe and Mail.
"The Taser X3 is the most sophisticated handheld weapon ever developed," Rick Smith, the company's chief executive officer, added in a statement.
The X3's debut in Arizona came as Alberta announced Monday it would restrict the use of conducted energy weapons. The Alberta government is expected to release details of its new rules for police later this week. Three months ago, the province scrapped 50 tasers, or 12 per cent of its inventory, after tests showed they weren't working properly.
Taser International's promise of an improved "pulse calibration system" also comes on the heels of an award-winning CBC and Canadian Press investigation that found 10 per cent of tasers tested were either defective or behaved unexpectedly. Some gave out a higher charge than they were meant to.
The company has disputed the testing methodology of CP, the CBC, the province and the Braidwood commission, in which Mr. Tuttle believes "politics outweighs the science."
Taser International argues its new model is safer than the previous "proven and widely accepted" device. Mr. Tuttle told The Globe that while the timing of the X3's release and both the B.C. and Alberta announcements was coincidental, the features of the X3 will be useful in adopting the Braidwood recommendations.
"In light of the Braidwood commission, this is only a benefit to have the X3 come out, in terms of timing," he said. "This will be helpful … the byproduct of it [the timing of the X3's release] is that it does fit in to some of the [Braidwood] recommendations."
He said the triple-fire capacity could be used to either target more than one suspect – firing the prongs into three people at once – or to fire a second pair of prongs at a lone suspect when the first miss.
An officer with an X3 can fire "in a semi-automatic fashion, hit two probes into one suspect, two shots in another, two shots in another," Mr. Tuttle said. "Now you don't have to reload, which is hard to do under a dynamic scenario. You can take that second shot. You can take that third shot."
The $1,799.95 (U.S.) X3 also includes improved resistance to the elements, including "short-term water submersion," the company said. Police forces will be offered the chance to trade in their old models and upgrade to the X3, the company said.

subset: commoncrawl


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Monday, March 16, 2009
Toojay's Greek Wrap
I had a Greek Wrap from Toojay's in Altamonte Springs, FL. The wrap consisted of turkey, ham, feta, lettuce, olives, peppercinis, and Italian dressing, all wrapped in a tortilla. Fruit salad was served on the side. I enjoyed it.
Also on this visit, someone that I was eating with ordered a potato knish. This reminded me of something that I've noticed in my previous visits to several Toojay's locations. If someone at the table orders a knish, it seems that about 90% of the time it will not be served and the waiter will have to be reminded about it after the rest of the food is delivered. It's very strange that over multiple visits to multiple Toojay's, they almost consistently forget to bring out a knish when everything else about the order was correct.
Posted by woofboy111 at 8:00 AM
Labels: altamonte springs, deli, feta, FL, florida, fruit, greek, ham, italian, jewish, knish, kosher, olive, toojay's, toojays, turkey, wrap
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−−−−¦⏑−−−¦¦⏑−−−¦⏑−⏑−pacyante piṣṭavat ke cid ayas-kumbhīṣv avāṅ-mukhāḥ |
−−−⏑¦⏑−−−¦¦−−−−¦⏑−⏑−dahyante karuṇaṁ ke cid dīpteṣv aṅgāra-rāśiṣu || 14.13
Some are cooked like paste
In cauldrons of the metal, their faces looking down;
Some are consumed, piteously,
On heaps of flaming coals.
Others are baked like flour, thrown with their heads downwards into iron jars; others are miserably burned in heaps of heated charcoal; (EBC)
Some, head downwards, are boiled like meal in iron cauldrons; others are miserably broiled on heaps of burning redhot coals. (EHJ)
Thus the first line ostensibly describes sinners in hell thrown head first into pots, boilers or cauldrons made of iron.
But below the surface a Zen meditation hut on a frosty February morning might be just the oven where a bodhisattva sits, with his face looking down, and legs on fire.
Below the surface "the metal" (ayas) of the oven or the cauldron is not iron but gold, and gold is just what we are here mining.
This, at least, is how kāñcanam āsanam, golden sitting, is expressed metaphorically by Aśvaghoṣa.
For Marjory Barlow, also, the metaphorical metal was gold, when she said, "In this work being prepared to be wrong is the golden key."
Why is being open to being wrong the golden key? Because trying to be right is ignorance itself. And so how can we hope to destroy ignorance by relying on ignorance?
Without recourse to metaphor, Marjory summed it up in five words:
"You cannot do an undoing."
Nāgārjuna, coming two generations after Aśvaghoṣa, does not seem to bother much with metaphors. He does not compare the Buddha's most valuable teaching to gold. He rather states in the driest possible terms, eschewing any kind of embellishment, or spin, that what the Buddha taught is pratītya-samutpāda, Complete Springing Up, by Going Back.
Hence, MMK begins:
a-nirodham an-utpādam an-ucchedam a-śāśvatam
an-ekārtham a-nānārtham an-āgamam a-nirgamam ||MMK1.1
Beyond closing down, beyond springing up,
Beyond discontinuity, beyond continuity,
Beyond identity, beyond distinctions,
Beyond coming near, beyond going away,
yaḥ pratītya-samutpādaṁ prapañcopaśamaṁ śivam |
deśayām āsa saṁbuddhas taṁ vande vadatāṁ varam ||MMK1.2
There is Complete Springing Up, by going back,
Which, as the wholesome cessation of spin,
He the Fully Awakened Sambuddha taught.
I praise him, the best of speakers.
There follow 25 chapters of MMK in which it seems to me, though I have not studied those chapters in detail yet, that Nāgārjuna scrutinizes all kinds of views and finds every one of them to be bogus. Then in chapter 26 he expresses very succinctly that most valuable teaching of the Buddha which is not a view. Thus:
The doings that lead to rebirth one veiled in ignorance, in the three ways, / Does do; and by these actions he enters a sphere of existence. //MMK26.1 // Consciousness seeps, with doings as causal grounds, into the sphere of existence./ And so, consciousness having seeped in, pychophysicality is infused. //26.2// There again, once psychophysicality is infused, there is the coming into existence of the six senses; / The six senses having arrived, contact arises; //26.3// And when the faculty of sight, going back, has met a physical form, and met indeed a meeting together, / – When sight has gone back, in this way, to psychophysicality – then consciousness arises. //26.4// The combination of the three – physical form, consciousness and faculty of seeing – / Is contact; and from that contact arises feeling. //26.5// On the grounds of feeling, there is thirst – because one thirsts for the object of feeling. / While the thirsting is going on, grasping hold takes hold in four ways.//26.6// While there is grasping hold, the becoming originates of the one who grasps – / Because becoming, in the absence of grasping hold, would be set free and would not become becoming. //26.7// The five aggregates, again, are the becoming. Out of the becoming rebirth is born. / The suffering of ageing and death, and all the rest of it – sorrows, along with lamentations; //26.8// Dejectedness, troubles – all this arises out of rebirth. / In this way there is the coming about of this whole mass of suffering. //26.9// The doings which are the root of saṁsāra thus does the ignorant one do. / The ignorant one therefore is the doer; the wise one is not, because of reality making itself known. //26.10// In the destruction of ignorance, there is the non-coming-into-being of doings./ The destruction of ignorance, however, is because of the bringing-into-being of just this act of knowing.//26.11// By the destruction of this one and that one, this one and that one are discontinued. / This whole edifice of suffering is thus well and truly demolished.//MMK26.12//
Then in the final verse of the final chapter of MMK, Nāgārjuna states his ultimate conclusion:
sarva-dṛṣṭi-prahāṇāya yaḥ saddharmam adeśayat |
anukampām upādāya taṁ namasyāmi gautamam || MMK27.30
In the direction of abandoning all views,
He taught the true dharma,
Taking pity.
I bow to him, Gautama.
The styles of expression of Aśvaghoṣa and Nāgārjuna are thus very different. And at the same time, below surface appearances, Nāgārjuna's anukampām upādāya (taking pity) of MMK27.30 sounds to me like a not-so-distant echo of the karuṇam (piteously) of today's verse.
pacyante = 3rd pers. pl. passive pac: to cook , bake , roast , boil
piṣṭavat: ind. like flour, like cakes
piṣṭa: mfn. crushed, ground ; m. a cake , pastry ; n. flour , meal , anything ground
ke cid (nom. pl. m.): some
ayas-kumbhīṣu (loc. pl.): f. an iron pot or boiler
avāṅ-mukhāḥ (nom. pl. m.): mfn. having the face turned downwards , looking down ; turned downwards
dahyante = 3rd pers. pl. passive dah: to be consumed by fire or destroyed ; to be consumed by internal heat or grief , suffer pain , be distressed or vexed
karuṇam: ind. mournfully , woefully , pitifully , in distress
ke cid (nom. pl. m.): some
dīpteṣu (loc. pl. m.): mfn. blazing , flaming , hot , shining
aṅgāra-rāśiṣu (loc. pl. m.): heaps of charcoal
aṅgāra: m. charcoal , either heated or not heated
rāśi: m. a heap , mass , pile , group , multitude , quantity , number
投之沸湯 驅入盛火聚


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Heroes & Thieves - still no release in the UK!
I've been waiting for this since forever but there is still apparently no official UK release, and it was exactly the same with Harmonium three years ago. Quite what is going on here is a mystery to me but, such nonsense notwithstanding, I now have a genuine US release that is distributed by Universal Music. That it had to come from the US is merely an annoyance that can again be blamed, almost certainly, on major label machinations and not the artist.
(click image to view at 900 x 900 px.)
She has certainly not sold out but the piano aspect, although very much still there, is not so predominant. Her songwriting is actually at most only a little less quirky than it was on Harmonium but this album is less likely to provoke a boycott by the conservative element and actually marks a return to favour in the US. The odd thing is that I suspect the factor that, at least in part, has facilitated this is that the album was produced by none other than Linda Perry -
a former member of 'Four Non-Blondes' - who is also no stranger to a conservative backlash, as she experienced first hand after a US TV appearance, but has since become one of the most reliable US pop producers (and also songwriters) of recent times and particularly so for female artists.
I haven't really settled on favourite album tracks yet but, having listened to it several times now, I like it every bit as much as Harmonium overall and thus also more than Be Not Nobody. My current opinion is that it that there isn't a weak track on this album and it just seems more natural and less fractious than the latter and also so much more complete than the former. Excellent though Harmonium is, and I still listen to it regularly and not only for its highlight tracks, Heroes & Thieves is thus probably even better!
Interestingly enough track 5 - The One - features what might seem a rather risky undertaking that works beyond the extent that it doesn't seem in the least out of place. The co-vocalist on this track is an icon of 1970s pop - none other than Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac (and also considerable solo) fame.
Heroes & Thieves is more commercial than Harmonium, that is certain, but the truth is that doesn't necessarily mean it can't also be better.


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The Treasure Coast spans the east coast of Florida roughly from Jupiter to Vero Beach. It derives it's name from a Spanish treasure fleet that was lost during a hurricane in 1715. Their are a lot of great windsurfing spots on the Treasure Coast but this blog focuses mainly on the Indian River from Stuart to Jensen Beach.
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Causeway Cookout
When: Saturday January 26th Where: Stuart Causeway east island. What time: I will start firing up the grill at 2:30pm. Bring your favorite cookout food, beverage and appetite. I will bring ice, eating utensiles, plates, cups and charcoal. See you there!
Posted by Dave Zajicek at 8:10 PM No comments:
Great time sailing today!
We have an approaching cold front that created a SW wind today. It was warm and sunny so I rigged a 7.0 on my 101L futura and it worked great. Their was a lot of sailors at the causeway and the gusty conditions kept it interesting. At times it seemed I should have rigged 6.0 and then it would back down some. I took some shots with the mast cam and posted them below with some others as well.
Posted by Dave Zajicek at 8:03 PM No comments:
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Sometimes I think my head is bursting with information. Other times I think I know very little ... certainly about some important parts of the world. I have read what I could about the horseshoe crabs that wash up on "my" [because it's where I walk although it's a conservation area] beach but I only know a little. I have been gathering the poor dead creatures together in bunches, it seems fitting for such a venerable species that they not lie randomly scattered on the beach. Probably that's an act of a fey old lady but it gives me satisfaction.
When I went out this morning for my walk I paused and decided not to take my camera -- of course when that's the decision I always wish I had it. Yesterday and today there were spines that I think must be from eels, they are a kind of rope of disks and lie gracefully curved on the sand. I have not seen them until yesterday and there were a couple more today. I should have taken a photo, maybe next time. Snakes scare me and these are serpentine and eels are too snaky for me to feel comfortable. But these bones have great grace and beauty, I would kind of like to bring one home but would need to wrap it in a kerchief, which I also didn't have. My ignorance is actually boundless.
Last evening after what is a forming habit, at least for the fall months, of Wednesday night dinners when Rachel and I take turns cooking for one another, we walked Molly-dog in the woods around Hathaways Pond and noticed mushrooms sprouting up all along the path. Most were gray/white but these red ones look absolutely lethal -- although I do not know how to tell except that I trust the ones in the packages in the supermarkets, some of which I will have at dinner this evening. Did I say boundless ignorance? There were LBBs at her feeder, I have to call all little brown/black birds LBBs because I don't know their names. It's humility pie for me today.
A List for Aging Wisely - It's probably happened to you sometime over the years - a computer crash leaving you without the documents you rely on every day while trying get by on an ...
21 hours ago


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It's hard to believe we've already been here for one whole week!
The house is beginning to feel like our home as we have been putting things in place. I still have a lot to do, but it's coming together. We started the week, last Sunday, with a visit from my parents. They traveled from north Louisiana to visit us here in Bentonville and to give us a hand with the unpacking. They were a lot of help. Daddy broke down all of the empty boxes and bagged up all of the paper and then drug it all out to the street to be picked up, and mother helped me inside with putting things away and decorating. It was great to have them here to keep me company too since Fletcher had to leave for the whole week!
On Monday I had the MRI at The Breast Center of Northwest Arkansas in Fayetteville and met Dr. Harms, the Radiologist. The MRI went well, not as bad as I thought it might be thanks to a couple of very caring nurses. Dr. Harms met with me afterward to discuss the results. He said there were no new spots, and the lymph nodes look good. But he thinks the MRI shows that there could be a possibility of some invasion. The diagnosis is still the same: DCIS in the right side only, with possible invasion. They won't know for sure until surgery. Dr. Harms also suggested the genetic testing for BRAC1 and BRAC2. Then, on Tuesday, I met Dr. Cross, the breast oncology surgeon. He was also very nice and spent about an hour with me explaining my options. He suggested that I wait and see about the outcome of the genetic testing before I make a final decision. I agreed, and I don't mind waiting a few weeks. This will give me time to get used to the idea and to get used to living here, and to get unpacked a little more before surgery.
Thanks to my Houston doctors: Dr. Todd Youngblood, a great Family Physician who encouraged me to have the mammogram in the first place, Dr. Rose, an excellent Radiologist at Tops Comprehensive Breast Center in Houston, and Dr. Philip Sutton, the Oncology Breast Surgeon Specialist, for setting up the appointments with the doctors here and for making phone calls on my behalf. I really do appreciate their help because it helped to make the transition from Houston to Fayetteville a little easier. They were able to get me in with the best doctors in this area, and Dr. Harms,a nationally renowned Radiologist, is probably the best in the country, and he knows Dr. Rose since they both worked together in Texas at MD Anderson. And, the icing on the cake is that Dr. Harms and Dr. Cross are both very caring doctors and just regular nice people too. On Thursday, I went to a counseling session for the genetic testing with a nurse at The Breast Center of Northwest Arkansas, and then I went over to the lab at the Diagnostic Clinic across the street to have blood drawn, and to get a baseline chest x-ray for Dr. Cross. I'm beginning to know my way around here, at least to all of the Dr. Offices! Ha!
Fletcher had a good week in Baton Rouge and came home on Friday all excited about getting started with his new position here in Bentonville with Community Coffee.
So far we really like it here, and I hope things continue to go well!
Thanks to all of our friends and family who have been praying for us through all of these changes. We really appreciate it and we are missing our Tomball friends. Thanks for all of the phone calls! We love you all!
Saturday, September 25, 2010
First Week in Arkansas "Wooooo Pig Sooie Razorbacks!"
Posted by Pam Scott at 10:44 PM
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Thursday, September 23, 2010
We Moved!
We're busy unpacking and getting settled in our new home in Arkansas!
So far we really like it here. The weather is very nice this time of year.
Posted by Pam Scott at 10:44 AM
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Monday, September 13, 2010
The Diagnosis
As a follow up to my fiftieth birthday, I felt compelled to get a regular "check-up" at the doctor. I have a wonderful doctor, and every time I've seen him for any ailment he always asks if I've had a mammogram recently. This July, when he asked me I hesitated once again, but decided it would be a good idea to get one shceduled before we move to Arkansas. So, on July 19 I had a routine mammogram. About 3 weeks later, I got a call to come back for a second mammogram. This did cause me some concern since they asked me to go to a different place this time, but I still just thought it was a follow-up because I hadn't had one in five years. On this visit after the mammogram, I was asked to go to another room where a technician wanted to do an ultra sound. Well, now I was sure they had found something to look at, but I still didn't think it would be anything significant. After the technician did the ultra sound, then entered the Radiologist (they send a "separate" bill) and he spent about 45 min. with the ultra sound. Finally he said there were a couple of places he thought should be biopsied. As I left, an appointment was made for the biopsies. I asked Fletcher to go with me to the biopsy, and I'm so glad he did. The results of the biopsy showed one tumor was positive for Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS). Since we are moving, I will still need an MRI and then some type of surgery will follow. I'll be continuing this story in Arkansas...
Posted by Pam Scott at 9:29 AM
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Labels: Doctor visits
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Dinner at Dan's
Dan invited us to a Labor Day Cookout at his new house. He has recently rented a home in Houston that he and Kim will live in together after they are married in February. Dan and Kim cooked fajitas on the grill and it was delicious!
Posted by Pam Scott at 11:31 PM
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Jennifer starts Pharmacy School!
We are so proud of Jennifer!
She has started on a path to become a Pharmacist. She is now a student at The University of Texas Pharmacy School working toward a Pharm D. in Pharmacy.
She has started on a path to become a Pharmacist. She is now a student at The University of Texas Pharmacy School working toward a Pharm D. in Pharmacy.
Posted by Pam Scott at 11:11 PM
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text:
The 30-year-old World Cup winner has two and a half years remaining on his contract with the Catalan club and is not interested in fuelling speculation that he could be on his way to AC Milan.
"I am just thinking about helping the team and winning as many titles as possible," the Italian told official club website www.fcbarcelona.com. "I have a contract here until 2010 and I feel fine at this club and don´t want to think about what might happen in the future."
Copyright (c) PA Sport 2008, All Rights Reserved.
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In an undistinguished ranch house off the main freeway of Silicon Valley, in a converted walk-in closet filled with a few hundred dollars' worth of video equipment and bookshelves and his toddler's red Elmo underfoot, is the epicenter of the educational earthquake that has captivated Gates and others. It is here that Salman Khan produces online lessons on math, science, and a range of other subjects that have made him a web sensation.
Khan Academy, with Khan as the only teacher, appears on YouTube and elsewhere and is by any measure the most popular educational site on the web. Khan's playlist of 1,630 tutorials (at last count) are now seen an average of 70,000 times a day -- nearly double the student body at Harvard and Stanford combined. Since he began his tutorials in late 2006, Khan Academy has received 18 million page views worldwide, including from the Gates progeny. Most page views come from the U.S., followed by Canada, England, Australia, and India. In any given month, Khan says, he's reached about 200,000 students. "There's no reason it shouldn't be 20 million."
Sal Khan: Bill Gates' favorite teacher by David Kaplan
David Kaplan is one of the best writers on the Irvington Parents Forum. Probably the best, as a matter of fact, and that's saying something, because there are a lot of good writers on the Forum.


text:
QLD – HENDRY building certifiers provide a complete and independent fire safety installation audit and reporting service on fire safety installations to suit clients' buildings. A fire safety installation audit enables property managers and building owners to have the assurance that their building are safe and meet their fire safety installation audit obligations under Building Fire Safety Regulations 2008 (BFSR) leading to the signing of the Annual Occupiers Statement… (more)
Building Legislation Table
Refer to our Building Legislation Table for further information on the building control process and fire safety advisors.
Further Advice
For building surveying consultancy advice please contact our closest HENDRY office by clicking here.http://www.buildingaudit.com.au/?p=2307http://www.buildingaudit.com.au/?p=2307http://www.buildingaudit.com.au/?p=2307http://www.buildingaudit.com.au/?p=2307


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Year End Resolutions – Finishing the year with purpose
So, today is December 1st.. only one more month and the year is over!!
What a crazy year… so many amazing things have happened this year, and many times full of stress as well.
So, today is December 1st.. only one more month and the year is over!!
What a crazy year… so many amazing things have happened this year, and many times full of stress as well.
So this last week I've been struggling a lot.. I've been feeling overwhelmed, behind on projects and totally exhausted.. This last year, I've been learning a lot about myself and about how to keep focused and productive while I work from home and continue to build my own business, and for some reason this last week I forgot about all that and just let life overwhelm me. Read More
The last month or so it feels like I haven't stopped.. I've been pushing really hard to continue to build my health & fitness coaching business as well as my Marketing & Consulting business. I've put some simple things into my schedule and I'm very pleased with the progress I've been able to make which is awesome.
But at the same time life still happens… Read More
It feels like I've written this blog post a hundred times already, but I haven't put the proverbial pen to paper once in the last few months. I've been working… working hard at making positive changes in my life so that I can be more present for my family, and more engaged in building my future.
So, about 2 months ago I made a decision that I need to improve my health. I sit in a chair for most of the day working on a computer. The stress of taking care of my daughter's Type 1 Diabetes is multiplied by my wife's health condition over the last 12+ months as well as me being self-employed. I found that I was gaining weight, having back pain, headaches, major stress & panic attacks.. I needed a change. Read More
It's been a while since I've written and there has been so much going on since the last time I wrote. I hope to get more frequent again and catch up with the last few months of our lives, but in the mean time I just wanted to brag about my daughter. She's my Superhero. Diabetes is a part of her life, but it's not what defines her.
I found this interview from just last week from a parent out in British Columbia. Very well spoken and communicated well the issues related to young children in schools and the importance of having proper care in order to facilitate a positive learning environment!
(Sorry the CBC embed code won't work on iPhones)
I feel bad for families who don't have medical plans, or those who live in the US where I've heard there are a lot of things that aren't covered the same way that they are here in Canada.
Today marks 1 year since Rainbow was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. So, what goes on in the life of a kid that lives with T1D? Well, the first thing we learned is that there is seldom a 'typical' day. Its a constantly changing thing and there isn't a magic formula to make sure that everything will always work the same way.
I wanted to share a little bit about the few weeks leading up to Rainbow being diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes as well as soon afterwards.
We are soon approaching the one year 'diaversary' and so we often think back on what happened. We also have had friends ask about how we found out and what symptoms she had.
Read More


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How long is now…is a phrase that is stuck in my mind as I think of the "occupy Wall street", how long will we occupy the street, just like the earth quakes in Washington, how long will we run and evacuate for safety, as the Irene sweeps our streets away…I am sick of wondering and hoping that things will be better, I just thought of my friends in Egypt and how long we stood there on the streets day and nights, my brothers and sisters in Tunisia and fleeing sisters and mothers in Libya as our fathers and sons take to the street with guns and roses….how long will we fight for true freedom? I have always said that true freedom is a true surrender…away from self.
Time is ticking every time you read a word in this note, even as you just blinked.
How long will we hope?
When we can't stand on the pedestals of our fathers to even celebrate our said freedom? We run from the fears of Apocalyptic nightmares that has become day-mares…soon we will blow ourselves away again, time is really not on our side any more…we run for safety in our armored cars and walls dreaming of nights in day time…why do we prefer darkness for protection, why hope time will change their minds?
When time is no longer on their sides, as they have changed their method too; Quantity is the idea now. I mean quantity death is important…HELL needs filling as their clock is ticking; we need to fill HELL in time…because time is no longer on our side too.
We have brought hell in time to ourselves…our fathers can't sit in the open air any more, else our children will kidnap them for a good ransom…our times have changed, time is running, this is only the beginning of the end.
I pity my children, they may not know peace, because we have sown seeds of contempt and bombs that will explode in time…
Baaaannnng !!!...
……………….We the timed claim responsibility for the BANG !!!
They started it first with all the conspiracy of humanity and the dream of a global city free of hunger and poverty, masquerading us with tales of redemption and wars fought with pen and dark interest……..all is about interest.
Close your eyes and cry, close your eyes and see…see all the trills of fashion and trend as we all run through the run way, dominating the street with our brand name, as soon as the name is mentioned, we also must change the style because our fashion sense requires constant trill and fascination, so we must constantly develop new ideas to meet the desires to look like run way figures.
I just bought a recent android phone other with my master card, before my phone arrives the phone company just announced the release of another latest design and I am one step behind again, behind the latest phone, when will I ever have the latest phone at least for a week, brand names are all competing, emulating, innovating and rebranding styles, idea, concepts and even names to keep the trill in time.
Soon cars will run with water…they say if you can see it you can have it, we have electric cars, cable cars and then the flying cars we will call them flying cars…my pity will be for the birds, as we will soon develop traffic between this cars and the birds of the skies…black light for black birds and black cars, red light for red birds and red cars, blue for blue birds and cars, finally my pity goes to the parrot with multiple colours…please stop don't imagine it.
And then comes the Ambulance…damn ! multi coloured Ambulance cars, one for the birds and the one for humans, cool ending…more bang, bang , bang and…
Bird-car-ambulance crassssssssssssssssssshhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!
God you are a cool smart guy…as you watch us help you end it.
Do we still have time?
Stop !
We are progressing at least you agree with me like my father told me in my third life;
I was UP once and created a SIDE effect on my mother's belly and will soon be DOWN inside mother earth if there is anything like mother earth?…don't pity me because this is the end of all things and all men…the question here is on which side will you be?
Like our world today.
Safety is now the most expensive commodity on the stock, everyone is selling and everyone is buying, fear is the merchant and " the afraid" is the consumer …looking across our shoulders is now fashionable, soon our airline will replace the airbags with Air " B" Proof Bags !
Someone should take my advice or leave it, after all it is free .
It is just the beginning of the end…politics is a career now, economic prophets have failed us as they couldn't interpret the writing on the wall…then came the melt down…crack down and economic depression.
So what can be predictable in our time? Safety, economy, politics, religion, fashion, style, trend, today or time?.
Maybe time…let's take all the clock in the world today and break or remove their batteries, but tomorrow will still come?…time is what is between everything from happening at the same time.
Listen…as it messes with my head…tick,tick, tick, tick tick…I will grow old and out soon…I hate the thought of this, mostly when i imagine all that my surgeon friend is doing to help me keep all the forms, like a three dimensional cubic monster…I pity my face because I will soon outgrow it, and my breast, damn ! I don't want to think about that.
Ooopps, just let the illusion continue.
My face will be like the masquerade that we chased in the village…I need some fixing before they find out !!!
My breast.
God I hate to think of it…just ignore the idea please.
And my bikini…damn, do I confuse you…my names is changed and my voice as soft as the velvet petal of the rose…he loves me so…and we now live together.
I am living my dreams in pursuit of happiness…long dreams in time, as long as I don't upset your head…and if I do Upset it then it is same idea.
Try and get me off your head, maybe to the side and possible down…it is just our time yes the age of information, imaginations, liberty and slavery.
Believe me…ignorance is freedom and knowledge is slavery…if you doubt me ask him !
Yes him ……Adam!
I am sick of sin like the devil…when will my redemption come ! where and how? I even have programmed prayers, call my phone and I will pray you one…it is not just a callers tune anymore…
today,this is how we pray, remember the advice, Pray without ceasing? So I do that when you call…I am tired of bothering myself about answers for our world…maybe you bother about that for a while, for me I am okay with the tunes.
If we all ring the prayers…maybe we will change the times and extend the time to the beginning of the beginning…and live in innocence and ignorance…because I just read the notice:
The Light at the tunnel has just been turned off!
Back to the dark age, wow maybe that is where we are heading to…oh my God, we are already there…courtesy of the power holding company of Nigeria.
Just before the Apocalyptic war…when the children of light and the children of the dark will collide on the streets of where?
Or don't you think the war has begun already…from the street of Egypt to Wall street in New York …which side are you?
The painful thing is for some of us our side has been chosen for us before the war began, and you can't change side anymore…just fight for victory for your SIDE.
Ensure your side wins or else you will go DOWN.
That is the point….Choice made Up, gives you a side and you are Down with it.
So now you are agree with me about our world today…..
Maybe that is where time is taking us all to, where everything that has been up before went down to and will go down to soon again and again…I am afraid because I have taken a Side, yes this is my side.
Choose your side or they will choose it for you…think about the end of your side, cos this is the beginning of the end.
And when the Armageddon war begins, what digit will your bear…take out 5 from 11 today, we will have 6 left…interesting?.
11-11-11 – 05-05-05 = 06-06-06…..the beginning of the end.
Digit…my phone number are digits, my ATM card digits, password digits, car code digits, door code digit, digit, digit, I see it everywhere today…where is digit taking us to?…I ask once more at the end, whose digit will you bear?
This is the beginning of the end !
We must part now part in time, to meet in time at the end of the end…for time is what is between everything from happening at once !


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This is just a post to start things off, because I have to say something. I am Maggie Stiefvater, author of a young adult urban fantasy about homicidal faeries, LAMENT (Flux '08), its sequel, BALLAD (Flux '09), and a forthcoming YA novel about werewolf nookie and first love, SHIVER (Scholastic, '09). LAMENT hit bookstores in October '08, quickly receiving 3 starred reviews from Booklist, KLIATT, and Publisher's Weekly. It is available in Barnes & Noble, indie stores, and online at Amazon. This blog mirrors my Livejournal blog, which chronicles my struggles in writing and becoming Queen of America.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Welcome & All That Rot
Posted by Maggie Stiefvater at 10:17 AM
Welcome & All That Rot
Maggie Stiefvater
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An active blogger who is living in Jerusalem for a year recently posted about her experience celebrating the Jewish holiday of Purim. In her post, she describes her experience working with the Halachic Organ Donor Society, and in reading it I learned a little about the Jewish religion's perspective on organ donation. Here's an excerpt from her post:
I chose to participate in an educational project regarding halachic organ donation. The issues are as follows: Rabbis who object to organ donation do not do so because a body must be buried whole (though some people do use this as their objection). Rather, they object because organs are usually taken from a person who is brain-stem dead but whose heart is still beating with the help of a ventilator. These Rabbis consider a beating heart to be a sign of life and therefore donating organs at this point would be killing the donor. What I did for my day of chesed (kindness) was to spread some education on the issues as well as information on famous Rabbis who do agree with organ donation. A LOT of Orthodox and Haredi Jews follow the thoughts and ideals shared by their Rabbi so closely that they refuse to deviate from their Rabbi's viewpoints. Therefore, if their Rabbi doesn't agree with the idea of organ donation then they do not agree with organ donation. Luckily, the organization I worked with, the Halachic Organ Donation Society, has great information that lists every major Rebbe who supports the organization. Also, the organization created a donor card that allows donors to choose to donate their organs at brain-stem death or after cardiac death. So, a group of us stood on the busy intersection of Emek Refaim and Rachel Immeinu to hand out information and sign people up for organ donation cards (it helped that our friend, Josh, brought his cute new puppy. Puppies are always a great engagement tool).
I will be adding a link to the lists at right to the Halachic Organ Donor Society's Web site.


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Ethical issues frequently arise in health care, according to a March 2013 article on the ANM Healthcare website, which noted quality, access, an ethical workforce, end-of-life care, and the allocation of scarce resources as major health care topics facing Americans today. A medical assistant is an unlicensed support person who must work under the direction of a licensed professional, and may encounter ethical issues related to scope of practice.
Medical Ethics
Ethical codes in health care often derive from medical ethics, which include expectations such as compassion, competency and professionalism. Other typical expectations include confidentiality, honesty, and avoidance of practices such as fraud or deceit. In some states, medical assistants are governed by a board of medicine. The American Association of Medical Assistants has published the AAMA Medical Assistant Code of Ethics, with principles that are related to both the medical profession and the practice of medical assisting.
Ethical Expectations
The AAMA Medical Assistant Code of Ethics requires medical assistants to render service with respect for a person's dignity, to keep confidential information they obtain in the course of employment, and to uphold the honor of the profession. Medical assistants are also expected to continually improve their skills and knowledge for the benefit of their patients and professional colleagues, and to participate in activities that will improve the health of the entire community. The AAMA has also developed a Medical Assistant Creed that discusses issues of effectiveness, greater service, confidentiality, dedication, loyalty, compassion, courage and faith.
State Ethics Codes
Each state regulates the practice of medical assistants, and expectations may vary from state to state. In addition to the national code of ethics, some states have also developed a code of ethics for medical assistants. In Ohio, for example, a medical assistant must not only act honestly and follow the law, but is also expected to expose illegal or unethical conduct. By contrast, Maine and Minnesota are two examples of states that follow only the national code of ethics. In the absence of specific expectations from a state, medical assistants would be expected to follow the national standard.
Ethical Issues
A medical assistant is an agent of the physician or clinic who employs her. The employment situation can create awkward situations if a medical assistant is dependent for her livelihood on an individual who might be practicing illegally or unethically. In other situations, time constraints or physician preferences may put a medical assistant in a position of being asked to do something that is outside of her scope of practice, such as renewing a medication. A medical assistant's first duty is to the patient, and she must not ignore situations that can put patients at risk.
2016 Salary Information for Medical Assistants
Medical assistants earned a median annual salary of $31,540 in 2016, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. On the low end, medical assistants earned a 25th percentile salary of $26,860, meaning 75 percent earned more than this amount. The 75th percentile salary is $37,760, meaning 25 percent earn more. In 2016, 634,400 people were employed in the U.S. as medical assistants.
References (10)
- AMN Healthcare: Five Top Ethical Issues in Healthcare
- American Medical Association: Principles of Medical Ethics
- American Association of Medical Assistants: AAMA Medical Assistant Code of Ethics
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Medical Assistants
- Ohio State Society of Medical Assistants: OSSMA Policy Handbook
- Maine State Society of Medical Assistants: Bylaws
- Minnesota Society of Medical Assistants: Bylaws
- Anthem Education: Ethical Concerns for Medical Assistants
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook: Medical Assistants
- Career Trend: Medical Assistants
Photo Credits
- Jupiterimages/liquidlibrary/Getty Images


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What's this? It's still May and Sports USA is releasing info on their 2012 NFL schedule already? That's right. It's important to know that afternoon NFL games aren't exclusive to any group. The only group that gets exclusive broadcasting rights is Dial Global Sports with Thursday, Sunday, and Monday Night Football as well as the playoffs. Any other group can enter into a contract with specific teams to broadcast some or all of their games nationally. That's why the Dallas Cowboys and Oakland Raiders have every game on Compass Media Networks. That's why Sports USA can compile a schedule this early on without having to worry about conflicts from Dial Global or Compass Media. Here's the first half of the 2012 NFL schedule on Sports USA. This will be the 11th year Sports USA has a NFL Doubleheader scheduled each Sunday.
September 9
1 PM- New England Patriots at Tennessee Titans
4 PM- Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals
September 16
1 PM- New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers
4 PM- New York Jets at Pittsburgh Steelers
September 23
1 PM- St. Louis Rams at Chicago Bears
4 PM- Philadelphia Eagles at Arizona Cardinals
September 30
1 PM- Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions
4 PM- New Orleans Saints at Green Bay Packers
October 7
1 PM- Cleveland Browns at New York Giants
4 PM- Seattle Seahawks at Carolina Panthers
October 14
1 PM- Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns
4 PM- New England Patriots at Seattle Seahawks
October 21
4 PM- New York Jets at New England Patriots
October 28
1 PM- New England Patriots vs. St. Louis Rams from London
Weeks 9-17 will be announced 2 to 3 weeks in advance.


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Week 2: Breakfast at Happy Donuts
Week 3: Sundaes at Dairy Queen on the way home from the zoo
Week 4: Lincoln Park
Another fun ride we tried was like the teacups at Disneyland. I was really surprised the boys wanted to go on it, but even though we got turning really fast, they still wanted to go a second time. Oh, and one of my personal favorite things about Remlinger Farms was the livestock. There was a sheep there that sounded like a human. It was like a human shouting "BAA!" So funny!
Up close and personal with the puffins at Pt. Defiance Zoo and Aquarium.
Playing with some Russian-speaking kids at Lincoln Park in Tacoma.


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That evening, Mommy played with Juan Or after bringing him back from the babysitter's house. What was the game? It was a game of hitting the wind chime. The wind chime was hung high up on the beam of the ceiling. And Mommy knows that Juan Or loves to hear the sound of the wind chime. A fretful Juan Or can easily be pacified by merely hearing the sound of the wind chime. So Mommy used a back-scratcher stick to hit the windchime. After demonstrating how it was done, Mommy gave Juan Or the back-scratcher stick for Juan Or to hit the wind chime. Mommy thought this was good practice for Juan Or to improve his hand-eye coordination. First few hits were not accurate, so Mommy held Juan Or's hand to hit directly on the wind chime. After that, Juan Or tried himself and finally he hit the target. Then Juan Or started waving the back-scratcher stick wildly and the next thing Mommy knew was that the stick entered from the top corner of the gap between Mommy's spectacles and right eye and it hit right onto Mommy's eye!
(The back-scratcher stick and the wind chime.)
Mommy quickly snatched the stick from Juan Or, put him down and inspected the eye. No blood shot eye. Image was still clear. But blinking the eye caused a sensation like that of having something stuck in the eye. This sensation went on the whole night through. Mommy's right eyelid swelled and became teary and watery and a bit red too. Mommy's right nostril became blocked and runny as well because of the tears that flowed into the nose. Mommy just can't help closing the right eye because keeping it open would require Mommy to blink the eye which results in the irritating sensation. And yet keeping one eye open and one eye close is tiring. So what other better thing to do than to just go to sleep and hope the swelling subsides the next day. Anyway, by then, Juan Or was already asleep, so Mommy went to sleep too.
(Oww.....can't help closing the eyes!)
After paying for the medical fee (RM35), Father-in-law and Mommy left the clinic. Back at home, Mommy applied the eyedrop and slept a lot – because the eyes felt better to be closed. Mommy can't do much reading. Even at this time that Mommy is typing this posting, Mommy's right eye has to close and from time to time, Mommy has to close both eyes to rest. Mommy's right eye is wet all the time now because tears just flow uncontrollably. Mommy hopes things will be better by tomorrow.


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If you are slightly overweight or if your body fat measurements are too high, you can actually increase the appearance of your body height and attain your ideal weight with lengthening and posture exercises, combined with a body fat diet. With the right mix of exercises, diet, and patience, you can achieve the lean body of your dreams. Plus, the benefits of good posture go beyond looking lean and tall. Good posture also improves your breathing, digestion, and energy.
Sitting up straight and standing tall will make you appear and feel more height-weight proportionate. Here are a few exercises that will help you improve your posture for a taller, leaner look.
Rowing With Weights
This exercise will work your shoulders and your back, making them stronger for sitting and standing up straight. This exercise will help you minimize slouching.
- Sit on a stability ball with your feet flat on the floor and both knees bent. Your spine and neck should be straight and perpendicular to the floor.
- Hold a 5-pound weight in each hand with your palms facing in and your elbows bent at 90 degree angles.
- As you squeeze your shoulder blades together, row the weights to your sides. Row for as long as it is comfortable for you.
Spinal Stretch
This spinal stretch will help you elongate your spine by relieving it of compression from the weight of your head. This exercise will help you improve posture within a few weeks.
- Lie on your back on a mat with your feet flat on the floor with your knees bent.
- Lay your head on a pillow, and focus on lengthening your spine as you let your body sink into your mat.
- Support your head with a small pillow and, with your eyes open, let your body sink into the mat as you focus on lengthening your spine. Breathe deeply while you concentrate on lengthening your spine for twenty minutes.
Pilates Thigh Lifts
These Pilates thigh lifts will help you lengthen your thigh muscles.
- First, lay on one side with your whole body in a straight line.
- Lift your head and bend your lower arm with your elbow on the ground your hand raised to support your head.
- Lift your top leg, bend your knee, and bring your leg forward while placing your foot on the ground in front of your bottom hip with your toes pointing forward.
- Wrap your top hand around your leg and grasp ankle.
- Then lift your bottom leg a few inches off the floor, and lower it after a breath.
Repeat this exercise four times on each side.
Prayer Pose
The popular prayer pose will strengthen your spine and neck as it stretches your spine, arms, shoulders, and hamstrings.
- Rest on all fours on your mat with your knees and feet spaced about one foot apart.
- Pull your torso back so your hip bones rest on your thigh.
- Then slowly walk your hands forward with your palms on your mat, until your forehead rests on the mat.
- Lengthen your spine and rise your pelvis as you stretch.


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Subversive Stitchers: Women Armed with Needles novel forthcoming -- sometime
By Dawn Goldsmith
© Dawn Goldsmith 2009
I have these women running wild. They are brandishing vicious weapons and demanding that I write their story – or else! But they keep morphing. One minute there's Rita with a biker babe background, no wait, she's a war widow. No, no that's not right, she's a small town woman harboring a painful secret. She won't hold still long enough for me to write about her! And then there's Claire – is she or is she not having an affair with the college president?
Characters! How do I get them to talk to me, to tell me their stories, to help me write it and make a gazillion dollars?
Several well-established, respected, successful (monied) writers seem to face that same hand-to-combat each time they sit down to start a new novel. Mary Higgins Clark has been known to say that everyone just backs off and stays out of her way when she's starting a new book. They know what kind of funk and frustration she'll sink into. Others mention stomping around their office lamenting, "What ever made me think I'm a writer?"
Eventually it comes together. And the advice that results: Persevere. Those of us who have not followed that advice are still working on the same novel two, ten, my goodness – thirty years later!
Once upon a time I knew my life's path. It came into focus with a life-changing jolt when a mystery magazine assigned me a book to review. A mystery, fourth in a series new to me, but evidently well received. The premise and protagonist seemed a bit whacky, but from the first page it felt so familiar.
I don't mean that I had read this author's work before. No. It felt like she was writing about my life.
In this novel the author described my youngest son, used his name, placed him in his favorite situation and that was just the opening scene. The book is set in an agrarian setting (much like my home town) with a heroine who is a farmer and a biker. The author graduated from a Mennonite college -- like my husband. And the author as well as her protagonist sound remarkably like a former editor from my home region, who was also Mennonite and affiliated with bikers during her adventurous life. Even the author's disease of choice hit close to home.
When I perused the author's webpage, I saw an interview conducted by my personal hero and former colleague at the newspaper where I worked and first grew into the title: writer. The author presides over a writing group in the heart of my old stomping grounds surrounded by local writers with whom I had attended writing meetings back when I lived in the land where I belonged.
And she's doing readings in my favorite libraries in my home landscape.
Is this what happens when we don't take advantage of opportunity when it presents itself? Was it simply fear that diverted me from my true destiny? When we don't follow through on the ideas we start to turn into novels and never complete -- someone else does it?
In my stash of unfinished fiction lies a biker story, several farm-related stories, a potential serial, a romance, a mystery or two, some based on my son's heavy metal experiences – not unlike the opening scene of the assigned novel. And all of them are four to six chapters long. That seems to be the time when the doldrums hit and I lose the momentum to finish a novel.
I'm not saying she has done anything wrong. Not at all. I'm just saying -- she's living my life.
She's living my life! Or at least the life I expected to live in the location where I expected to grow old.
I sent this author a couple of emails and I imagine by now she thinks I'm a stalker or feels threatened or is thinking lawsuit. Nope. Nope. Nope. I am amazed at the synchonicity, the déjà vu feeling of seeing work so familiar coming from another hand, another mind.
I am dazed and shocked and suddenly aware of how far from my expected life I have wandered. Talk about the butterfly effect and Freaky Friday.
Maybe it is time I at least finished those novels I started. See if maybe I can recoup a bit of my life before the fates hand her my story ideas, too. But if I write about characters based on my own family and experiences -- will it sound like I'm copying her?
The universe is shrinking and we are all connected. Now I'm wondering just how connected are we?
By the way, her novel is great. I think mine would be better -- but the funny thing is -- publishers don't sell unfinished novels.
For now I plug away at trapping the girls in my office each morning and then when they escape, turn to writing my book reviews and blogs. If anyone would care to contribute to my Observations http://www.wordsogold.blogspot.com/ which focuses on writing, writers, books, wannabes and great advice and inspiration, please let me know. The same for my other blog, what else: Subversive Stitchers: Women Armed with Needles http://www.subversivestitch.blogspot.com/ Between the reviews, blogs, and wrestling matches, I also write personal essays and articles for a variety of publications including The Washington Post, Christian Science Monitor, Notre Dame Magazine, NBC News, and Better Nutrition.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Guest Blogger Dawn Goldsmith
3 comments:
- Ann Hite said...
bravo! Boy did you nail that one. I will print this out and place it above my desk. Good work. I look forward to reading more.
- September 24, 2009 at 12:00 PM
- Dawn said...
Ahhhh Ann, you make me blush. :) Thanks for your kind words.
- September 24, 2009 at 12:08 PM
- Laura Krasinski said...
Dawn, this is great... you are a awesome writer... and I do agree.. the world is getting smaller and smaller.. it is kind of scary isn't it? I loved being a guest blogger.. thank you again for that opportunity...
- September 26, 2009 at 6:19 PM
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Last night was TPA's spring sports ceremony, and can you guess who got high school MVP for softball?
We were so surprised, and Alexa was honored to be chosen for this recognition. Her team had a great season, turning their record around from 5-12 last year {their first year moving up to 2A} to 12-6 this season, ranking them 2nd in our region and 11th heading into state. They even made it two games into the state tournament, losing their last game 11-10.
They have all worked so hard, their school's motto "work works" is so true for them. When you attend a school focused on academics, housed in an old church, with no fields, no gym, no facilities at all, you really have to work hard as a team. They practice at a public park and have no "home field" for home games. These girls are amazing, as are their coaches. 5 of our girls {including Alexa} were voted into first team all region, and our head coach got coach of the year. The Arizona Republic wrote a fabulous article about them for these reasons. Work works!
Coach Byant had some really nice things to say about why they chose Alexa for MVP, citing her dedication, hard work and improvement, leadership, positive attitude, and not least her great stats. She was in the top 3 players for her stats (batting averages, RBIs, etc.).
{Alexa with her MVP award and all region award}
I am so {irrationally brimming with tears}proud of this girl!


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Thursday, March 10, 2011
Random Thought Thursday
If you have only one smile in you, give it to the people you love. Don't be surly at home, then go out in the street grinning "good morning" to total strangers.
Isn't this something we are all guilty of? Why is that? Would we be embarrassed if we weren't polite in public? Or is it that we are comfortable enough in our own homes to let the ugly out? Have you snarled at family and smiled at strangers?
I have.
Let us resolve to give those smiles to our dear ones. They deserve them, particularly when we've snarled at them.
19 comments:
Oh yes, I am so guilty of this. And what makes it worse is I recently snarled and growled at my dear Dad who, since he had another stroke in late Nov last year, is physically as well as mentally disbaled (as little as two years ago, he was still so strong and charismatic, it breaks my heart to see him like this). I felt like the worst kind of worm afterwards, because he gets so upset and anxious if we get cross with him; he's so frail now and all I want to do is surround him with love, but those snarls can take the place of smiles so easily when you're with those you love. Somehow it seems safer to snarl at a loved one rather than a stranger, and yet, as this quote reminds us, it's our dear loved ones that we should be saving our smiles for.ReplyDelete
Judy (South Africa)
Wow. That's an interesting observation. Of course, it would be best if we didn't take frustration out on anyone else--loved one or stranger. I'm guilty of both, at times.ReplyDelete
Ain't that the truth. Thanks for the reminder.ReplyDelete
Huh...true. Very guilty of this, myself. I think it's because part of my job is to be friendly to strangers when I'd rather not in some cases. Pent up hostility. Not that it's an excuse by any means. Especially when I have such a wonderful hubby who takes my crap ;) Ah well. This has given me a mission today, that I will hopefully build on. Be nice to the hubs, be surly to strangers ;)ReplyDelete
This is a great reminder, Bish. Sometimes we take advantage of those closest to us.ReplyDelete
Very true, sadly. This is on my son's kindergarten teacher's email signature. Advice we all need to take.ReplyDelete
Happy Thursday!
This is so true. I grew up with a lot of surly at home, so I make a point of being polite and friendly with my own growing family now.ReplyDelete
smile, though your heart is breaking...Isn't that a song? Anyway, smiling and getting a smile in return is a good reminder. Thanks! susanReplyDelete
So good. What a great quote and reminder.ReplyDelete
So true. We can be the hardest on those we are closest to. If we're more smiley with those we love, chances are we'll be more kind to strangers.ReplyDelete
Good for your son's teacher, Corinne. We need people like her.ReplyDelete
Susan, that is an old song, I think it was written as a tribute to Charlie Chaplan.
Christina, we all need to be reminded once in a while. I know I do.
I think you are absolutely right, Cynthia.
I am completely guilty of this. I think it's a comfort issue: we're comfortable enough with the people we love and trust to be ourselves with them, reveal how we really feel - with strangers, we're simply polite, hiding our feelings. In a way I think this is a good thing, but I do agree: we should smile at our loved ones more!ReplyDelete
New follower here! Stumbled upon your blog through the A-Z challenge. Love it!. Have to say I'm guilty of the opposite--I'm nicer to loved ones than I am to strangers. Sometimes, i can be downright rude to co-workers. sigh. i guess it's all about balance, eh?ReplyDelete
Thanks for stopping by Sangu. And you may be right about comfort.ReplyDelete
Glad you found me nutschell!
You've said it exactly right. It's so strange that we often let out our dark side with family, the look bright and sparkly with strangers. Guess we figure our family will always take us back.ReplyDelete
Great quote. That's really something to think about.ReplyDelete
That is a great quote.ReplyDelete
I'd like to say I never do this, but the truth is that I probably do -- even if 1) THEY usually start it! ;o) -- and 2) there are just so many times you can pick up people's socks before you snap.
But I will remind myself anyway!
I love anything Maya Angelou!ReplyDelete
This was a great reminder, especially when teenagers say things like, "It's your car, but since I'm driving, I get to choose the speed..."
I'll remind myself of this during those times.
What a great reminder, Bish. I never want to take those close to me for granted ever. But I bet I do. I think I'll apologize tonight. Still in bed just came into my office to try and catch up a little. (((hugs)))ReplyDelete


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GMA is heartless, cruel and insensitive. In continuing with her US trip, it shows that GMA gives more importance to meeting Bush and likewise conitnuing her junket tour with her minions rather than attend to the grieving families of those killed in the sinking of Princess of the Stars and other victims of typhoon "Frank". She chose to bask in royalty during this particular trip in the United States and enjoys it so much while the whole nation weeps and grieves. To borrow the words of Sen. Ernie Maceda, "Truly GMA and her cohorts, the Cabinet, the 56 Congressmen and everyone in the junket are modern day Neros."
Para kay GMA at sa mga tutang kongresista na bitbit nito, mas importante pa na kanilang hanapin si Obama o McCain, makita ang laban ni Pacquiao, kaysa hanapin at makita ang mga nawawalang pasahero ng lumubog na barko. Balewala sa kanila ang hirap ng damdamin na dinadanas ng mga kamag-anak ng mga pasahero, dahil wala silang kikitain sa mga ito.
My heart bleeds to those who have perished during the typhoon and all those killed in the sinking of the Princess of the Stars. I join our grieving nation in praying for their souls.
JV Ejercito


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Wishes are an integral part of celebrations. You wish your loved ones with special gifts and gestures on their special day. This exclusive bouquet of 4 Red, 4 Yellow and 4 White Roses are perfect to wish your loved ones with good luck, happiness and prosperity.
Hurray!! Free Delivery
Regular Delivery:- Delivery Charges Rs.
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Important instructions:- If occasion is on 13th March please select 12 March as desired date of delivery


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Remember when everyone hated Alex Rodriguez? Apparently not anymore bitches...
Anyway... quick nugget about Alex and his work ethic. It's sick... we know that already. He just tweeted this photo of him already training and getting ready for the 2016 season.
Training for 2016 - looking forward to the new year. pic.twitter.com/ny7z7UbOLP
— Alex Rodriguez (@AROD) December 22, 2015
I'm impressed.
Carry on.
You've made BYB the fastest growing Yankees fan site in history. Now shop at the Bleeding Yankee Blue store! Follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and LIKE Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook! Also, don't forget to check out the BYB Hub!


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Since Wiki deleted my blog posts. I'm going to move some of my Posts and Segments to each My blog thought out the wikis.
Reveiws (Depending on the topic)
So yeah thank you all for you comments, and I hope I'd get comments over at the other wikis.Cb13/ZeroX 19:11, January 13, 2011 (UTC)Read more >
Hello world, I'm Cb13 I just started my blog so I'll be updating some of the my top 10 or any critic saggment. So check in any time
Coming Soon: Top 10 Evilest Villains in Gaming
October 8, 2010 by Cb13Read more >


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Today I introduce you to the beautiful Rachel…and her family. They are all gorgeous! And thanks to Rachel she makes me pretty too (she cuts my hair!)
We shot some fun family photos today out in Catoosa off of the famous Route 66 at the Blue Whale. This spot used to be a happening swimming hole, but now it is reserved for tourists and well me, and my people.
I cropped the photo because I was having a hard time getting the color back in the whale. I'm afraid I may have blown the whale. But I'm going to keep working on it. I just had to share their beautiful faces!
*again, please click on photos to see better image quality.


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Saturday, October 9, 2010
Google Hacking Diggity Project
The Google Hacking Diggity Project is a research and development initiative dedicated to investigating the latest techniques that leverage search engines, such as Google and Bing, to quickly identify vulnerable systems and sensitive data in corporate networks. The project page contains downloads and links to our latest Google Hacking research and free security tools. Defensive strategies are also introduced, including innovative solutions that use Google Alerts to monitor your network and systems.
Download tools and more details: http://www.stachliu.com
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Though the sales of TICKER are still modest, I thought I would add the sales widget from NovelRank.com to help people easily track sales of my first novella.
So TICKER went live on April 8 and as of April 25, I have 13 sales. I seem to get sales in clusters over the weekend. I'm optimistic that sales will increase as I learn how to promote my writing.


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Big HugsMay 19, 2008 12:10 PM
I already posted the photo from this layout a few days ago, but I thought I'd share the layout anyway. Digital scrapbooking supplies from Meredith Fenwick "Baby Mine" collection. Click on layout to see larger version.
Artist, Photographer, Genealogist, Yarn Wrangler, Avid Reader and Apple Fangirl.


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This is available to buy in Elizabeth's Etsy store here as her blog shop is closed right now and currently Elizabeth is working on some wonderful new stuff for you all - so watchout for the re-opening coming soon!! Remember also that these are the last few days of Elizabeth's sale so if you are missing any Softpencil images now is the time to buy them before they are gone for good.
So here is the card I made with this image:
Die Cut Dreams and you will see that I have attempted to brayer the background to make it look like the moon is shining across the middle - not sure if it has worked but it was my first attempt - practice makes perfect eh??
Crafty Ribbons and the flowers and pearl stems are from my stash.
I hope you stop by the rest of the Design Team blogs and see what fabulous creations they have to show you - I know you will love them just as much as I do!
Thanks for stopping by.


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Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Kudos to Charles Barkley
As part of a cancer awareness effort, Charles Barkley is going to go one step further than this blog and have his colonoscopy televised. Folks, I realize that these procedures aren't the happiest moments of one's life, but they are not nearly as bad as you fear, and they're a lot less nasty than colon cancer or living with a colostomy bag for the rest of your life. If it's time for your colonoscopy, sure, go in with open eyes, make sure you understand the issues with the sedation you may be given, but don't miss out on something that may very well save your life.
Posted by Joe at 11:23 AM 1 comment: Links to this post
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Like a delicious camembert with honey, the film Visages Villages (Faces Places) was definitely cheesy but pleasantly sweet at the same time. We follow the unlikely duo of director Agnès Varda and artist JR, as they travel throughout France, capturing the faces of those they encounter. The project all began in 2015, when Agnès and JR decided to collaborate on the film because of their mutual admiration of each other's work and their common appreciation of imagery. Agnès' experience and talent in filmmaking combined with JR's artistic eye and vibrant personality created a limitless canvas that spanned across France. It is the element of humanity which gives this film its essence, but it is the strong characters that give it personality.
The director, Agnès Varda has been making films since 1955, when she released her first film, La Pointe Courte. Throughout her career, in addition to directing, she has acted, produced, narrated, written, and edited countless films and received many awards. In 2017, it was announced that she will receive an Academy Honorary Award for her contributions to cinema and in 2015 she was awarded the honorary Palme D'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. At the age of 89 years, she has said that Visages Villages will be her last film and the conclusion to her remarkable career in cinema.
JR is a well-known French street artist that is known for his open air galleries that he installs wherever he deems fit. His work had been exhibited around the world, most recently between the boarder to Mexico and USA. This most recent installation, which is visible from the US side of the border, is a photo of one year old boy who is curiously looking over the wall. This political piece begs the question, what is the future of our world and of our children. The placement of JR's photography is as important as the photos themselves, and he is very meticulous in his selection and was quoted for saying, "Some people dream about fantasy worlds, I dream about walls." His creativity, talent and unwavering passion have gained recognition world-wide, as he continues to pursue his mission of creating perspective.
Agnès and JR's journey was inspired by the desire to meet the individuals that serve as the unseen pillars of their society. In the introduction to the idea, Agnès explains that she simply desires to see more faces and profit in the time she has left in this world. JR was driven by his desire to develop his artistic mission in addition to his love of meeting new personalities. Therefore, JR and Agnès set out to meet and capture the faces of the people that they met along the route. The unscripted itinerary and spur of the moment decisions bring the duo to unlikely places where they meet a variety of personalities. Throughout their journey, they cross paths with some interesting individuals, listen to their stores, learn of their experiences and capture them in the moment. With help from the camera booth, which is built into their truck, they travel and paste the photographs of individuals that inspire them upon barns, walls, fences, buildings, ruins and many other surfaces that accent the personality of the individual.
Following the artistic pair around France is a pleasant journey that encompasses art, history, humanity, life, loss and love. We are reminded throughout the film that we all travel a path and it is easy to lose sight of others as they travel on parallel or intersecting trails. We must step back and notice the beauty and individuals around us.


text: ELKHART - Joan M. Patanelli, 89, died at 12:45 a.m. Thursday. Survivors include two sisters, Helen Ferro and Dolores Patanelli, both of Elkhart; and a brother, Michael Patanelli of Edwardsburg. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in St. Vincent DePaul Catholic Church. Friends may call from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday in Stemm-Lawson-Peterson Funeral Home, where a vigil service will be at 3:30 p.m.


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Where have I been?! Sometimes it feels like it's been a few days since my last post, and then I look at the last date and realize it's been an entire month! Here's what happened. I'm a baker. It was Thanksgiving. There you have it! Next time you guys go to a bakery for your wonderful holiday treats, take a second to give a shout out to the bakers/ front workers/ owners, of that establishment. They (we) give your treats 100% of their (our) time and effort, and enjoy every second of it! However, it does make time fly and seemingly get away from doing things like updating our incredibly important blogs that tons and tons of people read. Right?
After a holiday of feasting and gathering, most people go for the salad and water for their upcoming meals. Me? I go for the pasta and leftovers. Here's the recipe I promised you in my last post, the rosemary pasta which would be AWESOME in any holiday meal. Think about it for December... Everyone will say, "you made your own pasta?! Ooo!". Just like that.
Here we go!
Homemade Rosemary Taglietelle
6 servings for normal people. 4 for my family.
1 cup cake flour
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 large egg yolks
1 1/2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup water
Making your own pasta is super simple, but it does take a bit of know how. Pasta is generally made with 00 flour, which can be difficult to find. I subbed in cake flour for it's lighter gluten content and softer texture. Put the flours and salt together in a mound on a clean kitchen surface, and with your fingers make a well in the center. Crack the yolks, water, rosemary, and oil in the center of the well. With a fork, vigorously mix until flour starts to fall in from the sides and thicken. Then knead the dough until it is smooth and elastic in consistency, about 10 minutes. Wrap the finished dough in plastic wrap and leave it at room temperature for an hour until you're ready to roll it.
Rolling is my favorite part, because I feel like I'm 5 years old again rolling out my play-dough pasta sheets. It's different though I guess...because you can actually eat it. Form the rested dough into a rectangle and set your pasta roller to the thickest setting. Pass your dough through the rollers 2 times before folding the sheets and setting it through 1 more time. Now you can start to set the rollers thinner and thinner, passing the dough sheets through about 2 times on each setting. I like to take mine to the thinnest setting, but that's up to you. Once you have very long sheets of pasta, fold the dough from the longest sides into a cinnamon roll shape, and gently slice the pasta into long thin noodles, each about 1/4 inch wide.
These cook super fast, about 4 minutes or so. This dish is delicious with my chicken marsala, but give it a try with something like brown butter sauce, or with your family's secret bolognese recipe.


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Milojevic Stays Perfect in 2013, Flink Takes Girls Title at ITF Grade 1 Coffee Bowl
Serbia's Nikola Milojevic ran his 2013 ITF junior record to 12-0 today, defeating unseeded Tommy Mylnikov of Canada 7-5, 6-2 in the final of the ITF Grade 1 Coffee Bowl in Costa Rica. The 17-year-old top seed won last week's Grade A in Mexico City, so he is definitely one of the in-form players heading into the Australian Open Junior Championships in two weeks.
Mylnikov, who trains at the IMG Bollettieri Academy in Bradenton, had one of his best tournaments since winning the Eddie Herr 16s in 2011, beating No. 5 seed Lucas Gomez, No. 10 seed Naoki Nakagawa, No. 3 seed Clement Geens, all in straight sets, before falling to Milojevic.
The difference in the match, which was streamed live, was Milojevic's play on the big points. Mylnikov didn't back off or play tentatively, but he wasn't able to hit his forehand for winners when he really needed them.
Every year I write about how different this tournament is from most other junior tournaments, with huge crowds, many sponsors, TV interviews--the champions even autographed a camera lens as is the professional custom. This year, even though the finals were played Sunday afternoon rather than Saturday night, the atmosphere was still amazing. Contrast that with the sparse number of spectators the TV cameras showed in the Doha and Hobart professional events, and you can't help but be impressed by the interest in this level of tennis.
The girls final, played earlier in the day, saw 16-year-old Russian Varvara Flink claim her first Grade 1 title, beating 15-year-old Veronika Kudermetova, also of Russia, 206, 7-6(2), 6-2. Flink, the No. 6 seed, was able to overcome some frustrating double faults to get the victory over the No. 4 seed. Flink avenged her Orange Bowl loss to Christina Makarova of the US, the No. 1 seed, 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the quarterfinals.
The Coffee Bowl usually produces good results for Americans--last year all four finalists in singles were from the US--but that didn't hold true this year. Makarova was the only girls quarterfinalist after 7 reached the round of 16, and unseeded Justin Butsch was the only boys quarterfinalist from the US.
The US did have some success in doubles, but both Makarova and Luca Corinteli fell short in the finals. Makarova and Kudermetova, the No. 1 seeds, lost to the No. 4 seeds from Mexico, Alejandra Cisneros and Victoria Rodriguez, 6-3, 3-6, 10-8. Corinteli and Jordi Arconada of Argentina, who were unseeded, lost in the final to top seeds Franko Miocic of Croatia and Guillermo Nunez of Chile 6-3, 6-1.
There is another Grade 1 this coming week in Venezuela, the Copa Gatorade, and with the Australian Grade 1 in Traralgon beginning next Saturday, the field is not a strong one. Makarova, who last year went from Venezuela to the Australian Junior Championships without playing the Grade 1 in Traralgon, is on the entry list, one of only three US girls in the draw. Katrine Steffensen and Usue Arconada are the other two. Luca Corinteli, Jared Donaldson, Justin Butsch and Javier Restrepo are the only US boys entered.
One player on the entry list who may not end up competing is Valerie Patiuk of Israel, who has been unable to obtain a visa. Venezuela and Israel have no diplomatic relations, and denial of her visa appears to be based solely on her nationality. For more on this unfortunate story, see the Israel Tennis Results blog.


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1 day ago
Saturday, December 1, 2012
36 Weeks!
Posted by Chris Salley at 4:16 PM
Labels: BABY
4 comments:
- Wendy said...
You are ready. You are everything the baby needs, even if your swaddling sucks. You are going to be perfect.
- December 1, 2012 at 5:11 PM
- Jenny Hershey said...
if you're going to nurse, it is possible to do so lying down. also good to know for 3am. snuggling with a baby rocks!
- December 1, 2012 at 7:24 PM
jenny is right. nurse lying down. just make sure you get them into a co-sleeper.I know you'll do so well, chris.
- December 2, 2012 at 2:13 PM
- Alex said...
i agree with all of the above-- you'll be great, and northside is full of friends who would love to help you on your new mom crazy days. :)
- December 3, 2012 at 10:33 AM
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Thursday, March 25, 2010
Domestic Terrorism: Sarah Palin Puts Democrats in the Crosshairs, Tells People to "Reload"
Ex-Governor (and currently holding no elected office) Sarah Palin crossed the line yesterday with a post on her Twitter account that said "Commonsense Conservatives & lovers of America: "Don't Retreat, Instead - RELOAD!" Pls see my Facebook page." Her Facebook page then goes on to encourage those unhappy with the recent passing of health care reform to "...not get discouraged. Don't get demoralized. Get organized!"
She goes on to express the desire to " "reclaim the power of the people from those who disregarded the will of the people. We're going to fire them and send them back to the private sector" …" commenting that when they join the ranks of the unemployed, maybe they will understand. But Palin also goes on to show a chart from Sarahpac.com listing specific democrats that she wants to target, and the chart has crosshairs – literally - on their congressional locations. With the all the references to guns – the crosshairs, the "reload" comment, and other words in her message such as "aim" and "salvo" – it is frightening in its blatant attempt to incite violence. She goes on to list them by name as follows, which reads like a proverbial "hit" list:
We're paying particular attention to those House members who voted in favor of Obamacare and represent districts that Senator John McCain and I carried during the 2008 election. Three of these House members are retiring – from Arkansas's 2nd district, Indiana's 8th district, and Tennessee's 6th district – but we'll be working to make sure that those who replace them are Commonsense Conservatives. The others are running for re-election, and we're going to hold them accountable for this disastrous Obamacare vote. They are: Ann Kirkpatrick (AZ-1), Harry E. Mitchell (AZ-5), Gabrielle Giffords (AZ-8), John Salazar (CO-3), Betsy Markey (CO-4). Allen Boyd (FL-2), Suzanne M. Kosmas (FL-24), Baron P. Hill (IN-9), Earl Pomeroy (ND-AL), Charlie Wilson (OH-6), John Boccieri (OH-16), Kathy Dahlkemper (PA-3), Christopher Carney (PA-10), John M. Spratt, Jr. (SC-5), Tom Perriello (VA-5), Alan B. Mollohan (WV-1), and Nick J. Rahall II (WV-3).
While I understand that all Americans – even those that aren't particularly smart – have the right to free speech, that does not mean they have the right to incite hate or violence. Sarah's message, while it may seem innocent at face value, almost seems like it was written in "code" with key words, as if she is hoping someone will take her up on the subliminal intent and make it real. Let's be honest here, if some "normal" person made threats like Sarah Palin has done here, the FBI would be knocking on their door. Her not-so-subtle suggestions and threats are alarming and I think that not only should the FBI consider her words as real threats, but should also make an effort to make sure that the people on her list get protection.
I am greatly concerned with the amount and level of vitriol coming out of the Republican Party, which has only gotten more frequent and more caustic with the passing of the health care reform. It seems that some members of the Republican Party are only happy with the way our government works when it works to the advantage of the Republican Party alone. Party officials need to reign in - or jettison – those party extremists that are acting more like petulant, spoiled children who are having a tantrum because they didn't get their way. Maybe for starters, Ohio voters should make sure that when Republican Leader John Boehner (R-West Chester) comes up for re-election that he is voted out of office. But, in the meantime, someone with real authority in the party should come out with a clear statement that they do not condone violence as a solution to any political disagreement. If Sarah Palin can't remove or retract her hit list, then I expect the party to distance themselves from her. At the least, I hope the FBI comes knocking on her door for her apparent threats of violence against our elected officials. Domestic terrorism, no matter what form, cannot be tolerated.
Update January 9, 2010 - In light of the recent shooting of Congresswoman Giffords and the killing and wounding of several others at that same political event, I have have more commentary on this topic which can be found at this link: "Sarah Palin's "Target" List: Incited Murder, or Unfortunate Coincidence?"
Check out my blog home page for the latest information, The Frequent Critic, here.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Health Care Reform: Critical
While I am not thrilled that passing the legislation for health care reform will mean money out of my pocket in some shape or form, I also believe that the money to cover those who are currently uninsured is already coming out of my pocket in some shape or form.
The current proposed plan is not perfect, but if we continue to wait for the perfect plan, we will be waiting another eternity. It is painfully obvious that our elected representatives still want to play political games. They appear more interested in fighting for their own turf, or their own glory, or for covering their own behinds, instead of looking out for the needs of the people they represent.
Too many people in this country are being denied medical coverage because they either can't afford it or worse yet, because of insurance company loopholes. It's time to allow people to enjoy their right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness by making sure that they have the means to protect their health - and their lives.
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The Frequent Critic, here.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Who Is Destroying Cleveland's Catholic Churches?
The problem with the Cleveland Catholic Diocese is caused by more than one thing. Many people aren't as disciplined about going to church any more, and that in itself has multiple causes. Most adults have to work, and spending time every Sunday at Mass can be a drain if you spend all a lot of energy on the job during the week, and you have to play catch up with everything else over the weekend. When I was growing up, most families had a stay at home mom, who took care of the kids and other things during the week, so spending time for church on Sunday wasn't an issue. There are also many people like me who were raised Catholic but have long since lost the need for the structure and ritual of the church to remind them how to behave.
St. Procops, Cleveland Ohio West Side (Now closed)
In Cleveland, however, the issue is compounded by many Clevelanders fleeing to the suburbs in droves, something that started in the early 1960s and continued at a faster rate each year. Anyone who could afford to get out of the inner city got out, and over time, this left many churches without sustainable parishes. But this is not a new problem.
Everyone understands these factors, and everyone understands that a parish and church building cannot be financially sustained without money from parishioners. And this is where the Cleveland Catholic Diocese took a left turn. Rather than close churches as they became financially unstable over a period of several years, they allowed many to stay open. Bring in a new Bishop - Richard Lennon – who appears to be the designated hatchet man - to cut loose those parishes that cannot sustain themselves in one fell swoop.
Bishop Lennon, however, completely botched the execution of his church consolidation plan. He established "clusters" of parishes - usually parishes within close proximity - and had representatives from each church in each cluster put their heads together to decide which churches in their group stayed open, and which ones had to close. It sounds very nice on paper – you know, letting the people decide their own fate. Things were tough but seemed to be working out OK as each parish submitted their recommendations. The problem arose when Bishop Lennon ignored virtually every recommendation and closed very popular parishes, some which were not even losing any money, and some which also provided services to the community such as housing for the homeless and/or food for those who needed it. Adding insult to injury, some of the churches being closed by Bishop Lennon were some of the finest churches in the area, with not only stunning structures, but some of the finest religious art work and artifacts in the area. Many of those things are up for auction on an Internet web site, causing outrage with parishioners whose parents, grandparents, and great grandparents paid for those things out of their own donations to the church, in some case going back over 100 years, and when money was very tight. There is doubt that any of that money from the sale of those objects or even the church buildings themselves will be returned to the churches in the new communities, and many worry that it is a simple money grab by the diocese and the Vatican. Needless to say, Bishop Lennon has shown zero respect for not only the current parishioners, but for those people whose families worked hard to make those churches possible.
St. Casimir's, Cleveland Ohio (Now closed)
Local Catholics have protested in many ways, some making very vocal protests at church closings and also picketing churches. A group was formed called Endangered Catholics whose intent is to get justice and equal opportunity for parishioners. Protests are also working their way up to the Vatican. Sadly, I suspect that these protests will fall on deaf ears for the most part, although Bishop Lennon did reverse his decision for one parish. In some cases, Bishop Lennon's competency has been questioned. The Cleveland Plain Dealer has devoted a lot of coverage to the issue and many, if not all, of the articles paint Bishop Lennon and the diocese in a poor light.
Even though I am not a church-goer, it does sadden me to see both the church in which I was baptized and the church in which I was married close. The church where I was baptized is also the church where my parents were married and also the church where my grandparents were married. The building did need a little repair, but the structure is sound and very well kept for the most part, and the parish was not losing money. This church also supported the poor in the neighborhood with a place to live as needed and meals for those who could not afford food. It is a huge loss for the neighborhood community.
When it all comes down to it, everyone knows these churches are just buildings. But, the diocese seems to have lost any concern for the parishioners who have kept many of these facilities afloat, the Bishop completely ignoring their recommendations. It is also clear that the diocese does not have enough priests to cover each parish, a problem easily solved if they would only discard their narrow-minded opinions about women becoming priests. While Bishop Lennon is driving the stake into the heart of the parishioners, it's the Catholic Church and its dated practices that are driving people away. I have hopes that one day, the Church will have leadership at all levels who are willing to question the status quo and to have the courage to make changes, otherwise what is happening to the Cleveland Catholic Diocese will continue to spread throughout the faith like a malignant cancer, and more cities will see their beloved churches, and the history that goes along with them, die a certain death.
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